July 29, 2008
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Every ten years, bishops in the world-wide Anglican communion come together for prayer and study at the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England. Convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, this gathering draws together the Church's leaders in faith and inspires them in their ministry. The bishops began their deliberations on July 16 and will conclude on August 3. Our prayers are with the bishops as they return to their dioceses to bring the good news of Christ to a world yearning for hope.
THEME FOR THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus has compassion the crowds who have been with him throughout the day. Taking five loaves and two fish he feeds the multitude. The risen Christ is still in our midst feeding our spiritual hungers and giving us strength to care for the needs of others. In the Collect, we pray: "Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
The reading from Genesis is the account of Jacob wrestling with a stranger during the night. The stranger may be a man, an angel or God. Jacob's struggle symbolizes our attempt to comprehend the divine and our role in God's universe: "Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. (Genesis 32:22-31)
Psalm 17 expresses a yearning for closeness with God: "Listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips. Let my vindication come forth from your presence; let your eyes be fixed on justice. Weigh my heart, summon me by night, melt me down; you will find no impurity in me."
In the reading from Romans, Paul affirms the many blessings given to the Jews: "to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever." (Romans 9:1-5)
The Gospel passage from Matthew tells the story of the feeding of the multitude: "Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children." (Matthew 14:13-21)
In the Holy Eucharist, the priest takes bread and wine, blesses and distributes them to the people. The Eucharist resonates with today's Gospel passage of Christ's feeding of the multitude. In the Eucharist we receive the spiritual food which nourishes us for our journey. Please join us for worship this Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 10:30 am, and Sunday at 6 pm.
Sincerely,
David A. Killian
Rector
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Worship Services for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, August 2-3, 2008
Saturday, August 2, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
Sunday, August 3, at 10:30 am - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
Sunday, August 3, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
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LAMBETH CONFERENCE
For ongoing coverage of the Lambeth Conference, go to:
www.episcopalchurch.org (click on "Lambeth Conference Coverage" under "Highlights")
www.anglicancommunion.org (see "Lambeth Daily" at bottom of home page)
EVENTS at All Saints Parish
- For a schedule of worship services, please click here.
- For information about the Faith Formation Discussion Group that meets on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, please click here.
- For information about the Beacon Street Fellowship and their website and blog for those in their 20s and 30s, please click here.
- To see the current issue of Saints Alive, our newsletter, please click here.
For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, click here. Please note that the we are now using the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings.
For a Story from this Sunday's Gospel by Becky Taylor, Director of Children's Youth, and Family Ministry, click here.
To browse past issues of the All Saints Weekly, click here.
For "All Saints Smiles" and news about events, activities, programs, ministries and the staff of our parish, please click on the All Saints web site: www.allsaintsbrookline.org.
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