September 3, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

With the coming of Labor Day, students and families gear up to return to school and get ready for the fall season. At All Saints this Sunday, we welcome back the choir and Schola, register children for the Church School, and begin our fall adult faith formation programs. We offer two opportunities Sundays at 9:15 am to reflect on the Scriptures: during the Centering Prayer group that meets in the Quiet Room and in the Gospel Reflection group that meets in the Library. Please click on the links below for more information on these events and please join us for worship this weekend.

THEME FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Sunday's Gospel passage from Matthew teaches that we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of the entire community. In the Collect, we pray: "Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

The reading from Exodus tells the story of the first Passover: "Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join i ts closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (Exodus 12:1-14)

Psalm 149 is a song of praise and joy: "Sing to the LORD a new song; sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful. Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his Name in the dance; let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes pleasure in his people and adorns the poor with victory. Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; let them be joyful on their beds."

In the reading from Romans, we hear Paul's exhortation to love: "Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans 13:8-14)

The Gospel reading from Matthew shows how the first generation of Christians exercised responsibility for the behavior of its members: "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-20)

Each of the above readings is a challenge to the preacher and a stimulus to Scripture study. My reflection keeps coming back to the passage in Paul, "Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." This week, let us strive to love one another -- beginning with those in our family and then extending to our faith community a nd out to the world. When we love others, we truly express the spirit of Christ. As we gather for the Holy Eucharist, we come into Christ's presence and receive strength in our spiritual 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 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost,
September 6-7, 2008
Saturday, September 6, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. David A.Killian
Sunday, September 7, at 10:30 am - Preacher: The Rev. David A.Killian
Sunday, September 7, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. David A.Killian

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EVENTS at All Saints Parish

Welcome Back!

On Sunday, September 7, the All Saints Choir returns for the 10:30 am service and we resume our fall schedule of activities. Schola, our outstanding children's choir, meets at 9:30 am. Two adult faith formation groups, Centering Prayer and Gospel Reflection, meet at 9:15 am. Please join us for the Parish Picnic at 11:45 am and the "Ministry Information Tables" that will be set up at the picnic.

Click here for information about our excellent Church School for pre-school to grade 12. Click here to download information about the many adult learning opportunities at All Saints Parish

• For a schedule of worship services, please click here.
• For information about the Women's Book Group, please click here.
• For information about the Men's Group, please click here.
• For information about the Beacon Street Fellowship for those in their 20s and 30s, please click here.
• To see the current issue of Saints Alive, our newsletter, please click here.

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