September 11, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Our fall season has begun. Our excellent choir sings Sundays at 10:30 am. Schola, our youth choir practices at 9:30 am. Church School for grades pre-K through 12 meets at 10:15 am. At 9:15 am we 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 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

This Sunday's Gospel passage from Matthew teaches the importance of forgiving those who have injured us. In the Collect, we pray: "O God, because without you we are not able to please you mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; 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 liberation of the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt. "The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty." (Exodus 14:19-31)

Psalm 114 recalls God's wonders in saving the people of Israel: "When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech, Judah became God's sanctuary and Israel his dominion. The sea beheld it and fled; Jordan turned and went back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like young sheep."

In the reading from Romans Paul speaks of his faith in Christ that gives him strength in every situation: "We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living." (Romans 14:1-12)

In the Gospel passage from Matthew Jesus tells us that our forgiveness should know no limits: "Peter came and said to Jesus, 'Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.'" (Matthew 18:21-35)

In the Holy Eucharist, we come into Christ's presence and receive forgiveness and healing. Renewed in our spiritual journey, we go out into the world to love God and our neighbor. 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

EVENTS at All Saints Parish

HOMECOMING: A Celebration of Story and Song A Celtic Mini-retreat on the 10th Anniversary of Celtic Spirituality at All Saints. Saturday, September 20th at 3:00 p.m. Click here for more information.

• For a schedule of worship services, please click here.
• For information about our excellent Church School from pre-school to grade 12, click here.
• Click here to download information about the many adult learning opportunities at All Saints Parish.
• 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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