November 19, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This weekend we observe the Last Sunday after Pentecost and the Feast of Christ the King. As the liturgical year comes to a conclusion, our parish will join with parishes throughout the Commonwealth in ringing bells 350 times as a symbolic action to protect the environment. For more information, please click here and/or visit www.350.org. All are invited to bring a bell to ring at the conclusion of this Sunday's 10:30 am worship service. All are invited to stay after the service to make an Advent Wreath to take home for your Advent observance.

THEME FOR THE LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING)

The Gospel presents the parable of the King who welcomes the righteous to heavenly blessing but sends away those who have not been faithful. The King's judgment is very personal: if you welcomed the King in this life you will be welcomed by the King in the world to come. However, there is a twist: the King is disguised as someone who is hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick or in prison. The message is clear: "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." In the Collect we pray: "Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

The first reading from Ezekiel expresses God's love as a shepherd who cares for the sheep: "Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. (Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24)

Psalm 100 continues the theme of the shepherd who cares for the sheep: "Know this: The LORD is God; he has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give thanks to him and call upon his Name."

The reading from Ephesians refers to Christ as a King who reigns in glory: "God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:15-23)

The Gospel passage from Matthew is the parable of the Shepherd-King seated on the throne of glory. "All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'" (Matthew 25:31-46)

In our worship we gather to receive the Christ the King in holy communion and pray that we may recognize the King this week in those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick or in prison. 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

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) reading. For Story from this Sunday's Gospel by Becky Taylor, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry, click here.

worship services for

The Last Sunday after Pentecost, Feast of Christ the King
November 22-23, 2008
Saturday, November 22, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, November 23, at 10:30 am - Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, November 23, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian

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