February 24, 2009

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

On Ash Wednesday, February 25, we will begin our observance of the holy season of Lent with services of the Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes at 10:30 am and 6:15 pm. All are invited to participate in this ancient ritual which reminds us our mortality and of our eternal destiny. All are urged to adopt practices during Lent of study, reflection, and prayer that will lead us closer to Christ. We invite you to join us for the Taize Holy Eucharist each Wednesday at 6:15 pm as part of your Lenten prayer. These worship services will employ the hauntingly beautiful chants of the Taize monastery in France.

THEME FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Lent is a season of introspection and discipline. We undertake acts of prayer, penitence, compassion, service, good works, and fasting. The goal is to overcome our self-centered tendencies so that our lives more closely resemble the love manifested in Christ. In today's Gospel Jesus is tempted to renounce his relationship to his Father, but Jesus remains faithful. Jesus gives us an example of resisting those things that would divert us from our true destiny. In the Collect we pray: "Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

The reading from Genesis is the story of God's covenant with Noah: "God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 'As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.'" (Genesis 9:8-17).

Psalm 25 asks for God's guidance: "Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation in you have I trusted all the day long ... Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD."

The reading from the epistle of Peter compares the flood of Noah's time to baptism, "when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you — not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ ..." (1 Peter 3:18-22)

The Gospel from Mark is the account of the temptation of Jesus: "And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him." (Mark 1:9-15) Forty days is a symbolic number signifying completeness. Our Lenten observance of forty days parallels Jesus' forty days in the wilderness. During the forty days of Lent we will walk with Christ, learn from his example, and strive to grow into his likeness.

All are welcome to worship with us Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 10:30 am. During the 10:30 am service we will sing the Great Litany as we mark the beginning of the Lenten season.

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 First Sunday of Lent
February 28-March 1, 2009
Saturday, February 28 at 5:00 pm — Sermon: The Rev. Moses Sowale
Sunday, March 1, at 10:30 am — Sermon: The Rev. Moses Sowale

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All Saints Parish • 1773 Beacon Street • Brookline, MA 02445 • 617-738-1810