October 28, 2009

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of All Saints and the 115th anniversary of the founding of our parish. This annual "birthday" celebration is a joyous time to give thanks for the many ways that God has blessed our congregation and to ask God's help as we work together to build the blessed community and serve those in need. Please join us for our celebrations of the Holy Eucharist Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 10:30 am.

This is the season that we are invited to make our personal pledge of time, talent, and treasure in response to the abundance of gifts that we have received. For information about making a pledge, please click here.

Our 2nd – 5th Graders are the featured artists during November with a show entitled "Crowned with Glory Great: Saints with Us." For the past few weeks, these children have been learning about saints and creating dioramas. This art show in the Guild Room is part of our celebration of the 115th anniversary of the founding of All Saints Parish. It is open for viewing before and after our weekend worship services and during the week.

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS

The readings for the Feast of All Saints affirm our trust that the God who created us in love will continue to hold us in love after the conclusion of our earthly lives. The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon affirms that the righteous will live with God after the end of their earthly lives: "The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them." (Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9)

Psalm 24 expresses our hope that the righteous will live with God: "Who can ascend the hill of the LORD? and who can stand in his holy place?" "Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, who have not pledged themselves to falsehood, nor sworn by what is a fraud. They shall receive a blessing from the LORD and a just reward from the God of their salvation."

The reading from Revelation describes a transformed world where those who were faithful to God in this life will share the blessing of eternal life: "I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.' And the one who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.' Then he said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.'" (Revelation 21:1-6a)

The Gospel of John tells the story of raising Lazarus from the dead: "Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, 'Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?' So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, 'Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.' When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'" (John 11:32-44)

Please join us for the Holy Eucharist this weekend, Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 10:30 am.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

Worship Services for

The Feast of All Saints, October 31-November 1, 2009
Saturday, October 31, at 5:00 pm — Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, November 1, at 10:30 am — Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian

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