November 3, 2009

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This weekend we celebrate New Member Sunday as we welcome newcomers who have chosen to make All Saints Parish their spiritual home. A reception for new members will be held after the Sunday, 10:30 am service.

A Forum on Diocesan Convention this Sunday, 9:15-10:15 am, will feature reports from the All Saints delegates and clergy on the November 6-7 Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. All are invited.

Fall 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 TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

The reading from Ruth tells the story of Ruth's marriage to Boaz and of Ruth's befriending of her mother-in-law Naomi: "So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the LORD made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, 'Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.' Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, 'A son has been born to Naomi.' They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David." (Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17) All are invited to the Bible Study of the Books of Ruth and Esther on Sunday, November 8, 6:00-8:00 pm. For more information, please click here.

Psalm 127 urges us to trust in God in all of our undertakings: "Unless the LORD builds the house, their labor is in vain who build it. Unless the LORD watches over the city, in vain the watchman keeps his vigil. It is in vain that you rise so early and go to bed so late; vain, too, to eat the bread of toil, for he gives to his beloved sleep."

The reading from Hebrews describes how Christ in his death and resurrection entered the presence of God: "Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 9:24-28)

The Gospel reading from Mark highlights the sincerity of the poor widow who gave proportionally more than those who were rich: "Jesus said, 'Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.' He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.'" (Mark 12:38-44)

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

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

Worship Services for

The Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost, November 7-8, 2009
Saturday, November 7, at 5:00 pm — Preacher: Mr. Philip Major
Sunday, November 8, at 10:30 am — Preacher: Mr. Philip Major

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