January 13, 2010

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

On January 17th, the Brookline Episcopal Churches will celebrate Pulpit Exchange Sunday. The Rev. Joel Ives, Rector of the Church of Our Saviour, will preach at the 10:30 am service at our parish. The Rev. Jeffrey Mello, Rector of St. Paul's Church, will preach at the 10:30 am service at the Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth Street. I will be the preacher at the 10:00 am service at St. Paul's Church, 15 St. Paul Street.

This winter, Laurie Rofinot, Philip Major, and I are leading Journeys in Faith, the popular course for adults who wish to be baptized, confirmed, or received into the Episcopal Church. We will meet on Mondays, January 25 to March 29, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information, please click here.

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

The reading from Isaiah employs beautiful spousal imagery to describe God's relationship to the covenant people: "You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." (Isaiah 62:1-5)

Psalm 36 speaks of God's love for the covenant people: "How priceless is your love, O God! Your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings. They feast upon the abundance of your house; you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light. Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, and your favor to those who are true of heart."

The reading from the first epistle to the Corinthians describes the gifts of the Holy Spirit: "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses." (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

The Gospel of John presents the account of Jesus at the wedding in Cana of Galilee: "The mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.' Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, 'Fill the jars with water.' And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, 'Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.' So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, 'Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.' Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him." (John 2:1-11)

In Christian tradition, our gathering for worship is like the celebration of a wedding banquet where we are nourished by the "good wine" of the risen Christ. Please join us for the Holy Eucharist on Saturday at 5:00 pm and on Sunday at 10:30 am.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

Worship Services for

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 16-17, 2010
Saturday, January 16, at 5:00 pm: Preacher - The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, January 17, at 10:30 am: Preacher - The Rev. Joel Ives

We want your feedback!

Please tell us :

• if you find All Saints Weekly a helpful spiritual resource
• if you have trouble seeing this email or opening the links
• or if you do not wish to receive this e-newsletter.

Please let Barbara know at office@allsaintsbrookline.org. THANK YOU!