April 27, 2010

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Members of our parish will participate in the Greater Boston Walk for Hunger this Sunday. The Walk involves people of all ages, races, and faiths to raise needed funds for food banks and meal programs throughout Massachusetts. For more information, please click here.

All Saints Parish is co-sponsoring "Midrash, Music and Monks: Learning the Psalms with Christians in the Holy Land," with Rabbi David Lazar on Sunday, May 2, at 7:30 pm at Temple Beth Zion, 1566 Beacon Street in Brookline.

David Lazar holds a BA in Biblical studies from the Hebrew University and an MA and Rabbinical ordination from the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. Fee: $10 (seniors and students: $7). To download a flyer, please click here. For information, please contact Rabbi Claudia Kreiman at ravclaudia@tbzbrookline.org or 617-566-2277.

Thank you to all who have had your photographs taken for our Parish Photo Directory. If you did not have your photo taken, you can still be included in the directory if you submit your photo by May 2. For information, please contact Philip Major at pmajor@bu.edu.

On Sunday, May 16, we will welcome Bishop Roy "Bud" Cederholm for an episcopal visitation of our congregation. Bishop Cederholm will meet with those are new to the congregation at 9:30 am, preside and preach at the 10:30 am Holy Eucharist, and meet with the entire parish at a luncheon at 12 noon. For more information, please click here.

The Ruah Spirituality Institute, founded by All Saints Parish in 1992, is an interfaith organization committed to engaging transformative and creative forms and practices of spirituality in facing the urgent realities of our world; facilitating dialogue among the various faith communities around matters of spiritual concern; and offering a hospitable gathering place for persons and communities seeking a deeper spiritual life. Ruah is merging with Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries this summer. For more information, please click here.

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR tHE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and eve

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the dream that convinced Peter to admit Gentiles into the Church: "Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, 'Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?' Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 'I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." But I replied, "By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth." But a second time the voice answered from heaven, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, "Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved." And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?' When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, 'Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.'" (Acts 11:1-18)

Psalm 148 is a song of praise: "Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you angels of his; praise him, all his host. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Name of the LORD; for he commanded, and they were created."

The reading from the Book of Revelation expresses a beautiful vision of transformation: "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. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.'" (Revelation 21:1-6)

The reading from the Gospel of John contains Jesus' commandment of love: "At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, 'Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, "Where I am going, you cannot come." I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:31-35)

We receive strength to love one another as Christ has loved us in the sacrament of holy communion. 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 Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 1-2, 2010
Saturday, May 1, at 5:00 pm: Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, May 2, at 10:30 am: Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian

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