May 12, 2010

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This Sunday, we will welcome Bishop Roy "Bud" Cederholm for an episcopal visitation of our congregation. Bishop Cederholm will meet with new members of our congregation at 9:30 am to hear their reasons for coming to church and why they chose to worship at All Saints Parish. If you are new to All Saints, please join us for coffee and bagels with the bishop at 9:30 am in the Guild Room. Bishop Cederholm will 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.

You are invited to the Interfaith Festival of Music and the Arts on Saturday, May 15 at 6:30 pm at First Parish in Cambridge. It is sponsored by Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries. 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 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts the rejection and abuse that Paul and Silas encountered in preaching the good news of Christ and their marvelous rescue: "They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, 'These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.' The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, 'Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.' The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They answered, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.' They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God." (Acts 16:16-34)

Psalm 97 calls the entire earth to sing God's praises: "Let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of the isles be glad. Clouds and darkness are round about him, righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne. A fire goes before him and burns up his enemies on every side. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees it and is afraid. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory."

The reading from Revelation is a vision of John about the hope of Christians in Christ: "See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. "It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." (Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21)

The reading from the Gospel of John is Jesus' high priestly prayer for the unity of the church: "Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. 'I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.'" (John 17:20-26)

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 Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 15-16, 2010
Saturday, May 15, at 5:00 pm: Preacher: Ms. Mary Urban Keary
Sunday, May 16, at 10:30 am: Preacher: The Rt. Rev. Roy F. Cederholm

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