|
|
|
|
Why we're here
On Sunday, October 16, All Saints commemorated Children's Sabbath -- organized by the Children's Defense Fund to make visible the needs of all children and young people in our nation, especially the poor. The Stewardship Committee also invited one of the young people of our parish to share his own experiences here. For these compelling words, I give my thanks to him! -- Stefani Schatz, (Dir of Religious Ed) "Good morning. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Charlie Bridge. My parents, Meg and Tom Bridge, have been worshipping and singing at All Saints since well before I was born, and so my sisters and I have been coming here on Sunday for our whole lives. I'd like to take just a few minutes this morning to explain to you why All Saints is so important to me. Sunday is an interesting day of the week. On some calendars it begins the week, on others it ends it. I tend to think of Sunday as a sort of connector day between weeks. Sunday at All Saints provides me with a place of tranquility, peace, and spirituality in the midst of hectic school days, soccer games, and, this fall, deflating Red Sox losses. The Sunday service helps me recover from the previous week and become renewed by God for the upcoming one. What is so renewing about this church? For me, it starts with the music. I belong to a very musical family, and so music is very important to me. Having been kicked out of Schola a few years ago after the dreaded voice change, I am now usually the only member of my family not contributing to the beautiful service music. Sometimes triumphant, sometimes poignant, the various choir anthems, Schola pieces, and organ preludes are always beautifully performed tributes to the glory of God. I can think of no better place to enjoy this beautiful music than in this sanctuary, spacious physically, but spiritually very intimate. This is a place of great beauty -- the stained glass, the soaring ceiling, and the majestic organ are just a few of its characteristic features. It's comforting to know that, in a world of constant change, we can count on the familiar beauty of All Saints to greet us each week. No matter how many times I return to All Saints, I am continually inspired by the prayer. I have recited the weekly prayers like the Nicene Creed so many times that I practically know them by heart, and often even the pages they can be found on. Many of the prayer books we use have been opened to the eucharistic prayers so many times that these pages protrude slightly from the rest. Like the prayers, the pattern of the service is always the same -- being a frequent acolyte and lector, I know what follows what and when I have to be where like I know the back of my hand. But, far from being boring, I think the uniformity of the service and prayers gives a deep feeling of comfort, simplicity, and normalcy. All Saints, more than anything else, is a community -- one that I am extremely proud to be a part of. Therefore I consider it right to do what I can to help this church by giving back. In this season of stewardship, I encourage everyone to examine what the All Saints community means to them, and to strongly consider giving something back. However the church uplifts and inspires you, please pledge generously -- whether you offer time, talent, or treasure. With your help, we can make sure that All Saints will always be here to help us connect to God and to each other."
|