December 5, 2006
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Last week someone told me that Advent was his favorite season. The reason: Advent's clear of message of hope triumphing over despair, of exiles coming home, of the innocent being vindicated. Advent is the season to rekindle hope that God is present in even our darkest and most lonely moments.
THEME FOR THE WEEK:
The prophet Baruch speaks words of hope at a desolate time when the people of Israel were conquered and taken into exile in Babylon: "Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. . . . See your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne." And then Baruch uses an image that will resonate through the centuries: "God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God."
Psalm 126 sings of God's power to restore what was lost. It speaks to any of us who have had to "start all over again" after suffering a defeat or reversal: "When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. . . . Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses of the Negev. Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves."
The Epistle to the Philippians expresses Paul's hope that God will give him strength to overcome his suffering, including being arrested and put in jail: "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion . . . for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel."
The Gospel of Luke highlights John the Baptist, a latter-day Baruch," The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
Advent is the season to remind ourselves that God is higher than any mountain, lower than any valley, wider than any ocean, vaster than the eye can see, and greater than the mind can imagine. And this generous, compassionate God loves us and comes to restore, heal, and make us whole.
Sincerely,
David A. Killian
Rector
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Prayer and Scripture for the weekend of December 9-10, 2006
The Second Sunday of Advent
Sermon:
At the Saturday, December 2nd service at 5:00 pm: The Rev. Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
At the Sunday, December 3rd service at 10:30 am: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
At the Sunday, December 3rd service at 6:00 pm: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
Outreach Opportunity:
For over ten years All Saints Parishioners have embodied the spirit of Christmas by giving gifts to the residents of Crossroads Family Shelter in East Boston. Parishioners will bring gifts for the 41 residents at Crossroads Shelter to church this Sunday. If you can help transport gifts to the shelter, please contact Jim Daniell at jimdaniell@comcast.net
For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, click here.
For an explanation of the Church's liturgical year, click here.
For a note on the Music at the Sunday 10:30 am service, from All Saints Music Director Donald Teeters, click here.
For a Story from this Sunday's Gospel by Becky Taylor, Director of Children's Youth, and Family Ministry, click here.
For a note on the Sunday 6:00 pm 'Episcopal Evening' service from Assistant Rector, the Rev. Leslie K. Sterling, click here.
To browse past issues of the All Saints Weekly, click here.
For "All Saints Smiles" and news about events, activities, programs, ministries and the staff of our parish, please click on the All Saints website: www.allsaintsbrookline.org.
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