January 16, 2007
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The liturgical season of Epiphany highlights the ways that the Word of God appeared in the life and teaching of Jesus and the ways that the Word is manifested in the followers of Jesus today.
THEME FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY:
The Collect asks God's grace that the followers of Jesus may manifest Christ's word in our world: "Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
The first reading from Nehemiah recalls the time when Ezra, the priest, brought the law before the assembly of the people of Israel: "And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground ... the Levites helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading."
In the epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul's describes the followers of Jesus as a Mystical Body: "Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit ... If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."
The reading from Luke recounts how Jesus, a layman, traveling from village to village, "began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. "Jesus reads the section about being anointed by God" to bring good news to the poor ... to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." This passage from Isaiah describes the mission of Jesus as prophet and teacher.
We who are the Body of Christ in the world today are called to continue his mission of bringing good news to poor, proclaiming release to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and letting the oppressed go free. With hope and confidence we accept this responsibility and pray that God may give us the strength to bring joy to those in need.
Sincerely,
David A. Killian
Rector
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The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, January 21, 2007
Sermon:
Saturday, January 20, at 5:00 pm: Mr. David Pfarrer
Sunday, January 21, at 10:30 am: Ms. Becky Taylor
Sunday, January 21, at 6:00 pm: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
* * *
An invitation ...
Please join us for the Rite 13 Ceremony of four young people from our parish who will mark their Journey to Adulthood during the 10:30 am Holy Eucharist this Sunday.
For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, 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.
Many thanks to June Santosa, design, Mary Downes, distribution, and the contributors above who produce the All Saints Weekly each week.
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