February 12, 2007

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

On Sunday, February 18, we come to the end of the Epiphany season and look forward to the beginning of Lent.

THEME FOR THE LAST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY:

The Collect connects the Epiphany manifestation of Jesus in glory with his suffering on Good Friday and calls us to be transformed into his likeness: "O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

The reading from Exodus remembers the transformation of Moses on Mount Sinai, when "the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God." After Moses gave the people the commandments, "he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him."

The reading from Paul's epistle to the Corinthians reminds us that we are "the body of Christ and individually members of it" and that we are called to seek the gift of love. In this famous passage, often read at weddings, Paul tells us: "Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."

Paul's speaks about our transformation from childhood to adulthood: "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."

The Gospel passage from Luke is the spectacular manifestation of Jesus on the mountain to Peter, John and James: "And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." Similar to the cloud that led the Israelites through the desert, "a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud." Then, echoing the voice of God that spoke at Jesus's baptism, from the cloud comes a voice again: "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"

Moses and Jesus are transformed by their encounters with the Living God on holy mountains. As we are about to enter the Lenten season, God wishes to transform us into people who, in words of Paul, live by the law of love.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

* * * * *

The Last Sunday after the Epiphany, February 17-18, 2007

Sermon:

Saturday, February 17, at 5:00 pm: Ms. Toni Jean DeLorenzo
Sunday, February 18, at 10:30 am: Ms. Toni Jean DeLorenzo
Sunday, February 18, at 6:00 pm: Ms. Toni Jean DeLorenzo

* * *

Lent begins Ash Wednesday, February 21...

We invite you to begin your observance of the holy season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, February 21, by attending the Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes at 10:30 am and 6:15 pm. As part of your spiritual practice during Lent, please join us for the Holy Eucharist every Wednesday at 10:30 am and 6:15 pm.

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.

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