March 27, 2007
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
We are about to begin the holiest week of the Christian liturgical year. On Palm Sunday, we will remember Jesus' final days which began with crowds acclaiming him as King and end with his arrest, crucifixion, and burial. The congregation will carry palms in procession as we reenact his glorious entry into Jerusalem. We will participate in the reading of the Passion and ponder the mystery of Jesus' death upon the cross.
THEME FOR PALM SUNDAY
The readings and prayers focus on the love of God made manifest in the faithful witness of Jesus even unto death. In the Collect, we pray: "Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; 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 Isaiah presents a non-violent prophet who suffered for the people. "He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed."
Psalm 22 is found in the words that Jesus spoke from the cross on Good Friday: "God, my God, why have you forsaken me? and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?" The psalm begins with a cry of desperation, but it ends on a confident note of trust in God's goodness: "I will declare your Name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you."
The epistle to the Philippians includes an ancient hymn which the early church sang to recall Christ's love manifested in his death: "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross."
There are two Gospel readings from Luke on Sunday. The first recounts Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem accompanied by shouts of Hosannas. The second is the Passion which describes Jesus' prayer on the Mount of Olives, his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The congregation will participate in the reading of the Passion, taking roles that help us deepen our connection to Jesus' final days.
Sincerely,
David A. Killian
Rector
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Palm Sunday Worship Services, March 31 and April 1, 2007
Saturday, March 31, at 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 1, at 10:30 am
Sunday, April 1, at 6:00 pm
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Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Schedule
For the schedule of worship services for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter, please click here.
Not Your Father's St. Patrick's Day ... rescheduled for Friday, April 27 at 8:00 pm. Please join us for the special St. Patrick's event (postponed from March 16 because of inclement weather) with Kevin O'Hara and Aine Minogue. Please click here for more information.
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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