May 14, 2007

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Forty is a sacred number in Scripture signifying fullness and completeness, as the Rev. Leslie K. Sterling beautifully explained during her sermon on April 29th at the Holy Eucharist celebrating the 40th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. As Leslie pointed out, the Israelites wandered in desert for 40 years after their Exodus from Egypt until they entered the promised land; Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days after his baptism, and for 40 days the risen Christ appeared to his disciples before departing this earth. The Ascension of Christ 40 days after Easter marks the completion of his earthly ministry. These 40 days were a full and sufficient time to give his disciples a firm awareness that he was risen and still present to them. We celebrate Ascension Day ;this week on May 17. The nine days between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost are the first "novena" (nine days of prayer) as the early church came together to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

THEME FOR THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

The Sunday after Ascension Day emphasizes love as the central teaching of the Christian faith and calls us to unity as we pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit. In the Collect, we pray: "O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen."

In the first reading, Samuel says to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless. For the LORD will not cast away his people."

Psalm 68 prays: "Let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; let them also be merry and joyful. Sing to God, sing praises to his Name; exalt him who rides upon the heavens; YAHWEH is his Name, rejoice before him! Father of orphans, defender of widows, God in his holy habitation! God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom ... in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor."

In the reading from Acts, Paul frees a girl from slavery, enraging her owners. "But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, 'These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.' The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks." Acts recounts how Paul and his companion Silas were miraculously freed from their captivity.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays what has been called his high priestly prayer: "That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

During the 40 days from Easter to Ascension may we receive a deep awareness of the presence of the risen Christ in our lives. During the nine days from Ascension to Pentecost, may we be prepared to receive the renewing Holy Spirit who will draw us into unity with the Triune God and with all creation.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

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Worship Services for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 19-20, 2007

Saturday, May 19, at 5:00 pm: Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, May 20, at 10:30 am: Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, May 20, at 6:00 pm: Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian

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Weekend and Mid-Week Worship Schedule
For the schedule of worship services for Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday, please click here.

Celebration the Feast of Pentecost, May 26-27 reading the Acts of the  Apostles in multiple languages. Holy Baptism. All are requested to wear red, the color of the Holy Spirit. Please click here for more information.
 
Presentation the Spirituality and Justice Award, June 3 at 10:30 am ... To Dr. Peter Stringham. 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, Barbara Bembery, distribution, and the contributors above who produce the All Saints Weekly each week.

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