May 29, 2007

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This weekend we celebrate the First Sunday after Pentecost, also known as Trinity Sunday. It is fitting to celebrate the Trinity on this first Sunday after Pentecost, because the Easter season of 50 days between Easter and Pentecost focused on the risen Christ and the Day of Pentecost focused on the Holy Spirit. Now, on this Sunday, we ponder the mystery of the Triune God which has not always been explained well by Christian theologians. In A Big Enough God: A Feminist's Search for a Joyful Theology, Sara Maitland shares this image of God, which she believes is superior to the model of the three-leaf clover:

"My favorite model of the Trinity is that it is like a child's pigtail. If the Trinity is seen as a plait -- three equal strands, smoothly interrelated -- there are some advantages. Firstly, you can tear one of the leaves off a clover threesome and leave the other two still related, but if you pull one of the strands out of a plait the whole thing collapses. Inasmuch as there is a trinitarian God, this threefold revelation makes perfect sense, and obviously the same thing applies: you cannot have any two of the sources without the third because the whole thing falls apart." (pp. 15-16)

THEME FOR TRINITY SUNDAY

The readings, hymns, and prayers refer to the God who is simultaneously Triune and One. In the Collect, we pray: "Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

The reading from Isaiah speaks of the mystery and majesty of God: "I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.'"

Psalm 29 speaks of the power of God manifested in a fierce thunder storm lashing the sea and smashing trees: "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is upon the mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon ... The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire; the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare. And in the temple of the LORD all are crying, 'Glory!'"

The reading from Revelation is a vision of heaven in fantastic imagery of the majesty of God, and which echoes the "Holy, Holy, Holy" of Isaiah: "Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal. Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, 'Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.'"

In the Gospel reading from John Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit after he ascends to the Father: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

This e-newsletter, The All Saints Weekly, has been published continuously since October. We hope you have benefited from the exposition of the readings, Don Teeters' commentary on the music, and the Bible stories prepared by Becky Taylor. Many thanks to Don and Becky for their creative presentations each week, to June Santosa for design and Barbara Bembery for distribution. Now, we will take a pause for the summer and will resume the All Saints Weekly after Labor Day. Please continue to access the Collect of the Day, psalm and the readings for each Sunday by clicking on The Lectionary Page.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

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Worship Services for Trinity Sunday, June 2-3, 2007

Saturday, June 2, at 5:00 pm: Preacher: Mr. David Pfarrer
Sunday, June 3, at 10:30 am: Preacher: Dr. Peter Stringham
Sunday, June 3, at 6:00 pm: Preacher: Mr. David Pfarrer

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

Presentation the Spirituality and Justice Award. The tenth annual All Saints Spirituality and Justice Awared will be presented to Dr. Peter Stringham on June 3 at the 10:30 am Holy Eucharist. Read more about it in the current issue of Saints Alive.

Foundations of the Bible: Understanding the New Testament. Six Sundays at 11:45 am, June 3 to July 8, conducted by the Rev. Christine Visminas. For more information, please click here.

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.

The Story from this Sunday's Gospel is not available this week but will return in the Fall.

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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