February 13, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

The season of Lent has communal and personal dimensions -- what we do together and what we do alone. Together we gather in worship to hear the Word of God and receive the Holy Sacrament; together we take part in education activities to deepen our faith, such as those listed below. These communal activities strenghten us for our private Lenten observance as we draw closer to Christ through acts of fasting, almsgiving, and service.

THEME FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

On our journey of faith we are given the examples of Abraham and Sarah and of Nicodemus. Abraham and Sarah leave their comfortable surroundings in Haran to go to a new land in faithfulness to God's call. Nicodemus takes tentative steps to search out becoming a disciple of Jesus. Like Abraham, Sarah, and Nicodemus we are called to leave our "comfort zones" to take the risk of following God's call. In the Collect we pray: "O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

The reading from Genesis tells of the call of Abram and his wife Sarah: "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-4a)

Psalm 121 is an affirmation of God's providence: "My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth ... The LORD himself watches over you; the LORD is your shade at your right hand, so that the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; it is he who shall keep you safe. The LORD shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore."

The reading from Paul stresses that our spiritual journey is based on faith in God's goodness: "For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us)." (Romans 4:1-5, 13-17)

The Gospel from John tells the story of a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, who came to Jesus by night. Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:1-17)

As you listen for the call of God in your life, you may find strength for your journey in communal worship and learning activities. I invite you to join us for our midweek Holy Eucharist Wednesdays at 10:30 am and 6:15 pm. For information about our special Scripture course on the Sundays of Lent, click here. For information on the Lenten Meditation Retreat on Saturday, March 1, click here. For information on the Spirituality and Justice Award that will be presented to Dr. Paul Farmer on April 27 at 10:30 am, please click here.

As always, I invite you to join us for our weekend worship services: the Celtic Holy Eucharist Saturday at 5:00 pm, the Holy Eucharist with Prayers for Healing Sunday at 10:30 am, and the Sunday Evening Contemplative Holy Eucharist at 6:00 pm.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

* * * * *

Worship Services for the Second Sunday in Lent, February 16-17, 2008

Saturday, February 16, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Kim Hardy
Sunday, February 17, at 10:30 am - Preacher: The Rev. Kim Hardy
Sunday, February 17, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling

* * * * *

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

For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, click here. Please note that the we are now using the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings.

Music Note from All Saints Music Director, Donald Teeters will resume next week.

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 'Sunday Evening Contemplative Eucharist' 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 web site: www.allsaintsbrookline.org.

Many thanks to June Santosa, design, Barbara Bembery, distribution, and the contributors above who produce the All Saints Weekly each week.

We want your feedback!

Please tell us :

• if you find All Saints Weekly a helpful spiritual resource
• if you have trouble seeing this email or opening the links
• or if you do not wish to receive this e-newsletter.

Please let Barbara know at office@allsaintsbrookline.org. THANK YOU!