February 25, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

The season of Lent is meant to be a time when our minds and hearts are open to fresh perspectives. Our goal is to see ourselves as beloved children of God, creatures of immense value and dignity, with a responsibility to do God's work in the world.

THEME FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

The readings relate to the gift of sight and awareness: Samuel is led to see David as a future king of Israel; the epistle to the Ephesians is a call to live as children of light; in the Gospel Jesus gives sight to the man born blind.

In the reading from 1 Samuel, the prophet Samuel travels to Bethlehem to the house of Jesse to chose the future king of Israel. Jesse presents seven of his sons to Samuel, thinking that surely Samuel would chose one of them. However, Samuel does not chose any of them. Samuel asks Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

Psalm 23 is perhaps the best known psalm in the Bible: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil and my cup is running over. Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

The reading from the epistle to the Ephesians contrasts the people of darkness and light. "Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light-- for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness. (Ephesians 5:8-14)

The Gospel from John is the story of Jesus healing the man who was blind from birth. Jesus teaches that the man's blindness was not due to his parent's sin, as some people thought. Jesus heals the man to show forth the power and goodness of God. Jesus himself is the "Light of the world" who casts off the works of darkness. (John 9:1-41)

Like Samuel, we may have pre-conceived notions that blind us from seeing the truth. We have prejudices that lead us to judge others falsely. Like the blind man in the Gospel we come to Christ for healing and sight.

Please join us for our midweek Holy Eucharist Wednesdays at 10:30 am and 6:15 pm. For information about the Sunday Lenten Scripture course, click here. For information on the the March 1st Meditation Retreat, click here. For information on the Spirituality and Justice Award that will be presented to Dr. Paul Farmer on April 27, please click here.

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

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Worship Services for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 1-2, 2008

Saturday, March 1, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
Sunday, March 2, at 10:30 am - Preacher: Youth in CityReach
Sunday, March 2, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling

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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.

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