March 20, 2008
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Please join us for the Sacred Triduum -- three special services that conclude our Holy Week observance -- Maundy Thursday at 6:30 pm, Good Friday Liturgy at 7:00 pm, and the Easter Vigil on Saturday at 7:00 pm. I invite you to be part of our glorious celebration of Christ's Resurrection on Easter Day as we sing the glad Alleluias at our 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 6:00 pm services of the Holy Eucharist.
THEME FOR EASTER DAY
Easter, the greatest feast of the Christian year, celebrates the central belief of our faith, the Resurrection of Christ. Easter celebrates the power of God to overcome suffering, defeat and death. Because of God's victory in Christ we too can overcome the forces of evil and destruction. In the collect we pray: "O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
The reading from Acts is Peter's sermon proclaiming God's salvation for all in Christ: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ -- he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10:34-43)
Psalm 118 exalts the triumph of the lowly through the power of God: "The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! the right hand of the LORD is exalted! the right hand of the LORD has triumphed! I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD ... The same stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the LORD'S doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. On this day the LORD has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24)
The epistle to the Colossians speaks of the new life of those who have been joined to Christ in baptism: "If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."(Colossians 3:1-4)
The Gospel from Matthew is the account of the women who go to the tomb on the first Easter. "As the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said." (Matthew 28:1-10)
This Easter, I pray that you may find hope, strength, and peace in the good news of Christ's Resurrection.
Sincerely,
David A. Killian
Rector
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Worship Services for the Easter Vigil and Easter Day, March 22-23, 2008
Saturday, March 22, at 7:00 pm - Preacher: The Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE
Sunday, March 23, at 9:00 am - Preacher: The Rev. Dr. David A. Killian
Sunday, March 23, at 11:00 am - Preacher: The Rev. Dr. David A. Killian
Sunday, March 23, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
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EVENTS at All Saints Parish
For a schedule of worship services, please click here. For information about the workshop and concert with John Bell on April 18, click here. For information on the Spirituality and Justice Award that will be presented to Dr. Paul Farmer on April 27, 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.
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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