October 2, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This past Spring forty parishioners came together in four "covenant groups" to discuss the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs were developed by leaders from the United States and 190 other nations to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. The eight MDGs are: 1) Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; 2) Achieve universal primary education; 3) Promote gender equality and empower women; 4) Reduce child mortality; 5) Improve maternal health; 6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; 7) Ensure environmental sustainability; 8) Global partnership for development. In 2006, at its 75th Convention, the Episcopal Church voted to make the MDGs a mission priority. This Sunday I invite you to luncheon meeting at 12 noon to learn about the MDGs and the next steps that we can take to fulfill them.

Please click here for the booklet "Your Kingdom Come" with information on our parish's involvement with the MDGs.

THEME FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

In the Gospel passage, Jesus tells the parable of tenants entrusted with the care of the master's vineyard. The tenants are irresponsible, criminal, and cruel. The parable can remind us that each of us has a responsibility to care for the children in God's vineyard. We can fulfill our responsibility to the poorest children of the world by working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. In the Collect, we pray: "Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

The reading from Exodus sets forth the ten commandments given on Mt Sinai. Keeping the commandments is not simply an ethical and moral responsibility; it is how the Israelites fulfill their covenant relationship with God. (Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20)

Psalm 19 is a song of praise for God's creation: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. One day tells its tale to another, and one night imparts knowledge to another ... In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber; it rejoices like a champion to run its course."

In the reading from Philippians Paul recounts his Jewish identity: "Circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:4b-14)

In the Gospel passage from Matthew Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants who mistreat the servants of the master of the vineyard and kill the master's son. God will bring justice and will right these wrongs. Jesus explains, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes." (Matthew 21:33-46)

Please join us for worship this Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 10:30 am, and Sunday at 6 pm and for the luncheon discussion of the Millennium Development Goals Sunday at 12 noon.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

EVENTS at All Saints Parish

• For a schedule of worship services, please click here.
• For information about our excellent Church School from pre-school to grade 12, click here.
• Click here to download information about the many adult learning opportunities at All Saints Parish.
• For information about Explorations in Faith that begins on October 1st, please click here.
• For information about the Women's Book Group, please click here.
• For information about the Men's Group, please click here.
• For information about the Beacon Street Fellowship for those in their 20s and 30s, please click here.
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