November 25, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Please join us for a special Thanksgiving Day Holy Eucharist in the Parish House on Thursday at 9:30 am. Our Thanksgiving Day worship service will be a time to give thanks for the abundance of blessings that we have received and to pray for wisdom for the leaders of institutions and governments as they work on solutions for the global economic recession. All are welcome.

 

THEME FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

This weekend we begin the season of Advent. The message of the Gospel is that the followers of Jesus should keep awake and alert to the way that Christ is present in our lives today. In the Collect we pray: "Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

The reading from Isaiah expresses the contrition of those who have done wrong and their hope that God will forgive and make us new: "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away ... Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:1-9)

Psalm 80 is a prayer that God may rescue the people of Israel: "Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people? You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have given them bowls of tears to drink ... Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved."

The reading from 1 Corinthians is Paul's greeting to the community in Corinth: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:3-9)

The Gospel passage from Mark gives encouragement to the followers of Jesus during a time of persecution. Although they suffer, they should not lose hope because Christ is with them and he will sustain them. "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake -- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake." (Mark 13:24-37)

During the Advent season let us be awake and alert to welcome Christ in a deeper way into our lives. Please join us for worship this Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 10:30 am, and Sunday at 6 pm.

Sincerely, David A. Killian Rector

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) reading. For Story from this Sunday's Gospel by Becky Taylor, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry, click here.

worship services for

The First Sunday oft Advent
November 29-30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
Sunday, November 30, at 10:30 am - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling
Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling

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