April 7, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
We have begun Holy Week, the most important week of the Christian year, which culminates in the Sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. To learn more about the Sacred Triduum, please click here. For the schedule of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter services, please click here.
THEME FOR EASTER DAY
In many countries, Christians greet each other on Easter Sunday with the words, "Christ is risen." To which, the reply is given, "Christ is risen indeed." Glad Alleluias punctuate the singing of hymns on this joyous feast of Christ's resurrection from the dead. 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 Isaiah shows God triumphing over death: "On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth." (Isaiah 25:6-9)
Psalm 118 speaks of the rejected stone which becomes the cornerstone: "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." The early Christian community saw this stone as an image of Jesus who was rejected on Good Friday, but who became the cornerstone on Easter Sunday.
The reading from the first epistle to the Corinthians is Paul's summary of the central beliefs of the Christian faith: "For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles." (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
The Gospel from Mark tells the story of the resurrection of Jesus: Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:1-8)
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! All are welcome to the Easter Vigil service on Saturday at 7:00 pm and the services on Easter Day at 9:00 and 11:00 am.
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Sincerely,
David A. Killian |
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For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, 
For Story from this Sunday's Gospel by Becky Taylor, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry, worship services for
EASTER VIGIL AND EASTER DAY
April 11-12, 2009
Saturday, April 11, at 7:00 pm — Preacher: The Rev. Kim Hardy
Sunday, April 12, at 9:00 and 11:00 am — Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Events at All Saints Parish
Taizé Holy Eucharist is now offered every Wednesday at 6:15 pm. For more information, please click here.
Men's Group will meet next Saturday, April 18 at 8:00 am to discuss Dreams from My Father by Barack O'Bama. For more information click here or email Peter Stringham at peter.stringham@gmail.com.
Women's Reading Group will meet next on Saturday, April 25 at 9:00 am. For more information email Anne Harrington at anneharringtontechwriter@yahoo.com.
Celtic Mini-Retreat on Eco-Spirituality on Saturday, April 18 at 3:00 - 4:30 pm, led by Christina Ray. No fee. Click here for more information.
"Cloud of Unknowing" group to discuss the 14th-century classic and enter into centering prayer, Wednesdays April 22, May 6, 20, and 27 at 7:00 pm. Click here for more information.
website resources
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.
For a Schedule of Worship services, please click here.
For information about our Church School for pre-school to grade 12, click here.
For information about Adult learning opportunities, click here.
For information about the Beacon Street Fellowship for those in their 20s and 30s, please click here.
To see the current issue of Saints Alive, our newsletter, please click here.
To browse past issues of the All Saints Weekly, click here.
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