May 5, 2009

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Sunday, May 17, will be a special day at All Saints Parish. At the 10:30 am Holy Eucharist, we will present the All Saints Spirituality and Justice Award to Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund, the most influential advocate for children in our country. Mrs. Edelman will be the preacher at this service. The public is invited. For more information, please click here.

THEME FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

This Sunday is Mother's Day. In our worship we will give thanks for our mothers and for all that they have given us. We will also recognize graduates and thank our Church School and Schola. Following the service, we will process outdoors and bless the gardens. This is a Sunday to give thanks and celebrate God's goodness in creation. In the Collect we pray: "Almiighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

The reading from Acts recounts the spontaneous baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch by Philip: "The eunuch asked Philip, 'About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?' Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?' He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea." (Acts 8:26-40)

Psalm 22 is a song of praise: "My praise is of him in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him ... All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall bow before him ... My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; they shall be known as the LORD'S for ever. They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn the saving deeds that he has done."

The reading from the first epistle of John is a call to love: "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us." (1 John 4:7-21)

In the Gospel from John, the followers of Jesus share his life just as branches share the same life as the vine: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." (John 15:1-8)

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! You are invited to worship with us Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 10:30 am.

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 Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 2-3, 2009
Saturday, May 2, at 5:00 pm — Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, May 3, at 10:30 am — Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian

We want your feedback!

Please tell us :

• if you find All Saints Weekly a helpful spiritual resource
• if you have trouble seeing this email or opening the links
• or if you do not wish to receive this e-newsletter.

Please let Barbara know at office@allsaintsbrookline.org. THANK YOU!

All Saints Parish • 1773 Beacon Street • Brookline, MA 02445 • 617-738-1810