November 13, 2006

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Some of you asked me for information on the church's liturgical calendar, so we are providing a link below so you can find out more about the liturgical seasons and the colors for each season. A new liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of Advent, which this year will be on December 3. There are four Sundays of Advent and the characteristic color is violet (except for the third Sunday, whose color is rose, to symbolize rejoicing that the time is drawing closer for the birth of Christ).

By entering into the liturgical year, we merge our individual spiritual journeys with the journey of Christ and the early Church. We anticipate Christ's coming into our lives in Advent, celebrate with joy the birth of the Savior at Christmas, become attuned to the various manifestations of Christ during Epiphany, repent and seek renewal during Lent, rejoice in the transformation victory of Easter, and pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The liturgical year is a "sacred drama" that is meant to involve us spiritually and help us in our "walk" with Christ.

The final Sundays of November are a "countdown" at the end of one liturgical year before we begin a new year. The Gospels assigned for this period draw our attention to the "Last Things," the realities of death, judgment, and after life. In the coming weeks, I will explain each Gospel's particular emphasis.

THEME FOR THE WEEK:

The texts for the weekend of November 18-19 cluster around the theme of "Last Things." The Collect asks God to help us "embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life." The reading from Daniel 12:1-4a(5-13) describes the "time of anguish" when those who have died "shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." The Book of Daniel is an allegory about an earlier period of Jewish history, but it actually dates from a time of the Maccabees about two hundred years before the birth of Christ when the Jewish people felt oppressed by their Greek overlords.

The Epistle to the Hebrews 10:31 begins "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." The epistle calls the Christian soul to courage: "For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised."

The Gospel, Mark 13:14-23, speaks the "end times" when "those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter. For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days."

The scriptures that speak about "Last Things" are called "apocalyptic writings" and were statements of hope in ancient times for people facing persecution. Mark was written in the first generation of the Christian Church when Christians were persecuted for their beliefs. The apocalyptic message was an encouragement to hold fast, endure, and to put one's hope in God.

Times have changed. We do not think apocalyptically today. However, we face our own worries about terrorist attacks, global warming, and job insecurity. We have concerns about health, illness, and our own mortality. The cause of our worries may be different, but we have no less need for the guidance and protection of a loving God.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

* * *

Prayer and Scripture for the weekend of November 12-19, 2006
The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Sermon:
At the Saturday, November 18th service at 5:00 pm: The Rev. David A. Killian
At the Sunday, November 19th service at 10:30 am: The Rev. David A. Killian
At the Sunday, November 19th service at 6:00 pm: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling

For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, click here.

For an explanation of the Church's liturgical year, click here.

For a note on the Music at the Sunday 10:30 am service, from All Saints Music Director Donald Teeters, click here.

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 'Episcopal Evening' service 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  website: www.allsaintsbrookline.org.

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