June 16, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Our decisions fashion our personalities. We become the persons that we choose to be. To be sure, much of what makes us to be who we are is inherited from our particular socioeconomic, cultural, or ethnic group. But, each of us is unique, each of us is special. Only you can fulfill your destiny. Only I can fulfill mine. This is how God has created us. This is who we are.

THEME FOR THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Jesus teaches that each person is unique in God's creation. Each of us has been given the precious gift of freedom. Each of us chooses the direction of our life. Each person says yes or no to the invitation that God extends to us. In the Collect, we pray: "O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

In the reading from Genesis Sarah chooses to drive away Hagar and Hagar's son: "But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, 'Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.' The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son." Abraham sent Hagar and her son away, but in the marvelous ways of God's mercy, Hagar and her son did not merely survive, they thrived. "The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, 'What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.' Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt." (Genesis 21:8-21).

Psalm 86 is a profession of trust in the goodness of God: "Be merciful to me, O LORD, for you are my God; I call upon you all the day long. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. For you, O LORD, are good and forgiving, and great is your love toward all who call upon you."

In the epistle to the Romans Paul urges us to chose the path of life: "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." (Romans 6:1b-11)

In the Gospel passage, Jesus tells his disciples, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:24-39)

When we make difficult decisions we need the support and counsel of others. We need the strength and nurture that we receive from worship. I invite you to be a part of our community of faith at the Holy Eucharist Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 10:30 am, and Sunday at 6 pm.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

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Worship for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, June 21-22, 2008
Saturday, June 21, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: Mr. Christopher Jones
Sunday, June 22, at 10:30 am - Preacher: Mr. Christopher Jones
Sunday, June 22, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: Mr. Christopher Jones

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EVENTS at All Saints Parish

• For a schedule of worship services, please click here.
• For information about the Faith Formation Discussion Group that meets on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, please click here.
• For information about the "I believe" course on the Apostles' Creed and Baptism taught by the Rev. Christine Visminas on Sundays beginning June 15, please click here.
• To see the current issue of Saints Alive, our newsletter, please click here.

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) readings.

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 'Sunday Evening Contemplative Eucharist' 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 web site: www.allsaintsbrookline.org.

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