ALL SOULS WEEKLY THE MESSAGE: WHAT ADVENT MEANS TO ME

Transcription

1 ALL SOULS WEEKLY VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1, DECEMBER 3, 2017 THE MESSAGE: WHAT ADVENT MEANS TO ME This Sunday we begin the season of Advent, a season that marks a new cycle of feasting and fasting as we make our way through the annual retelling of the earthly life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the one whom we follow as Savior and Lord. One good and venerable tradition is to mark Advent with the color purple, which, in this tradition, signals a season of repentance. Purple was also the most costly dye in ancient times (it came from sea urchins!) and was therefore used by kings to indicate their royal status. It is a fitting color for our Prince of Peace. The tradition we observe here at All Souls is to clothe Advent in blue. In religious art and iconography the color blue has come to represent hope, expectation, and heaven. It is also the color associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom we honor during Advent. Blue also reminds us of the clear, predawn sky. It is the color that blankets the earth in the hours before the sun rises in the east, the direction toward which worship has traditionally been oriented and from which came the news of a new savior s birth. Thus we use the color blue for Advent to shade the season with a hint of expectation and anticipation of the dawning of Christ. For me, on a personal level, Advent is a time to take stock of the year that has passed, look forward to the next, and reset. It is a season to make amends and to prepare for another year of trying. This year the first Sunday of Advent marks the one-year anniversary of my coming to All Souls, and I am prayerfully reflecting upon the accomplishments, missed opportunities, missteps, and unfinished business of the year that has passed... and planning for the year to come. It is my way of living into the ancient, new year-related spiritual practices of Christianity, Judaism, and many other religious traditions. Advent is a time to recommit to our faith and to our God no matter the color. Surely penitence (turning) is part of the traditional Advent observance, but we emphasize the church s hope-filled and faithful watch for Christ. The blue of Advent is meant to inspire in us the hope of faith, and to encourage us to keep watch as the promised light of Christ to breaks over the horizon, changing night into day, darkness into light, and filling our lives and our world with a holy and righteous splendor. This Sunday we receive the gift of a new Advent chausible to match our existing blue stoles, given by Greg Lebel in loving memory of his mother.

2 From the Senior Warden WHO DO WE SAY THAT WE ARE? All Souls Parish is a geographic designation within the Diocese of Washington that includes roughly the Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, and Van Ness neighborhoods as well as of all things the National Zoo. The Vestry of All Souls Parish is our legal name under which we can sign contracts or open bank accounts. Our building is often called All Souls Memorial Church, as can be found on the original cornerstone in the bell tower and the large dedication plaque now installed across from the elevator on the parking lot level. Within our community we usually call ourselves, simply, All Souls. However, in a city that includes both a prominent Unitarian church and a bar that operate under that same name, we need to identify our congregation as Episcopal when interacting with the world. We have used a number of names for this purpose over the years, often adding Memorial to reflect the original vision of our founding priest, and often not. Consistency is needed. The vestry reviewed the matter at its November meeting; it was the sense of the vestry that All Souls Episcopal Church should be used as the name to identify our congregation on our website, stationery, and other materials. Use of this particular version of our name would have no effect on the name of the parish, corporate entity, or the building; rather, it is meant to be used as a unifying and consistent presentation. This was not a formal decision, and the topic will be revisited at the next vestry meeting on December 17, We invite your comments and opinions prior to the meeting. Please speak with one of the wardens or any member of the vestry to share your thoughts. Daniel Callis All Souls Care REST IN PEACE... Today, immediately following the 11 a.m. Mass, friends will gather in the Mary Chapel before interring the remains of parishioner Joseph Croman in the front garden. The sanctuary candle burns this week in his memory. YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR... Lyann Alranado, Ralph Braun, Margaret Child, Julia Gutierrez, Fred Jordan, Charlie Langford, Lucia Lloyd, Tom Mabon, Bob Maske, Susan Morrison, David Parobek, Mike Pond, Merriam Woodhouse, for those in Foreign Service, and our armed forces on active duty.

3 UPCOMING ADULT FORUMS... This Sunday at 10 a.m. during Adult Forum, we begin discussing The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone, as we conclude a season of reflection on racial inequality and injustice. This Sunday, we consider the introduction and chapter 1. On December 10, we will discuss chapters 2 and 3, and on December 17 we will conclude with chapters 4 and 5. There will be no Adult Forum on December 24. Join us in December and hear a different preacher each week! ADVENT PREACHERS Advent 1 (Dec. 3): Father Jadon Advent 2 (Dec. 10): Martin Geiger Advent 2 (Dec. 17): Father Christopher Advent 4 (Dec. 24): Mother Elizabeth CHRISTMAS PREACHERS 11 p.m. Mass (Dec. 24) & Christmas Day: Mother Cameron Christmas 1 (Dec. 31): Father Martin Smith OUR ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN... concluded its public phase last Sunday. Thank you to all who have pledged so far! As of November 30, you ve pledged 59% of the $599,000 goal. A team of parishioners has begun following up with those who have not yet pledged. Pledges may be submitted at or pick up a pledge card at the church entrances. NEW DIRECTORY!... Paper copies of the new version of our membership directory can be picked up from the welcome tables in either the parish hall or the new narthex. Directory information is also available via Realm and our new parish app, which you can download at If you would prefer a PDF copy of the directory, the parish office at office@allsoulsdc.org. Help Decorate for Christmas! We need a small crew of folks to help with greening of the church for Christmas. This includes hanging evergreen garlands and indoor and outdoor wreaths. No experience necessary! We will meet on Saturday, December 23 beginning at 10 a.m. To volunteer please send and to Greg Lebel at junior.warden@allsoulsdc.org.

4 Save the Date! Endowment Board Quarterly Meeting, December 3, Conference Room, 12:45 p.m. Women of All Souls Meeting, December 5, Conference Room, 6:30 p.m. 20s & 30s Carols, Cookies, and Cocoa, December 10, Undercroft, 6 p.m. Episcopal Men s Fellowship, December 13, Undercroft, 6:30 p.m. Wise & Mature Luncheon, December 20, Undercroft, 12:45 p.m Weekly Attendance October 22 October 29 November 5 November 12 November 19 November Average Sunday 8:30 a.m. Sunday 11 a.m. Weekday Services Special Services Liturgical Ministers for December 3, 2017 Acolytes: Bell Guild: Greeters: Lectors: Ushers: Healing Ministers: Breakfast: Coffee Hour: (CR1) Mark Hoffman, (T1) Marcia Anderson, (T2) Katherine Nordal, (Book) Martin Geiger, (CR2) Fernando Moran Arce, (TR) Robert Gibbs Kevin LeGrand, Sharon Nuskey Ford Julie Duriga, Sharon Nuskey Ford 8:30 (OT/Psalm/NT) Catherine Braun, (PP) Kevin LeGrand; 11 (L1) Daniel Callis, (L2) John Wiecking, (L3) Chuck Hunter, (L4) Martin Geiger Josie Martin, Ellie Martin, Kathleen Scholl, Tony Domenico 8:30 Nancy Aherne, Martin Geiger; 11 Lisa Watson, Martin Geiger Loaves & Fishes Elaine Eaker & Katherine Nordal Please leave any unwanted service materials in the pew for recycling. To receive this by , sign up at ALL SOULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

5 All Souls Serve Season of Giving Angel Tree Pick up Angel Tree gift tags for families in Housing Up s supported services programs. Gifts should be brought back to All Souls and placed under or near the tree with the gift tags by Sunday, December 17. ERD Hurricane Relief Donations to Episcopal Relief and Development through December 31st are being matched. Visit match-2017 to donate and take advantage of this great opportunity. Refugee Ministry The two families we support through our Refugee Ministry, the Haydaris and the Habibullahs, are in need of English tutoring, transportation assistance, and employment leads. To find out how you can help, visit or contact Steve Merrill at stephenamerrill@gmail.com or Embry Howell at EHowell@urban.org. Clothing Donations As the weather gets colder, the men of Christst House are especially in need of shoes, sweaters, jeans, and belts. Samartian Ministry also appreciates donations of professional clothing for women. Please place donations in the marked bins in the Undercroft. Food & Toiletry Collections We are collecting food and diapers for the Haydaris, one of our refugee families. Place rice, beans/lentils, breakfast cereal, baking ingredients, spices, canned tomatoes, canned tuna, olive oil/cooking oil, and size 5 diapers in the marked bin in the undercroft. Additionally, toiletries and other non-perishable food donations can be placed in a separate bin marked for Samaritan Ministry.