ALL SOULS WEEKLY THE MESSAGE: ADVENT VS. EXAMS A SEMINARIAN S STRUGGLE

Transcription

1 ALL SOULS WEEKLY VOLUME 11, NUMBER 2, DECEMBER 10, 2017 THE MESSAGE: ADVENT VS. EXAMS A SEMINARIAN S STRUGGLE I first discovered the Episcopal Church as a student at Cornell University. I knew very little about it before I began attending, other than having a vague impression of the Church of England from reading a lot of Victorian novels. (Yes, I was an English major.) One of the most striking differences between my Baptist upbringing and the Episcopal Church was the liturgical calendar the intricate dance of seasons that guides us through the year. I quickly came to value the sense of rhythm it gave me, and the shape it gave to the church s worship. Because I joined the church during college, I have always connected the liturgical calendar very closely with the academic calendar. Both have their seasons, their feasts and fasts. The two calendars don t mesh very well in Advent. Each December in college, I was struggling to write papers, get all my work finished, and make it home for Christmas. The themes of waiting and preparation that Advent highlights seemed impossible. How was I supposed to prepare for Jesus s coming when an exam was imminent? I continued to deal with this problem when I worked as a teaching assistant, and when I worked in youth ministry. Now that I m in seminary, a student once more, I m yet again facing the challenge of how to give Advent its necessary attention in the midst of the end of another packed semester. Despite the mismatch between the two calendars I live with, I ve come to value Advent s demand for priority and attention. Like John the Baptist, this season arrives with force, telling us Keep awake! and Prepare the way! I m still learning how to respond to those commands, but Advent reminds me to look around for what God is up to in my life. If I had more time, I d love to spend it with music, listening to and singing Handel s Messiah. But I ve come to learn that God does not wait for me to be perfectly still and calm in order to show up. God shows up even in the frantic rush to finish a paper, or the stress of an exam, calling me back to the peace and new life he offers. This Advent, my prayer is that we all see God at work around us, even in the face of the stress and challenges of the season. As we prepare to celebrate Jesus s birth, whatever calendars we re following, may we take a moment to prepare our hearts to worship him even more fully. Martin Geiger, seminarian

2 All Souls Grow UPCOMING ADULT FORUMS... This Sunday at 10 a.m. during Adult Forum, we continue 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 chapters 2 and 3. Next Sunday, 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 2 (Dec. 10): Martin Geiger Advent 3 (Dec. 17): Father Christopher Advent 4 (Dec. 24): Mother Elizabeth CHRISTMAS PREACHERS Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) & Christmas Morning (Dec. 25): Mother Cameron Christmas 1 (Dec. 31): Father Martin Smith Mark Your Calendars! 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. Newcomers Welcome Gathering, January 7, Rector s Office, 1 p.m. Christmas Services: Christmas Eve, 6 p.m. Lessons & Carols (without Mass but with Stations of the Crèche for Children); 11 p.m. First Mass of Christmas; Christmas Day: 10 a.m. Mass THIRSTING FOR JUSTICE... is a new multi-parish monthly gathering that will bring us, our scriptures, and our tradition in conversation around a different area of social justice each month. The next gathering is Wednesday, December 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the topic is Justice & Gender. MEN S FELLOWSHIP... The Episcopal Men's Fellowship will meet this Wednesday, December 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Our speaker will be Trevor Boothe, whose talk is entitled "My Life in Anglicanism From Jamaica to England to America." A dinner will be served for $15. Please RSVP to Ike at chiefdeputyusher@gmail.com. WOMEN S EPIPHANY QUIET DAY... The Women of All Souls group is organizing a "quiet day" retreat open to all women in the parish, at church on Saturday, January 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details soon please save the date, and contact Mother Elizabeth (eorensnoel@earthlink.net) or Linda Mahler (mahlerlindal@gmail.com) to RSVP or with questions.

3 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 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 an to Greg Lebel at junior.warden@allsoulsdc.org. OUR ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN... Thank you to all who have pledged so far! As of December 7, you ve pledged 64% 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. Please be reminded that according to the IRS, contributions must be postmarked or received by December 31, 2017 to be counted for this year.

4 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. All Souls Care YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR... Ralph Braun, Margaret Child, Edward Geniti, Julia Gutierrez, Fred Jordan, Charlie Langford, Lucia Lloyd, Tom Mabon, Bob Maske, Susan Morrison, David Parobek, Mike Pond, Don Scherzinger, Merriam Woodhouse, for those in Foreign Service, our armed forces on active duty, & those affected by the wildfires in California. DEDICATIONS... The sanctuary candle burns to the glory of God and in memory of Dale A. Huber, given by Barry Huber Weekly Attendance October 29 November 5 November 12 November 19 November 26 December Average Sunday 8:30 a.m. Sunday 11 a.m. Weekday Services Special Services Liturgical Ministers for December 10, 2017 Acolytes: (CR1) TBD, (T1) Marcia Anderson, (T2) Martha Domenico, (Book) Martin Geiger, (CR2) Heidi Rasciner, (TR) Mark Hoffman Bell Guild: Bill Miller, Ellie Martin Greeters: Kathleen Scholl, Tony Domenico Lectors: 8:30 (OT/Psalm/NT) Wynsor Taylor, (PP) Rachelle Sam; 11 (OT) Susie Bruninga, (NT) Joe Howell, (PP) Jim Solomon Ushers: Susie Bruninga, JoAnn LaFon, Kirk Phillips, Rob Arrington Breakfast: Loaves & Fishes Coffee Hour: Greg Lebel & Embry Howell 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, when we will be wrapping gifts after the 11 a.m. Mass. 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.