All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 11, February 7, 2010

BEING PRESENTABLE

Some of you may have read the wonderful article in last Sunday’s Washington Post by Lonnae O'Neal Parker in which she explained the daily ritual of styling her daughters’ hair. She wrote about how long it takes for her to work on their hair and to help them be “presentable.”  She explained that being “presentable” takes the minimum amount of time, but it takes even longer for her to help them feel special or feel pretty.

Though we may not have grown up with a mother who styles our hair each day, I bet most of us know what it is to want to be “presentable” when we leave home.  We want to be presentable when we go to school or when we arrive at the office. As we grow older, parents, counselors, coaches, and consultants all help us think about how we present ourselves.

Last Monday many churches observed a feast called The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.  It is a day that recalls when Jesus was taken to the temple, offerings were made, and the Holy Family encountered Anna and Simeon, two holy people who recognized Jesus as the one who would be like a light that enlightens all people and one who would redeem those who have faith. (Luke 2: 22-40)

Though the Presentation of Jesus is important for a number of reasons, one of the most important (for me, anyway) has to do with the fact that Jesus is presented in the temple as a little baby.  While his mother might have fussed over him in ways similar to those talked about by the writer in the Washington Post, from God’s standpoint, it didn’t matter if the baby’s hair was done or not.  All the lengths to which we go to be “presentable” simply do not matter—God accepts us and welcomes us just as we are.  

God chose to become human not to show us what perfection looks like, but to live in our skin, to walk in our shoes, and to understand what our lives are like.  The closer we grow towards God, we grow in holiness— what the Church calls “sanctification,” but that in no way diminishes the great message that God came into the world to be like us, and in so doing, “hallows,” or makes holy our humanity.  Thanks be to God for the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, and for the fact that we are presentable to God just the way we are.  John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . The Adult Forum resumes on Sunday, February 14 and will be led that day by Dan Davis and Laura Tomes . . . Attendance on Sunday, January 31 (even in the snow and ice) at the 8:30 a.m, Mass, 23; at the 11 a.m. Mass, 85 . . . Total pledge offerings on Sunday were $6,613.00. The plate offering from Sunday was $896.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Michael Baker, Bob and Louise Osborne, Ann Dixon, Lorenzo Martinez, Family of Tom Martin, Hugh Yeomans, Helen Horne, Erling Hansen, Tim Dill, Mona Bauer, Mary Backus, Sandy Jenkins Dixon, I. Kathryn McKewen, Thais Blanchard, Bruce MacDonald, Bob Colborn, Elizabeth McKee, Freddie Cameron, Robert Long, Barb Chaffee, Harriet Martin, Chris Cobb, Landis Vance, Vickie Drell, Stephanie Russell, Ruth & Fred Huber, Jim St. George, Mark Henderson, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Walter and Sally Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, , Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, and Ted Field . . Pray for members of the parish in the foreign service and others who are working overseas, especially Chuck Hunter, Steve Kerchoff, Brad Moore, and Michael Pate . . . Pray also for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Jack Severson, and Timothy Zlatich . . . Pray also for the repose of the soul of Steve Prestegard and for Peggy Godwin Floyd . . . If you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe at lowevg1@verizon.net.

Liturgical Notes . . . The flowers at the high altar are given to the glory of God and in memory of Frances H. Dills, given by Stu & Joanna Edwards and family.

A Mass Celebrating the Life of Steve Collins . . . will be offered at All Souls on Saturday, February 13 at 11 a.m. The High Mass will include music for congregation, choir, and harp and flute.

Dinner is Served (or will be soon) . . . It is time to sign up for our foyer dinner program. This is one the very best ways to get to know others. At the beginning of each new year, we form new foyer dinner groups of about 10 people that rotate hosting the dinners in their homes, at restaurants, in the church undercroft, or in homes of All Souls parishioners who offer their homes for the dinners. The groups meet a minimum of four times through the year. Signup forms are in the undercroft. See Butch Bradburn for more information or details. Please join us!

Help for Haiti . . .  The Vestry has approved the Endowment Board’s request to send $10,000 to Episcopal Relief and Development for work in Haiti.  The thoughtfulness of those who have made bequests to the parish allows for us to help in this way.  Individual donations may be made at http://www.er-d.org/.

Country Western Night . . . Join us on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a Chili Cook Off and Country Western Night.  We’ll do some eating, some drinking, and lots of dancing.  If you would like to lend a hand in the planning or execution—bartenders and kitchen help always needed—please contact Marcia Anderson at Marcia513@verizon.net.

A new Book for Early Lent . . . Join Cameron Soulis for a discussion of Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline by Lauren F. Winner.  We’ll gather again on Sunday, February 14 (and yes, there will be chocolate) for a discussion of the book.  A number of copies of the book are available for loan in the church library (just off the sacristy).

Centering Prayer Group . . . On Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. a handful of people gather in the church for silent prayer.  If you’re new to Centering Prayer, and would like a brief introduction, please join us at 6:50 p.m. Both the main church door and the Woodley Place door will be unlocked.