All Souls Weekly
Volume 1, Number 9, April 6, 2008
From the Rector: THAT BIG CANDLE
On Saturday, March 22, we began the Great Vigil of Easter in darkness. We lit the Paschal Candle from the new fire and then lit our hand candles from that one, large candle. The celebrant intoned, “The Light of Christ” and the whole room responded, “Thanks be to God.” This was sung and repeated at higher tones until the candle was placed in its holder in the front of the church and the Exultet was sung.
Later in the liturgy, at the baptism, the Paschal Candle was brought to the baptismal font and used in the blessing of the water. As the celebrant sang, “Now sanctify this water, we pray thee, by the power of thy Holy Spirit,” the candle was plunged into the water. Again this was done three times. It was at some point during that action that one of the children watching the baptism said, “Wow. That’s a big candle.”
A big candle, indeed. We call it the Paschal Candle, from the word pascha, the Latinized form of the Hebrew pesach, or Passover. Jesus is referred to as the Paschal Lamb or Passover Lamb, who is sacrificed for us. Easter is sometimes called the Paschal Feast, which connects the resurrection with the self-sacrifice Jesus makes on the cross. It is a sacrifice that we recall every time we break bread and share wine in the Holy Eucharist.
This big candle represents a multitude of images. The New Testament gives us many images of Christ as light. Jesus is a “light for revelation,” the “light that shines in the darkness,” and the “light of the world.” But the candle also represents the light that has accompanied us throughout the history of salvation: the light God made in the very beginning, the light that illumined the face of Moses, and the light that accompanied the people of Israel through the wilderness, by day as a cloud and “by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.” The Paschal Candle continues to burn through the Day of Pentecost, and then is placed next to the baptismal font.
This Eastertide, let us give thanks for the light of Christ that continues to accompany us, to warm us, and to illumine us. Let us receive the many blessings of this big candle. John Beddingfield
Your prayers are asked for . . . Linda, Isaac Borocz, Delia Jokanovich, Jean Watson, Bryan Powell, Arthur (Buddy) Ball, Roger Dixon and family, Veronica Horn, Walter Jason, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Mary Backus, Mike Berman, Xavier de la Renaudiere, Trent, Owen Basil, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, and Ted Field. In addition to this prayer list, if you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe at lowevg1@verizon.net.
Memorial Mass for Philip Leonard (1942-2008) . . . On Saturday, April 12 at 10:00 a.m., we will come together to celebrate the life of Philip Leonard, partner of Tom Mabon and long-time friend of this parish.
Around the Parish . . . Many have already had their pictures taken for the parish directory. If you have not been able to schedule a seating with the photographer, please contact Todd VanCantfort for an alternative photograph . . . Thanks to those from the Garden Guild who worked in the church yard on Saturday. A special thanks to all who stooped, dug, and got dirty last fall so that we might enjoy the extravaganza of blooming daffodils and tulips this spring . . . Attendance on Sunday, March 30 at 8:30 a.m.: 43, at 11:00 a.m.: 117 . . . Total pledge offerings received this week were $5,866.30. The total plate offering received was $935.00.
The Koinonia Young Adult Fellowship will have its monthly brunch on Sunday, April 20 at the home of Norman Whitmire in Alexandria, starting around 2:30 p.m. This is a great time to introduce new friends to All Souls. If you are interested in attending or know of someone who should be invited, please contact Norman at normmd2@comcast.net.
Newsletters in the Undercroft . . . The April/May issue of The Message is available for you in the Undercroft. If you pick up your newsletter rather than have the church mail it, you help save on postage and help us practice good stewardship.
The Adult Forum at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 6, will allow us to learn more about the Bishop John T. Walker School, a new pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school for boys in Washington, D.C. Located in Southeast, the school is named in honor of the first African American Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. The Rev. Preston Hannibal, canon for academic ministries for the Diocese of Washington, who has been a part of the Walker school since its inception, will be with us this Sunday . . . Some have asked why the Walker school plans only to admit boys. With high dropout rates, disproportionate representation in special education programs and the criminal justice system, and declining college enrollment, boys from low-income urban families are facing an educational and social crisis. The Bishop Walker School will offer an alternative model for these students and also offer programs to the entire family. Come and learn more this Sunday.
Liturgical Notes . . . During Eastertide (the season from Easter Sunday through the Day of Pentecost) the Paschal Candle burns near the high altar, there is no prayer of confession on Sundays, and the liturgy is filled with alleluias . . . Since there was no donor for flowers this week, the altar flowers today are provided for out of the All Souls flower fund. If you would like to dedicate flowers and/or the sanctuary candle for the week, please contact the parish office.
Elections for Vestry . . . On Sunday, May 18, our parish family will gather for the annual meeting of the All Souls congregation to, among other things, elect a junior warden, who will serve a term of two years, and three members of the Vestry, who will serve three-year terms. Nomination forms may be obtained from the parish office and can also be found in the April/May edition of The Message.
The Bell Guild Needs You . . . The ranks of the Bell Guild have thinned, and in order to have our beautiful Tower Bells rung regularly for Sunday services we very much need new people. The time commitment and necessary skills are minimal but the rewards are resounding. The benefits reverberate. If you would like to try your hand, contact George Barnum at 202-986-2998 or george.barnum@verizon.net
Readings for the Daily Office come from the lectionary in the back of the Book of Common Prayer. Psalms are traditionally read according to the headings in the Prayer Book corresponding to the day of the month. For example, the heading for Psalm 69 on Page 679 in the Prayer Book is, “Thirteenth Day: Evening Prayer,” which would be the psalm appointed for February 13 in the evening. In keeping with the rubrics on page 934, we read the Gospel in the morning. The readings listed in the Morning Prayer column below are those read at All Souls Tuesday through Friday at 7:15 a.m. The third reading may be added in the morning or read at Evening Prayer.
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April 6, 2008
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Morning Prayer
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Evening Prayer
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The Third Sunday of Easter
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Exod. 18:1-12, Mark 16:9-20
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1 John 2:7-17
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Monnday
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Exod. 18:13-27, Matthew 3:1-6
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1 Peter 5:1-14
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Tuesday
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Exod. 19:1-16, Matthew 3:7-12
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Colossians 1:1-14
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Wednesday
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Exod. 19:16-25, Matthew 3:13-17
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Colossians 1:15-23
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Thursday
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Exod. 20:1-21, Matthew 4:1-11
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Colossians 1:24-2:7
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Friday
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Exod. 24:1-18, Matthew 4:12-17
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Colossians 2:8-23
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Saturday
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Exod. 25:1-22, Matthew 4:18-25
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Colossians 3:1-17
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April 6, 2008, The Third Sunday of Easter
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Low Mass 8:30 a.m., High Mass 11 a.m.
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Child care provided for both worship services.
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Breakfast in the Undercroft follows the 8:30 a.m. Mass
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Choir Rehearsal at 9 a.m.
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Adult Forum 10 a.m. Topic: “The Bishop John T. Walker School”
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Children’s Sunday School 11 a.m.
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Coffee hour in the undercroft follows the 11 a.m. Mass
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A.A. Meeting, Conference Room, 3:00 p.m.
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Monday
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Matins, 7:15 a.m.
A. A. Meeting, Conference Room, 8:30 p.m.
Christ House Dinner 4 p.m.
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Tuesday
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Matins, 7:15 a.m
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Wednesday
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Christ House Breakfast, 7 a.m.
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Matins, 7:15 a.m; Mass, noon
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Thursday
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Matins, 7:15 a.m.; Mass, 7:30 a.m.
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Friday
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Matins, 7:15 a.m.
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A. A. Meeting, Conference Room, 8:30 p.m.
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Saturday
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Memorial Mass for Philip Leonard, 10 a.m.
Benefit Concert in Church by soprano Luciana Cecille, 8 p.m.
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Liturgical ministers for the Third Sunday of Easter
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Acolytes:
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8:30 a.m. Robin Jones, Gary O’Neill
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11:00 a.m. CR1-Barry Huber, T1-Martha Domenico, Rachel Reuther,
T2-N/A, Book-Landis Vance, CR2-Chuck Helman,
Thurifer-Heidi Raschiner
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Bell Guild:
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8:30 a.m. Bill Miller; 11: a.m. Larry Sturgeon
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Greeters:
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11:00 a.m. John Hall, Roger Mahan, Bill Sanders
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Lectors:
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8:30 a.m. (OT) Jerry Fath (NT) Lisa Zaina (PP) Tamara Floyd
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11:00 a.m. (OT) Heidi Rasciner (NT) Charles Graham (PP) Josie Martin
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Ushers:
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8:30 a.m. Clark Ball, Jim Child, Kevin LeGrand
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11:00 a.m. John Coates, Tony Domenico, Bill Miller, Beth Moten
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Altar Guild:
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Breakfast
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Moises Flores, Oscar Prado
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Coffee Hour:
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Koinonia Young Adult Fellowship
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All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church
The Reverend John Beddingfield, rector; The Reverend Christopher Worthley, adjunct clergy; Mr. Isaac Borocz, parish administrator; Mr. Arthur Roach, interim director of music and organist; Mr. Oscar Prado, sexton
2300 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008-1505
Voice: 202-232-4244, Fax: 202-232-8593
Email: allsouls1@aol.com
www.allsoulsdc.org
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