All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 1, Number 43, November 23, 2008

Looking for the Kingdom

Over time, the Church has looked for the kingdom of God in many places: in a rarefied view of the past, in a hopeful view of the present, and sometimes in an unrealistic view of the future. Looking for the kingdom of God can be confusing unless we remember that Jesus is actually the key.  Charles Gore, who was one of the great minds of the Church in the early 20^th century, gave a series of lectures entitled, “Christ and Society.”  Among his thoughts, Bishop Gore pointed out that Jesus began his mission by taking up the message of John the Baptist: “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe in the gospel” . . . Bishop Gore points out that,

As we study the teaching of Jesus it appears that not only was the kingdom at hand, but that in some sense it had actually come in His person. There was, at first, no proclamation of Himself as the Christ: but only the proclamation of the kingdom, and the ingathering of those who received his teaching and believed in Him to constitute the New Israel. “Fear not, little flock,”  He said to them, “it is your Father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Halley Stewart Lectures)

So the kingdom, in some sense, is Christ himself.  As he reveals himself, the kingdom unfolds.  The kingdom of God spreads out as we receive Christ and come to know and love him and continue to embody his kingdom-goals in our lives.  As Saint John realizes from the Revelation, “The kingdom has been given to us.” 

This kingdom is not of the world.  It is a kingdom of reversals, as Mary sings in Magnificat.  Christ’s is also a kingdom of outcasts, as is shown throughout the Gospels.  And finally, his is a kingdom of possibilities.  To live with Christ as King is to live in expectation, to live in hope, and to live in faith.  It is a kingdom of second changes, and third changes and fourth and fifth and sixth chances.

Especially on this day, as we come to the close of the church year, we give thanks for Christ the King.  And we give thanks that it is a kingdom that has been given to us, for us to extend to all of those who might believe.  May we rejoice in this kingdom of reversals.  May we open our doors to a kingdom of outcasts.  And may we open our hearts to a kingdom of possibilities.  John Beddingfield

Your prayers are asked for . . . Dorothy Whitmore, Libby Davis, Susan Morrison, Chris Cobb, Suzanne Eyman, Landis Vance, Vickie Drell, Stephanie Russell, Ruth & Fred Huber, Jim St. George, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Mary Backus, Anne Marie Morotte, Ron Biggs, Steve Coon, Dorothy, Cindy Harvey, Jerome & Mary Ann Gariff, Carol Atnip, Walter Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, Robert Osborne, Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, and Ted Field. Pray also for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Jack Severson, David Jones, and Timothy Zlatich . . .If you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe at lowevg1@verizon.net.

Around the Parish . . . Congratulations to Doug and Christina McAllister upon the birth of William Austin McAllister, on October 27.  Will and his parents are all doing well . . . Please pardon the Rector’s not greeting the congregation after the 11 a.m. Mass.  He will be racing to catch a train so that he can preach at Choral Evensong at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City . . . Stewardship Update: To date, we have received 57 pledges, totaling $280,426. Our goal is 175 pledges & $657,963 . . . The December/January issue of The Message is available in the Undercroft. Please take your copy and help the church save the cost of time and postage . . . Heartfelt thanks goes to Robin Jones, who has served as our volunteer membership secretary for the past few years.  Barry Huber will take over from Robin as we continue to organize and archive our parish records . . . This Sunday, the Adult Forum at 10 a.m. continues with our series on Anglican Lives.  We again welcome Professor Rosemary Gooden for a discussion of African American Anglicans from the Washington, D.C. area . . . Attendance on Sunday, November 16 at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, 41; at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, 130 . . . Total pledge offerings this week were $9,083.26. The total plate offering this week was $951.40.

Liturgical Notes . . . The flowers at the High Altar and in the Mary Chapel are offered to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the marriage of Beatrice Beardsworth and Francisco Aguilar-Madrid, on Saturday, November 22, 2008, given by the Beardsworth Family . . . Next Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent. 

A Tree of Thanksgiving . . . The Sunday School Children would like to help us count our blessings this Thanksgiving. Please take a moment to write what you are thankful for on one of the "leaves" and tie it on the Thanksgiving Tree in the Undercroft . 

Men’s Fellowship . . . On Tuesday, December 2 at 7 p.m., the Episcopal Men's Fellowship will share tales of Anglican Christmases abroad, as Chuck Hunter, Richard McKewan, and others tell about their experiences celebrating the holiday in the Middle East and elsewhere. Mark Hoffman will be providing a scrumptious holiday meal at the bargain price of $15. Please sign up in the undercroft or RSVP to Ike.Brannon@gmail.com.

Arts Mart at All Souls . . . An exhibition of photographs and paintings from members of the All Souls Community will be offered in the Undercroft on Saturday mornings through December 13, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. A portion of proceeds from any sales will go to All Souls Parish. If you are interested in displaying your work, contact Gene Dunne at gedun7@aol.com.

Thanksgiving Day, November 27 . . . Join parishioners and friends of the parish for Mass at 10 a.m. and a grand Thanksgiving meal later in the afternoon. The turkeys go into the oven at 9 a.m. We will celebrate Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m., and invite those at the Mass to join us downstairs for cooking and fellowship through the early afternoon, fueled by light appetizers, wine, and soft drinks. We’ll pop champagne corks at 3 p.m. and serve dinner shortly thereafter. Please join us for this day of camaraderie and appreciation for our many blessings. Contributions of food, beverages, and funds are most welcome, as are helping hands in the kitchen. Please email Jennifer Johnston at jcjohnston38@msn.com or call the Parish Office if you plan to come, bring something, or help in the kitchen.