All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 2, Number 3, December 14, 2008

Advent Lessons & Carols

We do not rush into Christmas.  Instead, we follow the tradition that associates Advent with Lent as a season of preparation, reflection, and to some extent, a season of repentance.  We remind ourselves of this by beginning the regular Sundays of Advent with the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments.  We sing “Lord, have mercy upon us,” rather than “Glory be to God on high.”  And we use the scripture readings, the prayers, the chanting of the choir, and the plainsong psalmody to remind ourselves of our need for God.  But on this Sunday, the tunes begin to change slightly.

The Third Sunday of Advent is sometimes known as Refreshment Sunday, or Gaudete (rejoice) Sunday.  Because we use flowers and rose-colored vestments on this day as a visual cue for a lighter mood, it is also called Rose Sunday.  And at All Souls, we mark this day with a service of Advent Lessons and Carols, followed by Mass.

 
If you are able to arrive early for the 11 a.m. Mass, you’ll be treated with one of the most haunting and beautiful Advent offerings.  Sometimes known as the Advent Prose, the musical prelude combines words and images of Isaiah with the longing of the Church in every age.  The words meditate upon Isaiah 45:8, “Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness,” and they sing of our prayers that God’s presence might be fully felt and known and loved. As we say at the beginning of the service, “Let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, to see the babe lying in a manger.” John Beddingfield

Your prayers are asked for . . . Harriet Martin, 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 . . . The Adult Forum this Sunday is led by Julie Coryell and focuses on the spiritual practice of Centering Prayer. Please join us in the Undercroft at 10 a.m. This is also Julie’s last Sunday at All Souls before she and her husband, Seelye Martin, return to Seattle. We wish them Godspeed as we give thanks for their several years in our community . . . Thanks to Nancye Suggs for providing Wednesday’s Wise and Mature luncheon . . . The Advent Dinner and Bible Study on Isaiah concludes this Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the Undercroft . . . Attendance on Sunday, December 7 at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, 33; at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, 146 . . . Total pledge offerings this week were $7,261.00. The plate offering this week was $988.00.           

Mary Blackwelder Memorial . . . Mary G. Blackwelder, widow of the Rev. Francis W. Blackwelder, Third Rector of All Souls Parish, died at the age of 95 on August 13, 2008.  Her interment will be at All Souls on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 11 a.m. and a reception in the Undercroft will follow.

Liturgical Notes . . . The flowers on the High Altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Rick Forster, given by Bob Publicover on their 25^th Anniversary . .  The flowers in the Mary Chapel are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Dale A. Huber, on the third anniversary of his death, given by Barry Huber . . . The Sanctuary Candle is offered to the glory of God and in loving memory of Alex Norris, Jr., given by Mickey Norris.

Stewardship update . . . To date, we have received 129 pledges, totaling $457,274. Our goal is 175 pledges & $657,963. If you have not filled out a pledge card, please do so as soon as possible so that your pledge can be counted toward the 2009 budget.  The Finance Committee has made some cuts to the asking budget and further cuts will need to be made if additional pledges are not received.

Year-end Financial Alert on Contributions . . . If you wish to make additional contributions to All Souls in 2008, please be reminded that IRS rules are very specific. Contributions must be credited in the year in which they are received.  The only exception is at year-end when a contribution is postmarked by December 31, 2008 and received in 2009 . . . Also, if you wish to use contributions envelopes in the new year, you must let the office know.  If you completed a pledge card and marked the box requesting envelopes, you are already on our list.  Anyone else should call the office to make a request.  Envelopes are primarily for the identification of those making cash contributions.  If you are making a contribution by check, you do not need an envelope.
New to All Souls? . . . Please join us for a newcomers wine and cheese reception on Sunday, December 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Undercroft to learn more about being a part of our parish family.

Christ House Volunteer Needed . . . An additional person is needed to help with breakfast on Wednesday mornings at Christ House in Adams Morgan.  The time commitment is roughly from 7 a.m to 9 a.m.  If you can help, please contact Jennifer Johnston at jcjohnston38@msn.com.

Christmas Flowers for Sale . . . Paperwhite Ziva bulbs are available for purchase in the Undercroft. This longtime favorite yields green foliage and large trusses of fragrant, snow-white flowers with up to three stems per bulb.  The bulbs are pre-planted and will bloom shortly.  Proceeds support the work of the Garden Guild. 

Special Christmas Donations . . . If you would like to contribute to the Christmas decorations or special music in memory of, or in thanksgiving for a loved one, or thanksgiving for a special event, please mail your check to the parish office with a note including the name of the person or persons you are honoring or remembering.  Make checks payable to All Souls Church and specify a donation for flowers, music, or both.  Donations will be accepted until the end of the year, but must be received by December 21 in order to be acknowledged in the bulletin.