All Souls Weekly Volume 2, Number 10, February 1, 2009
SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY
I have friends (who are priests) for whom this Sunday is a very important day.They will be preparing for Sunday Mass, but they will also be thinking about the profane as well as the sacred.They will be planning, and cooking, and coordinating their church’s annual Super Bowl Party and Chili Fest. And they are not alone.
For a lot of people, this Sunday evening will be partially about football and mostly about the food and drink that accompanies football. There will be parties, dinners, chili fests, and during the game, lots of advertisements for more food and drink.
But there will also be people around the country who will be using this day to think about those who don’t have enough food.For some Christians, it will be Souper Bowl Sunday.This idea began in 1990, when a church youth group began standing at the back of their church on Super Bowl Sunday with cans labeled, “Souper Bowl” and asking for donations.After counting their loot, they decided which local charity to support and they gave all the money to a local group working to alleviate hunger.
Whether we watch the Super Bowl, attend a Super Bowl party, or simply spend the night in some other way, it is a good day for us to consider food—the food we purchase and prepare and eat, and the food that others lack.We might spend some time thinking about how we can support some of the local agencies who help to feed the hungry.They look for volunteers, for donations, and for contributions.
Some from our parish already volunteer at Christ House in Adams Morgan.More volunteers are needed.More information is at http://www.christhouse.org/At Christmas, parishioners from All Souls prepared special shoeboxes for a program at SOME, “So Others May Eat.”SOME has a number of programs, and more information can be found at http://www.some.org/Another program that always needs volunteers and support is the DC Central Kitchen, online at http://www.dccentralkitchen.org/.
Though Super Bowl Sunday is a fairly arbitrary day, it is as good a day as any to give thanks for all that we have, and to do what we can to help others.May God inspire us to be creative and faithful in our sharing of food. John Beddingfield
Your prayers are asked for . . . Jane Titterson, Barb Chaffee, Jim Capen, Harriet Martin, Dorothy Whitmore, Susan Morrison, Sydney Ponturo, 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, Ted Field, and for the repose of the soul of Libby . . . 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.
The parish extends its sympathy and love to Dan Davis upon the death of his mother, Libby Davis, on January 29. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Libby, for Dan and his family, and for all who mourn.
Around the Parish . . . A draft copy of the next Member Directory will be in the Undercroft.Please take a look for accuracy and thoroughness . . . The February-March issue of The Message is available for pick up in the Undercroft.Please save us the cost of postage by picking up your copy today. . . Join us for the Adult Forum this Sunday morning as we continue to explore ethical questions around life, death and in-between. The discussion is coordinated by Dan Davis and meets at 10 a.m. in the Undercroft.On February 1, the discussion continues with “Life at the First of it, Part Two: Embryos and Fetuses” . . . Attendance Sunday, January 25 at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, 31; at the 11 a.m. Mass, 170 . . . Total pledge offerings this week were $8,285.00. The plate offering this week was $511.00. Liturgical Notes . . . The flowers at the High Altar have no specific dedication today, so they are provided for from the Flower Fund.If you would like to offer the flowers for a memorial or thanksgiving, please contact the Parish Office.
Supporting All Souls' Ministries . . . It’s not too late to participate in our ministries.Sign-up sheets from last Sunday's Ministry Day are still available in the Undercroft. In particular, we need help with Sunday School and Adult Forum. As little as 20 minutes a month (ushering, acolytes, greeters) can make a real difference.Dale Lewis
Episcopal Men’s Fellowship . . . The EMF will meet on Thursday, February 19 in the Undercroft at 7 p. m. Ed Perlman will be discussing the life and works of George Herbert, a 17th century Anglican minister and poet. Dinner and drinks will be served for the low price of $15. Please RSVP by sending an email to Ike.brannon@gmail.com or by signing up in the Undercroft.
Breakfast at All Souls needs your help . . . Our traditional breakfast gathering after the 8:30 Mass on Sundays is on the endangered list due to lack of support. Each week we provide a tasty fellowship opportunity for all. The math is simple: we typically serve about 40 people each week, and we do this about 40 weeks of the year. We therefore need every available Soul who enjoys this meal to prepare breakfast at least once a year. If you have any questions or would like a helping hand in the kitchen, please speak with me at 8:30 Mass, at breakfast, or at 240-676-1644. Tom Esch
Endowment Grant Applications . . . Applications for grants from the All Souls Endowment Fund for 2009 are available in the parish office. Grants may be made for projects in ministry or mission as well as for capital improvements. All applications are due in the office by February 7, 2009 and will be acted upon by the Board and Vestry.
Foyer Dinner Registration . . . One of the best ways to get to know others from All Souls (and to eat some very good food) is to become a part of the Foyer Dinner Program. The insert in this Weekly explains more about the program and how to be included. The program also needs people willing to be “captains,” who help coordinate a specific group. If you have additional questions or ideas, please speak with Kathleen Scholl or Butch Bradburn, coordinators.
Clothing for those in Need . . . In the past Jennifer Johnston has taken donated women’s clothing to Martha’s Table and donated men’s clothing to Christ House.Martha’s Table is no longer able to receive women’s clothing.If anyone knows of another organization that does receive clothing for women, please let the parish office know.Parishioners may continue to leave good men’s clothing in the Undercroft bins.Jennifer can also use help periodically taking the clothing over to Adams Morgan.
Readings for the Daily Office
February 1, 2009
Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 51:9-16, Heb. 11:8-16
John 7:14-31
Monday The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
1 Samuel 2:1-10, 1 John 3:1-8
John 8:31-36
Tuesday
Isaiah 52:1-12, Gal. 4:12-20
Mark 8:1-10
Wednesday
Isaiah 54:1-17, Gal. 4:21-31
Mark 8:11-26
Thursday
Isaiah 55:1-13, Gal. 5:1-15
Mark 8:27-9:1
Friday
Isaiah 56:1-8, Gal. 5:16-24
Mark 9:2-13
Saturday
Isaiah 57:3-13, Gal. 5:25-6:10
Mark 9:14-29
Calendar for the Week
February 1, 2009, The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Low Mass, 8:30 a.m., High Mass, 11 a.m.
Child care provided for both worship services
Continental breakfast in the Undercroft follows the 8:30 a.m. Mass
Ministry Day follows Mass.
Choir Rehearsal 9:15 a.m.
Adult Forum: Ethical Questions and Dilemmas: The Beginning of Life, Part II
Children’s Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
Coffee Hour in the Undercroft follows the 11 a.m. Mass.
