All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 2, Number 21, April 19, 2009

A SEASON FOR WITNESS

The Gospel readings for the weekdays in the first week of Easter relate stories about the first appearances of Jesus.  Jesus appears to the several Marys at the tomb, and he appears to the disciples in their various locations.  Two disciples are on the road to Emmaus, others are in a locked room, and some of the disciples have gone back to their work and are fishing.  We know about these appearances because the people to whom Jesus appeared told other people. 

“People who tell people” are witnesses.  (Of course, sometimes they are also busybodies and gossips, but let’s accentuate the positive, since it’s Easter.)  The Church has survived only because people told other people.   The Church continues and grows because—empowered by the Holy Spirit, changed by our own relationship with Jesus Christ—we continue to tell other people.

  
Telling others about Jesus Christ need not be as aggressive as going up to someone on the Metro and asking, “Excuse me, is this seat saved?  And by the way, are you?”  For most of us, that’s just not our style.  But we can casually say to someone at work, “I had the best Easter this year…” We can say to a neighbor or someone in the apartment building laundry room, “I don’t want to be too forward, but I wondered if you might like to join me at my church some time?”  We can wear All Souls t-shirts at the gym or the neighborhood, we can take All Souls tote bags on errands, and soon, we can use our All Souls shopping bags when we go to the market.

 
Almost every Sunday we have visitors from out of town who say, “I never knew this church was here.  It’s so beautiful and the people are so friendly.”  They become witnesses for us in their own towns, but we have a lot of witnessing to do here in Washington, DC, as well.  In two weeks, we will have another of our Newcomers’ Wine & Cheese gatherings in the Undercroft.  Is there anyone you have met that you might bring?  Is there anyone you can encourage to attend? 

Especially in this season of the Resurrection, I encourage you to do what you can to witness to the love of Christ in your life and the ways in which that love is celebrated and enjoyed through All Souls Parish.  John Beddingfield
 

Your prayers are asked for . . . Helen Horne, Jim Capen, Bruce MacDonald, Polly Mitchell, Bob Colburn, Elizabeth McKee, Freddie Cameron, Robert Long, Frank Karel, Jimmy Hobbs, Mark, Jane Titterson, Barb Chaffee, Harriet Martin, Chris Cobb, 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, 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 Betty . . . Pray also for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Jack Severson, 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 Mimi Clark upon the death of her mother, LePoint Cassibry Smith, on April 9. Please pray for the repose of the soul of LePoint, for Mimi and her family, and for all who mourn.

Around the Parish . . . The Adult Forum does not meet this Sunday, April 19, but will resume on April 26 with “Social Justice: A Personal Journey,” with Joe and Embry Howell.  The Howells will talk about their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and discuss the differences they see between then and now.  Come hear how two white Southerners from affluent families wound up working for SNCC in Southwest Georgia in 1966 and how the experience transformed their lives. Weigh in on what social justice means in 2009 . . . Attendance on Maundy Thursday, 77; on Good Friday 80, Easter Vigil 95, Easter Day at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, 55; at the 11 a.m. Mass, 326 . . .  Easter Day pledge offerings were $9,576.00. The plate offering was $2,527.00.

Help with Habitat for Humanity . . . All Souls will be assisting Habitat for Humanity to build houses for worthy families on Saturday May 9.  There is an opportunity for up to 30 people to join in for either a full or half day at the site.  There is also an opportunity for people to help Nancye Suggs prepare and deliver lunch.  This is annual event that has proven to be a great deal of fun for all.  There is no need for a lot of skill, just a willingness to do God’s work in “Housing the Homeless.”  Please sign up on the sheet in the undercroft.  For any questions ask Tony Domenico at 202-364-5349 or email him at the.domenicos@verizon.net.

Are you new to All Souls . . . Please join us for a newcomers wine and cheese on Sunday, April 26th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Undercroft to learn more about being a part of our parish family.

Liturgical Notes . . . Flowers at the High Altar are given to the glory of God and in celebration of the anniversary of Stu and Joanna Edwards . . . The Paschal Candle (so named after the Greek word for Easter, Pascha) continues to burn throughout Eastertide.  As the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, the Paschal Candle was lit and blessed with the words, “Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega.  All time belongs to him, and all the ages. To him be glory and power, through every age for ever.  By his holy and glorious wounds may Christ our Lord guard us and keep us.  Amen.”  At the Easter Vigil the new fire of God is struck, banishing darkness, and showing forth the victory won on Good Friday. The saving acts of God in history were recounted in the Exsultet and in scripture, a new Christian was made through baptism, and our baptismal vows were renewed.

Early Music Workshop with Philip Cave . . . “The Elizabethans: Music for the court, chamber and chapel from William Byrd to Orlando Gibbons,” will be offered July 7 through July 12 this summer at the National Cathedral.  The workshop is for all levels of singers from advanced high school age and up, choir directors, and for those who simply wish to sit and listen and learn about this music. For more information, pick up a brochure in the choir room or go to www.chorworks.com.

The Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts . . . Attention all artists and art lovers: A new, Chesapeake chapter of the Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts is forming. This national network (see www.ecva.org) exists to support people interested in the intersection of art and spirituality. An organizing meeting is set for 7 p.m. April 28 at the University of Maryland Episcopal Student Center, 4508 College Avenue, College Park (next to St. Andrew's Church). RSVP to the Rev. Peter Antoci at pantoci@umd.edu.

All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church

The Reverend John Beddingfield, rector; The Reverend Christopher Worthley, adjunct clergy;

Mr. Isaac Borocz, parish administrator; Dr. Philip Cave, 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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