All Souls Weekly Volume 2, Number 41, September 6, 2009
LABOR DAY
Labor Day might be the very last day you would imagine being in church.It’s more often a day for being outside, for ignoring the homework that is already beginning to pile up, for picnics, mad dashes to the beach, or a final chance to take a deep breath before fall schedules begin in earnest.But it’s too bad we usually don’t have church on Labor Day because our Prayer Book provides us with plenty to reflect upon around the issues of work, vocation, and the common good.
The Gospel for Labor Day is Matthew 6:19-24, which includes Jesus saying, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”Here, Jesus reminds his disciples and us where to aim our efforts.He reminds us to keep a perspective on work and to try to keep our priorities in order.There is also the reminder that treasures can weigh us down.They can burden as easily as they can bless.
The Collect for the Day captures a broad understanding of vocation—of work as a calling that involves all of us.
Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Whether we are looking for work, resting from work, working too hard, or not working at all, Labor Day gives us an opportunity to dedicate ourselves and all our efforts to God.It is a good day for us to ask God to guide our efforts, to remember those less fortunate, and to reflect upon the extent to which we are contributing to some understanding of a common good.John Beddingfield
Around the Parish . . . The September issue of The Message, the (normally bimonthly) parish newsletter, is available in the undercroft.Please pick up your copy and save the church the cost of postage . . . Attendance on Sunday, August 30 at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, 30; attendance at 11:00 a.m. Mass, 116 . . . Total pledge offerings for the week were $5,145.00. The plate offering last Sunday was $525.00.
Your prayers are asked for . . . Clark Ball, Helen Horne, Pat Latin, Erling Hansen, Tim Dill, Mark Hoffman, Mona Bauer, Sarah Calder and her family, Mary Backus, Sandy Jenkins Dixon, Robert Konefal, Steve Collins, I. Kathryn McKewen, Lexi Ball, Thais Blanchard, Bruce MacDonald, Bob Colburn, Elizabeth McKee, Freddie Cameron, Robert Long, Frank Karel, Barb Chaffee, Harriet Martin, Chris Cobb, Landis Vance, Vickie Drell, Stephanie Russell, Ruth & Fred Huber, Jim St. George, Mark Henderson, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Walter Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, Robert Osborne, Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, and Ted Field . . . Pray for members of the parish in the foreign service and others who are working overseas, especially Chuck Hunter, Steve Kerchoff, Brad Moore, and Michael Pate . . . 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.
Liturgical Notes . . . The sanctuary candle in the Mary Chapel burns to the glory of God and in memory of Ann Esch, given by Tom Esch and Valerie Levanos . . . Flowers at the high altar are provided for the glory of God from the parish flower fund, since no specific dedication was made.If you would like to dedicate flowers or the sanctuary candle to the memory of a loved one or in celebration of a life event, please contact the parish office.
Newcomers’ wine & cheese . . . Please join us for a newcomers wine and cheese on Sunday, September 20 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the undercroft.Come to meet new friends and learn more about the ministry and life of All Souls Parish.
Sunday School Potluck & Planning . . . Please join us on Saturday afternoon, September 19, at 5:00 p.m. for a light dinner and an organizational meeting for the children’s Sunday School, 2009-2010.We’ll get to preview the new curriculum, which is published by the Episcopal Church called, “All Things New.”It follows the church year and is primarily based on biblical stories and the basics of Christianity. If you can come or have ideas, please contact Lisa Watson, Father Beddingfield, or the parish office.
Choir of King’s College, London to sing at All Souls . . . On Ingathering Sunday, September 13, the Choir of King’s College will sing at our 11 a.m. Mass.The choir is one of the leading university choirs in England. Consisting of twenty-five choral scholars and two organ scholars, it is directed by the College Organist, David Trendell, (who is also a friend of several All Souls parishioners). The choir performs a large and varied repertoire ranging from the fourteenth century to the present day and has made many celebrated recordings of sixteenth-century English and Spanish music.More information is at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/about/structure/dean/choir/about.html
Update from the Archives . . . The Anne Roane Clary Archives Room has been redecorated and brightened up. Now all we need are the volunteers to help put it in proper order and to revive this essential repository of our church's history. We hope to hold a number of start-up meetings during the next two weeks during which we will introduce new volunteers to the facility and give some training in the responsibilities of church archival work. If you are interested in learning how to help in our archives, please feel free to contact Archives Guild members: Nancye Suggs fatnancat@aol.com and Marko Zlatich namz1@earthlink.net.
Ana Hernandez to lead workshop . . . Ana Hernandez, known throughout the Episcopal Church for her creative exploration of how singing builds community, will lead a workshop, “The Sacred Art of Chant: Preparing to Practice” with other musicians from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. September 26 at St. Alban’s Church. This day of singing, learning and praying is open to all. Lunch is provided. To register, contact Sonya Sutton at 202-363-8286. For more information about Hernandez, visit www.anahermusic.com.
Readings for the Daily Office
September 6, 2009
Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 12:21-33, John 10:31-42
Acts 4:18-31
Monday: Labor Day
1 Kings 13:1-10, Mark 15:40-47
Phil. 1:1-11
Tuesday
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1 Kings 16:23-34, Mark 16:1-20
Phil. 1:12-30
Wednesday
1 Kings 17:1-23, Matt.2:1-12
Phil. 2:1-11
Thursday
1 Kings 18:1-19, Matt. 2:13-23
Phil. 2:12-30
Friday
1 Kings 18:20-40, Matt. 3:1-12
Phil. 3:1-16
Saturday
1 18:41-19:8, Matt. 3:13-17
Phil. 3:17-4:7
Calendar for the Week
September 6, 2009, The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Low Mass, 8:30 a.m., High Mass, 11 a.m.
Child care provided for both worship services
Continental breakfast in the Undercroft following 8:30 a.m. Mass
No Adult Forum until the Fall
Sunday School, 11:15 a.m.
Coffee Hour in the Undercroft following 11 a.m. Mass
