All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 2, Number 47, October 18, 2009

Thinking about Vocations

Sometimes when people hear me talk about my brother and my brother’s church, they think he might be a priest or a minister.  He’s involved in a number of different ministries and it seems like he’s always up to something new. But if he were ordained as a priest, I think it would actually limit his involvement and reduce his effectiveness.  It would be that way for a lot of people at All Souls.  Ministry takes many forms.

I think of the woman from our parish who has a ministry of presence.  She has a toughness beneath the calm and she gets things done.  She’s not a priest.  Rather, she works in a law firm.  I think of the man who has a ministry with young people, helping them to see possibilities they never dreamed of, helping them to overcome any obstacle.  He’s not a priest, but instead, he’s a teacher. We could go through the parish rolls, naming individuals and lifting up their work—work which, when consecrated, when held up to God, when blessed and increased by God—becomes ministry. 

Very soon I hope that you will meet Cameron Soulis, who will be spending a year with All Souls as she discerns God’s call and explores her own vocation.  I hope that, as Cameron considers her own ministry, her process can be a mirror for us all to think about our own ministries, whether lay or ordained. 

Cameron was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in Williamsport, Maryland.  After college she moved to Baltimore and lived there for 14 years.  After that, she lived in California for two years but missed family and seasons, and moved to Washington.  She has been an Episcopalian since she was ten years old, served on the vestry, sung in church choirs, and has been involved in a wide variety of ministries.  She is a member of the National Cathedral congregation and works as a chemistry teacher in the upper school at Sidwell Friends School.

We will soon form a committee that will help Cameron to discern the Spirit during this year.  The committee will meet monthly and will be chaired by the Rev. Harriette Sturges, deacon at St. Alban’s Church and member of the diocesan Commission on Ministry. Please join me in welcoming Cameron and in praying that all our ministries might be clarified, deepened, and enriched.  John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . We will be publishing a new parish membership directory in November, just in time for the holidays.  If you have changes to your address or contact information, please make corrections on the hard copy in the undercroft or send your changes to the parish office . . . Please be aware that the deadline for submitting articles for the December/January issue of the parish bimonthly newsletter, The Message, is Sunday, October 25.  Please submit articles to the parish office or email them to message.allsoulsdc@gmail.com . . . It is the season for marches and marathons in Washington, D.C.  In particular, the Marine Corps Marathon is October 25.  Please be aware of traffic conditions if you plan to drive to church over the next few weekends . . . Attendance on Sunday, October 11 at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, 34; attendance at 11:00 a.m. Mass, 106 . . . Total pledge offerings for the week were $4,724.00. The plate offering was $1,792.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Ann Dixon, Lorenzo Martinez, Family of Tom Martin, Hugh Yeomans, Cielito Pilar, Helen Horne, Pat Latin, Erling Hansen, Tim Dill, Mark Hoffman, Mona Bauer, 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, Barb Chaffee, Harriet Martin, Chris Cobb, Landis Vance, Vickie Drell, Stephanie Russell, Ruth & Fred Huber, Jim St. George, Mark Henderson, Sheldon Odland, 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 flowers at the high altar are given to the glory of God and in memory of Mary and Walter Edwards, parents of Stu Edwards . . . The flowers in the Mary Chapel are given to the glory of God and in memory of Marie Stapleton Warren, given by Art Warren . . . On Sunday, November 8, the Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon, retired bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Washington, will be our preacher and celebrant at the 11 a.m. High Mass.  Please come and welcome Bishop Dixon back to All Souls.

All Saints and All Souls . . . On Sunday, November 1, we will celebrate All Saints’ Day at both the Low Mass at 8:30 a.m. and the High Mass at 11 a.m.   Names of the faithful departed will be read during both Masses . . . On Monday, November 2, at 7 p.m., a High Mass with choir will be offered in observance of All Souls.  The music includes Missa Defunctorum by Joan Brudieu (c.1520–1591).  Again, the names of the faithful departed will be read and the Mass will end with a procession to the columbarium, where final prayers are offered . . . Forms for names to be included in the prayers are available in the narthex, in the worship leaflets, and on the parish website.

Adult Forum on Interfaith Dialogue . . . On Sunday, October 18, Mr. Peter Geel, doctoral candidate in religious pluralism at Georgetown University will speak about working with youth in interfaith dialogue. On Sunday, October 25, we will hear from Charles Jones, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, School of Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University  regarding, “Christian Theological Mandates for Interfaith dialogue.” Please join us at 10 a.m. in the undercroft.

Flu & Pneumonia Vaccinations. . . Will be available on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Undercroft.  Contact our own Dr. Al Muller if you have questions or need more information, 301-657-1671

Centering Prayer Group . . . On Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. a handful of people gather in the church for silent prayer.  If you’re new to Centering Prayer, and would like a brief introduction, please join us at 6:50 p.m. Both the main church door and the Woodley Place door will be unlocked.

All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church

The Reverend John Beddingfield, rector; The Reverend Christopher Worthley, adjunct clergy; Mr. Seth Walley, seminarian; 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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