All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 2, Number 52, November 22, 2009

Living into the Kingdom of God

Over time, the Church has looked for the kingdom of God in many places: in the past, in the present, and sometimes in a hopeful view of the future. Looking for the kingdom of God can be confusing unless we remember that Jesus is actually the key.  Charles Gore, who was one of the great minds of the Church in the early 20^th century, gave a series of lectures entitled, “Christ and Society.”  Bishop Gore pointed out that Jesus began his mission by taking up the message of John the Baptist: “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe in the gospel” . . . Bishop Gore writes,

As we study the teaching of Jesus it appears that not only was the kingdom at hand, but that in some sense it had actually come in His person. There was, at first, no proclamation of Himself as the Christ: but only the proclamation of the kingdom, and the ingathering of those who received his teaching and believed in Him to constitute the New Israel. “Fear not, little flock,”  He said to them, “it is your Father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Halley Stewart Lectures)

So the kingdom, in some sense, is Christ himself.  As he reveals himself, the kingdom unfolds.  The kingdom of God spreads out as we receive Christ and come to know and love him and continue to embody his kingdom-goals in our lives. 

Especially on this day, as we come to the close of the church year, we give thanks for Christ the King.  And we give thanks that it is a kingdom that has been given to us, for us to extend to all of those who might believe.  May we rejoice in this kingdom of reversals.  May we open our doors to a kingdom of outcasts.  And may we open our hearts to a kingdom of possibilities.  John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . The December/January issue of the parish bimonthly newsletter The Message is available in the undercroft.  Please pick up your copy and save the parish the cost of postage . . . A new parish directory is available in the undercroft.  Please only take one per person . . . Attendance on Sunday, November 15, at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, 35; attendance at 11:00 a.m. Mass, 142 . . . Total pledge offerings this week were $9,760.00. The plate offering this week was $975.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Laurie Kam, 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, Ted Field, and for the repose of the soul of Albert . . . 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.
 

The parish extends its sympathy and love to the family and friends of Albert Arbury, who died on November 16 in Florida.  David Arbury often sings in our choir, and Sheila Arbury is a new member of the parish. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Albert and for all who mourn.

Liturgical Notes . . . The flowers at the high altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of John Scholl, given by Kathleen Scholl . . . The flowers at the altar in the Mary Chapel are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Joan Kennedy Meyers, on her birthday, dedicated with love from Melissa Meyers, Josie Martin, and Ellie Martin.

Childcare Workers Needed . . . Our childcare attendant, Amy Schoolcraft, will be leaving us at the end of November.  Natty Dayal will be away during the months of January and February.  If you know of anyone who would like to be considered for these positions (Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.), please contact the parish office.

Episcopal Mens Fellowship . . . The EMF will meet in the undercroft on Tuesday, December 8 to hear Robert Publicover talk about “Christmas at the North Pole.” It has become an EMF tradition for our December meeting to feature stories from our members about Christmas celebrations around the world, and Bob was fortunate to have spent a holiday season stationed at one of the two U.S. Air Force Bases in Greenland (Sondrestrom AB).  If you are interested in attending, please sign up in the undercroft so that we can arrange for the proper amount of food.

A Special Advent Evensong . . . On Sunday, December 6 at 4 p.m, All Souls will offer choral evensong with prayers for the season and in particular thanksgiving for the ministry of the St. John Eye Hospital in East Jerusalem.  An offering will be taken for the ongoing ministry of the hospital and clinics.  Music led by the All Souls Choir will include Preces and Responses by Thomas Morley (1557 or 1558 – 1602) canticles from the Short Service by Orlando Gibbons (1583 – 1625), and other anthems.  Father Beddingfield will be the officiant and the Rev. William Hague, rector of Christ Church, Kensington, will offer the homily. Please join us for this special time of prayer and song.  A reception sponsored by the Order of St. John follows in the undercroft.

St. Nicholas Party . . . The children of the Sunday school will celebrate the season on Saturday, December 12 at 6 p.m. in the undercroft.  (Children of all ages, as well as adults, are welcome to join the party.)  Contributions will be received to purchase toys for the St. John Eye Hospital. The dinner will be pot luck, so if you can bring something, please RSVP to Marcia Anderson at marcia513@verizon.net.

Adult Forum on Interfaith Dialogue . . . On Sunday, November 22, the Rev. Dr. Peter Phan will speak on “Being Religious Inter-religiously.”  Dr. Phan, a native of Vietnam, teaches in the theology department of Georgetown University, serves on the faculty of various other institutions.  Among a wide variety of publications, Dr. Phan is also general editor of a multi-volume series entitled Theology in Global Perspective, and a multi-volume series entitled Ethnic American Pastoral Spirituality. Join us in the undercroft at 10 a.m as we continue to learn about other ways of understanding God. 

Thanksgiving Day, November 26 . . . Join parishioners and friends of the parish for Mass at 10 a.m. and a grand Thanksgiving meal later in the afternoon. Please email Jennifer Johnston at jcjohnston38@msn.com or call the Parish Office if you plan to come, bring something, or help in the kitchen.

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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