All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 1, November 29, 2009

ADVENT AND THE COMING OF A NEW SEASON

The church begins a new year with the First Sunday of Advent.  It is a season in which the people of God wait, and watch, and listen closely for God’s coming in new ways.  God became incarnate through a tiny baby, but God also promises to return again.  There will be a final return, but there are also other ways in which God breaks into our lives with surprise truth, beauty, joy, and love.  This season helps us refine our senses and deepen our discernment.

On Sundays in Advent our music will help us notice this change in seasons and help us to pray in a slightly different way.  We will use congregational settings of the Mass Ordinary (those parts of the Mass that do not change: the Kyrie, the Sanctus and Benedictus, and the Agnus Dei) by Franz Schubert.  We will also continue our tradition of beginning the Mass with the singing of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) on the First, Second and Fourth Sundays of Advent.

On the Third Sunday of Advent, rather than offer an abbreviated Service of Advent Lessons and Carols as we have done for many years, this year the choir will sing
J.S. Bach’s Cantata No. 61, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, based upon the hymn tune we know as “Savior of the Nations, Come.” 

On Wednesday evenings in Advent there will be an opportunity to learn more about some of our Advent music.  Led by Philip Cave, Cameron Soulis, and myself, we will explore history around the Advent “O Antiphons” (the basis for the hymn “O Come, O come Emmanuel”),  learn more with Philip Cave about the history around Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (which the choir will sing on December 13) and explore other themes of the season.  Join us at 7 p.m in the undercroft for a light supper, which will be followed by the presentation and discussion.

Words from the traditional bidding prayer for Lessons and Carols are good ones for us to begin this season: “Let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, to see the Babe lying in a manger.  Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God . . . brought us by his holy Child.” John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . The Adult Forum will not meet on Sunday, November 29, but will resume on December 6 with a discussion of Judaism . . . Attendance on Sunday, November 22, at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, 31; attendance at 11:00 a.m. Mass, 141 . . . Total pledge offerings this week were $7,273.00. The plate offering this week was $837.50.

The parish extends its sympathy and love to Tom Mabon upon the death of his uncle, Lawrence "Laurie" Kam who died on November 22. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Laurie, for Tom’s mother Betty Mabon, and for all who mourn.

The parish also extends its sympathy and love to Melissa Meyers upon the death of her aunt, Adrienne Marsher, who also died on November 22.  Please pray for the repose of the soul of Adrienne, for Melissa, and for all who mourn.

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, 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, Louise and Robert Osborne, Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, Ted Field, and for the repose of the souls of Adrienne, Laurence, and Roy . . . 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 burns to the glory of God and in memory of Rick Forster, on the third anniversary of his death, given by Bob Publicover.  

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.” 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.

Endowment Grant Applications . . . Applications for grants from the All Souls Endowment Fund for 2010 are available in the parish office and on the bulletin board in the undercroft. Grants may be made for projects in ministry or mission as well as for capital improvements. All applications are due in the office by January 29, 2010 and will be acted upon by the Board and Vestry.