All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 8, January 17, 2010

Praying for Haiti

On Wednesday night Virginia Seminary held a special Mass to pray for the people of Haiti.  Many of us had read or seen various reports of the day and were only beginning to wrap our minds around the extent of the damage from Tuesday’s earthquake.  But the pain of Haiti was close by on Wednesday, as three of the young men serving at the altar were Haitian.  One learned on Wednesday that his brother was killed the day before.  All three are studying for the priesthood in Virginia, apart from family, apart from the churches that sent them to seminary, apart from all that once was familiar.

One of the Haitian men proclaimed the Gospel, first in Creole and then in English.  He read John 11:21-27, a reading often used at a funeral.  But when it was read by him, it seemed hauntingly poignant.  It begins, “Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.“  Martha asks Jesus (and God) the question many of us would ask, or perhaps are asking.  It is basically the question, “Where were you, God?”  “How could you let this happen?”  “Had you been here, had you been present, had you cared, this would not have happened.” 

Jesus looks at Martha and says simply, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha doesn’t let Jesus get away with that, and so she pushes, “Yes, Lord, I know he’ll rise one day, but what about now?  What about in the meantime?”  And to this, Jesus says simply, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Jesus gives us himself for this life.  And he gives us the promise of leading us into eternal life.  While we are here, he will continue to move us to help one another.

Those with particular skills might be called to go to Haiti and offer assistance.  Many of us will be called upon to dig deeply in our pockets and donate money.  (There are many options, but one of the best is Episcopal Relief and Development, whose website is http://www.er-d.org.) All of us are called upon to pray.  We can pray for those who have died, for those who need God’s healing, and for those who have survived but will need strength and faith for the days ahead.   May God bring resurrection and life to Haiti, and may God help us be people of hope. John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . From January 18–22, the rector will be attending classes at Virginia Theological Seminary as a part of the Doctor of Ministry program.  He will be checking phone messages and emails at night and will have his cell phone with him, in case of any emergencies, 202-510-7454 . . . Attendance on Sunday, January 10 at the 8:30 a.m, Mass, 25; at the 11 a.m. Mass, 159 . . . Total pledge offerings on Sunday were $15,892.00. The plate offering from Sunday was $1,156.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Bob and Louise Osborne, Ann Dixon, Lorenzo Martinez, Family of Tom Martin, Hugh Yeomans, Helen Horne, Erling Hansen, Tim Dill, Mona Bauer, Mary Backus, Sandy Jenkins Dixon, I. Kathryn McKewen, Thais Blanchard, Bruce MacDonald, Bob Colborn, 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, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Walter Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, , 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 . . . Flowers at the Altar are given to the glory of God and in memory of Melissa Catherine Brannon, given by her brother Ike Brannon.

Stewardship update . . . To date, we have received 157 pledges, totaling $466,146.00. The Vestry passed a continuing resolution for parish spending into January.  The finance committee meets again today and will recommend a final budget for vestry approval later this month.

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.

Episcopal Men’s Fellowship meets on February 4 . . . On the evening of February 15, 1898 one of the first American battleships blew up in Havana harbor killing 266 American sailors.  Was it Spanish treachery or poor design and negligence that led to this disaster?  Please join the All Souls Men's Fellowship at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 4 as we pause to "Remember the Maine!” RSVP to the parish office or on the signup sheet in the undercroft.

A Service of Prayer for Haiti . . . Strength through Unity – L'Union fait la Force: A Service of Prayer for Haiti is set for Sunday afternoon (Jan. 17) at Washington National Cathedral (service time TBA, check here for an announcement: http://www.nationalcathedral.org). All are invited to attend this service of music and prayer for the victims, families, and survivors of the earthquake in Haiti. The offering will benefit Episcopal Relief and Development’s Haiti Fund, which provides critical assistance such as food, water, and medicine, as well as long-term recovery and rehabilitation aid.

A Service Celebrating Absalom Jones . . . Absalom Jones was the first African American ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. The Washington Chapter of The Union of Black Episcopalians presents the 32nd Annual Absalom Jones Service and Celebration for the benefit of the historically black Episcopal colleges' scholarships and endowment funds. The event is set for 3 p.m. February 14 at Calvary Church (820 Sixth Street, NE, Washington, DC  20002). The snow date is February 21. Derrick Humphries will receive the annual Absalom Jones Award at the service of Holy Eucharist. All are welcome. For more information, contact Janice Wormack at (202)829-6445 or jwormack@washingtonube.org

Readings for the Daily Office

 
Calendar for the Week