All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 14, February 28, 2010

EATING AND DRINKING OUR WAY INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Religious people often have a conflicted relationship with eating and drinking, especially during the season of Lent, when some choose to fast as a means of drawing closer to God.  Even Jesus met with controversy around eating.  In answer to his critics Jesus pointed out that John the Baptist had come “neither eating nor drinking” (in other words, keeping strict dietary laws) and people still said that John had a demon.  Jesus, on the other hand, had come “eating and drinking, and they say, `Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'”

It seems clear from the Gospels that Jesus loved a good meal and rarely shied away from a good party.  That may be one reason why so many of us are drawn into Christian community through eating and drinking together.  At All Souls, not only do we do this sacramentally in the Eucharist, but we also do it more informally through the Foyer Dinner Program.

 
The Foyer Dinner idea originated from Coventry, England.  In 1940 Coventry Cathedral was completely destroyed by air raids.  In its place a new cathedral community was formed focusing on reconciliation and forgiveness.  In 1967, the staff of Coventry Cathedral began meeting together in small informal groups as a means "to bridge the divisions which subtly separate us one from another.”  As a result of the meetings they noticed a powerful bond forming among the staff members who joined what they came to call the Foyer Group.  Foyer Groups spread from that point onward.

Our All Souls Foyer Groups may appear primarily social to some, but I would argue that a lot more is also going on whenever we eat and drink together.  Relationships are made, friendships are developed, and people are brought more deeply into the presence of Jesus Christ.  (Not to mention that there is a lot of really good food!)

I encourage everyone to sign up for a Foyer Group.  Groups can meet in homes, apartments, restaurants; for brunch, dinner, or tea. You may end up with a group in which you have little in common with others.  You also might end up in a group that becomes a primary support.  The Holy Spirit is behind it all, so we sign up with faith and trust (and a few good recipes to share).  Join us in the fun.  John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . Articles for the April/May edition of The Message are due by March 1 to the parish office or emailed to message.allsoulsdc@gmail.com . . . The Adult Forum continues on Sunday, February 28 at 10 a.m. in the undercroft. Laura Tomes will lead us in a discussion of prayer and scripture in Judaism . . . Episcobasics continues this Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m to 2 p.m. in the Conference Room.  The topic is “Worship and Sacraments” and will be led by Ed Perlman. . . Attendance for the First Sunday in Lent, February 21 at the 8:30 a.m., Mass, 40; at the 11 a.m. Mass, 140 . . . Total pledge offerings were $10,423.00 and the plate offering was $1,185.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Bob and Louise Osborne, Michael Baker, Joan Shapiro, 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 and Sally Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, Ted Field, and for the repose of the soul of Marley Jo Norton . . 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 Barbara Brady on the death of her mother, Marley Jo "Joey" Norton, on February 20, 2010. A memorial service will be held in Wisconsin on March 5. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Jo, for Barbara and her family, and for all who mourn. 

Liturgical Notes . . . During Lent the altar frontal and the priest’s vestments are of an unbleached linen and known as “lenten array.” Their simplicity is meant to call to mind the sackcloth and ashes of the biblical penitent. Lenten array, rather than purple, is an ancient custom associated with the Sarum use (from Salisbury Cathedral) since at least the eleventh century . . . Stations of the Cross is offered each Friday evening in Lent at 7 p.m. . . .The sanctuary candle burns to the glory of God and in memory of Sandra McLean Anderson, given by Evan Anderson . . . With the exception of the Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare Sunday) flowers are not used at the altars, adding to our understanding of Lent as a season of penitence and fasting.

The Heifer Project works with communities around the world to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Giving to this project works to “pass on the gift.” The families then share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills. Visit the information table in the Undercroft to learn more about this great program.

Is God calling you to become more involved? . . . Are you interested in serving on the Vestry of All Souls?  At our annual meeting on Sunday, May 16, we will elect the Junior Warden and general members of the vestry.  Please be thinking and praying about who might be nominated and selected.  Nomination forms will be available in the April/May edition of The Message.

All Souls are Green . . . invites you to consider a “carbon fast” as part of your Lenten discipline.  All Souls are Green is the committee that is working to make All Souls Church a greener, more environmentally-friendly place. We have found a Lenten calendar with suggestions for daily small changes to reduce your own energy use.  This calendar, written by the people of the Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, is available in the narthex and in the undercroft. If you’d like to go paperless, you can also find the calendar on the main page of our parish website. 

Yoga in Lent Continues . . . Join All Souls parishioner Richard McKewen, RYT, (registered yoga teacher) as he leads yoga classes every Saturday morning during Lent in the undercroft. We will have a limited number of yoga mats available for people to use, so if you have your own, please bring it with you. And try not to eat for at least an hour beforehand. The classes are free, but donations will be gladly accepted, to be shared between All Souls and a charity to be decided by the class. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Richard at stoligimlet@hotmail.com or 202-309-3566.