All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 17, March 21, 2010

LOOKING AHEAD TO GOOD FRIDAY

People sometimes wonder why Friday of Holy Week is called “Good Friday.”  Some have attempted to spiritualize the idea and suggest that since it is through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that we gain forgiveness of sin, it is overall a good thing for humanity, therefore, “good” Friday. Others have suggested that the day might have initially been called “God’s Friday,” and simple became contracted over time.   

As we have done for the past few years, the primary liturgy of the day will be at noon.  At that service the Passion of John and the Solemn Collects are chanted, Veneration of the Cross is offered, and we receive the Body of Christ from the Reserved Sacrament, sometimes called the “Mass of the Presanctified,” since the Eucharist has been reserved in the Mary Chapel since Maundy Thursday. 

This year, we will also have a special worship service on Good Friday at 7 p.m.  This will be primarily a musical service with prayers and several spiritual readings.  The choir will sing the Seven Last Words on the Cross by Heinrich Schütz.  Schütz is one of the most significant German composers before Bach and one of the most important composers of 17th century sacred choral music.  The choir will also sing an arrangement of Stabat Mater by Emanuele d'Astorga.  “Stabat Mater” is the short Latin name for the hymn that we sing during Stations of the Cross.  It is based on texts from the 13^th century and meditates upon what it must have been like for Mary to be at the Cross when Jesus was being crucified.  Communion will not be offered in the evening on Good Friday.

The liturgies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil (when the first Mass of Easter is celebrated) are really one long liturgy, each portion playing its part in helping us to connect with the story of Christ’s loving sacrifice for us all. Some of the most meaningful scriptures are read and some of the most beautiful music is offered. At the Easter Vigil (at 8 p.m. on Saturday) the choir is joined by a brass quintet.  On Easter Day the choir is joined by strings. Though work and family obligations always make it difficult to be at church, I hope you’ll plan on spending some time during Holy Week simply letting the prayers and music of the Church touch you. John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . The rector will be attending a family systems workshop in West Virginia from Monday, March 22 through the afternoon of Wednesday, March 24 . . . Yoga continues on Saturday mornings in Lent, 10 a.m. in the undercroft . . . Episcobasics concludes this Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m to 2 p.m. in the Conference Room.  The topic is “Charity, Mission, Vocation & Calling” and will be led by Cameron Soulis. . . Attendance March 14 at the 8:30 a.m., Mass, 26; at the 11 a.m. Mass, 158 . . . Total pledge offerings were $10,298.00 and the plate offering was $613.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Frasier, MaryJane, John Matthews, Bob and Louise Osborne, 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 Scott . . . 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 Dan Davis upon the death of his brother, Scott Davis, on March 18. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Scott, for Dan and his family, and for all who mourn.

Liturgical Notes . . . Father Worthley will be the preacher at both Masses this Sunday and Father Beddingfield will be the celebrant . . . 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. . . . 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.

Applications Sought for Bishop’s Search Committee . . . Applicants interested in serving on either the Search Committee or the Transition Committee for a new bishop are encouraged to apply. An application form is available at http://search.edow.org. (These are also posted in the undercroft.) Deadline for applications is March 26.

Join us for the Adult Forum . . . Today at 10 a.m. in the undercroft Joe Howell kicks off his five session series on “The Evolution of Belief.” This week will be an overview of the series.  On March 28 he will focus on animism and “primitive religion”, which according to Joe is really not all that primitive. Could you be a closet animist? Come and find out.

Men’s Fellowship in April . . . The Episcopal Men’s Fellowship group will be meeting next on Thursday, April 15 at 7 p. m. in the Undercroft. Our speaker will be Norman Whitmire, who will talk about life in the seminary after his first two years of study at the Virginia Theological Seminary and his upcoming summer assignation. We will be providing a tasty meal and drinks for the always low price of $15. To RSVP please sign up in the Undercroft or else email ike.brannon@gmail.com.

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.

Adopt an apartment . . . All Souls is furnishing an apartment for a homeless family through the Transitional Housing Corporation's Adopt-an-Apartment program. Move-in day is Saturday, April 17. You can see a list on the All Souls website (www.allsoulsdc.org). We'll also need donations of cash (all beds and bedding must be purchased new) and help on move-day. Finally, we could use a co-chair for this effort; if you're interested please contact Heidi at hfritschel@verizon.net.

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

2300 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008-1505;Voice: 202-232-4244, Fax: 202-232-8593

Email: allsouls1@aol.com; website: www.allsoulsdc.org