All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 28, June 13, 2010

THE BISHOP WALKER SCHOOL AND ALL SOULS

Last Sunday afternoon several of us from All Souls were able to attend the dedication of the new campus of the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys.  The campus is located at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in the Congress Heights neighborhood in Southeast Washington.  Bishop Chane blessed the new location in front of a standing-room-only crowd of hundreds of friends and supporters, who packed the chapel at the Church of the Holy Communion.

All Souls has been supportive of the Bishop Walker School from the very beginning, contributing as individuals and through mission grants from our endowment.  We have hosted the boys for lunch when they have visited the National Zoo and there are other projects in the works for the future.

The question sometimes arises, “Why a school for boys only?”  A majority of students who live east of the Anacostia River–particularly boys–do not read, write, or do math at grade level. Of the almost 1,800 boys who took standardized tests in that community’s 18 elementary schools in 2004, approximately 70% were not proficient in reading, and more than half were not proficient in math. It is well known that boys who are not academically proficient are more likely to develop behavioral problems in the classroom. East of the Anacostia River, elementary-aged boys are suspended from school almost three times more often than girls.  Though the school is for boys, each boy’s entire family becomes a part of the support services offered by the school and by the Diocese of Washington.

Bishop Chane preached one his most eloquent (and brief) sermons.  He suggested that if one is looking for God, one should look into the face of a child.  Furthermore, if one is looking for a miracle, one can simply look at the Bishop Walker School. 

Even as we at All Souls continue to try to serve our own young people more comprehensively and as we try to be a better parish for families with children, I’m grateful that we have this relationship with Bishop Walker School.  I pray that its energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to the education and formation of God’s children will continue to challenge and to inspire us all.  John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . Congratulations to Bob Publicover (also known as Bob Madigan, WTOP’s “Man About Town”) who was awarded the 2010 Duke Zeibert Award by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.  The award goes to the person “whose dedication and leadership have contributed to the success of the Washington restaurant scene . . . Rumor has it that a group of youngish adults from All Souls found themselves participating in the Pub Quiz at Four Fields in Cleveland Park last Wednesday night, and they won the game! (Evangelism takes many forms.) . . . Thanks to those who helped with the parish picnic last Sunday.  Even though the thunderstorms forced us into the undercroft, there was great food and fellowship . . . The Rector will be on vacation June 15—22 and June 25—28 . . . Attendance on June 6, Corpus Christi Sunday at the 8:30 a.m. Mass: 35; at the 11 a.m. Mass: 125 . . . Total pledge offerings for the week were $8,391.00 and the plate offering was $1,489.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Gene Dunn, Susan Johnson, Jim Wallace, Susan Kornacki, Frasier, MaryJane, Bob and Louise Osborne, Joan Shapiro, Ann Dixon, Lorenzo Martinez, Family of Tom Martin, Hugh Yeomans, Helen Horne, Erling Hansen, 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 . . . Pray for members of the parish in the foreign service and others who are working overseas, especially Tim Zladitch, Chuck Hunter, Steve Kerchoff, Brad Moore, and Michael Pate . . . Pray also for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Jack Severson. . . If you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe at lowevg1@verizon.net.

Liturgical Notes . . . On Sunday, June 20, the Rev. Nancy Hildebrand will be the celebrant and preacher at both Masses . . . On Sunday, June 27, the Rev. Ronald Conner will be the celebrant and preacher at both Masses.

Are you new to All Souls? . . . Please join us for a newcomers wine and cheese on Sunday, June 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the undercroft to learn more All Souls and more about becoming involved in our parish family.  This is a wonderful time to meet others in a casual atmosphere.

Capital Pride Celebration June 12-13 . . . All Souls will join other Episcopal churches in the Capital Pride parade on Saturday, June 12.  The parade celebrates the DC Metro Area Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community, its friends, family, and allies . . . On Sunday, June 13, All Souls will have its own booth at the Festival, held at Freedom Plaza from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. To march in the parade or volunteer for the booth, sign up in the undercroft, or send an e-mail to ErwinSdeLeon@gmail.com

South Africa Mission . . . All Souls is tentatively planning a mission trip to Johannesburg, South Africa to visit the Kwasa Centre and the Diocese of the Highveld October 11 through October 20, 2010.  Airfare costs approximately $1,300.  More information will be available as plans develop.  If you are interested in joining the mission trip, please speak with Marcia Anderson or Father Beddingfield.

Small Church Religious Arts Festival . . . On Saturday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria will be hosting the fifth annual event.  This will be a celebration of the arts in small churches, and the whole community is invited to attend.  There will have tables for local churches to display and demonstrate their arts and crafts, food and wonderful music (featuring John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland), and fun activities for everyone, including children. It promises to be a fun and exciting time.  For more information about the day and its activities, please see http://www.vts.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=121883

National Cathedral Sing-along . .  . On Sunday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m. the Cathedral Choral Society will present a sing-along of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana in the great choir of the Cathedral. Singers of every ability are welcome to experience singing in this glorious setting. Participants enjoy a lively interaction with CCS Music Director J. Reilly Lewis.  Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at http://www.cathedralchoralsociety.org/CONCERT6.htm

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