This Week's Announcements
March 19, 2018
Message from the Rector
March 19, 2018 
 
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.          John 12:20-23, 26a

"Sir, we wish to see Jesus." That was the request made by a group of Greeks attending the Passover festival in Jerusalem that year. They wished to see Jesus.

Do you wish to see Jesus? When you come to this place, are you coming to seek Jesus and find him, or are you coming for something else? People are often asked if they believe in God or if they follow a particular religion. A lot of people these days identify themselves as "spiritual, but not religious." In some sense, that may be a way just to get the person asking off their back and end the conversation. But, at the same time, what they are saying is that they are seeking something deeper than what the world has to offer. They are seeking something beyond the material, the superficial, the things that eventually fade away or break down, but aren't finding it in the places that are supposed to be religious. Far too often we go around seeking Jesus, but are often met by those who are "religious, but not spiritual ." Far too often we come here seeking Jesus and we are met by folks who come to look cute--to see and be seen. We meet people who come to gossip and talk about other people. We meet people who come to complain: "I don't like the mass. I don't like the music. Father what's-his-name is making too many changes.  I'm not talking to this person. So-and-so made me mad. So-and-so sat in my seat." We create all kinds of situations that inhibit us and other seekers from finding Jesus. Far too often people come to our Christian churches looking for Jesus, a place to belong, a place to be loved in the midst of an unloving world, and are met by a church that is judgmental, exclusive, unfriendly, unwelcoming, full of complaints, and just not life-giving. People come looking for Jesus, but instead we find church folk who don't want to get to know them because they look different, talk differently, act differently, believe differently-just different. The Church is too often "religious, but not spiritual" because it claims to love everybody, yet it excludes certain people from participating fully in church life and in all of its sacraments. You can't take communion here because you believe this way or you don't believe our way. You can't get married because we don't agree with your decision as to whom you want to marry. We're not going to love you, because you don't think or act like we want you to. We're not going to get to know the real you. Religious--but surely not spiritual. Well, it's no wonder no body new wants to come to our churches! They come saying, "We wish to see Jesus," but they don't find him. They come, and they find something else.

Well, it doesn't have to be that way. Jesus is present here. During this season of Lent, we have been gathering after mass to have conversations with each other about how we as a worshipping community are going about seeking Jesus. And you know what, you all are full of Jesus! There is so much Jesus in the things you love about this place. There is so much Jesus in the things you do find here. There is so much Jesus in the things that you dream about for this place and for each other. You can't go around letting the things or people you don't like and the things that are unfamiliar or don't understand stop you from seeking and finding Jesus. Jesus is here in each and every one of us here and in the Blessed Sacrament that is constantly present. We come here seeking a place to belong, a place to be comforted, a place to connect, a place to be community. We come seeking nourishment at the altar, we come looking for Christ, and we find him present among us in Body and Blood. And we should look for Jesus when we leave here, even when we are met by people who are mean, disrespectful, or violent. We should be the voice of God by the words and actions of Jesus Christ to say to everyone, "You matter, God loves you, and I love you."


Today's gospel is meant to make us good disciples, good followers of Christ. "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor." Today's gospel is meant to encourage us to say that we have seen Jesus and we have found him. We're supposed to make it look like we have sought him, that we have found him, and that we know him. Nothing anyone else says or does can make us lose sight of him. Jesus went to the Cross, so that God would be glorified. Jesus went to the Cross to save humanity. Jesus went to the Cross to redeem us when we've turned away from God, to reconcile us and bring us back to God. Jeremiah foretold it in his words to the people of Judah at a time of war, occupation, and exhile: "Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more." We are worthy of God's love and mercy, because Jesus Christ went to the Cross. He was lifted up so that all humanity would be drawn to him, because he is God-made-flesh. When we come to Jesus, we stand or kneel before God. When we find Jesus Christ, we have found God.

Do you wish to see Jesus? I do, and I'm pretty sure you do too. Let's find him here, and let's help others find him, too.



Liturgies and Customs of Holy Week
by Lance Davis

Tenebrae
Tenebræ -- shadows -- is the name given to the service of Matins and Lauds belonging to the last three days of Holy Week, and this year we will be offering the liturgy proper to Maundy Thursday. This office is a sort of funeral service, or dirge, commemorating the death of Jesus Christ, and is conducted almost entirely in darkness. Fifteen candles, referred to as a hearse, are placed in the sanctuary, which are gradually extinguished as the liturgy progresses. At the conclusion of the service, the last candle will be hidden behind the Altar, symbolizing the descent of our Lord into the Realm of the Dead. A great noise is then made by all present, mimicking the earthquake which occurred upon Christ's death.

Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday, the first day of the Sacred Three Days, recounts the initial moments of our Lord's Passion: beginning with the Institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood during the Last Supper, to the agony in the Garden and the scourging in the Praetorium. One of the rituals which characterizes the modern rites is that of the maundy, the "mandate" of Christ to his disciples to love one another, illustrated in the foot-washing. Historically, this ritual was done only in the cathedral as an act of obedience by the bishop to twelve of his priests. The liturgy ends with the solemn procession of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, where we watch with him before his arrest, followed by the stripping of the adornments of the Church (as our Lord was stripped bare by the executioners).

Good Friday
Good Friday is the most somber day of the entire year. A silence pervades, socializing is kept to a minimum, things are done quietly; it is a day of mourning; it is a funeral. The Temple of the Body of Christ is destroyed, capping the penitential seasons begun on Septuagesima Sunday and becoming more intense throughout Lent and Passiontide. Catholics are to wear black, cover their mirrors, and extinguish all candles burning before icons or statues. Draw the curtains, take the phone off the hook, turn off televisions and radios, quiet your environment and yourself, and meditate on what Christ has done for you. At 3:00, the hour he died, the atmosphere should be as if you are standing next to the deathbed of a dear relative. No Mass is offered today, and the Solemn Liturgy is conducted in the black vestments of the Requiem. We will hear the chanting of the Passion, pray for the conversion of the world, venerate the Cross, and receive Holy Communion from the reserve Sacrament consecrated on Maundy Thursday.

Holy Saturday
Silence reigns on earth, for the King is asleep. Christ's body lies in the tomb, and his soul has journeyed to hell to free those detained there under the curse of the ancestral sin. He takes Adam by the arm and drags him up out of the prison Adam made for himself so long ago. With him comes the entire race of humanity, healed of its curse. Death lies slain. There will be no Mass, and we mark the day with fasting and quietness, in expectation of the victory to come this evening. Easter baskets will be assembled in anticipation of tomorrow's Feast of Feasts. It is customary for the "alleluia," traditionally buried on Septuagesima, to be dug up and decorated with flowers and garlands. It's also common throughout Europe and Mexico for effigies of Judas to be burned in the great Paschal fire that will be kindled tonight.

Events this Week  

Monday, March 19
(St. Joseph)
7:30 PM - Monthly Vestry Meeting

Tuesday, March 20
7:00 PM - Prayer for Living
Taizé Prayer #2

Wednesday, March 21
7:00 PM - Low Mass
7:45 PM - Choir Rehearsal

Friday, March 23
9:30 AM - Low Mass
7:30 PM - Stations of the Cross & Benediction (Church)
7:30 PM - Reflexiones y Oraciones (89-27 87th St., Woodhaven)

Saturday, March 24
11:00 AM - Mandatory Rehearsal for
All participating in Holy Week Services
7:30 PM - Rehearsal for La Pasión de Cristo

Sunday, March 25
(Palm Sunday)
8:00 AM - Liturgy of the Palms & Said Mass
9:30 AM - La Misa en Español
10:45 AM - Liturgy of the Palms & Street Procession
11:15 AM - Grand Entrance & High Mass
1:00 PM - Confirmation/Adult Baptism Class
Holy Week and Easter 2018

Palm Sunday - March 25th
8:00 AM      Liturgy & Distribution of Palms & Said Mass
9:30 AM      Mass in Spanish for Palm Sunday
10:45 AM     Liturgy of the Palms & Street Procession
11:15 AM     Grand Entrance & High Mass for Palm Sunday

Weekday Low Masses
Monday - 12:15 PM
Tuesday - 8:00 AM

Wednesday in Holy Week - March 28th
("Spy" Wednesday)
7:30 PM - Service of Tenebrae

Maundy Thursday - March 29th
7:30 PM      Misa de Jueves Santo (89-27 87th St., Woodhaven)
8:00 PM     High Mass with Foot Washing & Stripping of the Altar
9:00 PM - 12:00 AM The Vigil before the Blessed Sacrament

Good Friday - March 30th
12:00 PM     Stations of the Cross
1:00 PM       Confessions
2:00 PM       Solemn Liturgy and Mass of the Presanctified
7:30 PM       Passion Play -  La Pasión de Cristo

Holy Saturday - March 31st
10:00 AM     Holy Saturday Liturgy
5:00 PM        Vigil Liturgy in Spanish
7:30 PM        The Great Vigil, Baptisms,
                           & First Mass of Easter

Sunday of the Resurrection - April 1st
8:00 AM     Said Mass with Hymns
9:30 AM     Misa Festiva de Pascua
11:00 AM    Procession and Festive High Mass of Easter


All services are at the church, unless otherwise indicated.


Stations of the Cross
and
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament


Fridays in Lent
7:30 PM
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Donations are being taken for this years' Easter baskets.
For more information or to give a donation,
please speak to Rowena Chester.
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Please pick up your 2017 Giving Statement & 2018 Envelopes.

There are still a few boxes of envelopes left in the back of the church. If you haven't picked up your box of envelopes for 2018, please do so.

In order for our parish to meet its monthly financial obligations, we require an average weekly pledge of $4,000. This week we received $2,431. 
 
Did you know that you can pay your regular pledge and make other contributions to the General Church Fund online? Simply go to our church management page and set up a personal password. Once it is set up, you can contribute online and see the record of your contributions at any time.  Contributions can be made by e-check (preferred) or by credit/debit card, and are automatically credited to your church record within one or two business days.  Click here to be directed to our church management system. If you have any questions or trouble signing in, please send us an e-mail or call the church for assistance.
 
 Place

Parish Hall Construction Update

Both sides of the building are under-going structural reinforcement and re-framing. New windows are expected to arrive by the end of the week. Thank you for your prayers and patience.





























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Update your information.
Actualiza tu información.
 
Please click below to be directed to our website where you can download the Demographic Information Form.  You may attach it to an e-mail and send it back to the church, or place it in the designated box on the table in the rear of the church.
 
Por favor, haz clic abajo para dirigirte a nuestro sitio web donde puedes descargar la Forma Demográfica.  Puedes adjuntarla a un correo electrónico y enviarla a la iglesia, o ponerla en la caja designada en la parte posterior de la iglesia.
 

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Pastoral Care Opportunities offered by Pastor Leticia
Oportunidades de Cuidado Pastoral ofrecidas por Pastora Leticia

Sometimes we all need a listening heart to process the questions we face.

Give yourself the gift of a confidential conversation that is nonjudgmental, open to YOUR questions and spiritual challenges, and fully supportive of your life quest and spiritual needs.  Hard or challenging times need not be walked alone.  All Saints wants to be there for you, whatever the pain or need.

To schedule a conversation or visit, please call 718-350-9536 or 
click here to e-mail Pastor Leticia.



Hay tiempos cuando todos necesitamos un corazón que escuche para poder procesar las cuestiones que la vida nos presenta.

Date el regalo de una conversación confidencial donde no serás juzgad@, donde lo que importa son TUS preguntas y donde encontraras apoyo para tu búsqueda personal y tus necesidades espirituales.

En tiempos difíciles no es necesario caminar solo.  ¡Todos los Santos quiere estar ahí para ti!

Para acordar una convarsación o visita, llama al 718-350-9536 o envía un correo electrónico a Pastor Leticia, por tocar aquí .

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EVENTS AROUND THE DIOCESE
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
 
 
Donate to Disaster Relief in the US and Worldwide

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas & Louisiana and Hurricane Irma in The Caribbean and Florida, there are many places in need of disaster relief.  Natural disasters are happening all the time around the globe.  You can contribute to the many relief efforts through Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD).
 
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
DRAWING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 22.
Please see a member of the Celebrations Committee or Fr. Whitmire for a ticket.
Winner need not be present to be eligible.
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COMING IN OCTOBER 2018
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