This Week's Announcements
February 19, 2018
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Message from the Rector
February 19, 2018
And the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Mark 1:12-13
Most years on the First Sunday in Lent, I have either heard or have preached a sermon about the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness. In Year B, which is the liturgical year we are in, the story comes from the Gospel of Mark, but Mark doesn't say much about the temptation other than what's in verse 13: "
He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him." We get the other details of his temptation from the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days. He ate nothing and at the end was tempted by Satan. We fast for 40 days as we prepare for the Easter celebration and the Paschal feast. The main point of the story of Jesus's temptation is to teach us that although we have the ability to take matters into our own hands, we depend on God for everything that we need. Jesus had the ability to turn stones to bread, but, as he said, one cannot live by bread alone. We cannot live by our own devices alone, we must include God in our lives, because when we include God, we can do more than we can on our own. We can do far more than we can ask or imagine.
The way we include God is through prayer and meditation. Prayer keeps us focused. Prayer is like our spiritual GPS system. It helps keep us on track and focused on where we are on our spiritual journey. Prayer is how we talk to God, and meditation is how God talks to us. When we let go of our selfish desires (fasting is one way to do that) and when we allow God to speak to us, our desires and actions will more and more aligned to what he wants for us. God knows best, he sees way beyond what we can, and if we only trust him, our lives will be made complete. Like fasting, prayer also reminds us that we cannot go it alone, that we need God in our lives to help us progress on our journey. It's not all about the self, but that we have a companion to help us along the way.
The last thing that Lent should inspire us to do is to give alms. We are not alone. The world tries to make us think that all we need is ourselves, that our own devices, personal drive, and motivation are enough. Those things are important for success, but there is a preoccupation with getting our individual desires, with having my way. It's what I want, it's what I need, it's what I can do for myself. It's my country, it's my church, it's my life. We have once again seen the nadir in succumbing to selfish desires when a young man opened fire at a school in Florida this week, killing 17 people. We've lost a sense that someone else matters. But giving alms helps to change the dynamic; it changes the narrative, because it says that I think somebody other than myself matters. Almsgiving isn't just about giving money; it includes giving of one's time and one's abilities.
So this Lent, I call on you to fast, pray, and give alms. Let go of the things that make you focus too much on yourself and remember that you are part of something bigger than yourself; we don't depend solely on our own devices, but we move through live with God's help and him at our side. Pray. Pray for the strength and endurance to get through all of life's ups and downs, and then meditate to hear what God has to say to you. Finally, give alms. Almsgiving isn't just about giving money, it also involves giving of your time and your gifts. Be a part of God's work in the world.
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According to the current Prayer Book, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
are days of strict fast in which only one meatless meal should be taken.
If necessary for strength, a second smaller (meatless) meal may also be taken. All days in Lent except Sundays are days of abstinence and self-
denial. Fasting ends following the Mass on Holy Saturday night.
The traditional Lenten fast for Western Catholics is as follows:
- Fridays and Saturdays: abstinence and fast
- only one meatless meal may be taken
- All other days of Lent: partial abstinence and fast
- one one principal meal may be taken, but it may include meat
- Lenten Ember days: abstinence and fast.
- Sundays and Feasts: no fasting nor abstinence.
A Reflection on Lenten Fasting
by Fr. Daniel Merz
In the early Church and, to a lesser extent still today, there were two fasts. There was the "total fast" that preceded all major feasts or sacramental events. The ancient name for this fast was statio from the verb sto, stare "to stand watch, on guard or in vigil." The second fast was a fast of abstinence from certain foods, e.g., meats or fats. This was more an act of self-discipline and self-control. The
statio
fast was total and a means of watching and waiting, i.e. for
something. The fast of abstinence was more general and personal, to help oneself be more disciplined or self-controlled. The total fast is still kept today prior to reception of Holy Communion. Following Holy Communion, the total fast ceases because Jesus had explicitly stated that we don't fast when the bridegroom is here, in other words, what we're keeping vigil for has arrived, the wait is over. On the other hand, the fast of abstinence was allowed on Sundays because the continuity of abstinence can be important for it to be effective.
These initial observations, then, teach us that the Eucharist is always the end of a preparation. It is always the fulfillment of an expectation. In the Orthodox Church during Lent, they have Eucharist only on Saturday and Sunday. But because Wednesdays and Fridays are total fast days, those two days are also days for the Communion service (Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified) which are held in the evening, i.e., after the day of preparation. Fasting is always preparatory.
But how did fasting become such an important means of preparing for the Eucharist and of learning virtue through self-discipline? Christian fasting is revealed in an interdependence between two events in the Bible: the "breaking of the fast" by Adam and Eve; and the "keeping of the fast" by Christ at the beginning of his ministry.
Humanity's "Fall" away from God and into sin began with eating. God had proclaimed a fast from the fruit of only one tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17), and Adam and Eve broke it. Fasting is here connected with the very mystery of life and death, of salvation and damnation. Food perpetuates life in this physical world, which is subject to decay and death. But God "created no death." (Wisdom 1:13) Humanity, in Adam and Eve, rejected a life dependent on God alone for one that was dependent rather on "bread alone." (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4) The whole world was given to man as a kind of food, as a means to life, but "life" is meant as communion with God, not as food. ("Their god is their belly." Philippians 3:19) The tragedy is not so much that Adam ate food, but that he ate the food for its own sake, "apart" from God and to be independent of Him. Believing that food had life in itself and thus he could be "like God." And he put his faith in food. This kind of existence seems to be built on the principle that man does indeed live "by bread alone."
Christ, however, is the new Adam. At the beginning of his ministry in the Gospel of Matthew, we read, "When He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He became hungry." Hunger is that state in which we realize our dependence on something else--when we face the ultimate question: "on what does my life depend?" Satan tempted both Adam and Christ, saying: Eat, for your hunger is proof that you depend entirely on food, that your life is in food. Adam believed and ate. Christ said, "Man does NOT live by bread alone." (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4) This liberates us from total dependence on food, on matter, on the world. Thus, for the Christian, fasting is the only means by which man recovers his true spiritual nature. In order for fasting to be effective, then, the spirit must be a part of it. Christian fasting is not concerned with losing weight. It is a matter of prayer and the spirit. And because of that, because it is truly a place of the spirit, true fasting may well lead to temptation, and weakness and doubt and irritation. In other words, it will be a real fight between good and evil, and very likely we shall fail many times in these battles. But the very discovery of the Christian life as "fight" and "effort" is an essential aspect of fasting.
Christian tradition can name at least seven reasons for fasting:
- From the beginning, God commanded some fasting, and sin entered into the world because Adam and Eve broke the fast.
- For the Christian, fasting is ultimately about fasting from sin.
- Fasting reveals our dependence on God and not the resources of this world.
- Fasting is an ancient way of preparing for the Eucharist--the truest of foods.
- Fasting is preparation for baptism (and all the sacraments)--for the reception of grace.
- Fasting is a means of saving resources to give to the poor.
- Fasting is a means of self-discipline, chastity, and the restraining of the appetites.
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Events this Week
Monday, February 19
7:30 PM - Vestry Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, February 20
7:30 PM - No Bible Study this Week
Wednesday, February 21
(Ember Day)
7:00 PM - Evening Prayer
7:45 PM - Choir Rehearsal
Friday, February 23
(Ember Day)
9:30 AM - Morning Prayer
7:30 PM - Stations of the Cross & Benediction (Church)
7:30 PM - Grupo de Discusión (en una casa)
Sunday, February 25
(Second Sunday in Lent)
8:00 AM - The Decalogue & Said Mass
9:30 AM - La Misa en Español
11:00 AM - The Decalogue & High Mass
1:00 PM - Confirmation/Adult Baptism Class
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Stations of the Cross
and
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
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First Sunday in Lent - Sunday, February 18
Fifth Sunday in Lent - March 18
8:00 AM The Great Litany & Said Mass
9:30 AM La Misa en Español
11:00 AM The Great Litany in Procession, & High Mass
Second Sunday in Lent - February 25
Third Sunday in Lent - March 4
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Rose Sunday) - March 11
8:00 AM The Decalogue & Said Mass
9:30 AM Misa en Español
11:00 AM The Decalogue & High Mass
Sunday, March 11
Fridays in Lent
7:30 PM Stations of the Cross & Benediction (Church)
7:30 PM Pasando con Cristo de la Muerte a la Vida:
Reflexión y Oración (en casas)
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Fr. Whitmire and Pastor Leticia will be away this week attending a conference on Mission Development. If the immediate services of a priest are needed, the following persons may be contacted:
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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 $1,599.
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.
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Parish Hall Construction Update
Installation of the new roof is complete. Demolition of the interior will continue this week. Installation of new siding on the outside is expected to begin soon. 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
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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.
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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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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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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