This Week's Announcements
September 16, 2019
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Jesus told the Pharisees and the scribes this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:3-7
This week's gospel lesson features two parables--the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin. They are both very similar: the person in each parable loses something of great value and drops everything to find it. The shepherd values the sheep and doesn't want a single one of them left behind, so he goes and finds the one that is lost. The woman values her coins greatly and tears her house apart until she finds it. Have you ever lost something of great value--money, jewelry, reading glasses? You, too, would tear up your whole house looking for it, wouldn't you? If you have children, just imagine what you would do (or have done) if one of them were lost.
While it may seem that the two parables in today's Gospel lesson are about losing something of value, these stories are about how God pays attention to us. Jesus told these parables to the scribes and Pharisees who had been criticizing him, because they were bothered that he ate with tax collectors and sinners, who also listened to him. Jesus was associating with "the wrong kind of people," in their minds. The scribes and Pharisees knew the Law; they knew their Bible word-for-word, letter-by-letter, but Jesus had to remind them that the Bible is a record of God's grace and mercy (not just a set of rules to be followed blindly).
The hard truth is that in life we all make mistakes. Each of us has sinned at least once in our lives. We do those things which we ought not to have done, and we fail to do the things we ought to do; we confess that every time we gather for worship at mass and the daily office. There isn't a single one of us alive who doesn't do the wrong thing sometime, or hurt someone once in a while, or make a bad choice, or might be battling with an addiction, but with God, there is always room to change; there is always an opportunity to do better. These two stories are not so much about repentance as they are about the great capacity of God to be like the tenacious shepherd and the determined woman, and searches for us until he finds us. In neither of today's parables does the lost repent. God is always willing to welcome us back when we mess up, because God does not want simply repentance from us, he wants conversion. He doesn't want us simply to say, "Forgive me, Lord," he wants us to change our ways by praying the words of Psalm 51, verse 11: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
And while the message today is mostly for our comfort and reassurance, no good biblical lesson would be complete without some action item for us to do as well. In our daily lives, we're expected to live in God's image, and so we are expected to show grace and mercy by giving ourselves and others the opportunity to change. That does not mean that we should condone bad behavior; there's a lot of evil happening in the world around us, and there are a lot of people who are behaving badly. Mass shootings continue to plague our country. Violence continues on our city streets; just last week somebody was stabbed on the sidewalk across from the Rectory during an argument. Last week we remembered the terrorist acts of 9/11. Atrocities continue to occur across the globe. Even our fellow Christian brothers and sisters act like Pharisees by passing judgement on those who act in ways they don't agree with. But, we can be like Moses and pray to God to change their hearts, to create a clean heart in others and renew a right spirit within them.
We should never forget that we all belong to Jesus's fold, and even when we get lost, God looks for us like the woman who lost a coin or the shepherd who went after his one lost sheep. He does so because we are of priceless value to him.
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The Seven Sorrows
of our Blessed Lady
contribution by Lance Davis
His Mother stood by the Cross. Men had forsaken him, but she stood there
fearless. Behold in this how the shrinking modesty of the Mother of Jesus could
not check the loving courage of her heart. This Mother, in that she resigned herself
unto the crucifixion, fixed her gaze not alone upon the sight of their inhuman
work. For, with the eyes of a mother's love, she endured to look upon the wounds
of her Son because she knew that those wounds would give redemption unto all
mankind. And because her Son was hanging on the Cross, therefore this Mother
did not withdraw herself from the reach of his tormentors.
Mary, the Mother of the Lord, stood by the Cross of her Son. The only one who
doth tell of this thing is the holy Evangelist John. Others have written that when
the Lord suffered, the earth quaked, the heavens were veiled in darkness, the sun
was hidden, and the thief made a good confession, whereby he received the
promise of paradise. But John hath taught us what others have not, to wit, that
whilst hanging on the cross Jesus called her Mother. Tell me which was the greater
thing? For the Victor, in this moment of his triumph over great agony, to bethink
himself of the loving duty of a son to his mother, and in discharge thereof to turn
suppliant to his disciple? Or for the Victor to bestow the gift of a heavenly
kingdom on the dying thief? If it was a duty of religion to absolve the thief, how
much greater act of love was it for the Son at such a time to honour his Mother
with such an act of affection!
The Lord saith: Behold thy son: Behold thy Mother! Christ bore witness from the
Cross, and divided the offices of his tender love between his Mother and his
disciple. Thus doth the Lord give us a testament, not only of his love for souls, but
also of his natural affection. Moreover, the testimony which John doth give us
concerning this same testament, is a worthy testimony to the original Testator
himself. It is a good testament, not of earthly riches, but of eternal life, written not
in ink but in the Spirit of the living God, who speaketh of such testimony in the
Psalms, saying: "My tongue is the pen of a ready writer."
--From a homily by Saint Ambrose, Bishop
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Events this Week
(Proper 19)
Monday, September 16
(St. Ninian, Bishop)
7:00 PM - Vestry Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, September 17
(St. Hildegard of Bingen, Visionary)
7:00 - Tuesday Evening Bible Study
8:00 PM - Grupo AA
Wednesday, September 18
(Ember Day)
7:00 PM - Low Mass
7:30 PM - Choir Auditions
Thursday, September 19
(St. Theodore of Tarsus)
8:00 PM - Grupo AA
Friday, September 20
(Ember Day)
9:30 AM - Low Mass
7:30 PM - Enseñanzas para la Vida Diaria
Saturday, September 21
(St. Matthew the Evangelist)
12:15 PM - Senior Lunch Program
Church of the Resurrection, Kew Gardens
Sunday, September 22
(Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
7:45 AM - Said Mass
9:15 AM - La Misa en Español
11:00 AM - High Mass
12:30 PM - Acolyte Practice Session
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Tuesday Evening Bible Study
Returns this Tuesday
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The Path:
A Journey through The Bible
Section I: September 17 - November 12
Section II: January 14 - March 10
Section III: March 24 - May 19
Tuesdays in the Rectory
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Walk in the footsteps of faithful men and women who have done their best to follow God's call. The Path is the story of the Bible, excerpted from the New Revised Standard Version so that it is clear and easy to read. Follow the path of God's love all the way from the beginning to the end, from Adam's creation to John's revelation.
With informative trail signs to help you see how each piece of the narrative fits together, The Path is an experience unlike any other: an amazing 360-degree overview of the vast, sweeping story of God's extraordinary love for ordinary people. Join us on this epic adventure, a journey through the Bible to grow closer to God.
The Path
can be ordered online at:
Forward Movement ($22)
Also available on the Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, and at the iTunes store.
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Choir Auditions
MANDATORY AUDITIONS
are being held for anyone who wishes to be involved in the volunteer choir. This includes both current and prospective members. Each person should prepare a simple audition in which they will sing both a hymn and another piece of music of their choosing, to be sung
a capella
. Choristers will be chosen according to the outcome of the audition and the choirmaster's discretion. Please see Mr. Lance Davis for more information. Auditions begin at 7:30 PM on both dates.
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Bring the kids. Keep the garden growing!
Every Saturday
10 AM - 12 PM
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| The tomatoes are growing. |
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| The garden looks great, but it needs some attention. |
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NEW DATE
Sign up sheets are located in the elevator lobby
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We're looking for volunteers!
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Looking for Teachers!
- Do you like to teach?
- Do you have experience teaching?
- Are you interested in education for all ages?
The time has come to revitalize our educational programming here at All Saints. This will include:
- Sunday School / Christian education for all ages
- Confirmation / Adult Baptism Classes
- Vacation Bible School (Summer 2020)
We need to identify persons who are interested in working in this area of ministry. If you are one such person, please speak to Fr. Whitmire, one of the wardens, or somebody on the vestry.
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- Do you care about All Saints' future?
- Are you good at persuading others?
- Are you thankful for God's abundance?
Consider serving on the Stewardship Committee!
You don't have to have a financial background.
You don't even have to be good with money!
You just have to care about the future of our parish, and understand that it's not just about money, and it's not just a once-a-year effort, but that stewardship involves getting others excited about investing time, talent, and treasure to support the ministry of All Saints today and tomorrow.
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Your support is CRITICAL. Please keep up with your pledges, especially during the summer.
Our financial situation is extremely tight at present. For All Saints Church to do its ministry and mission, we require an average weekly pledge of $4,000. This week we received $2,158 in pledges. The second collection for hurricane relief this week raised $366; this will be added to the $284 received last week for a total of $650. Thank you for your support.
You can pay your regular pledge and make other contributions to the General Church Fund online, or you can check the status of your contributions. Go to our church management page, called OnRealm. 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 OnRealm to sign in or create a password. 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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- Would you like to commemorate a birthday or anniversary?
- Would you like to offer a memorial on behalf of a loved one?
- Would you like to simply thank God for his amazing blessings in your life?
Consider donating a vase of flowers, making a contribution toward the bread and wine we use at mass, or contributing toward the cost of the candles we light at the altar, the Blessed
Sacrament candle beside the tabernacle, or the candles in the Shrine of Our
Lady of Walsingham. The breakdown of donations is as follows:
$10 (each)
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Bread, wine, Blessed Sacrament Candle, Shrine candles
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$30
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One vase of flowers for the High Altar, Shrine, or in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG)
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$75
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Three vases of flowers for the High Altar
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$100
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Full church (three vases of flowers at the High Altar, one vase in
the Shrine, and one vase in front of OLG)
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Donations must be placed in one of the white envelopes from the back table
in the nave (ushers or altar guild members can assist you in finding one).
Please indicate what your donation is going toward and write your name or
put your pledge envelope number at the top, so it can be recorded for your
giving statements. Envelopes should be given to Rena Chetram (7:45), Aura
Troché (9:15), or Hazra Whitney (11:00). The funds are given to the Altar
Guild for the purchase of these items.
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Friends of Music
The Friends of Music is a new program being established to support music at All Saints Church. In addition to supporting the music for the 11:00 High Mass on Sundays and other Holy Days, the Friends will also be a resource to support evensongs, recitals, and concerts that will bring joy to the Woodhaven community. Donations of
any amount
can be made to support our music program. As the Friends of Music Program develops, there will also be opportunities to make a contribution of
$300
for the music of a particular mass to commemorate a milestone life event, memorialize loved ones, or thank God for a blessing.
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Do you like planting flowers?
Are you interested in helping beautify the church grounds?
Consider being part of the Garden Guild. If you're interested in participating, please speak to Claudette Wharton.
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LIVING OUT OUR MISSION
Articles, photos, and videos about how All Saints is living out its mission.
The mission of All Saints Church is to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord by our participation in the Eucharist, our fellowship in oneness and diversity, by respect for each other, and through outreach into the community.
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PS 60, PS 95, and PS 306 in Woodhaven
each received
three boxes of school supplies.
Thank you for your contributions.
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If you have an interesting story, photo, or video that features an example of living out All Saints' mission, please e-mail it to Fr. Whitmire by 6 PM on Sunday.
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Parish Hall Renovation Update
The elevator is running! Final inspection of the gas lines in the kitchen is needed before the gas can be hooked up. Your prayers and patience are greatly appreciated.
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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 de atrás de la iglesia.
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