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The week of Nov. 16-22, 2015
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Christ the King Sunday
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Stained glass window at the Annunciation Melkite Catholic Cathedral in Roslindale, Massachusette, depicting Christ the King in the regalia of a Byzantine emperor.
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The liturgical year ends with Christ the King Sunday
Daniel 7:9-10,13-14; Psalm 93;Revelation1:4b-8; John 18:33-37
This Sunday is known as Christ the King Sunday. It is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Next Sunday will be the first Sunday of Advent in the new liturgical year.
Our readings describe the glory of Jesus as imagined in the Hebrew Bible, as understood in the Psalm, as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. The all in all.
The Gospel reveals Jesus as he lived and just before he died. Open, frank, non-threatening. Pilate was trying to trick him into a claim that would justify his murder. Jesus puts it right back on the accuser.
These images of the anticipated Messiah from Daniel and the Psalm, and the comprehension of Christ as he was seen and known on earth enrich our understanding and our faith with facts and with ideas relating to the glory of the Savior.
Let us pray
It is not only Paris we should pray for. It is the world. It is a world in which Beirut, reeling from bombing two days before Paris, is not covered in the press. A world in which a bomb goes off at a funeral in Baghdad and not one's person's status update says, "Baghdad," because not one white person died in that fire. Pray for the world that blames a refugee crisis for a terrorist attack. That does not pause to differentiate between the attacker and the person running from the very same things we are. Pray for a world where people walking across countries for months, their only belongings upon their backs, are told they have no place to go. Say a prayer for Paris by all means, but pray more for the world that does not have a prayer for those who no longer have a home to defend. For a world that is falling apart in all corners and not simply in the towers and cafes we find so familiar.
Yes, it's coming!
Consecration Sunday Nov. 22
Every member of our parish will be celebrating at our Consecration Sunday luncheon after church this Sunday. Our catered meal will be enjoyed in celebration of the giving that each of us has been inspired to pledge.
St. Paul's adopted the New Consecration Sunday program this year to shift our financial giving focus away from budgets and expenses and to instead engage prayerfully and ask God what percentage of our income we are called to give to support God's work at St. Paul's.
Father Matt Calkins, rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Millbrook will be the guest leader for the Sunday service and the lunch. He will preach during the service and conduct the commitment ceremony and benediction at the end of the service.
Any parishioner who has not received word of this should contact the pastor or Bobbie Gordon and make arrangements to attend.
St. Martin and the topic of giving
I feel I owe my readers a Mea Culpa, a heartfelt apology. I did not look at my Ordo Calendar last week. Had I done so I would have seen that Wednesday November 11th is the feast day of St. Martin, patron saint of soldiers. I find it quite interesting that Veteran's Day is the same day as his feast day, but that is simply an
interesting observation. The reason that I find St. Martin significant is the story of his conversion.
As the story goes, it was a very cold day, and as Martin was going out past the gate of the city, he saw a poor man, a beggar who was nearly naked. He was begging for alms and Martin saw that people ignored the shivering beggar. He then split his own cloak in half and gave half of the cloak to the beggar. That night, he saw Jesus in his dream, wearing the cloak and he heard Jesus saying "Martin gave me the cloak."
Now Martin gave what he felt he could give and needed to give. Arguably his gift was a major commitment for him, as he had to continue on his way with half a cloak. However, he gave only that which he could give. He also gave his gift freely. He could have reasonably ridden by and ignored the beggar, or perhaps toss a few coins at him. However, Martin decided to make a significant gift.
We have here a lesson for us in our consideration for our giving. Will we be able to follow St. Martin's example? --Warden Pete Bedrossian
Do you know what day it is?
The Altar Guild has received its annual shipment of Ordo Kalendars which detail the readings and altar preparations required in the new year. Everyone who tries to stay abreast of what's going on liturgically in our parish should have access to one of these calendars.
Each of our parish committees will be receiving a handful of the calendars to sell to their members. The calendars are for sale for $5 each. They make good presents for friends of the church as well as those liturgically disposed. See Rose Marie Proctor if your committee doesn't have one for you to buy.
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THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
November 16-22
17 2pm Outreach; 6pm Seekers Group
18 12:15pm Healing Service & Eucharist
19 6pm Finance
10am Rite II at New Consecration Sunday;
12 noon Consecration Celebration Lunch
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