The Weekly - Easter 7

Recommended Prayer “A Prayer for Leader”s

by Dr. Pamela Chinnis, former president of the House of Deputies

(As published in Women’s Uncommon Prayers, Morehouse Publishing, 2000)

Almighty God, you have given us responsibility for the leadership of the Church for a

season. Grant us patience, courage and wisdom to discern your will amidst the many

competing claims and conflicts of this present time. Give us an appreciative memory for

all who have gone before, and a strong clear vision of the Church in the future. Let us

exercise our stewardship with energy and enthusiasm, so that, when the time comes, we

may joyfully relinquish our tasks to those who will come after. We ask this in the name

of our redeemer, Jesus Christ, who calls us into fellowship and sends the Holy Spirit to

guide and inspire us, generation after generation, that we may do all to your greater

glory. Amen.

Breaking Through to Freedom

Today we rejoice in the freedom to be

made whole in Christ. We are reminded

that Jesus is coming soon and that we

are all given the sweet water of life, as a

gift.

Today’s psalm, Psalm 97, envelopes us

in wonderful images of freedom

breaking through into our lives. Out of

the clouds of thick darkness that often

surround our world, we can envision

Jesus lighting our world like streaks of

lightening. We follow him as he walks

ahead holding the fire that brightens our

way.

Take with you into this week the image

of God leading you on through the dark

places in your life to the peaceful place,

where the soft light of dawn reveals a

solid ground of righteousness and

justice. That is where the in-dwelling

peace of Christ brings us joy to burst

forth on each new day.

Rejoice! He is risen in our hearts and in

the world. Live into this new day, free

at last to love. Happy Mother’s Day!

The Seventh Sunday of Easter May 12, 2013

Today’s Lectionary:

Acts 16:16-34

Psalm 97

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

John 17:20-26

Parish All Saints’

by the Rev. Cynthia Spencer

by Robin Denney

I rediscovered an Amy Grant album this

week, which was my favorite album as

a child. One song goes, “All I’ll ever

have to be is what you’ve made me.” In

our outcome- and success-driven

culture, there is tremendous freedom in

the notion that we already have been

given everything we need to be who it is

that God is calling us to be. We are

beloved children of God, mysteriously

and wonderfully made. Yes, there is still

work for us to do! Jesus continues to

lead us day by day on a path, outside

our comfort zones, toward becoming all

that we were created to be, and

participating in the work of being

Christ’s hands in the world. Freedom in

Christ is not independence, but rather

the utter joy of being who you were

made to be.

MAY 12 Happy Mother’s Day MAY 17 Music at All Saints’

presents Balázs Szokolay MAY 19 Pentecost Sunday MAY 24 I-HELP Dinner MAY 27 Memorial Day

Church office closed JUNE 3 Le Salon des Artistes

Highlighted Events Healing Within

Building Up God’s Kingdom One Relationship at a Time by the Rev. Rick Matters

The portion of Jesus’s prayer we hear today (John 17:20-26) teaches

us about freedom in relationships. Notice how Jesus acknowledges

his own glory, and immediately acknowledges that this glory is a

gift from God. Further, he seeks to share that glory with his

companions, and shares it for the sake of the friends and

acquaintances of his followers.

Likewise, Jesus prays that we embrace the gifts, skills, and character

traits that God has given us. It is so easy to downplay the talents and

interests we enjoy! He also prays that we acknowledge them as gifts

from God. He desires for us to have a strong ego by being freed

from an inflated one. The oneness that results from such self-giving

inspires others. We are set free and empowered by God for the sake

of relationships. When we put this prayer into action, Christ’s love

flourishes in our own relationships and in those of others.

The Season of Pentecost.

We encourage you to participate each Sunday, beginning next

week. Bring your search for forgiveness, healing, and the power

to overcome challenges in life. Discover the courage to serve, as a

strong and humble Christian – for “all things are possible with

God” (Matthew 19:26).

Announcements

Wednesday: Our midweek Bible study class will resume on Wednesday, June 5 at 10:30 a.m. in Grant Hall. We will begin a study on the harmony of the Gospels.

Wednesday: The Friends of St. Benedict will meet this Wednesday, May 15, in the library from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. for study and prayer. Our aim is to integrate the wisdom of monastic life and spiritual theology into our everyday lives as Christians. We meet the third Wednesday of every month, and all are welcome.

Friday: Taizé at Epiphany, Marina—Created by French protestant monks in 1940, Taizé worship is peaceful, prayerful, introspective, and deeply moving. The service is built around simple sung melodies accompanied by acoustic instruments. This Friday, May 17, Epiphany will offer a Taizé service from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. The church is located in Marina, at the intersection of Carmel and California.

Saturday: work party at Santa Lucia Chapel in Big Sur—Join in the fun as we gather to prepare our campground for the upcoming camping season. Bring a bag lunch and join the team from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information or to arrange a carpool, contact Susan Sonnthal at 603-557-2467 or [email protected].

Next Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost. Don’t forget to don your flame-colored Pentecost outfit!

The updated 2013 church directory is now available. Please stop by during regular office hours to obtain a copy.

Sierra Service Project—Nine All Saints’ youth and two adults will be going on the SSP mission trip this summer! Can you help them raise the $5, 060 they will need? Write a check to All Saints’ and note “SSP” on the memo line.

Names added to the parish prayer list will remain on the list for one month. If you wish to have the name(s) remain on the list after that time, please add them again or call the office (624-3883).

Sunday handout deadline— To be included in next Sunday’s handout, your announcement must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on the preceding Wednesday. Contact Andrea Matters at [email protected] or 624-3090.

Freedom in Response to Violence

by the Rev. Rick Matters

The Roman world of the early Church

was founded and maintained by

violence. In Acts 16:16-34, magistrates

order Paul and his companions to be

severely flogged and thrown into prison

in order to appease the crowd. The

guard, thinking the prisoners have

escaped, prepares to kill himself.

Paul does not retaliate with violence.

Instead, he chooses the way of the cross

by enduring injustice. Even though he is

innocent, he does not flee after his

shackles fall away and the prison doors

open. He asks himself where Christ is in

that moment. Paul’s sacrifice and risk

result in the conversion of the guard’s

family.

Until the reign of God is complete, the

misuse of power will be part of our

lives. We can de-escalate violence by

following the way of the cross, by

orienting our responses to Christ’s

purpose, and by risking deep respect for

all people. This is freedom in the

Redeemer.

Three Opportunities:

June 7-9

The Gift of Poverty & Abundance

September 23-26, and 27-29

Exclusion & Embrace - Living

in Community

Engage with others

in these joyful and

transformative

experiences.

Witnessing to the Healing Power of Love

All Saints’ Episcopal Church

PO Box 1296

CARMEL, CA 93921

Please pass this on to your family members and friends. Read more news online:

WWW.ALLSAINTSCARMEL.ORG | 831-624-3883

by Robin Denney

Aspiring to the level of unity that

Jesus proposes, the unity that the

Trinity experiences, has always been

a challenge for the universal Church.

Denominations and individual

churches can be divided by beliefs,

worship preferences, and anything in

between. What if instead of splitting

apart, we were free to be one, as God

and Jesus are one? As it turns out, the

Episcopal Church has been at the

forefront of Christian unity since

1886 with the Chicago-Lambeth

Quadrilateral (BCP page 876-877).

There the bishops passionately and

solemnly declared their readiness to

forgo their own preferences of

worship and custom in order to unite

with other denominations, declaring

that all baptized Christians are

members of the same universal

church. To date, the Episcopal

Church is in full communion

(including interchange of clergy)

with the Lutheran Church (ELCA)

and the Moravian Church, and

continues to have active dialog with

the Methodist Church and

Presbyterian Church about entering

into full communion. As

denominational walls fall, we

experience the freedom of unity.

The Feast of Pentecost

Don’t forget to don your flame-

colored Pentecost outfit next Sunday!