The Weekly - Easter 3

All Saints’

Parish SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2013 The Third Sunday of Easter

FOLLOW JESUS INTO EASTER JOY: BREAK THROUGH TO NEW LIFE

Break through to Courage Courage vs. Ambivalence

By The Rev. Gwen Buehrens In the last, most vivid resurrection appearance recounted in the Gospel of John, we are drawn into relationships and events characterized by the question, “who’s who?”

going back to what he knew best, fishing. Yet, with inner conviction and courage out there in his boat, he was drawn back to the shore and recognizes Jesus: “It is the Lord!”

Peter’s actions and responses are in the midst of it all. Impetuous as ever, Peter shows his feelings of apprehension on the surface. He thought he was finally

Totally forgiven, Peter is then charged by the Lord to a special kind of leadership: “Feed My sheep. Tend My sheep.”

Recommended Reading

By Robin Denney Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers by Chap Clark Chap Clark recently was on a speaking tour in Carmel, talking about his book Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers. He discussed adolescent development, which is lengthening and becoming more difficult to get through. Clark says, “Adults need to stop blaming adolescents for the world we handed them.” Clark emphasizes that a community of caring adults (such as we find in the church) plays a critical role in helping adolescents transition to adulthood.

Young people are our most precious asset. Be they our own children or those of an acquaintance, we need to have the courage to invest our time and love in our youth.

At the heart of this story are willingness and courage. The orientation is lifegiving rather than life-taking. Are we willing and able to see the Lord in others, in ourselves, and respond so that all will know that we are truly disciples of Jesus?

Joy Comes in the Morning

by Greg Troxell Life’s sorrows and joys come as surely as the sunrise and the cycles of the moon. It is our sorrow, some say, which makes joy so radiant. Yet it is often difficult to embrace circumstances and people when they cause us distress, heartache and angst.

It seems to me that these sorrows are the vehicles that bring me deeper into God’s presence. They cause me to surrender my will and say with pleading hope, “Father, if it is thy will and not mine, take this sorrow from me.” In such surrender, I acknowledge that I may not be able to see the reality of God’s sovereign plan, that I may be the one in the wrong, and that it may be my warped perspective that is causing me grief. Indeed, it is also possible that such sorrow, suffering, and chaos are not even about me or for my benefit, but for the joy, healing and reconciliation of another.

“Joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:6) when the sun is shining, when the new day is upon us and we can see that the future is bright. But take courage today, regardless of your circumstance. Know that God loves you and He is ready to comfort you with the assurance of eternal salvation and the power of the Holy Spirit from day to day.

Open Arms

by Greg Troxell In the Epistle reading today, Saul, who has wreaked havoc and murdered Christians throughout the region, is graciously welcomed by Ananias. The acts that brought these two together were nothing short of divine intervention and elements of a master plan to reform each man and the world.

God does that sort of thing today. He brings us into relationships with others to transform ourselves, our souls and lifestyles. Though, as in the lyrics of the song “I Am A Rock” by Simon and Garfunkel, we may like to think of ourselves as independent and strong, we are called to become interdependently dependent upon Christ and the church.

Cast off your fear; take courage in the love of God. Be humble and build one another up, sharing from the abundance of your heart the goodness of God’s love and truth with one another.

Highlighted Events APR 26

I-Help Dinner; volunteers and guests welcome

MAY 3

Small Bites for Big Hunger, fundraising event

MAY 6

Le Salon des Artistes

MAY 11-12

Youth group overnight

MAY 17

Music at All Saints’ presents Balázs Szokolay

Announcements  Sierra Service Project— 9 All Saints’ youth and 2 adults will be going on the SSP mission trip this summer! Help us raise $5,060 (check to All Saints’ memo: SSP)  Middle school youth are going to the movies today after youth group, and friends are welcome! Talk to Robin for more information.  Wednesday: Midweek Bible study is offered each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Grant Hall. We are currently studying the Book of Acts.

Courage Outside our Comfort Zones

by Robin Denney It takes courage to follow Jesus out into the world to serve. The disciples returned to fishing after Jesus’s death.

They were scared and didn’t know what to do. Jesus called them, and they left their nets yet again to follow him. Our courage to follow Jesus ebbs and flows.

It ebbs when we try to rely on our own strength, and it flows when we turn to Jesus. Following Jesus always involves taking us outside our comfort zones.

Away from what is easy, we must rely on God, and thus our relationship with God is deepened. Whether we are called

to take an unpopular stand at work, to talk with a homeless person face to face, or to risk sounding foolish in order to talk about our faith, we will find Christ is already there handing us the courage we need!

Follow Jesus into Easter Joy Fifty days of Easter – April 1 through May 18, Follow the entire series on Sunday at 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Coming up: April 21 April 28 May 5 May 12

Break through to the Truth Break through into Wonder Break through to God’s Healing Break through to Freedom in the Redeemer

 Earth Day Celebration—Next Sunday, April 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Interfaith Outreach of Carmel will host “Joining Hands to Heal and Protect God’s Earth.”

Gather with others at the Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula (4590 Carmel Valley Road, just one mile from Highway 1) for music, readings, prayers, learning, and fun.  High school youth will be having a bowling night on Sunday, April 28, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friends are welcome! Contact Robin Denney at redenney@gmail.com or 805-835-8538.  Small Bites for Big Hunger—Join us in Seccombe Hall Friday, May 3, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. for gourmet hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting, and silent and live auctions. Tickets (available at www.allsaintscarmel.org) are $40 before April 25 and $50 thereafter.  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.  Interfaith Outreach of Carmel's Joining Hands Benefit Shop is in need of volunteers to work a few hours a week. To learn more about Joining Hands, talk to Sofia Osborne or Nancy Jones after church, or contact Sofia at 620-2147 or osbornesofia@gmail.com.  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).

Announcements continued on back page.

Follow Me

By Greg Troxell Jesus’s closing words to Peter in today’s Gospel were, “Follow me.”

Just before this command, Jesus asked Peter to affirm his love, and charged him with caring for the church. He then warned Peter that the journey would not be easy, and that an early death and persecution were certain.

OUR MISSION:

Our prayers, our service, our proclamation are all essential in the life of the church. Together we reflect the potential of the church; individually we demonstrate the miraculous effect of the Gospel within us.

May we, like Peter, commit ourselves to achieve the purposes of God together.

Peter the disciple was willing to follow Jesus. Peter the Apostle was willing to be sent forth to tend, feed and care for the church, even unto death.

Please pass this on to your family members and friends.

Read more news online: WWW.ALLSAINTSCARMEL.ORG | 831-624-3883

All Saints’ Episcopal Church PO Box 1296 CARMEL, CA. 93921

Disciples Glorifying Christ And Serving Others

Announcements continued…  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 andreamatters@gmail.com or 624-3090.