The Weekly 1/19/14

All Saints’

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The Second Sunday after the Epiphany — January 19, 2014

Come and see the light –By The Rev. Rick Matters

Psalm 18 contains an image of the brightness of God shining through a dark cloud. This image perfectly fits today’s message of seeing and following the light of Christ. Many of the picturesque sunsets for which Carmel is famous feature the brilliant light shining through clouds.

How easy it is to see only metaphorical dark clouds in our lives. We neglect the glory of the Lord that penetrates the darkness, bringing light to an otherwise perpetual night. So the light of God’s love shines from within the clouds that disturb our sleep, or reduce us to tears. God is always present and more constant than the sun. God invites us to resist the temptation to focus on clouds of disappointment—there’s always something to complain about—and to follow the psalmist into the light of gratitude and praise.

Upcoming Birthday Celebrations January 18 January 20 January 21 January 22 January 26 January 27 January 30 February 2 February 4 February 10 February 13 February 16 February 17 February 20 February 24 February 25 February 26

Bill Reed Beth Sterten Chet Lowrey Judy Kirk Umi Hongo, Norman Parris Tom Fontenay Raul Garcia Leontine Turner Josh Green Alison Craig Linda Dowd, Gary Turner Dennis and Pinkie Terry LeAnn Keaton Frederick Stanley Nancy Collins John Stivers Schwartz Booth

When Jesus turned around and saw the disciples of John following, he asked what they were looking for.

They were looking to follow the lamb of God; Jesus responded, “Come and see.” So God invites us to come into relationship with Jesus and see the glory of God in his face.

Scripture lessons for today Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-12 John 1:29-42 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Scripture lessons for next week

Isaiah 9:1-4 Psalm 27:1, 5-13 Matthew 4:12-23 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

All Saints’ • The Weekly

The Light of Christ Shining In Our Hearts –By Bill Reed

One of the great teachers about the transfiguration of our humanity by the Light of Christ is St. Gregory Palamas of the Eastern Orthodox tradition of the Church. Gregory, a Greek of the14th century, lived as a monk on Mt. Athos for many years, and in his later years became archbishop of Thessalonika. Gregory taught that as God was united to our complete humanity in his Incarnation, his Light and Glory manifested itself to us in the deepest center of our being, namely, in the depths of the heart, if we would seek him there. We could seek God through our senses, imagination and mind, but on this path we will eventually experience a darkness because God in the mystery of Christ so exceeds these faculties. Gregory put the heart at the center and core of our being. For this tradition, saying the Jesus Prayer, the mind must descend into the heart, where not darkness, but the Light and Glory of the risen Christ, can be found. Subsequently, that splendor will transform the mind, senses and body, a foretaste of the Resurrection.

Gregory highlighted the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, where Christ dwells by grace. “No one has ever seen God, but the Son, Who is in the heart of the Father, He has made Him known (John 1:18)”. The

Invited to Come and See –By Robin Denney

Two of John the Baptist’s disciples hear him say, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” And just like that they are running after Jesus. When they catch him, face to face with the Messiah, they ask, “Where are you staying?”

They want to know where they can find Jesus later.

Perhaps these days we would ask Jesus for his cell number or ask if we could friend him on Facebook.

But Jesus’ response is surprising, “Come and see.” Jesus invites them, not to a future meeting, but to a journey.

Jesus invites them to join him now, not later. Jesus invites them to the profound, everyday, ordinary, and life-changing blessing of relationship. The invitation of Jesus echoes out from the Gospel into our lives today.

He invites us to join him as we journey through life; he invites us to join others, and walk with them day by day in relationship as we seek to see where Jesus is in the world around us, and where he is calling us to join him.

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Holy Spirit leads us into the heart, as we persevere in prayer, moving through and beyond images and words and thoughts for God into the Light and Glory of Christ, shining in the depths of our being. There the mystery of the Incarnation, extended into Epiphany, can be fulfilled as our total humanity comes to share more and more in the divinity of Christ. The complete fulfillment of this mystery awaits us in the Kingdom of God, but the message of St. Gregory and, in fact, all the many and great spiritual teachers in our Christian tradition is that this experience of the Light and Glory of God manifested in Christ by the Holy Spirit, begins for us now. O, that more Christians were aware of the riches of their history in this respect! God promises, “seek and you will find”.

“For it is the God who said, “’Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). We have already been found. Seek and you will find. Now, in this life, Gregory celebrates the actual living light of Crist that begins to dwell in our hearts.

All Saints’ • The Weekly

A Prayer Service for Christian Unity

+ FOR CHRISTIANS OF ALL DENOMINATIONS +

5 P.M., Sunday, January 19, 2014 St. Angela Merici Catholic Church 362 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove PLEASE RSVP 373-4345 or 394-4465

Bearers of Good News –By Greg Troxell

The psalmist in today’s reading rejoices in his deliverance and relishes the remembrance of all God’s mighty acts in history for Israel. He sings about pain and God’s provision. In doing so he teaches us something about the value of vulnerability, and community. Then Jesus expresses his ministry with an invitation to join him on a journey. Breaking cultural boundaries and norms, he embraces people whom others had rejected and he bears the light of hope into their souls while affirming their strengths and significance.

Our vulnerable engagement with others is a key facet of living out the Gospel. The world is sometimes harsh and unforgiving. Our interdependence knits our souls together as one community of faith. Without such openness and mutual concern our souls shrink away from one another, as soil from the edge of the pot when lacking water. This world and our community is in need of your simple acts of kindness, and vulnerable embrace of one another. As we recall our pain, let us consider the needs of others, rejoice in God’s provision, and continue on in the journey together with Christ.

That All May See and Be the Light –By The Rev. Rick Matters

As Laura recorded on her Facebook page, our three-year-old grandson had a meltdown. When asked why he was lying in bed crying, he responded, “I’m crying because my pillow is wet from crying.” We laugh at the passion of a preschooler, but the suffering in South Sudan is worthy of genuine tears. It’s as as senseless as Oliver’s tantrum, but as real as the wetness of his pillow.

Bob Nielsen’s photograph at the back of the church (and on the magazine cover) captures the evil that leads to such needless suffering. In that darkness stands a candle, with its one flame producing rings of beautiful light.

Thank you for your generous gifts throughout 2013 to support the ministries of All Saints’. Your donations and pledges are important to the life and health of the church. Right now we are developing the 2014 operating budget, and are depending on additional pledges and special donations in order to balance the budget. If you have not submitted a pledge, please do so today, or before January 20.

We the Church are represented by the inner circle of light. We have been illumined by the love embodied in the God-Man Jesus. The intensity of the light increases each Sunday as we gather. The rings of light extend farther the more we glorify Christ and pray for peace. This light brings true and lasting peace.

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Announcements

Sundays through February 9: Matthew in the Morning—Breakfast begins at 9:00 a.m. in Seccombe Hall, with class from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Pancake flippers are needed each week; sign up today!

Today: Service of Prayer for Christian Unity—Join your bishop and rector at 5:00 p.m. at St. Angela Merici Church (146 8th Street, Pacific Grove).

Monday: lots of deadlines! Pledges for 2014 and annual reports on 2013 ministries are due. If you’re interested in serving as a diocesan delegate by attending a quarterly meeting locally and representing our parish at an annual meeting in Salinas, please notify the office by tomorrow, also.

Monday and Tuesday: two unique local pilgrimages—On Monday, January 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., you’re invited to join guests from our companion dioceses of Gloucester and Western Tanganyika on an excursion to the De Anza National Historic Trail in San Juan Bautista. Tuesday, January 21, will bring a “technology pilgrimage” in Silicon Valley. To RSVP for either event, contact Mary Beth Powell at marybeth@ edecr.org or 831-394-4465.

Monday: The Gospel of Matthew class meets at 7:00 p.m. in the library.

Wednesday: Join us for Bible study from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. in Grant Hall as we explore Jesus’ life in a chronological study of the Gospels.

Wednesday: Christian yoga with Beth Lefebvre at 6:30 p.m. in Seccombe Hall.

Next Sunday: Fr. Amirold Lazard, from St. Patrick’s, Haiti, will preach at all three services.

Carmel Library Foundation Local History Lectures Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in Seccombe Hall

Cameron Binkley will provide an oral history and slide show about Fort Ord & WWII.

Next Sunday: annual parish meeting, with potluck lunch—Join us on Sunday, January 26, at 11:30 a.m.

Candidates for election to the vestry— We are pleased to announce that Frank Graham, Sameera Sharif, Susan Sonnthal, and Susan Stanton have offered to stand for election. Because three vestry members are leaving for personal reasons beyond their control, we are looking for at least two more candidates, one for a two-year term (class of 2015), and one for a one-year term.

Prayers for South Sudan—Fr. Rick has designated February 9 to 16 as a week of prayer for peace in South Sudan and elsewhere. Robin Denney will lead a forum about the conflict on Sunday, February 16, in Seccombe Hall at 9:00 a.m. At that time we also hope to present information about the nationwide relief campaign for South Sudan being spearheaded by Episcopal Relief and Development.

Pastoral care transportation help—The pastoral care team is putting together a list of potential drivers for members who need help with transportation, such as for a medical appointment. If you’d be willing to occasionally give a fellow member a lift, please contact Susan Stanton via the office.

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. Most special parish events are included in the announcements for three weeks before they occur. Contact Andrea Matters at andreamatters@gmail.com or 624-3090.

Highlighted Events and Meetings Janaury 19 January 19

January 22 January 22 January 22

Youth Group Prayer Service for Christian Unity Church office closed The Gospel of Matthew: Local Lecture Series All Saints’; Singers Rehearsal Finance Committee Meeting Bible Study Yoga Vestry Meeting\

January 24 January 26

I-Help Dinner Annual Meeting

January 20 January 20 January 20 January 21 January 21

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