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Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost September 15, 2013
God’s Extraordinary Hospitality in Welcoming the Lost By The Rev. Rick Matters
We witness God’s extraordinary hospitality in not destroying the Israelites as they danced around the golden calf. Jesus demonstrated the same hospitality by welcoming and eating with sinners. In both cases, God still defines sin and righteousness, and still demands that we love each other with Christ-like love. At the same time, God practices patience, while Jesus engages the hearts of real people first, even to the point of disregarding customary religious practice. The extraordinary extent to which God loves people leads us to uncomfortable choices. The world will not be saved by a Christian program or a political agenda, but by God converting the hearts of individuals. Today God continues to convert us, because we are the chosen people, the new Israel. We assist God in establishing the kingdom, even though we might be dancing before some golden statue.
For, like Moses, we know that we cannot condemn others when we ourselves fall short. We welcome the lost, starting with ourselves, so that God can welcome others through us.
Scripture Lessons Today Exodus 32:7-14 Psalm 51:1-11 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10
Scripture Lessons for Next Week Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13
Recommendation:
Open Our Eyes: Seeing the Invisible People of Homelessness By Greg Troxell
“There is greatness in everyone. It may be boldly evident or nearly impossible to identify, but it is undoubtedly there.” - Stephanie Rudat, p. 43 For decades All Saints’ members have been leading a compassionate army of saints who offer their help, and in some cases, befriend those in need. This book may shock your preconceived perceptions of the homeless, but hopefully it will warm your heart and challenge us to open our eyes and ears to their voice. Then, perhaps we will be better equipped to reach out with compassion, friendship and the Gospel to others throughout our community.
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Living Parables By Robin Denney
This week I was trying to catch some wild kittens that had turned up in my yard. They were sick, and needed to be taken to the SPCA. I managed to catch most of them, but one got away down a ground squirrel hole. I dug a little ways, and had my arm all the way down the hole, but I couldn’t get it. All day and into the evening it didn’t come out of the hole. Though the others were safe, that one lost kitten worried me. I was sure it was stuck down there and would die. Finally it came out, and I caught it, and reunited it with the others, and great was my rejoicing! I called my mother and my sister to tell them I had found the lost kitten! Sound familiar? With his parables Jesus described God and the Kingdom with images that brought the divine into the ordinary, that helped people to draw closer to God, that helped people to remember that God was with them each moment. By giving us two different parables about the same thing: the lost sheep and the lost coin, Jesus invites us to think of other examples, and he invites us into the story. God longs for the lost like… And yet, God’s longing and love for us is much greater than any earthly example!
God’s Grace Brings Order to Chaos By Greg Troxell
Throughout our entire life it seems we spend immense emotional energy trying to accept ourselves and others as we are, all the while holding that vision loosely as it will surely change. The poet expresses in Psalm 51 his desire be made whole and to live out his life in community, being in a right relationship with himself, God, and his people. He recognizes and seeks God’s help to overcome the power that sin has had on his life. It’s a force that has disordered his mind, his soul, and his relationships. In the Old Testament reading, we learned that the Israelites ignored their desire to worship God, and tried to satisfy it with another activity, idolatry. What thoughts, activities or feelings are causing chaos in your life and relationships? Perhaps it’s not grown to the level of chaos quite yet. Perhaps your sin is manifesting itself as a dull dissatisfaction and your response thus far has been to avoid that nagging feeling rather than face it head on. Is it time for a change in your strategy? Is it time to turn to God for help?
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Highlighted Events and Meetings September 15 September 17 September 20 September 20-21 September 22 September 24
Parish Pancake Breakfast with the Youth All Saints’ Singers Rehearsal season begins Movie night at All Saints’ Youth overnight “Boardwalk Beach Blitz” Parish Pancake Breakfast with Vestry Healthy Saints Hike at Andrew Molera State Beach September 27-29 Diocesan Youth Camping trip, Big Sur September 27-29 Festival of Christian Spirituality October 1 Diocesan Training for Eucharistic Visitors October 6 Confirmation classes begin Read more news online at: www.allsaintscarmel.org Join us on Facebook, Twitter and GooglePlus
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Welcoming the Destruction of More Chemical Weapons By The Rev. Rick Matters
Even though we cannot know the many levels of political complexity in the Syrian, Russian, and United States triangle, it’s heartening to hear so many voices condemning the use of chemical weapons. We can be confident that God has drawn a red line against poisoning other human beings.
Yes, please reserve space for me to attend the September 27−29 Festival at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Carmel, California. I understand that the total cost of the weekend is $175, which includes six meals. My payment includes a deposit of $50, which I understand is refundable up to September 10. Name ____________________________
It is a relief that our country has destroyed so much of our stockpiled chemical arsenal (89.75% of the amount declared in 1997). The last percentage remains stored in Kentucky and Colorado only because of the danger of destroying it. We give thanks that America has set such a good example for Syria, and we pray for a peaceful resolution. More powerful than the destructive force of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons is God’s love in welcoming the lost. We deal in this power, even though we don’t control it. God’s love is dangerous, because it requires us to place others above ourselves. The threat of chemical weapons in Syrian reminds us how important it is for us to use the weapons that God deploys in and through us.
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Compelled to Welcome the Lost By Robin Denney
How much does God long for God’s lost children? The lost hold a special place in the heart of God, Jesus tells us in the parables today. I once heard it described as the kind of longing that a parent whose child has been abducted feels. We, as followers of Jesus, are called to search with Jesus for those who are lost, and to be his arms thrown wide, his smile, his tears welcoming them home. Each of us who have been found, whether in a blinding realization or a slow dawning over a lifetime, know the joy that we have found in relationship with Jesus and his Church. We go out bringing Jesus’ love to others, offering the welcome of his embrace, not because it a payment we owe, but because Jesus’ love compels us, because the more we share that love, the more we are filled with the same love, which strengthens us, heals us, and makes us whole day by day.
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Announcements Monday: Help “raise the barn”—Beginning September 16–20 and continuing for several weeks, we will build a multipurpose shed at Santa Lucia Mission, Big Sur. Helpers are needed to do carpentry and to donate, prepare, and/or serve lunch and snacks. Please contact Mother Cynthia (520-260-5158 or cms614@me.com). Tuesday: First rehearsal for the All Saints’ Singers, our parish choir for children. The choir is open without audition to students in grades two through six. They sing at the 10:30 service on the second Sunday of each month from October to May (except January). Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. at the church. Contact Dr. Samra at drtsamra@gmail.com. Wednesday: The Friends of St. Benedict will meet this Wednesday, September 18, in the library from 3:30 to 5:30 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.
All Saints’ Episcopal Parish Ninth and Dolores PO Box 1296 Carmel, CA 93921 Phone: 831-624-3883 Fax: 831-624-1459 www.allsaintscarmel.org
Wednesday: Bible study—Join us as we study the harmony of the Gospels from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. in Grant Hall. Friday: All Saints’ Movie Night—Join us in Seccombe Hall at 7:00 p.m. for Ushpizin (“Holy Visitors”), a warm and delightful Israeli movie (PG rated) about the surprises in store for a faithful Jewish couple who extend hospitality to two unexpected guests during the feast of Sukkot. Healthy Saints hike—Join your friends on Tuesday, September 24, from 9:00 to noon at Andrew Molera State Beach. Contact Mother Cynthia at thevicarofbigsur@gmail. com if you plan to attend. Create an emergency plan for yourself and your family by attending a free emergency preparedness presentation by the American Red Cross, co-sponsored by Sustainable Carmel and All Saints’ Church. Join us in Seccombe Hall on September 24 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. For more information, call 624-6921.
Festival of Christian Spirituality: Special Offer for All Saints’—We encourage you to participate in the festival, September 27–29, at the reasonable rate of $175. However, you may also make a minimum donation of $35 and participate in all sessions while providing your own meals. Registration forms may be found in the church or office. Do you have a Guest Room?—Open your home to a participant at the September 27–29 Festival of Christian Spirituality. All meals will be provided at the festival. Contact Father Rick or the parish office. A hospitable campus—Six bistro tables were donated by Steve, the owner of “From Scratch” and “Carmel Coffee House and Roasting Company”. To accompany these tables we have located 12 quality chairs on closeout. Would you will help fund this project? Please make this special donation of $25.00 to All Saints’ with “Chairs for the Patio” in the memo line. This is a tax deductible donation.