Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost
May 31, 2009
On Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, the Global Day of Prayer unites Christians around the globe to pray for repentance, blessing, and healing of the nations.
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land
(2 Chron.7: 14)
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, guide, we beseech thee, the Nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sunday School Teachers Urgently Needed
May 30, 2009
Beloved in Christ,
We need Sunday School teachers to take over in our toddler, primary school age and youth Sunday Schools as soon as possible. The children of the parish are the future of the Church itself, and we, as a Christian family, must be collectively committed to their training in the Faith.
Two weeks ago, owing to personal reasons, we unexpectedly lost several key workers in our children and youth training programs, and are facing a critical need for teachers and curriculum planners. Although we have some ready volunteers to stand in the gap, we need a more permanent solution, until we can grow to the place where we can fund paid employees to assist in these ministries.
If you are an educator with a heart for the children and youth to learn the More Excellent Way, we need your help rebuilding our program and training a cadre of Educators in Christ teaching:
- Catechism for Admission to Communion/Confirmation
- Bible for Toddlers
- Bible for Elementary School Age
- Children’s Church
- Bible for Middle School Through College Age
Help us network by prayerfully considering contacting us in the office, or replying to this E-mail. We will convene a working group to effect a coordinated effort as soon as possible.
Work and pray,
Chip+
Liturgy Lesson for Pentecost: Come, Holy Ghost!
May 30, 2009
Pentecost! The very name conjures the image of that first empowerment of the Church Militant as documented in Acts 2. On this day, we commemorate the Holy Ghost’s pouring Himself on Christ’s disciples, as they waited before Him, obedient to the Lord’s instruction. We regard the day as the Church’s birthday, because the gift of the Holy Ghost was then bestowed on the new Christians, filling and baptizing them with power to work for the Kingdom, as Christ promised—launching them on their apostolic mission to carry the Gospel to the world. Taking place 10 days after the Ascension, on the Jewish Festival of Shavuot (Weeks)—sometimes called “the Day of the First Fruits”—Pentecost was a significant time for the new Church, as God the Holy Ghost, for the first time, began to manifest the Gifts of the Spirit outlined in 1 Corinthians 12, while growing the first Fruits of the Spirit enumerated in Galatians 5. We call it “Pentecost” from the Greek word pentecoste, meaning “fiftieth,” since the holiday occurs fifty days after Passover and Easter. “Whitsun” is similar—a corruption of the German “Pfingsten”—and also means “fiftieth.” The liturgical color is red, representing the fire of the Holy Ghost and the Blood sealing the third and final Covenant God made with mankind. Preceded by the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants, this New and third Covenant rightly sets the stage for the Church’s longest season—Trinity (Three)—celebrating our new relationship with our triune God and the season of growth and spiritual plenty blessed by the fullness of God—Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Come, Holy Ghost—fill us with celestial fire!
TVCC Cardinal Singers Perform at All Saints
May 29, 2009
The Trinity Valley Community College Cardinal Singers blessed All Saints with a choral performance on May 19.
The 45-minute concert, which included everything from the music of Mozart and Bach to traditional spirituals and songs of praise, delighted all who attended.
Choir member Robbie Miller generously shared the following photos of the performance.
Click on each photo for a larger image; click on the larger image for the largest image.
Prayer to Hear God’s Voice from Latriece Harper
May 26, 2009
Open my eyes to see,
my ears to hear,
and my heart to receive
the truth of Your Word.
Liturgy Lesson for the Sunday after Ascension: The Ascension
May 23, 2009
We have entered Ascensiontide, commemorating our Lord’s ascension to the Father in Heaven. We keep this day—40 days after Easter—because Jesus miraculously ascended 40 days after the Resurrection. This was the final act of His earthly ministry and final demonstration of His divinity, removing all possibility of doubt from the Apostles’ and disciples’ minds. His ascension completed His work of Atonement, when He destroyed the work of the Devil—His primary mission among us in His flesh. Ascensiontide lasts 10 days, beginning at Ascension Day and ending at Whitsunday, or Pentecost. It’s also important to note that He ascended bodily, in a perfected flesh, acceptable for Heaven—as we will one day, as well, since Scripture teaches us that “…where He is, we shall be also” and “…shall be like Him” for we shall see Him as He is (St. John 14 & I St. John 3). Moreover, our Lord, before He ascended, gave instructions to the disciples, to go wait for empowerment in Jerusalem—setting the stage for the Church Militant’s most powerful day—its birthday, Pentecost. So we should, as the angel instructed the disciples, not to stand staring into a cloud, but work expectantly for His return in glory, with a new prayer—Maran’athah (Maranatha), meaning, “our Lord comes.” Come quickly, Lord—establish your Kingdom in our lives, now and, even more, so upon Your return in glory!
Global Day of Prayer 10 Days
May 21, 2009
Ten days of prayer leading up to the Global Day of Prayer begin today.
The Global Day of Prayer is a call to united prayer. The 10 Days preceding the Global Day of Prayer creates an excellent opportunity to unite in prayer with millions around the globe, based on Acts 1 + 2. The 10 Days helps us to gradually build a lifestyle of prayer in our communities, as well as to focus our prayers much wider than our personal and national needs as we pray with millions during this time.
You can download a Global Day of Prayer 10-Day Prayer Guide to pray with a specific focus each of the ten days leading to the Global Day of Prayer.
Liturgy Lesson for the Fifth Sunday after Easter: Rogation Sunday
May 16, 2009
The Rogation Days are the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before we commemorate our Lord’s Ascension to the Father in Heaven on Ascension Day. “Rogation” comes from the Latin “rogare,” meaning “to beseech.” Although the term “beseech” could be taken as a call for penitence, this is not the intention of the Easter season. Rather it is one of asking for God’s blessing on the works of our hands—industry and agriculture—the means of our livelihoods. A singularly Anglican holiday, it’s no longer observed in the Church of Rome, but, since the reign of Elizabeth I, it has been a decided observance of the English church. Rogation Days are an ideal time to remember—and rededicate our jobs, investments, and other economic activities to our Lord, in Whom we live and move and have our being, while invoking His Presence in all we do, committing our ways to Him, so that He, as promised in Scripture, guides our paths.
Trinity Valley Community College Cardinal Singers
May 14, 2009
The choir will perform at All Saints on Tueaday, May 19th, at 7 PM. The concert is free and open to the public.
The following photos were taken at previous performances and practices.
Sacred Music Concert Tuesday, May 19
May 14, 2009
The Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) Cardinal Singers will perform a concert of sacred music at All Saints on Tuesday, May 19th at 7 PM. The performance will be held in the sanctuary and is open to the public.
The renowned Cardinal Singers have performed around the country and around the world, including recent performances in California, Florida, Virginia, Washington DC, England, Scotland, and Wales.
The choir is under the direction of Byron McGilvray, PhD, Director of Choral Music at TVCC and Professor Emeritus at San Francisco State University. He has traveled widely as an instructor and conductor and was the first American conductor invited to China after the Red Guard period. He has performed and conducted in many countries, including Madagascar, England, China, and Russia. He has a number of degrees in a variety of disciplines (including physical education and math) as well as multiple music degrees from several institutions.
The choir will perform the following hymns and spirituals:
- Laudate Dominum (Mozart)
- Jesu Joy of Mans Desiring (Bach)
- Amazing Grace (Traditional arr McGilvray)
- Hark I hear the Harps Eternal (Parker)
- Over in the Gloryland (Hogan)
- How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place from Requiem (Brahms)
- Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart)
- The Battle of Jericho (Hogan)
- Board the Glory Train (Wilkinson)
- Deep River (Ringwald)
- Goin’ Up To Glory (Thomas)
- Gaelic Blessing (Traditional)
All Saints invites you to join us in this special evening of sacred music.
