Rev.
Meghan's Message...
Dear Friends in Christ,
The
joy of Easter was soon marred by the Patriots’ Day bombings
on Marathon Monday, April 15th. In the horror of the day,
we witnessed the extremes of sadistic malevolence and
generous selflessness. As bombers fled from a scene of pain
and suffering that they orchestrated, first responders ran,
at unknown risk to themselves, into the chaos and panic to
attend to the wounded and the dying. We were reminded of
the extraordinariness of ordinary people and our God-given
human capacity for selfless generosity and compassion when
confronted with violence, suffering, and pain. We were also
reminded of the human capacity to harm each other.
The day after the bombings, we gathered as a parish for two services of
Holy Eucharist. We responded through prayer. At the end of
the day I found myself so very grateful for faith community,
for liturgy, and for the Eucharist. In face of uncertainty,
a community of belonging is so very important and powerful.
Liturgy creates a grammar of structure and meaning that is
stabilizing and grounding. And the Eucharist is sign and
symbol of God’s presence among us and a foretaste of glory
divine. How grateful I was to have a place to go to, people
to be with, and a way to respond.
We are blessed in our Episcopal tradition to have the Eucharist as the
centerpiece of our common prayer life. It is a gift and a
reality that transcends whatever human imperfections and
dissatisfactions we might experience in worship: even if the
homily is not-so-great, even if the music is not-great,
there is still the Eucharist. Thanks be to God, there is
still the Eucharist. As a new priest ordained in January, I
was so very glad to be able to rely on the Eucharist in
response to the bombings. And I think that’s the point: we
can rely on God to uphold us in times of uncertainty and
confusion, in times of pain and fear. Our liturgy reminds
us of this every week.
In peace,
Meghan+
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ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
**We invite you to
worship with us every Sunday at 10am**
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Holy Eucharist - 10AM Sundays
SUNDAY SCHOOL
NURSERY CARE AVAILABLE
GODLY PLAY, EXCITING PROGRAM
HIGH SCHOOL WITH JIM SCOTT
PRAYER LIST - If you would like
a name on the prayer list,
please email the church office,
robin@allsaints-episcopal.org or
if we can remove a name,
please email or call the church office.
