Dearly Beloved,
This past Sunday’s Gospel lesson is the very well-known story of Jesus at the wedding feast at Cana, in Galilee. It is Jesus’ first miracle, “the beginning of signs,” as St. John says. The miracles are always signs, symbolic acts, and in this case, the occasion itself, the wedding feast, is a sign. It is a sign of the marriage between God and the soul, “the mystical union between Christ and the Church.” At that wedding feast, Jesus changes water into wine, and that is a miracle, that is to say, a sign: a sign of God’s power to transform creation. It is the sign that in union with Christ, our life is to be changed; it is the sign of God’s power to give us new life in his spirit.
It is in that context, and with that understanding that Sunday’s Epistle lesson should be read. St. Paul begins by reminding us of our gifts. Perhaps, to some of us, it seems that we have no gifts, or that our gifts don’t amount to much. Mary says, “they have no wine.” But, by grace, we do have gifts; by the power of God, by God’s grace, water is changed to wine. By the grace of God, we do have gifts, manifold and differing. Some have gifts of prophecy, some have gifts of ministry, some have gifts of teaching, and some have gifts of exhortation. Some have gifts of giving, some have gifts of ruling, some have gifts of mercy, and some have gifts of love.
Divine wisdom, divine power, divine love are manifested in the gifts of grace: that is the Epiphany (the Manifesting) of God in us. St. Paul urges us to those gifts with honesty and modesty, “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope: patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” What he speaks of is really a recreated, a transformed life: God changing water into wine.
The lesson concludes with a call to be charitable. “Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” But how difficult all that really is. It is a marvelous vision of a new spiritual life, but can we really do it? Can we even really try? Perhaps it seems that we have no wine.
But as Sunday’s Collect reminds us, it is God who governs all things in heaven and earth; it is he who makes all things new. He it is who changes water into wine, not the wine of our own ambitions and ideals, not the wine of our self-intoxication, but the good wine of his grace. “Whatever he saith unto you, do it.” Those who act in faith will finally surely know that he has “saved the best wine until now.”
Traveling
Over the past several weeks I have been traveling quite a bit. I have been to Atlanta for the Joint Synods of our traditional Anglican churches. Kathy and I were in Florida for a week’s vacation. And, as I write, I am in Pennsylvania visiting my sister Helga, who has a had a stroke. I will be back on Sunday so I look forward to be seeing you all then. If I have missed anything in your life that I should have known about, please forgive me. Let me know what has been going on so we can truly live our lives together as Christ’s own people.
Major Happy News!
Last Saturday at 6:17 a.m., Charles “Charlie” Chamberlin
graced us with his presence in this world. He arrived weighing in at 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was 20 inches long. A right healthy lad! Congratulations to Ashley & Jesse Chamberlin on the birth of their son! And also to Anthony, who will be an awesome big brother! Little Charlie went home on Sunday and we look forward to his baptism very soon in Christ’s holy Church. Enjoy the picture above and to the right!
Office Closed and Canceled Classes
Deaconess Cynthia and I will be heading down to Atlanta for our annual Winter Conference this coming week. The office will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. That means that Wednesday evening Holy Communion, Fellowship Dinner, and Bible Study are canceled for this coming week. Choir practice will be held on Wednesday evening as usual.
Shakespeare in the House
Our Classical Scholars and Great Expectation students are presenting their annual Shakespeare production. This year’s play is As You Like It. The show for All Saints is this Sunday at 12:45 p.m., immediately following the 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion. If you signed up for a seat in Sunday’s performance, your name has been marked on a seat in the parish hall. Lunch will be available in the large classroom in Simcox Hall before the performance begins.
If you are not coming on Sunday and wish to support our young people in their theatre performances, you may still reserve any available seats for the rest of this week by clicking here.
A Lot Happening next Saturday, February 8
· Men’s Breakfast
o We will have our first Men’s Breakfast of 2020 next Saturday, February 8 at 8:30 a.m. at Mills River Restaurant. All men of the parish, young and young at heart, are encouraged to come out and join in fellowship.
· Ladies Meeting & Brunch
o Ladies, next Saturday, February 8, we will have our first LASSES meeting of 2020, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the parish hall. This is our annual “kick-off” planning meeting, so we need all ladies to come out and join us in making this another great year in the life of our parish family here at All Saints. The meeting should last about an hour and brunch will be served!
· Altar Guild
o Prior to the LASSES meeting next Saturday, February 8, the Altar Guild will hold its first meeting of 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room. All members of Altar Guild should plan on attending that morning. If you are interested in joining our Altar Guild, please see Alice Owen, our Altar Guild Director.
· Craft Market 2020
o Our 2020 Craft Market date has been set for Saturday, October 17. The first “strategy” meeting for those interested in being a part of this LASSES fundraiser will immediately follow the Ladies meeting next Saturday, February 8 at 11:30 a.m. in the conference room.
That is all the news right now and I look forward to seeing all of you this Sunday. Blessings to all of you and please remember to pray for one another!
Fr. Erich
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