Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 22, 2013

All Saints’WWW.ALLSAINTSCARMEL.ORG

There is a story about a suburban church that seemed to be in trouble. Attendance was not good. The vestry talked at length about why that might be.

So they came up with what seemed a brilliant solution. For the upcoming Sunday they would prepare the church for worship as well as cover activities that had been keeping parishioners away. In one corner they installed a putting green. In another they provided comfortable chairs with enough copies of the Sunday New York Times to go around. Way in the back of the church was an area with a TV all set for the game. “No Excuse Sunday!” said the sign out front.

We don’t know how many people came that Sunday. But for many of us. we do know that the music, readings, sermon, prayers and Holy Communion, at their best, can

be very inviting as well. And everyone is invited.The sermon for this Sunday about the Unjust Steward is anything but straightforward. For many, their response is “huh?” Yet if we look closely, there might well be a new slant on what Jesus was telling the crowd. Everyone is invited.

The Weekly

Recommendation:

Daily Office App By Robin Denney

The Daily Office is that traditional and ancient practice of Anglicans, of starting and ending the day in prayer. By following a specific form that includes prayers, psalms, and readings from the bible, you are “gathering” remotely with Anglicans all over the world who share this practice. In the two year reading cycle you will cover most of the bible, and you will read through all of the Psalms several times. You can use your Book of Common Prayer, which has the prayer, the psalms, and a table of the daily reading in the back. Or for you smart phone and tablet users, I recommend the Daily Office App (free from Mission St. Clare on the apple App Store), which puts together everything for you with no flipping of pages and juggling of books!

Praying the Daily Office will day by day bring you a sense of peace and connection with God. It is one of the ways that we notice, and care for the true riches that God so graciously entrusts to us.

Scripture Lessons TodayAmos 8:4-7Psalm 1131 Timothy 2:1-7Luke 16:1-13

Scripture Lessons for Next WeekAmos 6:1a, 4-7Psalm 1461 Timothy 6:6-19Luke 16:19-31

God’s Extraordinary Hospitality of Entrusting Us with True Riches By The Rev. Gwen Buehrens

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Setting Aside Scarcity Thinking By Robin Denney

One evening while I was living in South Sudan, I was out visiting a remote diocese, staying in a mud hut. Sitting under a tree in the twilight reading the bible, I came across today’s Gospel reading, “You cannot serve God and wealth.” I patted myself on the back. There I was, a missionary staying in a mud hut, how much further from serving wealth could I get! And just as I was feeling smug, I was suddenly hit with a realization. All day I had been complaining to God about how I had not been given enough, and that the people of South Sudan had not been given enough to face the challenges at hand. I realized in that moment that focusing on scarcity was a way of serving wealth. I was refusing to see the true riches that God had so generously and with great hospitality entrusted to us. With my smug bubble burst, I set out the next day to look for the gifts that God had given us, which I couldn’t recognize before: the hospitality and generosity of the poor, the abundance of wild mangos and teaks, the faith of the people. And with seemingly nothing, God worked miracles. Where is scarcity thinking stopping you from seeing the true riches entrusted to you?

Stewards of True Riches By The Rev. Rick Matters

Lawrence served as treasurer of his diocese in the third century. During a persecution he was required to hand over the wealth of the Church. Famously, he pointed to the poor, crippled, and suffering and asserted that these were the true treasures of the Church. He was flayed alive, but the Gospel message still burns brightly through his witness.

In today’s parable (Luke 16:1-13), Jesus contrasts the dishonest servant who shrewdly cared for himself with our responsibility to care for what belongs to God. In saying, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much,” Jesus summons us to be faithful to our interior life of prayer and self-reflection. Sunday worship and daily devotions might feel like very little, but they contain the riches of God’s Kingdom. Caring for our interior life leads us, as it did Lawrence, to care for the poor by integrating our actions with Christ’s faithfulness.

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Highlighted Events and MeetingsSeptember 22 Parish Pancake Breakfast with Vestry September 24 Healthy Saints Hike at Andrew Molera

State BeachSeptember 24 Emergency Preparedness PresentationSeptember 27-29 Diocesan Youth Camping trip, Big Sur September 27-29 Festival of Christian SpiritualityOctober 1 Diocesan Training for Eucharistic VisitorsOctober 1 All Saints’ Book GroupOctober 6 Confirmation classes beginOctober 6 Blessing of the Animals

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Prayers for PeaceBy Greg Troxell

We live in the midst of community. There are those in our families, neighborhood, church, and the world around that suffer grave injustices and sorrow inflicted by others. The intractable conflict can begin with just a small self-centered thought.

We are all tempted to protect and shield ourselves from pain and the burden of more responsibility. It may be wise to entrust governmental or some other agency to make a difference, but nothing excuses us from being compassionate and offering our prayers for peace, godliness and dignity.

As Christians we should recognize the value of every human being is rooted in and made evident by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the sake of the world (John 3:16). In today’s reading from First Timothy we hear wise spiritual advice that is enfolded into the prayers of the people in our Book of Common Prayer.

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.

God Entrusts Us with the Riches of Community By The Rev. Rick Matters

At a conversatio session, Louis Powell shared this quotation from the Rule of Life of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. It beautifully expresses our shared responsibility for the greater whole of All Saints’ Church. In turn, it sets the agenda for us to offer the world a model of honoring and welcoming others.

The Challenges of Life in Community: We are also called to accept with compassion and humility the particular fragility, complexity, and incompleteness of each brother. Our diversity and our brokenness mean that tensions and friction are inevitably woven into the fabric of everyday life. They are not to be regarded as signs of failure. Christ uses them for our conversion as we grow in mutual forbearance and learn to let go of the pride that drives us to control and reform our brothers on our own terms. (Chapter 5)

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 ____________________________

Telephone ____________________________

E-mail ____________________________o Tell me about staying in a parishioner’s homeo Send me information about local hotels

Come Sunday, October 6, at the 8:00 or 10:30 a.m. services to have your dogs, cats, or other pets blessed by Father Rick.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

AnnouncementsToday is the last day to register for the Festival of Christian Spirituality, which begins this Friday. Full registration, with all meals included, is $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.

Tuesday: Healthy Saints hike—Join your friends this 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.

Tuesday: 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, in Seccombe Hall from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. For more information, call 624-6921.

Wednesday: Bible study from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. in Grant Hall.

Wednesday: Joining Hands benefit shop, a ministry of Interfaith Outreach of Carmel, is searching for a part-time assistant manager to work weekends at one of the two shops. Interested candidates should e-mail a resume and a letter stating why they want the job to joininghandscarmel@gmail.com. The deadline is this Wednesday, September 25.

The book group will be meeting for dinner on October 1, and for book discussion on October 8. Contact Anne at 625-7576 or annethibault999@yahoo.com.

The blessing of animals for the Feast of St. Francis will take place on Sunday, October 6, at the 8:00 and 10:30 services. Dogs, cats, and other small pets are welcome to join you in church on this day; larger animals will be blessed outside at the end of the service.

Ministry of hospitality—We’re still looking for a few hosts to open their 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.

Are you looking for something on our website? Don’t forget to try the search function! Visit www.allsaintscarmel.org and enter a key word/phrase (like “lector” or “ice cream Sunday”) in the box in the top right corner, then click “search.”

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.

All Saints’Episcopal Parish

Ninth and DoloresPO Box 1296Carmel, CA 93921Phone: 831-624-3883Fax: 831-624-1459www.allsaintscarmel.org