Light, Saints, and news for the week from St. Matt's.
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Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,
Last Friday night, a number of us gathered to remember the Feast of All Saints. We lit candles and brought pictures & tokens of loved one to place on the Altar. For generations, this has been a day in the church when we remember those Saints and saints (the big and little S differentiating between Saints like Mary, Joseph, Joan of Arc, and Pauli Murray, and saints like you and me. Yes the little s refers to all of us - saints of God - who maybe haven't achieved Saintly status yet). I always think its timing is particularly helpful. As the clocks turn back and the nights grow dark, as the winter wind starts to make its way in, we gather to remember the light brought to our lives by people we love and see no longer. And the light of the Kingdom where they wait for us. It's the first of the great yearly reminders that God's light shines in the darkness - and that there is no darkness thick enough to overcome it.
As we make our way toward the holidays, light becomes a more common theme in our scripture - especially once we get into Advent. And it begins to pop up everywhere in the world around us, especially as people prepare for Christmas. There are a lot of ways for you to come to know the light within you more fully - and to learn better how to wield it. Quite a few of them are happening at St. Matt's over the next few months. So, I hope you'll take a careful look through our newsletter and website to see how you can participate.
You'll find everything from mission opportunities, to adult education series, a workshop where you can learn to write your own setting of the Prayers of the People, the Christmas Pageant, and some time just to be together in the midst of the busy-ness that is about to descend. Make time to climb up into the tree that is St. Matt's, to come away from the din of the crowd and the rush of the world. Make time to come and see the light that is Jesus, to soak it in, and to take it with you into the world.
As long as you live, there's time to work on that Saintly status. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey or your chronological path, God is waiting to bring you into the light, to show you the good plans stored up for you. May you be ready to listen and to receive it. As the darkness lingers, may you share the light that's only yours to share. And brighten the world around you. You'll be in my prayers until we're together on Sunday.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
Tags: Welcome from the Rector