A Note from the Pastor

All Souls Ecumenical Church

Phone: 610-621-1738; P.O. Box 15020, Reading, PA 19612-5020

Worshipping at Calvary UCC, 640 Centre, Ave., Reading, PA 19601

 

               To contact us:  Info@allsoulsecumenical.org

Dear Friends,

Since the 3rd century, Christians have celebrated a Christian version of the Jewish Passover which included the celebration Jesus’ Passover from life, to death, to resurrected glory.  Today this celebration is known as Easter.  This early-church celebration included  the sacrament of baptism for new converts to the Christian faith.  The season of education and preparation of candidates for holy baptism became known as Lent.  In the paschal baptism we recall not only Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, we proclaim our belief that in the waters of Christian baptism we die to our old-selves and are raised to new life as participants in Christ’s resurrection.

 

On February the 17th, the church began its 40 day observance of this season of preparation with the imposition of ashes—a solemn service known as Ash Wednesday.  This Lenten season of preparation is a very important time within the life of the church.  It is a time of spiritual renewal.  It is a season of reflection, contemplation, fasting, prayer, and taking on spiritual disciplines.  It is a 40-day spiritual revival.  Unfortunately many people prefer to skip over Lent completely.  The problem with ignoring this penitential season is that one cannot fully appreciate the resurrection of Christ if one does not also consider his sacrifice and passion.  We can not adequately celebrate the hope we find in the resurrection, if we have not taken up our cross and walked with Jesus in the path that leads to his crucifixion. 

 

This Lent, we will be offering two additional worship services in order to help us prepare our minds and our souls for the celebration of the paschal mystery.  On Wednesdays, we will celebrate Holy Eucharist together.  On Friday nights we will walk in the Way of the Cross.  Both of these services begin at 7pm.

 

The Way of the Cross, (also known as the Stations of the Cross) has been a spiritual practice followed by pilgrims in the holy land since the 4th century.  If you have not experienced the Way of the Cross liturgy, I heartily commend it to you.  It is an excellent way to recall the path Jesus walked between his trail and crucifixion.  Although the service lasts about 30 minutes, it is a moving reminder of the events that took place on Good Friday.

 

The three chief days of our Lenten observance are the three holy days known as the Triduum.  The Triduum encompasses, Maundy Thursday (the day we commemorate the Last Supper and the practice of foot washing), Good Friday (the day we commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion and death), and Holy Saturday (the commemoration of the three days that Jesus lay in the tomb).  The Triduum ends with the celebration of the Great Vigil of the Resurrection. 

 

If at all possible, all Christians everywhere should make plans to observe these three most holy days.  Just as anyone sincerely professing the Jewish faith would not think of missing Yom Kippur, so too anyone professing a belief in the  Christian faith should not neglect the observance of the resurrection mystery.  These three days are more important to our Christian faith than any other time—including the celebration of Christmas.  These three days mark the events that are at the heart of the faith we profess.  They are the days in which we celebrate the hope that we have as Christians.

 

For those of you who may not have a faith community—a place where you can celebrate the observance of Lent and Easter, I hope you might consider joining us as we walk our Lenten journey. 

 

And I hope that if you are looking for a church home, a place where you can truly belong, a place that will welcome you regardless of who you are, I hope you will consider All Souls.  Come on, check us out.  Let us welcome you as a sister or brother in Christ.

Dewayne+