April 24, 2024

All Saints Gazette: April 24

Greetings from All Saints!

This week at a glance:

Thursday, Bible study, 18:00 at Vrijburg
No service on Sunday (the next one is 5 May, 17:30)
Further ahead: Be there for the bishop’s visitation on June 2!

Around a Table (a reflection from Kyle)

We started worshiping around a table on Easter Sunday. It was a total spur of the moment decision because the chancel and altar in the Vrijburg sanctuary just didn’t feel right that day. Something clicked, and we’ve done it every Sunday since then.

I think we stumbled onto a truth about worship: worship is something we do together. Worshiping around a table is an expression of that. We see each other when we pray, when we preach, when we celebrate the sacraments. It only makes sense to invite some input during the sermons. St. Paul writes that “we have the mind of Christ,” which means all of us, as we actually are.

The Episcopal Church’s traditions provide us with a pattern, but the steps to this dance are for the brains and bodies we actually have to figure out and do. And we are bringing our diversity of brains and bodies, races, genders, languages, and ages to this table we worship around and asking how we can receive each other’s gifts in a way that doesn’t mean tolerance, or one-sided adaptation. Sometimes this is messy, even awkward. The truest expressions of love often are.

These aren’t the only truths about worship, and they might not be the ones everyone needs most urgently right now. But it seems to be our vocation at All Saints to lean into them boldly. So I thank you for being part of this, and I hope to see you soon on a Sunday!

Family News

Mpho’s father of blessed memory, the Most Rev. Desmond Tutu, is commemorated in a stained glass window that was unveiled on Sunday in the cathedral in Capetown where he was archbishop.

Several members of Mpho’s family were present. You may also recognize the stole the archbishop is wearing in this picture, as Mpho sometimes wears it when presiding at All Saints.

Convocation Opportunities

We have someone going to the Academy for Parish Leadership training in Munich in May, which is amazing! Next up: we would like to have a couple people go to the Festival of Gathering in Florence on October 18-19 in conjunction with the Convocation’s annual convention. That means you can skip the business meetings and just be go to the workshops and social functions. Also, Florence! Let us know if you’re interested. Funds for registration and travel may be available.

All Saints People: Tell us the story of your name

This week, we asked Zinzy, our webmaster and a member of the bishop’s committee.
https://youtube.com/shorts/gJwTtq8WHOQ?feature=share

Thanks Zinzy!

Reminder: Bible Study this Thursday at 18:00

It’s free, there’s usually enough food to call it dinner, and you will discover the expert scriptural interpreter you didn’t know was hiding inside of you.

That's all for today!

Want to talk to a priest? We want to talk to you too!

Website: https://allsaintsamsterdam.church/
Mpho: mpho@allsaintsamsterdam.church
Kyle: kyle@allsaintsamsterdam.church
General: info@allsaintsamsterdam.church