All Saints Gazette! Inside: A historical anniversary, and other news!
Greetings and blessings from All Saints Amsterdam!
The Episcopal Church and other Anglican churches commemorate the departed with feast days. One of our newer commemorations is Blessed Florence Li Tim-Oi, the first woman ordained to the priesthood an in Anglican church in 1944 in Hong Kong . Her commemoration is on Wednesday, the eve of her ordination (80 years ago this week!). You can read about her at the bottom, and of course there's a video. Also on Wednesday: Bible study at 6:30.
Be blessed and be awesome!
Abundance Inventory!
Keep those videos and reflections coming! There is a new prompt every week in the season after Epiphany for us to discover what abundance we have from God and reflect on how we might tap into it.
This week's prompt:
In this week’s Bible readings, Jonah goes to a city he fears and dislikes because God gave him a message, and Jesus goes back to the region he’s from, proclaims that God’s reign has come, and invites fishers to join him. They do. Jonah, Jesus, and the fishers all showed up.
Where do you spend your time? Where is your body? Is that a gift to anyone? And where, when, and to whom could your physical presence be a gift? Our community at All Saints? Other communities? Local projects or businesses? Protests? Places where you are afraid to go? What would you have to give up to give more of your presence in the places you feel drawn to?
Housekeeping
Bible Study--Wednesday at 6:30, Old Catholic Rectory (Ruydaelstraae 37), ring the bell left of the sanctuary to get in
Bible study is on for this week! This is one of our church's (and Mpho's) real gifts. Come experience it if you haven't yet. If possible, bring a dish or snack to share. But the most important thing is that you yourself come!
Next week is also a go, but no Bible study or prayer lab on February 7 or 14.
Readers, Intercessors, Children's Activity Leaders!
Sign up for these essential worship roles here (or if Google Docs gives you trouble, just call, text, or email Kyle or Mpho). If you can read this newsletter, you can read scripture or lead prayers at our services! And if you can open a glue stick or even halfway color inside of lines, you can help with the children's activity.
All Saints People Elsewhere
Zinzy has a book on queer readings of Jonah that she'd love to talk with people about. Hans is going to be involved in another climate protest in two weeks and would be happy to talk to anyone who would like to be involved directly or indirectly.
What else is going on that we should know about? Is there something to celebrate? Something going on that people might want to check out (perhaps with you)? Something you're looking for a discussion partner for? Let us know and we'll feature it here! Also let us know if you'd like to join the WhatsApp group.
First woman ordained to Anglican priesthood 80 years ago this week!
The first woman to be ordained a priest in an Anglican church was Li Tim-Oi, who is also known by her English name of Florence. She was born in Hong Kong in 1907. After studying theology and becoming a deaconess (we no longer distinguish between a "deaconess" and "deacon"), she served in churches in Hong Kong and Macau, working especially with refugees. She was ordained a priest during the Japanese occupation when no foreign priests could be sent to Macau. Her faithfulness to the church was not reciprocated by the global Anglican community, and she surrendered her license to serve as a priest after the war, but never relinquished her holy orders. Living in the People's Republic of China after the Chinese Revolution, she was treated with suspicion, forced to destroy her priestly garments, and had to undergo "re-education." In the 1980s, her priesthood was recognized by the then-independent Church in Hong Kong, and she served until her death in the Anglican Church of Canada.
You can read more about her here, or watch this 30 minute video in all its 80s glory.
In the Episcopal Church, she is commemorated on the eve of her ordination, January 24. You can find the readings for the day at here, and this prayer for the day:
Almighty God, who pours out your Spirit upon your sons and daughters: Grant that we, following the example of your servant Florence Li Tim-Oi, chosen priest in your church, may with faithfulness, patience, and tenacity proclaim your holy gospel to all the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Other big commemorations this week include the Conversion of St. Paul on Thursday, considered one of our major feasts.
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
