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April 2006
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was
buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures...(1 Corinthians 15: 3-4 NIV)
Dear People of
All Saints',
As the end of Lent approaches, we are drawn to the pinnacle of the
church year, Holy Week and Easter. The Apostle Paul reminds us that
Jesus' death and resurrection are of 'first importance' ,and the message
of the forgiveness of sins and the promise of everlasting life is the
heart of the Gospel we proclaim to the world. During Holy Week we relive
the divine story of the events leading up to the crucifixion, and we
celebrate with great joy our Lord's resurrection from the dead. These
themes are repeated each Sunday in the Eucharist as we partake of His
body and blood in remembrance of Him, and we proclaim His death,
resurrection, and ascension until His coming again.
As Christians, we are called to share the many gifts and blessings of
God with the world around us. Jesus commands his followers to feed the
hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison, and work
for justice and peace among all people. There is no greater love to
share than to pass on what is of 'first importance', the announcement of
forgiveness and eternal life. That is the reason for our commitment to
evangelism.
A few weeks ago we shared the simple Christian message during our
services using the five colored beads. Many commented that they had
never heard the gospel proclaimed so simply and clearly. The
straightforward message of Jesus is at the core of celebrated
evangelists such as Billy Graham and now his son, Franklin Graham. I
believe that is why they are so very effective. The Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association provides free materials and training for
thousands of Christians in preparation for evangelistic events such as
the Franklin Graham Festival coming to Baltimore on July 7-9. This
training is available to anyone who wishes to attend and participate You
will be hearing more in the coming weeks.
I want to make it clear that individual participation in the Festival is
strictly voluntary. However, this may be a once in a lifetime
opportunity to be a part of such an event. I learned that Billy Graham
came to Baltimore many years ago, but I have never been near the
location of one of his meetings, and this may be my only opportunity, I
am astounded at the preparation and organization that goes into
such an event and can't help but anticipate the wonderful spiritual
benefits that will follow.
There is a way we can all participate in evangelism without leaving our
homes, and this is through prayer. Throughout history, prayer has been
the force behind every spiritual awakening and revival of faith. Someone
asked why Billy Graham's ministry has been so successful. The answer,
"Three things, the first is prayer, the second is prayer, and the third
is prayer." Please pray for our community and begin to pray for people
you know who need Jesus in their lives. We will introduce Operation
Andrew in the next few weeks where we will ask individuals to make a
list of people they would like to pray for. My hope is that many of us
will take on that challenge.
May we all look forward to a blessed Holy Week and Easter celebration.
Fr. David+
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