Third Sunday of Lent
The weekly Newsletter of
ALL SOULS ECC
A Welcoming Family of Faith!
As we begin our holy season of Lent, our focus as individuals and as a parish community is to do our best in following the disciplines of this holy season: prayer, fasting and alms giving.
Prayer – select a special person in your life each week and say a little prayer each day for that individual.
Fasting – select a meal one day of the week where you will eat a little less, great for weight loss and healthy for the body as well.
Almsgiving – save your spare change in the All Souls plastic container which will assist us in our outreach programs.
Together as a parish community let us not only support one another with the commitment to regular attendance on Sunday but also in our journey together through Lenten sacrifices to
Easter joy.
Fr. Henry
This weeks readings and question of the week:
Take time to mediate on God’s word and prepare for worship this Sunday. And as you meditate on them, consider the Question of the Week:
How will I share with one other person my discovery of Christ as “Savior of the world”?
Exodus 17:3-7
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
John 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42
John 4:13-14:
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
In this “pearl” of the Gospel, Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman near Jacob’s well, he speaks of water as the simplest of elements, but one that proves to be the most desired, the most vital for whoever is familiar with the desert.
No great explanations were needed to convey the importance of water. Well water is for our natural life, whereas the living water that Jesus is speaking of is for eternal life.
Just as the desert blooms only after an abundant rainfall, similarly the seeds buried in us at baptism can bud forth only if sprinkled with the word of God. Then the plant grows, giving off new shoots and shapes that become a tree or a lovely flower, all because it receives the living water of the word of God, which gives it life and preserves it for eternity.
Chiara Lubich Center
STILL TIME TO SIGN UP!!!
GLOW BOWLING! MARCH 18, 3 pm – 5 pm!
Hiester Lanes, Reading, PA – SIGN UP TODAY!
Gonna mix up our monthly social event for March! Instead of a pot luck we will be doing a Parish Glow Bowl Party!!!
NO COST TO YOU! But we need to get a count of who will be there – so please be sure to sign up during the fellowship hour after the service the next few Sundays – or send us an email that lets us know you are coming! We want to be sure we reserve enough lanes!!!
2 hours of bowling and shoe rental are covered. Can bring money for snacks or drinks if you want!
Lenten Suppers at Calvary
Calvary will be hosting Lenten Suppers. Calvary’s confirmation class thought it would be nice to know more about the groups “nesting” in the building. All are welcome to attend.
6 pm is soup and salad. 6:30 pm is the 1/2 hour program.
- March 8 – Rev. Olga Moreira, Co-Pastor, Path of Holiness Pentecostal Church
- March 15 – Confirmation Class and Pastor Steve
- March 22 – Rev. Alberto Balio, Pastor, Shalom Seventh Day Adventists
- March 29 – Rev. Henry Pruski, Pastor, All Soul’s Ecumenical Catholic Church
- April 5 – Special Music
If you would like to attend March 29 OR any date, please let Henry know so he can give the count to Calvary to help prepare the food.
BUILDING BRIDGES -MARCH 22- Grace Lutheran Church
To members of All Souls: On Wednesday, March 22nd, we are invited to participate in a Lenten program, Building Bridges, at Grace Lutheran Church, 33 South 11th Street, Reading. Each Wednesday during Lent, a group from three Lutheran congregations (St. John’s, Grace and Christ) are meeting with a minority group to get to know them better and build relationships. The LGBT community is the group invited on the 22nd
At 6 pm, we met at Grace Lutheran Church for a simple soup and bread dinner. At 6:45 pm, we will gather for an informal worship and conversation with the participants. My understanding is that we will tell them about our community and then be open for discussion in the spirit of better understanding the LGBT community and our struggles.
This is an opportunity for us to be able to educate those who want to understand our community a little better. I am extending this invitation to you to help us represent and advocate for the LGBT community by participating in this event. Please let me know if you will be able to attend or not by email RB1502@aol.com or call 610.375.8209.
Thank you for your anticipated participation! -Ben
Benedict M.. Renkus, President
Reading Pride Celebration
PO Box 15242
Reading PA 19612-5242
Wednesday, May 24 – Friendly’s Family Fun Night & Fundraiser
INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OUT!
How are you doing answering this past week’s question of the week?
How is Christ’s call to be “transfigured” calling me to “go forth” this Lent from my present (comfortable) values and lifestyle, priorities, and preferences?