All Souls Ecumenical

Resources and Links to help you prepare for worship this week:

First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33

Responsorial: Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

Music for the week: Easter Worship Songs

Question of the week:

Luke says that at first the disciples’ “eyes were prevented from recognizing him” (24:16). What prevents me from recognizing the Lord in our midst?

Spiritual Communion Prayer for remote participation

Our services are streamed live on YouTube or can be viewed later at any time.

CLICK HERE: All Souls ECC – YouTube

When uncertainty feels louder than hope

Weekly Franciscan Reflection

Click below to open this week’s reflection.

Tithe, offering, and special events payment via Zelle, Venmo or PayPal:

If you would like to give electronically, please feel free to use our All Souls Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle. Zelle is preferred as there are no fees, but either service is fine.

Zelle: look up our account using our email: allsoulsecc@gmail.com. (It will list name of our treasurer, Jerry Schearer, but it will go directly to All Souls account.)
venmo: @AllSoulsECC
PayPal: use the QR code to the right.

In the notes please indicate what the payment is for. Thank you for your continued support of All Souls and its ministries.

All Souls ECC | 640 Centre Ave. Reading, PA | Worshipping in the side chapel off of Oley Street

Good News from All Souls – 04/11/2026

Jerry Schearer — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:00:15 +0000

This week's newsletter and bulletin

Weekly News & Bulletin

Edition for April 11, 2026

Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Easter

APRIL COLLECTION for

Berks Coalition End Homelessness

Hair bushes and cumbs

Easter Flowers & Lent Offerings

Thank you to everyone who contributed toward the beautiful Easter flowers. The chapel was beautiful to celebrate the risen Christ. And thank you to everyone who gave a Lenten offering. We will give an update once the total is known and charity is selected.

Sunday, April 12

12 pm -Mass

Sunday, April 19

12 pm -Mass

Board meeting after mass

Sunday, April 26

12 pm -Mass

Fellowship After (Q-Z)

Sunday, May 3

12 pm -Mass

Sunday, May 10

12 pm -Mass

Fellowship After (A-P)

Sunday, May 17

12 pm -Mass

Board Meeting after mass

Sunday, May 24

12 pm -Mass

Fellowship After (Q-Z)

Sunday, May 31

12 pm -Mass

Worship This Week

Helping with mass:

Ministers – ALL ARE MINISTERS

Celebrant – Rev. Henry Pruski

This Sunday, 4/12/26

Lay Assistant – Ben

Music – Sophie

Reader – Martin

Greeter – Kevin/John

Sunday, 4/19/26

Lay Assistant – Wendy

Music – Steve

Reader – Donna

Greeter – Martin/Jerry

Resources and Links to help you prepare for worship this week:

First Reading: Acts 2:42-47

Responsorial: Psalm 118:2-4; 13-15; 22-24

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Gospel: John 20:19-31

Music for the week: Easter Worship Songs

Question of the week:

With eyes of faith, how do I see Christ’s wounds in my community?

Spiritual Communion Prayer for remote participation

Our services are streamed live on YouTube or can be viewed later at any time.

CLICK HERE: All Souls ECC – YouTube

Weekly Franciscan Reflection

Click below to open this week’s reflection.

Peace and All Good

Tithe, offering, and special events payment via Zelle, Venmo or PayPal:

If you would like to give electronically, please feel free to use our All Souls Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle. Zelle is preferred as there are no fees, but either service is fine.

Zelle: look up our account using our email: allsoulsecc@gmail.com. (It will list name of our treasurer, Jerry Schearer, but it will go directly to All Souls account.)
venmo: @AllSoulsECC
PayPal: use the QR code to the right.

In the notes please indicate what the payment is for. Thank you for your continued support of All Souls and its ministries.

All Souls ECC | 640 Centre Ave. Reading, PA | Worshipping in the side chapel off of Oley Street

All Souls invites you to experience the 2026 Easter Triduum

Jerry Schearer — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:00:34 +0000

Holy Week Services at All Souls

HOLY WEEK 2026 – All Souls ECC

Where ALL are welcome!

My sisters and brothers in Christ,

As we begin Holy Week, with our Palm Sunday procession, let us not forget that we are a pilgrim people, making our journey of faith in this life by walking together. Please join me and your sisters and brothers of All Souls, as well as Christians throughout the world, by our walking together. The most sacred three days of our faith, the Triduum, begins on Maundy (Latin – mandatum-mandate) Thursday, the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper and following the command/mandate to wash each other’s feet. Good Friday commemorates our Lord’s Passion and His death on the cross, the ultimate proof of His love despite human betrayal and treachery. Holy Saturday Vigil, beginning in stunned silence and darkness and ending in exultation that

CHRIST IS RISEN, ALLELUIA!

Do not take your journey of faith by yourself and alone. Let us all walk together!

Fr. Henry+

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday & Easter Vigil

We invite you to join us during this most Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday

April 2 – 7:00 pm

Good Friday

April 3 – 7:00 pm

Easter Vigil

April 4 – 7:00 pm

*No Mass Sunday, April 5

HAPPY EASTER*

We would love to see our friends and All Souls Family in person. But if you can’t attend service you can watch with YouTube Live or the recording on our YouTube Channel when posted. Click on services above to download bulletin for each service.

Below are the links to each service YouTube Live:

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Easter Vigil

Mary’s Way of the Cross

Is not the Way of the Cross the way of every person’s life? Doesn’t every life have suffering, falls, hurts, rejections, condemnations, death, burial… and resurrection? It has been a tradition through the centuries to meditate on the Way of the Cross, so that it becomes our way of life.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, made that first way of the cross. These stations, called Mary’s Way of the Cross, attempt to present that viewpoint. In these stations we see through Mary’s eyes what Jesus was going through on the way of Calvary. Then we try to make practical applications to our lives.

These stations and these words are not the heart of the matter; the heart of the matter is to go deeper and deeper into the sufferings of Christ, so that we might come out of this spiritual journey with an appreciation of what Christ did for us, and a deeper love for him and for our sisters and brothers. – Rev Andrew Costello, C.Ss.R.

“We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

Serving this week for Holy Week – Celebrant Rev. Henry Pruski

Thursday. Rich (Lay Assistant), Donna (Reader), with Rev. Denise Robinson (Musician), Vito(Greeter)

Friday. Wendy (Lay Assistant), Kent (Reader), Kevin/John (Greeters), Wendy & Martin (The Passion)

Saturday. Joan, Wendy, & Ben (Lay Assistants), Martin (Reader), John & Tom (musicians)

ALL SOULS Ecumenical Catholic Communion

AllSoulsECC@gmail.com 610-621-1738

allsoulsecumenical.org

Good News from All Souls – 03/28/2026

Jerry Schearer — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 11:00:49 +0000

This week's newsletter and bulletin – 4th Sunday of Lent

Weekly News & Bulletin

Edition for March 28, 2026

Sunday: PALM SUNDAY

Bring your Lenten offering this Sunday or Easter Vigil.

Our lent offering will benefit an organization that assists immigrants.

MARCH COLLECTION for

Berks Coalition End Homelessness

PILLOWS – NEW IN PLASTIC

Bring in your pillows this week.

Saturday, March 28

12 pm -No Kings March

11th & Rockland

(or carpool from the church parking lot at 11:30 am)

Sunday, March 29

12 pm – Mass

PALM SUNDAY

Thursday, April 2

Maundy Thursday Service – 7 pm

Friday, April 3

Good Friday Service

7 pm

Saturday, April 4

EASTER VIGIL – 7 pm

Sunday, April 5

No Mass

HAPPY EASTER

Easter Flowers

Easter Flower envelopes are available for people who would like to make a donation in honor of or in memory of someone. These names will be published in the Easter Vigil bulletin. The envelopes must be turned in by Palm Sunday.

You may also donate online – but please note in the memo that its for Easter flowers or let Jerry know.

Worship This Week

Helping with mass:

Ministers – ALL ARE MINISTERS

Celebrant – Rev. Henry Pruski

This Sunday, 3/29/26

Lay Assistant – Kent

Music – Steve

Reader – Vito

Greeter – Martin/Jerry

Sunday, April 5 – No Mass

Sunday, 4/12/26

Lay Assistant – Ben

Music – Sophie

Reader – Martin

Greeter – Kevin/John

Resources and Links to help you prepare for worship this week:

Processional Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7

Responsorial: Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24

Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11

Gospel: The Passion According to Matthew

Music for the week: Palm Sunday Hymns

Question of the week:

By whom have I felt betrayed and how will I respond to them with love?

Spiritual Communion Prayer for remote participation

Our services are streamed live on YouTube or can be viewed later at any time.

CLICK HERE: All Souls ECC – YouTube

Weekly Franciscan Reflection

Click below to open this week’s reflection.

Divine Entanglement

Tithe, offering, and special events payment via Zelle, Venmo or PayPal:

If you would like to give electronically, please feel free to use our All Souls Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle. Zelle is preferred as there are no fees, but either service is fine.

Zelle: look up our account using our email: allsoulsecc@gmail.com. (It will list name of our treasurer, Jerry Schearer, but it will go directly to All Souls account.)
venmo: @AllSoulsECC
PayPal: use the QR code to the right.

In the notes please indicate what the payment is for. Thank you for your continued support of All Souls and its ministries.

All Souls ECC | 640 Centre Ave. Reading, PA | Worshipping in the side chapel off of Oley Street

Link for YouTube LIVE – We hope to stream, but not 100% sure at this time.

Taizé service at 7 pm 3/25/2026

Jerry Schearer — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:34:41 +0000

Taizé Service Tonight!

Wednesday, March 25 – 7 pm

Good News from All Souls – 03/21/2026

Jerry Schearer — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 11:00:33 +0000

This week's newsletter and bulletin – 4th Sunday of Lent

Weekly News & Bulletin

Edition for March 21, 2026

Sunday: Fifth Sunday of Lent

Speaking of mediation and prayer…..we are almost to Holy week how are your Lent devotionals going? This week read, drew and prayed about the wilderness journey through the valleys of life.

Save your loose change during lent. We will collect your loose change or other Lenten offering during Holy Week. Be sure to put your name on a slip of paper in the container before returning them or mark on your envelope or check “LENT OFFERING”

We will then donate the offering to a local nonprofit that benefits our immigrant communities.

MARCH COLLECTION for

Berks Coalition End Homelessness

PILLOWS – NEW IN PLASTIC

Bring in your pillows this week or next!

LENT Taizé Service

Wednesday, March 25 – 7 pm

A Taizé service is a contemplative Christian worship gathering featuring meditative chants, scripture readings, silence, and prayer, designed to foster reflection, unity, and spiritual calm.

A Taizé service originates from the Taizé monastic community in Burgundy, France, founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schütz. It was created as an ecumenical space to promote reconciliation among Christians of different denominations and to provide a meditative form of worship accessible to all. The service emphasizes simplicity, silence, and repetitive music to help participants focus inwardly and connect with God.

Sunday, March 22

12 pm – Mass

Fellowship After (Q-Z)

Wednesday, March 25

7 pm – Taizé Service

Saturday, March 28

12 pm -No Kings March

11th & Rockland

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

A Missionary Franciscans of the Sacred Heart Community Event

Saturday March 28th, 2026

2:30 PM

Charles Evans Cemetery

1119 Centre Ave, Reading PA 19601

Sunday, March 29

12 pm – Mass

PALM SUNDAY

Thursday, April 2

Maundy Thursday Service – 7 pm

Friday, April 3

Good Friday Service

7 pm

Saturday, April 4

EASTER VIGIL – 7 pm

Sunday, April 5

No Mass

HAPPY EASTER

Easter Flowers

You may also donate online – but please note in the memo that its for Easter flowers or let Jerry know.

Worship This Week

Helping with mass:

Ministers – ALL ARE MINISTERS

Celebrant – Rev. Henry Pruski

This Sunday, 3/22/26

Lay Assistant – Rich

Music – Chris

Reader – Donna

Greeter – Vito

Sunday, 3/29/26

Lay Assistant – Kent

Music – Steve

Reader – Vito

Greeter – Martin/Jerry

Resources and Links to help you prepare for worship this week:

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14

Responsorial: Psalm 130:1-8

Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11

Gospel: John 11:3-7, 117, 20-277, 33b-45

Music for the week: Hymns of Lent

Question of the week:

What sins are keeping me entombed, isolated from God’s love and from others? What can I do to free myself from my tomb?

Spiritual Communion Prayer for remote participation

Our services are streamed live on YouTube or can be viewed later at any time.

CLICK HERE: All Souls ECC – YouTube

Weekly Franciscan Reflection

Click below to open this week’s reflection.

Solitude

Tithe, offering, and special events payment via Zelle, Venmo or PayPal:

If you would like to give electronically, please feel free to use our All Souls Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle. Zelle is preferred as there are no fees, but either service is fine.

Zelle: look up our account using our email: allsoulsecc@gmail.com. (It will list name of our treasurer, Jerry Schearer, but it will go directly to All Souls account.)
venmo: @AllSoulsECC
PayPal: use the QR code to the right.

In the notes please indicate what the payment is for. Thank you for your continued support of All Souls and its ministries.

All Souls ECC | 640 Centre Ave. Reading, PA | Worshipping in the side chapel off of Oley Street

Good News from All Souls – 03/14/2026

Jerry Schearer — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:00:54 +0000

This week's newsletter and bulletin – 4th Sunday of Lent

Weekly News & Bulletin

Edition for March 14, 2026

Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Lent

HOPE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT!!!!

Saturday, March 14 – 6 pm

Pine Room

All Are Welcome!

Collect your container and save your loose change during lent. We will collect your loose change or other Lenten offering during Holy Week. Be sure to put your name on a slip of paper in the container before returning them.

We will then donate the offering to a local nonprofit that benefits our immigrant communities.

MARCH COLLECTION for

Berks Coalition End Homelessness

PILLOWS – NEW IN PLASTIC

Bring in your pillows this week or next!

LENT Taizé Service

Wednesday, March 25 – 7 pm

A Taizé service is a contemplative Christian worship gathering featuring meditative chants, scripture readings, silence, and prayer, designed to foster reflection, unity, and spiritual calm.

Saturday, March 14

6 pm – Pine Room

POTLUCK

Sunday, March 15

12 pm – Mass

Board meeting after Mass

Sunday, March 22

12 pm – Mass

Fellowship After (Q-Z)

Wednesday, March 25

7 pm – Taizé Service

Saturday, March 28

12 pm -No Kings March

11th & Rockland

Sunday, March 29

12 pm – Mass

PALM SUNDAY

Thursday, April 2

Maundy Thursday Service – 7 pm

Friday, April 3

Good Friday Service

7 pm

Saturday, April 4

EASTER VIGIL – 7 pm

Sunday, April 5

No Mass

HAPPY EASTER

Worship This Week

Helping with mass:

Ministers – ALL ARE MINISTERS

Celebrant – Rev. Henry Pruski

This Sunday, 3/15/26

Lay Assistant – Ben

Music – Joe

Reader – Vito

Greeter – Kevin/John

Sunday, 3/22/26

Lay Assistant – Rich

Music – Chris

Reader – Donna

Greeter – Martin/Jerry

Resources and Links to help you prepare for worship this week:

First Reading: Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

Responsorial: Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14

Gospel: John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

Music for the week: Hymns of Lent

Question of the week:

What are my blind spots? What biases do I have that distort the way I see others or see the world? Am I willing to ask someone I know well to be honest with me?

Spiritual Communion Prayer for remote participation

Our services are streamed live on YouTube or can be viewed later at any time.

CLICK HERE: All Souls ECC – YouTube

The Quiet Conversation of the Heart

Weekly Franciscan Reflection

Click below to open this week’s reflection.

Tithe, offering, and special events payment via Zelle, Venmo or PayPal:

If you would like to give electronically, please feel free to use our All Souls Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle. Zelle is preferred as there are no fees, but either service is fine.

Zelle: look up our account using our email: allsoulsecc@gmail.com. (It will list name of our treasurer, Jerry Schearer, but it will go directly to All Souls account.)
venmo: @AllSoulsECC
PayPal: use the QR code to the right.

In the notes please indicate what the payment is for. Thank you for your continued support of All Souls and its ministries.

All Souls ECC | 640 Centre Ave. Reading, PA | Worshipping in the side chapel off of Oley Street

Good News from All Souls – 03/07/2026

Jerry Schearer — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 12:00:10 +0000

This week's newsletter and bulletin – 3rd Sunday of Lent

Weekly News & Bulletin

Edition for March 7, 2026

Sunday: Third Sunday of Lent

Mark your calendar, invite your friends, and prepare your food for our March Potluck!

Saturday, March 14 – 6 pm

Pine Room

All Are Welcome!

Thanks to everyone who assisted with GOOD THYME FOR LIFE. It took a lot of people from gathering baskets and raffle items, hanging up posters, inviting friends, and those who came out to eat and/or purchase raffle tickets. All Souls showed what we can do with God’s help when we get behind a good cause. Small but mighty!

THANK YOU AGAIN!

MARCH COLLECTION for BCEH

PILLOWS – NEW IN PLASTIC

Sunday, March 8

12 pm – Mass

Fellowship After (A-P)

3pm – Kutztown Pipe Band Concert at

Calvary UCC

Saturday, March 14

6 pm – Pine Room

POTLUCK

Sunday, March 15

12 pm – Mass

Board meeting after Mass

Sunday, March 22

12 pm – Mass

Fellowship After (Q-Z)

Saturday, March 28

12 pm -No Kings March

11th & Rockland

Sunday, March 29

12 pm – Mass

PALM SUNDAY

Know Your Rights

LENT DEVOTIONAL

Our lent devotionals this year are a bit different – using poetry, art, coloring, and reflections. Available at mass each Sunday for Lent!

We will then donate the offering to a local nonprofit that benefits our immigrant communities.

Worship This Week

Helping with mass:

Ministers – ALL ARE MINISTERS

Celebrant – Rev. Henry Pruski

This Sunday, 3/8/26

Lay Assistant – Wendy

Music – Steve

Reader – Donna

Greeter – Vito

Hospitality – Daryl

Sunday, 3/15/26

Lay Assistant – Ben

Music – Joe

Reader – Vito

Greeter – Kevin/John

Resources and Links to help you prepare for worship this week:

First Reading: Exodus 17:3-7

Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

Gospel: John 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

Music for the week: Transfiguration Hymns

Question of the week:

How can the life-giving water I received in baptism flow through me to quench the thirst of others in need?

Spiritual Communion Prayer for remote participation

Our services are streamed live on YouTube or can be viewed later at any time.

CLICK HERE: All Souls ECC – YouTube

Weekly Franciscan Reflection

Click below to open this week’s reflection.

Faith Without Fear

Tithe, offering, and special events payment via Zelle, Venmo or PayPal:

If you would like to give electronically, please feel free to use our All Souls Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle. Zelle is preferred as there are no fees, but either service is fine.

Zelle: look up our account using our email: allsoulsecc@gmail.com. (It will list name of our treasurer, Jerry Schearer, but it will go directly to All Souls account.)
venmo: @AllSoulsECC
PayPal: use the QR code to the right.

In the notes please indicate what the payment is for. Thank you for your continued support of All Souls and its ministries.

All Souls ECC | 640 Centre Ave. Reading, PA | Worshipping in the side chapel off of Oley Street

More info on Good Thyme For Life

Good News from All Souls – 02/28/2026

Jerry Schearer — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:00:30 +0000

This week's newsletter and bulletin – 2nd Sunday of Lent

Weekly News & Bulletin

Edition for February 28, 2026

Sunday: Second Sunday of Lent

JOIN US FOR A MEAL AND A CAUSE

Monday, March 2

All Souls will be hosting for A Good Thyme for Life on Monday, March 2nd. We will be at:

Café Folino from 8 AM – 2 PM

Mangia! Italian Restaurant from

4 PM – 8 PM.

And don’t forget to bring some extra funds for raffle baskets and prizes!

Benefitting Berks and Schuylkill Counties

Now in its third year, The Help A Girl Out (HAGO) grassroots effort provides feminine hygiene products and diapers to women and girls served by local nonprofits.

Since mass was cancelled last week, we will still be collecting items this Sunday, March 1.

We will resume our collection for Berks Coalition for Homelessness in March by collecting Pillows (new-in the bag) and Pillowcases

Mark your calendar, invite your friends, and prepare your food for our March Potluck!

Saturday, March 14 – 6 pm

Pine Room

Sunday, March 1

12 pm – Mass

Monday, March 2

Good Thyme for Life

Sunday, March 8

12 pm – Mass

Fellowship After (A-P)

Saturday, March 14

6 pm – Pine Room

POTLUCK

Sunday, March 15

12 pm – Mass

Board meeting after Mass

Sunday, March 22

12 pm – Mass

Fellowship After (Q-Z)

Saturday, March 28

12 pm -No Kings March

11th & Rockland

Sunday, March 29

12 pm – Mass

PALM SUNDAY

Know Your Rights

LENT DEVOTIONAL

Our lent devotionals this year are a bit different – using poetry, art, coloring, and reflections. Available at mass each Sunday for Lent!

We will then donate the offering to a local nonprofit that benefits our immigrant communities.

A LONG TALK UNIVERSE & CPR Protocol

A journey towards eradicating racism in America

As we end Black History Month, we welcome you to learn more though A Long Talk’s online community platform – a space designed to extend and deepen your anti-racism activation experience. This platform serves as a hub for continued learning, reflection, and action in our collective journey towards eradicating racism in America.

Newsletters, learning modules, and monthly zoom sessions to practice a protocol we have adopted at Kutztown called CPR (Clarify – Probe- Redirect). It’s a framework for interrupting problematic conversations with confidence and care.

A Long Talk Universe

Worship This Week

Helping with mass:

Ministers – ALL ARE MINISTERS

Celebrant – Rev. Henry Pruski

This Sunday, 3/1/26

Lay Assistant – Joan

Music – Preston

Reader – Martin

Greeter – Martin/Jerry

Sunday, 3/8/26

Lay Assistant – Wendy

Music – Steve

Reader – Donna

Greeter – VIto

Hospitality – Daryl

Resources and Links to help you prepare for worship this week:

First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a

Responsorial: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

Second Reading: 2 Tmothy 1:8b-10

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Music for the week: Transfiguration Hymns

Question of the week:

How can I see myself transfigured between now and Easter? How will accepting my cross and following Jesus more closely help transform my life?

Spiritual Communion Prayer for remote participation

Our services are streamed live on YouTube or can be viewed later at any time.

CLICK HERE: All Souls ECC – YouTube

Reflection from our Franciscans

We are called to be Mothers of Christ

Francis of Assisi wrote, “We are mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ when we carry him in our hearts and in our bodies… and give birth to him through the working of his grace in us.” Here, he offers us an image that is at once tender and demanding, as to be a mother is to cherish life with one’s whole being. A true parent does not love halfway, sacrificing sleep, comfort, pride, and personal preference for the sake of the child. Their well-being becomes the lens through which everything else is measured, and there is attentiveness, protectiveness, and a quiet willingness to give without counting the cost.

Francis invites us into that same posture toward Christ, for if we are “mothers” of the Lord, then we carry Him not as an idea, or a learned doctrine, but as a living presence within our hearts and our bodies. We nurture Him through prayer, silence, repentance, and through a sincere conscience. We protect this loving presence by turning away from what hardens us or diminishes our joy to express humility, charity and love.

St Francis continues in describing this spiritual parenthood by writing that we must give birth to our Lord. Whenever His grace works through us, at times when patience replaces irritation, when mercy interrupts judgment, when kindness is extended without calculation, Christ is born into the world again and again. There is such beauty in witnessing how a mother’s love is visible within her actions for her children, so too can we find beauty as the love of Christ shines forth from us. It is not from His name upon our lips alone which should initiate others’ encounter with Christ, but as well from our actions they feel His compassion, His gentleness, His welcome.

We are called to cherish him so deeply that His love cannot help but to come forth from us and flow outward to all whom we encounter. As we do not choose which of God’s children is worthy of this message of love, this outpouring includes those we find difficult, strangers, the overlooked and even those who disagree with or wound us. If we accept the reciprocal love we share with our Savior, then no one is beyond His care. This grace cannot be controlled by us, but rather works through us. Christ takes flesh once more through our actions

May we carry Him with tenderness.

May we protect Him with sincerity.

And may we give birth to Him in the world, again and again.

Peace.

Rich

Tithe, offering, and special events payment via Zelle, Venmo or PayPal:

If you would like to give electronically, please feel free to use our All Souls Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle. Zelle is preferred as there are no fees, but either service is fine.

Zelle: look up our account using our email: allsoulsecc@gmail.com. (It will list name of our treasurer, Jerry Schearer, but it will go directly to All Souls account.)
venmo: @AllSoulsECC
PayPal: use the QR code to the right.

In the notes please indicate what the payment is for. Thank you for your continued support of All Souls and its ministries.

All Souls ECC | 640 Centre Ave. Reading, PA | Worshipping in the side chapel off of Oley Street