An Excerpt from All Saints' Day, 1977 Sermon of The Most Rev. John T. Cahoon, Jr., Metropolitan, Anglican Catholic Church, and Rector, St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
In the New Testament's definition, a saint is a baptized person -- a church member. The communion of saints is the community of saints. Every Christian is connected to every other Christian at every time and in every place. By the power of the Spirit of God, we are just as connected to Christians of the third and eleventh centuries and to Christians in Asia and Africa as we are connected to the people in the next pew.
The church-village is not only global, it also encompasses centuries of history. The Holy Catholic Church which is the body of Jesus Christ and the communion of saints is not limited by space or time. We are all in it together no matter where we are or when we are. So today's collect addresses, "Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord."
In the Old Testament God promised Abraham land and many descendants. We get in on the promises because Jesus is a descendant of Abraham and we are part of his body. But the Epistle to the Hebrews points out that Abraham's Hebrew descendants never inherited everything that was coming to them. Instead, God looked ahead and saw the church. He wants all of us -- both the Jewish descendants of Abraham and us saints -- to get what he promises at the same time.
In today's remarkable epistle, St. John describes how that happens. All of Abraham's descendants are there -- both Israel and the church -- "a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues."
The promised land turns out not to be just a plot of territory between the Mediterranean and the Jordan which we call "Israel." The real promised land is heaven. The glory of All Saints' Day is to look at the multitude in heaven and see your own face.
On All Saints' Day we think particularly about how wonderful heaven is going to be -- and how we are all going to go there together. If the thought of being in heaven with people you don't much like now bothers you, remember that what will make you sure it is really heaven is that you won't mind -- you'll actually be glad to see them.
C.S. Lewis advises us always to have our thoughts and our hearts set upon heaven, saying, "if you aim at heaven, you get earth thrown in. If you aim at earth, you get neither." Your faith in Jesus and your membership in the communion of His saints gives you this to look forward to:
"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat, for the lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee
Services & Events
Sunday, 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM services, for online participation go to
https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams
Nursery during both services
Sunday School, 10:30 AM
Monday, Nov 2, 7:00 PM, All Souls Day service
Tuesday, Nov 3, 12 noon, election day prayer service (church will be open from 10 AM to 2 PM for private prayer) and please make sure to vote, if you haven't already (polls open 6 AM and close at 7 PM)
Wednesday, 12 noon Holy Communion & Anointing for Healing
for online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams
Wednesday, 7:30 PM, Bible study on Jesus and David offered by Fr. Bragg in the undercroft
for online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams
Saturday, Nov 7, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, DMAS Pre-Advent Retreat, at our parish (402 E. Monroe Avenue, Alexandria, VA). This year's retreat, "A Journey to be Experienced," will be led by Fr. Randolph Bragg and Fr. Chris Fish. The day includes Morning Prayer, three teaching sessions, fellowship over lunch, and a concluding Mass with sermon.
Thursday, Nov 12, 07:30 - 08:30 AM, Junction Bakery (corner of Mt Vernon & Monroe in Del Ray), Women's Bible study of the pastoral epistles, meeting roughly every other week, breaking for holidays, etc. If you can't make all the meeting, please join us for some of them, whenever you can. Please click below to see the study guide.
Saturday, November 14,Oct 24, 8:30 AM, Men's Group Breakfast and Bible study; good food, good fellowship and great Bible study.
Monday. Nov 23, 7:30 PM, Vestry meeting
SAVE THE DATE: Monday Nov 30, 7:00 PM, Kirkin o' the Tartan with Evening Prayer, Bagpiper, more Scottish music, great reception with Scottish foods and beverages. Bring your tartans to be blessed, wear your kilts, invite your relatives, friends and neighbors for a great event
MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Very Recently Updated
Critical Needs & More
Below are 2 very recently updated lists: the critical needs list and the needs list. The all volunteer staff of the MaRiH Center and the families that they help are very thankful for the support that our parish continues to provide.
Critical Needs:
Diapers: sizes 5 and 6
Boys and Girls Fall/Winter Clothing: size 2T
Boys and girls winter coats: size 2T
Baby Wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby formula: Similac Advance Formula
Bibs: toddler
Car seat: infant
Other needs:
Diapers: sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4
Fall Winter Clothing: sizes 3-6 month, 9-12 month, 18-24 month,
Bibs: infant
Maternity clothes: Fall/Winter
Wash cloths
Hooded towels
Baby bottles
Baby formula: All other Similac & Enfamil types. Also accept Alimentum & Nutramigen. No other brands are accepted. Please make sure dates have not expired.
Baby shampoo
Diaper rash ointment or cream
Sleep sack: 0-6, 6-12 month
There are two options for helping the Center with these needs:
Option 1
Amazon has all the specific items needed. You can order the specific item(s) and have them delivered directly to the Center.
The MaRiH Center
3230B Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-4521
703-370-4774
Option 2
Go to your local store, purchase the items requested and drop them off at church on Sunday. We will deliver them to the MaRiH Center.
Food Bank
The food bank continues to need our assistance to feed the hungry. .
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Also lower sodium products are better and more healthy.
Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
tuna (cans or foil packages)
peanut butter. jelly
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso, chicken noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom. tomato
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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Our mailing address is:
St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625