When Jesus cried with a loud voice and breathed his last, he entered the silence of God. We can imagine that everyone listened intently as he cried out. The ensuing silence was pronounced and dramatic. I wonder whether any of them thought back to the cheers and hosannas that had marked his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. Such a memory would have magnified the absolute silence of his death.

Jesus’ death offers us the gift of God’s silence in a profound way. It is a silence in which there are no

answers, only the awe-inspiring presence of the One who is wholly other. It is a silence in which we are emptied, just as Jesus was emptied on the cross. It is a silence that fills us with unspeakable hope.

Having spent almost six full weeks in silence and solitude, I am beginning to appreciate the holiness of God’s silence. The drama of Holy Week leads us deeper into this holy silence. Let us join the hushed crowd and listen to the silence of God as we walk the royal road toward Easter.

Scripture lessons for todayMatthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-9a Philippians 2:5-11Matthew 27-11-54 Psalm 31:9-16

Scripture lessons for next weekJeremiah 31:1-6Acts 10:34-43 Matthew 28:1-10 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Entering the Silence of God–By Fr. Rick Matters

Palm Sunday — April 13, 2014

All Saints’WWW.ALLSAINTSCARMEL.ORGThe Weekly

Bonhoeffer, Life Together The physical presence of other Christians is a

source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer. p. 29

Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 5, English

Edition, Augsburg Fortress Press, 1996

HOLY WEEK & EASTER AT ALL SAINTS’

Maundy Thursday noon and 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday noon and 7:00 p.m. The Great Vigil 8:00 p.m. Easter Feast after the Vigil Easter Day 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00

a.m., 5:30 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt after 9:30 and

11:00 a.m. services

AnnouncementsTuesday: Easter Memorial deadline—Easter memorial donations are still being gathered. You’ll find the donation forms in the back of the church and in the office. The deadline for inclusion in the Easter bulletins is Tuesday, April 15.

The Friends of St. Benedict will meet this Wednesday, April 16, in the library from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for study and prayer. Our aim is to integrate the wisdom of monastic life and spiritual theology into our everyday lives as Christians. We meet the third Wednesday of every month, and all are welcome.

Maundy Thursday— Services will be offered at noon and 7:00 p.m.

Maundy Thursday: the Watch—For many Christians, keeping watch before the Blessed Sacrament is a treasured Holy Week devotion. The Watch begins after the 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday service, and lasts until the beginning of the noon Good Friday service. A sign-up sheet is available in the back of the church.

Good Friday—Services will be offered at noon and 7:00 p.m.

Holy Saturday: help decorate the church for Easter—Wear your work clothes and help to make our church home fresh, sparkling, and beautiful for the great feast of Easter. Drop by for as long as you can stay between 10:00 a.m. and noon.

The Great Vigil of Easter will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday evening. Don’t forget to bring a bell to ring! The Easter Feast will follow in Seccombe Hall; you’re invited to

bring bread, cheese, fruit, vegetables, or your most decadent Lent-busting dessert to share. Can you help host the Easter Feast by making coffee, setting out food, and making sure the tables are attractive and well stocked with the church’s plates and napkins? Contact Stephanie in the office.

Easter Day: Services will be offered at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m.

Leaflets outlining our Holy Week and Easter services are available in the church and the office. Take a few to share with friends and co-workers! Details are also available online at www.allsaintscarmel.org.

Lenten Giving Boxes—For the next several Sundays, we will gather our boxes in a large basket on the table by the front doors. You may also simply write a check to All Saints’ (memo: Lenten offering) and place it in the collection plate or a Lenten box. Our donations will be divided between St. Patricks’ School, Haiti, and the ERD South Sudan relief effort; you may specify which you prefer. Thank you for sharing the abundance we enjoy.

Small Bites for Big Hunger, our annual outreach fundraiser, is coming up soon on Friday, May 2. Mark your calendar and buy your tickets!

Office volunteers—We are in significant need of office volunteers, especially on Tuesday afternoon. Please contact the office or Wanda Green (831-295-8397) if you are interested in assisting for a few hours per week.

Sunday handout deadline—To be included in next Sunday’s handout, your announcement must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on the preceding Wednesday. Most special parish events are included in the announcements for three weeks before they occur. Contact Andrea Matters at andreamatters@gmail.com or 624-3090.

Highlighted Events and MeetingsApril 14 Vestry Meeting

Podesses Book Group

April 15 Carmel Public Library Lecture Series

All Saints’ Singers Rehearsal

April 16 Friends of Saints Benedict

April 17 Maundy Thursday

April 18 Good Friday

April 19 Holy Saturday

Decorating the Church

Great Vigil and Easter Feast

April 20 Easter Sunday

All Saints’ ParishDisciples Glorifying Christ and Serving Others