March 2008

Click here to download the March newsletter in PDF format

Inside This Issue:

Page 2
Schedule
Calendar

To Serve You

Bishop:
The Rev. Gregory Rickel

Suffragan Bishop:
The Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera

Senior Warden:
Rob Ash

Junior Warden:
Jon Metts

Admin. Assistant:
Linda Brand

Office Hours:
Mon, Wed, Thurs
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Phone: 360-573-8106
Email: allsts@pacifier.com
Web Site: www.allsaints-vancouver.org

Remember in Your Prayers:

Vivi
Keysa Helms
Sharon Ackermann
Tricia Larson

We Give Thanks for:

Birthdays:

Pat Stephens, March 15

Anniversaries:

Dan and Sheryl Haase, March 24

Building the Church - Rescheduled
The Rev. Bob Rhodes will be sharing ideas with us on building the church at All Saints. Originally scheduled for February 23, this will now be held on Saturday, March 8 at 1 PM. Please plan to join us for the afternoon. You'll be glad you did!

Daylight Saving Time begins on March 9. Remember to turn your clocks forward one hour Saturday evening, March 8.

Deadline for April issue:
March 23

WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.

She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!"

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside.

He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant?

Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.

The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished.

Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done." But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet." The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"