All during Lent, the rector has been encouraging every parishioner to become "fishers of people" by inviting someone to church by Easter. Time’s almost up! Been fishin’? Make it a way of life.

Pontius Pilate has been convicted of the crime of murder by a jury of St. John’s parishioners. The defense put on by Al Dixon and Gale Mull was (according to Court TV) a "masterful attempt to get the jury to consider issues of authority and theology and, ultimately, to blame the Roman Empire or even God instead of Pilate." The prosecution team of Eleanor Dixon and Carl Franzman, however, had the facts in their favor and powerfully argued for Pilate’s guilt. After deliberations marked by concerns both theological and factual, the jury returned a verdict of guilt. After a sentencing hearing in which Pilate took the stand to show that he had converted to Christianity, the jury sentenced him to parole for life with the condition that he serve the church in a number of ways.

Thanks to the lawyers and witnesses who worked so hard on this wonderful class. And special thanks to Brent Warberg, who had the idea and put it into motion.

Don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time begins Palm Sunday morning. If you don’t "spring forward," you’ll miss one of the great dramas of the liturgical year.

The rector is pleased to announce that Carol R. McGittigan will begin April 13 as our new Parish Administrator. Carol has worked in a number of United Methodist churches in the past, and says, "Working in a church is part of my ministry." Carol will have a lot to learn about St. John’s and the Episcopal Church, but we are delighted that she is joining us and look forward to learning from her as well. Please make Carol feel welcome, and please help her during this learning period.

On Saturday, April 3, we will hold a workday from 8:00 until noon (or whenever we finish). Please come for all or part of that time to help us get the place spruced up for Easter. Thanks! It’s fun!

Beginning April 18 (the Sunday after Easter), we’ll begin an Adult Inquirer’s class for those who want to be confirmed, think they might want to be confirmed, or just want to learn more about the faith and the Episcopal Church. This class will be structured after the "Outline of the Faith" in the Prayer Book. We will take a retreat on Saturday, April 24, from 9-2. If you would like to participate in this class, please sign up in the narthex or Bott Hall. The Bishop will visit St. John’s and confirm on June 6^th.

At the 10:30 service on Easter, our children will flower the cross (a tradition, and probably a cross, that many remember). Children should bring flowers ready to be placed in containers on the cross. And don’t forget that children will carry the "resurrected" alleluias (that we buried on Shrove Tuesday) in the procession at the10:30 service.

On behalf of the Kids4Peace coordinating staff, the directors and the children of the 2004 program, I want to thank you for your generous gift.

We have recently met our Atlanta Kids for 2004 and are excited about the arrival of our Peace Pals from Jerusalem. You have helped make it possible for these children to spend ten days away from the violence at home and get to know one another. Thank you for being a part of this important ministry of reconciliation.

In His Service,

Ethel Wright

Dear Members and Clergy of St. John’s,

All of us here at the Book Store thank you for your generous gift of $250 for our relocation project. You have always been a loyal friend of the Book Store and we truly appreciate it.

We hope to move early in May—we will let you know when we are ready to receive!

Fondly,

Jane

Well, we don’t really have to. As you probably know, some churches observe the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday night. That, of course, precludes complaints about having to get up so early on Easter morning, but, I recently heard a clergyperson from one such church saying that on years when Daylight Savings Time is in effect before Easter (as is the case this year), people complain that the service has to start so late on Saturday night in order for the fire to be kindled in darkness! So, I guess you can’t win; do it early Easter morning — it’s too early. Do it the night before, — it’s too late.

So, why do we do it so early? Six o’clock is, for me at least, brutal. Why not get it over with on Saturday night so that you can have Easter worship taken care of and not have to do it on Easter day? (Can you tell by my questions how I feel about this?)

Let me begin by telling you that I am not a morning person. I marvel at those of you who tell me that you’re up at five every morning reading or praying or whatever. For me, getting up at five feels like an unnatural act that my body tries to punish me into never repeating. So we certainly are not doing the Vigil in the morning just because I enjoy getting up. Not hardly.

We do it in the morning because it is a service designed to go from darkness to light. It is the only service designed to use the sunrise as a liturgical prop.

We gather outside in the darkness around a fire and thank God for fire and light. From the fire we light the Paschal candle and process into the dark church. There we hold our vigil, telling the stories of God’s saving action which lead up to and anticipate THE story of God’s saving action.

All the while, the dawn will be gathering. The windows, inky black when we go in, will begin to lighten, then glow. Then, as we move from the vigil to the celebration of the Resurrection, the windows shine with the bright light of a new day, a new life. (The timing isn’t always perfect, but it’s always close enough). The Communion window (over the altar) praises the Risen Christ by bursting forth in beautiful patches of color that dance on the floor and across the pews.

And then, having gathered in the darkness, held vigil, and celebrated the Resurrection, we leave into the bright sunlight.

This is powerful, beautiful symbolism. And since God gave it to us, it seems a shame not to use it.

I know, I know — not everyone can make the Vigil. Children, visiting relatives, failing eyesight, there are lots of reasons some people just can’t make it. So I also want you to know that I’ve been in the later service on Easter morning when I felt the Spirit of God swooshing around the place with so much energy and excitement that I thought it might knock us over.

Ah, Easter! The Lord, risen in this dark world. Come be a part of it. Come and bring a friend. You can promise him or her that it won’t be dull. It won’t. I can’t wait!