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March 1 - 31, 2005 St. John’s Episcopal
Church SPECIAL EVENTS
Eagle Notes Deadline If you would like to submit an article or information to be published in the Eagle Notes, all information must be in the church office no later than March 17 for April publication. Please have information on diskette or e-mail to: parishadmin@stjohnscollegepark.com. From the Rector I’d like to talk to you about two Lenten disciplines, one dealing with the Exhortation, and one dealing with the Alleluia Fund for Mission. (You’re allowed to say the “A” word during Lent when it’s part of a name. I’ve been doing it, and lightening hasn’t struck me yet.) On Sunday, February 20, we read the Exhortation (p. 316 in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP)) at the beginning of both services. The Exhortation was written in the 1540’s and revised a bit in the 1550’s. For most of our Anglican history, the Exhortation had to be read every Sunday. In the BCP of 1892, this requirement was relaxed to once a month. In the revision of 1928, it was further relaxed to a requirement that the Exhortation be read three times a year. In the 1979 revision, all required reading was dropped. I am very glad (very glad!) that we don’t have to read it every Sunday. But I think it’s too bad that many of us have probably never read it. The Exhortation seems to me to be a very good Lenten meditation. I have set it out below. I commend it to you as part of your Lenten discipline:
An Exhortation Beloved in the Lord: Our Savior Christ, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood as a sign and pledge of his love, for the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, and for a spiritual sharing in his risen life. For in these holy Mysteries we are made one with Christ, and Christ with us; we are made one body in him, and members one of another. Having in mind, therefore, his great love for us, and in obedience to his command, his Church renders to Almighty God our heavenly Father never-ending thanks for the creation of the world, for his continual providence over us, for his love for all mankind, and for the redemption of the world by our Savior Christ, who took upon himself our flesh, and humbled himself even to death on the cross, that he might make us the children of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, and exalt us to everlasting life. But if we are to share rightly in the celebration of those holy Mysteries, and be nourished by that spiritual Food, we must remember the dignity of that holy Sacrament. I therefore call upon you to consider how Saint Paul exhorts all persons to prepare themselves carefully before eating of that Bread and drinking of that Cup. For, as the benefit is great, if with penitent hearts and living faith we receive the holy Sacrament, so is the danger great, if we receive it improperly, not recognizing the Lord’s Body. Judge yourselves, therefore, lest you be judged by the Lord. Examine your lives and conduct by the rule of God’s commandments, that you may perceive wherein you have offended in what you have done or left undone, whether in thought, word, or deed. And acknowledge your sins before Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life, being ready to make restitution for all injuries and wrongs done by you to others; and also being ready to forgive those who have offended you, in order that you yourselves may be forgiven. And then, being reconciled with one another, come to the banquet of that most heavenly Food. And if, in your preparation, you need help and counsel, then go and open your grief to a discreet and understanding priest, and confess your sins, that you may receive the benefit of absolution, and spiritual counsel and advice; to the removal of scruple and doubt, the assurance of pardon, and the strengthening of your faith. To Christ our Lord who loves us, and washed us in his own blood, and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father, to him be glory in the Church evermore. Through him let us offer continually the sacrifice of praise, which is our bounden duty and service, and, with faith in him, come boldly before the throne of grace [and humbly confess our sins to Almighty God]. The second discipline I would like to commend to you involves the Alleluia Fund for Mission. (See, no lightening!) I hope you read my article about it in Diolog. If you didn’t, it is a new thing in our Diocese — an annual giving opportunity during the Easter Season to create a dedicated fund for the establishment of new parishes in the diocese. I am intimately involved in my capacity as co-chair of the Commission on Congregational Growth and Development for the Diocese. We desperately need to plant new churches in our Diocese — we are not even keeping up with the growth in population. This fund will allow us to buy land proactively, hire good people, and get out there and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in the way only the Episcopal Church can. (Other churches have their ways; we have ours. Theirs undoubtedly work for some folks, but there are lots of people who will only hear the Good News the way we present it.) Please ask me for details if you are curious. I hope you will make part of your Lenten discipline how you can help when you are asked during Easter. Ah, during Lent, I always long for Easter (which is, I suppose, a good reason for having Lent). Won’t it be wonderful when we can gather at the Vigil, the sun rising, the Son having risen, and in wonder and awe say “Allelu. . . . ” Oops! Better not push it; it is still Lent!March Birthdays
About our Worship... Did You Know? by David McLeod, chair of the Worship Commission Lent is a time of self-reflection and repentance. It is also a time for renewal, when we and our planet begin to awaken from our winter slumber. At the beginning of the Lenten season, our worship services change. Notice that the church is sparsely decorated. Colorful flowers change to dried greenery. We use a wooden cross during processions, and we begin services with a different opening acclamation (“Bless the Lord who forgives all sins”) followed by a recitation of the Ten Commandments and Confession. prayer. There are no “Alleluias” used during this season; in fact, the service music changes to reflect a different tone. (using the “Kyrie” instead of a song of praise or the “Gloria”) Hymns reflect he season and are often in a minor key and relate to penitence. Selected prayers and phrases are added or removed. The chalices and serving utensils are made of stoneware, not silver. We are using wafers at the 10:30 service instead of “real” bread. We monotone the traditional Lord’s Prayer instead of the contemporary version singing to our beautiful melody. And we are asked to ‘bow down before the Lord’ before the closing prayer as a further symbol of respect. These changes are not meant to confuse you. They are there, I believe, to shake things up just enough to cause us to pay attention. Throughout this month, we will continue to be shaken as events unfold, but as flowers will need rain for renewal, we need these changes in order to continue to grow. Around the Diocese World Peace Village The Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Fayetteville will present the World Peace Village project on March 5, from 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. at the church. The Peace Village is a self guided, educational event for all ages, designed to promote compassion, tolerance and understanding of different religions. The cost is $1.00 per person to cover the cost of materials. Lenten Quiet Day— Praying with the Labyrinth & Scripture St. Bede’s Church in Atlanta will have a Lenten quiet day on Saturday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The leaders will be the Rev. Beth Luton Cook, director of church ministries education at the Candler School of Theology, and the Rev. Lynnsay Buehler of St. Bede’s Julian of Norwich Center. Cost is $20, including lunch. To sign up, call Lynnsay at 770/938-9797 ext. 27 by Thursday, March 10. With so many ways to help the needy in our community, try reaching them in a different way every now and then. Once a month maybe a contribution for Bibles (.85), pop top foods for homeless, financial contribution, toiletries, or homemade products. The list is endless. Family Life currently has a need for items such as: Laundry Detergent Dish Detergent Toilet Paper Deodorant Soap Shampoo Razors Toothpaste Combs Any size and any brand would be great. If you stay in a hotel or motel, take the sample size with you and donate it to us! Also needed: Cereal Blankets New Pillows Socks T-Shirts Souper Bowl of Caring The youth collected $248.20 this year, which exceeded our amount from last year. The money will be given to Family Life Ministries. Thanks for your support! Lenten & Easter Activities Each Wednesday through March 16, are having Lenten Suppers beginning at 6:00 p.m. Following supper, the Rector will lead a program, then we will worship together. Our Lenten program comes from “Groundwork”, a guide developed by the Episcopal church. It is based on the lectionary, and it’s goal is to encourage personal and congregational transformation, to ask congregational members and leaders to dig deeply into the soil of their mission and context to do serious and joyful learning about evangelism, invitation, and welcome. Please join us! Easter Sunday Join us as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord on Sunday, March 27. We will have a Sunrise service at 6:00 a.m. followed by breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt at 9:00 a.m. and service at 10:30 a.m. Via Media Don’t be left in the dark about your faith. We’re shining a light on issues pertaining to the Episcopal Church by offering a brand new program called Via Media. Via Media’s mission is to educate and inspire those who are currently members of the Episcopal Church and those interested in learning more. We encourage members to bring along friends and family members who have unanswered questions about our faith. Via Media is a new 8-week education series, there will be videos featuring prominent figures in the Anglican Church talking about various issues, in addition, there will be time for open discussion.Join us every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m., March 30—May 25, (Except 4/27 when we will go to Holy Comforter.) Child care will be provided. Bring a friend! Tsunami Victims Support To support families devastated by the earthquake and tsunamis in South Asia, donate to the South Asia Relief Fund at www.er-d.org or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development, South Asia Relief Fund, PO Box 12043, Newark, NJ 07101. Vestry Meeting Please note: The Vestry is now meeting on the third Tuesday of each month. Website Below is how many visitors we had to our website each month during 2004. Thanks to Robbin Iddins!
Vestry News We are sorry to report that Caroline Ukegbu, who was elected to the Vestry at the Annual Parish Meeting in December, is unable to serve because of a conflict in her schedule. (In addition to raising four daughters, Caroline works full time and goes to Nursing School at night. Wow!) Please thank Caroline for her willingness to serve. Pursuant to the by-laws of St. John's, the Vestry elected Kathy Philips to fill Caroline's unexpired term (almost all of it!). Kathy has taught children's Sunday school this year and is excited to be on the Vestry. Please thank Kathy for her service. Instructed Eucharist We will have an "Instructed Eucharist" at both services on March 6. In lieu of a sermon, we will repeatedly "stop the action" and explain the history and theology of what we're doing and why. This is a very good educational event (and worship service) for those new to the Church, and is a good review and reminder for those who have been here many years. It is also a wonderful time to invite someone to church who might be interested in our form of worship. Be a "bearer of the Good News" (Greek:"evangelion," or "evangelist") and invite a friend to church on March 6! Office Helpers Needed On Tuesday from 9:30—Noon help is needed to answer the telephone during staff meetings, prepare the Sunday sermons to be mailed and other light office duties as they arise. If you are willing and available please call Carol at 404-761-8402.
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Eagle Notes
