April 24, 2019

Resurrection

Our faith is built on the Resurrection of Christ. We affirm, in one way or another, that, “Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.”

With the resurrection of Christ, things that were old are being made new. With the resurrection of Christ, hell has been vanquished. With the resurrection of Christ, life is changed, not ended.

It's not a coincidence that the Day of Resurrection happens in the spring. Trees that once seemed to be nothing but a ragged collection of dead limbs bud to life. Dead and dormant grasses begin growing again. Hibernating animals that had been in a state of suspended animation return to life.

Resurrection is all around us if only we are willing to open our eyes to witness it.

But the resurrection we celebrate is more than plants and animals returning to life after a long, dormant winter. The resurrection we celebrate is victory over death. It is a complete change to life as we know it. And the resurrection we celebrate requires more than opening our eyes to witness it. The resurrection we celebrate also requires us to open our mouths and proclaim the Good News.

“Go quickly and tell his disciples . . .” – Matt. 28:7

“But go, tell his disciples and Peter . . .” – Mark 16:7

“And returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and all the rest.” – Luke 24:9

“But go to my brothers and say to them . . .” – John 20:17

News of the resurrection is not to be kept to ourselves. On this first week of Easter, when our own resurrection experience is still fresh in our minds, whom will we tell?

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,

April 17, 2019

Notre Dame is burning

That four word text went out to my wife and daughter when I heard the news about the fire at the famous cathedral. Seeing the smoke billow from the building, watching the spire collapse, was an almost unbelievable and surreal experience. Seeing the overhead drone footage of the fire was like looking into the mouth of hell itself.

But as tragic as this event was, it seems to have happened at the right time. Let me explain.

We are in Holy Week, the last week of Lent. This season began on Ash Wednesday: Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return. All of us, and all of our creations, will return to dust at some point. The fire at Notre Dame reminds us that no one and no thing is everlasting except God.

We are in Holy Week, that time we betray and deny Christ, and watch him die. This is a difficult time. Watching the great cathedral burn felt like watching it die. My mind flashed back to the churches that were destroyed during WWII and never rebuilt, but left to stand as bombed- and burned-out shells of buildings. I had that same feeling, thinking that future generations would only see the remains of what was. In the midst of life, we are in death.

We are in Holy Week, that time we look with hopeful expectation to the Resurrection. As I watched the footage from Notre Dame, I saw the photo from inside the damaged cathedral of an undamaged Altar and cross. In the midst of life, we are in death. Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return. All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

As we move through the rest of this Holy Week, may Notre Dame be a symbol for our faith: life, death, and resurrection.

Blessings,

April 10, 2019

Today's Wednesday Word isn't so much a Word as much as it is a reminder.  Holy Week begins next Sunday, April 14, with Palm Sunday.  As always, we have many opportunities for you to experience this most sacred event, to worship, and to contemplate those mighty acts whereby we have been given life and immortality.

I encourage you to put these on your calendar and participate as fully as possible in the various services that lead us to both the cross and to new life through the resurrection of Christ.

May you have a blessed and meaningful Holy Week  -- Todd+
 

Holy Week Schedule

for

Saint John's Episcopal Church

April 14: Palm/Passion Sunday

Both services (8 and 10:15) will gather in front of the columbarium (in Trimble Hall if inclement weather) for the Blessing of the Palms and procession into the church. Incense will be used at the 10:15 service.

April 15: 12:15 Stations of the Cross in the Nave (enter through the breezeway door)

5:30 Evening Prayer

April 16: 12:15 Stations of the Cross in the Nave (enter through the breezeway door)

5:30 Evening Prayer

April 17: 12:15 Stations of the Cross with Holy Eucharist in the Nave (enter through elevator, Antietam Street, or breezeway door)

April 18: Maundy Thursday

12:15: Stations of the Cross in the Nave (enter through the breezeway door)

6 pm: Holy Eucharist begins in Trimble Hall with an agape meal, the Liturgy of the Word, foot washing, the Confession, and the Peace. Following the Peace, we move upstairs for Holy Communion (the last of the week) and the stripping of the Altar.

April 19: Good Friday

12 Noon: Stations of the Cross and Veneration in the Nave

1:00 – 2:30: Ecumenical Cross Walk in City Park

7 pm: Stations of the Cross and Veneration in the Nave

April 20: Holy Saturday

12 Noon: Liturgy of the Word with the Holy Lamentations in the Nave

April 21: Easter Day

6 am: The Great Vigil of Easter

Service begins in the lower parking lot with the Service of Light and kindling of the new fire, processing into the church for the chanting of the Exsultet and the Service of Lessons, the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, and Holy Eucharist with the administration of Easter Communion. Incense will be used at this service.

7:30: Celebratory breakfast in Trimble Hall

Come for the Vigil and stay for breakfast, or come for breakfast and stay for Easter worship.

10:15: Festal Easter Day celebration of our Risen Lord with the Holy Eucharist and full choir.

April 3, 2019

Rest

The Monday night study group is working their way through a program called The Way of Love.

This is a seven-session program from the Episcopal church that journeys through Lent and the first week of Easter. It's designed around the Great Vigil of Easter and gives participants some things to think about and/or incorporate into their lives as part of their Lenten discipline.

This week's topic was Rest.

As we approach Holy Week and all that entails, along with all of the preparations that go into making Holy Week what it is here at St. John's, I wonder about this thing called Rest and if you are getting enough of it.

Where do you find Rest? What feeds your soul? What recharges your batteries?

We live in a society that values “production” and encourages, either explicitly or implicitly, people to neglect themselves in favor of various financial or career pursuits. But that is not healthy. We need to find time to Rest.

God rested on the seventh day. Jesus found time to get away alone and rest. Jesus found time to take a nap in the back of a boat. Rest is critical for our physical, spiritual, and mental well-being.

Take some time and rest. And if you can't find the time to rest, schedule it on your calendar; because sometimes we need to be intentional about taking a rest.

Rest from the hustle and bustle of the world. Rest from the noise of the world and find time to listen. Rest from the demands and sit with God. Rest from judgmental behavior. Rest from arguing. Rest from feuding. Rest from grudges. Rest from stress.

And as we wind down from our Lenten disciplines and look forward to Easter, remember that Jesus rested for three days.

How will you rest?

Blessings,