Frontpage, March 22, 2020

Spring began March, 20, 2020

March 22, 2020 Lent 4 – slides and commentary

March 22 – Christian Ed, Judah’s Sexual Ethics Genesis 38 1-30. Includes Genesis chapters 36,37.

March 22 – Bulletin

March 22 – Prayers of the Peoole

March 22 – Sermon

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The Week Ahead…

March 25, 10:00-12pm – Online Ecumenical Bible Study

Catherine will sent out the links.

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March 29, Genesis – Online

March 29 – Online Learning during Lent – “Signs of Life -Why Worship Matters”. Online.

This week – “shelter”

March 29 – 11am – Fifth Sunday in Lent – Readings

March 29, Online worship at the National Cathedral, 11:15am

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Village Harvest, March 18, 2020

Our Village Harvest food distribution was open as normal on the 3rd Wed of the month on March 18. We did it differently doing it as a drive through but we served over a 100 people. We were rewarded with our magnolia and pear tree blooming plus beautiful scenes along the Rappahannock River

Take a peak. We have a slideshow, a short 30 second video and a review of the Village Harvest over the first quarter. Thanks to all who helped and came to get food.

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Handling the Pandemic – Spiritually

Here are some aids to help with this trying time – learning new things, getting outside, participating in online activities…

As the National Cathedral states “Social Distancing does not have to mean Spiritual Isolation.”

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body. . . . Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a
single hour to your life?” – Matthew 6:25–27

“Save us from the time of trial . . . “— The Lord’s Prayer

“To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers ― so many caring people in this world.” – Mister Rogers

“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well” – Julian of Norwich

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Lent – Links

• • We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website Lent at St. Peter’s Includes the background of Lent, the Lenten calendar with readings, resources, etc.
  • Lenten Calendar. As Lent began on Feb. 26, start of practice of reading the Daily Office which is on the Calendar
  • Adult Christian Ed on Sundays in Lent online- Genesis and Previous Sessions

 

• Adult Christian Ed in Lent online – Signs of Life

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The Annunciation, celebrated March 25

Annunciation– Fra Angelico (1426)

Here is a video that describes this scene in the painting above displayed in the Prado museum in Madrid.

In the first chapter of Luke The Annunciation(Luke 1:26-38) is described. We read how the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Christ, and how Mary answered, “Here I am, the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me as you have said.” It is reasonable to suppose that Our Lord was conceived immediately after this. Accordingly, since we celebrate His birth on 25 December, we celebrate the Annunciation nine months earlier, on 25 March.

For many centuries most European countries took 25 March, not 1 January, as the day when the number of the year changed, so that 24 March 1201 was followed by 25 March 1202. If you had asked a Christian of that time why the calendar year changed so awkwardly partway through a month, he would have answered: “Today we begin a new year of the Christian era, the era which began X years ago today when God was made man, when He took upon Himself a fleshly body and human nature in the womb of the Virgin.”

Here is an another description of the event

Art of the Annunciation – The Annunication has been depicted in art for a thousand years. Here are 30+ images of that history.

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Art for the 5th Week in Lent, Year A

Commentary is by Daniella Zsupan-Jerome.

Death threatens life in the story of the raising of Lazarus, and János Vaszary’s Resuscitation of Lazarus invites us into the scene. This 1912 painting is a striking collision of styles: the figures recall the standardized style of Byzantine icons, while the background, color, and expression have a modern, vivid quality. This is revered tradition unfolding in the here and now, much like the Gospel message seeks to imbue our present day.

Vaszary isn’t as much telling the story as inviting us into the heart of it. Instead of a narrative, he offers three key realities symbolized by these figures. On the left, the women crying and imploring are Martha and Mary folding us into the sorrow of fear and loss as their brother is consumed by illness. In the middle, Lazarus hangs naked and limp in the arms of an imposing figure in red—Death. Lazarus’s body brings to mind the body of Christ off the cross, an anti-Pietà with a body that is held here not by a sorrowful mother but a triumphant and defiant Death. On the right, Jesus and the disciples enter to stop him.

Jesus, hand held up in blessing, stops Death in his tracks. As his disciples look to him in wonder, Jesus looks out at us, with a steady confidence that humbles Death’s assumed triumph. Christ addresses us, the viewers, with eternal truth: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”

A notable expression of the modern style of this icon is the background. Instead of solid gold, we see a dawning sky, another sign of the awakening that is taking place. In the Gospel passage, Jesus teaches the disciples about walking by day versus stumbling at night. With the dawning sky, we can anticipate a steady road ahead, a sure way that leads to salvation and fullness of life. There is powerful symbolism here as Christ’s own path will soon lead him to Jerusalem, Golgotha, and the cross. Knowing the way ahead, Jesus’ act of faith is profound encouragement to dare to look further down the road and trust in God as the Author of Life.

On this fifth Sunday of Lent, we may be at different points along the way: wailing with the women in our sorrow, in the grip of death like Lazarus, wondering at the possibility of faith like the disciples, or facing a hard road ahead. Christ engages us from the painting directly: I am the Way; follow me to the fullness of life.

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Lectionary, Lent 5, Year A, March 29, 2020

I.Theme –   Death and Resurrection

 “Raising of Lazarus” – Giotto (1304-1306)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:

Old Testament – Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm – Psalm 130 Page 784, BCP
Epistle –Romans 8:6-11
Gospel – John 11:1-45

Death and resurrection are the themes that permeate the lessons today. The image is that of forgiveness and redemption certified by resurrection and new life. The Psalmist awaits Yahweh’s redemption both for himself and for Israel. Ezekiel witnesses and even participates in the reanimation of dead Israel in preparation for her return to her land. The promise to new life for those filled with the Spirit of the Lord is the resurrection of Jesus. And Lazarus points ahead from his resurrection to the greater, more complete and dynamic resurrection of Jesus.

Contrast is used in this readings. Ezekiel’s story is that of the “dry bones” where we see lifeless, nake bones being reconstituted. Paul contrasts the life of the flesh, which draws from sin and leads to death, with the life of the Spirit, which draws from the Spirit of Christ and leads to righteousness.  In today’s gospel, we hear the story of the death and raising of Lazarus, a foretaste of Jesus’ own death and resurrection and of what all of us buried and raised with Christ in the sacrament of baptism both acknowledge (their own spiritual “stinking deadness”) and freely receive (the gift of new and eternal life).

Read more..

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