Archives: frontpages

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week,  June 11 – June 18

June 11 – Trinity Sunday  

Trinity Day Lilies

From Last week… 

Sunday, June 11, Trinity Sunday  

The Week Ahead…

Sunday, June 18 Readings and Servers

Vacation Bible School- June 19th through the 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

The VBS needs board is in the Parish House with a list of various items and jobs that might be just perfect for you. All items for VBS can be left in the back pew by June 18.

Questions ? Know someone who might like to attend ? Contact Becky Fisher (804) 366-6787.

Travel the Road to Emmaus – last session, Wed., June 14, 6pm . This session is repeated at 10am the next Sunday. This class is for everyone and especially those in preparation for reaffirmation, confirmation or reception. Learn about ways the church can help you to increase your faith. Renew your relationship with God. Refresh your knowledge about the church.

We’ll begin with a simple supper at 6PM, followed by learning and discussion which will end by 8PM each evening. Not only will we have fun together, but we’ll learn a lot together.  Topics include:

1. Beginnings: Baptism and Confirmation, The Bible. Knowing our History
2. Faith: What do we believe? 
3. Worship: Responding to God’s blessings;
4. Sacraments: Signs of Grace;
5. Spirituality: Created for Prayer;
6. Navigating the Church: From Local to Worldwide Church and The Mission of God: What’s your Ministry?

Please let Catherine know if you plan to attend.

Remembering St. Barnabas, June 12

St. Barnabus Curing the Poor – Paolo Veronese.

Collect for his day -"Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of your faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the well­being of your Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Who is St. Barnabus and why do we celebrate a feast day for him ?

Three reasons why Barnabas is a famous saint:

1. He was one of the most highly respected leaders in the early church. Born on the island of Cyprus (which means “copper” because of the mines there), his name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”).

2. When Saul (as Paul was still known) appeared in Jerusalem after his conversion, he was spurned by the Christians he had persecuted. Yet when Barnabas “took him by the hand, and brought him to the Apostles”, and spoke up for him, Paul was immediately accepted (Acts 9:27).   

He was Paul’s mentor and advocate and was the leader when he and Paul were sent off on the first missionary journey. But Paul’s personality and fervor soon dominated.

Where it had been “Barnabas and Paul”, it was now “Paul and Barnabas”. (See Acts, Chapter 13.)

3. Barnabas was so vital to the spread of the Gospel that he earned the highest accolade that any Christian can receive; “. . . . he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith”. (Acts 11:24) 

Around 49, at a council in Jerusalem, St Peter helped to carry the argument of Paul and Barnabas that Gentile Christians need not be circumcised.

It is odd, therefore, to discover Barnabas and Peter siding against Paul in refusing to eat with the Gentiles (Gal 2:13). Was this a matter of personal sympathy? The last we hear of Barnabas is of his falling out with Paul over the latter’s refusal to accept John Mark as a travelling companion.

“So sharp was their disagreement, that they separated from each other; Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed off to Cyprus.” (Acts 15:36-40)

So Barnabas passes from the written record. Tradition holds that he preached in Alexandria and Rome, before being martyred at Salamis.

Lectionary, Proper 6, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost

I.Theme –    Living in a new way

 "Calling of the Disciples" – Domenico Ghirlandaio (1481)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:
Old Testament – Exodus 19:2-8a
Psalm – Psalm 100
Epistle – Romans 5:1-8
Gospel – Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23)

Today’s readings remind us of God’s saving work in our world and our participation and cooperation to accomplish God’s plan. In Exodus God recounts the saving deeds performed for the people and makes a covenant with them. Paul reminds us that our reconciliation to God in Jesus Christ will lead to our salvation. In the gospel, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples to carry his work and message throughout Israel.

Read more…

Anything but Ordinary! Ordinary Time

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week,  June 4 – June 11

June 4 – Pentecost  

“Those in whom the Spirit comes to live are God’s new Temple. They are, individually and corporately, places where heaven and earth meet. ” – N. T. Wright. Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense

From Last week… 

Sunday, June 4, Pentecost  

The Week Ahead…

Sunday, June 11 Readings and Servers

Repairing the Campanile or Bell Tower

For 136 years this structure housed our bell. It was known as the campanile. Then one day it was not needed as the church reconstructed a belfry in 2009-2010 on the church as it had stood. The companile was a historical curiosity, seemingly not needed.

Now in 2017 it will be repaired and saved. Here is the history of this structure with help from historian Jim Patton. 

Photo by Cookie Davis

Vacation Bible School- June 19th through the 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

The VBS needs board is in the Parish House with a list of various items and jobs that might be just perfect for you. All items for VBS can be left in the back pew by June 18.

Questions ? Know someone who might like to attend ? Contact Becky Fisher (804) 366-6787.

Travel the Road to Emmaus continuing Tues, June 6, 6pm . These sessions are repeated at 10am the next Sunday. This class is for everyone and especially those in preparation for reaffirmation, confirmation or reception. Learn about ways the church can help you to increase your faith. Renew your relationship with God. Refresh your knowledge about the church.

The last class will be Wednesday, June 14th. We’ll begin with a simple supper at 6PM, followed by learning and discussion which will end by 8PM each evening. Not only will we have fun together, but we’ll learn a lot together.  Topics include:

1. Beginnings: Baptism and Confirmation, The Bible. Knowing our History
2. Faith: What do we believe? 
3. Worship: Responding to God’s blessings;
4. Sacraments: Signs of Grace;
5. Spirituality: Created for Prayer;
6. Navigating the Church: From Local to Worldwide Church and The Mission of God: What’s your Ministry?

Please let Catherine know if you plan to attend.

Trinity Sunday, June 11, 2017

Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday after Pentecost, honors the Holy Trinity—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although the word “trinity” does not appear in Scripture, it is taught in Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 (and many other biblical passages). It lasts only one day, which is symbolic of the unity of the Trinity. 

Trinity Sunday is one of the few feasts of the Christian Year that celebrates a reality and doctrine rather than an event or person. The Eastern Churches have no tradition of Trinity Sunday, arguing that they celebrate the Trinity every Sunday. 

Understanding of all scriptural doctrine is by faith which comes through the work of the Holy Spirit; therefore, it is appropriate that this mystery is celebrated the first Sunday after the Pentecost, when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit first occurred.  

The Trinity is best described in the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, commonly called the Nicene Creed. Essentially the Trinity is the belief that God is one in essence (Greek "ousia"), but distinct in person (Greek "hypostasis"). The Greek word for person means "that which stands on its own," or "individual reality," and does not mean the persons of the Trinity are three human persons. Therefore we believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are somehow distinct from one another (not divided though), yet completely united in will and essence. 

Read more… 

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week,  May 28 – June 4

May 28 – Easter 7 – Ascension  

From Last week… 

Sunday, May 28, Easter 7  

The Week Ahead…

Sunday, June 4 Readings and Servers

Pentecost is often called “The Birthday of the Church.” If you like to bake, bring a cake to enter in the PENTECOST CAKE BAKE-OFF at First Sunday Social, June 4, 12pm! An impartial panel of judges will select the winner. All entries will be devoured.

Next Sunday’s First Sunday Social is also a covered dish. Please bring a covered dish. Susan Tilt will be bringing fried chicken.

"Thy Kingdom Come," Prayers from Ascension to Pentecost

Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. You can "Pledge to Pray."

What started as an idea from Archbishop Justin Welby gained momentum and in May 2016 more than 100,000 Christians from different denominations and traditions took part from the UK and across the world. They joined in more than 3,000 events and services to pray for others to come to know Jesus Christ and for God’s kingdom to come.

Here is a video from the Archbiship which expresses his thoughts about the movement.

The hope is that:

• people will commit to pray with God’s world-wide family – as a church, individually or as a family;

• churches will hold prayer events, such as 24-7 prayer, prayer stations and prayer walks, across the UK and in other parts of the world;

• people will be empowered through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

Resources

1. Prayer resources for individuals, congregations and/or families can be downloaded here.

2 A prayer journal or young people and adults to record thoughts, prayers and ideas throughout Thy Kingdom Come

Video messages began with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on May 25. Here is the link

Curry writes, "God came among us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth to change the world. Jesus came to show us the way to change the world from the nightmare it often is into the dream and vision that God intends.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited us to pray – ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.’ Prayer actually does change things. We may always not know how; we may not always know the details; we may not always see the end result or the end product but prayer changes things…"

More videos in the series can be found here.

Travel the Road to Emmaus continuing Wed May 31, 6pm . These sessions are repeated at 10am the next Sunday. This 6 week class is for everyone and especially those in preparation for reaffirmation, confirmation or reception. Learn about ways the church can help you to increase your faith. Renew your relationship with God. Refresh your knowledge about the church.

These classes will continue Tuesday, June 6, and Wednesday, June 14th. We’ll begin with a simple supper at 6PM, followed by learning and discussion which will end by 8PM each evening. Not only will we have fun together, but we’ll learn a lot together.  Topics include:

1. Beginnings: Baptism and Confirmation, The Bible. Knowing our History
2. Faith: What do we believe? 
3. Worship: Responding to God’s blessings;
4. Sacraments: Signs of Grace;
5. Spirituality: Created for Prayer;
6. Navigating the Church: From Local to Worldwide Church and The Mission of God: What’s your Ministry?

Please let Catherine know if you plan to attend.

What is Pentecost? 

Pentecost literally means “fiftieth day.” As a religious celebration, it first delineated the fifty days after Passover with a harvest festival. It was also a celebration of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, still celebrated in the Jewish tradition as Shavuot. 

In the Christian tradition, Pentecost marks the end of the 50 Days of Easter. In Acts 2, the apostles and friends are gathered together in Jerusalem. Suddenly there is a great rushing of wind, and tongues of fire rest on each of the apostles. They begin to speak in different languages, and the crowds around them, Jews from across the diaspora, having come to Jerusalem for the Festival of Weeks, understand them, although some disparaged them as drunks. It was at this moment that Peter stood up and preached, revealing the will of God in Jesus Christ, as prophesied by Joel, and affirming a continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon repentance and baptism. 

Why does Pentecost Matter? 

There are at least three reasons to start with:  

1. It marks the birthday of the church. Pentecost was a turning point. Before the rushing wind, the flames, and the speaking in tongues, the apostles were a group of followers who listened to Jesus and assisted as he helped those who came to him for healing and grace. Without Jesus, they were aimless and confused. After the Holy Spirit enters that room, after Peter preaches repentance and baptism, they no longer look inward. The end of Acts 2 records that they devoted themselves to the teaching and to fellowship, they performed wonders and signs, they gave to others in need…and the Lord added to their number daily those who were saved. 

The Holy Spirit gave the disciples direction and power to form the Christian community, which would become “the church.” So, Pentecost is a birthday, and some churches today celebrate with cake! 

2. Pentecost completes the Trinity. Christian theology is grounded in a doctrine of three in one, and Christians often pray in the “name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Pentecost was the first and definitive moment in which we can say that the Father sent the Holy Spirit to make the Son present. No Pentecost, no Trinity. 

3. Jesus kept his promise. In Matthew 28:20 Jesus told his followers, “I will be with you always, even until the end of the age.” He promptly ascended and was seen no more. What gives? Well, in John 15:26 he says, “I will send you the Advocate-the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me” (NLT). The point is: Jesus is present through the Holy Spirit. Pentecost marks the fulfillment of Christ’s promised presence. 

from buildfaith.org

Pentecost – The quick version

Click here or on the picture above

 Lectionary, June 4, Pentecost

I. Theme – The coming of the Holy Spirit  

 Window from St Aloysius’ church in Somers Town, London

The lectionary readings are here  or individually: 

First Reading – Acts 2:1-21
Psalm – Psalm 104:25-35, 37 Page 736, BCP
Epistle –1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Gospel – John 20:19-23
Gospel 2 – John 7:37-39 

Pentecost is a milestone in the story of salvation. It was on that day that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the believers in an upper room in Jerusalem as they awaited the baptism Jesus told them they would receive. Jesus had promised this event just before He ascended into heaven.

"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

The symbol of fire is important for Pentecost.Fire has long represented God and the presence of his Holy Spirit. Fire consumes but is its own energy force.

That energy is around action and for the church, mission. Acts is about mission, about speaking, proclaiming, the good news to people everywhere, in languages (and language) they can understand. This is the day in which the mission of the church was given birth.

The Psalm is a hymn of praise, offered in the course of Temple worship, probably at the Autumnal harvest festival, given its theme of creation. It is a poem praising God and celebrating the order, the balance and majesty of creation reflecting upon God’s mighty power.

His creative agent is his “spirit.” Creation is continuous, continually renewed.

Paul spends chapters 12, 13 and 14 of Corinthians trying to get them to enjoy and express their gifts in ways that give strength to the community and glory to God.

Paul talks about gifts are shown through the Holy Spirit, not for personal edification but “for the common good” for building up the Church – wisdom, healing, knowledge.

There are two Gospel readings from John which take place before the Resurrection. 

In John 20 Jesus breathed on his disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit as a foreshadowing of the Spirit they were to receive at Pentecost. Jesus message is that His followers need His Spirit to continue His work.There is no doubt that when John spoke about the breath of God in this way he was thinking back to the story of creation of humankind. When Jesus breathed on them and commanded them to receive the Holy Spirit he was reminding them of the creative life-force emanating from the being of God.

In John 7, there is a return to the metaphor of water. "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, `Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’" Living water is flowing water. In contrast, there can be "dead" water. Water going nowhere — stuck in a stagnant pool.

In John, "thirst" has the double meaning of literal thirst for real water and physical life; and "spiritual" thirst for a real relationship with God and eternal life.

Thus, those who come to Jesus and trust him will have floods of life flowing out of them. When he is lifted up on the cross, Jesus declared his work is finished and passes on his spirit.

Read more from the lectionary 

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week,  May 21 – May 28

May 21 – Easter 6  

From Last week… 

Sunday, May 21, Easter 6 

The Week Ahead…

Sunday, May 28 Readings and Servers

"Thy Kingdom Come," Prayers from Ascension to Pentecost

Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. You can "Pledge to Pray."

What started as an idea from Archbishop Justin Welby gained momentum and in May 2016 more than 100,000 Christians from different denominations and traditions took part from the UK and across the world. They joined in more than 3,000 events and services to pray for others to come to know Jesus Christ and for God’s kingdom to come.

Here is a video from the Archbiship which expresses his thoughts about the movement.

The hope is that:

• people will commit to pray with God’s world-wide family – as a church, individually or as a family;

• churches will hold prayer events, such as 24-7 prayer, prayer stations and prayer walks, across the UK and in other parts of the world;

• people will be empowered through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

Resources

1. Prayer resources for individuals, congregations and/or families can be downloaded here.

2 A prayer journal or young people and adults to record thoughts, prayers and ideas throughout Thy Kingdom Come

Video messages began with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on May 25. Here is the link

Curry writes, "God came among us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth to change the world. Jesus came to show us the way to change the world from the nightmare it often is into the dream and vision that God intends.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited us to pray – ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.’ Prayer actually does change things. We may always not know how; we may not always know the details; we may not always see the end result or the end product but prayer changes things…"

Travel the Road to Emmaus continuing Tue. May 23, 6pm (Note change in day this week!) . This 6 week class is for everyone and especially those in preparation for reaffirmation, confirmation or reception. Learn about ways the church can help you to increase your faith. Renew your relationship with God. Refresh your knowledge about the church.

These classes will be held on Wednesday, May 10; Wednesday, May 17: Tuesday, May 23; Wednesday, May 31; Tuesday, June 6, and Wednesday, June 14th. We’ll begin with a simple supper at 6PM, followed by learning and discussion which will end by 8PM each evening. Not only will we have fun together, but we’ll learn a lot together.  We will be considering #2 Faith this Tuesday:

1. Beginnings: Baptism and Confirmation, The Bible. Knowing our History
2. Faith: What do we believe? 
3. Worship: Responding to God’s blessings;
4. Sacraments: Signs of Grace;
5. Spirituality: Created for Prayer;
6. Navigating the Church: From Local to Worldwide Church and The Mission of God: What’s your Ministry?

Please let Catherine know if you plan to attend.

Ascension, May 25, 2017 and May 28, 2017

Biblical scholar Ronald Coleman wanted to be clear on Ascension -"We do not, as a matter of fact, believe that Jesus ended his earthly ministry with the equivalent of a rocket launch, rising a few hundred miles above the earth. Nor do we think Jesus was the first to be “beamed up,” to use the term made so familiar by the television series Star Trek."

The New Testament treats the Ascension as an integral part of the Easter event. 

It is the final appearance Jesus’ physical and resurrected presence on earth. It is the final component of the paschal mystery, which consists also of Jesus’ Passion, Crucifixion, Death, Burial, Descent Among the Dead, and Resurrection.

Along with the resurrection, the ascension functioned as a proof of Jesus’ claim that he was the Messiah. The Ascension is also the event whereby humanity was taken into heaven.  There is a promise he will come again.

So when is it ? The Ascension in Luke 24 is on Easter Sunday evening or, at the latest, the next day; in John 20, sometime between the appearance to Mary Magdalene (who is told not to touch the risen One because he has not yet ascended) and the appearance to Thomas (who is invited to touch him); in Acts 1, after the forty days (which, however, are symbolic of the time of revelation; there may be no intention to suggest that the ascension actually “occurred” on the fortieth day). We celebrate Ascension on the 40th day, this year Thursday May 25 or the closest Sunday, May 28. 

The main scriptural references to the Ascension are Mark:16:19, Luke:24:51, and Acts:1:2 and vvs. 8-10. Luke 24 says  "While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven". In Acts " he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen." Jesus commissions his followers, rather than simply blessing them; and we have an appearance from two men in white robes.

Mount Olivet, near Bethany, is designated as the place where Christ left the earth. The feast falls on  Thursday, May 25 and it is one of the most solemn in the calendar, ranking with the feasts of the Passion, Easter and Pentecost.

In disappearing from their view "He was raised up and a cloud received Him out of their sight" (Acts 1:9), and entering into glory He dwells with the Father in the honur and power denoted by the scripture phrase."

In a way, Jesus’ abandonment of the disciples upon the Mount of Olives is more profound than their abandonment on Calvary. After all, the disciples themselves predicted he would die. But no one could have imagined the Resurrection and the extraordinary forty days during which Jesus dwelled again with his friends. Forty days with the resurrected Jesus – appearing in the upper room, along the way to Emmaus, upon the beach at Galilee! Imagine their despair when this, the Jesus present to them in such an astonishing way, enters the Cloud on the Mount of Olives.

Read more…

Ascension as the beginning of the Church’s mission

The Ascension is the beginning of the church’s mission.

  1. It is powered by the Spirit 

  2. It is a call to be witnesses 

  3. It is worldwide is scope  

The Ascension holds the promise of Christ’s return.

The Purpose of the Ascension:

A.  For Man’s Redemption

B.  For Jesus to be our Advocate

C.  So The Spirit Could Come

D.  To Prepare a place for Us

Read the details …

Ascension Art: trying to make it visual.."

The Ascension has always been a challenge to understand through the scriptures. Artists have played a role in giving us a visual depiction of the event. They have been doing this for over a 1000 years.

Read more about Ascension art with a collection of 17 works …

Our own Ascension art – St. George’s Ascension window

These are earliest windows produced for the church in 1885 and dedicated to Rev. Edward McGuire who served as rector her for 45 years from 1813-1858 and was the rector when the current Church was built in 1849. It was produced in Germany but we do not know the maker. There are three panels increasing the drama and focus. The window is the front of the church directly in front of parishioners.

The Ascension took place 40 days after the Resurrection when Jesus led the disciples to the Mount of Olives. He raised his hands, blessed them and then was lifted up until a cloud took him out of their sight. This is shown in the middle window. He is shown, arms raised, disappearing into a cloud with his feet and the hem of his clothes visible. His feet still show scars of the crucifixion.

Continue with the article and a photo gallery …

Prayers from Ascension to Pentecost

Here is a link to enrich your spiritual life from Ascension to Pentecost – 10 days. The nine days from Ascension Day to the Eve of Pentecost are the original novena–nine days of prayer.
 

Before he ascended, Jesus ordered the disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. After his Ascension, they returned to the upper room in Jerusalem where they devoted themselves to prayer. These last days of the Great Fifty Days of Easter can be a time for us to prepare for the celebration of Pentecost.

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week,  May 14 – May 21

May 14 – Easter 5  

Group picture, Shrine Mont retreat, 2017. See the pictures and a 4 year review of the Shrine Mont retreats.

From Last week…

Sunday, May 14, Easter 5 

The Week Ahead…

Sunday, May 21 Readings and Servers

St. Peter’s at the  Washington National Cathdral, May 20

12 people and friends from St. Peter’s journeyed on Sat. May 20, 2017 for a tour of the Cathedral and garden.  Story and photos...

Thanks to Jim Heimbach and Catherine for the photos and Elizabeth Heimbach for organizing the trip.

Village Harvest, May 17 keeps up the pace

We served 157 people, the exact same number as April. However,slightly less food was available – 1,429 pounds vs. 1,559 in April. People come from Port Royal, other places in Caroline county, King George, Montross and Westmoreland. 

Read more..

May 15 – 181st anniversary of  St. Peter’s Consecration – Here is the 175th

It’s hard to believe it has been 3 years since we celebrated the day. The anniversary of the consecration is this week. Here are some links to refresh your memories:

Historical record May 15, 1836   

 In 1836, Bishop Richard Channing Moore’s pastoral address at the Diocesan Council in Fredericksburg, tells of the Consecration of St. Peter’s Church:

“On Sunday, May 15, 1836 I went to Port Royal at which place I consecrated a new Church: a building which is a great ornament to the town, and reflects the greatest credit upon those by "whose munificence it has been erected, and which, I trust, will prove a blessing to them and to their children to their latest posterity. The congregation was very large and attentive during the whole service. Prayers were read by several of the clergy who attended on the occasion — the discourse was delivered by myself — the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered — I baptised three children and confirmed two persons. It gives me the greatest pleasure to mention that a very handsome large silver cup was presented for the use of the altar, by a benevolent gentleman in the Parish; and I have every reason to believe that the sound of an organ will soon accompany the voices of the congregation in singing the praises of God and of the Redeemer of mankind. The Rev. (William) Friend stands high in the estimation of his parish; and I trust will see the work of the Lord prosper tinder his pastoral care.”   

Service Honoring our Ancestors May 15th, 2pm 

Photo gallery

Bulletin

Scripts 

Village Harvest distribution, Wed., May 17, 3:30pm-5pm.

We can use your donations up to the time of distribution. This month please donate paper products to supplement the fresh produce that will be distributed. The numbers and food distributed show significant increases over the same time last year. People are always grateful for the paper products that you provide.

Help unload produce at 9:30AM, come at 2pm to help prepare for the distribution and/or be on hand to help the clients who come to “shop.”

Travel the Road to Emmaus continuing Wed. May 17, 6pm. This       week’s topic is Church history. You may also attend the class during Christian Education at 10AM on Sunday morning.

This 6 week class is for everyone and especially those in preparation for reaffirmation, confirmation or reception. Learn about ways the church can help you to increase your faith. Renew your relationship with God. Refresh your knowledge about the church.

These classes will be held on Wednesday, May 10; Wednesday, May 17: Tuesday, May 23; Wednesday, May 31; Tuesday, June 6, and Wednesday, June 14th. We’ll begin with a simple supper at 6PM, followed by learning and discussion which will end by 8PM each evening. Not only will we have fun together, but we’ll learn a lot together.  Topics include:

1. Beginnings: Baptism and Confirmation, The Bible. Knowing our History
2. Faith: What do we believe? 
3. Worship: Responding to God’s blessings;
4. Sacraments: Signs of Grace;
5. Spirituality: Created for Prayer;
6. Navigating the Church: From Local to Worldwide Church and The Mission of God: What’s your Ministry?

Please let Catherine know if you plan to attend.

Rogation Sunday, May 21, 2017

Rogation Sunday, a time of celebration and prayer, is a time set aside to appreciate and recognize our dependence upon the land for our food and most importantly upon our dependence of God for the miracles of sprouting seeds, growing plants, and maturing harvest. 

The Rogation Days, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day, originated in Vienne, Francein 470 after a series of natural disasters had caused much suffering among the people.  Originally, the Christian observance of Rogation was taken over from Graeco-Roman  religion, where an annual procession invoked divine favour to protect crops against mildew.   Archbishop Mamertus proclaimed a fast and ordered that special litanies and prayers be said as the population processed around their fields, asking God’s protection and blessing on the crops that were just beginning to sprout.  

The Latin word rogare means "to ask", thus these were "rogation" processions.  The tradition grew of using processional litanies, often around the parish boundaries, for the blessing of the land. These processions concluded with a mass. The Rogation procession was suppressed at the Reformation, but it was restored in 1559. The poet George Herbert interpreted the procession as a means of asking for God’s blessing on the land, of preserving boundaries, of encouraging fellowship between neighbours with the reconciling of differences, and of charitable giving to the poor. The tradition of ‘beating the bounds’ has been preserved in some communities. In the latter   a group of old and young members of the community would walk the boundaries of the parish, usually led by the parish priest and church officials, to share the knowledge of where they lay, and to pray for protection and blessings for the lands. Others maintain the traditional use of the Litany within worship. In more recent times, the scope of Rogation has been widened to include petition for the world of work and for accountable stewardship, and prayer for local communities, whether rural or urban.

The Sunday before the Rogation Days came to be considered a part of Rogationtide (or "Rogantide") and was known as Rogation Sunday. The Gospel formerly appointed for that day was from John 16, where Jesus tells his disciples to ask, and ye shall receive. 

This is a time to recognize those who till the field for a living. I had a conversation with Johnny Davis, "retired" farmer several years ago.  He has done this all of his life I asked  simply "what has changed about farming over your life time."  

1.  There is a better relationship with the land. With modern equipment, the land is disturbed less in contrast to mechanized plows of an earlier generation.  Also, with better efficiencies, less fuel is used decreasing c02 gases and lowering these costs

2. Crop insurance. Crop insurance helps to supplement the income of a farmer when there are losses of crops. Approximately 80 percent of acres of major program crops are insured–many at higher levels of coverage.

3. Increased cost of seed and inputs as well as machines.  $50 to $250 for a basic 50 pound unit. 

May 21, UTO Collection

The mission of the United Thank Offering is to expand the circle of thankful people.

Over 125 years ago,  the United Thank Offering was founded  as a women’s ministry to help individuals pay more attention to the spiritual blessings in their lives by making small thank offerings to support innovative ministries in the Church for which the church budget had not yet expanded to fund. 

The offering raises over $3 million. Where does the money go? Every penny goes to grants that focus on meeting compelling human needs and to expand the mission and ministry of the church at home and throughout the world. 

The Diocese of Virginia has received funding for two grant requests for the 2016 granting cycle. Grace Aheron received $2,500 for “Sacred Solidarity: Race Justice at the University of Virginia.” This was one of ten Young Adult grants. In addition, Taylor Poindexter at the Virginia Theological Seminary received $2,260 in funding for expansion of the prayer/meditation gardening project on the seminary grounds. This was one of five Seminarian grants.

Thoughts for your UTO Blue Box:   

Give thanks this day for your own health. Drop a coin in your Blue Box as you give thanks and pray for the continued health and improved health of those you love.

Give thanks this day for friendship with others. Drop a coin in your Blue Box as you give thanks and pray for your friendship with others. 

Give thanks this day for the UTO’s work with mission by contributing to their work. Check out the following grants that have been supported by the UTO.  

Bring your boxes back on May 21, write a check to “St. Peter’s- UTO” and continue the work of this vital ministry.

 Lectionary, May 21,  Easter 6

I.Theme –   We will know Jesus after his resurrection in the Holy Spirit.  This Spirit, the Spirit of Truth will abide in us as Jesus abides in us. 

 "The Advocate"  –Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú. 

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:

Old Testament – Acts 17:22-31
Psalm – Psalm 66:7-18 Page 674, BCP
Epistle –1 Peter 3:13-22
Gospel – John 14:15-21

This week is somewhat philosophical in the search for meaning – who will support them after Jesus is gone ?

Paul goes to Athens and tries to build a common basis with Greek philosophy and Christ though Christ divinity was hard to muster with the Athenians. There is an appeal to universal wisdom.

So too does the writer of first Peter  by presenting Jesus as proclaiming salvation to the lost souls in Hades during the time between Good Friday and Easter morning.  The writer tries to ease the suffering of those at his time saying "even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed." This week brings in the Holy Spirit. 1st Peter says "He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit."

John’s Gospel tries to provide of meaning of the Holy Spirit. The readings are shifting from Jesus physical presence to the presence of the Holy Spirit which will help the disciples carry on his work.   The Holy Spirit is called the advocate, communicating the truth and to be a consistent presence with both the community and the disciple. This Spirit will abide in us as Jesus abides in us. 

The Spirit is sent in Jesus’ name and reminds us of what he taught. The spirit is the advocate – one who will support, help and intercede for them. The Paraclete comes to speak to us for Jesus. Jesus emphasizes the intimate unity of Jesus, God, the Spirit, and the believer.  

Read more from the lectionary 

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week,  May 7 – May 14

May 7 – Easter 4  

From Last week… 

Sunday, May 7, Easter 4 

The Week Ahead…

Sunday, May 14 Readings and Servers

The inner beauty of Wild Flowers from the river bank.

Travel the Road to Emmaus beginning Wed. May 10, 6pm. This 6 week class is for everyone and especially those in preparation for reaffirmation, confirmation or reception. Learn about ways the church can help you to increase your faith. Renew your relationship with God. Refresh your knowledge about the church.

These classes will be held on Wednesday, May 10; Wednesday, May 17: Tuesday, May 23; Wednesday, May 31; Tuesday, June 6, and Wednesday, June 14th. We’ll begin with a simple supper at 6PM, followed by learning and discussion which will end by 8PM each evening. Not only will we have fun together, but we’ll learn a lot together.  Topics include:

1. Beginnings: Baptism and Confirmation, The Bible. Knowing our History
2. Faith: What do we believe? 
3. Worship: Responding to God’s blessings;
4. Sacraments: Signs of Grace;
5. Spirituality: Created for Prayer;
6. Navigating the Church: From Local to Worldwide Church and The Mission of God: What’s your Ministry?

Please let Catherine know if you plan to attend.

We are in Eastertide until Pentecost, June 4

Eastertide is the period of fifty days, seven Sundays from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. Easter is not a day but a season and it is one to examine the Resurrection, more broadly and deeply.  There are a number of questions.

Is Resurrection just about death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-56) ? Is Resurrection of Jesus is a precursor to your own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) ? Does it say something about our own ability to expect to see Jesus (Luke 24) ? How does the new Christian community begin to function making Christ the central part of daily life ? (Acts 2)  

Jesus physically appears in Easter 2 and 3 making the Resurection tangible. The shepherding part of his ministry is explored in Easter 4. From Easter 5-7, Jesus must prepare the disciples for his departure. He is going to leave them. Jesus prepares his disciples for continuing his ministry without his physical presence.  Themes explored include the holy spirit, the Prayer of Jesus and God’s glory through His Son and the church.

Christ ascends on the 40th day with his disciples watching (Thursday, May 29th). The weekdays after the Ascension until the Saturday before Pentecost inclusive are a preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.This fifty days comes to an end on Pentecost Sunday, which commemorates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, the beginnings of the Church and its mission to all  peoples and nation.  Note that the Old Testament lessons are replaced by selections from the Book of Acts, recognizing the important of the growth of the church.  

Mothers in the Bible quiz, Mothers Day May 14

So how well do you know the mothers in Bible ? 

We have an online quiz of 10 questions which could stump the best of you. You don’t have to register, give your name, blood type, etc. The results are only known by you. But give it a try.  

The quiz is here for all who dare.

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

Shred-it, May 3, 4:30pm-5:30pm. Do yourself and the environment a favor — get rid of the sensitive documents you do not need to keep – those 10 year old bills, tax documents, recipts. Let Shred-it make sure your documents are securely destroyed.  Bring your boxes to St. Peter’s. We would appreciate a donation of $5 per box to pay for the truck and generate funds for St. Peter’s ministries.

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, April 30 – May 7

April 30 – Easter 3  

End of April, flowers and scenes

From Last week… 

Sunday, April 30, Easter 3   

The Week Ahead…

 

• $560 collected from over 100 boxes donated on a beautiful spring afternoon.

   

• After paying for the truck – +$335 for St. Peter’s Outreach ministries
   
• Thanks to Andrea Pogue for conceiving of this project and for her leadership over 6 years. 

Here’s the story and photo gallery

Travel the Road to Emmaus beginning Wed. May 13, 6pm.. This 6 week class is for everyone and especially those in preparation for reaffirmation, confirmation or reception. Learn about ways the church can help you to increase your faith. Renew your relationship with God. Refresh your knowledge about the church.

These classes will be held on Wednesday, May 10; Wednesday, May 17: Tuesday, May 23; Wednesday, May 31; Tuesday, June 6, and Wednesday, June 14th. We’ll begin with a simple supper at 6PM, followed by learning and discussion which will end by 8PM each evening. Not only will we have fun together, but we’ll learn a lot together.  Topics include:

1. Beginnings: Baptism and Confirmation, The Bible. Knowing our History
2. Faith: What do we believe? 
3. Worship: Responding to God’s blessings;
4. Sacraments: Signs of Grace;
5. Spirituality: Created for Prayer;
6. Navigating the Church: From Local to Worldwide Church and The Mission of God: What’s your Ministry?

Please let Catherine know if you plan to attend.

We are in Eastertide until Pentecost, June 4

Eastertide is the period of fifty days, seven Sundays from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. Easter is not a day but a season and it is one to examine the Resurrection, more broadly and deeply.  There are a number of questions.

Is Resurrection just about death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-56) ? Is Resurrection of Jesus is a precursor to your own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) ? Does it say something about our own ability to expect to see Jesus (Luke 24) ? How does the new Christian community begin to function making Christ the central part of daily life ? (Acts 2)  

Jesus physically appears in Easter 2 and 3 making the Resurection tangible. The shepherding part of his ministry is explored in Easter 4. From Easter 5-7, Jesus must prepare the disciples for his departure. He is going to leave them. Jesus prepares his disciples for continuing his ministry without his physical presence.  Themes explored include the holy spirit, the Prayer of Jesus and God’s glory through His Son and the church.

Christ ascends on the 40th day with his disciples watching (Thursday, May 29th). The weekdays after the Ascension until the Saturday before Pentecost inclusive are a preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.This fifty days comes to an end on Pentecost Sunday, which commemorates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, the beginnings of the Church and its mission to all  peoples and nation.  Note that the Old Testament lessons are replaced by selections from the Book of Acts, recognizing the important of the growth of the church.  

 Lectionary, May 7,  Easter 4

I.Theme –   Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the many ways this is fulfilled.

 "Jesus the Good Shepherd" Jacques Le Breton and Jean Gaudin (1933)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually: 

Old Testament – Acts 2:42-47
Psalm – Psalm 23, Page 612
Epistle –1 Peter 2:19-25
Gospel – John 10:1-10 

The first weeks from Easter were different lenses on the resurrection and appearances of the Risen Lord. After this Sunday attention will turn to the teachings of the departing Jesus and the role of the Holy Spirit in preparation for Pentecost. But this week its the shepherd/ sheep image as a way of talking about the enduring and deep connection of Jesus and those who follow him

Psalm 23 provides the role of God as good shepherd in terms of  defense (protection amd care and the idea we having nothing to fear) but also in direction ( guidance, reviving our lives).  

The final verse of the Epistle makes the connection to Good Shepherd Sunday. "For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls." Suffering isolates. This passage and Christian faith connect and keep us connected when suffering.

John’s reading speaks of Jesus as both the Shepherd and the gate. The connection is both personal and loving.   He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."   We have to listen to his voice and watch out for strangers. There are those who are false shepherds, who are more interested in themselves than in caring for the sheep. The final verse, "I came that they may
have life and have it abundantly" is a good corrective to what can be an
overemphasis on selflessness, self-sacrifice, deprivation and denial as the sign of true faith.  Jesus speaks of abundance not in terms of material goods but a fullness in life.

Read more from the lectionary 

 Maximilian Kolbe, a sphepherd caring for his people

From a sermon by Rev. William D. Oldland, "Jesus is the Shepherd and the Gate"  about Maximiliam Kolbe 

"His life exemplifies the role of a caring shepherd for his flock. His life is also a gate or perhaps a gateway through which we can see the effect of the incredible love of God.  

"The priest’s name was Maximilian Kolbe. He was born in 1894 in Poland. His parents were poor. His father was a weaver. At an early age he had a vision. He had prayed to Mary and asked what was to become of him. In response Mary came to him in this vision holding two crowns. One was red and the other was white. The white one symbolized perseverance in purity and the red one meant martyrdom. She asked which one he would choose. He said he would accept them both. This decision shaped his future actions and would one day come true.  

" In 1910, he entered the Franciscan order and he was ordained a priest in 1919 in Rome. On his return to Poland he was a teacher of church history and he built a friary outside of Warsaw. The friary grew until it housed 762 Franciscans. He went to Japan and India and started friaries there as well. In 1936, he returned to supervise the friary in Warsaw. When Germany invaded he sent the friars home to protect them. He was a good shepherd to his flock. He was imprisoned for a while. But when he was released he went back to the friary where he took in three thousand refugees. 2,000 of these refugees were Jewish. Those friars who worked with him shared all they had with the refugees. They shared their clothing, the little food that they had, and anything else that was useful.

As you can imagine the Germans became suspicious and in 1941 they closed the friary arresting Maximilian and four other brothers. They were all transported to Auschwitz. At the camp Maximilian endured many hardships. No one had enough food. Clothing was inadequate for the cold. Shelter was not much help from the cold either. Maximilian was known to move among the prisoners with gentleness. At night he did not rest. He moved from bunk to bunk identifying himself as a priest and asking if they needed anything from him. He listened to confessions and heard their pleas for consolation. He continued to be a shepherd to his flock. 

Read the rest of the story about Father Kolbe 

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

Shred-it, May 3, 4:30pm-5:30pm. Do yourself and the environment a favor — get rid of the sensitive documents you do not need to keep – those 10 year old bills, tax documents, recipts. Let Shred-it make sure your documents are securely destroyed.  Bring your boxes to St. Peter’s. We would appreciate a donation of $5 per box to pay for the truck and generate funds for St. Peter’s ministries.

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, April 23 – April 30

April 23 – Easter 2  

Magical Strings at St. Peter’s, April 22, 2017. See the story and gallery

From Last week… 

Sunday, April 23, Easter 2   

The Week Ahead…

Sunday, April 30 Readings and Servers

May, 2017 newsletter – at a glance

First of all, thank you for the pot of flowers that the Vestry gave to us on behalf of the church. Ben and I are enjoying the bright colors and the flowers brighten up our deck. Thank you! We’ll miss you all tomorrow at Ladies Night Out and on Sunday as well. We’re taking off some time to celebrate our anniversary.

Please read the newsletter–especially the Prayer Corner. We’ve had several recent prayer requests, I’ve put a little about recently added people that we’re praying for. They need our prayers. Also, please be praying for Johnny’s sister-in-law, Nancy, who is in the hospital.

Here are the links to the newsletter.

May Newsletter

May supplemental newsletter

Peace, Catherine 

Some highlights

• Shred it Wed May 3, 4:30-5:30pm followed by the Village Dinner. Get rid of that excess paper, safely and securely
• Parish retreat, May 5-7
• A new Christian Ed course at night May 13 for 6 weeks
• A visit to the National Cathedral May 20
• UTO Spring Ingatherine, May 21
• Ascension, May 25, Memorial Day 29
• Check out the supplemental newsletter for a strawberry recipe (it’s that time!) and a poem of the season by Wendell Berry

Village Harvest sets monthly record, April 19!

A new single month record! 157 people served! We are seeing people not only from Port Royal but also Essex County, King George County and even into Westmoreland. The need is certainly there. Our enthusiastic volunteers are pictured above.

The food distributed was the second largest month at 1,559 pounds consisting of produce – corn, cabbage, cucumbers, onions and potatoes as well as meat and bakery goods.

The ministry is still growing at about 25%, though the growth is slowing. The first four month of 2017 served 535 people vs. 419 for the same period a year ago. Foods distributed  consisted of 4,963 pounds this year vs. 3,986 pounds last year.

Today St. Peter’s (and Port Royal) grew by 20,000 creatures. Andrew Huffman brought his gift of bees to St. Peter’s.

They will be placed in a specially designed hive in the back of the church yard. Hopefully, there is a queen bee in there. The expectation is that they will have honey and wax ready for production in a year.

Todays work was smoking the bees to keep them less agitated and add combs to the hive as well as food of sugar water to help their growth.  

Read more about Andrew. We will have an article for the May newsletter about the bees.   We thank him for this new ministry!

 We are in Eastertide until Pentecost, June 4

Eastertide is the period of fifty days, seven Sundays from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. Easter is not a day but a season and it is one to examine the Resurrection, more broadly and deeply.  There are a number of questions.

Is Resurrection just about death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-56) ? Is Resurrection of Jesus is a precursor to your own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) ? Does it say something about our own ability to expect to see Jesus (Luke 24) ? How does the new Christian community begin to function making Christ the central part of daily life ? (Acts 2)  

Jesus physically appears in Easter 2 and 3 making the Resurection tangible. The shepherding part of his ministry is explored in Easter 4. From Easter 5-7, Jesus must prepare the disciples for his departure. He is going to leave them. Jesus prepares his disciples for continuing his ministry without his physical presence.  Themes explored include the holy spirit, the Prayer of Jesus and God’s glory through His Son and the church.

Christ ascends on the 40th day with his disciples watching (Thursday, May 29th). The weekdays after the Ascension until the Saturday before Pentecost inclusive are a preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.This fifty days comes to an end on Pentecost Sunday, which commemorates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, the beginnings of the Church and its mission to all  peoples and nation.  Note that the Old Testament lessons are replaced by selections from the Book of Acts, recognizing the important of the growth of the church.  

 Lectionary, April 30, Easter 3

I.Theme –   "Now what do we do after the Resurrection?" 

 "Road to Emmaus"  -Bonnell

The lectionary readings are here  or individually: 

First Leason – Acts 2:14a,36-41
Psalm – Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17 Page 759, BCP
Epistle –1 Peter 1:17-23
Gospel – Luke 24:13-35 

The answer to what we must do after the Resurrection comes in the various readings to this week’s lectionary.

In Acts,  Peter declares God had made the risen Jesus both Lord and Christ. The people respond, "What must we do?" "Repent and be baptized."  

The Epistle answers "live as the baptized"  in reverent fear of God, and with deep affection for one another from the heart.

The writer of the Psalms package was in a time illness, near death, the answer is to love and praise God since God saved him from this affliction. He will worship the Lord, and praise the Lord  in the worshipping community in the temple.

The Gospel reading on the Road to Emmaus provides the fullest explanation. It occurs on the day of Resurrection.  Mary discovers the empy tomb at the beginning of Chapter 24.

The emphasis is on evangelism and mission – after encountering  and recognizing Jesus in the scriptures and in the Eucharist, the two individuals went back and shared their faith experience with the community, the Body of Christ.  What would sustain the community of faith was the Word of Jesus,  friends involved in community worship and participating with the sacraments.  They had to live out and experience Jesus through revelation.  The followers needed to open their minds and hearts to new possibilities as they fulfilled the mandate to preach repentance and forgiveness everywhere in the name of Jesus.  We need to expect Jesus outside our normal experience.

Read more from the lectionary 

St. George’s "Road to Emmaus"  Window 

Many people may not know that St. George’s Fredericksburg has a wonderful Tiffany stained glass window depicting the story. The window, the first of three Tiffanies at St. George’s, was donated by Mary Downman in honor of two deceased sons:  

The window was dedicated at Easter, 1912. 

This window is loaded with most of Tiffany’s techniques of glass and color. Christ faces toward us, but the men are turned inward, a compositional device that gives the illusion of depth. The robes are made of drapery glass which shows the folds in their garments. Glass while molten thrown onto an iron table and rolled into a disk. The glassmaker armed with tongs manipulated the mass and by taking hold of it from both ends like dough and pulling and twisting till it fell into folds. The faces of Christ and the two individuals were hand painted with enamel.  

To the side of Christ is a landscape created with mottled glass which was a given a spotted touch with the addition of fluorine in the firing process of glass. Tiffany is best known the creator of opalescent glass, those skies that are milky and streaky in appearance and created through years of experimenting with alternating heating and cooling of the glass and with the addition of chemical additives to create the desired effect.

The window is dark in the morning representing the mystery of Christ’s identity and then becomes lighter during the day representing the travelers’ recognition of Jesus.

As we approached the 100th year of this windows, the inside was in generally good condition inside but the outside needed modernizing – a new protective covering and ventilation system as well as preservation of the wood. The Church received a grant from the Community Foundation for the Rappahannock for that purpose as part of their Duff Green grant program.

We rededicated the window on Sept. 30, 2012 with two members of the Downman family attending. In the weeks preceding, we located another relative living in Seattle as a lawyer and completed a family tree. For the rededication a new brochure was done that you can read here. It contains more information about the family and the window.

Do You Know the Way to Emmaus?

By Heather Hahn March 22, 2016 | UMNS

"Road to Emmaus" – Robert Zund (1877)

Christ shows up in the most unexpected places — in the wisdom of a stranger, in the breaking of bread and even in those moments when all hope seems lost.

That is one lesson from Luke: 24:13-34, the only detailed account of Jesus’ post-resurrection walk to Emmaus. The risen Christ travels about seven miles from Jerusalem alongside two grieving disciples. The two already know the testimony of the women at the empty tomb, but they fail to recognize their teacher until he joins them for a meal.

Here is another lesson from the story: A Christ encounter tends to get people up and moving. After Jesus reveals himself, the disciples rush back to Jerusalem with a fervor that the strangely warmed heart of John Wesley would recognize.

“Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the Scriptures for us?” the two say to each other.

The familiar Bible story remains cherished Easter reading and, in fact, is one of the possible lectionary passages for this Easter Sunday. The account also provides the name of the Walk to Emmaus movement, a ministry of ecumenical spiritual retreats organized through The Upper Room at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries.

Scholars and other Christians see plenty of reasons why the story still resonates with Christ’s followers today.

“The storytelling catches me every time,” said Ryan Schellenberg, a New Testament professor at Methodist Theological School in Ohio. He calls the Walk to Emmaus one of his favorite Bible passages.

“There’s this beautiful irony in the disciples not knowing it when Jesus is walking among them. Then there is this scene of revelation when Jesus reveals himself in the breaking of the bread.”

The passage explains how people in the post-resurrection era come to recognize Christ, said the Rev. Thomas E. Phillips, a New Testament scholar and dean of the library at United Methodist Claremont School of Theology in California.

“They come to recognize Jesus through the opening of the Scripture (24:27) and through the breaking of bread (24:30),” said Phillips, who served as the lead translator for the Gospel of Luke in the Common English Bible (Abingdon, 2010). “That is, Christ is made known to us through preaching and Eucharist.

Read more…

YouTube dramatization of the "Road to Emmaus"

Starring Bruce Marchiano ("Gospel of Matthew") Road to Emmaus follows the story of Luke 24:13-49 and imagines what the conversation between Jesus and the two disciples might have been. It builds from the actual stories and passages of the Bible (the writings of Moses and the prophets as well as the further explanations in the New Testament).

The Link to the video

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, April 16 – April 23

Holy Week and Easter retrospective April 9-16

Links to what went on here last week for each service, below. The full Holy week page is here with all the Holy Week related scriptures and services.

From Palm Sunday to Easter, 2017 we held 5 services (184 people) and conducted two special projects with the children in mind, the art project and stations of the cross, both new this year. The services varied as well as mood – Psalm Sunday with the procession, the darkness and shadows of Tenebrae, the communal footwashing of Maundy Thursday, the musical meditation and the cup of salvation of Good Friday and then the wonderful celebrations of Easter day.  We also participated in the Port Royal Sunrise service on  Sunday morning. Yes, we did walk with Jesus in his suffering and hardships and then sharing and proclaiming the resurrection.

• Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017  

  Pictures      Description     Bulletin      Readings 

• Tenebrae, April 12, 2017  

  Pictures      Description     Bulletin      Readings 

• Maundy Thursday, April 13, 2017  

  Pictures      Sermon     Description     Bulletin      Readings 

• Good Friday, April 14, 2017  

  Pictures      Sermon     Description     Bulletin      Readings 

• Good Friday, Children’s art project 

  Pictures      Description     

• Good Friday, Stations of the Cross 

  Pictures       Description     

• Sunrise Service, April 16, 2017 

  Pictures

• Easter Sunday April 16,  2017  

Pictures      Sermon     Description     Bulletin      Readings

• Best of Holy Week, 2017 

  Pictures

The Week Ahead…

April 19 – 3:30pm, Village Harvest Food distribution. This month please donate any sort of canned vegetable or meat to supplement the fresh produce that will be distributed.

April 22 – 7:00pm, Magical Strings concert (6pm reception)

April 23 – 10:00am, Godly Play  (preschool through 2nd grade up)

April 23 – 10:00am, God’s Kids (3rd grade and up)

April 23 – 11:00am,   Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Sunday, April 23 Readings and Servers

 We are in Eastertide until Pentecost, June 4

Eastertide is the period of fifty days, seven Sundays from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. Easter is not a day but a season and it is one to examine the Resurrection, more broadly and deeply.  There are a number of questions.

Is Resurrection just about death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-56) ? Is Resurrection of Jesus is a precursor to your own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) ? Does it say something about our own ability to expect to see Jesus (Luke 24) ? How does the new Christian community begin to function making Christ the central part of daily life ? (Acts 2)  

Jesus physically appears in Easter 2 and 3 making the Resurection tangible. The shepherding part of his ministry is explored in Easter 4. From Easter 5-7, Jesus must prepare the disciples for his departure. He is going to leave them. Jesus prepares his disciples for continuing his ministry without his physical presence.  Themes explored include the holy spirit, the Prayer of Jesus and God’s glory through His Son and the church.

Christ ascends on the 40th day with his disciples watching (Thursday, May 29th). The weekdays after the Ascension until the Saturday before Pentecost inclusive are a preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.This fifty days comes to an end on Pentecost Sunday, which commemorates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, the beginnings of the Church and its mission to all  peoples and nation.  Note that the Old Testament lessons are replaced by selections from the Book of Acts, recognizing the important of the growth of the church.  

This Weekend! April 22, 2017 – 7pm. Our Second Spring Concert, Magical Strings!

We are pleased to welcome Magical Strings on tour from California to bring us a Celtic inspired concert.  They are following last year’s concert from the Portland Guitar Duo.

MAGICAL STRINGS centers around the Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer of Philip and Pam Boulding, at times augmented by violin, cello, pennywhistle, percussion and various instruments from around the world.  Philip also designs and builds the harps and dulcimers, and has handcrafted more than 2,500 instruments since 1971 

Together, Magical Strings has toured nationwide and abroad since 1978. They have recorded eighteen albums on four labels.

You can find selections of their music on Youtube. Their web site is here.

Enjoy an outdoor reception and then hear this lovely music offered up in the acoustically wonderful space and light of St Peter’s. An evening not to be missed.

The concert is free. We are accepting donations to help continue this concert series.

Help us advertise the show!   Grab a poster and share it

 Lectionary, April 23, Easter 2

I.Theme –   "Peace Be With You" 

 "Incredulity of Thomas" –  Duccio, di Buoninsegna (1308-1311)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually: 

First Reading – Acts 2:14a,22-32
Psalm – Psalm 16 Page 599, BCP
Epistle –1 Peter 1:3-9
Gospel – John 20:19-31

Jesus came back from the realm of the dead after only three days. He left the tomb behind, empty. The Apostles are still in their tomb, their emotional tomb, behind the locked doors of the house, after eight days. Their is fear of the Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus and thus have no peace. Would they come after them? (Jn 15:18, 19). Would be accused of having stolen his body in some resurrection scam? The reality of Jesus execution has just hit them.  Jesus comes back and shows them his wounds. The fear appears real!

Jesus visits them and twice says “Peace be with you.” Then he says it a third time a week later. Eventually they do unlock the doors and know that they are sent. There is the Gospel story this week of the Apostle Thomas ("Doubting Thomas") who wanted physical proof of Christ’s wounds before he would believe. 

Alyce McKenzie writes that "peace be with you" was not just written in the New Testament by quoting the Psalms. "Peace is God’s gift of inner serenity to those who place their trust in God (Ps 4:8; Is 26:3, 12). Peace is both the goal (Ps 34:14) and the reward of righteousness (Is 32:17). Its presence will be a sign of God’s reign (Ps 85:10). Peace results when one loves and follows God’s law (Ps 119:165."

"This isn’t the first time Jesus has uttered this greeting. "Peace be with you," is the fulfillment of a promise Jesus made to his disciples in chapter 14 of John’s Gospel (Jn 14:18-28). The disciples were afraid that they would be "orphaned" (14:18). Jesus assured them that the Father, in his name, would send the Holy Spirit to both "teach and remind" them of Jesus’ message (14:26). He then promises them peace."

Their subsequent lives were not free of conflict, not even from conflict among themselves. He doesn’t give them a traditional peace -It is rather an inner calm in the midst of strife. Peace is calmly living on the edge, betwixt and between the ups and downs of life with Jesus walking by our side. As  Alyce McKenzie writes "It is a statement of fact, of present reality." The emphasis is that Jesus lives in all of us with the resurrection in our difficult circumstances.

Jesus called us not for a quiet, leisurely life, but for an active mission that faces challenges, problems, and various trials. He gives us first of all His Peace to carry out the mission. A true peace over and against fear, and doubt.  It is a mission to preach the good news of the Kingdom

He gives us His strength, His power, the Holy Spirit. The mission can be accomplished only through His Spirit. Jesus knew very well Thomas will not be able to fulfil the calling on his own, so He came back for him, to empower him also as He empowered the other disciples. So what is our mission ?

Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop writes this mission – forgiveness. "The resurrection was an experience of forgiveness. The disciples had all abandoned Jesus, becoming complicit with his murderers. The fact that the resurrection was happening to them was an experience of forgiveness for them. "  So he gives them another chance to them extend forgiveness into the world.  Jesus demonstrated it by calling Saul (Paul) even though he was guilty of killing some of his followers.

Read more from the lectionary 

Who was Thomas ?

Thomas’ name has come down to us as "Doubting Thomas. "  He’s been labeled a "doubter" for his inability to understand Christ’s resurrection from the dead following his crucifixion.  It’s not so much that he doubted the resurrection but that he needed a personal encounter with Jesus to make the resurrection real. His request that he see the wounds on Jesus’s hand left by the nails before he would actually believe that he was speaking to the risen Christ, has provided us with the phrase "Doubting Thomas."   That makes it appear to doubt is not a part of faith which it is. 

National Geographic – "Thomas’s moment of incredulity has proved a two-edged sword in the history of Christian thought. On the one hand, some theologians are quick to point out that his doubt is only natural, echoing the uncertainty, if not the deep skepticism, felt by millions in regard to metaphysical matters. How can we know? That Thomas challenged the risen Christ, probed the wounds, and then believed, some say, lends deeper significance to his subsequent faith. On the other hand, his crisis of doubt, shared by none of the other Apostles, is seen by many as a spiritual failure, as a need to know something literally that one simply cannot know. In the Gospel of John, 20:29, Christ himself chastises Thomas, saying, "Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Loyalty was closer to his character. As one of the disciples, when Jesus announced His intention of going to the Jerusalem area, brushing aside the protests of His disciples that His life was in danger there, at which Thomas said to the others: "Let us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:7,8,16) If Thomas was pessimistic, he was also sturdily loyal and determined. He wanted to get it right

Before the Doubting Thomas episode, he was honest and sincere. At the Last Supper, Jesus said: "I go to prepare a place for you…. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." Thomas replied: "Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way?" To this Jesus answered: "I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:1-6)

Thomas is mentioned again (John 21) as one of the seven disciples who were fishing on the Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias) when the Risen Lord appeared to them. Aside from this he appears in the New Testament only as a name on lists of the Apostles. A couple of centuries later a story was circulating in the Mediterranean world that he had gone to preach in India; and there is a Christian community in India (the Kerala district) that claims descent from Christians converted by the the preaching of Thomas.

Following Christ’s ascensio, the apostles divided the world for missionary purposes. Thomas was assigned to travel to India to spread Christianity. He objected to this group decision. He said he wasn’tt healthy enough to travel. But he couldn’t possibly be successful there, he told the others, contending that a Hebrew couldn’t possibly teach the Indians. It’s even said that Christ appeared to him in a vision encouraging him to travel to India. Thomas remained unmoved by this revelation as well.

A merchant eventually sold Thomas into slavery in India. It was then, when he was freed from bondage that this saint began to form Christian parishes and building churches. It’s not surprising that to this day, St. Thomas is especially venerated as The Apostle in India. According to legend, Thomas built a total of seven churches in India, as well as being martyred during a prayer session with a spear near Madras around the year 72 C.E.  

He is often pictured holding a spear. Paintings of martyrs often show them holding or accompanied by the instruments with which they were put to death. 

A recently discovered work called the Gospel of Thomas is a collection of sayings attributed to Jesus,

The Legacy of Thomas in India

The National Geographic -"He traveled farther than even the indefatigable Paul, whose journeys encompassed much of the Mediterranean. Of all the Apostles, Thomas represents most profoundly the missionary zeal associated with the rise of Christianity—the drive to travel to the ends of the known world to preach a new creed."

"Thomas is said to have raised the first cross in India and performed one of his earliest miracles: When he encountered a group of Brahmans throwing water into the air as part of a ritual, he asked why the water fell back to Earth if it was pleasing to their deity. My God, Thomas said, would accept such an offering. He then flung a great spray into the air, and the droplets hung there in the form of glistening white blossoms. Most onlookers converted on the spot; the rest fled."

"St. Thomas still stands as the direct link between his converts in Kerala and the founding Christian story on the shores of the Mediterranean, clear across the known world of the first century. Unlike later Christian groups in Asia who were converted by missionaries, Thomas Christians believe their church was founded by one of Christ’s closest followers, and this is central to their spiritual identity. "They are an apostolic church," Stewart said, "and that’s the ultimate seal of approval for a Christian group."

"The community was historically united in leadership and liturgy, but since the 17th century have been split into several different church denominations and traditions. 

"Historically the Saint Thomas Christian community was part of the Church of the East, centred in Persia.They are a distinct community, both in terms of culture and religion. Though their liturgy and theology remained that of East-Syrian Christians of Persia, their life-style customs and traditions were basically Indian.  

"In the 16th century the overtures of the Portuguese padroado to bring the Saint Thomas Christians into the Catholic Church led to the first of several rifts in the community and the establishment of Syrian Catholic and Malankara Church factions. Since that time further splits have occurred, and the Saint Thomas Christians are now divided into several different Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, and independent bodies, each with their own liturgies and traditions." 

 Block Print by Mike Newman

Projects 

April 22, 7pm. Reception on the lawn, 6pm

Other events coming up:

• Ladies Night Out, Sat. April 29
• Shred-it, Wed., May 3, 4:30pm-5:30pm
• ECW trip to the National Cathedral, Sat., May 20

Link to the reports from Jan 15 Annual Meeting

Daily "Day by Day"

Follow the Star

Daily meditations in words and music.  

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online, since 1999

"We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance."

Daily C. S. Lewis thoughts

Saints of the Week, March 26 – April 2

From the Sermon – "And God has given each one us special ways to be light in the world, unique to each one of us. .. So God, give us the longing and the courage and the joy to be your light in the world"

From Last week… 

Sunday, March 26, Lent 4   

The Week Ahead…

April 2  –Readings and Servers

Inside the Church on a spring afternoon

Gallery of 9 pictures taken by Catherine.

A Dual Baptism on April 2

Baptisms are always special but this one coming up is a doubly special!

We will be baptizing Dorian Huffman, son of Andrew and Felicia Huffman. Felicia grew up at St. Peter’s and we welcome her and her husband Andrew and Dorian.

Kathryn Elizabeth Davis was a year old on Feb. 5. She is the daughter of Johnathan and Odessa Davis.

So How’s Your Lent Going ?

We are almost 5 weeks into Lent. How we are doing ?

Lent is a journey – part of it is looking inside, removing things and taking on new things – building up.  The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby suggested the following in 2015  – "At the individual level it draws us to see what we have been saved from, and what we are being saved for."  Here are  4 items he mentions: 

1. Listening – “We cannot listen while we fill our ears with our own self-confidence and our own self-worth. "So, how do we listen? Read Matthew’s gospel, taking a small chunk each day, and ask yourself as you read it three simple questions: What does it say? What does it mean? What am I going to do about it? Very simple.

"And what do I do about it? Ask yourself: “How do I make my life more open to Christ because of what this is saying to me?”

2. Writing "Sometimes it is very practical writing to someone or speaking to someone who I may have offended. It may be very simple, merely saying a prayer of sorry, or thank you, or petition for something of which I need reminding. 

3. Being Generous with Others. "A good Lent must overflow in generosity. How do we live a good Lent with those whom we live with? The bumps in the road we need to smooth out for the Lord to come? Relationships that have been neglected and therefore are full of clutter that needs removing? "They can be very difficult: broken relationships may be easily mendable, little irritations – or it may be that we need, in a good Lent, to take the first step to clearing away a major landslide. "How do you do it in practice? Openness, transparency, and also go back and use the same approach to scripture as I suggested a few moments ago. One has to treat each person and situation different 

4. Silence  "Let me suggest one other. As individuals, even short periods of complete silence during Lent,   fasting from noise and conversation and distraction, will be of great value. How little we do of it.

Lenten Links

Lent is:

• A time for looking at the things we do that are wrong or that tempt us, asking God’s and other people’s forgiveness;
• A time for giving up things that keep us from being loving people;
• A time for doing extra things that will help us grow closer to God;
• A time to be more aware of what it means to love as God loves us;
• A time to ask God to help us to be more loving, remembering
that God is always ready to strengthen us.

We have a dedicated Lenten part of the website – Lent at St. Peter’s 2017  which has the events listed.  

Save the Date! April 22, 2017 – 7pm. Our Second Spring Concert, Magical Strings!

We are pleased to welcome Magical Strings on tour from California to bring us a Celtic inspired concert.  They are following last year’s concert from the Portland Guitar Duo.

MAGICAL STRINGS centers around the Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer of Philip and Pam Boulding, at times augmented by violin, cello, pennywhistle, percussion and various instruments from around the world.  Philip also designs and builds the harps and dulcimers, and has handcrafted more than 2,500 instruments since 1971 

Together, Magical Strings has toured nationwide and abroad since 1978. They have recorded eighteen albums on four labels.

You can find selections of their music on Youtube. Their web site is here.

Enjoy an outdoor reception and then hear this lovely music offered up in the acoustically wonderful space and light of St Peter’s. An evening not to be missed.

The concert is free. We are accepting donations to help continue this concert series.

Help us advertise the show!   Grab a poster and share it

 Lectionary, April 2, Lent 5

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 from the lectionary

1. Perseverance -Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead is the Bible story summary that teaches us a lesson about persevering through difficult trials

2. Through the raising of Lazarus, Jesus showed the disciples, and the world, that he had power over death. Many people put their faith in him after seeing this miracle.

3. Jesus revealed his compassion for people through a genuine display of emotion. Even though he knew that Lazarus would live, he was still moved to weep with the ones he loved. Jesus cared about their sorrow. He was not timid to show emotion and we should not be ashamed to express our true feelings to God. Like Martha and Mary, we can be transparent with God because he cares for us

4. Don’t prejudge Jesus!. Jesus waited to travel to Bethany because he knew already that Lazarus would be dead and that he would perform an amazing miracle there, for the glory of God. Many times we wait for the Lord in the midst of a terrible situation and wonder why he doesn’t respond more quickly. Often God allows our situation to go from bad to worse because he’s planning to do something powerful and wonderful; he has a purpose that will bring even greater glory to God.

5. The miracle of the raising of Lazarus explains the crowds seeking Jesus on Palm Sunday, and leads directly to the decision of Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin to plan to kill Jesus. Theologians Moloney and Harrington view the raising of Lazarus as a "pivotal miracle" which starts the chain of events that leads to the Crucifixion of Jesus. They consider it as a "resurrection that will lead to death", in that the raising of Lazarus will lead to the death of Jesus, the Son of God, in Jerusalem which will reveal the Glory of God.

6. Which Lazarus are we ?  Sung-Chul Choi reflects "As the resurrection and the life, Jesus calls people forth from their tombs, gives them life, and set them free. Jesus is the resurrection and the life – not at the last day, but already now and here. The spirit of Jesus raises us from our spiritual ‘death’ to newness of life…Are we ‘dead Lazarus’ still in the dark tomb or ‘awakening Lazarus’ walking out of the tomb without death clothing – creeds, dogmas, formulas? Do we see the world with new eyes? Can we see much better now and change what our brain behind, or accepted values, assumptions and ideologies, tells us?…Lazarus’ story is not about a so-called physical resurrection. This is a story about an awakening as well as a new vision or new world view on life. It is an extremely limited and limiting world view that one gets in a dark tomb."

More takeaways

Journey into Lazarus tomb

See the video tour where they go down into the tomb. There are some interesting photos of the trip along the highway to the tomb.

Read more about the tomb

A Lazarus statue – Jesus call to us for a new life  

From "Love Life: Life- Brother, Give Us A Word"

The Society of Saint John the Evangelist 

Video  

"There is a wonderful sculpture of the raising of Lazarus. I believe it’s in the Chapel of New College in Oxford by Jacob Epstein. What I love about it is that there is Lazarus coming out of the tomb but only half of him is coming out and the other half is still in the tomb and you get this sense that he’s not sure that he wants to come out because there’s something comfortable about the familiar even if you’re half dead. "

"And I think that Jesus is calling us to new life and we have to say yes even though new life often can be rather fearful because it’s unknown. But I don’t believe that Jesus will ever leave us in a place where we are not fully alive. I think he’s constantly calling us everyday to become more alive because the more we become, the more I become the Geoffrey that God created me to be, the more I glorify God. "

"And I would say the gospel of John another wonderful theme is the theme of glory that where Jesus is there the glory of God shines forth. And that we are meant to shine forth with that same glory as well by becoming fully alive in Christ.

Read more about the statue

Like Lazarus

Suzanne Guthrie writes a weekly commentary on the lectionary at edgeofenclosure.org/. Here is a selection of her meditation this week

"I used to think Lazarus might have been disappointed to be recalled from death. And perhaps Martha and Mary needed him for their survival – why else selfishly beg for Jesus’ presence, especially at the cost of Jesus’ own safety? I think now, though, that Lazarus, conformed to the will of God, may have been content with the inconvenience, accepting the new threat of violence to himself and his family as a result of Jesus’ action. (John 12:10-11) Lazarus may have been willing to be a SIGN, if not a walking target, to further the Good News, despite any and all consequences.  

"Having died already, what would Lazarus have to lose? I’ve talked with people who have clinically died and been resuscitated who are no longer afraid of death. But it isn’t just the extraordinary coming back from the dead that invigorates our own connection to the story. It’s Lazarus living for something much larger than himself, not contingent upon his life or death.  

"I overheard on older friend once describe my early twenties conversion experience this way: “She’s Lazarus come out of the tomb.” In a way it was true, the first of a series of conversions and awakenings, like a hermit crab molting, leaving behind an exoskeleton time after time and, in successive increments living for something unseen and beyond myself. Life in Christ demands successive deaths and re-births. Maturing, growing in consciousness requires painful re-engagements with life-cycles of re-birth, self-sacrifice, transformation, dying, and being born again.  

"Am I due for another molting?" 

The Lazarus Effect on HIV

Researchers call it the Lazarus effect – the dramatic beneficial changes that antiretroviral drugs – ARVs – can bring to HIV/AIDS patients and their families. The drugs are changing lives just as Jesus changed Lazarus. This prevents the immune system from collapsing and reducing infections. The effects usually occur within 6 months of administering the drugs. 

Not only the patient benefits but so families in regaining a productive individual. These individuals are able to make longer term investments which improves their economic potential. 

Ted Talks featured such an individual  Winnie Ssanyu-Sseruma in a talk entitled "Why it Means So Much for Me to be Alive" 
 

She learned she was positive in applying for an internship during graduate school. At that point everything stopped and all she could think about was getting back to Uganda so she could die.

The turning point was in the support group for people living with HIV "60 women, 5 men  being dead taking treatments and having this Lazarus effect. " She decided she wanted to be like them and get on with her life. "That was the turning point for me."  She laments those who are so fearful of disclosing their HIV status that they would rather die. The disease has struck Africans. 90% of the children who have aids are African. Many parents have not told their children they are HIV positive. They affect others unknowingly.   Women who get the treatment can have children that are HIV free.

Many also wait too late to be tested and then treated. Winnie has been in recovery for 23 years.  

Winnie currently works as African services manager for Positive East and was one of the first people from the African community in the UK to have the courage go public with her HIV status. After discovering she was HIV positive, Winnie now spends her time volunteering; writing, researching and speaking about issues affecting HIV positive Africans. 

The Lazarus Effect Film – Life from Death

This film was released in 2010, a documentary by Lance Bangs and executive producer Spike Jonze . The 30 minute documentary illustrates the transformative effect of life-saving antiretroviral medicine. Antiretroviral (ARV) pills that cost around forty cents a day can help transform someone in as few as forty days.

The Lazarus Effect film tells the stories of 4 HIV+ people in Zambia, including Concillia Muhua who when we first meet her is close to death’s door. The film shows her incredible transformation after 90 days of taking ARV treatment – this transformation is called “The Lazarus Effect.” As Concillia puts it: “There was nothing I could do for myself. I could not feed myself properly. I could not look after my daughter. After I started medication it was like I was resurrected.”

Watch the film

Read Cornelia’s story

And Now…The Skitguys take on Lazarus

A slightly humorous skit on Lazarus. We have them next week also on Palm Sunday.