April 6, Fifth Sunday of Lent
Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 9:58AM Fiddlers on the Floor:
Sunday April 6 Lucy Jones and Sabine Vener will be playing a Sonata for Violin, Viola da Gamba and Organ by Dietrich Buxtehude. They will play one movement as the Prelude and one at Communion. Come early for a real treat!
Church of the Angels has Four Sanctuaries! Count ‘em FOUR!
How does Church of the Angels have FOUR Sanctuaries? Well, there is the big one where we all gather. Then there are three others located in the Parish Hall. These are the Atriums for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level 1, next to the Kitchen, Level 2, next to Fr. Bob’s office, and Level 3, at the front of the Parish Hall. The reason the atriums are also sanctuaries along with the Church itself is because the same thing happens in all four places. What takes place in all four places is worship which in is most essential form is to listen to God and to make a response.
For those of us coming out of the main sanctuary after Liturgy, we’ve just taken in a huge experience that involves hearing, bodily motion, singing, praying together and within one’s self, eating and drinking. The whole of our humanity is caught up in that. We’ve received a lot of “food for thought” when you consider the Scripture, the hymns which are the Scriptural themes in the readings set to music, the homily which is to break open the Word and allow it to do what it will within each of us in our own way, reciting and re-enacting a compressed version of the Christian story which is what the Liturgy is.
So, what happened to all of us from all of this? We might not know right away. We might not be able to say much if someone asked. What will most likely happen is that at unexpected times during the week, something of the experience will come back to us, and some thought, idea, insight, and feeling will well up in us, and as was said of Jesus’ mother after the visit of the Magi, “we ponder all these things in our hearts.
The same thing takes place in the other three sanctuaries, our atriums. With the help of the catechists, we can get a peek as through a window.
April 6, 2014
Level I Atrium
It is hard to believe that not but a few weeks ago we were celebrating the joyful news of Jesus’ birth. We are now entering into the moment of the Passion of Jesus and the Resurrection, the celebration of Liturgy of the Light! The first way we prepare for the coming Easter Vigil is by providing a setting reference, for where it all took place. Below you will see a map of the city of Jerusalem. Today, we borrowed the Level II’s 3-D map material which is similar to the one shown here and began to identify parts of the city that were significant to the moments of the Passion of Jesus.
Jerusalem is the city in which the historical Jesus instituted the Eucharist at his celebration of the last supper, suffered, died, and was raised from death. We use this material to familiarize the child with the characters and events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus within the geographical context of the city of Jerusalem. It is a big work. There might be one thing about the city that remained with the child. Perhaps you might want to share your knowledge of the city and what may be important to you.
Palm Sunday we will look more closely at the Cenacle, the place where Jesus and his disciples held the last supper and initiated the beginning of the new covenant.
We planted the last of the three containers with wheat seed.
April 6, 2014
Level II
We have been and will continue to explore our relationship with Jesus through the image of the True Vine (John 15:1-11). It is a communion of life with Jesus and with one another. There is an active presence in the Father as the Vine grower, who takes care of the vine. The sap is the life of the Risen Christ needed for the life of the vine. All humankind is present in the vine, the living and the dead. Sin is an obstacle which blocks the sap, the light and life of God from flowing freely. Through confession, God offers us a way to dissolve our knots, and bring us back to full communion with Jesus and the community. Sunday, we will be looking at the scriptures of Luke 15:4-7 and v 8-9; through these descriptors of Found Coin and Lost Sheep, we know when we are lost God will be joyful in finding us.
April 6, 2014
Level III
Typology is the work of looking for the pattern of God’s hand throughout history. Our current typological study looks at the History of the Kingdom of God and Abraham. It is an extensive work, often taking up to 6 weeks or more to complete. The major events covered in the topology of Abraham are his nomadic life, his faith and worship of one God, and the interlocking offering stories of Isaac and Jesus. We will continue our work on Abraham this coming Sunday.
What Happened in Level 3 Last Week. Listening in on Listening to God with our Children
Well, we are supposed to be learning about Abraham but this past Sunday The boys had a lot on their minds. We looked at Noah, and Science The homo sapiens and some other upright being) and Abram and then we were walking across the street when one boy asked Why do our books call him Jesus of Nazareth? I replied that they knew where Jesus was born. Their answer was a stable Me: but where?, them, Nazareth Me: really? Who was from Nazareth? Them: Joseph Me: who else? We finally remembered Mary and the Angel. So where was Jesus born? We finally remembered Bethlehem. Then I asked why. One boy said A decree went out from Cesar Augustus that all the world would be taxed. Me: so they went to Bethlehem because Joseph ancestors were from Bethlehem and they had to pay their taxes. Then what happened? This they knew. So we went back to why Jesus of Nazareth? Was he from Nazareth? They remembered that God spoke to Joseph in a dream to take Jesus and Mary and go to Egypt. So then what happened? Herod died so they went back. Where? Nazareth. Why? Because that is where Joseph was from. So why does the book say Jesus of Nazareth? Was he born there? No. He grew up there.
OK. Eucharist is starting. One boy went to get 3 large print bulletins. they found their places while we waited in the doorway for a good time to go in. We said the Lord’s Prayer and there was some music so we went in to join the congregation in church.
Hands of the Angels Saturday April 12, 10:00 a.m.
The Hands of the Angels Knitting group meets on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays 10:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall Living Room. Everyone is welcome to join and if you’d like, learn how to knit. The next meeting will be Saturday April 12, 10:00 a.m. Parish Hall Living Room
Episcopal Relief and Development, Episcopal Federal Credit Union
There is still time to participate in Episcopal Relief and Development for Lent. Materials and a Meditation books will be on the table outside Church on Sunday.
Lenten Meditation Class: Sundays in Lent 9:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall
Chitra’s Meditation Class continues for two more Sundays. Anyone is welcome to join in. Simply come to the Parish Hall Living room at 9:00 a.m.
O Lord, our Lord, you have created us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
The prayer of St. Augustine
Emmaus Road Monday Evenings 7:00 p.m. Parish Hall Living Room
Emmaus Road will discuss ideas for the next book for group discussion.
Food For Thought
On the Food for Thought Table this Sunday, two interesting article about the Christian faith in general.
1. From The Wall Street Journal. Five Rules for a Happy Life. This article in the “Review Section” from last Saturday is by Charles Murray and an excerpt from his new book The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Getting Ahead: Do’s and Don’ts of Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing and Living a Good Life.. The article is directed at young adults just starting out and it has some interesting advice like “Consider Marrying Young.” For most of the us that train has already left the station. However Rule Number 4 “Taking Religion Seriously” is one of the best explanations of why being religious is a good thing. It’s worth reading.
2. From The New York Times: The Christian Penumbra. This is by columnist Ross Douthat and talks about how social goods really do flow from exclusively religious participation, but not really from non affiliation or nominal belief. He writes, “Where practices ceases or diminishes in what you might call America’s ‘Christian Penumbra,’ the remaining residue of religion can be socially damaging.” Very interesting idea.
Music With The Angels
Celebrating COA’s 125 Anniversary Year
April 6, 7 p.m. - Leçons de Ténèbres by François Couperin.
Sweet Temperament Baroque Ensemble (Katina Mitchell --soprano, Arthur Omura -- harpsichord, Frédéric Rosselet -- baroque cello and Amelia Tobiason -- soprano) performs one of the gems of the French Baroque period. Free admission -- donations welcomed.
Holy Week Heads Up:
A short description of the events in Holy Week and why we do them.
Maundy Thursday
April 17: 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum, otherwise known as the Three Great Days of Jesus crucified, buried, and risen. The of “Maundy” comes from the word Mandatum which means commandment. According to the Gospel of John, at the Last Supper, Jesus, after washing the disciples’ feet gives them the “new commandment” that they should love one another as he has loved them.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the last meal Jesus had with his disciples prior to his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The Gospels differ on whether the meal was a celebration of the Jewish Passover, which is what the synoptic Gospels hold, or was a special ceremonial meal prior to the Passover as held by the Gospel of John. In either event, at the end of the meal, Jesus does something completely new. He bestows upon his disciples a means whereby he will always remain present to them. Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks, blesses it, and distributes it to them and says, “This is my Body.” Afterward he takes the cup of wine and distributes it to them and says, “This is my Blood.” He tells them to “do this in remembrance of me.”
In this context, the word “remember” does not mean to recall an event that is simply in the past and is no more. The biblical sense of remember means to make present. When the Jewish Seder is done, it is not that the participants think of something that happened a long time ago. Instead, the event that liberated them from slavery and made them God’s own people is a present and contemporary reality. It is not then, but now. The same is true in the Eucharist. You might say with both the Passover and the Last Supper, the events themselves and what they accomplish are simply too big for the chronological time they occurred. You might say that both the Passover and the Eucharist, tear the events from their place in chronological time and bring them into ours.
Our former Bishop, Fred Borsch once gave a most wonderful homily on Jesus words to “Do this is remembrance of me.” He said, “Of all the things that God every told people to do, this is the one thing we’ve carried out most faithfully.” He then went on to describe all the times and places, and events in which we celebrate the Eucharist, “doing this in remembrance of me.” It happens every Sunday of course, but also at baptisms, weddings, and funerals. It happens in grand cathedrals and humble shanty chapels. It happens on ships, it happens on battlefields, it happened in Dachau and the Gulag. It happened on the slab which was all that was left of an Episcopal Church after Hurricane Katrina hit Gulfport Mississippi. Bishop Borsch asked, “Has any commandment of Christ been as faithfully carried out as ‘Do this in remembrance of me?’”
So Maundy Thursday commemorates the institution of the Eucharist. A corollary of that is that Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the Christian priesthood.
There is also something else. Jesus washes the disciples feet. St. Peter is scandalized. But Jesus says to him that unless you let me love you in this way, you have no part in me.
As part of the liturgy, I remove the vestments and wash the feet of those parishioners who are willing. It is a profound moment for me and I’m sure for them.
Finally, after Communion, we begin the process of stripping the altar as Jesus and his disciples leave the upper room and go the Garden of Gethsemane. The choir chants Psalm 22 and as the members of the Altar Guild empty out the Sanctuary, the lights in the Church grow dimmer and dimmer. The Sacrament has been placed on the site altar which is surrounded with flowers. This is called the Altar of Repose. The Sacrament will remain there until it is consumed on Good Friday.
The last thing that happens is that the Altar Cross is draped in black. The light on the Resurrection window is turned off. The choir leaves their robes behind and walks out of the Church in silence.
Maundy Thursday is an incredibly powerful liturgy. It really is not to be missed.
Easter Preparations 2014
With the coming of the Fourth Sunday of Lent, it is time to turn our attention to our preparations for Holy Week and Easter.
Reflective Dinners in Holy Week 2014
Once again we will have our Reflective Dinners in Holy Week. We will hear some readings from the Christian Tradition as we eat a simple meal together. After that we hear one chapter from the Last Supper Discourses from the Gospel of St. John each evening, followed by one third of Jesus High Priestly Prayer from the 17th Chapter of St. John. We conclude with a simple Eucharist around the table and finish with desert and conversation. On these three nights we capture some of the sense the Last Supper. People are still welcome to sign up and attend the Holy Week Dinners.
Our Presenter this year will be Kelly Russell.
Everyone is welcome to participate in the Reflective Dinners in Holy Week.
Each evening has a team preparing the meal.
This Sunday we will have sign up sheets for each evening. Please sign up after Church.
Easter Breakfast 2014
This year’s Easter breakfast will be much like last year’s and we hope it will be an enjoyable event. The menu will be quiche, breakfast casseroles and other favorite breakfast foods, ham, fruit, hot cross buns/pastries, and some kid-friendly food. Drinks will include coffee, orange juice, milk, water, and some wine and champagne if people will bring it.
Kelly Russell, Jim Goltz, and Fr. Bob are coordinating the Easter Breakfast.
In order to make this work, we do need your help. Here is what we are looking for:
Quiche and other breakfast foods
We need 20 quiches. In place of quiches, people are welcome to prepare other breakfast type dishes that can be heated and served on Easter morning. So please sign up for your favorite. You are encouraged to bring these to the Parish Hall on Holy Saturday
Kitchen Help
We need someone to take responsibility for getting things in the ovens Easter morning, and . help with putting the food out for the breakfast.
Fruit Czar/Czarina
We need someone to oversee the preparation of the fruit. We’d like to have such things as grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple, etc. We need people to cut up the fruit and prepare it on Saturday to be put out with the breakfast on Easter.
Saturday Set Up
We need people to help with the setting up of tables and chairs on Holy Saturday
Drinks
We’ll set up coffee and there will be juice and milk. People are invited to contribute wine and champagne.
Clean Up
Our custom is that everyone jumps in and helps clean up and put away tables and chairs.
We still need some more food and drink, and assistance.
A sign up sheet will be on the table outside Church during the Sunday’s in Lent. You can also e-mail the Church Office to sign up to help as well.
We look forward to a wonderful time.
Easter Flowers 2014
Sign up on the sheet and write the offering or memorial so we can acknowledge it in the Easter Bulletins. Palm Sunday will be the last opportunity to sign up for Easter Flowers. Please put your Easter Flower Offering in the envelope by the Sign Up Sheet