March 20, Palm Sunday

 Daily Scripture Readings;  bookofcommonprayer.net/daily_office.php

See the different options.  There is full morning and evening prayer.  There is also the option of the readings only.  There is also an app for receiving the daily readings by email, or on a mobile device

 Sunday Scripture Readings:  bookofcommonprayer.net/lectionary.php

Set it for 1979 Contemporary, and the Bible version used in Church is Revised Standard Version

Palm Sunday

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday which marks the beginning of Jesus journey to his death on Calvary and his resurrection on the Third Day.  On Palm Sunday we focus on two events, Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, followed by an account of his Passion and death in one of the synoptic Gospels which rotate  each year among Matthew, Mark and Luke

 Each of the Gospels gives a somewhat different view of the Passion.  St. Mark gives a graphic picture of Jesus’ utter abandonment by both his disciples and God.  We experience the Passion as complete dereliction, destruction, and loss.  St. Matthew fills out St. Mark’s narrative adding all kinds of dramatic touches.  For example, it is St. Matthew who tells us of Pilate’s wife warning him to let Jesus go because of her troubled dream about him.  In St. Luke, Jesus’ agony in the Garden is portrayed as the stress and anxiety of an athlete about to begin his contest.  This is the account where Jesus promises paradise to the thief and says, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  Because we now use all three Gospels, our sense of the Passion is both expanded and deepened. 

 We begin the liturgy outside.  This is to commemorate the entry into Jerusalem.  As we stand in a circle, we hear the story of Jesus riding on the donkey and the people spreading garments and palms along his way.  They hail him as the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  Of course it will be but a matter of days before they forget all this and turn on him.  We bless some crosses that are made of palm branches and then pass them out and then process as a group into the Church. 

 Once we are inside the story turns, the atmosphere changes as we now plunge into the story of the Passion.  The liturgical color is red to symbolize both Jesus blood, and his passionate love for us, that leads him to lay down his life. 

 The liturgy proceeds as normally, and we end with the hymn Ride on, Ride on in Majesty. 

 Palm Sunday is a very important day.  For many people who don’t participate in the rest of Holy Week, it may be the only time they hear the story of the Christ’s death and reflect on it.  In the end, things come full circle in that the palm crosses left over from the liturgy are gathered and stored.  Next year they will be burned to become the ashes used on Ash Wednesday. 

Coffee Hour Needs: 

Coffee Hour Sign Up for March and April will be on the Coffee Table this Sunday

Anglican Rosary:  Anglican Rosary:  Saturday, March 19,  9:00 a.m

The Anglican Rosary devotional group meets Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. in the Church.  Everyone is welcome.

Getting Ready for Easter

Church Decorations:   One more window arrangement needed

                                      Lots of Easter Lilies

Reflective Dinners in Holy Week:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday  6:00 p.m. Parish Hall

Monday in Holy Week

Meal Team

Tuesday in Holy Week

Meal Team

We don't have everything we need yet.   Other things needed for the dinner are:
Bread
Appetizer
Dessert
Drinks 

Other people attending are invited to add to the meal, drinks, appetizers, whatever would be good.

Wednesday in Holy Week

Meal Team

We have a lot of what we need for the meal.   Other things needed are:
Appetizer
Drinks

 Other people attending are invited to add to the meal, drinks, appetizers, whatever would be good.

Easter Breakfast Set Up etc.

Thank you to everyone who has signed up so far to help.

What we still need help with:

Set Up Tables in the Parish Hall on Saturday

Fruit Czar/Czarina

Breakfast Food contributions

Drinks.

People to help in the kitchen Sunday morning.

Liturgies for Holy Week and Easter 2016

March 20  Palm Sunday  7:45 & 10:15 a.m.  Liturgy of Palms and Holy Eucharist

March 21  Monday in Holy Week  6:00 p.m.

Reflective Dinner: and Gospel of St. John: Parish Hall

March 22  Tuesday in Holy Week  6:00 p.m.

Reflective Dinner:  and Gospel of St. John: Parish Hall

March 23  Wednesday in Holy Week  6:00 p.m. 

Reflective Dinner and Gospel of St. John: Parish Hall

March 24  Maundy Thursday  7:00 p.m. 

Maundy Thursday Liturgy,  Foot washing and Holy Eucharist

March 25  Good Friday  12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Good Friday Liturgy  Mass of the Pre-Sanctified

March 26  Holy Saturday   8:30 a.m.  Altar Guild and Friends Prepare Church for Easter

Other Times  Set up Parish Hall,  Prepare Easter Breakfast, Prepare Easter Eggs

March 27  Easter Day  5:45  a.m.  The Great Vigil of Easter 

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd,  Easter Egg, Hunt  Parish, Easter Breakfast

10:15 a.m.       Holy Eucharist