Tom will be on vacation from Monday April 1 through Tuesday April 9th. If you require the pastoral care of a priest during that time, please contact our Senior Warden, Louis Tompros at 617-230-1998.
Sunday Morning Bible Study will resume on Sunday, April 7th at 8:30 am in the Parish House.
Dear Friends,
It is something done easily, and often – to see signs of spring as signs of Easter. Budding branches and blooming flowers – the return of warmth and light, all those aspects of the turning of the season are used in connection with the Easter proclamation. However, for half of the earth, Easter comes as autumn approaches. Our brothers and sisters in New Zealand or Argentina may not see those symbols in quite the same way. And Easter is about more than the inevitable return of that which we know and expect to happen. At the heart of the Easter message is the great unexpectedness of the resurrection.
Still, I could not resist sharing this photo with you:
These crocuses greeted me as I approached the Parish House on Tuesday. And as much as I know that spring is coming, and that the snow is melting, after this particular winter this sudden burst of color was surprising and welcome indeed.
I hope you will join us for the whole arc of our celebration in the next few days. Come for the familiar hymns and readings, the gathering at the table tonight and at the foot of the cross tomorrow night. Come for the retelling of the whole story of God’s good and gracious work in the world at the Easter Vigil. Come on Sunday for what you know and expect to hear, but more importantly come for what is new and unexpected: new thoughts, new insights, and new ways in which God will surprise us with the Good News of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
Faithfully,
Tom
| Liturgy of the Palms | |
| Luke | 19 : 28–40 |
| Liturgy of the Word | |
| Isaiah: | 50 : 4–9a |
| Psalm | 31 : 9–16 |
| Philippians | 2 : 5–11 |
| Luke | 22 : 14–25 : 56 |
| Processional | 154 | Valet will ich dir geben |
| Hymn following the Gospel: | 158 | Hezliebster Jesu |
| Liturgy of the Palms | ||
| Presentation | 458 | Love unknown |
| Recessional | 168 | Herzlich tut mich verlangen |
Holy Week is the culmination of our Lenten pilgrimage, as we prepare for the great Easter celebrations. Plan now to join with the community as we gather at the table, behold the cross, and await the resurrection.
Note: All evening services will be at 7 pm, with the exception of Maundy Thursday, when we will gather at 6:30 for supper.
And new for this year: We will have childcare for all of the evening services except Maundy Thursday, when the entire church family will be at the table together for supper.
Saturday March 23rd: Come Make Chicks for our Palm Sunday Procession
We’ll meet at 10 am in the Parish House, and with fresh rolls, a little construction paper and ribbons, make baby chicks to carry in our Palm Sunday parade the next day. These chicks remind us of how Jesus reached out to Jerusalem like a mother hen extends her wings to embrace her chicks.
The Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday): March 24th at 8 am and 10 am
The Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at both services.
The 10 am liturgy will begin in the garden, weather permitting.
Evening Services During Holy Week: March 25th, 26th, 27th, at 7 pm
The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated each evening in a meditative service.
Maundy Thursday: March 28th at 6:30 pm: Join us for an Agape Supper in the Parish House, followed by the Holy Eucharist, Footwashing, and the Stripping of the Altar. Watch for an email from Signup Genius with information about the Potluck
Good Friday: March 29th
Holy Saturday: March 30th at 10 am
We will read the brief Prayer Book liturgy for this day before preparing the church for the Easter celebrations.
The Great Vigil of Easter: March 30th at 7 pm
The kindling and blessing of New Fire will precede the Liturgy of the Word, the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, and the first Eucharist of Easter. See more information below about this moving service.
Bring bells from home — large and small — we will ring them as we proclaim our “alleluias.”
We will also have a simple reception after the service — feel free to bring treats sweet or savory.
The Sunday of the Resurrection: March 31st at 8 am and 10 am
We will celebrate the Holy Eucharist at both services.
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt for the children (rain or shine) following the 10 AM service with a festive coffee hour in the Parish House.
The Herlihys and the Nyhans will be hosting Coffee Hour on Easter morning. You are invited to help us have a festive spread by bringing Easter breads, cookies, or other treats.
Maundy Thursday Agape Supper
Check your email inbox for the “Sign-up Genius” electronic sign up for our Thursday supper. It is quick and easy and will help ensure that we have the right combination of things for this special meal. If you prefer, you are welcome to call the office to say what you will be bringing. Of course, all are welcome — contributing to the meal is not a requirement for attendance!
About the Great Vigil of Easter
— from the Washington National Cathedral 2012
The Great Vigil is the oldest tradition of the Christian church except for the Eucharist and is meant to tell an ancient story which is so important and central to our lives as Christians and as members of St John’s. In a way, this is our tribal song…words, music and ritual in one space. It is told to every generation, it is told every year. The Great Vigil begins in the dark, as the fire of new life is lit and spread to the whole church and finally bells are rung and we hear the first Gloria and the first Alleluias of the new season of Easter. We are literally shouting for joy! This is the first service of Easter followed by services on Easter Day.
We encourage you to bring bells from home to ring for the Vigil, big bells and little ones, as well as sweet or savory items for a simple reception afterward.
We received word from Kyle and Erica Marshall that their daughter, Evangeline Grace, was born on Wednesday, March 20th. Welcome, Evangeline! Please remember them all with prayers of thanksgiving.
Maureen Lavely travels to Washington DC on Holy Monday with Bishop Harris, the bishops of the Diocese of Connecticut and other Episcopalians in a witness against gun violence. The bishops of Connecticut have been particularly engaged in this work since the shootings in Newtown last December.
Emily Bryson, our nursery caregiver is running the Boston Marathon for the Boys and Girls Club of Charlestown as a part of an 18 member team, raising much needed funds to support programming … and to serve as an inspiration to the Boys and Girls Club members. If you would like to support Emily in her effort, you can do so by clicking here. Emily’s name will be in the dropdown menu on the main page. Donations are tax-deductible.
Lost and Found Items: A couple of items were left at Tom’s house after the reception there on the 10th: a black scarf, and a tote bag with blue and black stripes. If either of these are yours, you can get them at the church office.