Thoughts from Lori
Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! That is an ancient and traditional greeting exchanged between Christians, and meant to be used throughout the season of Easter. So when you bump into each other in the grocery store or a restaurant or wherever, be sure to share this greeting.
Another piece of liturgical trivia for your edification is this: the week before Easter is known as Holy Week, of course. But did you know that this week, the week after Easter is known as Easter Week? Yes! It is the octave of Easter and there are readings assigned in the lectionary for each of these days.
Speaking of liturgy – and see the Coffee & Conversation announcement below – the word liturgy means “work of the people.” Our worship then isn’t something to be watched, but something in which everyone participates. That includes the responses, adding your own petitions and thanksgivings during the prayers, singing, and in general being engaged. It also includes taking roles either behind the scenes, such as the altar guild, or up front, as in serving as a Eucharistic Minister, a lector or intercessor (Prayers of the People), or singing with the choir.
Just plain attendance is also important. Each of us brings our energy to the service. In a church as small as ours, everybody (and every body) counts! And that’s a good thing. It means that we are all important; that each of us is an indispensable part of the Body of Christ in this place.
Well, these are my thoughts for today. Nothing profound… except this: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Faithfully,
Lori+
COFFEE & CONVERSATION
Our discussion at Coffee & Conversation will be a continuation on the topic of the liturgy. This week, we’ll focus on the portion of our worship that we call “The Liturgy of the Word.” Stay for the coffee and goodies, the fellowship, and some interesting conversation. Everyone is welcome.
LIVING COMPASS
The dates of our first Living Compass group have been changed. Our meetings will begin Tuesday May 12th, 7:00 to 8:30 pm and will run for four weeks. The topic will be “Building Healthy Relationships,” and as always with LC, in the context of wellness and balance. A donation of $10 is requested for supplies. Space is limited. Sign-up today! Watch for more information about a day-time group that will begin later.
SPRING (INFORMAL) PARISH MEETING
Following the practice we began a couple of years ago, we will gather after church on April 26th for an informal parish meeting. Please bring a covered dish of your favorite food to share. We’ll catch up on a little business, but the main subject will be our emerging food ministry. And remember: we’ve committed to “feeding others when we feed ourselves.” So bring canned goods or non- perishables to be donated to FISH (the local food pantry).
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK TRUCK is coming to St. Paul’s!
The Food Truck is coming on May 30 to our parking lot. So far, we’ve collected about $400 (of the $1200). We don’t know the amount collected at the Easter Eve service last Saturday night at St. Ann’s, but will announce that as soon as possible. Meanwhile, if you haven’t given yet, please do. Checks are best made out to Northern Illinois Food Bank and marked “St. Paul’s.” We also need volunteers to help distribute the food on May 30th. See the sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex. Thanks!
Calendar
Women’s Wednesday – Tonight, 7:00 p.m. Men’s Breakfast – Saturday, April 11th, 8:00 a.m. Vestry meeting – Thursday, April 16th, 7:00 p.m. Spring Parish meeting – Sunday, April 26thLifeline Screening is coming to St. Paul’s May 5th
Do you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure? Have members of your family suffered from these ailments? Do you have a poor diet? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to consider being screened for your risk of stroke through the services of Life Line Screening. Life Line Screening uses ultrasound technology to view the plaque build up in your carotid arteries, the main arteries that carry blood to the brain. Blockages in these arteries are a leading cause of stroke. We are pleased to host this Life Line Screening event on May 5th at St. Paul Episcopal Church. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete.
In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1-888-653-6441 or visit: www.lifelinescreening.com/community-partners.
Lessons and Hymns for Sunday, April 12th
(Second Sunday of Easter – Year B)
by the Rev. William McLemore
THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
The First Reading: Acts 4:32-35. Here we get an image of the nature of the early church as believers who were of “one heart and soul.”
The Psalm: Psalm 133. The blessing of living in community is celebrated in this Psalm.
The Epistle: I John 1:1-2:2. The atoning love of God in Jesus Christ is discussed in the passage where in any sin, they have an “advocate with the Father, Jesus the righteous.”
The Gospel: John 20:19-31. Here we have the story of the appearance of Jesus after the resurrection to the apostles and to Thomas who wants a more intimate proof of his Risen Lord.
THE HYMNS:
Processional Hymn: No. 205. “Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing!” This relatively modern hymn was written by Dr. Cyral Argentine Alington (1872-1955), a British educator, scholar, Anglican priest, versifier, and prolific author. He was the headmaster of both Shrewsbury School and Eton College. He also served as chaplain to King George V and as Dean of Durham Cathedral. The hymn truly reflects the abject joy of Jesus’ resurrection with an appropriate “Alleluia” refrain. The tune, “Gelobt sei Gott,” is a composition of Melchior Vulpius (d. 1616).
Sequence Hymn: Instead of a traditional hymn, we will sing a Celtic Alleluia before the Gospel throughout the season of Easter.
Presentation Hymn: No. 209. “We Walk By Faith and Not by Sight.” This hymn was written by The Most Rev. Henry Alford (1810-1871), Dean of Canterbury Cathedral. Three of his hymns were printed in the 1940 hymnal and this hymn is new to our 1982 version. Roughly based on the appearance of Jesus to Thomas it pleads for faith beyond what we can see or touch. The tune, “St. Botolph,” was composed by Gordon Slater (1896-1979).
Communion Hymn: No. 178. “Jesus Is Lord of All the Earth.” This hymn was written by Donald Fishel, born in 1950, a graduate of the University of Michigan, and a consummate musician. In a biographical sketch he writes that after college, “I then embarked on a career in music publishing and began writing the Christian songs for which I am best known. My songs Alleluia No. 1 and The Light of Christ can be found in the hymnals of the Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic Churches.” The tune name is the “Alleluia No. 1” and was composed by him and arranged by Betty Carr Pulkingham (b. 1928) the wife of the Rev. William Graham Pulkingham, an Episcopal priest who lived from 1926-1993.
Recessional Hymn: No. 193. “That Easter Day with Joy was Bright.” Tradition says that this hymn was written by Saint Ambrose and dates in Latin back to the 5th century. The appearance of Jesus to Thomas is referred to as, “His risen flesh with radiance glowed; his wounded hands and feet he showed; those scars their solemn witness gave that Christ was risen from the grave.” The tune, “Puer Nobis,” was adapted from a 15th century melody by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621).
April 12th Servants
Usher: Bill Lang Lector: Jill Harrison Intercessor: Terry Jaworski Eucharistic Ministers: Deb Lang, Charlie Boak Vestry Person of the Day: Beth LukasTop 10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian
Reason 6
“Pew aerobics.”
Robin Williams, Comedian
From the cartoons created by the Rev. William P. McLemore
1965 – 2014
