Thoughts from Lori
Instead of hearing from me today, I thought you might like to hear from Bill. He is continuing to serve The Church of the Holy Communion in Lake Geneva, and this is an excerpt from his sermon this past Sunday. Enjoy.
For we are what [God] has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. Ephesians 2:1-10
It is hard to realize that every human being, even every animal and plant, in God’s creation is made for good-no matter how we judge them. Our peace of mind comes when we make the same decision about ourselves. When, as the Ash Wednesday petition puts it, “we put aside our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves” — and conversely, those we judge as less fortunate.
The bottom line about being a Christian is accepting our place as a child of God. When we do this, we accept a community that includes all sorts and conditions of life. In this, we do two things.
First, we accept ourselves as God has made us knowing that whatever shortcomings we judge ourselves with-if we stop looking over our shoulder wishing we were someone else-God will use our gifts for good.
Second, we allow all others of our brothers and sisters to have the same value. Knowing that their behavior, their race, their human condition has equal value in the eyes of God and the same potential for good.
William P. (Bill) McLemore, March 15, 2015
MUSIC PLANNING
This Friday, March 20th at 1pm, Julie, Bill, and I (Lori) are meeting to plan our hymns and service music for the next few months. In doing this planning, we consider the liturgical season (Easter, Pentecost, etc.), the appointed readings, how frequently or recently we’ve sung a particular hymn, how well we know the hymn, and so forth. If it’s a hymn we don’t know, is it compelling enough for us to learn it? If there are hymns we want to use but they are not in our hymnal, is it in the public domain or will we need permission from the publisher? Such is our task… and we actually have a pretty good time doing it. Anyone interested in helping with this process is truly welcome to join us.
FLOWERS AND LILIES FOR EASTER
It’s still Lent, of course, but we are quickly approaching Holy Week and Easter. Beginning this Sunday, there will be a sign-up sheet for those wishing to contribute to the flowers and lilies that will grace our church on Easter Day. Your donation of $25 (or more) may be given – as always TO THE GLORY OF GOD – and in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving for a person or special blessing. Thank you for helping to make our Easter celebration more beautiful than ever!
PARTICIPANTS FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
The special services for Holy Week and Easter offer opportunities for additional participation. Please sign-up to be a reader, usher, or server.
Looking Ahead to the AGAPE MEAL on Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday, or Thursday in Holy Week, recalls the Last Supper at which Jesus shared a meal (some say the Passover) and washed the feet of his disciples. We will gather in the parish hall for a simple meal for the readings and a brief homily. Then we will go into the church for the foot washing, Communion, and the Stripping of the Altar. This is a powerful and provocative service you don’t want to miss. Please sign-up to bring a soup, bread, or fresh fruit to share for the meal.
Immediately after this service, the Reserve Sacrament (consecrated bread and wine) is taken to the Chapel of Repose – this year, in the newly re-dedicated Julian Chapel – where the prayer vigil begins and continues through Good Friday. The church will be open for any and all who wish to keep watch through the night in remembrance of Jesus’ own prayer vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion.
Please refer to the calendar below for a full list of our Holy Week services.
Coffee & Conversation
For the next two weeks, we will meet at Coffee & Conversation as an ad hoc worship committee to talk about music, liturgy, and all things pertaining to our worship. If worship is important to you, you won’t want to miss this!
Mobile Food Pantry
St. Paul’s will be hosting a Mobile Food Pantry on Saturday, May 30th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The Mobile Food Pantry delivers nutritious food directly to the people in need of food assistance.
It only costs $1200 for thousands of pounds of food. We are now accepting donations. Please talk to your friends, family members and places of business that support matching programs for charitable work. Together we can make this happen. Donation envelopes are available in the Narthex. Checks should be made out to Northern Illinois Food Pantry. Please put “St. Paul’s Food Pantry” in the memo line. Thank you for your support!
On the Calendar
Vestry – Thursday, March 19, 7:00 p.m. Vestry Day – Saturday, March 21Holy Week
Palm Sunday – March 29, 10 a.m. – Blessing of the Palms and Holy Eucharist Holy Monday- Holy Eucharist, 7:00 p.m. Holy Tuesday – Holy Eucharist, 7:00 p.m. Holy Wednesday – Holy Eucharist, 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday – Agape Meal/Eucharist, 7:00 p.m. Good Friday – Stations of the Cross, Noon Mass of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts, 7:00 p.m. Easter Eve – Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter at St Ann’s, Woodstock, 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday – April 5, 10 a.m. – Feast of the ResurrectionLessons and Hymns for Sunday, March 22nd
(Fifth Sunday in Lent – Year B)
by the Rev. William McLemore
THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
The First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34. This passage refers to the “new covenant” God will make with his people which will be written upon the hearts of the faithful.
The Psalm: Psalm 51:1-13 or Psalm 119:9-16. The 51st Psalm passage is a call for redemption from sins and that God would “create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit.” Psalm 119:9-16 calls for attention to the commandments, “my delight is in your statutes.”
The Epistle: Hebrews 5:15-10. Jesus has been designated by God “a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”
The Gospel: John 12:20-33. Jesus reflects upon the meaning of his death and resurrection.
THE HYMNS:
Processional Hymn: No. 149. “Eternal Lord of Love.” This hymn was written by Thomas Henry Cain, born 1931, and is based upon the image of the church as a people on a journey towards the God of glory. The tune is the Old 124th composed or adapted by Louis Bourgeois for the Geneva Psalter of 1551. The present harmonization is by Dr. Charles Winfred Douglas (1867-1944).
Sequence Hymn: No. 685. “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me.” This popular Protestant hymn was written by Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778) and first published in his “Gospel Magazine, III” (March 1776), attached to an article on spiritual improvement-dealing with human sin and waywardness. The tune, “Toplady,” was composed for this text by Thomas Hastings (1784-1872) and published in “Spiritual Songs for Social Worship,” 1831.
Presentation Hymn: No. 709. “O God of Bethel, By Whose Hand.” This hymn was written by Philip Doddridge (1702-1751), one of the outstanding nonconformist clerics whose practical and straightforward preaching attracted many in 18th century England. He based this hymn on Genesis 28:20-22 which records the vow of Jacob to God. The tune, “Dundee,” is a melody from the “Psalmes of David,” 1615.
Communion Hymn: No. 325. “Let Us Break Bread Together.” This hymn is new to the Episcopal 1982 Hymnal though not to other older Christian hymnals. It is an African-American spiritual in both words and music revealing a deep appreciation for the two elements of the Holy Eucharist-the bread and the wine. (This hymn will be the Communion Hymn throughout Lent.)
Recessional Hymn: No. 473. “Lift High the Cross.” This hymn was written by George William Kitchin in 1887 when he was Dean of Winchester Cathedral in England. The tune “Crucifer” was composed by Sydney Hugo Nicholson, Warden of the Royal School of Music in England. This hymn is new to the 1982 hymnal and has become very popular as a processional and recessional hymn. “So shall our song of triumph ever be; praise to the crucified for victory.”
March 22nd Servants
Ushers: Beth and Jim Lukas Lector: Michelle Wiejaczka Intercessor: Jim Lukas Eucharistic Ministers: Charlie Boak, Deb Lang Vestry Person of the Day: Darrell RoweTop 10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian
Reason 9
“You can believe in dinosaurs.”
Robin Williams, Comedian
From the cartoons created by the Rev. William P. McLemore
1965 – 2014
