Category: News

Dear parishioners,

Well, it is Monday, April 20^th!  Just in case anybody is starting to lose track of the days.  As my husband said yesterday, “Today, is whatever day it is today.”  We hope you enjoyed the service yesterday with Father David’s final sermon.  In case you missed it, here is the link to the service:

https://sainteds.org/second-sunday-of-easter-april-19-2020/

Communicating how and where to find the service is a work-in-progress and going forward, we will be posting the link to a corresponding post on the website in the Daily Message on Friday that will include the service that you can just click on, the bulletin you can download and any stewardship messaging for the week.

We will start to make changes this week with the web site now that Father Rick is on board!  And there is a lot of planning to do throughout these ensuing months so that we are prepared and ready to open St. Edward’s back up again, when the Bishop advises us accordingly.

In the meantime, we will stay connected in new and innovative ways so that our community of faith stays engaged.

Thank you to all who have engaged in the many ministries that keep us connected and to being faithful with your pledging and giving.

Michelle

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READERS:  If you are a reader, or a server who has been a reader and is willing and able to read via technology and send the video file to the parish office, please let us know.  We have our reader roster compiled by Carol Cotnoir and we would be so pleased to have as many people who feel confident, to participate as readers over the next many Sunday’s.  I will also send emails to ask people.  I typically send the readings by Tuesday and request the files by Thursday to give Father Rick time to put together.  This is a great ministry, in person, but even more important virtually as it enables us to connect with each other.  We hope many of our readers will say “yes” to reading in this new format.

DONATIONS:  The Food Pantry is in great need of continued monetary donations.  We have sent them a check for $1,575 and through continued parishioner donations, we should be sending them another check in the upcoming week for an additional $300 – $400.

RECTOR’S STUDY:  We are installing a much-needed wall-to-wall carpet in the rector’s study, a space that was updated and restored over the past year with the last remaining item to be replaced – the carpet.  This is not a budgeted item but is a necessary facility improvement.  To that end, we are accepting monetary donations to help deflect the cost of the carpet. Please prayerfully consider donating to this building renovation project.  Make your checks payable to St. Edward’s and write in the memo line “rector’s study carpet.”

I leave you with 3 things to enjoy:  A meditation, a virtual tour, and a learning resource to the Getty Virtual Library which is a fascinating resource of books to download and read for free; resources for K-12 students – Online games, videos, and activities; a beautiful virtual gallery of exhibitions, books, videos.

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Forward Day by Day Meditation for April 20, 2020

John 14:12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

If I could—and what a leap of faith—I would see sherbet in the sky and children running along the edge of their lives carrying bowls and spoons to taste heaven’s sweet love, sand kicking up behind their heels like exclamation marks.

Love would have no borders. I would look at all people and see a light that darkness cannot extinguish. I would feel Africa’s waves on America’s shore.

I hear a whippoorwill now, singing its own name into the twilight. A dream kicks the wall of a womb. The sky bends, and I feel pregnant with my God-given possibilities. A herd of zebra lopes past me, through the foothills of Virginia. Jesus…it’s true. We are one in God’s love.

MOVING FORWARD: What would reconciliation look like in your own community? How are you participating in this holy work?

PRAY for the Diocese of Kirinyaga (Kenya)

Ps 1,2,3, * 4,7 | Exodus 14:21-31 | 1 Peter 1:1-12 | John 14:(1-7)8-17

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A Virtual Tour: Today, we take you to BEAUTIFUL SCOTLAND (Highlands / Isle of Skye)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb6WlQiaJeM

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Getty Virtual Library:

http://www.getty.edu/publications/virtuallibrary/index.html

Dear parishioners,

This will be my last email message to you. I’ve begun saying good-bye through the Scepter and to the Vestry. Saturday morning I’ll have some parting words at the online Annual Parish Meeting, and my final words to you are in my sermon for Sunday. I’ll be officially retired as of Monday.

But before I go, I have a gentle pastoral reminder. Many of you can probably remember that once Father Stephen retired, he was no longer allowed to respond to requests for pastoral care. He could not make visits nor could he conduct weddings or funerals for parishioners of St.

Edward’s. Now that I am leaving it will be the same for me. This is not an easy rule, I know. The church has this rule, though, because only one priest can be in charge of a congregation at a time, and a new priest needs to become established as its pastor. After fifteen months as your priest, I have made a personal connection to many of you and would be honored to provide you pastoral care, but it’s really a matter of what it best for St. Edward’s as a whole. So if you need pastoral care from Monday onwards, please call Father Rick. He is a great priest and pastor and is ready and happy to form a relationship with you. Thank you for understanding.

By the way, it is looking increasingly likely that once we are able to attend services again in the summer, I will be able to return to St. Edward’s for one last Sunday to have a proper farewell while Father Rick does the same with St. James. We’ll let you know as soon as it can be scheduled.

David +

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SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER – APRIL 19, 2020

As with our posting, last week, of our Easter service, please check the website Sunday morning, after 6 AM for the bulletin and service for the Second Sunday of Easter – April 19, 2020.  You will want to tune in, as it is Father David’s final service.  To preview/download the bulletin in advance, here is the link:

https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SecondSundayofEaster_041920.pdf

Then, consider joining the virtual coffee hour, hosted by Joe and Christina McLaughlin.  Here are the details:

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR AT ST. EDWARD’S

Don’t forget to join Christina and Joe McLaughlin, hosting a weekly “Virtual Coffee Hour.”  This is all new to us, so take a chance, set up zoom and see how it all goes!  It will be fun to connect and whether you want to stay on for 5 minutes or the full session, grab your cup of coffee or tea, pull up a chair, and say hello to your fellow parishioners.

Here is a link of step-by-step instructions to set up zoom, that Christina put together.

https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/St-Eds-Coffee-Hour-Invite-and-How-To.pdf

And, if you have any questions, Christina has offered to please give her a call and she can help!  Her number is 717-415-7043.

DATE:  SUNDAY, APRIL 19th

TIME:  10 – 10:45 am

PLACE:  Wherever you are comfortable with your computer in your home environment!

WHAT TO BRING:  Your coffee and something interesting to share with others!

** The join code and passcode will not be posted on the public website of Facebook, it is in your Daily Message.

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ANNUAL MEETING DETAILS:

Time to get ready for tomorrow’s St. Edward’s Virtual Annual Meeting.  It would be wonderful if as many of our parishioners who have Internet access and are savvy with using the computer can get on ZOOM and attend the meeting as we will be hearing our final message and report from our Interim Rector, Father Bateman; our Senior Warden’s report, along with vestry elections and delegates to Diocesan Convention, and our financial report.  The Annual Report is posted on the St. Edward’s web site for all to review.  Here is the link:

https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/St.-Edwards-Annual-Report_2019.pdf

We strongly encourage you to read this year’s report.  Every year the reports are such a wealth of information about the “state” of our parish, but we are particularly proud of this year’s report as it shows what a wonderful community of faith, and a STRONG community of faith, we were throughout our transition (and are, today!).  We did some really great ministry, in all ways!!

Once you review the report online, if you have questions you would like answered, we have set up a protocol as follows:  Please contact a member of vestry, PRIOR TO 10 AM SATURDAY, and detail your question and it will be addressed.  The vestry list is as follows, and you may call any vestry member:

MICHAEL FRESHWATER ‘21  Secretary                717-898-6100

JULIE HOFF ’22  Junior Warden 2019                  717-898-6037

DINA ISHLER ‘20                                            717-481-0708

MARK JAKIEL ‘21                                            540-560-2895

HERB JOHNSTON ‘21                                       717-392-8513

GINNY KLOEPPING ‘20                                     717-735-7103

ELLEN MILLIGAN ‘22                                        717-569-0081

BILL SWIERNIK ‘20                                         717-682-4428

MEREDITH WESTGATE ‘20   Senior Warden         717-575-2119

To get set up for Zoom, you will have had to sign up “for free” to zoom to create your account.  Then, place the meeting link in your browser, and you should see a pop-up box that details the date and time of the meeting, but it will not prompt you for your 2 codes until the day of the meeting.

Here are the details:

If you have not already signed up for ZOOM, go here and click the button in upper right “Sign up, it’s free”

https://zoom.us/

Once you have signed up and have the icon on your desktop, you just need to copy and paste the link below into your browser and fill in the join code and passcode.

Date & Time: Annual Meeting – April 18, 2020 10:00 AM

Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81417491709?pwd=SlAvOHFoeWMrb1lJa2dNNGVabTVUZz09

** To ensure privacy, the JOIN CODE and PASSCODE are in your Daily Message emails from this week.

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SCEPTER SUBMISSIONS FOR MAY:  Articles, announcements and pictures for the May Scepter are due Monday April 20th.  Please send items to [email protected]

Dear parishioners,

Today, I give to you a meditation and a virtual tour.  Today’s Virtual Tour:  Abbey Mont Saint-Michel, France

I included 2 as they show from different perspectives and are quite beautiful.  Enjoy!

Michelle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vH3_wrXyPk

https://www.airpano.com/360photo/Mont-Saint-Michel-Abbay-France/

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Forward Day by Day Meditation

THURSDAY, April 16                           Thursday in Easter Week

Mark 14:3 While [Jesus] was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.

From the Archives: November 4, 1941

When our Lord came bringing redemption, he did not stop to count the cost. When this woman wanted to show her gratitude, nothing but the best would do. Onlookers called it extravagance, complained at the waste. Jesus said she was right.

Many people are afraid of doing too much for God. They measure their gifts by what others are giving. “I have done my share. Let somebody else carry on.” What is my share? My service to God is between God and me. It is not a matter of comparison with my neighbors. Comparisons are odious. Suppose Christ had waited in Gethsemane for others to do their share? There would have been no Good Friday and no Easter. He was not afraid of doing too much for us.

MOVING FORWARD: What does it mean to you to pray for fellow Anglicans around the world?

Read the contemporary reflection here.

PRAY for the Diocese of Kimberley & Kuruman (Southern Africa)

Ps 116:1,10-17 | Exodus 12:1-4,(5-10), 11-14 | 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 | John 13:1-17, 31b-35

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ANNUAL MEETING DETAILS:

We want to get you in sync and prepared for this Saturday’s St. Edward’s Virtual Annual Meeting.  It would be wonderful if as many of our parishioners who have Internet access and are savvy with using the computer can get on ZOOM and attend the meeting as we will be hearing our final message and report from our Interim Rector, Father Bateman, along with vestry elections and delegates to Diocesan Convention and our financial report.  The Annual Report will be posted on the St. Edward’s web site by Friday evening for all to review.  If you place the link in your browser now, you will download the program and you will see a pop-up box that details the date and time of the meeting, but it will not prompt you for your 2 codes until the day of the meeting.

Once you review the report online, if you have questions you would like answered, we have set up a protocol as follows:  Please contact a member of vestry and detail your question and it will be addressed.  The vestry list is as follows:

MICHAEL FRESHWATER ’21  Secretary                                      717-898-6100

JULIE HOFF ’22  Junior Warden                                                    717-898-6037

DINA ISHLER ‘20                                                                                717-481-0708

MARK JAKIEL ‘21                                                                               540-560-2895

HERB JOHNSTON ‘21                                                                        717-392-8513

GINNY KLOEPPING ‘20                                                                     717-735-7103

ELLEN MILLIGAN ‘22                                                                        717-569-0081

BILL SWIERNIK ‘20                                                                            717-682-4428

MEREDITH WESTGATE ’20  Senior Warden                              717-575-2119

Here are the details (please make note as we will not make public the join code and passcode on the web site):

If you have not already signed up for ZOOM, go here and click the button in upper right “Sign up, it’s free”

https://zoom.us/

Once you have signed up and have the icon on your desktop, you just need to copy and past the link below into your browser and fill in the join code and passcode.

Date & Time: Annual Meeting – April 18, 2020 10:00 AM

Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81417491709?pwd=SlAvOHFoeWMrb1lJa2dNNGVabTVUZz09

Join Code:  Please see your email  – we have posted it in the Daily Message emails

Required Meeting Passcode:  Please see your email – we have posted this in the Daily Message emails

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SCEPTER SUBMISSIONS FOR MAY:  Articles, announcements and pictures for the May Scepter are due Monday April 20th.  Please send items to [email protected]

Dear parishioners,

We want to get you in sync and prepared for this Saturday’s St. Edward’s Virtual Annual Meeting.  It would be wonderful if as many of our parishioners who have Internet access and are savvy with using the computer can get on ZOOM and attend the meeting as we will be hearing our final message and report from our Interim Rector, Father Bateman, along with vestry elections and delegates to Diocesan Convention and our financial report.  The Annual Report will be posted on the St. Edward’s web site by Friday evening for all to review.  If you place the link in your browser now, you will download the program and you will see a pop-up box that details the date and time of the meeting, but it will not prompt you for your 2 codes until the day of the meeting.

We will continue to send details towards the end of the week.

Here are the details (please make note as we will not make public the join code and passcode on the web site):

Date & Time: Annual Meeting – April 18, 2020 10:00 AM

Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81417491709?pwd=SlAvOHFoeWMrb1lJa2dNNGVabTVUZz09

—

For this Easter Monday, here are 2 musical offerings that are quite amazing!

This first one is submitted by Catherine Donohue and is a Virtual Choir from The Episcopal Church facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/93121952924/posts/10160018116352925/?sfnsn=mo&d=n&vh=e

You can also view it on this link:

https://episcopalchurch.org/virtual-choir

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This second offering is submitted by Meredith Westgate and is Andrea Bocelli’s “Amazing Grace” as part of his incredible Music for Hope concert for Easter at Duomo di Milano.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3475704559109409&id=161955833817648?sfnsn=mo&d=n&vh=e

You can view the entire concert here (it is stunning):

https://youtu.be/huTUOek4LgU

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Habits of Grace, April 13, 2020: An invitation for you, from Presiding Bishop Curry

As we learn how to adjust our lives given the reality of the coronavirus and the request to do our part to slow its spread by practicing social distancing, I invite you to join me each week to take a moment to cultivate a ‘habit of grace.’ A new meditation will be posted on Mondays through May. These meditations can be watched at any time by clicking here.

April 13, 2020:  All Belong in this Family of God

It looks like the storm has passed over and the sun has come out, at least for a little bit. It is the day after, if you will. Monday in Easter week, Jesus has been raised from the dead. The miracle has happened. Hallelujah, Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. When I served as a priest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina back in the 1970s, I learned about a custom that was old and venerable, that was part of the tradition of the Moravian community, of which there was a large settlement there in Winston-Salem. In old Salem, near the Salem church, near God’s Acre, the Moravian cemetery there, early on the morning, before the sun rises, the Moravian community and other friends and well-wishers gather on Easter Sunday morning before the sun comes up. And there is the Easter sunrise service.

It begins with these words, “The Lord is risen. All hail, all hail, victorious Lord and Savior, thou hast burst the bonds of death,” and the music begins and the congregation processes from the church to the cemetery, to God’s Acre. And when you see the Moravian cemetery, there are no mausoleums. There’s no differentiation. They’re dignified headstones, like in a military cemetery. Everyone has the same headstone with their name and information on it, but there is no differentiation, for the cemetery itself is a reminder of our equality before all mighty God who created us all.

Not many hours before Jesus sacrificed his life, and just a few days before he was raised from the dead, he said this to his gathered disciples, “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be driven out, and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself”. God came among us in the person of Jesus to reconcile us with God and to reconcile us with each other. To help us and to show us the way to become the human family of God and to show us that, that is God’s mission. That is God’s dream and that is God’s intention, and Easter is a reminder that together with our help and support, God’s will, will be done.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu some years ago said this about that quote:

“God sent us here to help God realize God’s dream of a new world and society, gentle, caring, compassionate, sharing.” ‘When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself’, God says. “Please help me to draw all.”

For there are no outsiders or aliens. All are insiders, all belong, black and white. Rich and poor. Young and old, male and female, educated, uneducated, gay, lesbian, straight, all belong in this family of God. This human family, the rainbow people of God, and God has no-one but you, and you, and you and me to help God realize God’s dream.”*

Hallelujah. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Amen.

*Quoted in “The prodigal God”, in God at 2000, edited by Marcus Borg and Ross Mackenzie, Morehouse Publishing (2002). Used with permission.

Dear all,

We have put together our own St. Edward’s online Easter service. Much of it, including the music, prayers and preaching, has been recorded in the St. Edward’s sanctuary one piece at a time in order to be safe and practice social distancing. Other parts, such as the scripture readings, have been recorded by the lectors from home.  Watch Here (click “box” icon in lower right to make full screen):

Or, just right click our Easter service link below and it will start to play via YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WoTZcUnxuA

Click link below to access our Easter bulletin:

https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/041220_EasterSunday.pdf

A special surprise bonus is that Fr. Rick Bauer, our soon-to-be-Rector, will be joining us for prayer and to introduce himself briefly.

And if you want to double (or triple) your Easter celebrations, there is of course a diocesan online Easter Day service at https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-2020-easter-sunday/.

It will be Morning Prayer from St. Stephen’s Cathedral and will feature well-known hymns, an Easter message from our Bishop Audrey, and a special prayer of Spiritual Communion.

David +

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VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR AT ST. EDWARD’S

Don’t forget to join Christina and Joe McLaughlin, hosting a weekly “Virtual Coffee Hour.”  This is all new to us, so take a chance, set up zoom and see how it all goes!  It will be fun to connect and whether you want to stay on for 5 minutes or the full session, grab your cup of coffee or tea, pull up a chair, and say hello to your fellow parishioners.

Here is a link of step-by-step instructions to set up zoom, that Christina put together.

https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/St-Eds-Coffee-Hour-Invite-and-How-To.pdf

And, if you have any questions, Christina has offered to please give her a call and she can help!  Her number is 717-415-7043. *Zoom join code and passcode were in the Daily Message

DATE:  EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH

TIME:  10 – 10:40 am

PLACE:  Wherever you are comfortable with your computer in your home environment!

WHAT TO BRING:  Your coffee, and a favorite recipe to share!

Dear parishioners,

After our long and intense preparation of Holy Week we finally arrive at the great climax of Easter itself. Some of you may know that in the earliest recorded celebrations in Jerusalem, the Resurrection celebration was actually an occasion that began on Saturday evening and ran continuously through the night until Sunday morning. Because the Jerusalem Christians had many sites and churches built around locations traditionally associated with the last days of Jesus, a significant part of the night was spent walking from place to place, interspersed with periods of worship at the holy sites.

This gave rise to the tradition of the Great Vigil of Easter, which echoes the original Jerusalem celebrations. The vigil is the first celebration of the Resurrection and also the original occasion for Baptism. But for many centuries the Great Vigil was lost among Protestant Christians and has only recently been recovered. In the meantime, the celebration on Easter morning has become the norm in many places including the United States.

So we have two equally good options for Easter. One is the one that most of us take, and that is Easter morning. We have put together our own St. Edward’s online Easter service. Much of it, including the music, prayers and preaching, has been recorded in the St. Edward’s sanctuary one piece at a time in order to be safe and practice social distancing. Other parts, such as the scripture readings, have been recorded by the lectors from home. Our Easter service will be available at 6:00 AM on Easter Sunday morning (prior to that time, if you click the link below, it will read “private”) available on YouTube :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WoTZcUnxuA

Click link below to access our Easter bulletin:

https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/041220_EasterSunday.pdf

A special surprise bonus is that Fr. Rick Bauer, our soon-to-be-Rector, will be joining us for prayer and to introduce himself briefly.

But for those who would still like to experience a version of the Great Vigil of Easter, the diocese has asked St. James Church in Lancaster to produce an online Vigil service of the Word. It will be livestreamed at 7:00 pm on Saturday evening and includes the Lighting of the New Fire and Paschal Candle, singing of the Exsultet, selected vigil lessons and hymns and reflection, intercessions, blessings and dismissal. The link is here: https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-2020-holy-saturday-vigil/

And if you want to double (or triple) your Easter celebrations, there is of course a diocesan online Easter Day service at https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-2020-easter-sunday/.

It will be Morning Prayer from St. Stephen’s Cathedral and will feature well-known hymns, an Easter message from our Bishop Audrey, and a special prayer of Spiritual Communion.

David +

—

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR AT ST. EDWARD’S

Don’t forget to join Christina and Joe McLaughlin, hosting a weekly “Virtual Coffee Hour.”  This is all new to us, so take a chance, set up zoom and see how it all goes!  It will be fun to connect and whether you want to stay on for 5 minutes or the full session, grab your cup of coffee or tea, pull up a chair, and say hello to your fellow parishioners.

Here is a link of step-by-step instructions to set up zoom, that Christina put together.

https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/St-Eds-Coffee-Hour-Invite-and-How-To.pdf

And, if you have any questions, Christina has offered to please give her a call and she can help!  Her number is 717-415-7043. **Zoom Join code and passcode were in daily message email

DATE:  EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH

TIME:  10 – 10:40 am

PLACE:  Wherever you are comfortable with your computer in your home environment!

WHAT TO BRING:  Your coffee, and a favorite recipe to share!

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LENTEN MEDITATION – HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2020

Almighty God, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up.

• The Book of Common Prayer

_______________________________________

The scene was familiar. I had been traveling to Ghana regularly to support the Anglican Diocesan Development & Relief Organization as they implemented maternal and child health programs. When I attended community gatherings, I often noticed that when children became fussy or disruptive, parents might impatiently shush them, whisper sternly to behave or wave them away to restore calm. After all, the adults were talking. We’ve all been there, right?

This time was different. I had come to see the progress of the newly implemented Moments That Matter early childhood development and parenting empowerment program. In addition to sharing health messages, we also promote parenting practices focusing on attentive and nurturing care. Within a few months of introducing the program, parents began making eye contact with their crying children, comforting and soothing them. Rather than shooing away gregarious toddlers, parents instead played with them. The attention was on the children, and the children responded positively. This shift in dynamic was notable, powerful and quick.

I am elated and humbled by the power and potential of our work with parents and children. It gives me real hope that we can all follow the example of Jesus to create a loving, nurturing world for all of God’s children.

• Melissa Crutchfield is Director of Community Impact for Episcopal Relief & Development

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THE WEEK AHEAD

Stay tuned on Monday for “new” news about happenings for this next week. 

St. Edward’s WILL be holding our ANNUAL MEETING, virtually, via zoom, on Saturday, April 18^th at 10:00 AM.  The Annual Report will be posted on the website prior to the meeting and we will give further instructions next week.

We will also be posting a Sunday service, late next week, with Father David as celebrant, as this will be his final service as our Interim Rector.

We are also in need of one more delegate for convention.  As noted in prior notices:

The Rector and Senior Warden are looking for interested parishioners to serve as our delegates to convention. The Diocesan Convention is one day, October 17, 2020, and is a wonderful opportunity to represent us and to be involved in the very important work and decisions that shape our diocese.  As per the by-laws, we are seeking confirmed or received Episcopalians who are over 18 years of age and who attend regularly, financially support the Church and who have been a member of St. Edward’s Church for at least 12 months.  It would be wonderful if parishioners who have not served as delegates in prior years would seek this as an opportunity to serve our parish community. We need you! Please prayerfully consider submitting your name by Monday, April 13th to the parish office.

—

And to end this email on a wonderful ministry note:  St. Edward’s will be sending a check, this week, to the Hempfield Area Food Pantry, in the amount of $1,700 to assist them in purchasing food from their sources to keep their food bank well-stocked for all of the families in need, especially during these trying times.  Through the generous donations of parishioners, and through the prayerful consideration of the St. Edward’s Social Outreach Ministry to contribute $1,000 from their funds, we are living into our community outreach mission:

The guiding principle of St. Edward’s community outreach activities is found in Matthew 25:37-40. ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Please note:  We will continue to accept monetary donations to the Food Pantry, as their need to serve many (and many more) in these extraordinary times will continue for a very long time. They cannot accept food donations at this time and monetary donations allow them to buy much more food, which is so important in these times.

They are open Monday’s & Wednesday’s 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You will need to bring ID to document Hempfield residence and will be able to get food same day.  If you are not a Hempfield resident, but attend St. Edward’s, you are eligible to receive food.  Entrance is around the rear of building.

85 Brandt Blvd, Landisville

717-898-2954

Dear parishioners,

Now we come to it. We are arriving at the climax of Holy Week, known as the Triduum (pronounced TRID-yoo-um) or “Great Three Days”. The Triduum consists of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. These services commemorate what happens to Jesus right before, during and after his death and lie at the heart of all Christian belief. Marking these moments as we do allows us to appreciate and enter into their meaning in a way that nothing else can match. The Great Three Days together are the most important occasions in the Christian calendar.

We begin with Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday. It marks the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum” which refers to the commandment Jesus gives to his disciples that night. The Last Supper has always been honored by Christians not only as the final occasion that Jesus spends with his disciples, but also on account of the washing of the disciples’ feet and of course the meal which becomes the very first Eucharist. In most churches the Maundy Thursday service ends in silence as the altar area is stripped of its furnishings and decorations. The stark and bare church is now in readiness for the Passion. In many churches, there is a prayer vigil beginning at the end of the Maundy Thursday service and running all night until the start Good Friday.

Our online diocesan service for Maundy Thursday will be unique:

https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-2020-maundy-thursday/

Bishop Audrey is inviting us virtually into her home as she prepares an Agapé meal. This has been recorded so you can begin any time on Thursday evening. There will be prayers and scripture and the evening will end with her praying of Psalm 22, the traditional conclusion of Maundy Thursday. Afterwards, people are invited to participate in a live vigil on Facebook which will run from 8:00 pm until 8:00 am the following morning. (This will be a “drop in, drop out” vigil; no one is expected to stay the entire time.)

The Bishop suggests that in order to participate most fully in the program, those of us at home prepare a light meal — such as bread, soup, cheese, olives, dried fruit, and wine or juice — to enjoy during the Agapé portion of the evening.

David +

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The diocesan online service of Tenebrae, for this evening, can be found here:

https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-2020-wednesday-april-8/

It takes place live, at 7:00 pm, and comes from St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Harrisburg. On the linked page you can choose to view it on either Facebook or YouTube. All the words will be displayed on the screen so you can easily follow the service as you watch and listen.

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BIBLE STUDY UPDATE FOR TODAY

Some of the people who attend the Wednesday evening Bible Study would like to be free to attend the Tenebrae service this evening.  Due to the conflict in timing, we are going to cancel this evening’s Bible Study so that everyone can attend the Tenebrae.

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LENTEN MEDITATION – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2020

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

• The Book of Common Prayer

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When my daughter Nia was fourteen, she got home three hours before anyone else. One evening, she revealed, “I don’t like being home by myself after school.” I was stunned! When I was her age, I loved being home by myself. Ultimately, I quit my full-time job, and we changed our lifestyle so that none of the girls spent long afternoons alone.

This prayer names the struggles we watch our young people walk through. In a world where the ground can be shaky, our youth need prayer and honest conversations about a life of faith. Pray this prayer for the young people known to you and those unknown. Do you notice a difference in them? Do you see a difference in yourself?

• Miriam Willard McKenney is the Development Director for Forward Movement. She finds extreme joy parenting her three girls with her husband, David.

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Holy Week Resources:  Here is a link to some wonderful free resources provided by Church Publishing:  https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Holy-Week-Activities-for-Families_FINAL.pdf

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We are seeking 3 more delegates.

The Rector and Senior Warden are looking for interested parishioners to serve as our delegates to convention. The Diocesan Convention is one day, October 17, 2020, and is a wonderful opportunity to represent us and to be involved in the very important work and decisions that shape our diocese.  As per the by-laws, we are seeking confirmed or received Episcopalians who are over 18 years of age and who attend regularly, financially support the Church and who have been a member of St. Edward’s Church for at least 12 months.  It would be wonderful if parishioners who have not served as delegates in prior years would seek this as an opportunity to serve our parish community. We need you! Please prayerfully consider submitting your name(s) by Monday, April 13th to the parish office.

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The following music video is submitted by parishioner, choir member, and cultural events ministry member, Libby Sternberg for Maundy Thursday.  Enjoy!

HOLY THURSDAY

Ubi caritas by Maurice Durufle

Where love is, there is God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-LQve92U1o&list=RDl1BTWCpEFRQ&index=2