Category: News

Dear parishioners,

We are fortunate to have Father Rick live so close by as he was kind enough, at the request of Father David, to stop by today and bless the palms for Palm Sunday.  They are now in individual sleeves on a table under the front portico along with printed instructions on how to make a palm cross.  Thank you to Father David and Father Rick for bringing this very important symbol of the season to our St. Edward’s parish in these “new times” where we cannot share the Liturgy of the Palms, together, in person.

Also, the April Scepter is posted on our web site.  It’s a great issue! Click here to go to the Scepter page.

Michelle

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LENTEN MEDITATION – SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

It may sound strange to speak of the relationship between parents and children in terms of hospitality. But it belongs to the center of the Christian message that children are not properties to own and rule, but gifts to cherish and care for. Our children are our most important guests, who enter into our home, ask for careful attention, stay for a while and then leave to follow their own way.

• Henri Nouwen

Reaching Out

________________________________________

Henri Nouwen’s words about hospitality to children have impacted my understanding of the role of being an adult in relation to children. Children are not possessions— they are persons. They come to us as children for only a short while on their way to becoming adults who will then “leave to follow their own way.”

In the fifty-third chapter of the Rule of Saint Benedict, we are told that “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.” We are to seek and serve Christ in all persons, especially the guests who stay with us for a while on their journey. Nouwen reminds us that this hospitality should extend too to the children who present themselves to our families, churches and communities—each one an important guest, with us for a short while before leaving on their own way.

• Jamie Osborne serves as a priest at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where he lives with his wife, Lauren, and their two elementary-age children.

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3 April 2020

Dear Members of the Episcopal Church in Central PA,

Bishop Scanlan shares her weekly message to our diocese and a video introducing new Diocesan Holy Week Resources. The resources can be found online at https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-2020/

Are you interested in hearing about Shaped by Faith updates? The Rev. Canon Christopher Streeter, Canon for Mission Development and Innovation has an update for you! For more information regarding Shaped by Faith, visit https://diocesecpa.org/shapedbyfaith/

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the Way of Love,

The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan

XI Bishop

—

Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Pray for the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer

All Saints, Williamsport

Christ Church, Milton

We pray for Christians, Muslims, and Jews and all people of faith throughout the world who are suffering persecution for their beliefs.

Parish Cycle of Prayer: Tom and Wendy Hallowell and Family; Peggy Hanzelman; Bev Hess; Jerry and Julie Hoff

Pray for the recently departed:  Kate Peterson

Praying for those we love and who are important in our lives is an essential component of our worship, but many of the names listed and read out in the Prayers of the People are known only to those who have requested them, and the list grows each week.  So, when we come to the Prayers of the people in the service, the names for those “You are asked to pray for” and those “for our military personnel” will not be read aloud; rather we invite you to lift those names up to God in Christ silently in your heart as we pray the Prayers of the People, adding any others you wish to pray for.

You are asked to pray for:  The St. Edward’s Vestry, The Rev. David Bateman, The Rev. Rick Bauer and family; The residents of The Episcopal Home, Joe Holwager, Rose Dixon, Arch Cross, Mary Walker, Liz Yeager, Patricia Stout, Marge Sieghardt, Harry West, Sandy Patrone, Mimi Stauffer, Robert Hubbard, Kate Peterson, Donna J. Mott, Charlotte Jakiel, Stephanie Patrone, Nicholas Patrone, Dakota Patrone, DJ Dixon, Robert, The Rev. Jay Croft, Robert Carter, Dorothy Diehl, Barbara Bradfield, Fran Davis, Cody Campbell, Heather, Cheryl Shearer, Myra Taylor, Sally Mears, Barry Leed, Father Sud, Dr. Randy Cohen and Family, Aaron Rowe, Sr., Dorothy Rowe, Dr. Karl and Carolyn Moyer, James Pentland Moore, Joseph Holena, Rick Welk, Max Lown, Aiden Guillory

You are asked to pray for our military personnel who are being deployed or serving in the military:  Rev. David J. Sparks, Evan Westgate, Adam and Christina Grim, David Peck, David Sternberg, John Lewis, Gordon Frankenfield, Allison Tomich, Mike Spurr, Seamas Whitesel, Capt. Andrew Pfeiffer, 1st Lt. Thomas Whitesel, Brandon Fox, Alex Kube, Richard Mutari, Dustin Burleson, Anthony Koser, Jack Hawk, Christina Dragon, Justin Carnahan, Clayton Tennies, Benjamin Jenkins, Andy Lopez

Dear People of God at St. Edward’s,

We begin Holy Week as always with Palm Sunday. Since we must all stay at home, our diocese has put together a wonderful online service for Palm Sunday. Here is the link:

https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-palm-sunday-2020/

It consists of three separate videos. The first video has the Liturgy of the Palms culminating in the Hymn “All glory, laud and honor”. The second video is an informal procession through the neighborhood of the pro-cathedral in Williamsport. It is not strictly part of the liturgy but is worth your time. The final video is the dramatic reading of the Passion from the Gospel according to Matthew. The online service ends with the Passion reading, so I am enclosing my sermon for Palm Sunday.

You will get the most out of it if you watch the online service first.

If you don’t live far from St. Edward’s and feel safe making a brief excursion to the church driveway (perhaps while running a necessary errand), we will have a container of blessed palms available for the taking. They will be in individual plastic sleeves on a table under the portico by our front doors after 4 PM.  If you arrive and someone is at the table to pick their palms up, please wait in your car until they leave so we practice proper social distancing.

We are also planning a Palm Sunday morning online “Coffee Hour” via Zoom. Those details were provided in your Thursday Daily Message and are on the post of the same title on our web site.

The diocese is providing online services and home resources for the rest of Holy Week as well, continuing up through the Great Vigil of Easter on Easter Eve and then on to Easter Day itself.

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

We’ll be encouraging and reminding you of each of the online Holy Week services as they come up.

But we also know how many of you would like to experience an Easter service that is from St. Edward’s directly. So we are making plans to record a video of our own simple Easter service from the church building which will be available online for everyone.

Please stay safe, stay home, say your prayers and reach out to someone.

David +

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PALM SUNDAY:  APRIL 5, 2020 READINGS

at The Liturgy of the Palms

The Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11

When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

“Tell the daughter of Zion,

Look, your king is coming to you,

humble, and mounted on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

 

The Response: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Confitemini Domino

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *

his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let Israel now proclaim, *

“His mercy endures for ever.”

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *

I will enter them;

I will offer thanks to the LORD.

20 “This is the gate of the LORD; *

he who is righteous may enter.”

21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *

and have become my salvation.

22 The same stone which the builders rejected *

has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is the LORD’s doing, *

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 On this day the LORD has acted; *

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Hosannah, LORD, hosannah! *

LORD, send us now success.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *

we bless you from the house of the LORD.

27 God is the LORD; he has shined upon us; *

form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.

28 “You are my God, and I will thank you; *

you are my God, and I will exalt you.”

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *

his mercy endures for ever.

 

at The Liturgy of the Word

The Collect

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Old Testament: Isaiah 50:4-9a

The Lord GOD has given me

the tongue of a teacher,

that I may know how to sustain

the weary with a word.

Morning by morning he wakens–

wakens my ear

to listen as those who are taught.

The Lord GOD has opened my ear,

and I was not rebellious,

I did not turn backward.

I gave my back to those who struck me,

and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;

I did not hide my face

from insult and spitting.

The Lord GOD helps me;

therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like flint,

and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

he who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me?

Let us stand up together.

Who are my adversaries?

Let them confront me.

It is the Lord GOD who helps me;

who will declare me guilty?

 

The Response: Psalm 31:9-16

In te, Domine, speravi

9 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; *

my eye is consumed with sorrow,

and also my throat and my belly.

10 For my life is wasted with grief,

and my years with sighing; *

my strength fails me because of affliction,

and my bones are consumed.

11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,

a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *

when they see me in the street they avoid me.

12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *

I am as useless as a broken pot.

13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;

fear is all around; *

they put their heads together against me;

they plot to take my life.

14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *

I have said, “You are my God.

15 My times are in your hand; *

rescue me from the hand of my enemies,

and from those who persecute me.

16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *

and in your loving-kindness save me.”

 

The Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death–

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

 

The Gospel: Matthew 26:14- 27:66

One of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,

‘I will strike the shepherd,

the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the

elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you,

From now on you will see the Son of Man

seated at the right hand of Power

and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?”

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone. 

Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

From The Lectionary Page: http://lectionarypage.net

—

SERMON:  The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday — April 5, 2020

The Rev. David Bateman, St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA

Before you read this sermon, I invite you to watch the online Palm Sunday service produced by our diocese. It includes a traditional blessing of the palms, a “procession” into the local neighborhood, and a reading of the Passion Gospel.

Here is the link: https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-palm-sunday-2020/

If you don’t watch the video service, I invite you pause and recall a previous Palm Sunday experience from your memory.

Do you feel any differently now than you felt earlier?  I know that I do.  A little while ago was the holding of branches and proclaiming Jesus as a victorious king.  The mood was special; it was triumphant; it was even fun.  But the fun is gone now.  The palm branches are still there, but we’re not waving them.  Triumph has turned into gloom.  Everything has shifted.

Out of all the different occasions of worship through the year, this is the only one that has such a dramatic reversal part-way through it.  It’s even reflected in today’s name.  I wonder how many of you know the primary formal name without looking at the bulletin or prayer book.  It’s not what you would automatically think.  Today is Palm Sunday, all right, but that is the secondary name of the occasion we are marking.  The first and primary title for today is The Sunday of the Passion.  And the fact that this day has two names highlights the double theme of the occasion.

We are most used to the name that talks about the part at the very beginning, the part that has the palms in it.  If we were hearing this story for the first time, or if we were among the group of Jesus’ original followers, then his triumphal entry into Jerusalem would seem like the ultimate achievement, the perfect culmination of a difficult but fascinating career.  Jesus, who has gotten such a mixed reception wherever he has gone, is finally getting the recognition he deserves.  He gets it not only from the disciples and from the crowds; he gets it from us, too.  By hearing the story and by brandishing branches, we have put ourselves into the scene.  We are part of that great crowd of shouting worshipers, and it’s a good thing that we are.  It’s a wonderful moment that we don’t want to miss; it’s Palm Sunday.

The palm part doesn’t last, though.  The party turns into a nightmare as things go from sad to bad to hideous.  Those who have been plotting Jesus’ undoing finally have their way.  His one instant of glory has hardly passed before the downhill slide begins.  And so as we hear the long tale in all its miserable and tragic fullness, it is as though there never were any palms, as though there never were any shouts of praise or adoring crowds.  Palm Sunday is over almost as soon as it starts; today is the Sunday of the Passion.

In this context, the word “passion” means “suffering”.  And though Episcopalians hate excesses of emotion in our worship, we nevertheless are not afraid to embrace this drama by telling it fully and in the form of speaking parts for the characters.  Jesus’ passion now speaks to us in all its detail and power.  As it does so, it reminds us of something we tend to forget during the rest of the year.  It reminds us of how human he really is, how he has to struggle and how hard his trials are to bear.  Matthew shows us a Jesus who says at the beginning “let this cup pass me by” and at the bitter end who desperately calls “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  We see not a superhuman stoic or a play-actor quoting scripture, but a miserably alone person who is in psychic, spiritual, and physical agony.

That isn’t even the worst of it.  As we know from other kinds of stories, heroes sometimes must suffer before the tide turns in their favor.  But Jesus becomes the victim of the forces of darkness.  There is no last-minute rescue while we are holding our breath, no voice of fairness that prevents a catastrophe.  The bad guys get what they want.  Jesus must endure the ultimate tragedy of dying and death, while his followers must endure the tragedy of losing him.  There is no easy way out; in fact, there is no way out at all.

As I write this, the world is gripped by a virus pandemic. More than 50,000 people have died with tens of thousands more deaths expected in the coming weeks. Millions are losing their livelihoods and the world economy is threatened. We may be entering the worst period of global and collective human suffering in living memory.

Now more than ever, to be human is to know what it is like to be hurt and grieving; Jesus has not only seen that but felt it, too.  We have had and continue to have our times of loneliness and alienation from others and from God; Jesus has, too.  And that changes everything.  Because a God who is always above us and separate and perfect can know everything by observation, and can save us by reaching from the outside in.  But imagine a God who knows our needs through direct experience, a God who has taken into himself the very essence of what it means to be human.  A God like that knows us in every way, and can save us not as an outsider but as an insider.

The experience of Jesus on the cross has been taken up into the center of God’s being; it is a part of God.  That fact is more meaningful than all the history books ever written and more powerful than all the bombs ever created.  It changes what it means to be a human being; it alters the whole world.  We watch this day and this week while the earth is shaken to its very foundations, while human existence balances upon a razor’s edge of change.  And we let the story stop for a while, stop with a limp and broken Jesus.  Even though we know the rest of the story and what comes after this, we don’t jump ahead to that part yet; we just pause on the edge and let this part of God’s reality stand on its own and speak to us on its own terms.  The time of palms is over.  The time of passion is now.  Amen.

—

From the Praise Band:

I will be missing my favorite hymn, “All Glory Laud and Honor,” on Palm Sunday this year.  I spent some time looking online today at various versions to listen to.  This is one of those hymns that is best heard sung by choir, accompanied by organ, with a joyful congregation joining in.  I love it.  Here’s a nice version that shows some of that, and I like the video showing the children processing with Palms:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=All+Glory+Laud+and+Honor+Contemporary&ru=%2fvideos%2fsearch%3fq%3dAll%2bGlory%2bLaud%2band%2bHonor%2bContemporary%26Form%3dVDRSCL%26%3d0&view=detail&mid=6EA4DD2D00207F052C836EA4DD2D00207F052C83&&FORM=VDRVRV

It will be all the more sweet to sing it with all of you, my church family, next year.

Blessings,

Randy Westgate

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THE APRIL SCEPTER WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEB SITE BY SUNDAY, APRIL 5^TH!  PLEASE TAKE A LOOK. . LOTS OF NEWS, THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, AND GREAT ARTICLES!

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LENTEN MEDITATION – FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020

This is my story, this is my song, praising my savior, all the day long.

– ”Blessed Assurance”

Lift Every Voice and Sing II

________________________________________

I am a worrier by nature. I spend so much energy thinking of what could be or what may be that I often forget to just be. My children have the wonderful gift of not worrying too much about what’s next because they are caught up in what is now. The gift that children give us by living in the now is holy and transformative.

There are days when my children spend hours catching frogs and losing their shoes in mud pits. There are days when they forget food is even a part of life because they are experiencing such joy. This past summer a short hike turned into five hours at a swimming hole in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These moments of love and curiosity are worship. They are the ways my children find God. They are the experiences that make their story and mold them. I am often afraid that my story, my song, is one of fear and worry, but my children are teaching me that I could be writing a story and singing a song of joyful praise, experiencing God’s kingdom in all its glory.

• Emily Rutledge is the Children, Youth and Family Minister at Church of Our Saviour in Charlottesville, Virginia, and a mother of two

 

Dear parishioners,

Today’s message provides you with some new activities for this weekend, starting with Stations of the Cross, tomorrow.  This is all new to many of us, being in community virtually, and can be challenging to “meet” with technology, but give it a try, if you can!  Know that there are people we can connect you with to help, as well.  If we keep the faith and keep our parish community bonds, virtually, imagine how strong we will be when we meet, in person, again!  Please remember to give someone a call, text, or email today – friends, family, fellow parishioners.  We need each other.

Michelle

—

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR AT ST. EDWARD’S

Starting THIS SUNDAY, we are so fortunate to have Christina McLaughlin hosting a weekly “Virtual Coffee Hour” on Sunday’s from 10-10:45 AM.  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.

 

Each Thursday, we will include this message with the “join” code as we want to keep that within the parish.  This join code will not be posted on the public website of Facebook.

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PALM SUNDAY ACTIVITY

This is a wonderful activity that Dina Ishler forwarded to us to participate in.  Send your photos to parish office and we will post!

This is a lovely and easy idea to honor Palm Sunday from our homes- we could even take pictures of our own doors and share them in the Scepter, on Facebook, etc. Several of us have been sharing it on Facebook and thinking it’s such a neat idea.

https://thedeaconsbench.com/a-beautiful-idea-for-palm-sunday/

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Stations of the Cross, Friday, April 3rd

There will be a Live stream on the Way of the Cross (Stations of the Cross), Friday, April 3 at 6:30 pm . Please join us on Dina Ishler’s Facebook page or via Zoom as we take the journey of Jesus to the cross.  All are so very welcome to join in and when we can’t be together physically we can use this gift of technology to pray with and for each other.  For those who are not connected with Facebook and will use Zoom, use the following link:

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6463715689

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LENTEN MEDITATION – THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

–              Isaiah 1:17

________________________________________

The first four words of this verse are simple: “Learn to do good.” I have found that this is a lot easier to say than it is to carry out.

In my life, I frequently find myself reading an article about a terrible injustice and then desiring to do good. When I went to seminary, I spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to do good. Because of my work, I’m oftentimes writing reflections on the importance of doing good. I’ve heard many sermons about doing good, have sung hymns about doing good and have been dismissed with a resounding call to “do good.” I’ve voted for people who I think will do good and, like many, I’ve posted a lot on social media about what I think it means to “do good.”

Nevertheless, as nice as all these things are, they are not enough. God insists that at some point we actually have to walk the talk and go do it. To my mind, the rest of this verse specifies what that means: to seek justice where there is none to be found, to rescue people who have no chance, to defend the welfare of children who have no one and to plead the case for marginalized women in society. Reflecting honestly, have you done any of these things lately?

–              Miguel Escobar is the Director of Anglican Studies at Episcopal Divinity School at Union.

 

 

Dear parishioners,

Well, we made it through “Hump Day” and April 1st.  There was no “foolery” at St. Edward’s today, just getting things aligned for new and exciting activities to come in many ways over the ensuing weeks, so. . . stay tuned!  Something for everyone.

We’ve included a couple links to some items that you will enjoy, and tomorrow, we will add some great offerings/activities from Dina Ishler and Christina McLaughlin.  We look forward to messages from Father David on Friday, for the Palm Sunday service offerings.

We try to place just a few things in each daily message so as not to overwhelm everyone and give you something fresh and new for the next day.  Take care.  Be Safe. Stay Well. Keep all peoples, including your fellow St. Edwardian’s, in your prayers.  We are in this together.

Michelle

—

A personal message from Richard & Gail Irons, members of the stewardship committee, and long-time St. Edwardians:

Our and prayers always for EACH of you. 

We are grateful each day & night for Father David’s poignant messages & Michelle’s upbeat daily reflections. 

Our early years of retirement are always full with opportunities to share days with our four young grandsons.  This has changed for many of us.  Even our companion, Bella, our Berner, looks at us each day as if to say “Don’t you both have to be somewhere today?”  And so it goes. 

Now our days continue with our early morn prayers & gratitude moments, jump starting flower beds, reading multiple books & VERY long walks witness to God’s early spring beauty.   One of those walks took us to Gretna to walk, socially distanced with our daughter & three-year old grandson.  And a final grace note from our son & his wife, asking us to FaceTime with them our dinner song…. Johnny Appleseed prayer with our grandsons.  What JOY that moment has brought.       

                         JOSHUA 1:9

Blessings,

The Irons

 

—

Here is a link to a booklet of wonderful Holy Week resources for the ENTIRE FAMILY from Church Publishing.  Please download it and share as we journey into Holy Week.

https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Holy-Week-Activities-for-Families_FINAL.pdf

—

From the Praise Band:  “Goodness of God” 

We have sung this song at the last couple contemporary services, and it has been well received.  It is good reminder to us that even in the midst of trials, our God is standing alongside us.  Here’s a quote from Bethel Church, whose worship leaders wrote it, about this song and its message:  “Jesus told us we would face trouble, but He promised to walk with us through the fire and carry us. In the middle of a storm, we can have joy and peace as we anchor ourselves in the unchanging goodness of God.”

Take a listen to this version that I like from singer Josh Baldwin:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=josh+baldwin+goodness+of+god&docid=607995514204720388&mid=E66AFB12AA90F022435EE66AFB12AA90F022435E&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

(If you can’t cut and paste the link, search on your browser:  Josh Baldwin Goodness of God.)

Blessings, church family,

Randy Westgate

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LENTEN MEDITATION – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

Taste and see, taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Oh, taste and see, taste and see the goodness of the Lord, of the Lord.

–              ”Taste and See”

________________________________________

I remember singing “Taste and See” during communion on many a Sunday growing up. I didn’t know the song used Psalm 34 for its lyrics, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that this song gave me a language to use when people asked me about my church or my faith. Kids who knew my dad was a priest would ask what was so great about going to church. I didn’t know how to put it into my own words. “Taste and see,” I told them. “Come, taste and see.”

The truth is, evangelizing is hard for some of us. One Sunday in youth group, I asked the teenagers gathered how they shared the good news about Jesus. One said that she prays with a group of dancers before a performance. Another said that he attends a Catholic school where many kids are religious. A couple of kids wear outward signs of faith: One wears a crucifix, another loves church camp gear. As a self-professed group of introverts, they are finding their own ways to show their love for Jesus in this secular world. They remind me to continue inviting others to taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear parishioners,

Now that Holy Week and Easter are getting close, I want to let everyone know where we stand in terms of worship.

1) It turns out that it is not safe or feasible for us to have any kind of a “parking lot” service. Even St. Thomas, which has a much larger parking lot and initially planned such a service, has had to cancel its plans. Likewise, the Bishop has banned so-called “drive through” Eucharists as unsafe.

2) The diocese has been working very hard to produce online services for all of us to share during Holy Week and Easter. St. Edward’s will use those services for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

3) Our Easter plans are not yet decided, other than that Easter must be online. The diocesan service is available to us, but we also know you would like to have something coming from St. Edward’s itself. Perhaps we can do a blend of the two. Even recording singing at this point is very difficult because singers would have to stand at least six feet apart and no more than ten people should be in one place at one time! As soon as we finalize our Easter plans we will let you know.

4) In the weeks after Easter, St. Edward’s will be working to generate some sort of home-grown online services. Father Rick will be on board by then, and he has quite a bit of technical experience in sound, recording and editing. We will have to be patient as the technical capabilities of St. Edward’s are less than that of larger churches and we will have a lot of trial and error. But we have already arranged to beef up our internet service at the church in anticipation of making these broadcasts.

5) If the circumstances of the pandemic ease enough to permit us to gather in church by May 31st, the Bishop is contemplating that we may be able to have some sort of combined Easter/Pentecost event on Pentecost.

David +

—

A personal message from fellow parishioner and vestry member, Ellen Milligan, to our St. Edward’s Community:

Some time ago Amy Swiernik gave me a bag full of embroidery floss. The floss had belonged to her mother. Amy knew that I cross stitch and thought I might be able to use it. I confess that I stuck the bag in a drawer and forgot about it. Fast forward to the Covid-19 crisis.  With so much time to fill, I decided to work on an Easter cross stitch. I found a pattern online and then realized that I had no way to purchase floss.  Then I remembered Amy’s gift.  Now I am happily stitching and the kids are making friendship bracelets.  Seeing all of the various, beautiful colors of floss makes me smile.  Even though I never knew Amy’s mother I can tell from all the bright, cheerful colors that she enjoyed creating pieces. So, you just never know how a kind gesture may come around to help. 

Ellen Milligan

—

From the Praise Band:

Hymn number 679 is based on the text of Isaiah 12, and the words of praise have resonated with me and become a source of encouragement during these challenging times.  I love the musical setting as well.  It is a fairly recent composition called Thomas Merton by Ray Urwin, who wrote it while music director of an Episcopal Church in Wilmington, DE, and is now serving a church in Southern California.  I enjoyed it when Patrick choose it for some of our 10:15 services, and I intended to use it in our contemporary services this spring, which now have been cancelled.  I found a version on Facebook, so take a listen.  The singer is a bit unpolished, but very enthusiastic:

https://www.facebook.com/randy.westgate.9/videos/10212979741766640/

Blessings today,

Randy Westgate

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St. Edward’s Bible Study Update:

This past Wednesday evening we were able to hold our Bible Study over Zoom, and after a few bumps we were able to get it working satisfactorily.  With that success, we would like to ensure that anyone who might be thinking about joining the group has the opportunity to do so.  Would you please add this information to your daily publication to the church members, letting people know that if they would like to join us, we will continue to meet each Wednesday evening at 6:30.  They will need to contact Bill ([email protected]) or Yvonne ([email protected]) and we will send instructions to join us on Zoom.  Each week we will send the I.D. number for that week’s session to those who indicate their interest in joining the meeting.

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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Word to the Church: On Our Theology of Worship:  A word to the Church regarding the theology of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic from the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church

March 31, 2020

John Donne, Priest, 1631

Dear Friends in Christ Jesus,

We find ourselves in the strange position of fasting from physical gathering for worship of almighty God, not out of sloth or disobedience, but in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, for whom the primacy of love for God and neighbor is the way of life. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, refraining from physically gathering together to hear God’s holy word and receiving the sacrament of holy communion is itself an act of love for God and our neighbor.

As one of our spiritual ancestors once cried, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” (Psalm 137).  How shall we sing the Lord’s song in this alien and strange land of COVID-19? How shall we conduct the public worship of Almighty God? How shall we provide pastoral ministrations to people who are sick, dying, and any in need? How shall we baptize? Ordain? How? I thank God for the bishops, priests, deacons, and the whole people of God who have been faithfully seeking ways to sing the Lord’s song in ways that truly worship God and simultaneously help to heal and protect human life.

It is my conviction that the Anglican way of following Jesus has deep within it a way and habit of worship and liturgy that is of significant help to us in this moment. It may well be that the breadth and depth of the Anglican way of common prayer can come to our aid now, when for the sake of others, we abstain from physical, public gathering to hear God’s Word and to receive the Sacrament.

With this in mind I convened a group to help me compose a theological reflection on how this Anglican way gives guidance in this moment.  I hope this will be a framework, a theological context, or a signpost pointing in the direction of some of the wisdom of the Anglican way of common prayer. This is not in any sense a set of guidelines, directives, or mandates. I commend this work to you.

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Be thou our guide while life shall last,

And our eternal home.

God love you. God bless you.

Keep the faith,

+Michael

The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry

Presiding Bishop and Primate

The Episcopal Church

—

LENTEN MEDITATION – TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020

Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”

–              Deuteronomy 15:11

________________________________________

I think I freaked out my daughter’s preschool teacher at our last conference. As we discussed goals, I wasn’t concerned about my child meeting some academic milestone, how well she knew her ABCs or whether she was becoming a better reader. I told her teacher that what I was hoping for my children was an invitation to develop their emotional intelligence. When we drop off in the mornings, we always look around to see whether someone needs a friend—and in preschool, there’s always somebody who’s having a hard morning! Some of my proudest parental moments have been when my daughter notices a friend in need before I say a word.

As adults, we sometimes harden ourselves to need by labeling it as systemic and therefore out of our control. We allow the generality to distance us, but Moses’ invitation is personal: It’s not “fight the system” but rather “open your hand.” It’s an invitation to enter into preschool and notice who needs a friend.

–              Patrick Funston is a husband, father of two young children and rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan, Kansas.

Dear People of God and St. Edward’s,

This pandemic is clearly going to be longer and more trying than many of us imagined. We are being warned that the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 will almost certainly skyrocket over the coming weeks.

Life is going to become more restricted and difficult even than it is now. Many more, even in Lancaster County, will become sick and many will die.

In the meantime, all diocesan churches, including St. Edward’s, will remain closed at least until the end of May. We will suffer the pain of not seeing one another and the loss of not being able to worship as we are accustomed. Circumstances have deprived us of one of our main sources of strength and comfort.

But in difficult times we get down to basics and remember who we are what we do. We are Christians. We are a praying people. We serve and love others as we believe God serves and loves them. We belong to Jesus, and this never changes.

David +

—

We are sad to report that long-time parishioner, Kate Peterson, died yesterday. It is not possible to have public funerals now, so either there will be a funeral several months from now or there will be a private graveside service with only one or a handful of people. Plans have not yet been made. If there is to be a public service, we will announce it in the future when the details become known. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.

David +

—

Vestry Bios:  Please read the vestry bios that have been submitted for the 3 openings for the new term. These are being submitted for the parish to view, in accordance with our by-laws.  We thank the 3 parishioners who have put their names forward to be a part of this vital and important ministry of service to St. Edward’s.

Catherine Donohue

I am a life-long Episcopalian who has attended Episcopal churches in each town and state in which I have lived.  My husband and I have attended St. Edward’s regularly, from the first week we moved to East Petersburg in January of 1999.  Our four children were aged 2,4,7 and 8 years old when we arrived and now they are all grown, have moved away and we are enjoying being a family of two again.  Over the 21 years in this congregation I have served as a Sunday school teacher, children’s chapel leader and a coffee hour hostess.  This past fall, I was asked by Fr. David to serve on the Stewardship Committee and am pleased to do so.  Now I find myself asked to serve as a vestry member, and after prayerful consideration am willing to step forward to serve to the best of my ability.  May we all grow together in God’s grace!

 

Beth Lynch

St. Edward’s became a regular part of my life in the Spring of 2015.  It is here at this place of worship that I was received into the Episcopal Church and that Bruce and I had our marriage blessed.  St. Edward’s has become a pivotal part of my life.  I find the parishioners welcoming, warm-hearted and profoundly generous with their gifts.  I am currently the chair of the Social Outreach Ministry and a Lay Eucharist Minister.  I just completed a 15-month stint on the Discernment Committee.

I have been in the world of education, recreation and athletics my entire working career.  I am currently a substitute teacher in the Lancaster Area.  I also work for GEARS (Greater Elizabethtown Area Recreation Services) as the Director of the Camp Lady Bug and the creator/counselor of the following summer camps: Harry Potter, Pokémon and Do-It-Yourself.  I thoroughly enjoy my family, Bruce and James and have a close relationship with my 4 brothers and 3 sisters.  I enjoy reading, crafts, sports spectating and walking.  I look forward to serving the people of St. Edward’s as a member of vestry.

 

Virginia Kloepping (Ginny)

I grew up in New York City and have attended the Episcopal church all my life.

Educated in NYC public schools followed by a BA in political science at Thomas More College (Fordham).

Most of my work experience has been in the insurance industry in the commercial underwriting side at the company level and underwriting manager on the agency side.   I also worked in real estate when we lived in Pittsburgh.

Through the various churches, I was involved in a variety of areas, bazaars, rummage sales, cookie sales, greeting, coffee hour, treasurer (at small church), ECW, altar guild.

We have been attending St. Edward’s since 2003 and have been involved in Greeting, Coffee Hour, Landscape design and maintenance of bushes and small trees, Altar Flowers for Christmas and Easter,  Memorial Garden Committee, Recent fill-in for Vestry opening and I would like to serve a full term.

—

LENTEN MEDITATION – Monday, March 30, 2020

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

–        The Book of Common Prayer

________________________________________

After the first day of school, my daughter informed me that she was in the “good class.” I asked what she meant by “good.” “Oh,” she replied. “Just that, like, the kids who don’t behave are in the other room.” I was glad she was in the well-behaved class but not so sure about that easy condemnation. I responded with the suggestion: “How about saying the class with ‘better-behaved kids.’ It’s not like you have better-quality human beings than the other classes.” I don’t know if she heard the difference in what I was saying, but it was worth a shot. I wanted her to hear that behavior doesn’t determine worthiness-of-life and that there are no limits on human dignity.

To respect the dignity of every human being is not to say that everyone is okay and that we’re all basically good. It means recognizing that we are all both broken and beloved and that nobody ever gets thrown away. Particularly in the season of Lent, we are invited to look inward and see our own quixotic impulses: We may be generous one day and selfish another, willfully ignorant on one question but adventurous and curious on another. God never gives up on us. May we have the courage and strength not to give up on each other either.

–        Sara Irwin is an Episcopal priest serving as pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, married to Noah Evans and mother of their two children.

 

 

 

 

Dear parishioners,

We are sharing 4 items in this daily message:  A wonderfully penned personal note from Bob & Nancy Oliver sharing their reflections on St. Edward’s. An April/May Grocery card inquiry which needs a response to the parish office from those who participate. An important communique regarding Shaped by Faith from Amy Swiernik that requires a response. And the daily Lenten Meditation.  Please read carefully as we are seeking responses from people on some of these messages today.

Be well & stay safe.  It was a beautiful day, today!

Michelle

—

Today’s personal note is from Bob & Nancy Oliver – Founding members of St. Edward’s:

To our fellow parishioners,

Nancy and I are founding members of St. Edwards.  We have been around for a long time.  We attended the first

service in the union hall on Nissley Road in 1981 and since that time we have met many wonderful people who came through the doors on a

Sunday morning and made lifelong friendships with a lot of them.  We have memories of things that happened along the way that still bring

a chuckle.  We have also grieved with  friends and families over the passing of a parish member.  This is what it is like when you belong to a

church.  You are part of something that enables you to carry on in your faith while facing adversity like we have confronting us.

Be strong; Stay isolated; Wash your hands; Read the daily message; and Pray for all of us.

• Bob & Nancy Oliver

—

GIANT AND STAUFFERS GROCERY CARDS

To all people who participate in the Giant and SKH grocery card program:  I would normally order these cards on Monday, March 30^th for April.  Could the people who get grocery cards reach out to the parish office by phone or email and let me know if you want cards for this month, as well as think about May, which would be ordered at the end of April.  I am happy to order them and we can figure out how to get them to you, but I want to ensure that people want/need the cards with no pressure to order them, should people find that with a change in lifestyle they would like to cancel the cards for now and just shop on their own as they need to.  Please know that there are minimums for orders required for these monthly card orders so we either have to all maintain the cards as they are now or decide as a group to regroup in June.  This is an important source of passive fundraising for St. Edward’s, but we do not want to have people order cards in these changing circumstances if they decide they need to take a breather.  Thank you.

—

Shaped By Faith Team

St. Edwards is putting together a team to participate in the Bishop Audrey’s, Shaped By Faith initiative.  Each parish is asked to put together a team of 3 to 4 people to attend 9 meetings during the next 18 months.  Ideal teams consist of; the rector, a vestry person and a parishioner in the pews, for a total of 3, but 4 could be accommodated.  If you would like to be a part of this initiative, please contact Julie Hoff at 717-898-6037 or email at [email protected] by Saturday March 28, 2020. Currently, Julie Hoff and our new Rector Rick Bauer are on this team.  We are seeking at least one additional layperson to join this team.  This will be an 18 month commitment with meetings every other month with other churches in the Lancaster Convocation. Meeting 2 will be happening by Zoom on Sunday March 29th from 1-2 pm.

What is Shaped By Faith?

Our Diocese has embarked upon a huge project called, “Shaped by Faith”, where regional groups of parishes are examining their future together and their optimal configurations for health, vitality and values, financial sustainability, God’s call in the neighborhood, and new models for being Church. Together we are taking on this necessary, change-oriented work to build a diocese for the future that is vibrant, life giving, sustainable and God driven.

We have this common goal together as a diocese. At the very first town hall style gathering, congregations engaged in a visioning process with four guiding words: Discovery, Experimentation, Creativity and Collaboration.  The entire process for Shaped by Faith relies on all parishes and convocations collaborating with one another as we explore together what the future looks like for our diocese.  Working together first in teams within the parish, and then, those same teams coming together to work on the next set of tools in the process, building trust, and a common sense of ‘we are in this together’.

Togetherness is fostering relationships between parishes that result in new ways of doing and being church. For example: there may be collaboration on shared resources where one parish administrator is producing the bulletins for two or three churches, instead of each creating their own. Two parishes may decide a more permanent collaboration will enhance their communities and they will join to form one parish. It’s possible a parish will form new collaborations with community-based services, such as housing Family Services in a portion of their building.  Will a parish ‘rent’ their building to another denomination to hold services on Sunday afternoon or another day the congregation isn’t using the physical building?

The possibilities are limitless. I’m imagining as this process unfolds, the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania will have a wide variety of collaborations never before dreamed and our togetherness will be enhanced exponentially as we seek to build the kingdom of God, because we have done this work collaborating together.

A Collect for Shaped by Faith

God of wisdom and love, in whom we find our joy: Help us to listen for your Word and to discern your way forward for our Church.  Give us the insight to hold on to what is true, the courage to explore new ideas, and the boldness to create with you.  Let us be Shaped by Faith for your mission; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Amy Swiernik

Diocesan Shaped By Faith Team Layperson

The Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania

101 Pine St, PO Box 11937, Harrisburg, PA 17108

717-236-5959 ext. 1104

[email protected]

 

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LENTEN MEDITATION – THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

• Matthew 18:1-3

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My husband has taught nine and ten-year-olds for twelve years. Hearing story after story about kids in his classroom has shaped how I understand Jesus saying we need to cast aside our notions of greatness and become “like children.”

For ages nine and ten, we’re talking uncontainable rambunctiousness and uninhibited dancing—and necessary recess to get all the extra energy out. This tender age is when a quiet kid may start to come out of their shell or a happy child goes silent, weighed down by an adult world they don’t understand or have control over. There’s also a lot of sass, though frequently it’s expressed in incredibly funny ways. But perhaps most importantly, this is an age when children are on the cusp of their own great transformations.

Jesus skewers our adult versions of greatness. Fancy job titles? Multiple degrees? How dull. Better, he says, to be like a nine-year-old: funny, rambunctious, still tender and with way too much energy. Far better to stay an uninhibited singer, someone who struggles to line up quietly in the hallway and on the cusp of transformation.

• Miguel Escobar is the Director of Anglican Studies at Episcopal Divinity School at Union.