Daily Message from St. Edward’s -March 31, 2020

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

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.

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.

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – March 30, 2020

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.

 

 

 

 

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – March 27, 2020

Dear parishioners,

Lots of stuff today!!!  It’s a long one, so I will just say, “enjoy” and tune in tomorrow where I will provide the daily Lenten Mediation and our weekly Cycle of Prayer!

Michelle

VIRTUAL EVENT TONIGHT:  STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT ST. EDWARD’S 6:30 pm

There will be a Live stream on the Way of the Cross (Stations of the Cross)  on Friday, March 27  and  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

Please click this link to view an important video message from Bishop Scanlan:

https://sainteds.org/an-important-message-from-bishop-scanlan-on-covid19/

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.

A Personal Note from Mike & Sandy Patrone:

Hello everyone!

None of us have ever been thru this time in our lives and hopefully won’t again.

Here at St. Anne’s we went from having so much to do and sometimes complaining to now no activities at all so like all of you we are improvising. Reading, walking, watching movies, praying and whatever else comes to mind. We have been to the grocery store and plan to stay in place till at least Tuesday. A miracle happened yesterday, there on the grocery shelf were two rolls of toilet paper sitting by themselves and I thought I heard them say “take me home with you” so we did. Last Sunday we watched the service streamed by St. James here in Lancaster. Next week on a day to be determined, all of us on the first floor, east wing are going to sit outside our doors and talk to one another. Just another improvised activity we thought up.

Stay safe everyone. 

–              Mike & Sandy Patrone

LENTEN MEDITATION, FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2020

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

–              Philippians 2:4

________________________________________

The youth community at my parish came up with a saying years ago: No one sits alone. It’s become a mantra that informs everything we do. It has made sitting down for a meal an act of worship. It means high school seniors join the new sixth grader sitting alone at a table and begin conversation. It means that no matter what happened during rest of the day, when you show up at church you are going to be seen. This mantra means that everyone is tasked with focusing on others.

When Jesus calls his disciples, he asks them to leave the comfort of the lives they knew for something more. When a teenager leaves the comfort of their friend group to invite another in or go join them where they are, it is that same discipleship. It is following Christ. I think sometimes we make this following Jesus thing more complicated than it needs to be. Sit with someone who is alone. Include. Open the circle. Make room. Small acts of love can radically change the life of someone else.

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

ONLINE WORSHIP RESOURCES:

As we worship, in our own ways this Sunday, remember there are many links with Sunday services, near and far.  Here are a few:

St. James, Lancaster Livestream:  https://www.saintjameslancaster.org/worship-care/livestream/

St. Thomas NYC 11:00 AM:  https://www.saintthomaschurch.org/events/litany-in-procession-choral-eucharist/

Trinity Church:  NYC 11:15 AM service online:  https://www.trinitywallstreet.org/events/day?day=2020-03-29&month=2020-03

STEWARDSHIP & GIVING

Also, please remember your stewardship and giving to St. Edward’s.  Our parish community is so grateful for your continued support in these times when we are apart!  Also, please do not forget to prayerfully consider a donation in ANY AMOUNT to our local Hempfield Food Pantry.  Make your donation payable to St. Edward’s and write “Food Pantry” in memo line.  They need our help! Thank you!

You can mail your giving to the church as we are picking up mail each day.  You can set up giving through online banking, and you can donate through the diocesan website, scrolling down to St. Edward’s for your weekly pledge/giving:  https://givingtools.com/give/1178/1987

Readings For Sunday, March 29th – Fifth Sunday in Lent Year A 2020

 

The Collect

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament – Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act,” says the LORD.

The Response – Psalm 130

De profundis

 

1 Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD;

LORD, hear my voice; *

let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.

2 If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss, *

O Lord, who could stand?

3 For there is forgiveness with you; *

therefore you shall be feared.

4 I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for him; *

in his word is my hope.

5 My soul waits for the LORD,

more than watchmen for the morning, *

more than watchmen for the morning.

6 O Israel, wait for the LORD, *

for with the LORD there is mercy;

7 With him there is plenteous redemption, *

and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

The Epistle – Romans 8:6-11

To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law– indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

The Gospel – John 11:1-45

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

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:  Lent 5A 2020                                   The Reverend David Bateman

Jesus had friends. We don’t tend to think of him that way, do we? Disciples, sure, and followers, sure. But friends? The kind where you go to their house, sit down and have dinner, and just enjoy their company? That’s not usually the way we think of Jesus.

But these two sisters and a brother are described by the Gospel writer not only as friends of Jesus, but as people whom Jesus “loves”. This isn’t merely the wonderful divine regard with which Jesus sees everyone he meets. There is a special closeness here, a bond of personal affection between these siblings and Jesus that we otherwise don’t get to see in the Gospels.

So it’s all the more surprising to us, then, when Jesus, after hearing that Lazarus whom he loves is ill, delays in going to see him. He offer the disciples a rather unclear explanation using “sleeping” and “waking” as figures of speech, but when he is finally blunt in saying “Lazarus is dead”, we are just as confused as before.

The journey to Bethany is very risky now, as Jesus and his disciples know that resistance to his ministry is by the authorities has become so intense that his life is in danger. Jesus’ arrival is described in clear detail, with Lazarus dead in a tomb and mourners gathered outside and inside the house. One sister, Mary, comes out to meet Jesus before he even makes it to the house. What she says to him is a remarkable statement of faith: “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died.” But we should realize that it is also an accusation that Jesus could have prevented this tragedy but did not. After that is a wonderful exchange between the two in which Mary is able to make very strong statements about Jesus and the resurrection to eternal life. But notice that Mary is always speaking about a faraway future. She doesn’t seem to be able to believe that anything can be done now.

It is time for the other sister, Mary, to enter the picture. It seemingly takes a personal invitation from Jesus to rouse Mary from her grief and get her to come outside. When she gets to Jesus, she says the same faithful but accusing words her sister did. The emotional intensity of the scene grows as Mary falls at Jesus’ feet and all are surrounded by weeping mourners. Jesus finally succumbs to the shear sadness of it all and surprises us by weeping himself. It is not something we have seen Jesus do before, and it speaks not only to the tragedy of the situation but also to the intimate closeness he feels to each of these siblings. Jesus himself is grieving.

The picture is so powerful that sometimes we ourselves must wipe away a tear of our own. Then the mourners react in the same way that we would; they are impressed by Jesus’ love for Lazarus, but they wonder why he seemed unable to prevent it.

The climax  is even more dramatic than what has come before. Jesus is described as still being “greatly disturbed”. He shocks everyone by ordering the opening of the tomb, and Martha warns about the raw reality of human decomposition. But Jesus prays and then, shouting, literally orders Lazarus to come out. No one present was prepared for that shout, nor for the dread appearance of Lazarus, still in his grave wrappings. If any of us had been there, we would have been equally stunned.

When Jesus says “Unbind him and let him go”, we realize that he is talking not just of the practical need to assist Lazarus, but also of the reality of resurrection, which is indeed to unbind us from the power of death and to make us more free to live than we had ever imagined. Jesus wept for his friend but also for the terrible toll that death takes upon all of us. And when he shouts his command, he is mocking, undermining and undoing that terrible power and overcoming it, beating it, and breaking it. This is the last thing Jesus does in the Gospel of John before he enters Jerusalem to face the fate of Lazarus for himself.

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – March 26, 2020

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 30th 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]

 

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

________________________________________

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.

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – March 25, 2020

Dear parishioners,

As many of us suspected would happen, Bishop Audrey has just informed the diocese that it will not be possible for churches to have any kind of normal services for Holy Week and Easter. In fact, it is not imagined that we will be able to be physically back in our church buildings before the end of May. The need for us to keep ourselves safe, as well as not to risk spreading infections to others, is just too great. She and all of us together know how deeply disappointing it is for us not to be able to gather in person to commemorate these most central parts of the story of our faith.

But this does not mean that Holy Week and Easter are cancelled! Instead we and the diocese are working on alternatives to gathering in the church. These alternatives may very well be online. As soon as we know what we plan to do, we will let you know. Stay tuned in the coming days as we do our best to adapt to these difficult circumstances.

David +

We dub this “Hump Day” so that calls for uplifting news to carry us through. ?

A personal note from Herb Johnston, vestry member to St. Edwardians:

Hi to all of you St Edwardian’s: Herb Johnston here. I am in my 4th year of serving on your Vestry and usually attend the 8am service. While on our sabbatical from our church I have been able to catch up on all the paper work the Vestry generates. Also Marsha and I walk most every day in our neighborhood. Sometimes we walk in different parks too. We are working on jigsaw puzzles which challenge us. Also we do the crossword puzzles that are in the newspaper.  We also are reading some books and watch and listen to online subjects of interest to us. We each also have our own “spaces” too to do those things that interest each of us. All in all things are going well, but not as well as it used to be. I think you know what I mean. Finally, I keep my Book of Common Prayer nearby. I pray for you all and for our church. Be well!

Uplifting news from Washington National Cathedral today:

Seek and ye shall find, apparently. Today, Washington National Cathedral sent 3000 N95 masks to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and 2000 to Children’s National Hospital after a stonemason found a forgotten stash in the Cathedral crypt. Certified by manufacturer as still good.

A way for us to connect on Friday’s with many thanks to Patrick Ishler for coordinating!

There will be a Facebook Live stream on the Way of the Cross (Stations of the Cross) on Friday, March 27 and Friday, April 3 at 6:30 pm.  Please join us on Dina Ishler’s Facebook page 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.

Click on this to hear some uplifting music:  In Christ Alone (Virtual Choir #3 / A Cappella).  Thank you, Meredith Westgate for forwarding on!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY4CW5pte98&feature=youtu.be

LENTEN MEDITATION – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

–        The Book of Common Prayer

________________________________________

My three daughters and I frequently talk about how to navigate life as black girls and women. One thing we talk about is the fact that people think we shouldn’t have to talk about profiling, bias, racism and praying for those who wish us harm. When the girls were younger, people often questioned whether my husband was their father. He’s very dark-skinned; the girls have different skin tones that are considerably lighter than his.

Nia, my eldest, commented that in the past, people would stare and not say anything. The question stayed on their faces, unlike now. Nia paid attention to the fact that it made her upset, but as a child, she didn’t have the mindset to look past her feelings toward a solution. She gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, deserved or not.

My friend Rachel loves to remind me that we are an Easter people. We turn and turn and turn again to the risen Christ for forgiveness and redemption. The only way we will ever be able to stop praying this prayer for social justice is to have difficult, honest conversations with each other whenever we can. What can you do this Lent to invite the Spirit into your heart? What barriers are you willing to cross?

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

 

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – March 24, 2020

Dear parishioners,

This week we are adding a new twist to our daily messages.  One of our fellow parishioners, Hank Spire, had a wonderful suggestion to incorporate a personal note from our laity to our fellow parishioners just letting them know what is happening in their lives during our “separation” and sending love and prayers to our fellow St. Edwardians, in 100 words or less.  What a wonderful way to stay connected with people’s daily lives.  If you would like to participate in this exchange, please forward your “note” to the parish office and we will incorporate it in our daily messages.  Perhaps we will even turn it into a little St. Edward’s “press” booklet we can share and post that shows our grace to others for the community of faith that we are.  We hope you will participate!  We start with a message from Julie Hoff, Vestry Junior Warden:

Hi, everybody!  I am thinking of and praying for you during our time apart.  I do miss being at church and seeing all of you!

I am dusting off my retired teacher skills as I work with my third grade( the grade I taught) granddaughter on a full complement of daily work sent by her teacher via internet. Hooray for technology!

For long time St. Edwardians, we were reading the book Sarah, Plain and Tall this morning when I noticed the dedication -For old friends, dear friends- Dick and Wendy Puff, Allison and Derek.  Sounds like the Puff family from the union hall days, don’t you think?!  Be well!

  • Julie Hoff

A little levity:  I read a story on CNNNews where the security guard at a museum in Oklahoma City was given the additional task of being the museum’s social media manager, due to its closure to the public.  His posts take people on “tours” of the museum’s offerings.  This was his first post introducing himself on “the Instagram”:

nationalcowboymuseum

“Hello Friends, my name is Tim and I am the head of security for The Cowboy. I have been asked to take on the additional duty of social media management while the museum is closed. I’m new to social media but excited to share what I am told is called “content” on all of The Cowboy’s what I am told are “platforms” including the Twitter, the Facebook, and the Instagram. My team and I will also continue to protect and monitor the museum and grounds. Thanks, Tim We are required to smile in our official photos. Send.”

From Nancy Davidge

Public Affairs Officer, The Episcopal Church

Episcopalians are invited to join with Christians around the world as together we join in praying the Lord’s Prayer on Wednesday, March 25 at noon in our own time zones in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pope Francis Invites Christians to Pray on March 25th

Pope Francis on Sunday invited all Christians to respond to the coronavirus pandemic “with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness”, adding, “Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried”.  Speaking after the traditional recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father called on all Christians to join together in prayer. “In these trying days, while humanity trembles due to the thread of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians that together we lift our voices towards Heaven,” he said.

On Wednesday, 25 March, the feast of the Annunciation, Pope Francis has invited “the Heads of the Churches and the leaders of every Christian community, together with all Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Almighty, the omnipotent God, to recite at the same time the prayer that Jesus, our Lord, taught us” – the Our Father. Pope Francis prayed, “may the Lord listen to the united prayer of all of His disciples who are preparing themselves to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ”.

We are inviting you to issue a call through your networks and social media for Christians to join in praying the Lord’s Prayer, and in any other ways we are led to pray, at:

Wednesday, March 25 at 12:00 noon in our own time zones.

On the web:  All Christians Invited to Pray on Wednesday, March 25th

LENTEN MEDITATION – MARCH 24, 2020

Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you.

  • Isaiah 42:5-6

________________________________________

When my four-year-old gets out of the car, she immediately bolts. Her dash is usually anticipated by the common parental refrain, “Hold my hand, please!” She rarely wants to hold my hand. In this way, parking lots are spiritual exercises for our family. I’m aware of the dangerous realities they bring. She doesn’t care. My depth of knowledge, my fear for her well-being is manifested in a hand hold.

Typically, when I hear the language of God holding our hands, I’m reassured by the image. It’s an image I receive as one where God’s outstretched hand is always available for me when I know I need it. But my parental parking lot fear makes me notice that Isaiah wants to convey a different thing. I’m not the best judge of my need for God’s protection; I cannot be relied upon to know what’s best for me. In the parking lot of my life, sometimes God has to grab me, to save me from my independence.

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

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – March 23, 2020

Dear parishioners,

Today, we offer you a prayer, forwarded to us form Dolly and Arch Cross, which Father David thought was very insightful in these current times, as well as the daily Lenten Meditation.  Please stay in touch with us, and each other, and we will keep connecting with you, as well, on a daily basis.  We are getting new content and interesting suggestions for staying connected in innovative ways from the parish office, Father David, and each other in our parish community.  You should be seeing these new items in upcoming emails and on the St. Edward’s website and on Facebook.  We will be producing an April Scepter, as well, which will come out April 5th, so look for that on our website.

As we enter week 2, people are longing to hear from others in the various “communities” of their lives – family, friends, and worship, so if you have a moment, please pick up the phone and say hello to someone in your life, especially your friends at St. Edward’s.  You would be surprised at how much it really means to them.  As you keep each other in your prayers, please keep Father David and his wife Diane, as well as Father Rick and his family in your daily prayers.

Until tomorrow.. .

Michelle

PRAYER FOR A PANDEMIC  

May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options.

May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.

As fear grips our country let us choose to love.  During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.                                                                       Amen

 

LENTEN MEDITATION, Monday, March 23, 2020

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

  • The Book of Common Prayer

________________________________________

Sometimes it can be hard to find Christ in others. Sometimes it can be hard to find Christ in yourself too. One of the most humbling experiences of parenthood is the absolute, bottomless love that children can offer. Unconcerned about how your career is going or whether you served broccoli as the vegetable for dinner three nights in a row (or if you missed the vegetable entirely), children just don’t care. They love.

I had never much connected with parental images for God until I had children. “Father” was too distant and patriarchal, and “God our Mother” seemed like a reactionary knock-off that tried to reverse a gendered binary. Responding in love to the love of my children, though, puts me in the place of both lover and beloved. I can repeat day after day that I don’t earn God’s love, but secretly I am sure that good behavior is required. Would I demand that of my children to love them? Of course not. Do they require it of me for love? No.

God’s love is there, waiting. Sometimes it’s easy to see, other times less so. But Christ is in me and in you. Let us open our eyes.

  • 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

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – Sunday, March 22, 2020

Dear parishioners,

As we worship, in a different way today, let us keep in our prayers Father David, whose ministry to St. Edward’s, during our transition, has been a blessing to all of us, to his wife Diane, and to our incoming rector, Father Rick, and his family, for the new ministry we are so blessed to have for St. Edward’s future.

  • Michelle

Prayer from the Vestry for our New Rector

Dear God,

As we begin our journey with a new rector in the life of St. Edward’s, refresh us with a new vision and help us to fulfill the duties and responsibilities that come to us.

May we show gracious hospitality to our new rector, Father Rick, and to his family and welcome them with prayers and support. Fill him with wisdom and understanding and with the knowledge of your will for our parish in all things. May we all be touched by your Spirit that our hearts may yield to you in reverence and obedience.

Fill our hearts with gratitude and love for the blessings of this new ministry that we pray will be a blessing to you and, by our example, will lead others to serve you.

Help us to truly embrace one another in love as we strive to strengthen and grow our community of faith. Through our ministry together, may we bring gracious acts of kindness to others in your name.  May we bring strength to the weak, hope to the despondent, joy to those who sorrow.  May we always put our trust in you.

May Father Rick be led always by the Holy Spirit,

We thank you for new challenges. Help us to meet them with courage and trust in you. May we be filled with the love and gratitude for our savior, Jesus Christ, who lifts us from the burden of sin and anxiety.  Gather this community close to you and protect us.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – March 21, 2020

Dear parishioners,

It is a beautiful spring day today and what better way to spend it than to perhaps get a “jump” on cleaning up our outdoor spaces, if we have yards, or just taking a step outside onto your deck or patio and breath in some sunshine and fresh air!  We hope you are able to take advantage of these weekend sunny spring days.  I saw on social media a great Isolation Wellbeing Daily “To-Do” list, which had some very useful and mindful suggestions.  Focusing on the positive is where we need to travel in these new times.

  • Shower and take your medication
  • Clean one thing/space
  • Tend something growing
  • Be mindfully present to:  A sound or song; a sensory feeling; something you see; a spiritual practice
  • Reach out to a human being beyond your home

Until tomorrow. . . .

Michelle

Today’s message is the Lenten Meditation for Saturday, March 21st as well as our weekly cycle of prayer so you can keep in your prayers those we would recognize at our Sunday worship, in addition to all those we pray for in these current times. 

 

LENTEN MEDITATION, MARCH 21, 2020

Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church.

  • The Book of Common Prayer

________________________________________

During seminary, I spent quite a bit of time in the Chapel of the Apostles at The School of Theology in Sewanee. The chapel’s stone, wood, metal and glass formed a cathedral of light, transparent to the changes in seasons and time, which in turn formed me through the rhythm of the community that gathered to pray.

But one of the most formative features of the chapel wasn’t made of stone, wood, metal or glass; instead, it was a little boy named John Michael. He was born with an infection that left him with major health and developmental issues. He was small for his age. He couldn’t stand or talk or feed himself. Sometimes he would moan or cough, but it was more than apparent that John Michael loved being in the chapel. He was often there with his seminarian father who held him in one hand and The Book of Common Prayer in the other. He showed me what the Body of Christ looks like—every baptized person no matter their age or development, who, when gathered together, form Christ’s Body. Full members. Every one of us.

  • 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.

 

Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Pray for the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer

St. Paul’s, Wellsboro

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: Sam Fleming; Curt and Mary Ann Franck; Mike Freshwater; Bob Gepert and Anne Labat-Gepert

Pray for the recently departed:  Joyce Shank, mother of Michael Shank

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 residents of The Episcopal Home, Lucetta Kiefer, 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, Pat Kiefer, 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, Joyce Shank

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

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – March 20, 2020

Dear parishioners,

I could never have imagined writing a weekly email to St. Edward’s under these circumstances. The coronavirus has caused things to change so rapidly and severely that it’s almost hard to catch our breath. Yet here we are.

Americans are traditionally such a positive and “can-do” bunch of people that it’s extra hard for many us to not be able to go out and take obvious, concrete actions in this crisis. It’s hard to just hunker down.

But it’s good to remember that Christians are actually supremely well-equipped to deal with difficult circumstances. Our world-view doesn’t assume that things will always go well or that people will always make the best choices. Instead it offers us a longer vision and reminds us that this is God’s world, that adversity is always part of Christian living, and that prayer and ministry to others are always the way forward.

In the meantime, as your pastor I encourage you to do things to keep up your own spirits. Take an appropriately “social distanced” walk if you can. Make a special effort to love and enjoy the company of those in your household. Use the telephone and internet to speak to those you care about, taking every opportunity to see their faces and hear their voices when you can. During this time of enforced isolation, reach out to others in every way possible. It will be good for you and good for them. God would approve.

David +

Readings For Sunday, March 22nd – Fourth Sunday in Lent Year A 2020

The Collect

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament:  1 Samuel 16:1-13

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the LORD.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

The Response:  Psalm 23

Dominus regit me

1 The LORD is my shepherd; *

I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *

and leads me beside still waters.

3 He revives my soul *

and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I shall fear no evil; *

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *

you have anointed my head with oil,

and my cup is running over.

6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

The Epistle:  Ephesians 5:8-14

Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Sleeper, awake!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

 

The Gospel:  John 9:1-41

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

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 for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A      2020

                The Rev. David Bateman

 

Among our readings for this Sunday are two wonderful stories.  From the book of the prophet Samuel we have the selection of David to be the future king of Israel, a well-known story many of us learned as children in Sunday school.  And from the Fourth Gospel we have the tale of the healing of the man born blind, a narrative which some think may be the most artistically crafted and well-told of any in the New Testament.  The anointing of David is in the Lenten lectionary as part of the series of major events in salvation history that we have been listening to this season, such as the creation, the calling of Abraham, and Moses leading Israel through the wilderness.  The healing of the blind man is in the lectionary now because Lent and Easter are the time of year when we hear parts of the Gospel according to John that would otherwise get left out of a three-year cycle.

Despite their both being good stories, however, they are not very much alike.  The casts of characters bear little resemblance to one another, and the kind of action taken by God is quite different in each of the tales.  Perhaps we should simply say they are different narratives that just happen to be read today for different reasons, and leave it at that.  Which one appeals to you more, the story of a crafty God tricking king Saul and fooling everyone at Bethlehem, or the story of a blind man who turns out to be pretty good at arguing with the Pharisees?

Or to ask it in a different way, which tale do you prefer, the one in which God vindicates the underdog at the expense of the authorities, or the one in which God vindicates the underdog at the expense of the authorities?  Yes, you read that correctly.  Because, you see, when we ask it that way, all of a sudden the differences between these two passages disappear.  David is the youngest of his brothers and the family sheep-tender; that makes him the person of least importance doing the job with the least status.  Compare him to the disabled protagonist of the gospel story, a nameless and sightless grown man who is so disbelieved that his parents are asked to speak for him.  Furthermore, God hatches a clever plot to exalt the boy David and fool the king at the same time, while in a similar way God uses the healed blind man to make fools of the Jewish leaders.

But it is not enough that we merely recognize what is going on in these two episodes.  We also have to be aware of the way we hear the stories, to notice what sort of ears we tend to listen with, for there is a great spiritual danger waiting here for people just like us.  This is because the most natural thing in the world is for us to focus on David with the beautiful eyes, or on the blind man who does so well under cross-examination.  Given our choices among the different characters, we are tempted to identify with the good guys, to put ourselves in the shoes of one of the more admirable people.  And yet if the contrast is between the nobodies and the establishment, between those who lack status and voice and privileges versus those who are respected and listened to and are part of powerful institutions, then, realistically, where do you think most of us in this congregation and in the Episcopal Church are going to fall?

Honesty requires us to see that these two stories are aimed, in a very crucial sense, against people like us.  Here, as in countless places throughout the Bible, God is exhibiting a bias — a clear prejudice, if you will — in favor of those who are ignored or small or in need.  Because the balance is so often tilted against them, God actively takes their part; whenever there are sides, God takes that side.

This serves as a good reminder as we endure the crisis surrounding the coronavirus and COVID-19. Now that most of us have taken care of our basic needs and hunkered down at home to ride it out, it’s time to think of others: the people who are losing their jobs & paychecks, the people who are getting sick, those who are already homebound & on their own, and those who already were on the margins for whom things can only get worse. God is on their side, and we must, in our own limited ways, strive to be on their side, too.

There are many good reasons for making sacrifices and giving things up in this season of Lent, but one reason we might not always think of has to do with that other side that God is on, and the people who are part of it.  The people on the other side spend much of their lives being deprived and doing without against their wills.  When we voluntarily deny ourselves something good, we share a small experience of solidarity with God’s favorite people.  It doesn’t mean that we have completely changed sides or even that we fully understand that side, but it does mean that we choose to care, that we want to be connected, and that we are trying hear what God says and see what God is doing.  When we talk about seeing and God, though, we should talk about a Who instead of a what.  Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”

Even though Lent is now half-way over, it’s not too late to take on a small Lenten sacrifice or to see your existing disciplines with new eyes.  “Therefore it is said, ‘Awake, O sleeper, … and Christ shall give you light.’”  Amen.

 

Links to Sunday Worship Webcasts:

Sunday, March 22nd | 11:00 AM High Altar Webcast

St. Thomas Church – NYC Festal Eucharist

https://www.saintthomaschurch.org/events/festal-eucharist-13/

 

Washington National Cathedral

Sunday, March 22, 2020 | 11:15am

This event will be broadcast online due to concerns related to the coronavirus. The Cathedral will be closed through May 16.

Join us for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on the Fourth Sunday in Lent.

https://cathedral.org/event/holy-eucharist-4-2018-03-04-2018-05-06-2018-06-10-2018-09-09-2018-10-07-2018-11-18-2018-12-16-2018-12-30-2019-01-20-2019-04-28-2019-05-05-2019-09-08-2019-09-29-2019-11-03-2020-01-05-2020-03-22/

Links to Useful Resources for Prayer and Stewardship:

https://sainteds.org/links/

https://diocesecpa.org/stewardship/

 

LENTEN MEDITATION, MARCH 20, 2020

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

  • Ephesians 5:1-2

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Without fail, on my children’s birthdays, family friends arrive at our home with a tower of homemade cards and trinkets. Carefully drawn and colored pictures, Perler beads melted into new shapes, delicately folded origami animals, rainbow loom bracelets in favorite colors. Each created treasure is as unique as its recipient and the relationship shared with its creator. This abundant outpouring of love is so personal and thoughtful.

These friends began creating their gifts with their whole hearts since they were able, though over the past five years the cards have become more ornate and the handmade gifts a bit more complex. Yet the spirit of it remains the same. As I revel in the love poured into these personal, fragrant offerings, it makes me reconsider the meaning of the gifts I send with a click of the button and two-day shipping.

Children are able to imitate God without making it hard. They share art, remember favorite colors and create things that honor the beauty they see in the person they are celebrating. It’s holy and it’s simple. And it’s so easily forgotten as we grow older.

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