Holy Week
April 10-17
Palm Sunday-Worship Services at 8am and 10am with Palms
Maundy Thursday-6:30pm Holy Communion and Stripping of the Altar, livestreamed
Good Friday-12pm
Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 16th Join the three parishes of Church of the Holy Spirit, Church of Our Savior and Christ Church for a combined worship. The Service will be held at Church of Our Savior, Somerset, at 7pm. Masks are required at Church of Our Saviour.
Easter Sunday-8am worship and 10am service. Easter Egg Hunt following the 10am service!
|
|
|
|
Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Day following the 10am service! |
|
Wish Fr. Al a good sabbatical!
Join us for a potluck (one of Father Al's favorite church activities) on Sunday April 24th at 9am.
There is sign-up sheet at the back of the in the Parish House on Palm Sunday and at the back of the church Easter Sunday.
|
|
|
Fr. Al and Warden, Dave McCarthy are participants in video for Holy Week; "The Way of the Cross: Ending Gun Violence"
Episcopalians statewide are invited to “walk” the Way of the Cross together this Holy Week, by visiting 14 church and ministry sites from Falmouth to Great Barrington via a video project that draws on the ancient practice of pilgrimage to bring attention to the current-day scourge of gun violence. “The Way of the Cross: Ending Gun Violence in Massachusetts” will premiere on Palm Sunday, April 10 at 7 p.m. on the YouTube channels of both the Diocese of Western Massachusetts and the Diocese of Massachusetts, and then be available thereafter for devotional use by individuals and groups, at home or church.
This is a project of the expanding B-PEACE network of both dioceses.
|
|
The bishops and Standing Committee issued on March 22 an invitation to congregations, worshiping communities and ministry sites of the diocese to provide a “COVID Respite” for clergy and lay employees which would entail identifying two consecutive work weeks when meetings, office hours and nonessential activities would be suspended, with pay and benefits. Read the full communique here. FOR INFORMATION: William C. Boyce, Standing Committee President (williamcboyce99@gmail.com or 774-328-2383) or The Rev. Debbie Phillips, Standing Committee Vice President (gcis1@verizon.net
|
A statement from the House of Bishops on the Conflict in Ukraine
To the faithful in Christ Jesus throughout The Episcopal Church,
We are gathered at a moment of profound jeopardy to the principles of international law and peace. As we meet and pray together as a House of Bishops, Ukraine—an independent, sovereign nation that has posed no threat to others beyond its borders—has been invaded by military forces of Russia, without provocation and without justification.
On December 1, 1991, the people of Ukraine voted in a nationwide referendum on the question of their future. Nearly eighty-five percent of the electorate took part in that referendum. The question set before them was simply this: “Do you support the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine?” More than ninety percent of those casting a vote voted yes. The independence of Ukraine was, and remains, an act of clear, principled self-determination. In the thirty years since then the people of Ukraine have, through challenges and difficulties, forged a strong sense of national purpose and identity. There is a direct link between our baptismal covenant to respect the dignity of all people in Christ and the demand to respect the will of nations to determine their own destiny— the rule of jus cogens, in international law—when expressed freely through the ballot box.
We acknowledge and lament the failure of many of the nations where The Episcopal Church lives and gathers to respect and defend that fundamental principle in their own policies and actions in the years since the founding of the United Nations. Yet that acknowledgment must not stay us from denouncing the utter depravity of the war now unfolding in Ukraine.
It is evident that Russian military forces have directly and indiscriminately attacked civilian residences, medical facilities, even agreed corridors for the humanitarian withdrawal of civilians in areas of combat. These actions are a fundamental violation of the rights and dignity rightly accorded all people, and a flagrant breach of international norms.
As the bishops of The Episcopal Church, we pray: • That the nations of the world call upon the Russian government to cease immediately this unjustifiable violence, especially against the innocent;
• That our siblings in the churches of Russia and Ukraine remind their leaders of Christ’s commandment that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves—a commandment we believe provides no justification for violent conflict unless in the defense of women, children, the elderly and those otherwise vulnerable;
• That God protect and defend those who, with great courage, have stood and spoken against the choice for war in the counsels of their governments, their churches, and in the public square;
• That God support and encourage our churches in Europe, and our sister churches of the Anglican Communion present there as well, who even now are receiving refugees in the cities they serve, and helping them rebuild shattered lives;
• That all refugees, regardless of the reasons for their flight or the country of their origin, be received with equal dignity, equal hospitality, and equal treatment;
• That the work of diplomats and peacemakers and the voices of all those in authority labor without ceasing to bring a swift and just end to this conflict, and the preservation of Ukraine’s independence and autonomy under conditions of security and tranquility;
And that the Prince of Peace, whom we know also to be the Judge of Nations, will work through us and all followers of Christ to build a more peaceful and just world—where all people can live in safety, where the will of all for their nations can be freely expressed and fully lived out, and where God’s dream of a Beloved Community of all people and nations is realized through the works of mercy and compassion.
We urge all faithful members of the Church to support the relief of the Ukrainian people as it is being carried out by Episcopal Relief and Development and by the Convocation of the Episcopal Churches in Europe.
Camp Allen, Texas March 19, 2022
|
|
Lay Eucharistic Visitor Training will be offered via Zoom on Saturday, April 30, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. To be licensed by the bishop as a lay eucharistic visitor, one must complete training, be up to date with Safe Church training and have signed authorization from the clergyperson of their congregation. FOR INFORMATION: Martha Gardner, Missioner for Networking and Formation (mgardner@diomass.org or 617-482-4826, ext. 403).
|
BIPOC Support Gathering: The Racial Justice Commission’s Subcommittee on Support of BIPOC Individuals and Communities is holding an in-person gathering on Friday, May 13, 5:30-8 p.m., to which all who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color are welcome.
Please e-mail the co-chairs, Claudette Hunt (claudettehunt@aol.com) or the Rev. Diane Wong (dianeckwong@ gmail.com) if interested in attending.
Additionally, the Rev. Dr. Jim Kodera, the first Asian/Asian American person ordained in the Diocese of Massachusetts, will be giving a Zoom presentation, “Faith as a Verb: Peace and Justice and Asians in the Church,” on Wednesday, May 25, 7-8:30 p.m. This presentation is co-sponsored by the Racial Justice Commission’s Subcommittee on Fostering Antiracist Episcopal Communities, Subcommittee on Support for BIPOC Communities and Individuals, and Asian Pacific Islander Americans of the diocese. More details to come.
|
A Celebration of
Bishop Barbara Harris
Planning is now underway for a diocesan liturgy in celebration of the life of Bishop Barbara C. Harris, to be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston on Sunday, June 12 at 5 pm.
This celebration, long delayed because of the pandemic, will include a memorial service of Holy Eucharist and will be open to the diocesan community for in-person attendance. The service also will be available to the wider church community by livestream via the cathedral church’s website at www.stpaulboston.org. Please save the date.
|
Vestry Members
David McCarthy, Co-Warden
Julie Baker julieabaker317@gmail.com
Joan Padrenoss
|
|
April 19th & 21st- Tuesday & Thursday-Auditions in the church for the Talent Show 6:30.
April 24th–Services at 8 and 10 am. Join us for a Potluck 9am it’s Fr. Al’s last day until returning from sabbatical in July.
The Rev. Phil Jacobs will join us. Fr. Phil is leading worship while Fr. Al is away.
April 29th-Outreach making lunches for Thrive Homeless Ministry 6pm.
|
A Prayer for Ukraine
God of peace and justice,
we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace,
for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear,
that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen. Archbishop Justin Welby Archbishop Stephen Cottrell
Donations may be made to the Episcopal Relief and Development
https://www.episcopalrelief.org/
Episcopal Relief & Development is working through the Action by Churches Together Alliance.
ERD will provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needed assistance on the ground in the border areas of Poland and Hungary.
|
Those we hold in prayer
Al B., Ali, Alice K., Amanda T., Andrew Z., Ann J., Annette L. Ashley, B. Joyce D., Barbara M., Barbara P., Beverly S., Bill B., Bill T., Bob B., Bobby C., Brian B., Brian V., Bruce B., Carol A., Carol T., Charles O., Cherie B., Cheryl A., Christopher I., Claudine S., Dale D., Daniel P., David P, Debbie M., Deborah H., Desiree, Dick N., Donna T., Dorothy P., Dylan B., Ed G., Emmett, Gloria I., Hank F., Hannah L., Heather O., Helen H., Hunter., Jack D., James S., Jan G., Jan W., Janice B, Janice T., Jason S., Jeannette W., Jenny, Joan, Jo-Ann M., Jody F., John B., John C., John G., Judy B., Judy F., Julie C., Julie G., Julie S., June R., Kathleen L. Kimberly M, Kristin F., Larry W., Laurie T., Lawrence A., Lea V., Libby H., Lisa E., Manuel R., Mark A., Mark B. Sr., Mark W., Marsha G., Mary Alice M., Mary Lou, Michael F., Missie S., Nan S. Nancy B, Nancy H., Otto, Pauline G., Rachel S., Raymonde F., Raymond L., Rebecca J., Rhonda F., Richard S., Rob L., Robert H., Robert S., Robin S., Sandra B., Simona X., Simone B., Steve B., Steve C., Sue S., Terry L., Tom K., Tony F., Vicki W., Waylon D., Will H.
*Please contact the office to add people or update our prayer list. For privacy reasons, we do not use last names.
|
|
|
|
|
Masks are
strongly encouraged.
|
|
We are a joyful community celebrating Jesus Christ. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey,
you are welcome here.
|
|
Christ Church
57 Main Street, Swansea, Ma 02777
Deston III, Music Director
The Rev. Alan R. Hesse, Rector;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
