The Church Bell
Vol. 5, No. 3
March/April 2021
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Remember to "Spring Forward" 1 Hour! |
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This Saturday night, March 13th, remember at bedtime to "Spring Forward" one hour into Daylight Saving Time. Doing so will help you make an on-time arrival to church on Sunday, March 14th.
Cellphone clocks and computer clocks will automatically reset at 2:00 a.m.
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"The Summary of the Gospel" on March 14th |
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This Sunday, March 14th, is the Fourth Sunday in the Season of Lent.
Our gospel lesson from John 3: 14-21 contains Jesus' most famous saying, John 3:16, that we know today as the "summary of the Gospel".
Indeed, we know by heart that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life."
And there's plenty more that Jesus says, such as "the Son of Man be lifted up" and his teachings on light and darkness in this present world.
Come and hear the complete lesson as we journey through Lent to the joyful news of the Resurrection. Come and worship with us at St. Agnes' Church at 11:00 a.m. The sermon will also be shared through video on our Facebook and YouTube channels.
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Living Well Through Lent 2021 |
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It's never too late to join our Lenten study and discussion in the Living Compass series.
The study follows a discipline of "Listening With Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind."
We begin each Sunday at the 10 a.m. Sunday school hour in the Parish Hall. The series will conclude on Palm Sunday, March 28th.
All materials are provided and coffee is served.
Join us at any time in this life-enriching study that prepares us for the joy of Easter morning!
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Enter in a state of silent prayer... |
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For years we have talked about reclaiming the beautiful Anglican custom of entering the church in a state of silent prayer.
During one of our Lenten Studies, we decided to make it a goal for this year's Season of Lent.
Join us in this prayerful focus:
When you enter the Nave on Sunday mornings:
- enter the front door in silence,
- take a moment to kneel in prayer before the service begins, and
- enjoy the richness of a beautiful, reflective custom.
Because we are a close-knit church family, we are always eager to greet one another before church begins.
Yes, we can and we should greet one another; however, if doing so inside the Nave before the service begins, please do so quietly with a hand wave or with a whispered "good morning".
We appreciate everyone's participation in this prayerful focus. Our combined effort will enrich our time together in worship and bring back one of our oldest and most beautiful customs!
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And, as a gentle reminder:
Remember to Silence Your Cellphone upon entering the church for a time of worship. We rarely encounter cellphone noise at St. Agnes' during services, but it does help to issue a little reminder once-in-a-while.
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March 28th is Palm Sunday |
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Our Sunday service on March 28th recalls Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
The service will begin at the usual 11:00 hour; however, the service begins in the parish hall with the Procession of Palms.
The service will lead into the Nave and continue with the singing of "All glory, laud, and honor", which is a Palm Sunday favorite for Anglicans throughout the world.
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April 1st is Maundy Thursday |
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Ordinarily the various churches in Cowan Ministerial Association gather for a shared Maundy Thursday service with Holy Communion and Foot Washing.
In light of ongoing health advisories, the Association decided this year to forgo an in-person service for Maundy Thursday. Instead, Rev. Ronnie Pittenger, Pastor of Cowan Cumberland Presbyterian Church, will post a video sermon about The Last Supper.
Invitation to an "Instructed Eucharist"
Maundy Thursday reminds us of The Last Supper, which in turn became the First Eucharistic Feast. Mindful of this ancient occurrence in the faith and witness of the church, Linda will offer an Instructed Eucharist on the evening of Maundy Thursday, April 1st, 5:00 p.m. at St. Agnes'.
The Instructed Eucharist is an opportunity to learn more about the words, customs, and historical connections we bring to the table each and every time we celebrate The Lord's Supper. In place of a sermon, we will read and reflect on a description of what we are participating in.
The invitation is open to all parishioners in the extended church family at St. Agnes'.
Stripping of the Altar
At the conclusion of the Instructed Eucharist, we will ask all in attendance to assist with the Stripping of the Altar and the Veiling of the Cross.
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The various Cowan churches will gather for a shared Good Friday service on April 2nd, 5:00 p.m., at St. Agnes'.
Good Friday recalls the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus.
The service involves the Passion Gospel readings and the Solemn Collects.
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April 4th is Easter Sunday |
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Sunrise Service - 6:30 a.m. |
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At 6:30 a.m. on Easter Morning, the various Cowan churches will meet at Cowan Montgomery Cemetery to celebrate the discovery of the Empty Tomb and the glorious news that Jesus is Risen!
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Easter Egg Hunt - 10:15 a.m. |
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We will have an Easter egg hunt for the kids at 10:15 a.m. in the front lawn of the church at St. Agnes'. |
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Easter Sunday Service - 11:00 a.m. |
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We will hold a festival service on Easter Sunday at the usual 11:00 hour.
After the service we will gather for our annual church family photo.
Invite your friends and extended family to join us in joyful praise to Jesus who is risen in glory!
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Easter Lilies and other memorials |
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Easter lilies are a universal symbol of the glorious Eastertide season.
They originate from lifeless bulbs that are buried in the ground, just as Jesus' dead body was placed in a tomb and sealed.
Lilies will then suddenly rise up from the ground with life and beauty helping us remember how Jesus rose up from the grave.
The green foliage represents life, the white petals represent purity, and the gold pistil represents kingship.
The flowers are shaped like trumpets, reminding us to proclaim the good news of the Resurrection.
A custom in churches around the world involves bringing Easter lilies to church on Easter Sunday as a memorial to our deceased loved ones. We follow that custom here at St. Agnes'.
- We invite you to bring a lily to church for Easter. In doing so, please give Jarod the name(s) you are commemorating.
- Or, you can place $15 in an envelope, write EASTER LILY plus the name of your loved one(s) on the envelope, and place it in the offering plate on Palm Sunday. We will purchase the lily for you and bring it to church.
- In lieu of an Easter lily, we also welcome memorial donations to the altar guild, or donations toward hymnals, bibles or prayer books. Again, please provide the name(s) you are commemorating.
Regardless of how we choose to honor our loved ones at Easter, we do so in faith and in certain hope of the resurrection.
Alleluia, Christ is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
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Get Ahead on Recent Sermons |
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Take full advantage of our online presence, especially if you are unable to attend services in person.
Here are some of our recent Video Sermons:
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Each and every Sunday we post the day's sermon on our Facebook page and on our YouTube channel. These posts are followed by an e-mail with video links to everyone in the congregation who was unable to attend on that particular day.
You can show your support by liking and commenting whenever you see a video sermon on YouTube and/or on Facebook. The more likes and comments we receive the more our posts will be visible to the general public.
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Ella Grissett adopted her own special project in early March!
Ella, with help from Christie, gave our Children's activity pouches a much-needed replenishment with new materials and supplies.
The pouches were originally compiled by the Adamson family and have served us well for about four years.
We are pleased to offer them as an enriching activity for young children who visit St. Agnes'.
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Support for Fr. Jean and Fr. Charles:
St. Agnes' will send a Lenten financial contribution in April to the respective ministries of Jean and Charles.
If anyone in the congregation wishes to add additional funds to this outreach, you can place a labeled envelop in the offering plate during Sunday services or mail a check to St. Agnes', PO Box 356, Cowan, TN 37318.
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March/April/May Birthdays |
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March 1 - Louis Mlcoch
March 5 - Bruce Smith
March 11 - Kent Walker
March 14 - Marcia Ruffing
March 21 - Jessica Dervin
April 1 - Randy Patterson
April 7 - the anonymous parishioner
April 7 - Montana Smith
April 13 - John Ruffing
April 15 - Dane Leitzel
May 2 - Ella Grissett
May 9 - Carla Wilson Money
May 11 - Steve Pearson
May 31 - Kathleen Black
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"Watch over thy children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand, comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and their hearts may thy peace, which passeth understanding abide all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
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Kay Brown and her extended family appreciated our prayers during her sudden onset of illness. Kay is recovering at home and feeling much better.
Joy Boswell Owens and her extended family send their love and appreciation for our prayers. She is now finished with radiation and beginning a new series of oral medications.
Bob Turpin has appreciated our prayers during his time of sickness. He too is feeling much better and tentatively planning a final corrective surgery in August.
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"O Lord, your compassions never fail and your mercies are new every morning: We give you thanks for giving our brothers and sisters both relief from pain and hope of health renewed. Continue in them, we pray, the good work you have begun; that they, daily increasing in bodily strength, and rejoicing in your goodness, may so order their lives and conduct that they always think and do those things that please you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
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Kay Brown, Steve Jellison, Louis Mlcoch, Cash Bissey, Rachel Schnabel, Patsi Rigsby, W.O. Greene, Kathleen Black, Rev. Blake Stephens, Brandi Rigsby, Joyce Adams, Joy Boswell Owens, David Gibson, Wendi Wallace, Bob Turpin, Donnie Goodman, Duncan Weddington, Wynona Gibson, Brad Roberts, Rosemary Harris, Christy Shepard, Steve Pearson, Dick and Mary Ann Austin, Marty Judd, Jay Yowell, Iris Ellidge, Mary McDonald, Will Olsmit, Gina, Jordan and Austin Cleek, Brad and Anita Warmbrod, Roy Tankersley, Royana Stewart, Bill Keller, Linda Milligan, and Karen McCallie.
We pray continually for those who are diagnosed with COVID-19, those who are away from loved ones due to hospitalization and nursing home care, and for families who have lost ones due during the pandemic.
We pray continually for Christians around the world in grave danger and for those in our armed services, especially Wes Nevels.
We bless and commemorate Penny Marek who recently passed into glory.
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"O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayer, and grant to your servants the help of your power, that their sicknesses may be turned into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
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Personal Health Considerations |
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We want anyone and everyone who wants to join us for worship at St. Agnes' to find the same sense of welcome that's interwoven with the character and identity of this beautiful church family!
However, while we are in the early stages of re-opening the church for in-person gatherings, we need to follow some general guidelines to reduce risk and exposure.
If you fall under any of the following health conditions, or high risk categories, such as:
- Heart and/or lung disease
- A compromised immune system
- Recent hospitalization
- Ongoing and intense medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or dialysis
- Symptoms of fever, cough, respiratory infection, or shortness of breath, etc.
...we urge you to refrain from attending in-person services and group gatherings while health advisories are still in place. Our on-line ministry will continue for the benefit of those who cannot attend, and we will continue other forms of ministry "outside the walls" as well. Also,
- Hand sanitizer will be available near the front door of both buildings. Those serving at the altar will also have hand sanitizer.
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We are not at this time planning to section off the Nave to ensure social distancing. However, we do encourage everybody in attendance to "spread out among the pews" so that we maintain a comfortable and reasonable distance during worship.
- We are taking a short hiatus from the "passing of the peace" as we were doing when the pandemic started.
- We are also asking those who receive communion to avoid the practice of "intinction" with the cup. Those who do not wish to drink from the common cup are still invited to receive bread while declining the wine, which is a commonly accepted practice in the church throughout the world.
Please be mindful that some in our church family are taking a break from hugs and handshakes while health advisories are in place. This is a matter of personal preference and we want to uphold everybody's individual decision in that regard.
Our plans are subject to change in light of changing circumstances around us. However, we want to at every step preserve the character and the fellowship of our beloved church family!
We are in this together and God is in control!
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Sunday Service ....................................11:00 a.m.
Sunday School .....................................10:00 a.m.
Location/Address: 105 England Street E., PO Box 356, Cowan, TN 37318
Telephone: (931) 636-6313
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The Rt. Rev'd John C. Bauerschmidt..................Bishop of Tennessee
The Rev'd Dr. Linda Hutton.................................Interim Supply Priest
L. Jarod Pearson.................................................Lay Reader
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