Resurrection

The Rev. Dr. Bill Murray, Rector

Resurrection is a mystery. Yes. We know that it is fundamentally about life, new life. We know that Jesus died and was raised. We know that it is about life after death. But no one actually describes it, explains it, or even claims to understand it. Resurrection happens somewhere between Good Friday and Easter morning. Yet not one gospel writer, not Paul or Peter or any of the epistle writers, not even the esoteric Revelation of John attempts to go into what or how it happens. 

All we are left with is determining the why. Great thinkers, theologians, priests, scholars, and more have wrestled with the why. Why was Christ raised? Why did God choose this process? Why does it matter to us? Why, why, why? 

For me, the funny thing is attempting to explain it at all. I don't pretend to know the mind of God and all the details. I don't know the how's or what's or where's of the process. I just want to lean into the joy that the tomb is empty. Even more, I want to celebrate that Jesus stands among the disciples and wishes them peace and love, and reconciliation after they abandoned him. I take incredible solace and strength from the image of Jesus sitting with Peter on the shore of Galilee to welcome Peter back into ministry after the denial. What an extraordinary mystery that we share together! Thanks be to God! 

And thanks be to God that we will have many of you together this Sunday to celebrate the mystery with us. Parking will be tight so I invite everyone to consider parking in the lot behind the church next to the school's Fine Arts Building. There will likely be many spots there, an easy entrance to the church by the nursery, and, even more, a speedy exit so you can beat the Baptists to the Easter buffets!  

A final reminder that the Easter loose plate offering will go directly to the Outreach needs of our community. The Good Friday offering is designated, as it is every year, to Christians in Israel and Jerusalem in the midst of war. Please consider giving generously to both offerings this year.

Please note that the office will close on Good Friday at noon, and on Monday and Tuesday of Easter week.

Bill

Good Friday Offering

As The Episcopal Church’s Good Friday Offering prepares to mark 102 years, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites the whole church to an afternoon of sacred music and collective giving to support siblings in Jerusalem and the Middle East.

Recorded at Christ and St. Luke’s Church, Norfolk, in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, A Concert for the Good Friday Offering will air online at 3 p.m. ET March 29 on The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page, YouTube channel, and website. Viewers will have the opportunity to make donations during the event to go toward the offering, also frequently gathered by churches during Good Friday services.

“We will not forget those caught in the crossfire between warring factions in the land where our Lord walked,” Curry writes in his annual Lent letter to Episcopal churches. “As we mark our Lord’s passion and death on Good Friday, we remember those whom he loves facing injustice and oppression today, and remember the urgency of love—true, sacrificial love.”

Click here for the concert and donation link.

Join us for Holy Week and Easter

Maundy Thursday | March 28

6:00 PM in Christ Chapel and live-streamed | Taken from the Latin mandatum or commandment, the service recalls Christ’s commandment to love one another, and then the transition to betrayal and the arrest. Ruth preaches at this service which concludes with the stripping of the altar. All leave in silence just as Christ was left alone by those around him.

Vigil of the Blessed Sacrament

March 29 until March 30, 10:00 AM | The reserve sacrament is taken to a small altar set up in the Oratory which is decorated as a garden. All are invited to come and watch with the Lord and spend time in prayer anytime through the night until the vigil ends with a brief service of Morning Prayer at 10:00 AM in Christ Chapel. Sign up here or in person on Sunday morning.

Good Friday | March 29

12:00 PM in the nave and live-streamed | Marking the hour where Jesus hung on the cross, the church worships together in the church nave at noon with readings, preaching, and solemn prayers. Bill will preach at this is a difficult but important service to share as a community.

Easter Vigil | March 30

7:00 PM in the nave and live-streamed | Perhaps the most triumphant and joyful service of the year, this service marks the moment when Jesus was raised from the dead to bring new life to the world. The Vigil begins in the Memorial Garden with a kindling of the new Paschal fire and gradually moves into the Church. With choir, organ, brass, chanting, incense, and the first Eucharist of Easter, we celebrate the defeat of death and the promise of new life. Stewart preaches and Ruth celebrates and baptizes her first grandchild!

Easter Day | March 31

8:00 am: Holy Eucharist in Christ Chapel

9:30 AM: Easter Egg Hunt

10:15 AM: Holy Eucharist in the Nave

11:15 AM: Youth Easter Egg Hunt

5:00 PM: Spanish Service in the Nave

6:00 PM: Celtic Service in Christ Chapel



The Church celebrates Christ’s joyful resurrection as a community with singing, prayers, preaching, and praise. The rector will preach as we celebrate with choir, organ, brass, and a beautifully decorated church. The 10:15 AM service will be live-streamed.

Church of the Common Ground Shoe Drive Ends Soon!

March 28

The call went out and you have given generously. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed shoes and diabetic socks to be distributed to the Church of the Common Ground later this spring. We have received about 90 pairs of new and gently used shoes and sandals (mostly shoes) and about 10 packages of diabetic socks. We have a few areas where we could still use some contributions if you still would like to help. There is still a need for size 10 to 13 men’s slide-on sandals or crocs (no thongs) to be used in the summer months. We are also short on size 12.5 men’s shoes. Last, if you want to make a smaller contribution, we are still collecting Vick’s Vaporub to be used to massage the tired and often diabetic feet of the homeless who go to the CCG foot clinic. Your generosity has been overwhelming and will make a big difference to the worshippers at Church of the Common Ground. Contact Robin Hickey | hickeys5040@gmail.com

FOMA: Katz/Stepanova Duo

April 7

The Katz/Stepanova duo are members of the Lysander Piano Trio. Michael Katz, cellist, has been hailed for his “bold, rich sound” (Strad Magazine) and “nuanced musicianship” (New York Times). He is in high demand as a chamber artist and has collaborated and performed with Itzhak Perlman, Midori, and many other international artists. Pianist Liza Stepanova has many accolades and rave reviews as well. She has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Weill and Zankel recital halls at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Steinway Halls in New York City. Her master’s and doctorate degrees are from the Julliard School. Join us at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary for this exciting, premiere chamber concert featuring this international duo.

Men of HI Retreat

April 19-21

Mark your calendars for spiritual enrichment, fellowship, and renewal at our annual retreat, on April 19-21 at Lake Logan Episcopal Center, in Canton NC near the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will begin our time together Friday evening for dinner followed by a Saturday morning program, afternoon activities, dinner, and a bonfire Saturday night, and wrap up Sunday morning with discussion and Eucharist. Register here.

Contact John Harris | harris4338@gmail.com 

Bishop’s Visit and Confirmation

May 5

The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright, Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta, will join us for our 10:15 AM service for a joint Confirmation with Our Lady of Guadalupe. This is your opportunity to join the Episcopal church through Confirmation, or Reception into the Episcopal Church from another denomination. Any in the community are invited to strengthen their spiritual life with a Reaffirmation of faith on this festival day. Contact Ruth if you are interested in confirmation.

Contact Rev. Ruth Pattison | rpattison@holyinnocents.org

Men’s Dinner and a Book

May 14

The next Men’s Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30 PM, and the book is Eiffel’s Tower by Jill Jonnes. Joe Nuzzaco is hosting. All men are included and invited.

Contact Jeremy Webber | jhwwebber@gmail.com

I Will with God's Help

Adult Formation, Sundays at 9:00 AM | These are the words with which we enter the Baptismal Covenant in the Episcopal Church. Companion with our confirmation candidates for this class series. See it as a refresher course and reaffirm your own faith when our Bishop visits on May 5th. This class will explore all the questions to which we answer, “I will with God’s help,” at Baptism and Confirmation.

March 31 | Easter breakfast and Egg Hunt

April 7 | Dave Stockert

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

April 14 | Clergy team: Show and Tell, Fashion, and Episcopal-ese

The polity and practices of the Episcopal Church

April 21 | Lin Stradley

“Do you promise to follow and obey Jesus as your Lord?”

Reading and praying from Scriptures.

April 28 | Clergy team: Sacred Time

The rhythm of prayer: The Prayer Book, Sacraments, and the Seasons

Youth: Summer Kickoff

April 28

All 6th-12th graders should join us from 4:00-7:00PM for our awesome summer kick-off event. We will grill burgers and have a dessert food truck with delicious treats like milkshakes and s’mores ice cream! We will also play bubbleball, a form of soccer that involves students getting inside of giant hamster balls! You won’t want to miss this crazy event! Friends are always welcome. RSVP on our website.

Contact Megan Atkinson | matkinson@holyinnocents.org

Youth Sunday

May 5

Join us in our celebration of the HIEC youth confirmands and graduating seniors on Sunday, May 5th. We will honor these students during the 10:15AM worship service followed by a beautiful reception in Inglett Hall. 

VBS Registration is Now Open!  

We are so excited to announce that VBS registration is now available. Holy Innocents 2024 VBS will be June 3-7th from 9:00 AM until 12:15 PM with optional aftercare until 3:30 PM. Registration cost is $65 for early bird registration and aftercare is an additional $65. 

At Camp Firelight VBS, your child will enjoy an interactive, energizing, faith-based fun time as they learn to face their fears while trusting in God. Campers will explore timeless Bible stories showing how Old and New Testament figures trusted God, faced their fears, and went on to do great things in God’s name. 

Campers will perform their VBS song on Sunday, June 9th at 10:15 AM and families are invited to stay after for a picnic lunch! 

Limited spots are available, register now. We are looking forward to another exciting week together!

April 14

Our 6th-12th grade students will meet for youth group on Sunday, April 14th from 4:00-6:00 PM. We'll enjoy music and dinner together before using small groups to discuss our topic for the evening. Friends are always welcome. Please RSVP to give us a headcount for food.

March 27

Join us on March 27 for a very special Holy Week GLOW. We are going to do a campus-wide scavenger hunt focusing on the meaning of Easter. Don’t miss this special time!

GLOW | May 1

Click above to watch last Sunday's service!

Warning about email scammers

When you receive an email from a Holy Innocents staff member, please check if the sender's email address ends with 'holyinnocents.org'. If it does not, it is likely not from us. Unfortunately, some individuals are attempting to scam various church members, posing as clergy and requesting gift cards. We never ask for money in this way. If someone claiming to be Bill, Stewart, Ruth, or another staff member contacts you, please let us know immediately. Report the email, block the sender, and delete the message. If you have any doubts, please reach out to us by phone.