Mission Tidings Newsletter

  April 2017


In This Issue
Got News? 

You Are Invited To A Special Celebration

WITH BISHOP BUD CEDERHOLM
 
SUNDAY APRIL 2ND, at 10 a.m.
 
Followed by Parish Pot Luck* and Parish Meeting
With the Bishop
 
The worship service will include a special talk between the bishop and the children of the parish.
 
*Can't cook? Don't have time? Your presence is more important than what you can bring or do.
Clothing Donations for Homeless          
St. Francis Homeless outreach  has put out special call on Facebook.
 
Needed:  We are in dire need of belts (D-ring or canvas), jeans for men sizes 30-38, and sweatshirts for both men and women as they struggle with the wildly fluctuating spring temperatures.
 
We also need reusable bags that our guests may hold their clothing in - got a tote bag from the grocery store you don't use often?
 
Consider cleaning a few items out of your closet and drop off in the narthex at St. Luke's from now until Sunday, April 2nd. All donations will be delivered on April 3rd.
 
Thank you.
Reverend's Reflections
Dear People of God at St. Luke's,St. Luke's Mariner's Cross
 
Greetings in the closing days of Lent. Perhaps you've been following the daily videos/meditations and weekly activities provided by the Marks of Love teachings from SSJE. Maybe your observance has taken different shape. Or maybe this year Lent just meant one more potential demand in a life already so demanding, that you chose to give up Lent for Lent. There have been a couple years, to be honest, that that's what I've done.
 
This is my last Lent and Easter with you all. I'm doing some looking back as well as forward. One sort of subtle but real expression I've heard as a transplant to this area is a colloquialism, that in conversations about perhaps difficult or complicated matters people capture it all by the word 'situation.' If you're from here, you've probably not noticed it. "Well, it's a situation." "I'm in this situation at work." Not everyone uses it, and the use is just not on the south shore. I've noticed that on local news stations when on the scene reporters get stuck or are extemporizing, they'll resort to 'situation' for lack of any other word.
 
For someone coming from elsewhere, it's kind of fascinating. I moved from the southern Ohio area at 18 to school in Texas, where all sorts of verbal quirks and expressions are employed. Of course where I grew up, there was no such thing.....
 
'Situation' I've decided can be a great word, not by any means a sign of folks being tongue tied, inarticulate, or limited in vocabulary. First, it is dynamic. Situations are all about interactions with others, changes underway versus the status quo, attention getting rather than routine.
 
So here's a situation: each of us knows we need something from others, and the really lucky ones know that we need something from God, which invites the real need to give to God and others in this cycle of love and service. This is not meant to be an exclusionary, holier-than-thou observation. Rather I mean this as opportunity for spiritual growth as part of life growth. Some may not even call the same reality as 'God,' but love, compassion, self-giving, self-care, and the knowledge that this life journey will take us further in and further up to quote C.S. Lewis.
 
My situation is that I'll be having my last Last Supper with whomever might attend the Maundy Thursday service. I'll be proclaiming Jesus' resurrection with you on Easter. The promise inherent is the best situation we might hope for this year, for eternity. Recently I've had the privilege again to hear some specific struggles from some households. Life can dish up some very hard realities. God brings life out of death, light out of darkness, as we deal with the real nitty gritty of negotiating our lives. Thank you for allowing me to be part of it with you.
 
Bidding you deep peace and joy,
Grant
Church School News

Egg Cartons Needed: Please bring in empty egg cartons by Sunday, April 2nd for a special project.
 
Mason Bee Houses on Sale - now thru Easter Sunday,$20/each
The children of St. Luke's are taking orders for mason bee houses. This is part of our ongoing earth stewardship project to save the bees! Houses will be available for pickup at the church on Mary 14th (Mother's Day) and May 21st (last day of Church School).
 * Mason bees ae GREAT pollinators!
 * Mason bees do not sting!
 * Mason bees are low maintenance!
 * Provide a home in your own backyard for these beneficial insects!
 
See Kittie, Bethany or any of the kids to place your order today! (Please pre-pay). Questions? Email Bethany.g.bergin@gmail.com  or call 781-738-2963. Be sure to check out more fun facts about Mason bees in the flyer in the narthex!
 
Holy Week Workshop- We hope you will be able to be with us for a very special Holy Week workshop on Saturday, April 8th. Mrs. Barber has generously offered to direct some wonderful activities for the children to teach them about the special season of Easter and Holy Week. See details below, keep your eyes open for an evite and be sure to RSVP!
 

Holy Week and Easter, 2017
Palm Sunday, April 9th
8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Holy Eucharist with Blessing of Palms
 
Maundy Thursday, April 13th, 6:30 p.m.
Potluck, Return to the Upper Room, Observance of Last Supper
 
 
Good Friday, April 14th, Noon to 1 p.m.
Solemn Collects and Prayers
Communion from Presanctified
 
 
Easter Sunday, April 16th
 
8 a.m., Holy Eucharist, no music
 
9 a.m., Child-oriented Holy Eucharist, with music and Potluck Brunch, Children's Easter Egg Hunt
 
11 a.m., Holy Eucharist with Hymns 
A Prayer for Children of all Ages
This past Sunday, Jane Hardy in her talk on her spiritual journey shared this prayer:

Dear God,
        
Give me clean hands, clean words, and clean thoughts. Help me to stand for the hard right, instead of the easy wrong.
Save me from habits that harm.
Now teach me to work as hard and play as fair in thy sight alone as if the whole world saw.
Forgive me when I am unkind and help me to forgive those who are unkind to me.            
Send me new chances everyday to do a little good and so grow more like Christ.
Ann Johnson Update  
As most of you know, Ann is housebound. She is doing fairly well, but is missing seeing people. If anyone has some free time, please consider stopping in for a quick visit. You can contact Lee beforehand to be sure that they are not out at doctors' appointments.  Lee Batson- 781-545-9038
Community Dinner- April 23rd, 5pm 
Join us for a delicious meal of Baked Ham, Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Beans with Almonds, Salad, Rolls an Strawberry Trifle for dessert. Help is needed with the casserole and trifle, please sign up in the narthex. Happy Spring!