April 9, 2026

Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter

Newsletter

A Last Easter, New Beginnings

Rosa Lindahl

These were the most beautiful of days and the most poignant of days, too. Three back-to-back funerals for people I loved were hard on all of us. The four days leading up to Easter Sunday were intense. Easter Sunday was colorful, fun, beautiful and achingly sweet for me. The reality that this was my last Easter Sunday as an active clergy person and my last Easter with you, my beloved church family, washed over me several times.

Now, the work is all future-facing. You will get lots of updates from the staff and me over the next few weeks, but today my message is about the help your parish quite desperately needs. Micheal Paul has led the charge and has had wonderful support from Randy Woodland to make sure we livestream our services. They have carried this ministry almost entirely alone since 2022. That is not a viable ministry model. I hope that we’ll be able to put together 3-4 teams of 2 people (one to operate the technology for the livestreams, and one to serve as “online greeter.”). We will rotate duties among the teams to lessen the burden on everyone.

In order to move into this model, I’d like to ask you to consider if you would be willing to take on one of the two roles. The person working with technology has to be physically present 30 minutes before the service. The Online Greeter can do their work from home. We will have thorough training and a process to bring you on board, so you succeed in this ministry from the start. But we need the help. If you are willing to consider taking on one of these two responsibilities, please contact Angela Sherbine, angela@holycomfortermgm.org or me, rosa@holycomfortermgm.org

These beautiful days after the rain on Easter Sunday remind us of the many ways God’s love expresses itself. I hope you have been able to enjoy the intense green of new growth, the flowers that have already bloomed, and the feel of a gentle breeze on your faith. We receive blessing upon blessing, and I am grateful for many different ways to share our blessings with others. I hope you will be moved to help with our livestream ministry program—it is a new and exciting way of sharing God’s love! Rosa+

I am grateful

I do a fair amount of shuttling back and forth between Lowndesboro and the church during Holy Week. Over and over during the last 10 days, I got here to find people hard at work ensuring that everything was ready for this most holy of times in the life of a parish. The burden was heavier because of the funerals we also had to prepare for and the Bishop’s visit. There are plenty of folks who stepped up to get the work done. Roy, Terri, Michael, Missy, and Haynes in particular worked tirelessly.

The flowers were spectacular, especially on Easter Sunday. When I saw the arrangement in the foyer on Easter morning, I literally teared up. So much love and skill had gone into getting that arrangement and every other one put together. The chancel and nave were set up perfectly for all our services thanks to the work of the Altar Guild, and especially Roy, our new Altar Guild Lead. We had 3

back-to-back receptions to prepare for. Missy and Terri put so much time and effort into getting things in place down to the last detail. As always, Missy made sure we had lovely, inspiring artwork for the covers of our bulletins and had to prepare so many! Randy Woodland, with his strong liturgical bent and outstanding skills as reader par excellence, brought the Passion of our Lord to life in deeply moving ways, not once but twice. Lee? Lee is the gentlest, most competent, and faithful deacon I’ve ever had the privilege of serving with. She was strength and grace for me personally during a series of services; she helped carry all of us through both grief and joy with gentle compassion.

Haynes and Mark Semler helped ensure our grounds were in tiptop shape for the funerals. The work they did built on work that Jonathan, Paul, Roy, Michael, and Haynes have been working on steadily for months. I watched Kris rehearse the choir a couple of times during Holy Week and once again thanked our Good Lord for the gifts and blessings he has brought with him. He rehearsed the choir with rigor and asked a lot from its members, but always did it with such kindness and grace. Amazing. Last but not least, Angela and Sandra who work behind the scenes, kept making sure we were doing the less glamorous and equally important work of running the church well and smoothly.

All I can say (though it is woefully inadequate) is thank you to everyone who helped. You made my last Holy Week and Easter simply unforgettable. Rosa+

Tending to our hearts & spirit

Join us for a time of serene reflection

Sunday Morning Eucharist

10:00 AM (in-person & online)

Weekday Worship

with Randy Woodland

Morning Prayer

Wednesdays, 9:30 AM

(watch online on our Facebook page)

Events, programs & updates

April 15, 11:30 AM, Jan's Beach House

850 Eastern Blvd

the Food Pantry

Critical needs: Mac and cheese, ramen noodles,

canned green beans and corn.

We would greatly appreciate your donations of:

Canned or boxed foods, toiletries, diapers, etc...
Kitchen items, household knick-knacks, lamps, pictures, vases, & more.
Reusable grocery bags and canvas totes are always welcome!
If you can help unload the van, see Leanne or Mark

To donate, please drop off your items in the bins outside the double doors of McMaster Hall, the large basket by the offices, or the large basket in McMaster Hall. Read more about the Food Pantry.

Save the Dates

APRIL

April 5, 19 - Book Study

April 15 - Men's Lunch, Jans Beach House, 11:30 AM

April 7, 14, 21, 28 - Food Pantry, 9:30 AM

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 - Morning Prayer, 9:30 AM

May

May 3, 17 - Book Study, 11 AM

May 15 - Women's Lunch, 11:00 AM

(restaurant, tbd)

May 24 - Pentecost, 10 AM

May 5, 12, 19, 26 - Food Pantry, 9:30 AM

May 6, 13, 20, 27 - Morning Prayer, 9:30 AM

See Our Calendar

APRIL

Birthdays & Anniversaries

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 in their heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

__________

Birthdays

Patrick Gidiere, Randy Bryan, Michael Paul, Jenna Moore, Mary Lil Owens,

Heidi Murphy, Jeri Tippit, Ami Simpson

Anniversaries

John Gantt & Randy Woodland