The Church Bell
Vol. 3, no. 3
Holy Week / Eastertide 2019
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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 to Jarod or Alice the name(s) you are commemorating.
- Or, you can place $25 in an envelop, 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 place the extra proceeds in the savings account for the altar guild.
- 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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An Easter Lily Poem and Artwork
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Wynona Gibson sent us a beautiful poem and artwork representing the powerful reminders we find in the Easter lily.
To view and print a copy of her poem and depiction, click on the button below or on the image to the left:
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Holy Week & Easter Happenings
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April 13th - Work Day at the Church, 9:30 a.m.
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Time to wipe away the wintertime dust and get our beautiful church ready for a glorious Eastertide! We will work on several chores and punch list items. With enough helping hands we should be finished by noon and the church will provide lunch.
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April 14th is Palm Sunday
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Our Sunday service on April 14th 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 passion gospel will be read in place of a sermon.
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April 18th - Maundy Thursday Service, 6 p.m.
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Cowan Ministerial Association will hold a Maundy Thursday Service on April 18th, 6:00 p.m. at Cowan First Baptist Church. This service recalls the Last Supper and Jesus issuing the New Commandment. Father Laban Agisa will be the speaker.
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April 19th - Good Friday Service, 12 noon
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St. Agnes' will host the Good Friday liturgy on April 19th at 12 noon. Bishop Lambert will lead and other Cowan churches will join us. The Good Friday service recalls the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus.
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April 19th - Passover Seder Meal, 6 p.m. at Abundant Life AOG
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The evening of April 19th the Abundant Life Assembly of God will host a Seder meal. The purpose of this meal is to see Christ through the old symbols and traditions of the passover feast. To participate you will need to register in advance at
www.abundantlifewin.org so that the meal preparers have an accurate headcount.
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April 21st - Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 a.m. at Cowan Cemetery
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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. The service begins at 6:30 a.m. Rev. Elder Willie Lee Bonner will be the speaker.
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April 21st - Easter Egg Hunt at St. Agnes', 10:15 a.m.
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We invite the young folks to join us at 10:15 a.m. on the front lawn at St. Agnes. Our Easter egg hunt is an old tradition started by our beloved church treasurer of over 50 years - Mr. Robert Sloan.
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April 21st - Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of Our Lord, 11 a.m.
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We will hold a festival service on Easter Sunday at the usual 11:00 hour. Invite your friends and extended family to join us in joyful praise to Jesus who is risen in glory! When the service is over we will hold our annual church family photo.
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On April 28th: Can we beat the "Low Sunday" trend?
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In churches across the nation, Easter Sunday is most-attended service of the entire year with Christmas Eve being a close second.
Do you know which Sunday is the least-attended? It's the Sunday after Easter Sunday that typically draws the smallest crowd. We jokingly call this day our
Low Sunday
. Jokes aside, the title fits!
At St. Agnes' we enjoy the challenge to
break the Low Sunday cycle
by filling the house on the Second Sunday of Eastertide. This year our challenge happens on Sunday,
April 28th
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To break the cycle, we encourage everyone in our extended church family to
be in church
on "Low Sunday". Likewise, we encourage you to
invite a friend or neighbor
to worship with us, especially if that person did not make it to church on Easter Sunday.
Can we meet the Low Sunday challenge? We met it last year and the year before!
Let's do it again in 2019!
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April 28: "Low Sunday" luncheon
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On Sunday, April 28th, we will hold a church-wide luncheon following our 11:00 service. The church will provide a sandwich tray and we ask others to bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy.
We also use this time as a "Bon Voyage" for Fr. Jean and Fr. Charles and they will be home for the summer. Fr. Laban is planning to travel for a few weeks and then be back at St. Agnes' to do some summer work.
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May 10th Convocation for Fr. Jean
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The Rev'd Jean Mweningoma invites the congregation to attend the 162nd Convocation of the School of Theology at The University of the South. Fr. Jean will receive a Master of Arts.
The Convocation will take place on
Friday, May 10th, 10:00 a.m. at All Saints Chapel
. The service will include a festal Eucharist and lunch will be served afterward next door at McClurg Hall.
Fr. Jean will be away for the summer, but will return in August to continue his studies and to continue his visiting ministry here at St. Agnes'.
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Some Updates from Our Church Family
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Howard Gene Eslick transferred to a new long-care facility at The Bridge in Monteagle. He is in fair overall condition and welcomes cards and visits. If anyone would like to send a card, reach out to Jarod for an address.
Brian Judd finished his first round of chemo and radiation. He is now into the second round. There are days when he feels terrible, and days when he feels better, but he's in this for the long haul! In other good news, his ability to walk and maintain balance has improved. Brian is hoping to be back in church next Sunday and hopefully see us again during the Easter season. Please continue to pray for him in hope of successful treatment and a good recovery. Brian can receive cards and letters at 202 Old Morrison Rd, McMinnville, TN 37110.
Bill Keller reports that his health has improved in the last few weeks. His treatments are showing positive results and, as we can see, he has been able to attend services in the last couple of months. We pray that his progress continues!
Rose Pearson had a small procedure done on her knee last week for short-term relief. She is planning to have knee replacement surgery later in the year.
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April 7 -
the parishioner who shall remain anonymous
April 7 - Montana Smith
April 8 - Betty Krauth
April 13 - John Ruffing
April 15 - Dane Leitzel
April 20 - Martin Odidi
May 2 - Ella Grissett
May 9 - Carla Wilson Money
May 11 - Steve Pearson
May 31 - Kathleen Black
"O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on thy servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
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Aden Harris, Wendi Wallace, Teresa Brown, Erma Little, Brian Judd, Phyllis Bishop, Julius Mauro, Sandra Langston, Jacqueline Boyanton, Joe Money, Royana Stewart, Tammy and Victoria Keese, Sue Hill, Fran Perry, Lamar Davis, Bill Keller, Howard Gene Eslick, Linda Milligan, and Karen McCallie.
We pray continually for Christians around the world in grave danger and for those in our armed services, especially Wes Nevels.
***
"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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St. Agnes' 125th Anniversary
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We are still working on details and plans for our 125th anniversary celebration.
Stay tuned for details...
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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 Rt. Rev'd Paul Lambert................................Pastor and Celebrant
The Rev'd Jean Mweningoma.............................Visiting Priest
L. Jarod Pearson..................................................Lay Reader
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