Farnham & St. John's

The Weekly Message

Lenten Reflection III - the Beautitudes "Righteousness?" by Lucy Baker Parish Secretary for Farnham & St. John’s & daughter of one of the churches’ earlier Rectors, The Rev. Richard R. Baker, III After the listening session for the Diocese at St. Margaret’s a couple of weeks ago, where we touched upon, among other things, race and reconciliation (the Diocese has a Committee on Race & Reconciliation whose mission it is “to support the Diocese, its churches, committees, commissions and related organizations in eliminating racism and encouraging cultural diversity, recognizing and incorporating the diverse & enriching gifts of all races and cultures.) I left and headed to Walmart to get a few things for dinner. It was a nice day, and I think everyone left the meeting feeling pretty positive.

I picked up my ten or so things and went through the self-check-out line. Between me and the door was the Walmart greeter, who had stopped two African American women, one with a child and both with pretty full baskets. The “greeter,” who was white, was going through the women’s bags and checking the items against their receipts. I could easily have gone around them, but waited and proffered my receipt and my recyclable bag for inspection, knowing full well that she wasn’t going to check it. I think I was deliberately slowing people down behind me who were also waiting to go out.

The greeter told me it wasn’t necessary for her to check my bag and waved me through. I looked at her sternly, said nothing, and walked out with my purchases. I wanted to say, "If it's store policy to check receipts, why aren’t you checking mine? And if it isn’t store policy, why are you checking theirs?" Or "Is it only store policy to check Black women’s bags on the first Monday of the month when welfare checks or food stamps have just been issued?" But I did nothing. I am not pleased with myself.  I relayed this story to Torrence who wanted me to write about it for the Lenten Beatitudes series. I think she was thinking, “Blessed are they who are persecuted,” but that ends with “for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” I’m not sure that they were being righteous in the religious sense, but trying to feed one’s family is righteous. The other beatitude that might apply would be to me: “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” but clearly I only felt righteous indignation and I want the world to be a just place. I don’t think of myself as hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and I certainly don’t feel satisfied. But maybe we get there if we become more aware and try to help others be more aware. Maybe we are more blessed every day by that attempt.                                                                        Lucy

You could have heard a pin drop . . . . at the RCMA (Richmond County Ministerial Association) Lenten Service at Cobham Park last Sunday night. Presenting Judas and Judas’ mother, the Rev’s Kenny and Leslie Park were outstanding. Their stark, dramatic presentation was profoundly moving. I was sitting by Susan Crowley and we just sat there, stunned and unmoving, when the service concluded as others around us filed noisily out headed to the post service reception. My Lenten journey has been dramatically deepened by this experience. I don’t know how the rest of the RCMA Sunday evening Lenten services will turn out, but I know I can’t miss even one of them just in case something as sacred as last Sunday’s may happen for me in the ones to come. Won’t you join me?   Torrence

Announcements

+ Red Cross Blood Drive  March 21st 2:30 to 6:30 at Warsaw Baptist Church. Don't miss Friday evening's "Celtic Landscapes of the Soul" You’re very Celtic if . . . . You love nature You can name at least three different shades of green You think the Celtic cross is so lovely with that little circle like the sun in it You just might believe the Gospel of John is your favorite Gospel You talk to the birds You have a St. Francis statute in your garden You know parts of the prayer of St. Francis by heart You love the music of Spencer & Beane You light candles to dispel the darkness And . . . . You plan to come (wearing something GREEN of course) to the St. John’s/Farnham potluck supper and Celtic program this Friday evening, March 22 nd to be held at St. John’s.  Supper at 6 p.m.; Program at 7 p.m.

Richmond County Ministerial Association (RCMA) Lenten Season The theme for this year's RCMA Lenten Season is the Voices of Holy Week The services are Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Each sermon/ monologue will be from the perspective of a character in the narrative of Holy Week. The offering each Sunday night will go to RCMA Benevolence fund. This Sunday, March 24 th 's presentation is at New Zion Baptist Ch with the Rev. Daniel Burch as “Pontius Pilate.” The remaining sessions are Mar 31 – Rappahannock Baptist Ch Rev. Gernard Reed “Barabbas” Apr 7 – North Farnham Episcopal Ch Rev. David Johnson “Joseph of Arimathea” Apr 14 – Warsaw Baptist Chrch Rev. Torrence Harman “Mary Magdalene” Reception for Lorey Plump on March 24 th from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Calverts 1147 Simonson Road Farnham 22460 Lorey's moving to Fredericksburg :(

Upcoming Event - Our March 31 st Combined Service features the St. Margaret's School Treble Choir at St. John's at 10:00 a.m.

photo from the St. Margaret's web-site

Useful tip from the Diocese re: Robocalls The church office gets a lot of e-mails from the Diocese, most of which I don't share. But today, they sent a helpful one about robocalls. Some of it I knew, but some is new. Here's the link.

In the Church

Lessons for March 24th

(updated) Service Assistants' calendar

Sunday March 24 th 3rd Sunday of Lent Holy Eucharist   9:00 a.m. at Farnham 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Sunday March 31 st 4 th Sunday of Lent Morning Prayer Combined Service 10:00 at St. John's with the St. Margaret's Treble Choir 

Sunday Apr. 7 th 5th Sunday of Lent Holy Eucharist  9:00 a.m. at Farnham 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Sunday April 14 th Palm Sunday Holy Eucharist 9:00 a.m. at Farnham 11:00 a.m. at St. John's

In the Parish Hall

Come Worship With Us Sunday Service this week 9:00 a.m. Farnham Church Farnham 11:00 a.m. St. John's Church Warsaw

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