Upcoming

Schedule

Thursday, April 2 (Maundy Thursday)

6:00 pm - Holy Eucharist, Rite II with foot washing & the stripping of the altar

Friday, April 3 (Good Friday)

12:10 pm - The Liturgy of Good Friday with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament

Saturday, April 4 (Easter Eve)

7:00 pm - The Great Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter

Sunday, April 5 (The Sunday of the Resurrection)

7:30 am - Holy Eucharist, Rite I

9:00 am - Holy Eucharist, Rite II / Youth Hide Easter Eggs

10:15 am - Easter Egg Hunt!

11:15 am - Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Good Friday

Maria Melendez Kelson

Jesus, I want my sins back.

My prattle, pride, and private prices —

climbing, clinching, clocking —

I might loan you a few for the evening,

so you don’t show up at your own crucifixion

naked of all purpose.

But for God’s sake, don’t spill any

redemption on them! They’re my

signature looks. Body by Envy.

Make up & wardrobe provided by Avarice. Lord,

if you take away my inordinate cravings,

what is left? Do you know

how much I paid for my best rages?

I want them all back if they’re

so To Die For. Else shred my palms,

wash my face with spit, let the whip

unlace my flesh and free the naked blood,

let me be tumbled to immortality

with the stew of flood debris

that is my life.

Kelson's poem is a little shocking, isn't it? It's almost as though there's an undercurrent of contempt for Jesus here. It's as though the poet says: "I was doing just fine - actually, I was happy! And then you, Jesus, had to come along and take something (i.e., sin) from me. Hold on just a minute" Do you think that something might be wrong...with me?"

Of course, we don't talk about sin much in The Episcopal Church. And with good reason. It's not the most important thing about us - not even close. And it leads to problematic theology. But we all know that our relationships with one another, with ourselves, with God are can become easily distorted. This frustrating Good Friday poem is, then, a good reminder that - in spite of all of that - Jesus comes to us in love anyway. Even when we would rather he didn't.

Easter Egg Hunt!

Sunday, April 5

10:15(ish) am

Hey, youth!

I need you to help hide eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt during the 9:00 am service this week! With the aid of some super-cool adult volunteers, you'll place eggs in rows on the yard by the playground for our littlest children to find, while creating a more challenging hunt for older kids along the Jackson Street side of the Church. Plan to show up around 9:15 to start hiding eggs!

Children will trade in their eggs for a candy bag at the bunny burrow (i.e., the small Parish Hall). I'll have tables and chairs - along with bunny ears for you to wear! - set up that morning so you can staff the burrow. Please plan to be in place here no later that 10:00 am.

Finally, in the event of rain, we will have a few games in the small parish hall that kids can play in exchange for a candy bag. We can plan to throw eggs into the halls downstairs, too!

Be on the lookout for a GroupMe message - respond to the thread to let me know that you can help! THANK YOU!

As is the case each year, I share with you my Holy Week playlist. These are the songs that I've listened to - for a few years now - as I go about the business of "doing" Holy Week.

There are some new songs this year. In particular, there's Washer of Feet by Liturgical Folk, as well as "O Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" by Salt of the Sound.

The stand-out track, though, is always "Jesus" by Page France. It's an indie-earthy song about some resurrection which asks us to consider God's work in more concrete ways with the refrain:

"Jesus will come through the ground so dirty, with worms in his hair and a hand so sturdy."

It's different imagery than we typically get in our lovely hymns.

Click on the graphic to take a listen, and be sure to let me know about tracks you like!

Save the Date & Volunteer for VBS!

Inspired by the lives of saints like Francis and Martin or Tours and Therese and Catherine, St. John’s Hero Academy VBS invites children to consider how following Jesus’ call to love and serve others is the most heroic thing of all. Children will create projects in the Hero Maker Design Studio, play high-energy games in the Gamer’s Gauntlet, hear stories of the faithful in the Hero Archives, and relax with a treat or two and the Holy Hero Caf?. All the while, they will discover that we can indeed serve like the saints!

This year, we are partnering with the 3^rd Street Boys and Girls Club once more and hope to show God’s love and care to even more children than last year! But this means that WE NEED YOUR HELP! IF you would like to volunteer to help with VBS, read the volunteer descriptions HERE. Then sign up next to your desired work area with your name and availability HERE.