St. George, and projects to come - Rector's Rambling for April 21, 2024

     This week on Tuesday we will be celebrating the Feast of St. George,  patron saint of England.  The Flag of St. George is flying from the flag pole near the ministry center in anticipation of the Feast Day this week.  

Spring is finally upon us, at least it is starting to feel that way.  Easter Day was 3 weeks ago, we look forward today’s Baby Shower for Pregnancy Aide, the Tiger Baseball Outing next Sunday, and then our Malawi Ingathering for the Bishop Biggers Secondary School the following week.

Spring also means the beginning or resumption of outdoor projects around St. John’s.  TLC is being applied to the garden with trimming and pruning, and some new planting of Easter flowers.  Notice will be given of opportunities to pitch in!

Last week, master artisan Oscar Cotton began the yearly touch up of our magnificent doors.  Having stripped and re-stained them over the last few years, he will be doing a yearly touch up and re-varnishing to keep them in tip top shape.  Also, the handrails and retaining wall fence along Woodward will also be getting some much needed attention.

Along the freeway side of the building, an important project will be beginning to rebuild the cement divider between the property and the sidewalk, and to repair and protect the cast iron fence.  This portion of fence is the oldest part of our fencing. It is of a craftmanship that is hard to replicate today. 

In the coming weeks, a new Michigan Historic Building sign will be installed to replace the nearly 40-year old one there now.  The wording has been changed slightly to correct some historical inaccuracies, and of course the new one will be shiny and new.  This was funded through a grant from the organization that makes the signs as well as the generosity of a parishioner.

The new sign, spruced up garden, touched up doors and fencing all contribute to the ‘curb appeal’ of our wonderful building to the many passersby on Woodward, both by foot and by car.  The sign introduces them to the parish, and a well-kept exterior signals that we are a congregation that is active and attentive to details such as this.       

 

Good Shepherd Sunday - Rector's Rambling for April 14, 2024

     In a 5 day period in 1994 I graduated seminary, was ordained a transitional deacon, celebrated my 28th birthday, and moved to the Philadelphia suburbs to began my first position as a clergyman in The Episcopal Church.

I was so grateful to have been hired as the curate at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, Pennsylvania.  At the time, it was one of the premier Anglo-catholic parishes in the Diocese of Pennsylvania with a long, storied history of glorious worship and meaningful ministry.  Every two years or so, a new curate would be hired to cut his teeth as the assistant clergyman under the tutelage of the Rector of the parish, and the caring (and patient) community of faithful parishioners. 

It was there that I began this journey to learn how to shepherd a flock.  The Rector at the time, Fr. David Moyer, led both by example and instruction, and the people in the pews helped in innumerable ways by encouraging (and sometimes challenging) me to be the leader that God desired me to be as a priest of the Church.

Let’s face it...as urban/suburban congregation there (and here) the idea of being an actual shepherd  to a flock of sheep is an alien concept.  Yet it was in that parish dedicated to Jesus as the Good Shepherd that I began to appreciate why our Lord used this as a metaphor for ministry.  Yet I am reminded that I am an under-shepherd who is called to lead and guide to the one who is THE Good Shepherd, Jesus.  May we learn  to hear his voice and follow his lead!

 

Eastertide - Rector's Rambling for April 7, 2024

 “Wouldn’t it be great if we could celebrate Easter for a long time?”  I overheard this statement at brunch, uttered by a young boy as he added treats to his basket at the candy bar.

I am pretty sure that his reason for wanting a longer celebration was probably centered on that basket of candy, but in fact Easter is a long-time celebration!  Forty days on our calendar and then a 10-day ancillary celebration following – from Ascension to Pentecost.

Yes, friends, it is still Easter!  We will continue the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ until May 10.  Just as Lent was a 40-day season, so too is Eastertide.  During this time we will look at what the Resurrection means to us believers in Jesus Christ.

We have several great opportunities for learning, fellowship, and outreach to the community during these next 50 days (40 for Eastertide until the Feast of the Ascension, and then 10 days later the Feast of Pentecost.) 

The Alpha Course continues until April 21 after the 10 AM Service.  Also on April 21, we will be having a Baby Shower in support of Pregnancy Aid.  On April 28, we are going over to the Detroit Tigers game after the 10 AM Service and after eating our fill of hot dogs here beforehand. 

On May 5th, we will have our Ingathering in support of the Bishop Biggers School in Northern Malawi, Central Africa, and then on June 2nd we will welcome our community partners that we support through the Outreach Committee. 

I want to give a most heartfelt thank you to everyone who pitched in last week to make the Easter Day celebration (and all of Holy Week) so very special!  Altar Guild, Ushers, Servers, Office Staff, and Kitchen Volunteers all did a wonderful job, and you are appreciated!

 

He is Risen Indeed! - Rector's Rambling for March 31, 2024

     Alleluia! 

Christ is Risen!

The Lord is Risen

Indeed! Alleluia!

 After a long Lent of looking at our sins, and being reminded of God’s mercy and forgiveness, we come to the big day!   Jesus Christ, having been sacrificed on the Cross for our sins has now risen from the dead!  We rejoice with resounding Alleluia and celebration.

Sunday after Sunday, we look at the remarkable super-reredos in the church, that wonderful mosaic high above the altar, and see it for its beauty and artistic merit.  But more than that, it is a weekly reminder of today’s celebration.  There, recorded for us in gold leaf and colored stones is a mosaic re-creation of Ella Condi Lamb’s painting depicting the angel of the Lord greeting the three Mary’s who went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.

But instead of finding Jesus, they came upon an empty tomb. 

We will be celebrating Easter for the next 40 days.  It only seems fair that if Lent was 40 days then so should be Easter.  On the 40th day we celebrate Jesus’ Ascension into heaven.  This year that 40th day is Thursday, May 9th.  The next day we begin our nine day prayer intention, known as a Novena, in preparation for the great celebration of the gift of the Holy Ghost, known as Whitsunday, or Pentecost.  During those days we will be praying for the gifts of the Holy Ghost, that they be renewed in His Church and on us as a congregation.

Sunday worship, weekday worship, and lots of activities are scheduled at St. John’s.  On April 21st we have a baby shower in support of Pregnancy Aid. The last Sunday of April we have our parish outing to the Tigers game,  May 5th is our ingathering in support of the Church in Malawi, and June 2nd we will be welcoming our community outreach partners which we support.

We are blessed to have a Risen Lord, and to have a wonderful parish!

Palm Sunday and Holy Week - Rector's Rambling for March 24, 2024

     
Today is a day of contradictions.  We begin our worship with the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and then very quickly the tone and tenor of the worship turns to Jesus’ death and burial as we read the Passion Gospel lesson.

I wish that we could just spend the entire liturgy concentrating on the events of Palm Sunday, and those immediately following.  On the same day, he cleanses the Temple by casting out those who sold, and overturned the tables of the money changers – all of which must have been quite a sight.  He also has an encounter with the chief priests and scribes who are displeased that their children are proclaiming, “Hosanna to the son of David” to which Jesus responds, “Yea: have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?” (Matthew 21:16).  And in between Palm Sunday and Jesus’ arrest there are five chapters of Matthew’s gospel full of some of the most important of Jesus’ teaching.

But the Church puts these two lessons together for a reason.  When the lectionary was developed centuries ago, it was assumed that attendance at a weekday service would not be as good as on Sunday, and that proves to be correct today.  Not as many people will join us for worship on Good Friday, although I would like to be proven wrong on that point this year.

During this week there will be ample, important opportunities to worship and enter deeply into the last days of our Lord’s earthly life.  On Wednesday we have a service of Psalms and Lessons, called Tenebræ, to set the mood for the upcoming Three Holy Days (Sacrum Triduum) of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.  Tenebræ on Wednesday, and the Maundy Thursday service are both at 7:00 PM.  Good Friday worship is from noon to 3:00 PM (come for all or whatever portion you are able).

On Saturday evening, at 6:00 PM, we begin our celebration of the Resurrection with the deeply symbolic service of the Easter Vigil, and then, on Easter Day, we have our 8:00 and 10:00 AM services, with Brass accompaniment at the 10:00 AM Solemn High Mass (prelude at 9:30 AM).

Now is the time to set these dates on your calendar, and to invite friends, family, and neighbors to join us for worship!

 

Passiontide - Rector's Rambling for March 17, 2024

Today we go yet another step deeper in our preparations for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Back during the -gesima Sundays, we switched to purple vestments and hangings and lost the “alleluia” in the liturgy.  When Lent arrived, the flowers disappeared (except for Lætáre Sunday last week) as did the white surplices on the servers and choir.

Now we go deeper with the beginning of Passiontide, as we veil the crosses in the church, and see the “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost” suppressed in our increasing Lenten discipline.  And when we get to the Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday), the liturgy gets even more stark on those days.

Why?  “Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi” is a statement that what we pray is what we believe (literally “the Law of Prayer is the Law of Belief).  Our corporate worship, particularly the Daily Offices of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, as well as the Holy Communion, helps us to express what we believe.  And yet in Lent we strip things back as a tangible reminder that soon we will be looking at the sublime reminder of the painful price Jesus Christ paid on the cross for our salvation.

During these two weeks I hope that we all will take the time to begin to meditate on what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross.  Just as we do Stations of the Cross on Friday at noon, you can also read the various passion narratives in the four gospels and think deeply upon the offering Jesus made of himself.

Also, now is the time to make sure you have marked on your calendars the important worship on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Day, and to make sure nothing prevents you from joining us for worship on those days.

And you should also be inviting your friends and family to join us for Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Services.  Those who are not regular church attenders generally look for a church to attend on these important days.  You may be the vehicle God will use to draw others closer to Him, and in an active relationship, just by your invitation to others to join us for worship!

  

St. Patrick's Saltire, and Laetare Sunday - Rector's Rambling for March 10, 2024

     Today we are having our St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon in the Undercroft after the 10 AM Service.  This of course is a week before the actual Feast Day (March 17), so I will write more about him next week.  But note that on the ministry center flag pole we are flying the Saint Patrick's Saltire, which is the flag of the Anglican Church of Ireland. We flew the flag of Wales in honor of St. David’s feast day March 1st, and we plan on flying a the flag of St. George for his feast day on April 23rd.

Happy Lætáre Sunday!  This Sunday is also known as Rose Sunday (take a look at the vestments and hangings today to figure out this title), and in our mother Church of England it is known as Mothering Sunday (like our Mother’s day in May).

Still a Sunday in Lent, this Sunday is a mid-point when we “lighten up” a bit.  The deep penitential purple vestments are replaced with the lighter rose.  The Latin title gives us a hint as to this lightening up of the day.  Lætáre is the opening word of the liturgy in Latin, on which our liturgy is based.  The first word of the Introit, sung by the choir at the 10:00 AM service, is “REJOICE”.

Although a penitential season, on this Sunday we rejoice that we have passed the half-way point of Lent.  We rejoice because Passiontide (the last two weeks before Easter) and Holy Week are in sight.  We rejoice because Easter is just around the corner.  We rejoice because, to date, we have kept a good Lent, OR because we still have a chance to have a good Lent starting today.  But above all, we rejoice because we have a Saviour, Jesus Christ, who paid the price of our sins.  We rejoice that in Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of those sins and are reconciled unto the Father through His blood.

So if you haven’t started “keeping Lent” there is still time to give something up, and to take some things on like extra prayer at home or attending special services here at St. John’s.  And, of course, Fr. Kelly and Fr. Bedford