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+ Alleluia. Christ is Risen!
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Word from the Rector
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Emmaus Sunday
The 3rd Sunday of Easter features the beautiful and fascinating story of the "road to Emmaus" from St. Luke 24:13-35. This is one of the key resurrection stories not only because of its depiction of Christ being known in the scriptures and the breaking of the bread (where we see and experience him even today in our worship) but also because of the picture it paints of how Christ's presence is the essential ingredient to Christian life. It is only when Christ opens the scriptures to them that these disciples experience the warmth and transformation of real encounter.
I often feel that much of modern Christianity lacks this dimension, relying on tired formulas, empty assertions, and vehement opinions rather than the living experience of the Risen One. Resurrection is not something limited to Christ: it is the common experience of those who have died with him and are offering our our lives to God and to our neighbor in prayer, service, and compassion. Our fellowship of worship and faith gives us real experience of this kind of life--where Christ opens our minds and hearts to the truth and then leads us forth to practice it in the world. This is the difference between a merely institutional, formalist "religion" and the overturning, renewing gift of true experience. One closes minds, the other opens up the Cosmos.
After 10 Forum this Sunday
We will be hearing from Sharon and Shepheard Earl about some of the experiences they have had in their time living and ministering in Africa--both in Sharon's childhood in war-torn Congo and when she and Shep were living and serving in Kenya during a period violent and tumult. There is much to hear and discuss about living faithfully in chaotic or worrying times, and how the Christian faces such times in hope and even joy. I look forward to this gathering and commend it to you as both a tool for discipleship and as a way to build community and mutuality as an alternative society founded in the gospel.
Clergy Conference
I shall be away for Clergy Conference from the afternoon of Monday 4/20 through lunch on Wednesday 4/22. Our conference is held at the Oregon Garden Resort and allows the clergy to hear from our bishop, spend time in study and prayer, and discuss pertinent matters. It, along with Diocesan Convention, is a required event for all active clergy in the diocese. Fr. Bryant will be the celebrant for the Wednesday Eucharist.
Stations of the Resurrection: 4/22, 7 PM
Next week's special service has us gathering in the nave at the Paschal Candle and then making our way around the church in hymnody, scripture, and prayer to consider the major events in the Great 50 Days of Paschaltide, ending at the altar for a final prayer and blessing. Everyone is invited to join the Catechumenate in this annual tour of Christ's risen glory. Please consider it as part of a full Easter observance. So far as I know, we are the one parish in the diocese to offer it.
Getting Ready for our 70th
Next week will be the seventieth anniversary of the very first worship service of St. Timothy's Mission (as it was then)--held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on Hood Street here in Salem in 1956. We will mark this on Sunday the 26th with a special reception after the 10 AM liturgy and (weather permitting) with a field trip to the VFW hall for prayers at the site where "it all began."
Praying for Peace
As we have been reminded by our bishops and by the Pope, war is never something to be glorified, trivialized, or reduced to a kind of macho game. The current conflict in the Middle East is a matter of great concern with enormous implications and consequences not only for Iran and the immediate Persian Gulf area, but for the entire world. Our prayer must be for a speedy and just resolution to this war and for the many innocents killed, wounded, or displaced. We must also avoid partisan rancor. War shouldn't be a partisan issue: it is a matter of life and death. Reducing it to political advantage or "gamifying" it is utterly beneath contempt.
In addition to prayers for peace, for our enemies, and for those in the armed forces, I suggest you include the prayer "For our Country" (#18 on BCP p. 820), written in 1882 and first placed in the Prayer Book of 1928. While a bit antique in its language, it repays careful consideration and remains a comprehensive statement about what sort of nation we should be. Along with being a supplication to God for our country, it serves as a gauge as to our own commitment to the Gospel being embodied in our society as well as a reminder of the ideals for which anything calling itself a just and honorable society will labor.
In the risen Christ,
Brandon+
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The Week Ahead...
Thursday, April 16: Peter William Cassey, Deacon, 1917 and Annie Besant Cassey, 1875
- 6 PM: Men's Group (more info)
- 7 PM: Women's Bible Study, Zoom
Friday, April 17: Kateri Tekakwitha, Lay Contemplative, 1680
- No fasting during Eastertide
- Here is a blog posting from Fr. Brandon about Fridays in Eastertide
Saturday, April 18: Juana Inés de la Cruz, Monastic and Theologian, 1695
- Prayers for the the Departed in Christ, traditionally said on this day
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+ Sunday, April 19: Third Sunday in Easter
+ 8 AM: Holy Eucharist (said). In-person.
+ 9:50 AM: Godly Play and nursery open
+ 10 AM: Holy Eucharist (sung).
In-person and online.
Following the 10 AM Liturgy:
+ Coffee Hour in the narthex
+ After Ten Forum in the Fireside Room of the Parish Hall
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Monday, April 20:
- The parish office is closed on Monday.
- 7 PM: Taize (more info)
Tuesday, April 21: Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury and Theologian, 1109
- 10 AM: Crafts and Conversation in the narthex
- Family Promise Host Night
Wednesday, April 22: Hadewijch of Brabant, Poet and Mystic, thirteenth century
- 10 AM: Rite I Holy Eucharist
- 7 PM: Stations of the Resurrection (more info)
- Family Promise Host Night
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Prayer Requests from this Parish: Sandy Noble, Kevin Witt, Martina Sierra, Liz McClure, Dale and Jeanné Cannon, Br. Matthew Tenney, nOGS, Juanita Rivera, Scott Kohl, Mary Anne McMurren, the Teeters family, Rorey DeWitt, Rich Zorko, Mike Martin, Julia Smith, Kerrie Harwood, Family Promise, Salem for Refugees, Mending Wings Youth Ministries. For the diocese of Iran and the people of the Middle East. For those who serve in the armed forces and for their families. For the maintenance of our civil liberties and all who labor to protect them.
For the Departed: Stan Lester, Tristan Wrosch, Joyce Erovick
For Those who Mourn: Carol Tatman, The Wrosch Family, Karla Erovick
For Those with Birthdays Next Week: Jeff Swartwout, Christy Eckley
In the Anglican Communion: The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma)
In the Diocese of Oregon: St. Andrew, Florence
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+ Observing the Great 50 Days of Easter
- No fasting during this season
- Invite Fr. Brandon to bless your home
- Invite others to your home for Agape hospitality (especially, invite someone new to the parish to your home and extend the range of your hospitality)
- Keep your Easter decorations up for the full season
- Plan on attending the two special midweek Eastertide liturgies: Stations of the Resurrection (7 pm, Wednesday, April 22) and the Feast of the Ascension (7 pm, Thursday May 14)
- Say the Pascha Nostrum from Morning Prayer daily (BCP p. 83)
- Begin emails to Christian friends with "Alleluia! Christ is risen!"
- Use the Easter Table grace (below) at meals
- Say the "Regina Coeli" in the morning, at noon, and in the evening.
The Easter Table Grace (as used at the Agape Feast)
Blessed are you, O Lord our God; you have given us the risen Savior to be the Shepherd of your people: Lead us, by him, to springs of living waters, and feed us with the food that endures to eternal life; where with you, O Father, and with the Holy Spirit, he lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen, Alleluia!
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Taize Services
Third Mondays of every month
7 PM in the Chapel
Our next Taize service is Monday, April 20th. This is an ecumenical service of prayer, chanting and singing, led by the participants. It originated in France in a religious community. Some come for the prayer and silence, others to sing. Contact Pamela Lyons Nelson if you have any questions, or just plan to show up!
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After Ten Forum
This Sunday, April 19: Fireside Room
Theme: Living in hope in times of uncertainty
An interview and conversation with Shep and Sharon Earl.
Sharon grew up in Congo in the midst of upheaval. Shep and Sharon lived and worked in Kenya during tumultuous times. We will explore the ways they lived in hope, during some very fearful times. Their experiences can help us as well.
NOTE: Coffee and tea will be available in the Fireside Room.
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A Note on intinction at Holy Communion...
The practice of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ together (called "by intinction"), though allowed by the rubrics, is nonetheless not a good choice if you are concerned about hygiene and the transmission of illness. It has been demonstrated scientifically that the usual means of communion instituted by Our Lord are by far the safest way to receive Communion and not transmit illness. Intinction, by its very nature, provides for more contact with fingers and the possibility of disease transmission. This may seem counterintuitive, but it is factual. For this reason, I wish to encourage the congregation to receive the cup rather than receive by intinction. If you have a serious illness, of course, you should absent yourself from public worship where possible, or wear a mask.
If you must intinct for a serious reason, it remains the requirement in this diocese that the chalice bearer intinct the bread in the chalice and then place the sacrament on your outstretched tongue. There is no "self intinction" by communicants, even if this was your practice elsewhere. Please also respond "Amen" whenever receiving communion in one or both kinds, or by intinction, as indicated in the Prayer Book, by way of your personal affirmation. It is best to do this after the words of administration but before you receive.
Further discussion of this subject may be found in an article from the Diocese in Europe.
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Community Garden
We currently have an open plot in the Community Garden. Please contact our Junior Warden, Jim Apollonio, ASAP if you are interested.
This plot will be given away soon!
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Lenten Outreach Project
Thank you!
Many thanks to all who contributed to the Lent Outreach Project. Together we provided a whopping 734 lbs of tuna and peanut butter - two of the most requested items - to be shared with those in need in our community. Special than ks to Br. Matthew and the young people of the parish for arranging the displays, and to David Lite and Chuck McFerron for delivering our donations to the Food Bank.
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Family Promise
Our next Family Promise rotation (serving families experiencing homelessness) will be Tuesday April 21st and Wednesday April 22nd. Please contact Steve Cowgill if you have any questions or would like to learn more about St Timothy's involvement in this ministry. You can also learn more about the amazing work of Family Promise here. |
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Stations of the Resurrection
Wednesday, April 22, 7 PM
This unique service, offered only once this season in conjunction with the Catechumenate, retraces the events of the Great 50 Days of Eastertide, showing the motion and energy of Resurrection – both as found in Holy Scripture and in the life of the Church. All are invited!
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Diocesan Renewal Gathering
Saturday, June 6
Hosted at St Timothy's!
All are invited to this year’s Renewal Gathering on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Timothy’s, Salem. This annual event brings together Episcopalians from across the diocese for a day of learning, conversation, and fellowship.
Our featured preacher and speaker will be the Rev. David “Kawika” Jackson of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi, who will lead reflections on the theme E Komo Mai: The Role of Hospitality from a Judeo-Christian Perspective. Through scripture and conversation, participants will explore the biblical call to welcome the stranger and how that call shapes our life together as Christians today.
The gathering will also feature the annual diocesan basket raffle, with parishes invited to contribute themed baskets.
Registration is $20, and you can learn more and register on our website HERE. All are welcome!
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An Easter Blessing
Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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