NEWS & EVENTS

WORSHIP SERVICES AT ST. TIMOTHY'S

+ Holy Eucharist is celebrated each Sunday at 8 AM (said service) and 10 AM (sung service). The 10 AM service is also shared via Zoom for those who are physically unable to attend in person.

+ Wednesdays there is an in-person Holy Eucharist at 10AM, using the traditional-language rite. This service is followed by tea and conversation in the parish library.

+ Current masking policy: All persons may wear a face mask as a health tool. Some persons (especially those in higher-risk groups) should wear a mask. However, no one must wear a mask. The parish provides good quality face masks for those desiring them.

+ We have an upgraded HVAC air handling system to maximize the safety of our indoor environment.

+ We encourage vaccination for all eligible persons to prevent communicable disease at church or elsewhere.

+ Please contact the parish office for more information, and to be added to our Zoom invitation lists.

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Word from the Rector...

Prayer for our Nation, our Enemies, Ourselves

The shooting of a woman in Minneapolis yesterday recalled events of 2020 there, when another shooting made national and international news. The temptation is to fold it into the long line of cultural upheavals following an ideological divide that marks our 24/7 news cycle world.

What has actually happened is another death of a person--who leaves a child an orphan--who had a real life, with all its memories, imperfections, hopes and possibilities, in a moment of violence. So many such deaths occur every day; this one was caught on video. What we do with this death will tell us something of what we are becoming.

If we become consumed with bitterness, or if we run to shore up a political viewpoint, or tune out and decide that it really isn't anything to do with us, we are participants in the violence--albeit at a distance. Only when we kneel down in humility and pray, for our nation, for our enemies, and for ourselves, are we Christians. True prayer always leads to changed action rooted in the gospel. We need much more of that in our day, and each of us is commissioned to do this.

So, let us raise up a memorial by remaining human in an inhuman time. Only such persons have any need of the Kingdom of God.

The Sunday of Christ's Baptism: Hope for Us All

This Sunday celebrates the baptism of our Lord and the great Theophany (manifestation of the Triune God) at that event. As part of this service we recite the Baptismal Covenant--which includes the saving faith as expressed in the Apostles' Creed, and the ever-expanding rings of witness to Christ in the five baptismal promises which follow.

This Sunday reorients us to our essential mission: to share the good news in Christ in the ways we are able. Christ is the one who redeems, heals, forgives, and restores. We are his agents in this. If we ever attempt to go beyond our mandate we will not only fail to benefit others, but will become lost in our own grief and emptiness.

The Holy Spirit takes up residence in us through baptism. A mutuality is established where God comes to us and we may enter into the divine. This mutuality is renewed and fed each time we share in the Holy Mysteries of the Eucharist. We are being fed on hope. When we withdraw from worship, or when we allow other commitments routinely to supersede it, we are risking the erosion of this vital source of hope and thus our spiritual life.

When you come to the liturgy this Sunday, try not to see it as a habit or pattern. See it as the lifeline you are being given once more, connecting you to the hope and the courage to live as true children of God. Come to worship as if your life depended upon it, for in the deepest sense, it does.

Faithfully in Christ,

Brandon+

The Week Ahead...

Thursday, January 8: Harriet Bedell, Deaconess and Missionary, 1969

Women's Bible Study on Zoom, 7 PM

Friday, January 9: Julia Chester Emery, Missionary, 1922

Fridays are marked by acts of discipline and self-denial. If you wish to know more about the meaning of this practice and its benefits, please enquire with Fr. Brandon.

Saturday, January 10: William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1645

+ Sunday, January 11: The First Sunday after the Epiphany
The Baptism of Our Lord

+ 8 AM: Holy Eucharist (said). In-person.

+ 9:50 AM: Godly Play and Nursery open

+ 10 AM: Holy Eucharist (sung). In person and online.

+ Coffee Hour following the liturgy.

Monday, January 12:

The parish office is closed on Mondays

Tuesday, January 13: Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop, 367

Wednesday, January 14:

10 AM: Rite I Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
7 PM: Catechumenate
Reports Due for the Annual Meeting (contact Emma if you are a Parish Leader and have questions about submitting your report)

Prayer Requests from this Parish: Liz McClure, Howard Klopfenstein, Juanita Rivera, Scott Kohl, Caroline Gilbert, the Teeters family, Jim Whitney, Rorey DeWitt, Stephen Harrison, Br. Matthew Tenney, Rich Zorko, Julie Pannel, John Hanson, Kerrie Harwood, Fr. Gary Zerr, Family Promise, Salem for Refugees, Mending Wings Youth Ministries. For Peace on Earth. For justice, mercy, and the governance of our passions in the nation, politics, and civil discourse.

For the Departed: Jeanne Walcher, Barry Henderson

For Those who Mourn: Pat Eder

For Those with Birthdays Next Week: Charlean Clemons, Colleen Wilcox, Anita McIntire, Kathy Akiyama, Pat Eder

In the Diocese of Oregon: Trinity, Ashland

In the Anglican Communion: The Anglican Church in the Central Region of America

About this Season

+ This is the Season after the Epiphany. Its focus is on the Light of Christ coming into the world and the mission of the Church to share that light.
+ The color for this Season is green. Feasts within it are celebrated in accordance with their own color: white/gold for Christ's Baptism, Candlemas, and the Transfiguration, and red for our Patronal Feast (St. Timothy being, by tradition, a martyr).
+ A star takes the place of the Advent Wreath in church after the Feast of the Epiphany, and this star continues to burn through Candlemas on February 2nd.
+ It is customary to keep a few lights or decorations up until Candlemas on February 2nd, keeping a bit of Christmas's light going through the season. If you have greens in your home, it is customary to renew them after the Epiphany.
+ The creche will remain in the parish church with the Holy Family until February 2nd, when they are brought to the altar (along with two doves) in commemoration of Christ's presentation at the Temple.
+ Fridays are observed with fasting and other actions of self-discipline in honor of our Lord's crucifixion.
+ The Song of Praise for festal Eucharists is the Gloria in excelsis. On ordinary Sundays during this season, the Trisagion ("Thrice-Holy Hymn") is used.
+ The last three Sundays before Lent are a time of preparation for the coming season. Resources and opportunities for this preparation will be made available.
+ The season culminates in a celebration of the Transfiguration of Christ.

Zoom Recording of Last Week's Sermons

There is no Zoom recording from last week, as the Christmas / Epiphany Pageant took the place of the sermon during the 10 AM Liturgy.

A written copy of the sermon preached at 8 AM can be read here.

Christmastide Social

Thank you to everyone who helped with and attended the Christmastide Social. It was a wonderful time of festivities and community. The new fireside room turned out to be a cosy spot for firework viewing!

Men's Group

The next Men’s Group will meet on Thursday, January 15^th at 6 PM. We usually share a meal together, followed by a time of discussion led by the host around a particular theme or topic, and ending with Compline. If you would like more information please contact Ron DeWilde, Steve Cowgill or Chuck McFerron. Newcomers are always welcome!

Thank you!

A huge thank you to all who donated money, baked goodies and wrote Christmas cards for the Hoover teachers. We were able to fill their teacher lounge with goodies and I was told many times how touched they were by our support. Each member of staff also received a Christmas card with a small goodie bag of Christmas treats and a fast food gift-card (thanks to the generosity of Chick Fil A in South Salem!) Thank you everyone who helped bless these teachers and staff!

It was also a lot of fun to be able to deliver a wonderful amount of gifts to Church at the Park's Family Site and use dontated money to purchase gift cards for some fun family outings here in Salem. Here is a note from Elmarie, the Chaplain at the Family Site: I wanted to thank you and the St. Timothy family again for your generous support of our Christmas Gift Pod for the families staying with us at the CCS Family Site. The gifts were all so thoughtful, and the family experience gift cards were a huge hit!

Taize Services
Third Mondays of every month
7 PM in the Chapel

Taize will return to the Salem area for the first time in a decade. We will start on Monday, January 19th at 7 PM in the St Timothy's Chapel.

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!

Lenten Retreat
Mt Angel Abbey
March 2 - 5, 2026

This year’s Lenten Retreat, shared jointly with St. Bede’s, Forest Grove, and led by Mtr. Patty Hale and Fr Brandon, will begin on the afternoon of Monday, March 2 and run through the morning of Thursday, March 5, 2026. This will be a time of prayer, quiet, reflection, study, and peace to begin the Lenten season. The topic is Growing in the Fruits of the Spirit with a focus on Galatians 5: 5-6 & 13-26. Please contact Fr. Brandon with any questions or if you would like to reserve a space.

Patronal Feast and Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 25th

Mark your calendars! We will celebrate our Patronal Feast on Sunday, January 25th. The 10 AM liturgy will be followed by the Annual Meeting in the Parish Hall, with refreshments. All are encouraged to attend if able. If you are overseeing a ministry or leading a committee, reports are due on January 14th.

Prayer for Social Justice
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mission Statement of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church
We gather to experience the Holy Trinity through Scripture, worship, study, and fellowship. Receiving and reflecting God’s love and grace, we are sent out to love and serve our neighbor, see the Christ in others, and share the Gospel by the example of our everyday lives.

St. Timothy's Website

St. Timothy's Facebook

Father Brandon's Blog

St. Timothy's Parish Office Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday, 9 AM - 3 PM
Wednesday, 9:30 AM - 3 PM
Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM via telephone/email/text
The Parish Office is closed on Mondays

Parish Office Contact Info
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7416; Salem, OR 97303
Email: mail@sainttimothys.org
Phone: 503-363-0601

Rector's Days Off:
Fridays and on Saturday mornings
Please contact Fr. Brandon on his days off if you have an emergency.

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LENT AND HOLY WEEK AT ST. TIMOTHY'S

+ Stations of the Cross are held every Friday evening at 7 PM during Lent. Join us for the Litany of Penitence from Ash Wednesday and short readings from Blessed Julian of Norwich.

HOLY WEEK

+ Palm Sunday: March 24
8 AM: Blessing of Palms & Holy Eucharist (spoken)
10 AM: Palm Procession & Holy Eucharist (sung).

+ Monday, March 25 & Tuesday, March 26
7 PM: Evening Prayer

+ Wednesday, March 27
7 PM: Tenebrae Service

THE HOLY TRIDUUM

One Liturgy Spread over Three Days (Main services in bold text)

+ Maundy Thursday: March 28

7 PM: The Maundy Thursday Liturgy

Prayer Watch following until Noon on Good Friday

+ Good Friday: March 29

Noon: Stations of the Cross

7 PM: Good Friday Liturgy

+ Holy Saturday; Easter Eve: March 30

10 AM: Little Tomb Service of the Burial of Christ

9 PM: The Great Vigil of Easter, followed by the Agape Feast

Easter Day: March 31

11 AM: Holy Eucharist (said, with hymns)

HOLY WEEK AT ST. TIMOTHY'S

Palm Sunday
8 AM: Blessing of Palms & Holy Eucharist (spoken)
10 AM: Palm Procession & Holy Eucharist (sung)

The 10 AM service begins with the Liturgy of the Palms in the Parish Hall, with Palm Procession to the Nave, followed by the Dramatic Reading of the Passion Gospel of St. Matthew and Holy Eucharist. This is a “hybrid” liturgy: both in-person and online.

Monday & Tuesday in Holy Week
7 PM: Ante-communion, followed by confessions

We will not celebrate the Holy Eucharist during the period from Palm Sunday until Maundy Thursday. On these two days the evening service will be the first part of the Eucharist, including the readings for these days, but ending after the Lord’s Prayer.

Wednesday in Holy Week
7 PM: Tenebrae

Tenebrae, a service of shadows and darkness expressive of the gradual desertion of Christ by those around him, marks a decisive turn in Holy Week and serves as a contemplative portal into the mystery of our redemption which will be our focus in the coming days. This is a service unlike any other in the Church Year and forms the entrance into the heart of Holy Week.

THE HOLY TRIDUUM
One Liturgy Spread over Three Days

All Episcopalians are to join together for worship if physically able to do so. (Main services in underlined bold text)

Maundy Thursday

7 PM: The Maundy Thursday Liturgy
Prayer Watch following until Noon Good Friday

The first part of the service, which does not conclude until the end of the Great Vigil of Easter, this service commemorates Christ’s command to love each other as he has loved us, and his commandment to “do this in remembrance of me” by sharing in the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Sacrament is then removed to the Chapel and the altar is stripped in recollection of Christ’s arrest and being mocked. We then leave in silence as the lights are lowered.

The Prayer Watch at the Altar of Repose in the Chapel now begins, lasting until noon Friday, in remembrance of Jesus’s words in the garden of Gethsemane, when he asked his disciples to spend an hour in prayer with him. Parishioners sign up to take an hour in prayer in the chapel before Christ in the Holy Sacrament. A member of the parish will be at the church all night to let people in and walk them to their cars.

Good Friday

Noon: Stations of the Cross
7 PM: Good Friday Liturgy

The Good Friday Liturgy is the most solemn service in the Church Year. Its starkness points to the truth of both human brokenness and God’s complete identification with us in our need. The highlights are the Great Silence at the start, then the reading of the Passion Gospel according to St. John, the Solemn Collects (intercessions for all humanity), the bringing out and veneration of the Good Friday Cross, and the Communion from the Reserved Sacrament, brought from the Altar of Repose in the Chapel. Once more, we leave in silence.

Good Friday is marked by as complete a fast as health allows, from sunrise until at least 3 PM, the traditional hour of Christ’s death upon the cross.

Holy Saturday

10 AM: Little Tomb Service of the Burial of Christ

The morning service is a short, spare gathering at the now-denuded altar where we hear of Christ’s hasty burial and contemplate his lying in the tomb, even as God the Son has descended to Hades, there to liberate those long held by the Evil One. A glorious sermon from the very early Christian period is read and prayers for those who have died are offered.

Easter Eve

Saturday, 9 PM: The Great Vigil of Easter,
followed by the Agape Feast

The Easter Vigil is the heart of our life as a parish and as a people. It is our main Easter service. It must be experienced, not explained, but it consists of the lighting, blessing, and sharing of the New Fire, the great song before the Paschal Candle (The “Exsultet”), the readings of the Old Testament prophesies, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, the Proclamation of the Resurrection, the great Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom, and the First Eucharist of Easter. This is the high point of the entire Church Year. The Vigil is followed by a grand feast in the Parish Hall, to which all are invited. Come and see!

Easter Day

11 AM: Holy Eucharist (said, with hymns)
A “hybrid” liturgy: both in-person and online.

The Easter Day Eucharist at St. Timothy’s is quite a bit simpler than the Vigil. However, it is a joyous celebration and includes the beautiful, ever-new account of Mary Magdalene meeting the Risen Christ in the garden. With this Eucharist, our celebration of Easter Day concludes…but the Great 50 Days of Eastertide has just begun.