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NEWS & EVENTS

WORSHIP SERVICES AT ST. TIMOTHY'S

+ Holy Eucharist is celebrated each Sunday at 8 AM and 10 AM. 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.

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.

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)

Read this week’s news in St. Timothy’s weekly email newsletter, e-Tidings. Subscribe to have news sent directly to your inbox.

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+ Alleluia. Christ is Risen!
+ Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ +
Thursday, May 9th , 7 PM

 
7 PM: Holy Eucharist, in person and online.
This is a joint service with members from St Paul's Episcopal Church. Fr. Simon Justice will be preaching.

Join us for a dessert reception in the narthex following the service.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82181397304
Meeting ID: 821 8139 7304
Passcode: 399241
Download Service Sheet

Friday, May 10: 

  • There is no fasting during Eastertide
Saturday, May 11: Johann Arndt and Jacob Boehme, Mystics, 1621 and 1624
  • Prayers for those who have died are traditionally offered on Saturdays. Here is more information on this practice, along with prayer resources.
 
+ Sunday, May 12: Seventh Sunday of Easter
+ 8 AM: Holy Eucharist (said). In-person.

+ 9 AM: Adult Study (in-person).

+ 9:50 AM: Godly Play and nursery open

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

+ Coffee Hour following the 10 AM Liturgy
Monday, May 13: Frances Perkins, Social Reformer, 1965
  • The parish office is closed on Monday.
  • 7 PM: Endowment Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 14:
  • Women's Online Bible Study is on break for the summer
Wednesday, May 15: Pachomius of Tabenissi, Monastic, 348
  • 10 AM: Rite I, in-person Holy Eucharist
  • 7 PM: Catechumenate, on Zoom

Prayer Requests from this Parish: Pamela Lyons Nelson, Matthew Tenney, Charlean Clemons, David Tatman, Sandy Noble, Bev Brylski, Bonnie Bonham, Marilyn and Fr. Don Wilson, Joyce Beach-Graeper, for all victims of warfare and violence abroad and at home, Family Promise, Salem for Refugees, Mending Wings Youth Ministries.

For Those with Birthdays this Week

For the Departed: 
Julio Rivera

For Those who Mourn: Juanita Rivera

In the Diocese of Oregon: St. Luke's, Grants Pass

In the Anglican Communion: The Anglican Church of Burundi

Word from the Rector

Ascension: The Forgotten Feast
 
Ascension Day is one of the Seven Great Feasts of the Church Year.  It has faded from view in recent decades because it falls on a weeknight.  Work, school, and sports—the semi-sacraments of secular American life—are supposed to receive automatic preference. Ascension is thus ignored or crammed into the following Sunday: a kind of creedal afterthought.  The experience of worship taking priority over other weekday considerations rarely happens now.
 
Ascension is a profoundly optimistic feast. It points out our already-achieved destiny in Christ. In our risen head, we have already been brought into the presence of God the Father. Since Christ is in us and we in him, this means that part of us has already entered into heaven, where Christ ever makes intercession for us. We are partly there, even in our most difficult moments, because Jesus is there.  He has raised us to the Father’s presence and is our living hope in heaven.
 
The primacy of the Church calendar in our life has a real purpose: it trains us to put our faith first in life—not in a tyrannical, cult-like way. Rather, the Church Year helps us see our work, our education, our family-life, our hobbies and leisure priorities within our faith. When things get difficult in life, we are already adept at being able to follow God’s leading rather than be swept away in anxiety or doubt.
 
Ascension Day is part of the annual journey we make through the essential parts of our faith. In observing it through worshipping together, we are also practicing the skills we all need to put God ahead of all else in life—in matters small and great.  What we receive by doing this is far, far greater than the cost to us in time and effort.
 
A Word of Praise for Flowers in Worship and Puzzles in the Narthex
 
St. David of Wales (c. 500 – c. 589; commemorated March 1) was fond of saying “do the little things in life” when teaching his monks about how to live in community. It is often in the smaller acts and offerings of life where we see the Gospel most clearly in action. I was thinking about this on Sunday in two particular cases: flowers and puzzles.
 
The members of this parish generously (and creatively) donate and arrange flowers week-by-week for use at the altar. This practice brings creation, beauty, and worship together as one holy experience and offering. The flowers used on Sunday are then re-arranged (often with other flowers) and used in many public spaces around the parish church, further extending this offering and beautifying everything from fellowship events to meetings to restrooms. This teaches us that beauty and sacredness may be found everywhere for the Christian. Thank you all—donors and arrangers—for making this loving offering. I often find myself gazing at the beautiful arrangements during the readings and taking in scripture with a healthy amount of floral beauty.
 
Similarly, I have been watching people working on the intergenerational puzzle projects over recent months on Sundays, seeing young and old making their efforts on this shared project. This Sunday the (somewhat challenging) puzzle from Holy Week was completed. When it was done, Yolanda came up to it, looked at it for a while, and said “beautiful!” It was a touching experience to witness. 
 
All of us can share in piecing together the puzzle of community, making our individual contribution towards a holy fellowship of love, beauty, and truth. The next puzzle (depicting the Ascension) is ready for you to put together—as is the next chapter in our parish’s story of “doing the little things” that share in the Kingdom of God, even now.
 
Brandon+
The Day of Pentecost
Sunday, May 19th
Wear red on this day at church to celebrate this Feast 

 
One of the 7 Principal Feasts of the Church Year, this day concludes the Great 50 Days of Easter and celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church. 

The Gospel passage is read in as many languages as possible. Please tell the parish office, or sign up in the narthex, if you are willing to read this passage at either of the day’s Eucharists.

There will be a special Whitsunday Cheese Reception in the narthex following the 10 AM liturgy. You are invited to bring interesting / exotic cheeses, breads, and crackers with cheese boards, utensils, &c.

Following the reception (and, weather permitting) we will go on a “Whit-walk,” to nearby points in our neighborhood in order to pray for our neighbors and the well-being of the community in which we minister.
Please note, Adult Study will not be meeting on Pentecost Sunday, May 19.
Family Movie Night!
Friday, May 24th at 6 PM
 
We will gather together to enjoy a family movie night at the church, with a Bring Your Own Dinner brown-bag (indoor) picnic.  We'll be gathering in the narthex and watching on the projector screen. Everyone is most welcome to attend! The movie is yet to be decided... you may bring along a DVD of your favorite (kid-friendly) movie to be put to a vote! Bring some dinner for your family, movie snacks, blankets and pillows if desired (chairs will also be available!) and plan to enjoy a relaxed evening together.
Save the Date:
Diocesan Renewal Gathering
Mark your calendars for June 1st, 2024, for our diocesan-wide renewal gathering at St. Paul Episcopal Church in Salem. We will celebrate our life together as the Episcopal Church in Western Oregon. The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright, Bishop of Atlanta, will be our speaker. Reserve your complementary lunch and let us know you'll be joining us here.
Help Wanted!

Are you interested in mowing the church grounds? We are planning a BBQ for mowers soon – contact the Parish Office if interested in this mechanical meditation ministry.
+ Observing Ascension and Pentecost
  • Take an Ascension Day hike to a high place. This is an old custom from Europe, in imitation of Christ leading his apostles to the Mount of Olives.
  • Pair your hike with an Ascensiontide picnic. Customary foods include chicken (or other poultry) as a reminder of ascension and flight; grapes to represent Christ, the firstfruits; and cloud like meringues.
  • Say the novena to the Holy Spirit in the days between Ascension and Pentecost. A version is available on page 322 of the St Augustine's Prayer Book, online here, or printed copies are available on the table in the narthex.
  • Wear red to Church on Pentecost.
  • In addition to the Cheese reception, make and decorate cookies in the shape of doves or flames (caraway is a traditional flavor for Whitsun!).
+ A Prayer for Rogation Days
 
Creator God, who sustains all you have made by the power of your Spirit, help us to rejoice in your bounty, to rely on your providence and to ensure the fertility of the land, as we work together with you to produce food for the body and delight for the soul, 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
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Father Brandon's Blog
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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