Members & Friends,
As we begin Holy Week this Sunday, Fr. Dennis hopes we will all mark our calendars not only to attend services on Palm and Easter Sundays but also those of the Holy Triduum (April 21-23). These 3 services are the ancient high holy days that remember the last days of Jesus’ earthly ministry and deepen our experience of Easter:
Maundy Thursday (the night of the Last Supper),
Good Friday (the day of the crucifixion),
Holy Saturday (the day Jesus lay in the tomb).
Here’s what’s happening this week.
2 Farewells, 1 Welcome Back, and 1 Welcome Aboard
This Sunday during 10 a.m. Eucharist we bid farewell to Ed Garren and our Soprano Section Leader, Esther Mae Jones. Our e-blast of 3/31 listed many of Ed’s contributions. For the past five years, Esther has served faithfully in the choir and enhanced the music with her pure, shimmering voice. Esther is moving on to give her full attention to her school program to become a dietician, and to her new position with the Legacy hospital system. We offer Esther our deepest gratitude for her contributions and wish her well!
This Sunday we welcome back David Henderson whose new job takes him to Seattle. David will offer this week’s healing prayers and anointing of oil during Communion. Welcome home, David!
We are pleased to announce that Joshua “Brother Gregory” Kingsley has been selected as St. Stephen’s (StSt) first Artist in Residence (AIR). “Br. Gregory” is Joshua’s given name in the Companions of St Luke Benedictine Order of which he is a member. Br. Gregory is the artistic director of Portland Chamber Music, a 501c3 non-profit corporation that seeks to make art music accessible to all people through performance and education. He is a student at PSU earning a master’s degree in clarinet performance. Look for more special music at StSt from our AIR. Congratulations and Welcome Aboard, Gregory!
This (Palm) Sunday
9 a.m. Adult Inquiry concludes its discussion of Paul's Letter to the Romans. The group does not meet on Easter.
Both 7:45 & 10 a.m. Eucharist begin in the parish hall with a Blessing of the Palms by Fr. Dennis, followed by a procession to the chapel (745) or church (10). At the time for the Gospel lesson, the Passion Narrative will be read (at 7:45) by Mic Fleming, Joyce Lew, Sabin Belknap, Paul and Fr. Dennis, and the congregation; and (at 10) by Br. Gregory & Macie Kingsley, Melissa Arnold, David Henderson, Shirley Kloss, Mic Fleming, Paul and Fr. Dennis, and the congregation.
Fr. Dale Carr is our preacher at 7:45 & 10 a.m. Eucharist. At StSt, we celebrate one message spoken by many voices. That message is that we are all welcome and fed at the Table of the Lord.
Following 10 a.m. Eucharist, Vestry holds its regular monthly meeting in the library.
On the Rota
This week’s worship rotation (745 and 10am) is:
1st Lesson: Mic Fleming and Tom Walker;
Epistle Lesson: Jean Fleming and Sam Ganczaruk;
Intercessory Prayer: Sabin Belknap and David Henderson;
Servers: David Henderson and Melissa Arnold;
10am Sub-Deacon: Bobby Berstler;
10am Healing Prayers: David Henderson;
10am Greeters: Bill Kerr and George Neavoll.
If you’re on the Rota and cannot be here Sunday, please contact us Friday in the parish office.
The Triduum
April 21, Maundy Thursday, 7 p.m. Eucharist includes a foot washing ceremony and stripping of the altar. Br. Gregory’s sermon will invite us to participate in the humbling service of giving and receiving the washing of feet.
During our Maundy Thursday service, Journey Koinonia Catholic Community celebrates a Seder Meal in the parish hall. Journey Catholic worships at StSt every Sunday at 6 p.m. Operation Nightwatch (ONW) will offer outdoor hospitality on the Clay St. sidewalk using their Mobile Unit (motor home). You can help ONW by volunteering to park your car on Clay & 13th to reserve the space for the motor home at 6:45 p.m. Contact Paul at Outreach@stst.org for details.
April 22, Good Friday, 12 p.m. Prayer Service is held in the chapel; and 7 p.m. Taize Service in the church held with Journey Koinonia Community.
April 21, Holy Saturday, 7-9:30 p.m. Easter Vigil begins in darkness and is lit by the new fire and lighting of the Paschal candle, symbolizing Christ as the light of the world and Christ’s living presence with us. The oldest known prayer of the Church, the “Exsultet” dating back to the 1st century, is chanted by Paul. The service is filled with readings and special music, a renewal of our baptismal vows, an Easter sermon by Paul, and our first Easter Eucharist of the season.
On Easter Sunday, our celebration of the resurrection continues with 7:45 & 10 a.m, Eucharist. Fr. Dennis is our preacher. Paul is working with a parents’ group to have Easter activities for the children, including an Egg Hunt!
This Saturday, April 17, is a full house!
At 7:30 a.m., we open the doors for another StSt Table Saturday Breakfast in the parish hall. Coffee and conversation is available until breakfast is served at 9 a.m. To volunteer to help us serve or offer a friendly ear of companionship to a guest at our Table, contact Paul at Outreach@stst.org.
At 8 a.m., the Brazilian Consulate will be in the chapel to meet expatriates from Brazil who need to communicate with the Brazilian government regarding issues like Visas. When StSt Table concludes, the Consulate will move into the parish hall until 5 p.m. (The Consulate is also in the hall this Friday, 8am-5pm.)
At 9 a.m., Mary Lynn Parodi and her music students will be rehearsing in the church until 1 p.m. for a concert at StSt on Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m. We are very please Ms. Parody has chosen StSt as the site for this concert where 120 parents and students are expected to attend.
At 10 a.m., Bobby Berstler and those helping to set up for palms for Sunday meet in the Handel Room. After 1 p.m., the group can move to the church.
In the afternoon, Br. Gregory is meeting in the church with newcomers Jenny Wang and her sons, Otto and Maddock, to be our Palm Sunday torch bearers. Welcome, Jenny, Otto and Maddock!
Paul will be at StSt on Saturday to help ensure every group feels welcome in our busy space! If you’d like to help extend the hospitality, contact him at Outreach@stst.org.
This Wednesday, April 20, 2pm
Operation Nightwatch (ONW) invites those who are available to join them in remembering those who died experiencing homelessness on the streets of Portland this past year. ONW Chaplain, Rev. Roger Fuchs, leads the service at The Downtown Chapel (601 W. Burnside) at 2pm. Email Paul if you’d like to be part of a StSt group to show our support.
Let us all work to have a blessed and meaningful Holy Week.
No comments:
Post a Comment