We are entering the Triduum (Three Days, in Latin), the mostly holy days of the Christian Year: from Maundy Thursday, through Good Friday and Holy Saturday, to Easter. Our worship, reflection, and spiritual practice on these days are the foundation for everything we do throughout the rest of the year and our life of faith. I pray these days will be a time of awareness, reflection, devotion, and ultimately blessing for you and those you love. Reach out and invite a friend, neighbor, family member to come to worship with you, and be renewed in your love for the Lord.
Please take a look at the announcements below, especially:
- Holy Week Events
- Argyle Fish & Chips (Events)
Maundy Thursday Agapé Meal, April 13, 6:00 pm. Gather for a simple pot-luck meal, as Jesus and his disciples did, before our Maundy Thursday worship. We’ll be sharing this meal with the Christian (Catholic) Community in the Parish House Lower Room. No desserts, please. Hope to see you there!
Maundy Thursday Worship, including Foot Washing, 7:30 pm
Our commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper with the disciples includes foot washing. This action is a symbol of the loving service to others that Jesus calls us to – basic, humble, prayerful, vulnerable. It is part of Maundy Thursday worship in churches all over the world. During the singing of a chant, the congregation is invited to come forward, have one foot washed, and then wash the foot of the person who comes after them, pouring water over the person’s foot and drying it with a towel. This care for one another is deeply moving. Wearing shoes and socks that are easily removable makes this easier.
Prayer Watch, anytime Maundy Thursday night, 8:30 pm to 12 am.
Come and keep watch in the Church with Jesus for thirty minutes on the night of his trials in the Garden of Gethsemane (Altar of Repose with the Reserved Sacrament). Although this is a time for personal prayer and meditation, it is something done on the part of our whole parish community, even if you haven’t been able to attend worship earlier. The watch will conclude at midnight. Sign up for a half hour prayer time on the sheet in the Narthex.
Good Friday - two services: 12 noon intergenerational Stations of the Cross, for kids and adults, & 7:30 pm Good Friday Liturgy, simple music, readings, prayers, and the veneration o the Cross.
Holy Saturday Kids’ Service and Ribbon Banner Making – April 15, 10 am. Join us for a simple and brief service in the Church before we go downstairs to make ribbon banners for the parking lot. Kids and adults of all ages can help. Note - there will be no Easter Egg Hunt as there were no RSVPs for this event.
The Great Vigil of Easter, Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 pm. We begin in the Memorial Garden – lighting the New Fire (symbol of Christ’s Resurrection) and then process by candlelight into the Church. As the service progresses the lights come up, until we finally reach the Easter acclamation and celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter. The First Party of Easter follows. We need some simple refreshments to continue the best service of the year! Take a look at the sign-up sheet for what we need.
Easter Day – Festival Worship at 8 am & 10 am, with music at both services.
EVENTS
Spring Fish & Chips by Argyle of Kearny, April 27 – 5:30-7:30 pm. This is our spring fund-raiser, and we’ll need a variety of help: setting up tables, decorating, selling tickets, making up plates, serving, working the door, helping with publicity, making desserts & drinks, clean-up. There is a sign-up poster in the Narthex. Tickets will be on sale after Church this Sunday: $18 for adults/$9 for kids. Jackie Sullivan is the person to see with questions or to volunteer.
WORSHIP
Evening Prayer, Mondays, 6 pm in the Church will not meet on April 17.
Thursday Eucharist and Healing Prayer, 7:00 am, April 20
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Pilgrim, a Course for the Christian Journey: will meet again Monday night, April 24 at 7 pm in the Rath House.
Bible Study - We’ve finished the Book of Acts, and we’ll pick up with a new topic on 4/26. Come for friendship, fellowship, and learning.
PARISH CALENDAR
On Easter Monday-Wednesday (April17-19) the Parish Office will be closed for the clergy and staff's Easter sabbath.
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Worship is the practice of spending intentional time with God in the company of others. We offer to God “our selves, our souls, and bodies” in thanksgiving for all God has done for us. In worship we focus on God and keep our hearts open in a listening, receptive way, waiting to “hear” whatever the Lord might say to us – comfort, guidance, challenge, wisdom, encouragement, strength, insight. As we gather, we know we are not alone in our endeavor of following Jesus – we draw strength from one another’s prayers and presence, and we remember that we worship with that unseen “cloud of witnesses”, the Communion of Saints. From our worship we are sent out as Jesus’ representatives, to do the Lord’s work in the world, filled with God’s light, and life, and love.
Here is a link to the last movement of JS Bach’s Easter Oratorio, sung in German. The English translation is below. https://youtu.be/s9ijFHovZCk
“Praise and thanks
remain, Lord, your hymn of praise.
Hell and devil are conquered,
its gates are destroyed.
Rejoice, you rescued tongues,
so that you are heard in heaven.
Open, o heavens, your magnificent drawbridges,
the Lion of Judah approaches in triumph!”
And here is a link to a different chorus and orchestra performing the entire Easter Oratorio: https://youtu.be/tWcpB15Ta2w
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Vicki+