Pentecost -- 50 days after Easter -- is the great celebration of the Holy Spirit -- God who enters into our lives and souls, God who strengthens and sustains us, God who teaches us and prays when we don't know how (or what) to pray.
The account in Acts is full of wind and flame -- the power of God swirling as it was experienced by the friends of Jesus gathered. But God can (and does) come at any time, in a variety of ways, with a variety of gifts.
At St. Agnes' we celebrate Pentecost as a new beginning, with Fairbairn's retirement and the beginning of Archdeacon Deborah's time as Pastoral Associate. This begins a transition period in which we hope to find one or more partner churches with whom to share clergy and mission.
Do we have all the answers? No.
Do we know exactly how it will work out? No.
Is it a bit scary? Yes.
Do we have some models? Yes.
In this sense, Pentecost is OUR FEAST!!!
The disciples didn't have all the answers about their future, either.
The disciples didn't know exactly how it would pan out, either.
The disciples were a little scared, too.
The disciples had Jesus as a model -- AND the gift and power of the Holy Spirit to lead them.
... and so do we.
COMING UP THIS WEEK:
WEDNESDAY, TAIZE SERVICE, 7:00 PM
THURSDAY, VESTRY MEETING, 8:00 PM
SUNDAY, WORSHIP SERVICE (COMMUNION), WITH CHILDREN'S CHAPEL 10 AM
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Holy Week at St. Agnes'
Sunday, March 24: 10 AM: Blessing of palms and procession, first reading of the passion story, communion service. Children will process, then go to Children's Chapel and work on a project; Communion for children will be brought to them.
Thursday, March 28: Maudy Thursday (Maundy refers to Jesus' commandment to love): Communion services at 12 Noon and 7:00 PM.
Friday, March 29: Good Friday Services at 12Noon and 7:00 PM. Children's Stations of the Cross at 2 PM
Sunday, March 31: EASTER SUNDAY: Festival Communion Service at 10 AM. What does "New Life" mean to you?
Thursday, March 28: Maudy Thursday (Maundy refers to Jesus' commandment to love): Communion services at 12 Noon and 7:00 PM.
Friday, March 29: Good Friday Services at 12Noon and 7:00 PM. Children's Stations of the Cross at 2 PM
Sunday, March 31: EASTER SUNDAY: Festival Communion Service at 10 AM. What does "New Life" mean to you?
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
What do we do with Lent?
Lent is the season of the church year when we prepare for Easter (which is THE big feast of the year -- forget the bunnies and jelly beans: at Easter, Jesus' friends realized that he was still present to them beyond death, triumphant over death, and that realization changed their lives. If we truly got it, that realization would change our lives as well.)
So as the fellowship of the followers of the Risen Christ grew, Easter became the time to baptize new members. It was also the time to reconcile with those who had sinned notoriously and wanted to return to the church. As these two groups prayed and fasted and prepared for Easter, others joined them in solidarity, and - lo - we had a lenten time of prayer and fasting.
Any Lenten practice which connects us with God and others is a good Lenten practice.
In my experience, fasting hasn't worked. I remember young adulthood, when we watched the clock on Saturday nights and then lit up cigarettes at midnight, cheerily exclaiming, "Sunday isn't Lent." I also think that I can turn Lent into a New Years' resolution do-over way too easily, or focus on myself too much. (Hey, God, how am I doing?)
So this year, we're suggesting what Archdeacon Deborah called "Just do it!" Can we reach out to others this Lent? Can we offer our time, talents, treasure for others? Can we learn a little more about what God is doing in our neighborhood, and who our neighbors are? Can we lay down old family battle lines and do some forgiving, some asking for forgiveness? Just as our Food Bank has been transformative for St. Agnes' we may find that this kind of reaching out will be transformative for our Lent.
This week:
Tuesday, February 19: 1:00 PM Needlecrafters, Library
Thursday, February 21: 7:30 PM Drupal Website group, at Fairbairn's
Sunday, February 24: 10:00 AM Sunday Eucharist (Communion)
Children's Chapel
11:15 AM Coffee hour and Forum on Partnership
So as the fellowship of the followers of the Risen Christ grew, Easter became the time to baptize new members. It was also the time to reconcile with those who had sinned notoriously and wanted to return to the church. As these two groups prayed and fasted and prepared for Easter, others joined them in solidarity, and - lo - we had a lenten time of prayer and fasting.
Any Lenten practice which connects us with God and others is a good Lenten practice.
In my experience, fasting hasn't worked. I remember young adulthood, when we watched the clock on Saturday nights and then lit up cigarettes at midnight, cheerily exclaiming, "Sunday isn't Lent." I also think that I can turn Lent into a New Years' resolution do-over way too easily, or focus on myself too much. (Hey, God, how am I doing?)
So this year, we're suggesting what Archdeacon Deborah called "Just do it!" Can we reach out to others this Lent? Can we offer our time, talents, treasure for others? Can we learn a little more about what God is doing in our neighborhood, and who our neighbors are? Can we lay down old family battle lines and do some forgiving, some asking for forgiveness? Just as our Food Bank has been transformative for St. Agnes' we may find that this kind of reaching out will be transformative for our Lent.
This week:
Tuesday, February 19: 1:00 PM Needlecrafters, Library
Thursday, February 21: 7:30 PM Drupal Website group, at Fairbairn's
Sunday, February 24: 10:00 AM Sunday Eucharist (Communion)
Children's Chapel
11:15 AM Coffee hour and Forum on Partnership
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