We are coming near to the end of Lent. This Sunday is Lent 5, and then next week will be Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week. Sunday we will finish up our worship leader trainings with the readers. If you are currently a reader, or would like to be a reader, please stay for 5-10 minutes following the service on Sunday.
As a result of our trainings, you may have noticed that we are doing something different on Sundays. At the beginning of the offertory (when the ushers pass the plates), we have one to two parishioners bringing up the gifts of bread and wine. These start in the back, on the same table as the offering plates. The idea behind this is that we bring to God what God has given us (bread and wine) and ask God to set them aside as holy, so that we can participate in saving meal of the Eucharist. During Covid we put the bread and wine on the credence table (the table right behind the altar) to minimize the number of hands touching the gifts. Now, however, we are able to do the more symbolic act of having these gifts brought to the altar by members of the congregation. If the ushers should ask you to help out, your job is simple. Following the peace, you join them at the back of the church. When the music starts, you bring the bread and wine forward and hand them to the acolyte. You can bow to the altar if you like, and then return to your seat. Thank you!
I received a heads up from a couple parishioners this week that they had received an email from “me” asking for discrete help. The email further went on to say that “I” was in a prayer meeting, so they should email me back, but not call me. I promise, I will never contact you like this. They didn’t continue to see where the scam went, but I will also never email or text you and ask for gift cards. Thank you for staying alert and not getting caught up in these scams.
Finally, please note the upcoming events:
March 22 – Reader Training following both services
March 25 – Soup and Substance (worship @ 6, supper @ 6:30, class @ 7)
Respect the Dignity of Every Human Being – Deacon Chuck Zellermayer
March 29 – Palm Sunday
March 29 – Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m.
April 2 – Agape Meal at 5 p.m.
April 2 – Maundy Thursday at 7 p.m.
April 3 – Good Friday at noon and 7 p.m.
April 4 – Easter Vigil at 7 p.m.
April 5 – Easter Sunday
April 12 – Combined Service at 9 a.m. followed by Catered Coffee Hour
April 12 – Prayer Shawl Group at 10 a.m.
April 14 – Understanding Social Security at 6:30 p.m. (Please RSVP to Edward Jones)
Prayers and Blessings,
Mother Pippa