Hopefully you are adjusting to the time change and have been able to enjoy the longer days and sunshine this week. This Sunday is our Greeter Training. Greeters (also called ushers) are often the first faces that newcomers and visitors see. They have an important ministry of welcome – do they notice the newcomer entering the building? Are they available to direct them, hand them a bulletin and answer questions? People make first impressions quickly, and our greeters are a big part of St. Mary’s first impression. All current greeters, as well as people who would like to be greeters, should please stay following either service for a training. We are updating a couple items and I want to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Palm Sunday is just two weeks away from this Sunday (March 29)! We will invite neighbor children as well as our own to experience the events of Holy Week a variety of fun Easter-themed crafts. All ages are welcome to join us – the crafts are delightful and I think even adults would have fun putting them together. Next, we will be scattering eggs across St. Mary’s lawn for our Annual Easter Egg Hunt. This is an excellent event to bring family and friends for an all-age friendly Holy Week experience. All children are welcome to hunt for eggs. Please bring a basket.
Holy Week is fast approaching, and I hope you will consider joining us for our special services and events.
We will have an Agape Meal on Maundy Thursday, April 2 at 5 PM in the Parish Hall. This simple meal will be preceded by foot washing, will include a reading from John’s Gospel, as well as blessings over the bread, wine and other food. All are welcome, but please sign up so we know to expect you.
Our Maundy Thursday service will start at 7 PM in the church as usual. This will include the stripping of the Altar, and processing the blessed bread and wine into the Chapel for an All Night Vigil.
On Good Friday we have services at noon (in the Chapel) and 7 p.m. (in the Church). As you enter the worship space, you will be invited to pick up a confession stone. Hold the stone during the service, and consider what guilt and sin and worry is weighing you down. Halfway through the service we will invite you to bring that stone up to the cross, and set it at the foot of the cross – a reminder that Jesus invites us to set down our burdens.
The Easter Vigil service is sometimes called the Queen of the Liturgy. Ours will be at 7 p.m. in the Chapel. We will start in the dark, holding candles as we hear stories of God’s redeeming love and grace. We will then turn on the lights to celebrate the good news of Christ risen from the dead.
On Easter Sunday we will have our normal services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. I hope you join us!
Prayers and Blessings,
Mother Pippa