Tuesday, March 27  Taizé Style Service - 6:30 p.m.                      

Enjoy a meditative service of readings, prayers, and music from the Taizé Community, a Protestant and Catholic movement that has roots in Burgandy, France.

 

Wednesday, March 28 Stations of the Cross - 6:30 p.m.

Contemporary interpretation of an ancient form of devotions.

Thursday, March 29 Maundy Thursday Service -  6:30 p.m.

Altar Watch - 9:00 pm to 9:00 am watch the altar to commemorate the Garden of Gethsemane.

Friday, March 30 Good Friday - 

8:00 a.m. - Walking Stations of the Cross. Meet at the fountain at Town Center in El Dorado Hills for a contemplative walk around the perimeter of Town Center Lake with

pauses to read the Stations of the Cross.

 

12:00 noon Traditional  Good Friday Service

6:30 p.m. Interfaith service with readings and music with Faith Church, Foothills United Methodist and Latter Day Saints. Music provided by an interfaith choir.

Saturday, March 31  Holy Saturday Easter Vigil - 7:30 p.m.

Baptisms take place at this service which traces the history of God's people,

beginning in darkness, and ending in the light of the Easter promise.

 

Sunday, April 1 Easter Sunday, Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:00 am

Drop-in: with Rev Sonya in the Reconciliation Room (Library)

Why confession? (Click here to read more).  

"But I don't want to go to become a Clergy Person.........."

 

It is surprising how often the above statement is made when someone first hears about the opportunity to join "Education For Ministry" small group at Faith on Monday evenings.

 

However, ministry simply means 'the act of serving'.  So we are all at one time or another ministers.  Moms and Dads serve children, daughters and sons serve (take care of) parents or grandparents, teachers serve students, friends serve friends, business employees serve customers, etc.

 

And in truth, God serves (takes care of, nurtures, loves) us and we are each called to serve Him and His creation.

 

Education For Ministry is a 34 week small group study that takes the next deeper step into understanding the purpose and calling of service from Scripture, Church History and tradition.

 

It is a trans-formative experience, as we learn to incorporate scripture, Christian tradition and history as well as our own thinking of God into our daily lives. Faith's Education For Ministry (EFM) small group meets on Monday evenings starting  August  2018 through May 2019  with weeks off during Holiday seasons.  We also have great potlucks to begin and end the 9 month session.

 

We will be having an introductory session Sunday April 15  after the 10:00 am service in the Library from 11:45-1:00 pm.  We invite you to come explore with current group members the materials, commitment and process of this year study. Dennis Johnson and Sharon Morrison are the co-mentors of this group so they are happy to talk with you about any questions.

 

Email Sharon  or call her at 916 599 6875.  

Have you ever experienced being in another culture and coming away with some new insights as a result?  Seeing life through the lens of missionaries in South Sudan and learning about the human spirit and God's grace on the other side of the world is the topic of the next Rector's Bible Study beginning April 4 through May 16.  The class will use Mary Higbee's yet unpublished book, Lessons from Afar, and be led by Fr. Sean Cox and Mary.

In the introduction to Lessons from Afar, Mary asks the readers:

On the other side of the world, amid scarcity and need, I experienced God's generosity and a life-affirming purpose for me. Which brings us to the question that is at the center of this book: Can the lessons taught to me by God and the Dinka people of South Sudan be brought home to the United States for a life that is more abundant and generous? Please join me in seeking answers to that question.

 

Please email or call the office to reserve your copy of Lessons from Afar.  

If you would like to honor or remember a loved one with flowers for the Easter season, please place your donation of $20 per plant in the offering plate, marked "Easter flowers" along with a completed form found the Sunday bulletin.. For the remembrance or honor to be included in the Easter bulletin, responses must be received by Sunday, March 25 th .   

We have several events happening that require tickets to be sold on Sunday mornings in the rotunda. PLEASE do not take the funds that you collect home or out of the building. Place the monies (checks and cash) in an envelope marked with the event and date of collection and hand them to the Vestry Person of the Day (VPOD) or Barbara or myself for "safe" keeping. This is per Diocesan audit regulations. The funds will then be counted and deposited on Monday mornings in the office with all of the plate collections. Envelopes are available in the storage cupboards in the conference room or someone in the office can get you one.

Also - once upon a time I mentioned that there is a mobile app for our ACS Church online giving and directory. Accessibility is available even if you do not give online - you can verify all of your personal giving history and look up folks in the directory. This directory is the most complete we have - as it is our main database in the office. This is in addition to the "Church Directory" app. Please see the attached document for instructions.      

Pre-K, KG / 1st-3rd Grade

Jesus Predicts His Death (John 12:20-33)

Jesus compare this "hour" ahead of him to a grain of wheat in the earth.  Like a greain of wheat buried in order to bear new fruit, Jesus must die to bring new life into the world.  Children will bring home a small bag of dirt and wheat grass seed to plant at home.  Parents can follow-up on the lesson by helpiong children to plant the seeds in a pot, a paper cup or in an Easter Garden (click to see instructions.)

4th and 5th Grade

Last week we began diving our classes in a different way; the 4th and 5th grade now have their own class and a curriculum designed just for them.  This group will be learning the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)  The main point of this lesson is that we care for our neighbor without expecting anything in return, even when our neighbor might be different from us or a stranger.  Kids will enjoy active games and will be working to memorize a prayer (click to view the prayer.)

Jr. High

Using the passage from John 12: 20-33, middle schoolers wil l explore the idea that to follow Jesus, a  person needs to let go of the things of in this world in o rder to gain eternal life.   This lesson includes  learning that Jesus understood that he would soon die on the  cross, yet he saw his approaching  death as being a part of God's  plan for the world.

Our youth will be holding their annual SSP Fundraiser the evening of May 4th this year.  Save the date and join us for dinner, silent auction, raffle, and entertainment.  We have have 18 youth and 4 adults planning to attend this year, so we are raising funds to cover the costs of chaperones, transportation, and scholarships.  Come enjoy a terrific evening and help our kids reach their goal!  

The boys also have camp cards for $5 each.  The cards provide discounts to local businesses. Those are available through May. 

Saturday, April 28 at Church of Our Savior.   #MeToo and More "Me Too"... are words that used to be spoken only from survivor to survivor. Now #MeToo is a movement. You are not alone and can share your stories and find resources for healing.

 

We are creating a safe space to gather together - to be "women of many and one voice."  (Please click here to read more).