Heard at Redeemer

Ellen Bachtelor's Lent Madness with its intentional archness of matching off saints to "compete for the Golden Halo"  made me go and re-read about some of the saints in this year's "competition".  I went back and read some excerpts from St. Isaac of Syria, who was bishop of Nineveh briefly in 660 and, apparently, a sailor in his youth.   I was struck by the following on the fact of how to deal with suffering.  It would be ill-received by today by preachers espousing a prosperity gospel.
 
By Way of the Cross
 
The blessed Apostle openly calls it a gift for someone to be ready in faith for suffering for the sake of his hope in God. Thus he says, "to you it has been granted by God not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for his sake. " (Philippians 1:9)   As St. Peter wrote in his letter, "When you suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are you, for you will become sharers in the sufferings of Christ". (1 Peter 3:14, 4:13)
 
Therefore when you are at ease and enjoyment do not rejoice; and when tribulations come upon you, do not be sullen or consider this as something alien to the way of God.   For this path of God has been trodden from all ages and through all generations by means of the cross and death.
 
Where did you get the idea that afflictions on the path do not belong to the path? Do you not wish to follow in the footsteps of the saints? Do you want to travel by some special path of your own, one that does not involve suffering?
 
The path to God is a daily cross. No one has ascended to heaven by way of ease. We know where the easy way leads!
 
 
 
(From Daily Readings with St. Isaac of Syria, edited by A. M. Allchin,  Templegate publishers.)
 


Sunday Morning Lenten Program
Theology Matters
Canon Jordan Hylden

This week, March 19, the subject will be  Christ and Salvation
March 26         Church and Life in the Spirit
April 2             Thy Kingdom Come: Heaven, Hell, and Hope

Wednesday, Lenten Series
Reaching our Community
Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Holy Eucharist , 6:00 p.m.
Soup, Salad, & Bread, 6:30 p.m.
Reaching our Community, 7:00 p.m.
Need Soup, Salad and Bread for the 22nd
We will have a Potluck, Soup, Salad and Bread Supper. 
Please sign up at the back of the church for what you would like to bring.
Outreach
Irving Cares Pantry

Canned Fruit
Canned Meats - tuna, chicken
Canned Meals - chili, stew, soups
Peanut butter
Hot and cold cereal
The Third Sunday in Lent
Sunday, March 19, 2017
8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Celebrant, The Reverend Canon Victoria R. T. Heard
Altar Party

Time
Lay Eucharistic Minister
Lector/Prayers of the
People
8:00 a.m.
Bob Ware
Phyllis Slocum
 10:30 a.m.
Dan Donalson
Dan Donalson

Readings

Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 95
Romans 5:1-11
The Gospel, John 4:5-42
Readings
Next Week's Calendar
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Holy Eucharist....................................................... 8:00 a.m.
Fellowship following the service
Sunday School........................................................ 9:30 a.m.
Canon Hylden's Lenten Program............................ 9:30 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal....................................................... 9:15 a.m.
Holy Eucharist...................................................... 10:30 a.m.
Fellowship following the service
Vestry..................................................................... 12:15 p.m.
Rhema Gospel Church.......................................... 12:30 p.m.
Monday, March 20, 2017
Augustine Chapter SLAA....................................... 6:45 p.m.
Toastmasters........................................................... 7:00 p.m.
T uesday, March 21, 2017
Tuesday Morning Bible Study.............................. 10:00 a.m.
Nichols Park Neighborhood Association..............  7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Holy Eucharist........................................................ 6:00 p.m.
Potluck Supper........................................................ 6:30 p.m.
Lenten Series Reaching our Community................. 7:00 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal.........................................  ............. 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 24, 2017
Berea Interdenominational Bible Study Class......... 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 26, 2017  Fourth Sunday in Lent
Holy Eucharist ....................................................... 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School.......................................................... 9:15 a.m.
Canon Hylden's Lenten Program.............................. 9:15 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal......................................................... 9:15 a.m.
Holy Eucharist...................................................... 10:30 a.m.
Brotherhood of St Andrew...................................... 12:15 p.m.
Rhema Gospel Church....................................  ...... 12:30 p.m.
Holy Week - Easter Schedule
April 9, 2017....................... Palm Sunday................. 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
April 13, 2017................. Maundy Thursday................................... 7:00 p.m.
April 14, 2017...................... Good Friday................. 12:15 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
April 15, 2017.......... Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil............................ 8:00 p.m.
April 16, 2017............................ Easter....................... 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Since the earliest centuries of the Church, Christians have fasted, prayed for the coming of Christ's Kingdom and sought to shed sinful habits.
To keep Lent, the custom of the Church universal is to ask people to fast on Ash Wednesday on Fridays in Lent, and on Good Friday.  
Other good ways to observe Lent well are to read through one of the Gospels, and to give up something good to be as a symbol of your fast.
Whatever you do to observe Lent, do not make your fast or what you give up a matter of regular conversation.   Jesus said that those who fast with grand gestures "have received their reward."
In every case, the goal is to deepen your relationship with and your reliance on God.
If you would like to make a confession during Lent, please contact me at heard@redeemer-irving.org .
May you have a Holy Lent,
Victoria Heard

Nichols Park Neighborhood Association
Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. The Nichols Park Neighborhood Association will hold their semi-annual meeting here at Redeemer in the Parish Hall.  The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer is a member of this group and anyone wishing to attend will be welcome.


Quick Links
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Episcopal Church of the Redeemer |  RedeemerOfficeRedeemer-Irving.org| 972.255.4171 | www.Redeemer-Irving.org