Purpose To be a Community where all persons will encounter the power and love of the Living God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Vision All Saints Episcopal Church is called by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to... · Worship Jesus Christ · Learn and Teach His Word · Minister in His Name · Proclaim Him and Share the Blessing of His Love · Welcome All in His Name |
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The All Saints Messenger
April 6, 2017
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Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Starting in seminary I started to experience Palm Sunday as a "calm before the storm" in Lent. After many chapters of conniving Pharisees, demonic forces and ignorant disciples, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, greeted with glorious fanfare. For this short time, at least, it seems that all is well. But it is precisely that calm that confuses me. How, in the span of one short week, does the crowd's shouting turn from "hosanna!" to "crucify!"?
Perhaps that tension is exactly the point. Once again we are given a jarring juxtaposition of humility and exaltation. Matthew quotes the prophet Zechariah, "Look, your king is coming to you, humble." And indeed Jesus enters Jerusalem in humility on a donkey. But the crowds exalt Jesus, willing this prophet to become a mighty king, a valiant warrior. They cannot understand that Jesus' exaltation can only result from his future humiliation. And so as Jesus fails to be the warrior-king the crowds expect, their exaltation dissolves into hate. Underneath the shouts of "hosanna!" lie the powerful shouts of "crucify him!" that bring Jesus to his ultimate humiliation. But through that humiliation Jesus also receives the true exaltation, that is, resurrection.
Lord, as we prepare to enter Holy Week, let us be like your Christ, seeking not empty exaltation, but holy humility. Amen.
May the palms of this Sunday be for you a holy reminder of what is to come...just one week later!
See ya Sunday!
Fr. Gary+
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Holy Week Schedule
Every Week Day: Morning Prayer at 8 AM
Thursday, April 13th: Maundy Thursday at 6:00 PM
Friday, April 14th: Good Friday Services at 12:00 Noon & 7:00 PM
(7PM Service will include Stations of the Cross)
Saturday, April 15th: Easter Vigil at 8:15 PM (Followed by a champagne and chocolate reception in the Family Life Center)
Sunday, April 16th: Easter Day Services at 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
*Don't forget to bring bells to the Easter Vigil Service, and
bells and flowers to the Easter Day Services.
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Maundy Thursday at All Saints
6:00 PM, Thursday April 13, 2017
Parish Life Center
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter when Christians all over the world commemorate Jesus washing the disciples' feet, as recorded in the Gospel of John. In Middle Eastern culture, it was the responsibility of the host to see that his servants washed the guests' feet upon arrival, since roads were not paved and travel was often by walking. This practical act of hospitality brought comfort and relief to road weary feet.
Jesus took it upon himself to wash the disciples' feet in an act of humility and to set an example for them and for us who follow him today. This year, we are doing something a little different. Instead of having a foot washing, we will be making up foot care packs to distribute to the homeless.
We will begin the evening at 6:00 with a simple Middle Eastern meal. The first course will consist of figs, grapes, crackers and cheese. The second course will be homemade hummus, flat bread, olives, Tabbouleh and lamb stew. A simple desert course will consist of dates and nuts. After dinner, we will assemble the foot care kits around the tables, and then have Holy Eucharist together. We will then process up to the sanctuary in silence for the stripping of the altar. If anyone wishes to have their feet washed after the stripping of the altar, Deacon Martha will have her basin and towel ready in the Parish Life Center.
A sign-up sheet is in the Parish Life Center so we can know how many to expect for the meal. Everything will be provided. Donations will be accepted to offset the cost of the food and supplies with any overage going into the outreach fund.
We hope you will come join us for this evening of fellowship, communion, and service to our neighbors.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Sign up sheet for Holy Week
: During Holy week we have more services and a need for more people to serve. There is a sign-up sheet in the Life Center - please sign up for the times and services you are available for so we don't have to "assign" people.
* Parish Picture Directory:
We are working on getting the Picture Directory out and need your help. The current directory is in the Parish Hall in The Life Center, please check, correct and update any new information. Additionally, if you did not get your picture taken you are invited to submit a favorite photo which will be included. Please e-mail this photo
to secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com.
* Easter Flowers:
If you would like to contribute to the Easter Altar Flower Arrangement to be placed in the church for Easter Services in memory or in honor of your loved one, please fill out the form in this week's bulletin. We plan to have one large arrangement like last year. We suggest a minimum of $10.00.
* Zumba: All Saints will host a Zumba Gold class on Fridays at
9am
in the Family Life Center starting this
Friday, April 7
. It will be taught by certified instructor Barbara Mooradian who has been teaching for 6 years.
Especially suited to older adults or those with mobility issues or restrictions, Zumba Gold has all of the liveliness and fun of Zumba while being low impact and easier on the body. It can even be done while sitting!
Zumba Fitness is fun-filled, energetic, and contagious. You do not have to know how to dance; you just have to enjoy yourself and keep moving!
Classes will be
$5
each and payable by the month. Come try it out. You will be glad you did. For more info email Barbara at
bjmooradian1@gmail.com
or call 808-281-7172
. See you
on Friday.
* Easter Egg Hunt
: after the 10:30 service on Easter Sunday. We are looking for donations of candy and small goodies like stickers, coins, erasers, etc. to fill plastic eggs. If you have any questions, please contact Allison Wells.
* Parish Nurse Ministry
will be taking blood pressures after the 8:00 and 10:30 services this Sunday
. Nurses interested in the parish nurse ministry please contact Cheryl Saylor, MSN at 803-656-5110.
* Outreach
: The outreach committee will meet in the conference room on
Wednesday April 19, 2017 at 6:30pm
. We will be discussing the upcoming yard sale and the Parade of Tables in September.
* Handbells: rehearsal at 6PM on
April 19. Ring for
10:30 worship
April 23.
* Vestry Work Day: Saturday, April 8th at the home of John Still (1-5PM)
* Yard Sale: The All Saints Yard Sale will be on Saturday, April 29th so start collecting items for our sale. Please only donate items that are in good, working condition, clean and no stuffed animals. We will need lots of help the week prior for setting up and pricing, as well as on the day of the sale. The sale is sponsored by the All Saints Outreach Committee. We have no space to store your donations before the sale. We can not accept old tv's - only flat screens that work. If you have large items or furniture that must be moved prior to the yard sale, please call George Sowersby. Contact Claudette Forbes or George Sowersby with questions.
* Food Pantry: Please help us keep our food pantry stocked. If you would like to give a monetary donation, we'd be happy to do the shopping for you.
* The Pacesetters
will be going to Greenville, SC on
Thursday May 4th to see the Andrew Wyeth exhibit. Please let Jerry Wertz know if you plan to attend
. (
jerrywertz@att.net or 704-577-9699)
* DATE CHANGE - Parish Picnic & Worship Service: Sunday, May 21st at Rankin Lake
* Monthly Parish Breakfast: The first
Sunday of every month we will have breakfast from
9:15 to 10 AM (last food off the griddle at
9:45) for the entire church. The
10:30 volunteers will be the cooks and the
8 o'clock volunteers will clean up. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Family Life Center for items needed and we appreciate folks signing up. Eggs and/or Pancakes and breakfast meat will be provided. Getting our parishioners from both services create opportunities for fellowship so we get to know everyone in our parish. We also hope committee heads will take the opportunity to talk up their ministries and let people know how they might help. On that
Sunday, there will be no Adult Christian Formation or Coffee Hour, but there will be
Sunday School for the children. If you want to assist with this event, please contact Jerry Wertz at 704-577-9699
or
jerrywertz@att.net.
* Salvation Army Garden: Plans are underway for the planting of the garden to provide vegetables for a salad each week or to use in the meals. Charlie Jenkins is in charge of the garden along with a team. We are in need of people/families willing to adopt 1 or 2 plots and do the weeding of those plots. Yes, we are a little ahead of ourselves but the garden will be planted soon and before you know it, the beds will be covered in weeds. There is a sheet in the Family Life Center for you to put your name on a plot. In case you didn't know, All Saints provides the meal and fresh salad every
Monday night at the Salvation Army. The recipients are always very complimentary of the food provided. The vestry representatives for the garden are Jerry Wertz and Linda Klocker.
* New Partnership: New Life Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) has begun using space at All Saints for their worship services. New Life is a small parish of about 15 people who have recently lost their worship space in Charlotte. They are a liturgical church that celebrates The Eucharist weekly and our traditions share many common rites, rituals, symbols and theological underpinnings. The Vestry and Fr. Gary have been in discussions and negotiations with New Life for about six months and most of the details have been finalized. New Life will contribute to the financial needs of All Saints in this arrangement. New Life's services are held on Sunday evening at 7PM and on first Sundays they will gather in our parish hall for a potluck supper and worship beginning at 6 PM. New Life parishioners hope to participate in some of our ministries and attend some of our more unique services. Please give them a wonderful All Saints welcome! Any questions please contact Fr. Gary.
* Adult Christian Formation: We are studying "Great Figures of the New Testament." Our guide is the esteemed Jewish scholar Amy-Jill Levine who teaches at Vanderbilt University. What Ms. Levine brings to the table is a unique Jewish understanding of the New Testament, the culture and people of the day. She will take us on a journey of specific characters: who they are, what they do and how they have been assessed across the centuries. We begin at
9:25 AM. Please join us!
* Family Promise: The remaining 2017 dates that we will be host to the Family Promise guests are: 5/21 - 5/28, 8/6 - 8/13, 10/8 - 10/15 . Family Promise is a community program that provides housing and support to homeless families. All Saints is one of the original churches that helped establish this ministry more than ten years ago. We host families in this ministry four times a year at our parish facilities with assistance from the Redeemer Lutheran Church here in Gastonia. There are many ways to support this ministry. During hosting weeks we need parishioners to greet and engage guests (
5:00-6:30 pm), to prepare and serve dinner (
6:30-8:00 pm), to spend the night (
8:00 pm - 7:30 am), and to provide homework and enrichment activities for children (
5:30-6:30). For more information, or to volunteer please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or
marcdudleync@gmail.com
* Parade of Tables: Save the date!! Saturday, September 23rd.
* 2017 Pledge Cards: If you have not turned in your pledge card yet, please think about doing so. Pledge Cards are available in the Narthex. The Vestry thanks everyone for their generosity.
* The Bible Study Group: The group meets
on Wednesday at
10:00am in the Family Life Center. We welcome anyone who would like to join us. You do not have to be a member of All Saints to come. If you would like to learn more about the group, please contact Jerry Wertz at 704-577-9699.
* Choir: Rehearsal will now be on Sunday mornings at 9:25am.
* Sign Up Sheets for coffee hour, altar guild and altar flowers are on the bulletin board in the Family Life Center. Coffee Hour hosting can be as simple as drinks and cookies. Coffee hour is provided to have fellowship with our parish family. Please sign up or call the church office to add your name to the list (704-864-7201).
* Salvation Army Service Schedule: Monday, April 10th - Team #3. (William Graham, Pete Laine & Milton H.)
* Mid-Week Service: All Saints offers a "Service of Healing with Eucharist" on Wednesday evenings at 5:30 PM. All of us are hurting, in need of healing, or want to be made whole again. Christ comes to us in the quiet times of a contemplative service where we can "be still and know that God is God." Think about joining us and be renewed, refreshed, transformed, and continue your journey towards "wholeness."
* Cookbooks: $15 each or 2 for $25 - If you don't need a cookbook, but would like to help our Outreach committee reach their budget goal, consider buying a cookbook to donate to our newcomers committee. Any donated cookbooks will be included in the welcome bag we hand out to newcomers.
* Church Financials: The Vestry wants to make sure that all parishioners are aware that the monthly financial reports are posted on the bulletin boards in The Family Life Center. If you have any concerns or questions please contact Phill Wertz or Fr. Gary. Thank You!
* Why Do You Love All Saints? Who here loves All Saints? Do you want to tell the world why you love being a part of the All Saints family? Please help us spread the word about our congregation by telling your All Saints Story. All Saints Stories will be published on our website: AllSaintsGastonia.org as well as our facebook and twitter pages. To submit your story, go to AllSaintsGastonia.org and click "All Saints Stories" under the Parish Life tab. If you can, please submit a photo with your story.
* Prayer List: Our prayer list grows rapidly. We ask all parishioners to keep the office informed so that our prayer list remains current and manageable.
* Ministry Schedule: The 2017 March through April Ministry Schedule is on the table in the Family Life Center.
* Fr. Gary's Blog: theway2016blog.wordpress.com
* Gaston Library is sorely in need of used books etc. for their annual book sale held next year. Paperbacks, hardback, fiction, nonfiction, children's, magazines, DVD and CD's are needed. If you're cleaning out, now's a good time to give those old books a new home. Books can be left at the dock at the library or at the church and I'll see they get over there. (Put them next to the CAM box). Please no wet, moldy or books with broken spines. Thanks, Linda Klocker.
* Flower Ministry: We are looking for a volunteer to head up our Flower Ministry. It entails breaking down the large
Sunday flower arrangement into smaller arrangements
on Monday mornings. These smaller arrangements are then delivered to parishioners who are home bound or sick. Please let Debra know if you would be interested in this ministry.
* New Partnership: All Saints has entered into a new relationship with the YMCA's Resource Connection Gateway. This new relationship enables us to help those in need more rapidly and efficiently while also addressing long-term needs versus only addressing immediate concerns. If you would like more information please see Fr. Gary.
* Salvation Army Serving: If anyone is interested in serving at the Salvation Army on Mon. nights from 5:00 to 6:00, please contact Candy Albergine at 704-868-8691 or
email
calbergine@gmail.com. We have a couple of spots open and you will find this ministry is a true blessing to all involved. The schedule is on bulletin board in Family Life Center.
* Christian Formation for Youth. If you have questions please ask Laura Tilly, Phill Wertz, or Fr. Gary.
* All Saints Sermons online: Thanks to John Woodward, our sermons are available in audio and video on our website at: www.allsaintsgastonia.org/sermons
* Free Mulch: There are several piles of mulch in the upper parking lot that you are welcome to take. We need to free up some parking spaces in that upper lot. Please do not take the mulch by the shed as that is intended for the garden.
* Church Directory: Available on the table in the Family Life Center.
* Towel Ministry: We are excited and thankful that Vic Cooper and Jim McCarthy have taken over the coordination of our Towel Ministry. Please approach them and let them know your talents and availability when projects arise.
* Building Use Policy: Our buildings are being used more and more and scheduling conflicts are occurring. Effective immediately, all rooms/buildings will be scheduled by the Parish Administrator by the submission of a form which is available at the office and will soon be available on the web site. We appreciate your understanding realizing that this will improve our ability to serve our parishioners and ministries.
* Planned Giving: Programs for Outreach Ministries are an important part of our parish. You can ensure the continuation of these programs by setting up an endowment or including a bequest in your will. The Episcopal Foundation of Western Carolina has set up "The Living Stones Society" to provide Education and training to all clergy and parishioners about setting up a program. For more information see Fr. Gary or call the foundation at 828-225-6656.
* Ministry Opportunities: There are a variety of Ministries available at All Saints including feeding at The Salvation Army, tending the Garden, Family Promise where we take care of those without a home for a week at a time, Altar Guild, Readers, Lectors, Acolytes, Chalicers, and many more. Everyone at All Saints is encouraged to serve in some way. Please let us know what you are interested in and we will put you in touch with the ministry coordinator. You can call the office (704-864-7201), email (secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com) or speak to Fr. Gary.
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| Upcoming Schedule April 8th: Lenten Study April 8th: Vestry Work Day April 13th: Maundy Thursday April 14th: Good Friday April 15th: Easter Vigil April 16th: Easter April 19th: Outreach April 29th: Yard Sale May 4th: Pacesetters May 21st: Service & Picnic at Rankin Lake September 23rd: Parade of Tables |
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This Sunday's Scripture Readings
Liturgy of the Palms
The Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
"Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
1
Give thanks to the
Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
"His mercy endures for ever."
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the
Lord.
20 "This is the gate of the
Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter."
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the
Lord's doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the
Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Hosannah,
Lord, hosannah! *
Lord, send us now success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
we bless you from the house of the
Lord.
27 God is the
Lord; he has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
28 "You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you."
29 Give thanks to the
Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
The Liturgy of the Word
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Lord
God has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens--
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord
God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
The Lord
God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
It is the Lord
God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Psalm 31:9-16
9
Have mercy on me, O
Lord, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me;
they plot to take my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O
Lord. *
I have said, "You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me."
The Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The Gospel: Matthew 26:14- 27:66
One of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so."
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,
'I will strike the shepherd,
the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." Peter said to him, "Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you." Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And so said all the disciples.
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again he went away for the second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the
elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him." At once he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'" The high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?"
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before all of them, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know the man!" At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."
Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him." Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" All of them said, "Let him be crucified!" Then he asked, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"
So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." Then the people as a whole answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'" The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah." At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, "Truly this man was God's Son!"
Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
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Saint Day / Feast of the Week
"If we are to follow Christ, it must be in our common way of spending
every day. If we are to live unto God at any time or in any place, we
are to live unto him in all times and in all places. If we are to use
anything as the gift of God, we are to use everything as his gift." So
wrote William Law in 1728 in A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy
Life.
This quiet schoolmaster of Putney, England, could hardly be
considered a revolutionary, yet his book had near-revolutionary
repercussions. His challenge to take Christian living very seriously
received more enthusiastic response than he could ever have imagined,
especially in the lives of Henry Venn, George Whitefield, and John
Wesley, all of whom he strongly influenced. More than any other
man, William Law laid the foundation for the religious revival of the
eighteenth century, the Evangelical Movement in England, and the
Great Awakening in America.
Law came to typify the devout parson in the eyes of many. His life was
characterized by simplicity, devotion, and works of charity. Because
he was a Non-Juror, who refused to swear allegiance to the House of
Hanover, he was deprived of the usual means of making a living as a
clergyman in the Church of England. He therefore worked as a tutor
to the father of Edward Gibbon, the historian, from 1727 to 1737.
He organized schools and homes for the poor. He stoutly defended
the Sacraments and Scriptures against attacks of the Deists. He spoke
out eloquently against the warfare of his day. His richly inspired
sermons and writings have gained him a permanent place in
Christian literature.
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April 8th - Deb Alzner
April 8th - Nancy Byers
April 9th - Terry Nichols
April 11th - Warren English
April 12th - David Klocker
April 12th - Van Balco
April 15th - Jim Howard
April 15th - Young McWhirter
April 16th - Regina Girdauskas
April 16th - Zoe Tilly
April 23rd - Calvin Boyd
April 24th - Deacon Cris South
April 25th - George Saylor
April 25th - Steve Stanford
April 26th - Allison Wells
April 29th - Robert DeCristofor
Please let the office know if we have missed your birthday!
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MINISTRY SCHEDULE
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2017
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April 9
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April 16
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CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
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Susan Maxon
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Lee Wells
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CHALICE
10:30 AM
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Cheryl Richard
Adam Nygren
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Jim & Flo McCarthy
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LECTOR
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Judy Mullins
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Jack Gaskey
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ACOLYTES
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Lee Wells
Noelle Martin
Lydia Kish
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Scott Witry
Cheryl Richard
Zoe Tilly
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GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
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Jerry Wertz
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Laurie Stewart
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GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
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Bob & Claudette Forbes
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Priscila & William Graham
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ALTAR GUILD
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Marc Dudley
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Altar Guild
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BREAD
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May
Allison Wells
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ALTAR FLOWERS
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Palm Sunday
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Easter Sunday
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COFFEE HOUR
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Deb Alzner
James Martin
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MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
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Jim McCarthy
Eileen Klimkowski
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Pete Laine
Morningside Resident
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SOUND TECH
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Marc Dudley
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Terry Eckard
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LAY EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
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Adam Nygren
David McDowell
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Lee & Casey Allison
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VPOD 8:00
10:30
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Jerry Wertz
John Woodward
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Lee Wells
Lee Wells
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Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
phone: 704-864-7201
e-mail: secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com
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