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Where is your sacred space?

            For some, it is a place in nature, where there is a deep stillness and a place that gives rise to awe.  I used to wander to a stream nearly a mile from my parents house.  I would sit on the middle of the rocks in the creek, read Merton, and watch the interplay of light and water and hear the endless chuckle of the clear waters.
 
            For others, it may be their place where they pray daily.  The layers upon layers of prayers, of thoughtful reading of the scriptures, of being still and knowing that God is--all of that creates an invisible and indefinable sense of being on holy ground.  I always pray by windows, if I can, and several houses back began to stake my claim for such spaces.  My first prayer window faced north, and I saw the northern lights a few times and always, in winter, the North Star. I remember, though the room was destroyed.
 
             For still others, the sacred space is a church, often a special pew.  This is where they sat that day when their world was rocked, when they wept for someone, where they rejoiced to sing out a known and splendid hymn.  That is where we took our vows, baptized our child.  There is a couple that lives west of Fort Worth. They come back each year on their anniversary because the Church of the Redeemer is holy ground for them. 
 
            As Peter discovered on Mount Tabor, one cannot hold on to the presence of God.  Christ is risen: He is not here.   When Christ shows up, usually, we don't recognize him until He is leaving. (Luke 9:28-36) Then, we remember and that road or that upper room becomes beloved, holy. 
 
            I once stooped and entered the tomb of Christ's Sepulture in Jerusalem.  Intellectually, I knew that it was one of the holiest places of the world, but I had never encountered God there.   I would rather have stepped back out to the creek of my childhood, or in my parish church or praying at the window in the morning.  
           
What are your sacred spaces?  It is good to know and remember.  Of course, you also must expect that God will call you out of those spaces, one way or another, to walk forward into new life and ministry. 


Revive Texas
Beginning with Easter Monday, we will be a host lunch for six weeks on Mondays for the ecumenical Revive Texas.  Christians across Irving will be volunteering to pray for our area and go and ask people in public areas if they would like a specific matter prayed for by the teams.  Last summer, the Diocese and Redeemer agreed to share in this ecumenical outreach in the Easter season. 
Can you help by serving lunch from 11:45 to 1:30, participating in the Service for Noon Day or training to go once on a team to go and greet people and ask to pray for them?   A number of Churches across the diocese will be part of this ecumenical evangelism outreach.  Carrie Boren Headington, the Missioner for Evangelism for the Diocese is doing training.  We are committed to host six luncheons, but St. Mark's, Irving and Christ Church, Oak Cliff are providing three of those six meals,   to share in this ministry.  The meals will be simple food for the teams going out to pray and greet people in our area.

Outreach
Our next Family Promise rotation week starts April 30th.  a sign-up sheet for lunch makers and shoppers, and will put it in the back of the church later this week. Please respond to "all" if you'd like to sign up via email. 
Family Promise helps families out of homelessness.  We do not know how many families or individuals will be in the program by the end of the month, but when we had our Coordinator meeting early in April and it looked like we may have close to a full house again (10 -14 people!). We need two people making lunches each day, so please help where you can.
And if you can help in any other way, it would be greatly appreciated. Barbara Curry, one of the coordinators at Woodhaven, is having medical issues.  We need folks to drive the van in the morning (about 5:30 in the am!) in the evening (around 6:30).  We need people to provide dinner, serve dinner, or be an overnight host. If you want to know more, contact Meg Mueller. And invite someone to help out who hasn't had an opportunity to yet. 
Muffin Madness

This year, our Muffin Madness is scheduled to tie-in with Teacher Appreciation Week in early May.  We will provide muffins and juice for the teachers and staff on FRIDAY, May 5.
There is a signup sheet in the back of the church to indicate your contribution.  Please have juice and muffins to the church by Thursday afternoon, May 4, for delivery to the school first thing Friday.
Thanks for your participation.

The Tower
We CAN Do It

The School and the Church were challenged to gather 1,000 cans of food.  The children have built 500 into a tower.
Please check out the tower in the entry hall of the New Building; buy some canned foods and help both our school and Irving Cares.  
Irving Cares Pantry

Canned Fruit
Canned Meats - tuna, chicken
Canned Meals - chili, stew, soups
Peanut butter
Hot and cold cereal
Second Sunday of Easter
April 23, 2017
8:00 A.M.Holy Eucharist
Fellowship following the service
9:15 A.M. Sunday School
9:15 A.M. Choir Rehearsal
10:30 a.m., Holy Eucharish
Fellowship following the service
12:15 P.M. The Brotherhood of St. Andrew
12:30 P.M. Vestry
12:30 P.M..Rhema Church\
Celebrant, Rector, The Reverend Canon Victoria R. T. Heard

Altar Party

Time
Lay Eucharistic Minister
Lector/
Prayers of the People
8:00 a.m.
Bob Ware
Ginny Bertrand
10:30 a.m.
Charlie Brockett
Meg Mueller
Readings: 
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm 16
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31
Next Week's Calendar
Monday, April 24, 2017
Revive Texas, 11:45 a.m.
Toastmasters 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Tuesday Morning Bible Study, 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Holy Eucharist, 6:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Irving Chorale Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m.
Friday,  April 28, 2017
Berea Interdenominational Bible Study Class, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Family Promise Begins
Patriot PAWS Charity Golf Tournament
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Firewheel Golf Park

The Brotherhood of Saint Andrew is organizing its sixth annual Patriot PAWS Charity Golf Tournament. Profits from the Tournament will go directly to the Patriot PAWS organization for the express purpose of supporting the Patriot PAWS mission: Train and provide service dogs of the highest quality at no cost to disabled American veterans and others with mobile disabilities in order to help restore their physical and emotional independence.  

The Patriot PAWS Charity Golf Tournament will be the Brotherhood's primary fund raising event for 2017.  Officially organized in February of 2006, Patriot PAWS is a member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and employs certified dog trainers to train carefully selected candidates to assist disabled veterans in myriad every day tasks made difficult or impossible by their injury. 

This program provides a vehicle for us all to show our appreciation for the sacrifice made by so many to preserve our freedom. Please help us support this most worthy cause.

Brochures available at the back of the church.
Quick Links
Lay Ministry Schedule: ns0239@yahoo.com 
Visit our website: redeemer-irving.org 
Subscribe to our website  http://redeener-irving.org 
View the church calendar online  http://redeemer-irving.org/calendar/
E-Mail the Church Office  redeemeroffice@redeemer-irving.org
Visit the Diocesan website http://edod.org/
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer |  RedeemerOfficeRedeemer-Irving.org| 972.255.4171 | www.Redeemer-Irving.org