A Reflection on Holy Week 
by Jennifer Lee
(used with permission)

Holidays are bittersweet for me because of my mom being sick and not really being here to celebrate with us. But God is always gracious and has used this particular holiday season, once again, to shepherd my heart back into a place of hope. This was my first experience with Holy Week and Easter following the church's liturgical calendar. I found myself relating so well to the stories, the people, the sorrow and the joy.  

News & Announcements
   
 
CHRISTIAN FORMATION:

CHILDREN - "Godly Play 1" and "Godly Play 2" - Every Sunday,  9:15 a.m. - contact Frances Kirchhoff (francesck@bellsouth.net).

ADULTS - "The Preacher's Forum" - Every Sunday, 9:15 a.m. - contact Father Neat ( rector@ ascensionfrankfort.org ).

CAYA meets on the second and fourth Sunday of each month,  at 5:00 p.m. in the parish hall. All teens and young adults are invited. For details, contact Kristi Buffenmyer (kbuffenmyer@yahoo.com).
___________________________________________

SQUARE DANCE -  Saturday, April 29, 7:00 PM, in Ascension's Parish Hall, to benefit Cowan Creek Music School. Everyone is welcome to join the fun! For details, contact David Hurt (elkhorndavid@hotmail.com).

FRANKFORT READING CAMP - June 19-23, 2017 
Deacon Rebecca Saager will again serve as Director. Please contact her to offer your support (curate@ascensionfrankfort.org or 502.223.0557).


FOUND - This lovely ring was found in the church and turned in to the office some time ago. If this is your ring, please check with Mona in the office, or call 502-223-0557. 
Treasurer's Corner

April -  Weekly Income:   
  • 4/2/17 -  $ 4,794
  • 4/9/17 -  $ 6,281
  • 4/16/17- $11,331

Ministries Schedule

(April 23 - June 11)  PDF FORMAT

Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 23, 2017

Daily Lectionary: Year One 
Week of 2 Easter, Year One (4/23/17) - BCP 958

Click here for READINGS
www.lectionarypage.net

8:00 a.m. - Rite I
  • Subdeacon & PoP: Susan Kurtz
  • Chalice Bearer: Will McKee
  • Lector: Geoff Pinkerton
  • Acolyte: Angela Goetter
10:30 a.m. - Rite II     
  • Subdeacon: Susan Kurtz
  • Chalice Bearer & Lector: Shannon Lancaster
  • Acolytes: 
  • C : Reagan Napier & Hayden Hoover
  • T:  Dylan & Mia Kinnett
  • JS: Peyton Heady, Hannah Lee, Lucy & Charlotte Saunderson
  • Ushers: Fred & Frances Kirchhoff
  • Altar Guild:  T1 - Suzanne Cox, Laura & Kristi Buffenmyer
  • Men's Club: T1 - Geoff Pinkerton, William Legg, Pauline Van Horn, Skip Hunt
COFFEE HOUR:   (reimbursed vestry pickup - ?? )
  • Jan Stevens is our Hospitality Coordinator - contact her by email at jstevens5@aol.com. If you would like to host Coffee Hour, please sign up on the printed sheet on the office window.  
COUNTERS:  TWO  n eeded
VESTRY LOCKUP DUTY:  ??
  • VESTRY MEMBERS:  Weekly lockup volunteers needed starting THIS week. Please sign up on the sheet on the office window ASAP, or check the Schedules & Teams PDF schedule above and email your preferred dates to Mona at info@ascensionfrankfort.org.  
Prayers

Intercessions for the Church:   The Church of St. George the Martyr, the Cathedral Domain - The Very Rev. Dr. Ronald W. Summers, Dean, Lay Canon G. Andrew Sigmon, Facility Director, The Venerable Bryant C. Kibler, Sr., Priest in Residence. 

Recently in need of prayers:   Ann; Avadot & Amy; Bob; Collin; Cooper; Darlene; Debbie; Donna; Duncan & Jo; Faye & Steve; Gail; Jenny; Jim & Debbie; Keila; Lara; Linda; Luke; Natalie; Nancy Jo; Natasha, Mickey & Camron; Polly; Rebeccca; Ruth; Sherri; Walt & Betsy. 

Continuing concern:   Alfred; Bettie; Bill C.; Bill N.; Billy B.; Bob; Caleb; Doris & Charlie; Dwight; Harrison; Hope; Jan; Jean; Jinks; John; Julia; Leigh G.; Maggie; Marilyn; Mike E.; Ruth; Sarah; Scott & Kathy; Twister, Barkley & Fran; and Willie. We also pray for those on active duty in the military: Daniel, Houston, and Seth. 

Birthdays:   4/27 - Brenda Osborne; 4/29 - Jordan Masters. 
Music
  • Prelude:  Improvisation on 'Victimae Paschali Laudes' - Robert Hebble
  • Opening Hymn:  Hymn 203 - O sons and daughters, rejoice and sing - O filli et filiae 
  • Gloria:  S 280 - Glory to God in the highest
  • Offertory 
  •  Sanctus:  S 129 - Holy, holy, holy Lord
     
  • Fraction Anthem  
     
  • Communion Hymn:  Hymn 209 - We walk by faith, and not by sight - St. Botolph
     
  • Closing Hymn:  Hymn 212 - Christ ist erstanden (Christ the Lord is risen again) - Harald Rohlig
Lee
A Reflection on Holy Week
by Jennifer Lee

(continued from above)


Palm Sunday was one of hope and joy, as we celebrated the arrival of the Son of David entering Jerusalem and the anticipation of salvation. Our King had come!

Such celebration was welcome after the Lenten season, and yet as we moved into Monday and Tuesday, where celebration continued at the house of Lazarus, as Mary anointed Jesus' feet, there was a sense of foreboding. I pictured myself in Mary's place, offering Jesus my perfume and my hair, kissing his feet in adoration and reverence. Hearing his rebuke of those who had rebuked her, but also the unsettling announcement that this was an anointing for death to come.

Wednesday's candlelight Tenebrae service was even more foreboding. The verses of despair mixed with hope, the growing darkness as candle after candle was snuffed out, and then the quietness of leaving in silence by only the light of the one unhidden candle.

The Maundy Thursday service spoke of great love, and with it, great sorrow. I felt Peter's insistence that Jesus not wash his feet, as my priest washed and kissed my feet. I felt the humility that it brought, going to war with my pride, that would have me proclaim with the disciples that surely I wouldn't deny, desert or betray Jesus!

And as I found myself engulfed by Jesus' love displayed in the Last Supper, I also found the sorrow of failing to stay awake to watch with Jesus. I wrestled alongside Jesus as He begged His Father to let the cup pass from Him, and I watched Him let go and rise to the occasion, obediently following His Father's will, even unto death.

I found myself with Peter, full of fear, denying any knowledge or acquaintance with the man under question. I even walked in Judas' shoes. What 30 pieces of silver have I exchanged for my Master? I met the despair Judas felt when he realized an innocent man was going to die because of him, and the great sorrow Peter felt as he too was convicted. And when the altar was stripped and the lights turned out, and we left in silence as Jesus had been arrested, I felt death and darkness closing in.

And then, Good Friday. Death came. As I came and knelt, putting my nail at the foot of the cross, placing my hand on the rugged wood, I felt with the disciples the sense of finality and great sorrow they must have been feeling. They didn't have the whole story. There was a cleansing heaviness as person after person knelt before the cross, acknowledging the depth to which God's love had gone. Suffering and death seemed so resolute in that moment though.

But Saturday after sundown. Easter Vigil! A great fiery light out of darkness, and as we proceeded in, lighting a candle as we went, hope began to grow. Using our candles to read from the very beginning, hearing and singing that God was ever faithful to His people throughout the ages until the death of His Son, the lights were thrown on, and we no longer had to depend on the light of our own little candle, which was close to burning out, in order to see our world and sing.

The Light of the World had risen, and we were no longer in the darkness! The music swelled, the altar had been put back in order and decorated even more so with flowers, and we sang Gloria once again! We partook in the Eucharist in great joy, no longer just a reminder of the Last Supper, but of new beginnings, new life and great redemption! This body and blood of Christ that we share in is alive, and is the essence of our life in God!

And Easter morning! The singing and the flowers and the children in the midst of the happy procession, waving their jubilation streamers! He is risen! Alleluia! The Love of God made new life spring from an impossibility - Death! Thus proving that indeed nothing can separate us from the love of our God. Suffering and ultimately death had their way with Christ Jesus and certainly left their marks, but His resurrection is our victory and their defeat. I have said it before, and I will say it again, death and suffering do not get the final word. And that is where hope and joy can be found in the middle of sorrow.

He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Clergy and Staff
  • The Rev. William Jessee Neat, Rector
  • The Rev. Dr. William G. Brown, Assisting Priest (Retired) 
  • The Rev. Nancy S. Farley, Assisting Priest (Retired) 
  • The Rev. Linda McCloud, Assisting Priest (Retired)
  • The Rev. Deacon Rebecca A. Saager, Curate
  • Mr. John B. Martin, Director of Music & Organist
  • Ms. Mona Landrum Proctor, Parish & Financial Administrator 
  • Mr. David Gierlach, Sexton
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