April 7, Fifth Sunday in Lent

The Holy Eucharist, 8 a.m., Rite I
Inquirer's Class with Fr. Joel, 9 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m., Rite II
Fr. Joel Morsch officiating

Church School 10 a.m. | Child Care 9:45 a.m.
The Collect:
Almighty God, only you can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. A men.

This week’s lessons: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8

Epistle
“Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as a loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:7-8
The Gospel | John 12:1-8

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Schedule for the week of April 7

Tuesday, 10:00 a.m., Julian of Norwich Prayer Group
Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Charlie’s Lunch Bunch, at Sugo’s
Tuesday, 12 p.m., Morning Prayer
Tuesday, 1 p.m., Bible Study
Tuesday, 7 p.m., Bible Study
Wednesday, 7 p.m., Vestry Meeting

Rector’s office hours, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 11 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

See the parish's online calendar at standrews-edwardsville.com/events !
St. Andrew's services during Lent and Easter

April 14, Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday, 8 a.m and 10 a.m.
April 18, Maundy Thursday service, 7 p.m.
April 19, Good Friday, Stations of the Cross, 12:15 p.m.
April 19, Good Friday service, 7 p.m.
April 20, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil, 8 p.m. (Incense)
April 21, Easter Sunday services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Easter Offering: To honor or remember someone you cherish with an Easter offering to the Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Music Program, Outreach programs or other, complete this form and return it to St. Andrew's by Tuesday, April 16 so that your gift is listed in the Easter Sunday bulletin. Questions: standrewsepisc1@sbcglobal.net.

Reflections from the Lenten Retreat: At a March 30 ECW Retreat at St. Andrews, Sister Barbara McMullen led 20 women in a Lenten celebration which reflected on wilderness to trust to wonder.

Wilderness was considered beautiful but often daunting. As it did for Jesus wilderness offers the opportunity to discover one’s true self and to trust the providence of God.
Sister Barbara described Henri Nouwen’s metaphor after he had watched trapeze artists. God is the Eternal Catcher in whom we can place our trust. Prayer is the process of falling into God.

Ideas from author Brene Brown gave us tools for exploring trust in others and ourselves.
The image of an infant learning to walk led us to explore where caution and a desire for security can keep us from becoming what we were created to be. An example of God’s movement in our lives came through Sister Barbara’s story of finding the work she was meant to do.

Finally, each retreat participant received a small mirror to remind us of the answer a Polish teacher gave when flippantly asked the meaning of life. A small mirror--her only toy in the deprivation of World War II--taught her that we humans are not the light but we can reflect the light. We can be truth and light to others and shine the light of God into dark places. -Jane Weingartner
The 2018-19 Scarf Project: A Loaves-and Fishes Kind of Year

This was a loaves-and fishes kind of year for The Scarf Project. I say a version of that every year, but this year was the most dramatic.

We began our giving season in November with one full rack of warm accessories, but I wasn’t prepared to restock. I made my appeal to St. Andrew’s. Mary Bohn and I brainstormed furiously. We were still empty handed.

THEN the blessings began to flow. I went to the Library with my last several items, and found that unknown angels and elves were placing offerings on the rack. The generous hearts of St. Andrew’s started bringing in items. And, St. Andrew’s givers gave all season—so important when the worst weather is after Christmas. Our Girl Scouts took on The Scarf Project (thank you, ladies!!!). They provided bags and bags of scarves, hats, and gloves. The Girl Scouts’ gifts filled in at a crucial low supply time. And, I found a wholesale site for hats and gloves.

When I picked up the rack today, there was a red hat and a pair of gloves to start our giving season next year. It warms my heart to say that the red hat is from an unknown angel. There is no way of knowing how much help is coming from other sources. That red hat was not on the rack last week, for example.

The library staff regularly thanks us for having this service, they confirm that the need is great, and they are proud to house our rack. I thank you, all the loving hearts of St. Andrew’s, for helping during another difficult winter season. Everything you give is chosen by someone.

As always, if you are spring cleaning and find gloves, hats, scarves, socks, blankets, afghans, and so forth that you no longer need, I will gladly store them for next season. The Scarf Project box is in the cloak room year round. Thank you, St. Andrew's!

-Diane Dudding
Fr. Weissman’s Prayer

Father Stephen E. Weissman was rector of St. Andrew’s from 1975 to 1990. Many parishioners who were members at that time remember him affectionately as a rector who, with intelligence, eloquence and grace, presided over an idyllic period in the history of our parish. He regarded his tenure at St. Andrew’s as “the best job I ever had.”

Parishioners who knew him may recall the prayer with which he closed late Sunday morning services, delivering it from the narthex following the recessional. It was taken from the 1929 Book of Common Prayer (p.588), and Weissman believes it may have been composed by an Archbishop of Canterbury (there are two possibilities) for William III, King of England from 1689 to 1702. Deacon Paul Gaston, a calligrapher, artfully inscribed the prayer in Father Weissman’s honor. Copies, as pictured here, are in our archives.

It’s a fine prayer which, unfortunately, the compilers of the 1979 BCP did not see fit to retain. -Jim Weingartner
Cards to Shane Spellmeyer , who was recently ordained a deacon, may be sent to Shane at 2777 Mission Road, Nashotah, Wisconsin 53058.

Gardening Angels Need Volunteers!
The Gardening Angels meet Saturday, April 6, and could use some extra hands for cleaning out the lovely flower beds around the church.  We usually gather around 9 a.m., weather permitting. One hour of your time could make a big difference.
-Ken and Christa Kelley

ECW to Meet Sunday, April 7
ECW members will meet this Sunday during Coffee Hour to discuss Bishop Martins’ April 28 visit and hear an update on purchasing blinds for the rector’s office.
Parish Goodbye to the Hoffmans on Sunday, April 14

Arnold and Sharon Hoffman will leave for Sebring, Florida, on Monday, April 15. St. Andrew’s is celebrating their time with us, and expressing appreciation for their many contributions at two events on April 14:

-During Coffee Hour: Expressions of appreciation will come from Fr. Joel and Senior Warden Liz Edwards.

-Sunday afternoon, 3 to 7: Sandy Cooper is hosting a going away party for the Hoffmans at her home, 17 Hickory Knolls, Edwardsville. RSVP to Sandy at 618-910-1629 or 618-655-0305 or via email to scoop1028@sbcglobal
 The St. Andrew's Week-End Update , a weekly emailed newsletter, is designed to keep parishioners up to date on church activities. Please send news items to Editors Marianne Cavanaugh and Jane Weingartner by 11 a.m. on Tuesday to have them appear in the following Friday's newsletter.