"Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice; let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication." So, begins the plaintive cries of Psalm 130. I thought of that verse as the scope of the flooding damage to our building caused by our septic system became clearer. Out of the depths gushed contaminated water from our septic system through pipes that had endured a lot of wear and tear over the last 60 years or so. Out of the depths came expressions of panic, frustration, grief, exhaustion, and confusion from folks trying to respond to this unexpected, overwhelming crisis. But out of the depths, too, flowed solidarity, dogged determination, and teamwork. Out of the depths shone the unique gifts of so many people, without which St. Helena's would not be who it is.

A priest friend of mine joked (but with complete conviction) that church buildings have a tendancy to manifest whatever is going on in the (un)consciousness of the congregation. In therapy, psychologists maintain that when we deny or repress feelings, traumatic experiences, and emotional baggage, it is toxic. They always tells us that we need to bring all of that icky stuff that's been buried into the light, so that we can deal with it. In the dark, it continues to control us; but in the light, it loses its power. I believe there's a lot of truth in that. Clear out whatever is lurking in the depths and bring it to the surface, and things get healthier. Anyone who's had a bad chest cold knows that once you begin to cough up all the congestion, you start to feel better. Gross, I know; but as my mom always says, "better out than in."

Even though the flooding has been upsetting and stressful, I hope you can appreciate the absurd humor of it all. We have spent a lot of time over the last couple of years learning to be vulnerable, speak the truth, and be authentic with each other. We have learned to bring out of the depths of ourselves our many wonderful gifts, as well as whatever phlegmy, icky, toxic stuff has been bubbling in secret beneath the surface. So, when our septic system expelled its foul contents into our church, perhaps it's a sign that the parish is getting healthier. After all, there's a limit to how much accumulated ick any system can bear, and at some point, the church is going to push back. And I guess it has. St. Helena's has a long history of good times and bad times--including many building challenges--all of which have made us who we are. And now that the depths are being cleared out, and the contents are being brought into the light, we can begin to feel better and get healthier. That's what Resurrection feels like. You should be proud of yourselves for the great work you have done to get us to this place. It has been an unpleasant, stressful experience to go through--no doubt about it; but now that we're nearly on the other side of it, what a relief!

So, relax and take a deep breath. It's all going to be just fine. Roll up your sleeves. Grab a mop or a hammer. We've got a clean slate, and we have work to do.

Easter joy and blessings,

Fr. Ethan+

Our friends down Wolf Road at Lyonsville United Church of Christ have graciously offered us the use of their sanctuary this Sunday for worship. The address for the church is 6871 Joliet Rd, Indian Head Park, IL 60525. Use the entrance at the west door (closest to Wolf Road) by the church's mailbox.

We will gather at 9 am for a bilingual Eucharist, followed by coffee hour and Christian formation, as usual. The building will be open by 8 am for the choir to rehearse. If you have your own Book of Common Prayer, we encourage you to bring it, so that we can minimize the number of books we have to transport from St. Helena's.

Many thanks to The Rev. Sean Weston and our UCC neighbors for making us feel welcome while we clean and repair our building. You're the best!

Two weeks ago, we had a terrible flood caused by a damaged septic system that spread contaminated water into most of the building, rendering the church unusable. We have spent the last two weeks trying to recover from the damage, coordinate with Church Insurance, and schedule cleaning and repair work. We have made considerable progress, but the work will take a while longer.

Wondering what you can do to help? Consider donating to our GoFundMe campaign, which is designed to cover our insurance deductible and any other unanticipated expenses that might not be covered by our insurance. People have been very generous, and we have already raised over $3500! Thanks to everyone who has donated to the campaign so far. Your generosity is much appreciated.

But the most important thing you can do is to PRAY for a speedy resolution of this crisis and for all those who have been working together on various aspects of the recovery. An especially large shout-out needs to go to Keith Plikuhn and Linda Petrasek who have worked tirelessly over the last two weeks to get us back on our feet, including working with plumbers, cleaners, and the insurance company. Our deepest gratitude to you both!

Now that Lent is behind us, "Soul Kitchen" is back to its regular format. We meet at church on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm for a no-holds-barred discussion about faith. Topics bubble up from within the group, so we never know what's on the menu until we sit down. No topic is off limits. It could be current events, theology, Bible study, pop culture, or some provocative question that someone had always been afraid to ask. And sometimes, we just play "Stump the Priest!"

If your stomach is rumbling on your way home from work, come to dinner beforehand at 5:15 pm at the Willow Hills Restaurant at 6678 S. Joliet Road in Indian Head Park. There's always an extra seat at the table for you.

You can make a difference!

Our Blessing Pantry has been a great success, which we have witnessed in the need to restock it regularly with new food and other supplies. We are seeking a few volunteers to keep an eye on it and refill it with items stored on the shelves in the Anderson Room when it gets low.

And remember ... throw a jar in the car or a can in the van on Sunday and put your donated items in the basket in the back of the church. These food and supplies will be blessed at the altar during the Eucharist and then included in our stock in the Anderson Room.

This simple act of generosity reminds us that it is not enough for us to come to church to be fed. As people of faith, God calls us to pay that nourishment forward by feeding others when we go back out into the world.

Did you know that the Book of Psalms is by far the most frequently read book of the Bible? In fact, a psalm is included in the readings every time we celebrate the Eucharist. And the psalms are the backbone of the Daily Office in the Book of Common Prayer. So, shouldn't we get to know them better?

During Easter season, Fr. Ethan will conduct a class each Sunday at 10:15 am on the richness of the psalms.

May 12 - Introduction and "Give Thanks to the Lord, For He Is Good" -

Thanksgiving Psalms

May 19 - NO CLASS, VESTRY MEETING

May 26 - "Why Are You So Full of Heaviness, O My Soul?"

Lament Psalms

June 2 - "Their Delight Is In the Law of the Lord"

Wisdom Psalms

June 9 - "Let Me Recite What I Have Fashioned for the King"

Royal Psalms

Anyone interested in sponsoring flowers for a Sunday or feast day in memory of a loved one should sign the sign-up sheet in the narthex or speak to Jan Shangle. The charge is $50.