the last supper with twelve tribes
, moore
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Holy Week Continues at St. John's Church
Maundy Thursday Eucharist April 18, 7:00 p.m.
Church Hill Stations of the Cross April 19, 11:45 a.m.
Good Friday Liturgy April 19, 7:00 p.m.
The Great Vigil of Easter April 20, 7:30
Join us for a toast following the Easter Vigil.
Easter Day Services April 21, 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.
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What is Holy Week?
We begin with
Palm Sunday
. On this day, we re-enact the procession of Jesus into Jerusalem with a blessing of the palms, songs of Hosanna, and a procession into the church. The tone of the liturgy then turns from celebration to solemnity as we read the Passion Narrative and as observers, experience the wide range of emotions and responses to Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion.
Now we continue through Holy Week, not as observers, but as participants in Jesus’ walk toward the cross, the tomb, and the resurrection. The first three days of Holy Week are times for prayer and reflection, and many churches offer services on Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Then we arrive at
Maundy Thursday
. The word “maundy” is derived from the Latin word “mandatum” which means commandment. More precisely, it refers to the “new commandment” that we hear in our reading from the Gospel of John on this day, the Love Commandment, the commandment that Jesus gives his disciples, and all of us, “to love one another, as I have loved you.” The service itself is hauntingly lovely, including foot washing and Eucharist, and ending with the stripping of the altar.
The next day is
Good Friday
. We are not really sure of the historical basis for calling the day of Jesus’ crucifixion “Good Friday,” but it is most likely referring to the word “good” as meaning “holy.” In fact, in the Eastern churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, as well as in the non-Germanic western churches, the day is referred to as “Holy Friday”. At this service, we enter the story of Jesus’ passion, offering prayers at the foot of the cross.
The Great Vigil of Easter
was re-introduced to our liturgy in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, but we know it to be one of the most ancient of Christian rites. In the early centuries of Christianity, it was the primary celebration of the resurrection and a time when those who had been in training for as long as three years were finally baptized. It is regarded today by many as the most important service of the church year, even though it is relatively “new” to us.
And then of course we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on
Easter Day
. By the way, we don’t refer to that day as “Easter Sunday”. This is because every Sunday is Easter Sunday as we proclaim Christ resurrected each week of the year. Easter Day is that special Sunday which brings our Lenten season to an end and restarts the cycle of worship and celebration in which we partake throughout the year.
We hope you will join us in any or all of these Holy Day Liturgies this week.
Blessings from St. John’s!
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Good Friday Stations of the Cross on Church Hill
On Friday, April 19, our neighbors and friends will gather once again for prayer and pilgrimage on the streets of Church Hill. As we remember the events that led to Jesus' suffering and death, we also remember his life and ministry. We will pray for our city and our world, that we might follow Jesus' way of forgiveness and nonviolence. The theme this year is “We Are the Body of Christ.” The walk covers 2 1/2 miles, starting at Patrick Henry Park (24th and Broad) at 11:45 am, and ending across the street in the churchyard of St. John's Church by 3 pm. All are invited to join for all or part of the pilgrimage. For more information, contact Holy Rosary Church, 222-1105, or Mike Jackman, 804-338-3100 or mjack11097@verizon.net.
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This Saturday is
A Laundry Love Day
What better way to spend Holy Saturday than helping our neighbors wash their clothes in preparation for Christ’s Resurrection?
We’d love your help this Saturday any time between 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. handing out coins and laundry supplies, helping to run machines, entertaining children, and being a friendly, welcoming presence. Please contact
David Curtis
for more information.
Saturday, April 20
11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
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This Sunday, April 21, 2019
Easter Day
8:15 a.m. Easter Day Holy Eucharist
9:30 a.m. Light Coffee Hour, Parish Hall
10:30 a.m.
Holy Baptism & Easter Eucharist
Children’s Chapel, Keeper’s Cottage
11:45 a.m. Baptism Reception, Parish Hall
12:00 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt, Churchyard
Nursery is available in the Parish Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Please note that this email might be clipped in some browsers; be sure to click "view entire message," if necessary, to view the entire message.
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From Amelie with Love
Dear Friends:
As we move through Holy Week, one of the things that remains with me the most is the sense of juxtaposition, paradox, and contrast that lies at the heart of our faith. We are a people who challenge ourselves to hold together the realities of joy and suffering, good and evil, light and dark, life and death, without losing sight of the plain truth embedded in nature – that the darkness always precedes the dawn.
I know it is hard to envision the dawn that will follow the darkness, especially the darkness that we feel every time we listen to the news...whether in the shadows of human suffering or the blackened timbers of Notre Dame Cathedral. Our natural instinct when confronted with darkness is fear – and there are good reasons for this. For primitive humans, the things that go bump in the night were very likely to be dangerous.
We can all remember a time when we were afraid of the dark. Perhaps, on occasion we still are. I know I am. When I am alone, in the unknown, or even the well-known, I sometimes catch a glimpse of the fear of the dark that kept me awake as a small child.
It was into the darkness of night, into the darkness of fear that Jesus’ disciples traveled as they witnessed the horrors of their beloved friend’s execution. And in the moment of that darkness, in the moment of that fear the time became ripe for the fullness God’s work to be completed.
“This is the night.” Those are the ancient words that our deacon will sing at the Great Vigil of Easter we celebrate this Saturday evening, reminding us that resurrection happened in the dead of the night. And there is reason for this. It’s not that God can’t, or doesn’t, or won’t work during the brightness of the day, but we need God most in those moments of our life that are full of darkness and fear. It is then when our lives and our worlds are at their darkest that we need God’s life and light and love the most.
If you have ever been or are even now afraid of the dark, afraid of the darkness of your own life, afraid of the darkness of the life of another, afraid of the darkness of the world, take courage for as terrifying as it can be, Holy Week promises us that God is at work even there, even then, even now.
We only know the relief of dawn when the terrors of the night have kept us awake. We only know the joy of resurrection when the fear of darkness has clutched our hearts, but even there, even then, even now God is at work in your life. Take courage. Now is God’s time in your life.
Please join us for our Holy Week Services. We are in this together.
This is the night,
Amelie+
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Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Day
Enjoy our lively Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday. Tell all the kids you know to grab their baskets and head to the churchyard.
Lots of hands are needed to help set up and help the little hunters. Please contact
Anne Lane Witt
.
Sunday, April 21
12:00 p.m.
Churchyard
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Temple Beth-El, which has recently warmly welcomed St. John's for worship, will host an Interfaith Justice Seder on Easter Monday.
Everyone is welcome to participate in this free, special program, which will draw on the Exodus story and Passover rituals to shine a light on modern-day oppression: racism, sexism, militarism, and materialism.
This Interfaith Seder will inspire communities to come together to better understand and work on these pressing challenges. Through food, story, conversation, and prayer, guests will learn and recommit to bringing justice and healing to our city, our Commonwealth, and our country.
The event is co-sponsored by congregations and organizations representing many faiths and backgrounds.
Light fare will be served: chicken, Middle Eastern salad, roasted potatoes, and collard greens
Feel free to
register here to attend, and join David Curtis there.
Interfaith Justice Seder
Monday, April 22
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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Join Andrea Bleck-Smith for Gentle Yoga
Each Thursday, Andrea Bleck-Smith offers a yoga class meant for those who enjoy moving a little more slowly and who are looking to maintain or increase strength and flexibility. We focus on moving all joints and muscle groups, alignment, and breath awareness to maintain and restore balanced body function.
Students receive personal
alignment suggestions and assistance as needed. Each class ends with a brief relaxation to balance the body.
$54 for a 6-week session or $10 drop-in per class.
Thursdays at 4:00 p.m.
The Parish Hall
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Adult Forum Returns April 28
Adult Forum will return the Sunday after Easter Day, April 28, with a new series by John Carroll. We hope to see you then and on the Sundays that follow at 9:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall.
Centering Prayer and Wednesday Evening
Suppers and Formation
Return Wednesday, May 5
Our “usual” Wednesday evening programming returns Wednesday, May 5, with Centering Prayer at 6:00 p.m., followed by supper at 6:30 p.m. and enlightening exploration of theological and spiritual topics at 7:00 p.m. All activities meet in the Parish Hall, and everyone, especially you, is invited.
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Community Spring Sing & Supper
at St. John's Church
Everyone's invited to our Community Spring Sing and Supper, so invite all your friends.
Our guests will be the Bellevue Elementary School chorus and St. Peter's Church Choir.
We'll provide the entree; please bring a potluck side or dessert.
Friday, May 3
6:00 p.m.
Parish Hall
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Second Saturday Evening
Contemplative Service
St. John's offers evening services the second Saturday of each month. Each service includes Holy Eucharist, contemplative music, a quiet, candlelit atmosphere, and the rite of healing.
We hope you find this service to be a relaxing supplement to your Sunday morning worship.
Please consider inviting friends who prefer a more contemplative form of worship in the early evening.
Also, please consider serving at this service when you sign up for your service slots each month.
Saturday, May 11
5:30 p.m.
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Save the Date
Tuesday, May 28
The Installation of the Rev. Amelie Wilmer as Rector of St. John’s Church
St. John’s Church at 7:00 p.m.
A reception will follow in the Parish Hall
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The Honor of Your Presence is Requested
Dear St. John's family:
It was my delight to serve with you this summer and to return as one of the facilitators of St. John's Lenten series. I invite your prayers and presence as I prepare for my Ordination to the Priesthood on May 11th (see invitation). You are welcome and invited to attend!
The Rev. Deacon, Sarah Price
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Spotlight on Outreach
St. John's is committed to living our Baptismal Covenant
to seek and serve Christ in all persons,
loving our neighbor as ourselves
and respecting the dignity of every human being.
One-time Opportunities
Rebuilding Together Richmond, 2019:
Rebuilding Together Richmond’s 2019 workday is
April 27.
Although St. John’s and St. Mary’s will not sponsor a house this year, there are opportunities for a team from St. John’s to work that day. Plans are in progress for “community” projects, and we can sign up to help with those. We might work in a community garden, a school, or other areas where help is needed. It is always a great day! If you are interested in participating, please contact
Rita Drisc
ol
l.
Ongoing Opportunities
Join the $5 Club
:
Pledge to spend at least $5 a month on non-perishable foods to feed others. Bring your donations on the first Sunday of each month, or deposit them in the basket at the rear of the church at any time.
First Fruits Sundays
:
First Sunday of every month. Bring non-perishable food items to church for donation to the Christ Ascension Food Pantry. Christ Ascension Food Pantry currently needs canned fruit and rice. The food pantry always need cereal, canned pasta, tuna, and peanut butter.
This month we collected 184 pounds of food, bringing our total to 1,137 pounds. With 33% of the year past, we have collected 38% of our goal of 3,000 pounds of food.
Next First Fruits Sunday—
May 5
Laundry Love
:
This ministry takes place the third Saturday of every month from 11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m., at Richmond Coin Laundry, 25
th
& Nine Mile, and defrays our neighbors’ cost of doing laundry so that they can direct their income to other necessities. We would love your help dispensing coins and laundry supplies, helping to run the machines, entertaining children, and being a friendly presence.
Please contact
David Curtis
for more information.
Next Laundry Love Day—
This Saturday, April 20
Laundry Love Activity Table
: The Outreach Team needs new or gently used donations for the kids' activity table at Laundry Love, a place for safe play and learning while parents are busy with clothes. Possible donations include:
- addition/subtraction flashcards
- Play-doh
- simple puzzles
- picture books, coloring books
- markers, crayons
- small Lego sets
- simple craft supplies (pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, glue, etc.).
A box for your donations is in the Parish Hall. This is an ongoing collection. If you have any questions, please contact
Liz Broda.
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It is never too late for you to submit your pledge to support the ministries of St. John’s Church, either to the parish office, in the offering plate, or at
our website
.
Pledge cards are available in the back of the church.
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Altar Flower Remembrances
We encourage everyone to remember or honor loved ones and special anniversaries and events by sponsoring the flowers at the altar for a specific Sunday.
The cost is $35. You may pay via cash or check in the offering plate or in the church office, or through
Paypal.
Sign up for the Sunday when you want to sponsor flowers on the sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall foyer, and
notify Patty Duffy
in the parish office
.
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Next Vestry Meeting,
Tuesday, May 14
at 5:30 p.m.
in the Parish Hall
All members of St. John’s Church are welcome to attend vestry meetings as observers. Minutes of recent meetings are posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall foyer. Please share your ideas or questions about the life of our parish with a vestry member.
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Prayer Group & Sunday Prayers
Bring your prayers to the Wednesday morning prayer group. Pray with us silently or aloud as the Spirit leads you, and let us surround you with love and prayers. Find sacred silence and hear the still, small voice of God. Simply stop by the Keeper's Cottage any Wednesday at 10:00.
Prayer ministers also offer individual prayers Sundays during communion at the 10:30 a.m. service.
Wednesdays
10:00 a.m.
Keeper's Cottage (to the left of the church)
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St. John's Church
2401 East Broad Street
Office: 2319 E. Broad Street RVA 23223
804-649-7938
The deadline for submitting copy for the weekly bulletin insert and parish-wide email is
Wednesday morning
, but earlier is always appreciated. Please send your content to
Patty Duffy
. Please note that content may be edited to accommodate space limitations and style guidelines.
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