Weekly parish news and Sunday service information
Thomas to Jesus: "My Lord and My God!"
St. Chad's, Bishops Tachbrook, UK | https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/
Fr. Ben Hankinson, Rector
Celebrant for all services.
Please wear a mask when attending in person.
April 11, Second Sunday of Easter
Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8 a.m.
In-person attendance for up to 35 worshippers
No sign up required in advance.
Audio recording available.
Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10 a.m.
In-person attendance for up to 35 worshippers
Sign up in advance to attend.
Facebook Live at 10 a.m.
Worship Notes
Coffee Hour via Zoom, following the 10 a.m. service.
Communion station at the Lower Level Entrance, 12 Noon
Readings for Sunday, April 11
  • First Lesson:- Acts 4:32-35
  • Psalm 133
  • Epistle - 1 John 1:1-2:2
  • Holy Gospel - John 20:19-31
The Holy Gospel | John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
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The Week of April 11
  • Compline, Monday, 7 p.m.+
  • Noonday Prayer, Tuesday, 12 p.m.+
  • Evening Prayer, Wednesday, 12 p.m.+ (Open to in-person attendance.)
  • Noonday Prayer, Thursday, 12 p.m.+
  • Vestry Meeting, 6:30 p.m., via Zoom.
  • Morning Prayer, Friday, 9 a.m.+
  • Week-End Update Newsletter, Saturday, delivered p.m.
  • Compline, Saturday, 7 p.m.+
+ Designates a Facebook Live service
Looking Ahead
  • New class with Fr. Ben begins April 21
  • Annual Meeting, May 2, rain date May 16.

It is unsurprising to find that there is a tendency to take a break after Easter. After the time and energy that so many put into Lent and Holy Week, it can feel a bit demanding to keep going with the same zeal.

We should be sure to take care of ourselves, but we must also be mindful that the church calendar rolls on as it continues to unfurl the good news of salvation, of proclaiming both cross and resurrection, as the rigors of fasting and abstinence give way to feasting and celebration.

I invite each of us to consider: How are you keeping the Paschal feast?

In addition to a little rest and some Easter treats (aka food), I’m doing this by reinvigorating my social media presence. Much of the last year has been spent focused on the work of the church’s media, and so I’m using the Easter season to sort of resurrect my Facebook and Instagram accounts. It’s an opportunity to share joys, insights, and a little humor with a daily remembrance of the festal celebration of the risen Lord.

By God’s grace, we persevered through the forty days of Lent that we may embark on a joyful celebration together of the Great 50 Days in light of the Paschal mystery. So as we take some rest and enjoy a bit of leisure, let us be sure that we do not rest from the Lord. Rather, let us rest in him for we who are tired will only ever find our truest refreshment in the Lord, by daily reflection on the Resurrection and by our corporate return to his Word and worship soon and often.

Let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
-Fr. Ben
What Is Eastertide?

Not all may know that the Easter season (Eastertide) lasts for 50 days.

During this time Episcopalians once again use the word alleluia, which they refrain from using during the penitential season of Lent, and the confession is omitted from the liturgy. The church also uses white (and sometimes gold) vestments, which is the color designated for feasts and festivals.

The Paschal Candle is lit on Easter and Sundays during Eastertide. It is the large candle that symbolizes the risen Christ, often decorated with a cross. Paschal means “related to Easter or Passover,” which is why Jesus is sometimes called the “Paschal Lamb.”

Eastertide ends on the Day of Pentecost, which celebrates when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in the form of tongues of fire. The word Pentecost means “fiftieth day” in Greek.

So for the next few weeks, you may still hear Fr. Ben exclaim “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” on Sunday mornings, to which parishioners reply, “The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!” 

Adapted from Trinity Church, Wall Street's website.
Notes
  • As butterflies are a symbol of resurrection and new life, consider creating a butterfly garden with butterflies’ favorite plants. Planting seeds and watching them break through the earth with new life is another representation of the resurrection.
  • Enjoy a 2020 virtual performance of The Strife is O'er, performed by 600 Episcopal musicians from all over the world and coordinated by The Episcopal Church Office of Communication. Link.
  • Follow "A Year in the Life," a new web series from The Episcopal Church that documents how Episcopal churches, schools, and ministries have navigated a very contentious and difficult year. New episodes will be released every two weeks beginning on April 20. Link
More Easter Pics!
St. Andrew's Communications
Communications Coordinator and Newsletter Editor-in-Chief, Marian Smithson
Newsletter Editor, Jane Weingartner | Newsletter Editor, Marianne Cavanaugh