Great updated news! Father emailed, Anneliese and he will be here to celebrate August 10th for “The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity.” They will continue to travel to Wisconsin to see their son and his family. We need to pray for people traveling this week; Nick who is going to Wisconsin and Julie Sopscak driving in from Michigan. Julie will be here for Saturday’s service. We miss David and Julie and they are always in our prayers.
Pray for our California friends in and around Chico; they are fighting fires again. This fire is a monster.
Please pray for Janet Rose and her family. Jack passed this morning; “May he rest in peace and the perpetual light shine upon him.” Jack and Janet came often to Saint John’s until Jack’s health and ambulation started failing. We have wonderful memories of them. It is always sad for us who still walk this earth when someone passes.
On a more happy note; the Deacon was blessed to help with our Shakespeare and Sacred Art Camp this week offered by the Chesterton Academy. One of his former students taught sacred arts to the 3rd-7th grade students and the Deacon worked with the older students to do a stage setting for a play by Shakespeare. We will need two more hours Friday to finish the backdrop. Twenty three students 3rd through 12th have spent four days studying Shakespeare and memorizing their parts for this play. Chesterton teachers worked with these students. This school is doing God’s work.
O GOD, whose never-failing providence ordered all things both on heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Attached are some images from the school. God bless
celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Peter and the celebrant colors were red. Father did the rite of sprinkling water (asperges) right after the opening hymn. The blessing and sprinkling of holy water is a reminder of baptism normally done at Easter but can be done at other times. Father chose to do this on this last Saturday in accordance of the liturgical calendar. The music was great and while the choir was singing, “I sought the Lord,” in my mind I was singing, “I sought the Lord and the Lord won and I sought the Lord and the Lord won.” That may be a takeoff from an Eric Clapton song. I thought “For thy dear saints, O Lord” as a closing hymn especially reflective of this mass.
O ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock; Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
We had a lovely sung morning prayer and Communion of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts this past weekend. Thank you Nick for leading us in MP. Your voice is a gift from heaven and our small choir is testimony of God working through you. Robert did a wonderful job reading the first lesson. It is a blessing for us to chant our canticles, the Venite, Te Deum and the Benedictus. Learning to chant properly is a work in progress for me.
nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that thou being our ruler and guide, we may pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
prelude from the “Organ Mass for the Convents” was a great intro to the Litany and to the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. We are so lucky to have such God filled music in our midst.
We were blessed! Father Andrews and Anneliese made it for the Ascension service. After all our tornado activity recently; it was wonderful to see them here safely. Earlier in the week Father suggested we do the Ascension of our Lord service. Father aspersed everyone while the choir sang the Vidi Aquam for that Rite. It was pretty dramatic that Pascal candle was extinguished during the reading of the Gospel as “He departed them.” Father also called all the mothers attending to the front to give them a blessing. That was another special moment. Thank you Father for all you do for this mission church. After Mass our mission group along with Father and Anneliese went to lunch at the LaCasa Restaurant. Thank you Vestry!
chapel. We will sing Evensong to celebrate Whitsunday/Pentecost. Our worship will be held this Sunday, May19 at 4PM. Please take note of this change. There will be no Anglican service at the Chapel this Saturday.
all of Eastertide. It is a chant that dates back to the 13th Century of praise and veneration of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. From antiquity, Mary has been called “Theotokos” or God bearer (Mother of God) and deserves our gratitude through this Eastertide. The word “Theotokos” has been in use since the early third century. We have had a magnificent festal season this year that has focused on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus we are nothing and of all things to do, we need to cling our souls to the Risen Lord. Chanting the Regina Coeli honors her and shows our love of God. Because through her, He became incarnate in the flesh. Thank you God.
Father Andrews did not make his journey here last week because of bad weather. We seem to have had many tornadoes dancing all around the eastern part of the state. Many houses have been destroyed and families displaced. We need to pray for them and perhaps we should donate to the Red Cross. The Red Cross here does an admirable job. God willing Father and Anneliese plan to journey here May 11, for the Sunday after Ascension service. We need to pray for traveling mercies for them.
We were blessed to have Father Andrews and Anneliese for our Palm Sunday Service. Without Father we would not be able to feed God’s children with the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Father always makes sure we have both elements in our tabernacle for use of the Presanctifed Gifts which I am allowed by our Bishops to do. Baptism, Confirmation and Communion brings us to the fullness of our life in Christ. Receiving Holy Communion brings us grace that affects us both spiritually and physically. Spiritually it helps our souls to be united with Christ and physically it leads us closer to sanctification of our own bodies. God bless you Father for all you do for this mission church.
blessing and distribution of the Palms. Thank you choir! The vocal postlude “Behold and SEE” from Handel was exceptional. We actually succeeded doing the Passion of Mathew as a church group; it was a true blessing.
We will be blessed to have Father Andrews and Anneliese for Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. David and Julie will be here also for another two weeks before they travel back to Michigan. Father will have two acolytes and a Deacon serving this week. God will be pleased that all of His children are doing His work. God willing, our little group will do Mathew 27: The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. It will be a challenge but we can do it for the glory of God.
for the Third Sunday in Lent. It is always great for them to be with us. It is a blessing for us that he drives 8 hours to feed God’s children. We always pray for traveling mercies for them.
Nick, Lynda, Julia and Julie had beautiful Godly music for this Mass. They sang an offertory anthem “Virgo virginium preclaire from Sabet Mater” by Rheinberger in Latin. They always surprise me with their God given talents. Please click on the attached bulletin to see what music was offered for Father Andrews. Father had some input on choices of the music.
dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness; may obtain of thee, the God of mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This collect is be said all through the Lenten season from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday.