The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25)

Jesus and the disciples have set their sights on Jerusalem. Jerusalem represents the self-giving love of Jesus Christ who died on a cross that we might have life and live it abundantly. I think we often set our sights too low in the church. We are happy to get a few more people in the pews and to be able to pay the bills. We look back at the times when the church was thriving or at times that were difficult instead of looking forward to the cross in Jerusalem. Jesus says that if we are to enter the Kingdom of God, we must look forward. If you are driving a car and look down to text a message or answer your phone, you cannot keep the car straight. Jesus tells us to stop texting and keep our eyes on the road ahead. If we are to give hope to the poor, living water to the thirsty, end racism in this country, and protect our environment for future generations, we need to follow Jesus Christ and to be guided by the Holy Spirit. As Jesus crosses boundaries in the Gospel of Luke, I ask every member at St. John’s to open their minds to the path that Jesus has put before us. Jesus will always bring you across new boundaries to a place where you can never return again to former times. If you are not sure if you are on the path look for the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control).

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples to commit their lives fully to God. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). We are called to walk in newness of life, but we have established a pattern of how we live our lives that is very hard to change. Will racism, sexism, poverty, homophobia, bullying, terrorism, domestic violence, and human trafficking end on our present path in the world today? Does the Christian Church live in the fruit of the Spirit and lead the path to a new heaven and earth? The church needs to stop tip toeing and start striding towards the Kingdom of God and put our trust and faith in God.

Today’s Gospel asks us to make a full commitment to Jesus Christ, who gave his life that we might have eternal glory. Last week in my sermon I mentioned that God is always reaching a hand out to us and we need to respond. “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 107). The power of God is working in many ways at St. John’s. Deacon Anthony is approved for ordination to the priesthood, the ECW is working with St. John’s Hospital, the mission trip to Puerto Rico was a total success, the Thrift Shop is thriving, the building repairs look great, the 275th Anniversary Capital Campaign is underway, and our relationship with St. Augustine’s, Brooklyn is being celebrated with Friendship Day today. Please give yourself fully to God and set your sights on Jerusalem.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:27-29).

I am very excited about Friendship Day and Hymn Sing that will take place on June 30th. Alex met with the St. Augustine choir director and Deacon Anthony and created a wonderful event. We will host the St. Augustine’s choir at the 10:00 am service on June 30th and they will worship and sing praise to God with the St. John’s choir and congregation. At 11:30 am, St. John’s will host a potluck brunch (Please sign up to bring a dish to share). The Puerto Rico Mission Team will then present a slide show about our recent trip. At 1:00 pm we will host a Gospel Music Workshop. There will be a bible study at 1:00 pm from chapter 16 in The Path. There will also be an opportunity for our guests to shop at the Thrift Shop or stroll Huntington Village. At 4:30 pm we would like our congregation to return to St. John’s for a Hymn Sing with the choirs that attend the workshop. We will have a brief reception at 5:30 pm and finish by 6:00 pm. 

Our relationship with our sister parish, St. Augustine’s, Brooklyn is a model for parishes in the Diocese of Long Island to follow. We have enjoyed worshiping in Brooklyn, exchanging rectors in the pulpit, hosting workshops and guests, and we especially appreciated the steel drum band from St. Augustine’s joining our Taste of the Caribbean Event to support our Puerto Rico Mission Trip. Your attendance is really important to our choir, Alex, your rector, and Deacon Anthony.   

Paul asks us to cloth ourselves with Christ. Today we will sing (at the 10:00 service), “In Christ there is no East or West.” In the third verse the lyrics are: “Join hands, disciples of the faith, whate'er your race may be. All children of the living God are surely kin to me.” Our Racial Reconciliation and Social Justice Committee is trying to break the boundaries of racism that most of us don’t even see. But if you stop to listen to our African American brothers and sisters you will hear that we still have a long way to go to eradicate racism. 

I ask each and every member of this congregation to treat all brothers and sisters in Christ with respect and to offer the hospitality that St. John’s is known for. We can be the new heaven and new earth that are promised to both rich and poor, black and white, north and south, east and west, high church and low church, and to us and them. 

Last week in my sermon I said, “The world is filled with brokenness and separation. When the distinction between us and them dissipates, we enter into the peace that passes all understanding. When their hope and prayers become our hope and prayers, something amazing is about to happen.” Next Sunday something amazing is going to happen and I am asking each of you to gather together to show your support for the relationship we have developed with St. Augustine’s, Brooklyn. 

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

I pray that you put your slippers way under the bed tonight, so that when you wake up in the morning you have to get on your knees to reach them. And while you’re down there, say thank you for grace, thank you for mercy, thank you for understanding, thank you for wisdom, thank you for parents, thank you for love, thank you for kindness, thank you for humility, thank you for peace, thank you for prosperity. Say thank you in advance for what’s already yours. So that’s how I live my life, that’s why – [where I am today]. Say thank you in advance for what is already yours. True desire in the heart for anything good is God’s proof to you sent beforehand to indicate that it’s yours already. True desire in the heart, that itch that you have whatever it is you want to do, that thing that you want to do to help others and to grow and to make money that desire that itch, that’s God’s proof to you, sent beforehand, already to indicate that it’s yours. And anything you want good you can have, so claim it, work hard to get it. When you get it, reach back, pull someone else up, each one teach one. Don’t just aspire to make a living. Aspire to make a difference. Thank you, Denzel Washington

I remember my first day at St. John’s. Ford invited me to a Youth Group pool party at the home of Chris and Ann Wenk in 2014. The turnout was fabulous, the hospitality was wonderful, and I knew right then that St. John’s was my calling for many years to come. That fall I taught confirmation class and worked with the youth group on Sunday nights. Today, we congratulate these terrific youth that have now graduated High School (and College). I can’t tell you what an honor and privilege it has been to be your pastor these past 4 1/2 years. I know that each of our graduates will do extremely well because they have been touched by the hand of God. I need them to know that God loves them on both good days and bad days .I have shared Denzel Washington’s commencement speech because it speaks the truth that God has cleared a path in our lives and that we can make a difference in this world.  

Last week a mission team from St. John’s traveled to Puerto Rico. My sincere thanks to all the members of St. John’s that supported us during our trip to help people recovering from Hurricane Maria. It was clear from the start of this trip that God was using our team to bring the hope and love of the Lord to some people that really needed it. When we become the hands and the feet of the Lord, we enter deeply into relationship with the Lord. As the Son loves the Father enough to follow his will, we enter into that bond when we follow the path set before us. The result is that the people that we served in Puerto Rico felt the blessing, love, and hope of God through our mission work.

I would also like to thank our Sunday school teachers and parents. We had another fabulous year and we thank you for helping to show that “our children are our treasure” at St. John’s.

My heartfelt thanks to the parents of our graduates, our youth leaders, our missioners, and to this wonderful parish that does God’s work in so many ways. So let us praise and worship our Lord, who died for our sins and calls us to make a difference in the world.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

God bring us into a new life of beauty and goodness in your creation.
Jesus, Redeemer, renew us through your Gospel by teaching us how to be in relation with others.
Holy Spirit, Sustainer, strengthen and guide us in unity.

The concept that we are all one in Christ in this community is demonstrated by the relationship in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The theology of the Trinity is mysterious and confusing. “The first person of the trinity is God the Father, creator, the unoriginated origin, source, Father of the only begotten Son, breathing out the Holy Spirit. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father, receives the divine nature, essence and substance from the Father, consubstantial with the Father, the Word, image and sacrament. Holy Spirit, proceeds, consubstantial with the Father and the Son, breathed out.”

Saint Patrick is said to have explained the Trinity to the Celts by using a shamrock, three individual leaves, yet still one plant. Augustine said the Trinity was best understood as the Lover, the Beloved, and the love which exists between them. Tertullian used the metaphor of the Trinity as a plant, with the Father as the deep root, the Son as the shoot that breaks forth into the world, and the Spirit as the force which spreads beauty and fragrance on the earth. Author, David Cunningham explained the Trinity with the Father represented as underground water, the redeemer as the spring that leads to the source, and the Holy Spirit as the water that we drink. “In some ways the Trinity is the first community, the model for how we are called to connect with one another, without prejudice, without inequality, without competition, and always with perfect love.”

Saint Augustine once told students who studied the doctrine of the Trinity, "Lest you become discouraged, know that when you love, you know more about who God is than you could ever know with your intellect." Jesus said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Abide in God’s love by loving one and all. Love your families, love your spouse or partner, love your fellow parishioners, love your neighbor, love those who are different from you, and love those who hate you. Abide in God’s love by caring for the elderly, caring for the orphan, caring for the poor, caring for the sick, and caring for the oppressed. Strive to change the systems that perpetuate negativity, violence, racism, homophobia, and sexism. But most of all continue to draw one another into community through the self-giving love of Jesus Christ.

I am in Puerto Rico this morning with a mission team from this church trying to love some people who have not recovered from a devastating hurricane. We are trying our best to help some folks that have really struggled these past several years. The weather report calls for rain all week. We will build a cement foundation for clean water, repair and seal a roof, teach Vacation Bible School, and bring food and love to individuals who really need some help. Please pray for us.

In the love of the Holy Trinity,

Fr. Duncan

"Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the glimpse of an eternity
that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time" (Albert Camus).

Last Saturday I did the memorial service for Mildred Wehr. She lived 109 years and remained a faithful member of this parish until she was taken to eternal glory. One of the hardest things to deal with in our lives is the fact that we live in a temporal world. Our bodies will not last forever, those whom we love and love us will be separated from us one day, and everything we see will eventually fade away. As we age, we constantly hope to look and feel younger, but time will catch up with us. As difficult as it seems, one day we will witness the funeral of our loved ones or they will witness ours. When we see a beautiful flower on the altar, its beauty can only be captured in that moment. Two weeks later, that flower will be compost in the soil. Jesus offers us a look beyond the temporal life that we live. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. We don’t have to wait for the death of a loved one to understand that everything is passing away in this world.

A deepening relationship with Jesus Christ is the path to the eternal. We can get a glimpse of the eternal by loving as we have been loved, giving generously of ourselves, forgiving as we have been forgiven, being thankful for everything we receive, and living life with joy in our hearts. We are Easter people because we live in the hope of the resurrection. We know that Jesus died for our sins and conquered death that we might live abundantly. Abundant life is not something we have to wait for, but is offered to us right now. In his Farewell Discourse, Jesus is telling us that he will soon be ascending to our God in heaven, but that we can get a glimpse of eternal life through faith, prayer, and action. John teaches a realized eschatology. Walk with Jesus in this life and the next and you will live in Hozho (peace, balance, beauty and harmony).

This past week our vestry had a mutual ministry workshop. They realized that everything we do centers around how we bring the light of Christ into our midst. The vestry has summarized our core values at St. John’s. Maybe you can think of another core value and send it to Coral.

Welcoming, Hospitality, Diversity, Warmth, Respect, Acceptance, Incorporation, Encouragement to Participate, Nourishing the Body and Soul, and Strong Lay Leadership.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 1:12-17)

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"(John13:34-35).

St. John’s is a diverse and friendly community. I have heard many people say that it feels like one big family when you come back to the Great Hall for coffee and fellowship. There is a feeling you get when you come to events like our “Taste of the Caribbean” and the ECW Zingo Night. The feeling many people have shared with me reflects the love of Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus gave himself for our sins, we love our neighbors as he loved us. The key to this love is that it is steadfast and universal. We love everyone that walks through our door. God loves all people for all time and we are called to love each other in a similar manner. “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7).

I encourage everyone at St. John’s to join a small group. Fellowship in a small group can lead to lifelong friendships and helps our church to carry out the mission and outreach work that we are called to do. Small groups can also provide a confidential atmosphere of support, prayer, and love that helps us to get through difficult times in our lives. The ECW, Education for Ministry, St. Hilda’s Guild, bible study, the Thrifty Shop, the choir, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Spirituality Group, the breakfast group, laundry love, racial reconciliation and social justice, the youth group, acolytes, the nursery school steering committee, the  vestry, the finance committee, and buildings and grounds are all ministries that function as a small group. Please consider joining one of these small group ministries. Community is at the heart of everything we do at St. John’s.

St. John’s has a long tradition of providing food and fellowship. Every Sunday the breakfast group offers an amazing time of food and fellowship. If you do not attend our coffee hour after the 8:00am or 10:00am services, I highly recommend that you come back to the Great Hall (through the door by the piano) after every church service. On June 19th, our ECW (Episcopal Church Women) will provide a wonderful dinner. A group of guys from the parish will cook and serve a fine meal to all the ladies. Please consider joining us for this time of food and fellowship.

This past week, our youth joined us in celebrating the love and compassion of our mothers at St. John’s. Our Youth stood at the altar, served as acolytes, distributed the wine, read the lessons, led the Prayers of the People, served as ushers, and sang the offertory anthem. My thanks to Ford, our youth group, our Sunday school teachers, and all our children for all that they do to make St. John’s such a wonderful family. Our next youth service will be June 16th. We will celebrate our fathers, our Sunday school teachers and our children that attended Sunday school this year. We will also celebrate our high school and college graduate. Please give Coral their names, so that we can include them in our program. If you would like to sing or play an instrument, please see Alex.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

The five marks of Anglican Mission:

To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

To teach, baptize and nurture new believers

To respond to human need by loving service

To seek to transform unjust structures of society

To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and

sustain and renew the life of the earth

We are part of the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Communion is one of the world’s largest Christian communities. It has tens of millions of members in more than 165 countries around the globe. Anglicanism is one of the traditions or expressions of Christian faith. Others include Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran and Baptist. The Communion is organized into a series of provinces and extra-provincial areas.  The provinces are subdivided into dioceses, and the dioceses into parishes. There are 40 provinces and, from March 2019, five extra-provincial areas. Some provinces are national, others are regional. All are in communion – or a reciprocal relationship – with the See of Canterbury and recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as the Communion’s spiritual head.  But there is no central authority in the Anglican Communion. All of the provinces are autonomous and free to make their own decisions in their own ways – guided by recommendations from the four Instruments: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Primates’ Meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council.   

This week we continue to look at the five marks of Anglican Mission. We are called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We do that by sharing our faith and giving of ourselves to others in a way that the light of Christ is shown. We are called to nurture new believers. Last weekend we confirmed six of our youth and three of our members were received. Today they will receive their certificates and a bible. Last weekend St. John’s held, “A Taste of the Caribbean,” to respond to the need of the children that are still recovering from hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The event was a huge success because so many of our members worked together to provide great food, music, and fellowship. The St. Augustine’s Steel Drum Band came all the way from Brooklyn with Deacon Anthony to support our mission trip. Thank you to everyone who participated in this wonderful event.                                                                                     

Our Racial Reconciliation and Social Justice Ministry is working to transform unjust structures of society. I urge you to read the book “White Fragility” and participate in the workshop on accompaniment training on May 29th from 2-4pm.                                                                                                                              

The last mark of Anglican Mission is safeguarding our earth. Several years ago we installed solar panels for clean energy. That project has been a success financially and shows good environmental stewardship. We need to do a better job at recycling at St. John’s. In a recent trip to the west coast, I realized that Long Island is way behind in our environmental stewardship. I encourage every committee to consider ways to protect or natural environment.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

This is a very special Sunday at St. John’s. We celebrate our children who wish to receive their First Communion. “The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again… The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life”
(Catechism of the BCP).

We also celebrate our Confirmands and those Received by the bishop. They have promised with all of us at St. John’s to:

Continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread,
and in the Prayers.

To persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever they fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.

To proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

To seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving their neighbor as themselves.

To strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity
of every human Being.

Bishop Provenzano has asked every congregation in the Diocese of Long Island to follow Jesus by loving the ones who need our love most. This follows Jesus’ call to, “Feed my sheep.” Through the ministries of the ECW, we provide food to the Helping Hands Food Pantry, cloths through our Thrift Shop, contributions to dozens of local charities from our Harvest Fair, free loads of laundry through Laundry Love, presents for the poor through Adopt of Family, Thanksgiving baskets to victims of domestic violence, and aid to families devastated by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico through our mission trip from June 2nd to June 9th. On Saturday May 10th, the ECW and Youth Group will hold “Zingo” to provide summer camp to underprivileged children in our area. The ECW provides the means, but the congregation of St. John’s and the community support these events with their time, talent, and treasure. I want to thank every member in our parish that gives to these events from the bottom of my heart. Loving Jesus Christ and feeding his sheep are at the heart of everything we do.

 Let us take a moment this Sunday to give thanks and praise to God. It is through God’s that we receive forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit to strength us on our journey, and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.  “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever (Psalm 30:11-12).

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

For the first time in many years, a mysterious piece of correspondence has fallen into my hands: another letter from Screwtape, one of the archfiends in the lower-archy of hell, a letter meant to be delivered to his apprentice nephew, Wormwood, a recent graduate of Tempters College. Those who read this letter are advised to remember that it is from the devil's perspective and that the devil is a liar.

My dear Wormwood:

I frequently receive reports on the horrors of the Easter season from minor apprentices such as yourself. Those events make all of our domain shudder. Even our father below recoils at the merest recollection of that abominable occurrence that Christians call the resurrection. We who are most close to him keep our distance because he fulminates with such anger that we are quite likely to become mere morsels to be consumed. That is between you and me; it would not be prudent to repeat such information.

However, in spite of the circumstances of this Easter season—I cringe when I write that word—certain things can be brought to our advantage if you will pay close attention to what transpires. Hence, do not permit any temporary depression over the state of your patient begin to dominate your thoughts or your job will be in jeopardy, and you know how our father treats those who fail him. Now some suggestions on how to undermine the faith of your patient.

Remember that all extremes, except extreme devotion to the Enemy, are to be encouraged. Remember last Sunday when the pews were filled with people? I see that you do. Well, turn this to your advantage since it is quite unlikely this will take place two weeks in a row. We want to keep those who don't return away permanently, or at least to make any return a social occasion rather than a religious one. For this reason, gently insert into the mind of your patient that Mrs. Bloggs, she of the second seat, sixth pew, gospel side, was wearing exactly the same hat she wore last Easter. This will shift your patient's mind from attention to the service and nudge him into a thought such as chapeau fashions and what he will be having for Sunday dinner.

Make worldly concerns his end and church attendance a means to that end, and you have almost won him for our father below. Provided that the latest fashions, egg hunts, and meals matter more to him than prayers and sacraments and love, he is ours. I could show you a pretty group of specimens we have secured already.

Even for those who have made it back to their place of worship for a second week, all is not lost. You have a marvelous opportunity when the time for the gospel arrives. This one concerns a certain Thomas, a particular doubter who finally comes to believe in the Enemy only when he has ocular proof. It is an unfair advantage of the Enemy that He loves even when he is doubted, but we can turn that to our advantage. Sneak into your patient's mind that doubt is healthy, that if he had been a real man he would have demanded more substantial proof than he was offered. Suggest that what the Enemy is about is propaganda rather than an appalling truth. Remind him of the last great war—and all the ones that have followed—how we were all conditioned to beware of propaganda.

Press home that after fifty days the Enemy will abandon him, that He will not always be present to his conscious experience. Hence, should he cry out, in a moment of weakness, with Thomas, he will be conditioned to expect no response. If, somehow, your patient persists, speak to him about “moderation in all things,” the via media, a particular Episcopal perspective. If you can once get him to think that “religion is all very well up to a point,” you can feel quite happy about the destination of his soul. A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing.

Keep what I have written in mind and 'low Sunday' will sink even lower and your patient will turn his attention outward. And our father below will be well pleased. Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape

With all blessing, Fr. John+

Socrates and Plato believed that the most important kind of knowledge comes from a re-awakening of truth that is dormant within us. We celebrate the Eucharist by remembering the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The prayer of remembrance is called the Anamnesis. This Greek word for remembrance comes from one who has lost their amnesia. At the Eucharist, the priest says, “do this in remembrance of me.” We re-member the words of Jesus Christ at the last supper, but we connect with our soul in a past, present, and future event. Those who have lost their identity or purpose need to re-member what God has done for them and to know that they are unconditionally loved by God. I urge you to call your friends and family who have wandered from the church and invite them to re-member that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Palm Sunday and Easter are the core liturgical observances of the Christian year because we re-member what God has done, is doing, and will do for us. They are also the time when many people who have been away, come back to church. Please join us this week as we re-member the last days of Jesus’ life. Holy Week offers a series of services that reconnect our souls with the truth that God has given us in the person of Jesus Christ.

Maundy Thursday is a simple service in the tradition of the last supper. We will begin with a Seder meal at 6:00PM. This is the Jewish Tradition that Jesus practiced with his disciples. Please speak to Heather Kress and let her know that you will be joining us for this family friendly meal together. At 7:30PM, we move into the church. The Gospel from John is read and we wash each other’s feet as a sign of our servanthood and love of one another. The service ends with a dramatic stripping of the altar and we begin a prayer vigil through the night.

Good Friday is a somber reminder of the depth of God’s love for us. We pray at the foot of the cross with Mary and John. We pray in silence and ponder the incredible love of God in the act of Jesus death on the cross for our sins. Fr. John will preach from 12-3PM on the last seven words of Jesus Christ. At 7:00PM we will do the Stations of the Cross and at 7:30PM we will have a Good Friday service with music.

Easter Sunday is a celebration of Christ’s resurrection and the hope that Christ gives to each of us. All are welcome to share with us in his resurrection. At 7:30AM, we will light a fire in the Garden of Blessing and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The children will celebrate with the flowering of the cross and an Easter egg hunt at the 9:00AM service. There will also be a beautiful choral Eucharist at 11:00AM. We will proclaim the resurrection with the words, “Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!”

These services help us to connect to the love of God and see ourselves as part of a community baptized into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I urge you to come to as many Holy Week services as you are able, to invite guests, and to welcome everyone with open arms.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan