St. John’s Episcopal Church E-Newsletter
April 30, 2008
Called by God to be a Community that hears
God’s word and does God’s work
TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE:
Fr. Michael’s Message
Activities & Info
Spring Clean-up
Secretary out of office
Potluck May 11
Graduate Recognition Sunday
Calendar
Liturgy Ministries
Contact Us
FR. MICHAEL’S MESSAGE
This Thursday, 1 May, is one of the principal feasts of the
church: Ascension Day. Luke tells us that Jesus spent forty days with his
disciples after his Resurrection before rising into heaven. Paul seems to
think of it as a triumphal procession, much as a returning conqueror would
bring with him all that he has accomplished.
Most of us live in the aftermath of the ascension, knowing
that Jesus is no longer physically present, feeling some loyalty to his
teachings and his person, but waiting for the power from on high that he
promised he would send. Pentecost, the outpouring of the power of the Holy
Spirit, the dissolving of fear, the removal of shame, the courage of conviction,
the birthday of the Church—all that is still to come.
When ancient Christians reflected on this event, two themes were
common.
First, humanity has been integrated into the Godhead. We
now have someone who knows what it is to be human seated in the place where
prayers are heard. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews made much of this,
saying that the ascended Christ, who is our mediator and has entered the Holy
of Holies in the depths of heaven, is compassionate and helpful because he knows
our weakness, having been like us in every way, but without sin. The Athanasian
Creed, which is in our Prayerbook but no longer used, states that the
Incarnation was achieved, “not by the conversion of the Godhead into
flesh”—an impossibility and an abdication of divine identity and
power—“but by taking of the humanity into God.” The
ascension, then, is the depiction of that taking up of our perspectives into
heaven; and we are to set our minds on things that are above, where Christ is
seated at the right hand of God.
Second, the letters to the Christians in Ephesus and Colossae
both speak of the fullness of Christ, in whom God has chosen to gather all
things in heaven and earth. The ascension is the collection of the earthly and
the heavenly into one person, the cosmic Christ, who in this form is the
principle of unification, “the fullness of the one who fills all in
all.” The one who descended also ascended; the trip out is completed by
the trip back, so that there is no place that does not know the life of God. All
is now united in one.
Christians in our age might not be convinced by these claims
or moved by this event. We no longer believe in a “three-story”
world, with heaven above our head, into which Jesus did a reverse parachute
dive. But the spiritual intuitions are sound. Humanity is not something
unknown to God, but integral to the divine life, drawn close to God. But our human
place there is not an exclusive privilege, since God gathers all things into
one.
The story of the Ascension is found in Acts 1:1-11.
The Lectionary also assigns Ephesians 1:15-23 or Hebrews
2:5-18, and Luke 24:49-53 or Matthew 28:16-20 to be read. The Psalm for the
day is 47.
SPRING CLEAN-UP this
Saturday May 3 from 8 am to noon. Come for the entire morning or a short
while. Every little bit helps!
Peg will be out of the office from May 1
through 12. She will return to the office on May 13. Please
don’t send any email messages that you need a quick answer to during that time! (We cannot use the
“out of office reply” on this system). The E-News will go out
as usual, but the Sunday announcements will be shortened.
POTLUCK There is still
time to sign up to bring dishes for the potluck celebration on May 11.
The sign up sheets are in the narthex.
GRADUATE RECOGNITION SUNDAY May
18: Please contact the office with names
of family members who are graduating this spring or early summer.
Graduate need not be present to be recognized. There will be no tests!
MAY
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The
events in italics are outside groups who will be using the building.
1
–
12
Secretary out of office
Sat
3
New Covenant of Christ service 2:30 –
4:30
Sun
4
Adult Forum 9:30: Values in our Outreach
5 –
7
Spring Clergy Conference Monday noon – Wednesday noon
Sat
10 Suzuki Studio recital rehearsals 9 – 11,
sanctuary
New Covenant of Christ service 2:30 – 4:30
Sun
11 Pentecost 9:30
service. 10th Anniversary celebration, Mother’s
day, UTO Ingathering and potluck lunch
Suzuki Studio recitals 2 PM, sanctuary
Tue
13 Lunch Bunch
Eucharist and potluck 11:30
Fri
16 Partners in Hope Training 8 – 4
Private Piano Recitals, Parish Hall 6:30
Sat
17 New Covenant of Christ service 2:30 – 4:30
Sun
18
Graduate Recognition Sunday at 10:30 service
Private Piano Studio Recitals 3 PM,
sanctuary
Wed
21 Last
Intergenerational Game Night 6:00 – 7:30
Thu
22 Vestry Meeting 7
pm
Sun
25 Memorial Day
Weekend—Begin summer service schedule: 9:30 service only
Fri
30 Private Piano recital 3:30 – 6 PM
Sat
31 Region III
meeting: 10 -0 noon
Liturgy
Ministers 4 May
8:30
10:30
Chalice
Ministers Tom R.
Rosie &
Ivan
Readers
Tom & Alexis
Nancy & Hattie
Acolytes
TBA
TBA
Accompanist
Denise B.
Altar
Guild
Jack & Gale
Coffee
Phoebe
& Betsy
Communion
Bread
Priscilla
Hospitality
Ministers
Phoebe &
TBA.
Offering
Recorders
Carrie & Nancy
Ushers
Carrie & Susan
Cleaning
Team
Louise & Nancy