April 2006 Contents
This month we celebrate the highlight of the Christian year, the victory of life over death with the resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. I am sure the church will be full, as it should be, for this grand and glorious celebration. The finding of that empty tomb on that first Easter Sunday so many hundreds of years ago was a dramatic moment. But to fully appreciate the drama and meaning of that moment, one has to understand what had happened in the days before - the betrayal and abandonment of Jesus by his friends, his arrest, torture and murder. Every year, the church reenacts those events from the final week of Jesus’ life during Holy Week, the week before Easter. The church is not so full for these services, but those who come to them inevitably comment on how moving these liturgies are, and how their journey through all the events of Holy Week deepens their appreciation of the miracle of Easter morning. I encourage you to join us on our journey through Holy Week this year. Here is the schedule for the week. Childcare will be available at all services.
Palm Sunday(April 9, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.) We begin the service in the beech grove, weather permitting, and process into church waving palm fronds, as we remember Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. At the gospel, the mood of the service changes dramatically, as we read the story of Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Note: No Sunday School this day. Wednesday in Holy WeekJoin us at noon for the Eucharist, followed by a simple lunch in the parish hall. Note: No Village Supper this day. Maundy ThursdayMaundy is from the Greek word meaning commandment. On this day we remember Jesus' instructions to his followers on the last night of his life to love one another. We will begin at 6 p.m. with a simple supper, provided by the church. (For reservations call the church office or sign up in the narthex.) After supper we will go into church at 7:00 p.m. for the Maundy Thursday liturgy. In this moving service, we are all invited to participate in washing one another's feet, as Jesus did for his disciples the last night of his life. The service continues with the Eucharist, and ends as we sit in silence during the stripping of the altar. Please don't let hesitancy about the foot washing keep you from this service. That part of the liturgy is voluntary. Good FridayThe service for this most somber day of the Christian year begins at noon with the Good Friday liturgy, and continues until 3 p.m. with meditations on the Stations of the Cross. Please feel free to come to any or all of the service, as you are able. Easter VigilThis dramatic service begins Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in the beech grove with the lighting of the new fire, from which the Paschal candle is lit. The first part of the service is held in darkness, as we hear scripture stories of God's acts of salvation throughout history, beginning with creation. Midway through the service we turn on the lights, and ring bells as we joyously proclaim that Lent is over and Christ has risen. We will baptize four children at this service: Melanie Sills, daughter of Clay and Trish Sills; Jack Barclay, son of Jennifer and Brian Barclay; and Jackie and Wallis Kaltenbach, daughters of Lucy and John Kaltenbach. A champagne and cake reception will follow the service. Easter SundayCome celebrate Jesus' resurrection on this most festive day of the Christian year. An Easter egg hunt will be held for children after the 10:30 service. Note: No Sunday School this day.
Table of Contents | Return to top Announcements
Table of Contents | Return to top Within Our WallsOutreach is Coming to You!Outreach efforts at St. Dunstan’s have been a basic element of the parish from its very beginnings. But what do you know about the ministries we actually support and our specific efforts with each in 2006? An easy opportunity to know more is on the way! Beginning in April, the Outreach Committee will present one of St. Dunstan’s outreach ministries each month. A few extra minutes will be used on select Sundays during the 10:30 service to share basic information about our outreach partners. We will occasionally have guests from these organizations to offer first-hand experiences and perspectives of their important missions. April will be dedicated to our sister parish, Holy Comforter. On Sunday, April 2nd, Barbara Bradshaw will start things off with a brief overview of our outreach relationship with Holy Comforter. Please watch the weekly bulletin for further details on this outreach communication series.
Table of Contents | Return to top Thank You:
Congratulations to Carson Morris, daughter of Lee and Gilda Morris. Carson will graduate from the University of New Mexico this May with her Masters in Latin American Studies and just found out that she has been ACCEPTED to the PhD program to get her doctorate (at UNM) in History, specifically in Modern Latin American History.
Table of Contents | Return to top Mary & Martha's Place
MID-DAY PROGRAMS
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576, 577: |
God is love, and where true love is | |
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Where charity and love prevail | |
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Where true charity and love dwell |
Good Friday: Selections from the ancient text Stabat Mater dolorosa, chronicling the sorrow of the Virgin Mary while witnessing the Crucifixion, in a setting by the 18th-century Italian composer, Giovanni Pergolesi. In sharp contrast to this Baroque work is the beautiful spiritual Were You There When they Crucified My Lord, especially appropriate for this day.
The Good Friday Liturgy will also include the premiere of the motet Blessed Jesus at this Hour, commissioned by the St. Dunstan Choir especially for this service. The striking and evocative text is taken from the rarely-heard “Daily Devotions” section of The Book of Common Prayer (page 138) and has been set with wonderful sensitivity by composer James Stephenson of Naples, Florida. (For more information on the composer, please visit his website at www.stephensonmusic.com.)
The Great Vigil of Easter: In the darkness, the New Fire is lit, and we hear the first music of Easter: The great paschal hymn Exsultet (“Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels”), one of the oldest and most important hymns of the Church, which “sets the stage” for the Resurrection.
Easter Sunday: Christ’s Resurrection will be celebrated with a variety of thrilling hymns, organ music, and choral works, including the Antiphon of Spring, a lovely and unusual motet by Boston composer Everett Titcomb (1885-1968) on texts from the Song of Solomon. This beautiful allegory parallels the Resurrection of Christ with the arrival of Spring and the return of life to the earth.
May all the music of Holy Week guide and inspire you in your worship as together we celebrate these sacred mysteries and glorious events.
Faithfully,
Steve Furches
Organist and Choirmaster
sfurches@earthlink.net
404-266-1018
This Month
This year I am again cycling for 6 hours in the OVARIAN CYCLE RIDE. Many of you may remember Susan Hyde; she died in January 2001 of ovarian cancer. I am dedicating my ride
to her memory. I have pledged to raise money for research for the early detection of ovarian cancer. I would love your contributions. Currently there is no way to detect this cancer early. By the time most women discover that they have ovarian cancer, it has metastasized. Help us find an early detection for this cancer! Please donate: www.ovariancycle.org: Rider: Gilda Morris
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Good Friday Offering
“At present . . . I am going to Jerusalem with aid for the saints . . .” —Romans 15:25
Dear friends,
It is indeed appropriate that our thoughts and prayers include our brothers and sisters who constitute the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East–appropriate today as a way of making obvious to everyone the importance with which we regard that place where our faith took physical form and our salvation became secured. The Holy Land is a mystical place, a wonderful and awful place which reaches out to us across the ages and around the world; a timeless place which beckons our hearts and stimulates our faith. As we give sincere thanks to God for the untold blessings of our lives, as we join the faithful throughout history in the hope of a lasting peace in Jerusalem, we cannot forget those who share our faith this day and yet must live in a Middle East which falls tragically short of the Golden City of our prayers. We are a generous people; our past has proved it. Won’t you join with me in supporting the Good Friday Offering again this year? Since 1922 our deep concern for the church in the Holy Land has made a real difference in countless lives, through this annual gift of the Good Friday Offering. Your participation helps to make this gift a manifestation of our faith and love in every parish and mission across the Episcopal Church. May God bless you in this and every ministry.
Faithfully yours,
FRANK T. GRISWOLD, Presiding Bishop
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Deadline for articles for the May Bellows is April 15.
Please email your articles or leave them in Kim Branch’s
mailbox in the church office.
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Sundays
Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Christian Education (Sunday School) for all ages at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesdays
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Wayne Lord—Senior Warden |
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Bruce Lafitte—Junior Warden |
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Beverly Booth |
Susan Elliott |
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Susan Hauser |
Tonia Hopkins |
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Nancy Knight Latimore |
Richard Stansbury |
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Matt Taylor |
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Our Staff
The Rev. Patricia Templeton, Rector
The Rev. Maggie Harney, Priest Associate
Stephen L. Furches, Organist-Choirmaster
Kim Branch, Parish Administrator
Daria Jones, Treasurer
