March 10, 2010

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Reminder: Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend. Please spring forward one hour and join us for the Holy Eucharist for the fourth Sunday of Lent at 10:30 am.

This Sunday is called Laudate or Rejoice Sunday since it marks the mid point of Lent; our time of preparation is bringing us closer to the feast of Easter. The liturgical color to mark this joyous note in the middle of the Lenten season is rose.

You are all invited to a Classic Anglican Choral Evensong this Sunday at 4:00 pm. A high tea reception will follow. For more information, please click here.

The holy season of Lent is a time to deepen our relationship with God and grow in our love of neighbor. We are assisted in our Lenten Reflection by the Rev. Henri J.M. Nouwen, who has written powerfully on the parable of the Prodigal Son. To read his reflection in our parish leaflet, This Week, please click here.

You are invited to our Wednesday evening Lenten program of worship, shared meal, discussion of "Lost & Found: Forgiveness and the Prodigal Son" and Compline. For information, please click here.

You are invited to our Film Series on Forgiveness and Reconciliation this Friday, March 12, at 7PM. For more information, please visit our homepage.

Last Sunday, our parish heard reports from the Sisters of St. Margaret and Oxfam on humanitarian efforts to assist the people of Haiti after the earthquake that devastated their country. Your donations to provide medical care, food, water, clothing, and shelter to the people of Haiti are still needed. If you wish to make a donation online, please click on Partners in Health, Episcopal Relief and Development, Oxfam America and the Sisters of St. Margaret.

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

The reading from Joshua is an account of the Passover celebrated by the Israelites after their liberation from slavery in Egypt: "While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain." (Joshua 5:9-12)

Psalm 32 praises the grace of a heartfelt confession: "Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away! Happy are they to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, and in whose spirit there is no guile! While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, because of my groaning all day long. For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.' Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin."

The reading from Corinthians speaks of the restoration of the person who has been forgiven: "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)

The Gospel from Luke tells the story of the Prodigal Son: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe – the best one – and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.

"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'" (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32)

Sunday's scripture readings speak of the joy of being forgiven. God's forgiveness is offered to each of us. Let us turn to the Lord with the humility of the Prodigal Son and rejoice to receive God's mercy. Please join us for the Holy Eucharist this Saturday at 5:00 pm and this Sunday at 10:30 am.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

Worship Services for

The Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 13-14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, at 5:00 pm: Preacher - The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, March 14, at 10:30 am: Preacher - The Rev. David A. Killian

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