The Heartbeat of
St. Charles’ Episcopal Church
630.584.2596 scecoffice@sbcglobal.net www.stcharlesepiscopal.org
Sunday March 16, 2008
The Sunday of the Passion – Palm Sunday
(Starting outside – weather permitting)
7:30 am Holy Eucharist with Hymns and Palms
9:00 am Holy Eucharist with Songs and Palms
10:45 am Choral Eucharist with Palms
Tuesday March 18, 2008
7:30 pm Tenebrae (with Incense)
Thursday March 20, 2008
7:30 pm Maundy Thursday
9:00 pm Vigil at the Altar of Repose (Ending at 9:00 AM Good Friday)
Friday March 21, 2008
9:00 am Good Friday service to end vigil
11:00 am Intergenerational Stations of the Cross
7:30 pm Good Friday service
Saturday March 22, 2008 (Starting outside)
7:30 pm Great Vigil of Easter with Baptism (& Incense)
Sunday March 23, 2008
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I with Choir
9:00 am Holy Eucharist
10:00 am Easter Egg Hunt for children 4th grade & younger
10:45 am Choral Eucharist Rite II with Choir
Explanations of the different services following the Deacon's notes.
Notes from the Deacon...
Greetings –
Lent is a time of fasting, penitence, and preparation, and it is also a time when we meet God in our encounters with each other. It is a time that the Celtic people called “thin space” – where God seems present in every breath, every encounter – if we only would stop and listen.
In her book Everyday Sacred, author Sue Bender talks about healing her relationship with her son Michael, now an adult. Michael says to his mother, “We got it turned around. We go through this together. You didn’t do it all by yourself. We get in this [relationship] together and we get out of it together.”
Together. As a Christian community, we do the same. Sure, like any family, there will always be an “odd cousin” or an eccentric Uncle Vito, but they are part of the family – there is a connectedness. On a profound level, we know deep in our bones that family wouldn’t be family without them.
As our Christian family, we invite you to come together this Lent. The Wardens’ letter in this issue invites you to one of several Informational Stewardship Gatherings being held in the coming weeks. At these gatherings, we will learn more about the glue that holds us together as a family in ministry. Please invest your time in this endeavor. You might be the niece we wish we knew better, or the cousin whose reputation for humor has never been tested. You might even be Uncle Vito! You may think your presence is not essential, but it is. Together, we are one family.
Toward the middle of the month, we will journey liturgically together toward that inescapable day when the world tried to extinguish the Light of Christ. To fully understand and encounter Christ in the triumph that is Easter, we must enter into the events that led up to His glorious resurrection. From Palm Sunday to the shadows of Tenebrae to the basin and towels of Maundy Thursday – all these lead us into the despair of Good Friday, and into the comfort of our common life together that is realized at the Easter Vigil.
Walk with us as we encounter Christ, not only in worship, but in each other. Together.
Grace and peace-
Deacon Liz
Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.
Acts 2: 46
A Concise Explanation of the Holy Week services...
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday
We begin this day by celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. We gather in the Columbarium Garden (weather permitting) where palm fronds are blessed and distributed as we re-enact the festive procession described in the gospels.
Palm Sunday begins Holy Week by abruptly shifting mood. The church is adorned in the red of the blood of martyrs. The Passion story (the story of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion) is read with the congregation reading the part of the crowd. The congregation, who before sang sweet hosannas, now calls "Crucify him!" It is in this drama that the tone is set for the liturgies of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and ultimately of the Great Vigil of Easter.
Tenebrae
Tenebrae is a Latin word that signifies darkness, shadows, and obscurity. The name of this service comes from the opening words of the fifth responsory: “Tenebrae factae sunt” – “darkness came over the whole land.” (Mark 15:33).
Tenebrae is characterized by the progressive extinguishing of all lights in the church except for one candle. The service ends with the ministers and people departing in silence through the shadows cast by that solitary flame. The appointed psalms, lessons, and prayers of Tenebrae form a prolonged contemplation of the events of Jesus’ last days. Tenebrae’s structure and content work together to evoke the dark and somber mood that will not be dispelled until Holy Week concludes with the new fire of the Great Vigil of Easter.
Maundy Thursday
On the evening that precedes the events of Good Friday, we commemorate the last meal Jesus shared with his friends in the Upper Room. At that meal, Jesus gave them and us two lasting gifts. First, Jesus gave us the sacrament of the Eucharist, an everlasting means whereby we are made one in the Body of Christ. The second gift he gave was a practical example by which we are to love one another: he washed the disciples' feet.
"Maundy" is an English corruption of the Latin mandatum, which means "commandment." It reminds us of the commandment of Jesus, "Love one another as I have loved you." As a liturgical expression of that commandment, those who wish can come forward to have their feet washed. Maundy Thursday cannot be celebrated apart from the observance of Good Friday, for the Last Supper and the Cross of Christ are mystically one. After the people have received the bread and wine of our Savior's Last Supper, the clergy and acolytes strip the altar and sanctuary of any adornment and leave it bare. As the altar represents the Body of Christ, we remember the arrest, trial, stripping and torture endured by Jesus on the way to his death. As the altar is stripped, the people recite Psalm 22, the psalm Jesus may have used during his execution.
The Altar of Repose
The Episcopal Church maintains the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Good Friday is the only day of the entire year that it is not appropriate to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Because of this requirement, the leftover bread and wine that were consecrated at the Maundy Thursday liturgy, known as the reserved sacrament, are put in special vessels and kept in a place outside the main church, called the Altar of Repose.
As the main altar is stripped on Maundy Thursday, the Deacon processes with the consecrated bread and wine to the Parlor, where a special altar has been prepared to receive the sacrament. Reminiscent of the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in the company of his disciples before his arrest, this Altar of Repose is a place where the faithful can reflect on their own discipleship in preparation for Easter. A silent vigil is kept by those who wish to remain at the Altar of Repose until 9:00 am on Good Friday.
Good Friday
Good Friday marks the lowest point of the Christian Year. We mourn the death of Jesus and contemplate the world's rejection of his message and ministry. Yet Good Friday is called "good" because God takes an instrument of death, the cross, and turns it into a means of victory over death. The Good Friday liturgy is stark and simple. The Passion narrative from the gospel of John is read in parts, followed by the Solemn Collects, a prayerful remembrance of all who dwell on the earth.
The Veneration of the Cross is an act of devotion that began in the fourth century. A cross is brought forward by the deacon into the sight of the people. The faithful contemplate in stillness the physical sign which bore our Savior. If so moved, there is also time and space for individuals to come forward for brief silent prayer at the foot of the cross. During the veneration the choir sings an anthem whose text is a meditation on the power the symbol of the cross has for us.
The liturgy concludes with a Confession of Sin, the Lord's Prayer and distribution of Holy Communion from the reserved sacrament, followed by a final collect. The people depart in silence, leaving the church bleak and bare as was Jesus’ tomb. Christians need not despair as the first disciples did, but can wait in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.
A special liturgy with language accessible to both children and adults on Good Friday morning takes them through the stations of the cross. In small groups we make the journey to the cross in several steps throughout the church. We hear the story of Jesus' Passion unfold as we walk through the stations. We are encouraged to wonder about the mystery of death and resurrection so that we might experience God's transformative way of grace.
The Great Vigil of Easter
The Great Vigil of Easter is the climax of the year. It is the end and the beginning. The early church had no special commemoration of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday apart from the celebration of the Resurrection. All of these separate historical events were enacted at the Christian Passover on Holy Saturday night. And so the entire truth of our redemption is totally contained in this one liturgy.
We begin at the beginning. As God invoked the coming of the Light at the dawn of time, so we begin by lighting the new fire. We kindle a fire outside in the darkness of the Columbarium Garden (weather permitting) and light the Paschal candle, representing the Light of Christ, the true light of the world, through whom all things were made.
The Paschal candle is borne into the dark church where we gather to hear the ancient stories of God's faithful redemption of his people time and again throughout history. After the stories of God's people are told, we graft into the ancient stories our own stories as we baptize new Christians and remember and renew our own baptismal covenant through the waters of new life. The newly baptized persons are a powerful symbol in the Easter liturgy of our own "Passover" from death into life.
And then we wait. Tonight is the eve of the Eighth Day, the dawn of a new creation. We have watched, and we have listened. We have baptized and have seen the new light. Now it is time to celebrate God's new plan for us.
The ministers put on their best vestments, the altar is vested and adorned with glorious cloth, flowers, and brightly polished silver and brass. Bells ring, the organ plays, and the redeemed people of God make a joyful noise, shaking noise makers and bells, shouting and singing praise, "Glory to God in the highest..." And we celebrate Eucharist, that most blessed of feasts. We participate in the banquet of the Risen One who points us to abundant life.
After the liturgy, the people gather for a party of champagne and rich food. The fast of Lent is ended. Thanks be to God.
From the Wardens...
Informational Stewardship Gathering
At this year’s Annual Meeting we learned that our fall Stewardship Drive came up short of meeting our needs
for this year. Although our proposed budget has increased by only 3% our pledges left us some $28,000 short of
funding it.
There were several reasons for this: several pledging families moved, several families had not made a pledge,
and many pledges did not increase or were lowered. We believe that this reflects the uncertain economy and the
fact that several of our members had already suffered directly as a result.
We also wish to inform all in our congregation of the many ministries in which we participate, the church and
community services we provide, and just what our needs will be.
As a result of all of this we have decided to hold a series of informal gatherings for all who attend this Church.
We hope you will join us for light refreshments, fellowship, and to learn more about everything we do at and
through our Church. We want you to know more about the opportunities for you to participate by offering both
your time and your financial support.
These gatherings will be offered on Sat. March 8 at 10 am at the home of Karen and Dick Hattan, Sat. March 8
at 7 pm at the home of Katie and Mike Ditch, Sunday, March 9 at 12:30 pm at the Church, Wed. March 12 at 7
pm at the home of Glori and Colin Campbell, Fri. March 14 at 7 pm at the home of Cathy and Jamie Koch, and
Sat. March 15, at 7 pm at the home of Julie and Mark Mugge. We hope that you will pick a date and time most
convenient for you to attend. A member of the Vestry will be calling you soon to offer a personal invitation.
Please plan to join us. We are confidant that, not only will we be able to close the budget gap, but that you will
learn of a ministry you did not know about that could use your particular talent!
God’s peace,
Bo Smith Sr. Warden
Colin Campbell Jr. Warden
Parish Life News
· It’s never too early to plan for baseball season!! This year, tickets have been obtained for three Kane County Cougars’ games! Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 10 and Tuesday, August 5. Both are evening games. Tickets for reserved seats are $10 per person. Also, tickets for the Senior High Youth Group are available for the Monday, April 28 game at a super discounted price. Don’t miss the fun!
· Another big event coming up is a trip to Holy Hill, a basilica in southeastern Wisconsin, on Saturday, May 17, 2008. A day trip to the basilica is being planned for those interested in seeing and experiencing the peace and spirituality of this special place. All are encouraged to visit www.Holyhill.com to learn more about this remarkable site.
· Look for information coming soon about a drive to collect supplies to send to our soldiers overseas as part of Operation: Support Our Troops.
If you need more information about any of our parish activities, or have ideas for new things all could enjoy, please contact Katie Thomson Katie.thomson@sbcglobal.net
Blood Drive
Did you know that blood from one donation can be split into three components possibly saving three lives?! Whole blood can be broken into red blood cells (often used by leukemia patients), platelets (used to promote blood clotting, especially important in chemotherapy) and plasma (used to replace fluid in blood, crucial for burn patients).
The High School class is sponsoring our Blood Drive in Mar. Watch the Pulse for the date.
Did you know...
...4.5 million Americans would die each year without life saving blood transfusions.
...approximately 32,000 pints of blood are used each day in the US.
...every three seconds someone needs blood.
...if all blood donors gave 2 to 4 times a year, it would help prevent blood shortages.
...platelets help blood clot and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
...severe burn victims can need 20 units of platelets during their treatment.
...60% of the US population is eligible to donate – only 5% do on a yearly basis.
...since a pint is a pound, you lose a pound every time you donate blood.
...anyone who is in good health, is at least 17 years old (16 with parental permission) and weighs at least 110 pounds may donate blood every 56 days.
This is an easy way to lend some aid to those in need. It takes less than an hour (between paperwork and donation) and is worth every second of your time. Permission slips will be given to teens in Formation, additional slips available from Liz Ryan. Note: If you have spent a cumulative three months or more in the UK between 1980 and 1996 you are not eligible to donate at this time.
The need for blood is always constant. Make giving the “Gift of Life” a family affair!
An Evening of Hope and Music
Sudan Benefit Concert
Saturday, March 8th, 7 PM
Pierce Chapel, Wheaton College*
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church of Glen Ellyn is sponsoring a concert of classical, jazz, traditional and contemporary music to benefit the Renk Medical Clinic, Sudan. Noteworthy artists and composers from the Chicagoland area will share their gifts for a donation of $20 per person. For more info call 630.469.1394
*Pierce Chapel is located at the NE corner of Washington and Union in Wheaton, IL.
A note about children in church....
Our parish family includes an increasing number of families with children. The inclusion of these children in worship is of great importance. We welcome children to worship by:
♡ Inviting children to all services, providing an especially active family worship service at 9:00 am each Sunday;
♡ Encouraging families to bring their children of all ages to the family worship. Children are an important and integral part of our worshiping community;
♡ Providing child care for infants and toddlers through age two during worship for parents who wish to use that option and urging parents to slip out at the time of The Communion of the People to pick up their infants and toddlers so that they can go to the altar rail as a family;
♡ Encouraging older children to participate in worship as acolytes and choir members;
♡ Encouraging parents to take their children to Ludtke Hall for a break whenever needed and to use the resources listed elsewhere in this article;
♡ Providing children’s Lamb Bags for young children. (A bag that contains two books, coloring pictures and puzzles that re-enforce the Gospel lesson of the day, colored pencils, and tracers.) And most recently, purple folders with Church Activities that are liturgically based for 7-12 year olds. They can be found in a basket in the foyer of the church;
♡ Modeling appropriate church behavior for children by teaching them to stand, sit, or kneel with the congregation. An effective teaching method is to gradually lengthen the time a child remains in church. Children can usually be expected to participate in an entire service in an orderly manner by the time they enter second grade.
"And Who is My Neighbor?"
Bakht Ali was young when his parents died of tuberculosis. He moved in with an uncle and began caring for his
livestock--until torrential rains triggered a flash flood that washed away his uncle's house. And much of the
surrounding Pakistani village.
What Happened?
Homeless and orphaned, Bakht was forced to live miles from his uncle's land, but the drinking water there was
contaminated with waste from the flood waters. Bakht, and many others, suffered from skin infections and diarrhea.
By the time Bakht arrived at one of CARE's mobile medical camps, he was severely dehydrated. The doctors said he
would have died within a few days without CARE's antibiotics and hydration. Now, Bakht says, he wants to
become a doctor so he can help save the lives of other children from his village.
What can you do?
CARE treats children's bodies with medicine and their spirits with play centers. "When I'm here, I forget about
what happened to my home and my village," Bakth explains. You can help heal the thousands of Bakth's in this
world by supporting CARE.
CARE, 151 Ellis St., Atlanta GA 30303-2440. Phone: 800.422.7385; www.care.org
CAMY’S CARD CAMPAIGN
Please send a very sweet girl a note of encouragement on her long journey to walking
Camy Mertes
507 Morton StreetBatavia, IL 60510
Camy is in a cast for the next three months from hip surgery. Anyone who is willing, please send her a card to break up the monotony during this home bound period.
What’s Up in Kids’ Formation?
Happy March!
Top of the Mornin’ to ya!
The Preschool class in the Purple Atrium is learning more
and more about Jesus and how much he loves us.
The class in the Green Atrium is learning about Jesus through his interaction with his Disciples and through the Parables.
In the Blue Atrium they are learning about the Prophets Isaiah, Daniel, Amos and Jonah.
The Middlers lessons are about other religions of the world.
The Jr. High is learning more about Noah and answering when God calls.
The High School is going to view “The Passion of the Christ” and discuss the movie and their reactions to it.
Announcements:
☺ The Aurora Deanery (that’s us!) is having Confirmation some time in May. But NOW is the time for anyone considering confirmation to make an appointment to see Fr. Bill.
☺ Is your child interested in “Solemn Communion” (First Communion)? If your child can read on his/her own, and is asking questions about what is going on up there with Fr. Bill, let Liz Ryan know, and we set up a class with a minimum of five children. We would celebrate their “Solemn Communion” on Pentecost, May 11th (Mother’s day).
☺ Believe it or not... if you are interested in registering your children for Camp Chicago now is the time! See Liz Ryan for Camp Chicago registration forms or find them at http://www.epischicago.org/ministries/summer-camp/documents/CamperApplication2008.pdf
☺ Ludtke Scholarship Applications have been given out to graduating seniors in our High School class. Just a reminder to get moving on the letters required for application; all forms and letters need to be in by March 3rd . (If your graduating senior has not received a copy or has misplaced it, call Liz Ryan for additional copies.)
☺ Have you been looking for a “Top Ten Reasons to be an Episcopalian” or Episcopal Church
t-shirt? They are still for sale and benefit the High School’s Mission/Pilgrimage Fund. See Liz Ryan any time.
☺ Youth Pilgrimage to St. James Cathedral to view Keiskamma Altarpiece
The Bishop of Chicago and the people of St. James invite the youth of our diocese to make a pilgrimage to the Cathedral on Saturday March 29 to welcome the return of the Keiskamma Altarpiece to Chicago. The Altarpiece will be on display through Eastertide, the last installation before its return to South Africa. The Altarpiece was created by women of Hamburg, South Africa as a hope-filled response to the tragedy of AIDS in their community. It stands 14 feet high and 22 feet across, three layers deep, opening layer after layer to tell the story of their lives – their courage and their faith. This day offers us all an opportunity to encounter the Spirit in art, in community, in worship. If you (and your family) are interested, please see Liz Ryan.
The Rt. Rev Jeffrey Lee, Bishop
The Rev. William R. Nesbit, Jr. Rector
The Rev. Elizabeth G. Meade, Deacon
Beth Burnette, Parish Administrator
Dan Williams, Director of Music
Liz Ryan, Dir. of Youth & Children’s Formation
phone: 630-584-2596
Fax: 630-584-8633
email: scecoffice@sbcglobal.net
Web site: www.stcharlesepiscopal.org
VESTRY
Bo Smith, Senior Warden
Colin Campbell, Junior Warden
2009 2010 2011
Michelle Moore Katie Ditch
Henry Mora Dick Hattan Kathy Heikkinen
Cathy Koch Katie Thomson Karen Flood
Barry Cottrell
March
Mar 3 Ludtke Scholarship Applications Due
Mar 6 Finance Committee
Mar 11 Standing Committee
Mar 13 Vestry
Mar 16 Palm Sunday
Mar 16 St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon
Mar 16-22 Holy Week
Mar 21-22 Hesed House
Mar 23 Easter
Mar 24 Office Closed
Mar 26 Pre-cook
Mar 27 Soup Kitchen