Holy Week & Easter Schedule 2011 at St. Michael’s

Sunday of the Passion:  Palm Sunday April 17.  Palms will be blessed and distributed at all services.  Nursery and Sunday School for Children and Youth at 9 and 11 a.m.; Adult Sunday School at 10 a.m.

7:45 a.m. is traditional Holy Eucharist with sermon.

9 and 11 a.m. Our Worship begins in the courtyard with Liturgy of the Palms followed by our procession into the church and dramatic reading of Matthew’s Passion account, sermon, and Holy Eucharist. The Music Team leads singing at 9 a.m. and the Chancel Choir and Choristers lead music at 11 a.m.

6 p.m. is a simple, contemplative celebration of Holy Communion.

Maundy Thursday April 21 at 6:30 p.m.

We remember Jesus’ commandment “Love one another as I have loved you” with a simple Communion Service in the church with music led by the Chancel Choir.  We then move to the parish hall for Footwashing and an Agape Meal with Taize singing led by the Music Team.  We return to the church for the Stripping of the Altar.  Sign up in church entryway to bring food — or call the office at 327-1474. Childcare is not available.

Good Friday April 22 at 7 a.m., noon and 6:30 p.m.

7 a.m. – We gather for a group walk of the Stations of the Cross (meet in the south-west corner of parking lot)

Noon and 6:30 p.m. – The Good Friday Liturgy with reading of Jesus’ Passion according to John, hymns and prayers.  Each service is followed by a group walk of the Stations of the Cross.  Childcare is not available.

The Great Vigil of Easter Saturday, April 23 at 8:30 p.m.

We light the new fire in the outside courtyard and then process into the church led by the Paschal Candle, the Light of Christ.  Once in the church, we gather around our “campfire” to hear the stories of God’s great acts of salvation and respond with psalms, songs and hymns.  We celebrate Holy Baptism and continue with the first Easter celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Childcare is available for those in kindergarten or younger.

Easter Day April 24.  Nursery is offered at 9 and 11 a.m.; no Sunday School today.

7:45 a.m. is a traditional celebration of the Holy Eucharist with sermon and hymns.

9 a.m. is our Children’s Festival with a special sermon for children and Holy Communion. Hymns and songs are led by the Music Team.

11 a.m. is a festive celebration of the Holy Eucharist with the Chancel Choir leading hymns and presenting special music and an Easter anthem.  Everyone joins in the singing of “Hallelujah” from Messiah.

6 p.m. on Easter Day is a simple, contemplative celebration of Holy Communion.

Sunday Lectionary Readings April 3, April 10

Sunday Lectionary Readings

April  3:  1 Samuel 16:1-13; Ps 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

April 10:  Ezekiel 37:1-14; Ps 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45

From The Rector – Spiritual Truths

Yesterday we prayed the Collect for the Third Sunday in Lent*:  “Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves.”  Do you really believe that?  Are you powerless to help your relationship to God, other people, and the rest of creation?  I believe that in really important ways I am, indeed, powerless, and the sooner I accept this, the sooner I will move towards health.  The 12-Step Program recognizes this spiritual truth in its very first step:

We admit we are powerless over our addiction – that our lives have become unmanageable.

We may be powerless, but God is not.  This is why the prayer addresses God as “Almighty.”  Being almighty does not mean that God can do nonsense (such as, make 2+2=5), but it does mean that nothing can thwart God’s purposes (see the cornerstone of our building quoting from Romans 8).  Furthermore, we are all addicted to sin. Thus the second step is:

We come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity.

However, God is a God of love, not coercion.  God’s healing presence becomes effective in our lives as we surrender our wills to his.  Thus the third step is:

Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand God.

A Facebook friend recently sent me the following quote from C. S. Lewis that puts it so well:

Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms.

I keep trying to improve Robby, when God wants me to surrender Robby.  And then it is a paradox because when we surrender to God, we find the God “whose service is perfect freedom.”

Easter Flowers and Greens

Please give generously ($15 or more) toward Easter flowers and decorations – a great opportunity to remember loved ones, give thanks, or honor someone special. Envelopes are available in pew sheets and in the entryway to the worship space.

The 5th Annual Ladies Night Out : April 28th At 6pm

6 p.m. – Heavy Hors d-oeurves and Fellowship

7:30-8:15 p.m. – Julie Richard “Rah Rah Sisterhood”

8:15 p.m. – Dessert Buffet

Our speaker is Julie Richard, creator of the “Sisterhood: Across the Generations” ministry at Lake Hills Church.  Julie speaks powerfully about equipping, empowering, and encouraging women of all ages to genuinely enjoy the life God created them to live.

Readings for April 3: The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Readings for April 3: The Fourth Sunday in Lent

1 Samuel 16:1-13; Ps 23; Romans 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

The Edge Update: St. Michael’s Youth Program Update

Questions? Mary Conkling at youthmin@st-michaels.org

Sunday Lunch (mar 27): Thundercloud Subs in the Steinmart Shopping Center on Bee Caves Rd.

Youth Group: Youth Group tonight for all 6-12th graders from 5-7pm (mar 27).  We will be continuing with our Lenten Movie Study.  Please bring $5 for dinner.

Bingo at Trinity Center –

Our “neighbors” at Trinity Center had so much fun playing bingo last month that we are doing it again!  Join us for a fun afternoon of bingo on Sunday, April 3rd.  We will meet at St. Michael’s at 2:30pm before leaving for St. David’s.  Following bingo we will have dinner and our regular youth group from 5-7pm.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact Mary Conkling.

Fiesta Texas: Saturday April 16th!

Do you love to ride roller coasters? Then join the youth group for a day of fun in the Sun on Saturday April 16th.  We will leave from St. Michael’s at 8:30am and return around 8pm.  Please bring $25 for your ticket and money for lunch and dinner.  If you are interested in joining in on all the fun please contact Mary Conkling by April 13th.

Last Chance – Mission Palooza: Port Aransas

This is the last week to sign-up for this summer’s mission trip to Port Aransas.  The mission trip is from Sunday, July 24th – Friday, July 29th, for all youth who have completed 6th grade.  The theme of the mission trip this year is “Community”.  Throughout the week we will visit communities in and around Port Aransas.  The mission trip this year costs $300, but we do not want anyone not to go on the mission trip because of finances.  If you are interested in participating in this summer’s mission trip please contact Mary Conkling by April 2nd. This is going to be a fun, exciting, and rewarding opportunity that you do not want to miss out on!

Bach’s The Passion according to St. John at St. Michael’s

A very special Lenten concert will take place on Saturday, April 2^nd at7:30pm. The Parish Choirs of St. David’s, the Adult Choir of First Presbyterian Church and the St. Augustine Latin Mass Choir and the Schola Cantorum of St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral will present Johann Sebastian Bach’s orchestral setting of The Passion according to St. John.

David and Laurie Stevens will conduct and act as concertmistress, respectively. Jeffrey Jones-Ragona, the Director of Music for the Cathedral will sing the Evangelist’s part and James Brown, who is the Director of Music at First Presbyterian, will play the important viola da gamba solos in the piece. Other soloists will be Brett Barnes as Pilate and Gil Zilkha as Jesus.

The work is pithy and contains incredible music emphasizing this gospel’s story of Jesus’ agony in the garden, betrayal, judgment, crucifixion and burial. The five choirs will be accompanied by a stellar cast of Baroque specialists from Texas, Philadelphia, Boston and California.

A deep musical and spiritual experience is promised for those who attend and we hope you will make it a part of your Lenten journey to experience with the musicians and the great genius Bach the awesome story of Jesus’ immeasurable gift of love for us. Tickets are priced at $20 and $18 and you may purchase them at the door or call 845 8866 ext. 55. You can also visit the website stceciliamusicseries.org.

The Vera Gang Scott Scholarship for Women

The Vera Gang Scott Scholarship for Women

Is for female members of the Diocese of Texas who are accepted or enrolled in an academic institution (pursuing professional certification or a degree) and can show financial need.  Please see Janne TODAY for application (due March 31).

Fun Door Prizes Needed for Ladies Night Out

Fun Door Prizes Needed for Ladies Night Out
If you have a fun gift you would like to donate to the 5th Annual Ladies Night Out event on April 28th, please contact Anne Woodley. We will raffle off Door Prizes at the event to treat the magnificent ladies of the parish and their guests!

http://www.st-michaels.org/about/contact/

St. Michael’s Book Group Update

St. Michael’s Book Group

The next gathering of the St. Michael’s book group will be on Wednesday, March 30, at 1:30pm at Trianon in Westlake. We will discuss the book Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier. For questions or more information, please contact Jackie King. Hope to see you there!

The Edge : Passages Retreat April 8th-9th

Passages Retreat for 7th and 8th graders is scheduled from 6pm on Friday, April 8th – noon on Saturday, April 9th.  This event has evolved from our old rite 13 program so any 7th or 8th grader who has not gone through Rite 13 is eligible to attend.  If you have not already made plans to attend, do so now by contacting Mary Conkling

The Bible Today March 27, 2011: The Third Sunday in Lent

The Bible Today

March 27:  The Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 17:1-7 Pew Bible p 56 The book of Exodus is about freedom and obligation. It tells the story of the liberation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt (chs. 1-15) and then the story of how the people of Israel entered into a formal covenant relationship of laws and obligations with God on their way to the promised land of Canaan (chs. 16-40). Access Bible p. 69.

Psalm 95 BCP p. 724 This psalm is part of the enthronement collection which explicitly proclaim God as king.

Romans 5:1-11 Pew Bible p.917 Paul wrote this letter in 58 AD in Corinth. The letter was carried by Phoebe as a letter of introduction for Paul and his missionary theology to prepare for Paul’s visit to Rome and to secure financial support for an intended new mission to Spain. Meanwhile Paul is on his way to Jerusalem to delivery the relief fund collected among his gentile congregations of Macedonia and Achaia. He then plans to travel to Rome. L. Michael White From Jesus to Christianity p. 212 (HarperSanFrancisco 2004).

John 4:5-42 Pew Bible p.864 In year “A” – our current lectionary year – our gospel readings from Matthew are supplemented by a number of readings from John. The gospel of John was finalized ca. 95-120 AD, by an unknown author but usually attributed to John, son of Zebedee (the “beloved disciple”). It is written for an early gentile Christian community that is fully separate from Judaism, though some tensions are still high. It is also facing some challenges from other Christians who espoused a docetic view of Jesus. L. Michael White From Jesus to Christianity p. 310 (HarperSanFrancisco 2004).

Daily Bible Readings for the week of March 27

* Daily readings plus a meditation are available at

www.forwardmovement.org/forward-day-by-day/

* A daily meditation may be found at www.er-d.org

* The BCP Daily Office Lectionary is on p. 955

Readings for April 3: The Fourth Sunday in Lent

1 Samuel 16:1-13; Ps 23; Romans 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

3rd Annual Family Retreat At Camp Allen

This year’s family weekend will be May 6 – May 8 at Camp Allen (campallen.org) our diocesan retreat center off of Hwy 6 between Navasota and Hempstead (approx. 2 hours away). Last year, more than 40 people gathered together for food, fun, and fellowship in the Piney Woods. Each cabin sleeps 10 people, so families will be sharing cabins. Children who sleep in a bed are counted towards your family number (Pack N Play kiddos are free). All food/snacks are included. Several activities are available at an additional cost, including canoeing, guided nature hikes, horseback riding, hayrides, kayaking, and skeet shooting. Read more »

Sunday Adult Education: 10:10 – 10:50am

Today’s Sunday Adult Education: 10:10 – 10:50am

Join any of these classes any Sunday!

Introduction to St. Michael’s this four week series of classes meets with the Rev. Robby Vickery in the Newcomer Café.

Sunday Book Study meets in the administrative office. We are currently reading and discussing  Jesus for the Non-Religious, by John Shelby Spong; it is available in class.

Adult Christian Formation continues “Hallelujah: The Bible and Handel’s Messiah” today; meets in the chapel and is facilitated by the Rev. Janne Alrø Osborne.

Children & Youth during Adult Education

•VIP Childcare for infants – Pre-K (Nursery )

•Kid’s Intermission for K- 3^rd grade (Room 4 )

•CrossRoads for 4^th & 5^th graders (Room 8 )

•Youth Breakfast Club for 6-12^th graders (Room 6 )