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FROM THE RECTOR
Very shortly now we will be wishing each other a Happy Easter – hopefully in person. We will cry out “Alleluia, Christ is risen!” and begin the celebration of the Great Fifty Days of Easter. For Easter is not just
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Good News fromSt. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Warwick, RI
April 2021
a day, it is a season of days; a time to celebrate the hope and the promise that we find in the empty tomb. Jesus is not there. Death has been defeated. The promise of new, everlasting life has been fulfilled. The Fifty Days of Easter is the celebration of the fullness of God’s plan for the salvation of the world.
Last Easter we celebrated virtually and alone. The magnitude of the Corona virus and world-wide pandemic were just beginning to be known. Last year, I promised we would celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter as soon as it was safe to gather – little knowing that it would not be safe for another full year. On April 4, 2021, we plan to gather on the back lawn and celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter together. It may seem like a year late – but we have kept ourselves and each other safe by staying apart – and so maybe it’s right on time.
I pray you will know the miracle of Easter this year in profound ways. I pray you will celebrate the miracle that is the resurrection to new life God shares with us all. I pray you will find solace as we break bread together at the end of one very long and hard year and the beginning of a new one.
Happy Easter!Mother Susan+
OPENING UP FOR EASTER
While we still must heed the scientists, who have fought for a year to keep us safe, it does seem that as of this writing (mid-March) in-person worship is now a real possibility. For now, it will be
outside where the air circulates freely. We will still wear masks and we will keep distance between households. We will have to sign up to help us keep contract tracing. But we can worship together safely beginning Easter Sunday.
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Eucharist will be in one kind – bread only. We will not touch each other when the bread is distributed an arm’s length apart. There will be no handshakes during the Peace and no hugs at dismissal. Not for a while yet.
For over a year our worship has consisted of the Liturgy of the Word, the first part of our service. Now that we are adding in the Liturgy of the Table (Communion!) we will be shortening the first half of the service in order to make sure we can worship within thirty minutes. We’ll hear the Collect of the Day, the Gospel, pray the prayers of the people, share the peace, have the offertory, and then move right into the Eucharistic Prayer. It will seem strange at first – some may actually like it – or it may feel incomplete. But so did no Eucharist, so we will carry on.
Some of you may not be ready to gather in person. For you we will continue to have our 9 am Facebook LIVE service. There is a prayer for “spiritual communion” that can be said which will help make you a part of the sacrament – and it will be in every bulletin.
As you read in this year’s Easter letter, we will have our 9 am Facebook LIVE service and will also gather on Palm Sunday at 10 am on the front lawn for the Liturgy of the Palms and the reading of the Passion Gospel. Folks will then be able to pick up palms until noon.
Other Holy Week services will all be virtual. The schedule follows on the next page. Beginning Easter Sunday, April 4 and going forward we will have an outdoor Eucharist at 10 am on Sundays and beginning Saturday, April 10 we will resume the 5 pm “Mass on the Grass” service on Saturdays. Don’t forget to bring a chair.
Eventually, when it is safe, we will return to the building. But inside or outside, together or apart, we are always the church.
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Palm Sunday9 am – Liturgy of the Day - Facebook LIVE
10 am – Liturgy of the Palms, Reading of the Passion Gospel – on the front lawn
Holy Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday6 pm – Evening Prayer – Facebook LIVE
Maundy Thursday7 pm – Liturgy of the Day – Facebook LIVE
Good FridayNoon – Way of the Cross – Facebook LIVE7 pm – Liturgy of the Day – Facebook LIVE
Holy Saturday10 am – Liturgy of the Day – Facebook LIVE
7 pm – The Great Vigil of Easter – Facebook LIVE
Easter Day9 am – Holy Eucharist – Facebook LIVE
10 am – Holy Eucharist – back lawn – bring a chair (Sign up is required through our Thursday E-News!)
FORMATION OF NEW PROPERTY TEAM
A new property team has been formed and we are looking for additional members. The team’s mission is to support the Junior Warden in the care and upkeep of our beloved St. Mark’s buildings and grounds. Anyone who is interested, or notices something that
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needs to be done, can contact Ron Bailey or one of the other members. Note that you do not need to be a mechanic to join:
EXTRA HANDS ARE WELCOME AND NEEDED!
We will be meeting monthly on Saturday afternoons and planning parish wide improvement projects like the Spring cleanup, summer mowing schedule and the Fall cleanup.
Please feel free to call or email any of us with questions or concerns or to get upcoming meeting details:
Ron Bailey 837-6806 [email protected] Bailey 439-1940 [email protected] Coates 241-5065 [email protected] McDonald 603-7152 [email protected] Nelson 368-9149 [email protected]
The first project coming up is the annual Spring cleanup. As we prepare to reopen the church, this is an ideal time to clean up the grounds and building after this winter and long pandemic year.
Here is the list so far to get an idea of what is needed.
Grounds: Clean up grounds, Replant walkway flower beds, trim shrubs in front of church and rectory, clean up the Memorial garden, and clean out and organize the shed.
Buildings: Replace any broken screens, power wash Rectory walls and concrete as needed, touch up paint on signs and lamp post
Date of Spring Cleanup: Saturday April 17th at 9AM,Rain date Sunday April 18th at 11AM
Please sign up with the link that will be in the Thursday E-news to participate. We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible – it has just been so long since we’ve been able to be together in person!FORMATION FOR ALL AGES
Youth – How are you doing with your Lent bags? Have you kept a journal? Now is the time to make your Easter wreath and eat you
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candy treats! Don’t forget to watch story time with Mother Susan on Facebook and YouTube!
Teens – Since April 4 is Easter let’s gather for check in on April 11th – after church on the back lawn if that’s good for you. Otherwise, we’ll ZOOM at 10:30 am! Or we can do a combination of both!
Our Lenten Pilgrimage with St. George’s College in Jerusalem – Here is a reflection from one of our group who joined us all the way from Arkansas:
The Holy Land is referred to as the “Fifth Gospel”—a visual, rather than written way, to know Christ.
In the Lenten series from the Holy Land, we encounter each week a specific place that Jesus encountered, with a short (less than 10 min) video from that place, along with a coordinating Bible passage, written reflection by the Anglican priest who heads St. George’s college in Jerusalem, and discussion questions. In our first week, we encountered the Desert (the Judean desert where Jesus would have fasted for 40 days and was tempted) and discussed how a “desert” experience in life can nonetheless have beauty and surprises in it; a desert experience can be something to appreciate rather than dread.
In our second week, we visited the Well (where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman), and we reflected on how “living water” in our lives is different from “still water.” Ahead, we will confront other places that can inform our spiritual lives—the Mountain (of Transfiguration), the Sea (of Galilee), the Road (that Jesus took to enter Jerusalem the last time), and the Garden (of Gethsemane). I look forward every week to encountering these sacred places visually, reading the written reflections, and discussing with others. It is such a valuable and beautiful way to prepare for Holy Week and Easter! Colleen P. Murphy
Education for Ministry – Our 2020-2021 session will draw to a close at the end of May. We will graduate three members who have completed this enriching four-year course. Each year between 6-12 students join their mentor (Mother Susan) to explore the Old
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Testament, New Testament, Church History, and Theology. Much of the work is done independently, but then we gather for 2 hours each Monday evening to discuss what is being learned and to reflect theologically as a way to connect our learning with our lives over 36 weeks.
If you are interested in learning more please speak with Mother Susan. The 2021-2022 cohort will be registering in late July. The cost for all materials is $375 and there is some scholarship help available.
OUTREACH
Next Food PantrySaturday, April 24, 11am – 12pm
Drop off donationsSaturday, April 17, 11 am – 1 pm
FROM THE COMMUNITY
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February Financials
Revenues: $9,456.51Expenses: $14,339.58
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE The deadline for the May Light is April 15, 2021. All articles should be submitted to the office. You
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may drop them off or send them by email to: [email protected]
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40St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
111 West Shore RoadWarwick, RI 02889
(401)737-3127www.stmarkswarwick.org
Office hours: Tuesday and Wednesday – 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Rector The Rev. Susan L. WrathallFor emergencies, cell (401) 617-0380
Parish Administrator Sally North [email protected]
Director of Music Joyce Bernau [email protected]
Sexton Eric Queenan
Vestry Members 2021Paul Howard, Sr. Warden - 738-0638 [email protected] Bailey Jr. Warden – 837-6806 [email protected] Shirley Kolarik, Treasurer - 463-3480 [email protected] Jeanne Soares, Asst. Treasurer - 241-5232 [email protected] Sherry Bailey, Clerk – 439-1940 [email protected]
Deb Bergeron Tammy ChauvetteChris Coates Laurie Connors Robin Monica Jackie Nelson Donna Orichio Linda Rinn
Services
Saturdays outside (beginning April 10) 5 pm Sundays 9 am on FacebookSundays outside (beginning Easter Sunday, April 4) 10 am
Holy Days as Announced
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