This week begins what we might call the graduation season.  Every year we receive announcements that proclaim the graduation of someone we know who has completed another segment of his or her education.  In my home these announcements and the attendant pictures spark a conversation about how quickly that person grew up, and the pace seems to quicken every year.  These moments bring me up short because I have forgotten that life is going by like a very swiftly moving river. In fact, I realized that I am part of that river.  I am changing as rapidly as the people and things around me. 

I can’t think of much in my life that hasn’t changed drastically in my lifetime.  I was about to mention the mountains, but I have been told that even they are subject to the same changes through the various types of erosion that occur in the life of mountains.  So from my perspective change is one constant in my life.  Another constant is God.  God does not change, we are told.  However our perception of God changes as we age.  That is why I am beginning to wonder if our God isn’t actually the God of change as well as unchanging.  Thinking about the heady days of the Early Church and all of the changes that were ushered in as the Holy Spirit guided the new Christians in their life and ministry I wonder if some of them didn’t pray for it all to stop for a minute so that their minds could catch up.  Well that gives me a new respect for those early Christians.

Here’s an idea.  The next time I find myself marvelling in how much everything has changed I think I’ll ask, “God, is that you?”

Father Tom

How good is a shepherd?

This Sunday, April 29 is sometimes known as Good Shepherd Sunday because we hear Jesus teaching about the attributes of a good shepherd.  I should say that the primary teaching is to say what Jesus Christ is like.  And if Jesus is like that, so is God the Father.  The second thing we think about is the comparison of the Good Shephard with all other leaders.  After all, the prophets of the Hebrew Scripture are quite critical of the leaders of Jerusalem and Judea calling them bad shepherds.  The third take we might have with this Sunday is that all of us Christians are called upon to be like Jesus in caring for others, so none of us is exempt from the challenge to be good and not bad shepherds.

That is the challenge before me as I try to come up with a sermon for the services.  It is a challenge, by the way, that I am happy to share with another.  David Thompson is a licensed lay preacher in this diocese and parish.  He will be preaching at the 11:30 a.m. service this week, and I am looking forward to what he has to say.

I hope to see you Sunday.

Fr. Tom

The Jerusalem Cross: Symbol of Holy Week

Maundy Thursday Liturgy           7:00 p.m.

Maundy Thursday gets its name from the Latin, mandare, translated commandment.  Jesus told his disciple his commandment was that they should love one another as Jesus loved them. We remember the instruction of Jesus that his disciples must serve one another.  People will be invited to come forward and have their feet washed as a sign that we are to imitate Christ in servant ministry.  After we have shared the bread and wine of communion we will strip the altar and proceed to the Chapel where we will begin an over-night watch where we pray as the disciples prayed in the garden with Jesus.

Good Friday, April 6, at noon we will gather for the special devotion called the stations of the cross.  Going from station to station we will remember the sorrowful march to Golgotha where Jesus was crucified.

at 6:00 p.m. we will once again gather and remember the events of that day of crucifixion in scripture, song, and prayer.

Holy Saturday, April 7 at 8:00 p.m. we begin the Great Vigil of Easter.  We will experience many  things that prepare us for the joy of Easter morning.

Lighting of the Paschal Candle–In the darkness the candle is lit and the light proceeds into the church.  The deacon sings an ancient song in praise of this night and the light.

The reading of the vigil lessons–Lessons from the Old Testament that foreshadow our life in Christ are read along with prayers and psalms of praise.

Holy Baptism–One of our newest members will be Baptized at this most appropriate time to begin new life.

The first Eucharist of Easter–We gather in celebration giving thanks for the victory of Christ over the grave and death by sharing Eucharist.

Easter Sunday, April 8 we celebrate with three services at 8:00, 10:00 and 11:30 a.m.  There will be music at all three services.

Canon Craig Loya is a busy man on the staff of the Diocese of Kansas.  Specifically, he is the transition officer.  That means any congregation going through a transition (Like ours beginning in July) is under his care.  Canon Craig will be here at Saint Paul’s this Saturday, March 24, to talk to you all about the process that is about to begin.  He will meet with you from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the dinning room down stairs from the common room.  Senior Warden, Dale Shipps, really hopes to see as many members of the parish present for this meeting.  It will be a time to get a picture of what is going to happen and what we can expect.  It’s also a time to ask questions and perhaps give some feedback.

So be sure to come this Saturday and join in with your friends.  Lunch will be served, so if you haven’t signed up yet, please call the office and let Eleanor know you will be there.

The season of Lent is well in swing now and we are getting used to our Lenten resolutions.  Here are some things you might want to know about.

Wednesday Soup Suppers continue on Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the dinning room.  We follow that with Evening Prayer and an informal discussion on the Baptismal Covenant.  This week we talk about living reconciliation.

Friday evening we continue the devotion of Stations of the Cross in the church at 5:00 p.m.  It has been noted that this is a short service that begins to grow on us over time.

Saturday morning is busy with the Men’s Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. (we know it’s Lent, but ya gotta eat, ya know).  We continue in the common Room at 10:00 a.m. with the women’s group–Saint Paul Saturday.

10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 10

Inquirers’ Class in the dining room

A new thing beginning this Saturday is a class for Inquirers.  Anyone who would like to know more about Christianity, The Episcopal Church and how we do things will find this an interesting gathering.