WELCOME

May 24
5:00 pm: Young Families Night Out,
Central Market Lamar

May 26
10:30 am: Memorial Day Prayer, Memorial Garden
St. Matt's Office Closed

June 8
Pentecost Sunday (wear red!)
Baptisms and Parish Lunch (following 10:30 am service)

June 11
5:00pm: Young Families Wednesday Night
Picnic (BYO Dinner)

June 15
Fun Socks for Fathers - Happy Father’s Day!

June 23-27
VBS Week at St. Matt’s

June 29
11:30 am: Newcomer's Lunch, Huffman Hall

We want to ensure our parish is thriving for years to come, and a big part of that is how effectively we communicate with each other. To help us get a better understanding of what’s working (and what’s not!) we're inviting you to take a short survey about the ways you hear from us, and how easy our communication tools are to use.

Your thoughts and experiences are incredibly valuable, and we'd love to hear from you! You can take the survey online by visiting the link below before Sunday, May 18. Thank you for taking the time to share your input — it makes a difference! We appreciate your continued support, and look forward to learning from your insights.

Click here to start the survey.  

It Ain’t Over ‘Til the Holy Spirit Sings

(The Great 50 Days of Easter)

Celebrant   Alleluia, Christ is risen!

People        The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

With these words, proclaimed in darkened churches all around the world during the Vigil, Easter begins. The lights come up; candles are lit; bells are rung; and our “hallelujah’s” ascend to heaven, like incense – which, incidentally, you’ll also find in many places. With these words, darkness is put to flight, earth is joined to heaven, and life triumphs over death. With these words, Easter begins – not simply the day of Easter, but the reality of Easter – a reality that stretches forward on and on, from Christ’s victory until the end of time.

For Christians, Easter is not just a day: it is a new reality. And for the Church, Easter is not just a day: it is an entire season! From its earliest days, the church has celebrated Easter for an entire season — stretching all the way from Easter day until the Feast of Pentecost, 50 days later. Easter ain’t over ‘til the Holy Spirit arrives!

During thirds weeks, we tend to open our services with more joyful songs of praise, like the Gloria and the Te Deum, rather than the more penitent Kyrie Eleison (“Lord have mercy”). We say all the “Alleluia’s” we can. We might even omit the Confession, sometimes. And at those times we might normally kneel, we stand— a tradition dating at least as far back as the Council of Nicaea (325 CE)!

When you think about it, it is “meet and right so to do” (BCP 333). Easter isn’t a one-and-done affair, a thing that happened a long time that we happen to remember every now and then. It’s all Easter from now on, forever and ever, Amen. As Paul says, “Christ being dead will never die again; Death no longer has dominion over him” (Romans 6:9). And we share in his resurrection’s victory over death. So it’s right for us to draw out our celebration of that victory— which is, after all, still ongoing!

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/great-fifty-days/

- The Rev. Dr. Andrew Benko

Friends in Christ,

Next week we set our eyes towards Jerusalem. Since at least the 4th century, Christians have marked the week before Easter with special devotions and observances of our Lord's Passion. You may be curious to learn that the last three days of Holy Week -- Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday -- are considered the three holiest days of the Christian year, and are collectively known as the Triduum (Latin for "three days"). Each of these days has a different focus:

• Maundy Thursday: Jesus' final night with his friends, the new command he gave them, the institution of the Lord's Supper, or Holy Eucharist.
• Good Friday: Our Lord's Passion and Death, the day of evil's triumph over virtue, the day he loved us to the end.
• Holy Saturday: the Son's Sabbath rest and (after sunset) the beginning of the third day -- the day death died.

Understandably, it may be tempting to think of these three holy days as separate parts of the story, each unique unto itself with its own worship service. Technically speaking, however, the service across these three days is one, unified whole. The Triduum is one service, divided across three days, that observes the heart of our faith. Whether you are a regular participant in the Triduum, or whether you have never heard of it until now, you are invited to join us next week as we spend time in awe and wonder at the mystery of our redemption -- knowing that in Christ we, too, have passed from death to life.

Onwards toward Jerusalem,

Allen+

P.S. This week we say goodbye to our Interim Communications Associate, Liora Wright. Since December, Liora has assisted St. Matthew's staff in the creation and timely dispersal of the Weekly Word, content creation, and management of our social media platforms. While we will miss Liora's many contributions (and the humor that she brought to weekly staff meetings), we are excited for what the future holds. Please join me in wishing Liora well on her next adventure and in expressing gratitude for all of time and energy that she has poured into our community!

Dear Friends in Christ,

In 2022, I took a group of parishioners from my curacy placement on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While there, we made the walk to Calvary (Golgotha). This is the believed place of Jesus’ crucifixion. 

It hit especially hard as we were in the season of Lent, approaching the readings for Jesus’ crucifixion during Holy Week. While there, the air was heavy. We breathed deeply. We felt the weight of the cross as we climbed the steep hill, kneeled down, and touched the stone. We prayed, thinking of the death of Christ and the grief of Mary. 

Though we were surrounded by the richness of history, tradition, and art, there was a freshness present. There was a small, lingering joy vibrating around us. 

It was solemn as we walked from Calvary to the place the tomb is believed to be. It was solemn and hopeful. 

It was hopeful because we truly saw that Jesus is not there. We knew he had risen. He is not there. 

As we approach Holy Week at St. Matthew’s, I invite you to join us in Calvary. Come to the services and hear the stories throughout the week. Feel the anticipation, grief, and insurmountable joy that Easter day will bring us. 

It’s the holiest week of the year in our tradition. Please step on the path—on our walk to Calvary—and enter the beauty of Holy Week. We make this pilgrimage together. 

In the Hope of the Resurrection,

Christine +