Saint Mary's Update for April 6 and Upcoming Events

Sunday, April 6
8:00am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase
10:00am Holy Eucharist Preacher: Chris Chase
Celebrant: Peter Chase
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Catechesis of the Good Shepherd I & II
11:00am Middle School
Intermediate Class
Coffee Hour
Ticket Sales for El Salvador Benefit during coffee hour

The Reverend Chris Chase to Preach on Sunday, April 6
Peter's nephew, Chris Chase, will be the guest preacher on Sunday, April 6th at the 10:00am service. Chris is the rector of Good Samaritan Church in San Diego and has worked in campus ministry in Tennessee and California.

An Evening of Cabaret and Dancing To Benefit the El Salvador Mission Trip of the Churches of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s

Date: Saturday, April 12th
Time: 7:00 to 11:00pm
To be held at the home of Bill and Janet Lundberg, 7 Indian Ridge Way,
South Natick, Massachusetts

Suggested Donation $60 to benefit the El Salvador Mission Trip of the
Churches of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s. Please make check out to St. Mary's Church with a notation "El Salvador Benefit." For more info, please call the church office at 617/527-4769.

Upcoming Event for Middle School Aged Youth
Mark you calendars for Sunday, April 27. We will have a pizza party and a movie after church.
Details to follow.

St. Mary's Update - Sunday, March 30 & Upcoming Events

Sunday, March 30 -The Second Sunday of Easter
8:00am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase
10:00am Morning Prayer - Peter Chase
9:45am Childcare
10:00am CGSI & II
11:00am Intermediate Class
11:00am Middle school Class
11:00am Coffee Hour

Next Stitch'n Chat on Tuesday, April 1
Please join us for the next Stitch'n Chat to be held at Jean Dalton's home at 19 Mellon Road, Wellesley. For more info, please call Jean at 781-772-2011.

An Evening of Cabaret and Dancing To Benefit the El Salvador Mission Trip of the Churches of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s
Highlights
• Music and song by singers and musicians of St. Paul’s and St. Mary’s
• Dancing with a DJ
• Food and Beverage provided by the finest local restaurants and caterers

Date: Saturday, April 12th
Time: 7:00 to 11:00pm
To be held at the home of Bill and Janet Lundberg, 7 Indian Ridge Way,
South Natick, Massachusetts

Suggested Donation $60 to benefit the El Salvador Mission Trip of the
Churches of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s.
_______________________________

Sacred Spaces: The Gardens and Grounds of
Washington National Cathedral
an illustrated talk presented by Joe Luebke
Director of Horticulture and Grounds at
Washington National Cathedral
Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 10:30am
St. Paul’s Church 59 Court Street, Dedham, MA
The presentation will be followed by a box lunch in the parish hall.
Cost: $25 (includes box lunch)
Please RSVP to Mrs. Susan Fischoeder at 617-566-2240

Photos: Easter Sunday

Easter Message from El Salvador

Below is a Resurrection Message from the Most Rev'd Martín Barahona, Bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Church of El Salvador and Primate of the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America. Bishop Barahona has visited St. Mary's on previous trips to the US.

Easter Resurrection: Another opportunity to be born anew

The Easter Resurrection signifies for Christians a new life: almost every world religion in its conception or spiritual dynamic of relationship with God has in its calendar festivals to renew life or creation. In this context, as Christians since the life of Jesus of Nazareth, we invite all men and women of good will to renew creation.

The resurrection is the hope of the Christian community. With the resurrection, Jesus invites us to a project of hope and to change our lives.

In our liturgy, the Pascual Triduum, as its name indicates, consists of three days — Friday, Saturday and Sunday — three eloquent days that unite the accusations against Jesus in the tribunal and the testimony of a witness who said, “This man [referring to Jesus] will destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in three days” (Matthew 26).

It is time to arrive at the third day, to change our patterns, and transform our lives in order to change others’. El Salvador is a small country, with a big population and plenty of social problems. It needs to be resuscitated. Just as El Salvador needs to be resuscitated, so, too, does the entire world need to be resuscitated. The Call is to change lives in this global village.

Our social fabric is torn each day: in general, citizens live with anxiety, and vulnerability, facing the possibility of being a victim of crime, and being overwhelmed by the economic situation. Easter comes into our lives, but what are we to leave aside in order to be born anew?

We need to leave aside social sin — sin that is called corruption, ambition, lack of love of one’s neighbor, lack of actions for plans that favorize a dignified life with education, health, employment and security for each and every single person without excluding anyone.

It is time of the resurrection; the third day has arrived, Easter has arrived. What have we done for our brothers and sisters, for our own lives? What have we done with Jesus’ project? It is time to re-examine ourselves and act so that leaders and the led are filled with hope in order to offer hope in others.

The word, ‘resurrection,’ means ‘to come to life,’ the hope that we will have life after death. It is necessary to come to life out of this death of anguish, anxiety and insecurity.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
A blessed Easter.

Photos: Way of the Cross (Good Friday)

Saturday, April 12: Fundraiser to Benefit El Salavador Trip

An Evening of Cabaret and Dancing

Highlights
• Music and song by singers and musicians of St. Paul’s and St. Mary’s
• Dancing with a DJ
• Food and Beverage provided by the finest local restaurants and caterers

Date: Saturday, April 12th
Time: 7 to 11pm

To be held at the home of
Bill and Janet Lundberg
7 Indian Ridge Way
South Natick, Massachusetts

Suggested Donation $60 to benefit the El Salvador Mission Trip of the
Churches of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s.

Special Music for Easter, March 23

On Easter Sunday, March 23 at the 10:00am service, the Adult & Junior Choirs will sing festive Easter music accompanied by Ken Laing, trumpet. The service will begin with a joint anthem by Adult and Junior Choirs, “Hallelujah Round of Praise” by Mozart. Easter anthems by Mark Shepperd and K. Lee Scott will be sung by the Adult Choir with trumpeter Ken Laing. Prelude and postlude music will include the well-known Easter hymns, “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” and “Thine is the Glory,” arranged for trumpet and organ. Please join us for this joyous service on Easter morning!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We welcome Colin Thomas Smith, grandson of Kitty Smith, into the world. He was delivered on March 11, 2008.

Reminder: Holy Week Services

Tenebrae, Wednesday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Maundy Thursday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Good Friday—The Way of the Cross, March 21 at 12:00 noon

Good Friday Liturgy, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.


Additional information on each of the services can be found here.

Photos: Palm Sunday

Ben-Gowdy Chase in Australia

As many of you know, our Rector's son, Ben Gowdy-Chase, is spending a semester studying at Macquarie University in Australia.


Ben has arrived safely in Australia - here he is in front of the Opera House in Sydney.

Palm Sunday - March 16

Sunday, March 16 -The Sunday of the Passion - Palm Sunday
8:00 & 10:00am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase
9:45am Childcare
10:00am CGSI & II
11:00am Intermediate Class
11:00am Middle school Class
11:00am Coffee Hour

See Holy Week Schedule (below Easter Lily article here)

Easter Lilies

Easter Sunday is on March 23. If you would like to purchase an Easter lily in a loved one's memory, or in thanksgiving, send a $15.00 check for each lily to the office by Monday, March 17. Please make the check payable to Saint Mary's Altar Guild) and send to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 258 Concord Street, Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462, or drop off at the office. (Note: Do not put in offering basket on Sunday.) Thank you for your continued support of the Altar Guild.

Holy Week Schedule of Services

Holy Week marks the events of Christ’s life beginning with his joyous triumphal entry into Jerusalem and ending with the somberness of crucifixion and death. It is a week in which we as the Church dramatize the events which led up to and include the suffering and death of Jesus on the Cross. The theme of Holy Week is one of passion, of ultimate love and caring.

The Sunday of Passion—Palm Sunday, March 16 at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
The tension between suffering and glorious triumph is set immediately before us on Palm Sunday, when joyful hosannas ring out even as the sense of foreboding grows. Jesus enters Jerusalem proclaimed as a king, riding toward a destiny of suffering and death amidst the shouts of those who soon will turn against him. We begin with “All glory, laud and honor,” the hymn traditionally associated with the procession, then move to a dramatic reading of The Passion Narrative.

Tenebrae, Wednesday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Tenebrae comes from the Latin word for “darkness” or “shadows” and has for centuries been applied to the service of Evening Prayer observed during the last three days of Holy Week. The most conspicuous feature of the service is the gradual extinguishing of candles and other lights in the church, until only a single candle, considered as a symbol of our Lord, remains lit. Before each candle is extinguished, there are readings from the Psalms and Biblical lessons. The service concludes with prayers and silence.

Maundy Thursday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m.
We get the word “Maundy” from the Latin “mandate,” to command. This service recalls two events in the life of Jesus. First, we recall the Last Supper when Jesus broke bread with the disciples in the Upper Room and said, “Do this for the remembrance of me.” In the Eucharist we have the promise of Christ’s presence with us. Secondly, we recall that Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and commanded them to follow his example of love and humble service. In the foot washing we have the model of ministry of servant hood. At the conclusion of this memorable service we strip the altar.

Good Friday—The Way of the Cross, March 21 at 12:00 noon
The devotion known as the Way of the Cross is an adaptation to local usage of a custom widely observed by the pilgrims to Jerusalem, wherein they offer a prayer at a series of places traditionally associated with our Lord’s passion and death. At St. Mary’s, the children of the parish will assist us in this service which includes walking throughout the parish grounds, observing moments of Biblical reflection and contemplative prayer. The service begins and ends in the church.

Good Friday Liturgy, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.
A solemn service beginning with a reading from the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John and followed by a service of Evening Prayer using the Solemn Collects which date from the Third Century. These prayers contain a bid to the congregation for silent prayer, concluding with a collect. The service ends with Anthems said before the Cross and the Lord’s Prayer.

Good News: March 2, 2008

The Good News from March 2 is available for download:
Good_News_2008_March_02.pdf

This issue includes an excerpt from Peter Chase's sermon from the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Rose Sunday), an article on liberation theology, and a note from our church historians on why our pews have numbers on them.

Daylight Savings Time Begins on Sunday Morning, March 9

Daylight Saving time will begin on Sunday morning at 2:00a.m. Daylight-saving time was moved from the first week in April to the second week in March, with the hope that the extra three weeks of extended sunlight in the early evenings would help reduce the nation's energy budget. Please remember to turn your clock forward one hour this weekend.

Upcoming Services and Events

Sunday, March 9- Fifth Sunday in Lent
 8:00 am   Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase   
10:00am   Morning Prayer - Peter Chase
  9:45am   Childcare
10:00am   CGSI & II
11:00am   Intermediate Class
11:00am   Middle school Class
11:00am   Coffee Hour
  5:30pm   Soup & Cinema - Movie: Wild Strawberries (see below for more info)

Final Lenten Soup and Cinema Study Series
Sunday, March 9 at 5:30pm  (Please bring guests.)
This year’s Lenten film series will conclude with Smultronstället (Wild Strawberries) produced and directed Ingmar Bergman.  This movie explores the disillusionment of an elderly physician, Professor Isak Borg, as he reflects upon his life and begins to perceive his mortality.  As he travels to Lund to receive an honorary award, Dr. Borg meets strangers and relatives, and in his dreams he is confronted by his own past as well as fear of insufficiency.  He slowly comes to realize that the choices he has made have created a cold and empty life, devoid of real meaning or value.  Finally, Borg receives redemption and reintegration through forgiveness and the love of his family.  Following the film there will be a discussion on redemption and grace by Peter Chase and Bill McAndrew.

Final Lenten Study Series on Peace Tuesday, March 11 at 10:00am
Our final discussion will be held on Tuesday , March 11 at 10:00am (preceded by Holy Eucharist at 9:30am) in the Chapter Room. The Reverend Canon Edward W. Rodman, professor of Pastoral Theology and Urban Ministry at Episcopal Divinity School and a veteran of the civil rights movement, will be speaking on Restorative Justice, a social movement to institutionalize peaceful approaches to problem-solving and violations of legal and human rights. Both men and women are welcome.


Save the Date: El Salvador Event - Saturday, April 12
The 2008 El Salvador Mission Team from Saint Mary's and St. Paul's (Natick) will be sponsoring a night of “cabaret music, food, spirits, dancing and a limited auction” on the evening of April 12th. All proceeds will benefit the 2008 El Salvador Mission Team and the Diocese of El Salvador. More details will be forthcoming.


Stitch’n Chat - Tuesday, April 1 at 7:30pm
The next Stitch’n Chat will be held on Tuesday, April 1 at 7:30pm at Jean Dalton’s home. You will receive more
information in your next St. Mary's email update.