This can be a rich time of spiritual reflection and growth. Fortunately, we have been able to arrange for an impressive array of services for our parish, as we finish up our spiritual preparations of Lent and look forward to celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, at Easter. We hope you can attend at least some of the following activities at our church. Bring a friend along, as many churches do not provide for such an array of services from which to choose.
Friday, April 2nd at 6:30 PM - Stations of the Cross, wherein we can meditate on Jesus' love for us how he suffered for us.
Sunday, April 4th at 10:00 AM - Palm Sunday - Sunday School, Nursery School, Blessing of the Palms and Holy Eucharist. Mark your calendars and plan to be here for this festive service which reflects the joy of the people of Jerusalem as they welcomed Our Lord into their city. This is a good time in Lent reflect on how we are doing at letting Jesus into our lives today. Karen Testerman will sing "The Palms."
Thursday, April 8th at 6:30 PM - Maunday Thursday - At this time we remember Jesus' institution of the Holy Eucharist for the spiritual strengthening of His followers and His desire for us to love one another, even to the point of washing one another's feet, if need be. Some churches don't have a service on this important day. Invite someone to join you.
Friday, April 9th at 6:30 PM - Good Friday - At this service of Evening Prayer we will have the opportunity to meditate on the crucifixion of Our Lord, his complete giving of Himself for us upon the Cross. In this mystery, was our salvation gained.
Sunday, April 11th at 10:00 AM - Easter Day - Let us join together to celebrate the triumph of Christ's resurrection and the hope of eternal life which it offers to those who care to unite with Him and be a part of His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Let joy abound and may we all enjoy the New Life He wants for us all. Nursery School will be available.
The Vestry has scheduled a Parish Dinner for Saturday evening, April 24th at 6:30 PM at the Masonic Temple, 30 Mont Vernon Road, Milford, NH. The Masonic Temple was chosen for the location because the Milford Rainbow Girls are doing this as a fund raiser and they have all the tables, chairs, silverware, cups and saucers, pots and pans, etc available right there. Best of all we don't have to set up or clean up! Tickets are $10.00.
Diane Williamson, our Sunday School Superintendent, is also the Mother Advisor of the Milford Rainbow Girls and she will be helping to coordinate the evening. They promise an excellent meal and certainly, the price is right. We'll have a short presentation on the status of our search for a new full time priest. Jarvis Coffin, Chairman of our Search Committee, has received two resumes from Bishop Langberg so far. We expect to receive several more in the near future.
We all regret Father Dean's decision not to relocate from Plymouth to this immediate area and assume a full-time position. However, as most of you know, he has indicated his interest in placing more emphasis on missionary work and starting new churches here in New Hampshire. He has a good track record of starting new churches. After all, we are one of his success stories!
We have just received word that Bishop George Langberg will be attending our Parish Dinner on Saturday, April 24th and participating in our worship service on Sunday morning. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet and talk one-on-one with Bishop Langberg. I'm sure that he will be pleased to answer any questions regarding our search process. This is just another reason to insure that you make plans to attend the Parish Dinner!
Do you realize that Friday, March 29th will mark the seventh anniversary in our very own church building! Yes, Easter Sunday seven years ago was March 29th and that was the day that we held our first worship service in our new church building. How fortunate we are!
...at Crystal Lake in the Gray, Maine area. Anyone interested in attending should contact Father Dean. We expect to have several scholarships available. Camp attendance is usually a prerequisite for children desiring to be confirmed. Speak to Father Dean. The price hasn't been set yet, but it will be less than last year's.
We need another Editor for the "Tidings." I have been doing this since St. Lukes started and while it is a labor of love, you might say, my involvement with the International Anglican Fellowship just does not permit me to spend the time that "Tidings" deserves. It's always done at the last moment and there's so much more that should be covered. Please call me at 222-1070 if you're interested and be assured that everyone will help you!
Walter D. Kilian, Editor "Tidings"