WEEKLY MESSAGE – March 22, 2024

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WEEKLY MESSAGE – March 22nd  – Fr. Cederberg

Palm Sunday is coming up, and it always feels to me like such a whipsaw of emotions.  The service starts with a blessing of the palms and the triumphal procession.  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”, the people cry.  Then, in a few very short minutes, we begin the readings of the passion when this time we cry, “Crucify him, crucify him!”  My, how quickly the mood changes.

Yet I have to admit that my attitude towards God is often like that.  When things are going my way, I am jubilant and say, “Yes, way to go, God!”  Jesus is on my side.

When things turn against me, however, I am quick to doubt.  “Take him away.  Surely there is a better way.”  My heart is fickle and turns on a dime, in keeping with the status of my own comforts.

Perhaps that is why we go through this whole process of Lent and Holy Week.  We live out the drama in the life of Jesus, but also reflect on that drama being played out in our own hearts.  We love him, and yet we don’t.  We believe in him, and yet we doubt.  “Forgive us, Lord, for we know not what we do.”

While we may know that Easter is coming, to fully understand it we have to experience the dread of Holy Week.  There we are invited to go through the valley of the shadow of death together.  We will hear again the story of the Passion this year, and we will again be given the opportunity to honestly plumb the conditions of our own hearts for the bitterness, unforgiveness and selfishness that reside there.  Let us pray to the Jesus of the cross to bring us healing and strength.  Let us ask him to help us, so that we will be ready to genuinely celebrate resurrection and the new life it brings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sandwiches for St. George’s:  Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the ECW.  Next week will be hosted by Maria Scher.

Farewell Reception for Fr. Todd.  Father Todd’s last day with St. David’s is Sunday, March 31st.  Please join us for a special reception in his honor immediately after the 10:00 a.m. service in the Parish Hall.

First Communion will be held on Sunday, March 24th at the 10am service.  The families of the First Communion candidates have baked a special bread to use for Communion.

Stations of the Cross.  Good Friday, March 29th at 7:00 p.m. led by the Youth.

Easter Egg Donations: Our Sunday School Director, Katie Waters will be collecting plastic eggs (prefilled or not) every Sunday leading up to Easter when we will have our Children’s Egg Hunt. (Please no chocolate prizes as they melt quickly).

Donation to Fortin Family Center.  On Sundays, April 7th and 14th, we will be collecting packages of new underwear for boys and girls sizes 3, 4, and 5 and pull ups sizes for toddlers and 2 year olds, as well as Pampers sizes newborn to 5, to be donated to Fortin Center in the Glades area.  Thank you for supporting this ministry.

Sunday school is scheduled on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the Sunday school classroom

Bible Study at 9:00 a.m. is scheduled on Sunday in the Sunday school classroom.

Women’s Bible Study is scheduled on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.

Youth Group Bible Study is scheduled to meet on Sunday, March 31st at 9:00 a.m. 

Youth Group.  Join the Youth Group for a Holy Hike (Nature Walk) on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at the Okeeheelee Park Nature Center. We will contemplate the purpose of Jesus’ journey through the wilderness and take time to pray. Bring a water bottle.

Flowering of the Cross.  We will have Flowering of the Cross on Easter morning at both services.  Everyone should bring a flower to church with them to put on the cross at the front of the church as they find their seats.  Thanks.  Linda

Tuesdays:  Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m.

Forward Day by Day Brochures are available in the narthex.  Donation $3.00.

Holy Week

Maundy Thursday             March 28th       7:00 p.m.

Good Friday                      March 29th      12:00 p.m.

Good Friday                      March 29th      7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross led by the Youth Group

Holy Saturday Vigil          March 30th       7:00 p.m. followed by a Champagne Reception

Easter                              March 31st       8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

Easter Egg Hunt              March 31st       after 10am mass – 11:15 a.m.

There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex for the Maundy Thursday Prayer Vigil March 28th, which starts after the Mass Thursday night until noon on Good Friday.  Sign up to pray for one hour and keep company with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Sunday’s Worship – We are open for live worship on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.  We also “live-stream” our 10 a.m. service.

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass.  There are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel.  See the links listed below.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at  https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

PLEASE PRAY.  For the sick:  Audley, Bishop Curry, Carol, Dennis, Diana, Dorothy, Dudley, Emily, Frances, Heather, Jameson, Jim, Lloyd, Marjorie, Megan, Michael, Pearl, Peggy, Phyllis, Predrag, Robin, Ronald, Shelley, Shirley, Tanner, Violet, Yvonne.  For birthday celebrations: Megan Schubert, Dexter Beresford, Austin LaBorde, Inara Elmquist, Ann Chambers, Connor Brown, Eric Cohen, Laurette Bagley, Samuel Kalphat.  For our expectant mother:  Shay.  For our First Communion candidates: Winston Schroeder, Wyatt Schroeder, Parker Greener, Connor Brown, Kyle Osorio, Jaxon Wooding, Bayron Gutierrez, Jaxon Barnett.  For our search committee: Howard Barrett, Jenifer Elmore, Janice Jacques, Kristi Lee, Sera Peat, Yvonne Wolliston, Cecil Wray.

Vestry Members:  Howard Barrett – Senior Warden, Laurette Bagley, Kenneth Barnett, John Webber – Junior Warden, Jenifer Elmore, Matthew Hogan, Karlene Kiminyo, Chris LaBorde – Secretary, Linda McKeown, Irene Oknewski, Joyce Parker, Dennis Wright – Treasurer.