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Father Douglas Anderson's weekly KneeMail to parishioners and friends of Saint James Church, Texarkana
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Kneemail from Saint James Church

March 28, AD 2018

FROM THE RECTOR:

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St James’,
 
The Great Three Days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, will soon be upon us.  In fact, these three days are one single liturgy in three parts.  In Act I (Maundy Thursday), Jesus institutes the Sacraments of the Priesthood and the Eucharist before being betrayed by Judas.  In Act II (Good Friday), Jesus is crucified, dead and buried.  The finale is the Great Vigil on Easter Eve, when Jesus is raised from the dead in the triumphant Act III.  These are days of transformation and conversion--the drama of our redemption, one single liturgy, in three Acts.
 
If anyone asks you what the Christian faith is all about, the answer is, “Come worship with us for Holy Week and you will understand the whole sweep of the Christian faith.
 
To miss any one of these liturgies is to miss the character development, the rise of tension, the symbolism and the color of the drama that leads to the triumph of the Resurrection.  To miss the somber color of Friday is to rob the Easter greeting “Alleluia! Christ is risen!” of its dramatic effect.  To miss the institution of the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday is to impoverish your Easter Communion.  It would be a shame to arrive at Easter only experiencing part of the drama.
 
Note that the Easter Vigil on Saturday at 8:00pm will be THE principal Easter service here at St James’ where we will pull out all the musical and ceremonial stops.  The Vigil is the “Queen of Feasts” and there is no more thrilling and powerful few hours in the course of the liturgical year.  To miss the Vigil is to miss the celebration that is at the heart of everything else we do in this place.  I might go so far as to say that if we have not experienced the Vigil, we cannot fully grasp what we are doing for the rest of the year!
 
Of course, attendance at the Vigil fulfills one’s obligation for Easter Mass, but you may want to return for a second helping on Easter Day.   If the Vigil is the cake, the two liturgies on Easter Day (a Low Mass at 8:00am and a Sung Mass at 10:00am) are the icing on the cake.  The hymns, scripture readings and sermon will be different from those of the Vigil.  For those with small children, you will also want to be here for the Easter Egg Hunt at 9:00—two more opportunities for us to be together as a parish family.
 
Again, God is here, your fellow parishioners will be here, the clergy have prepared, the servers have prepared, the choir has rehearsed, your friends have decorated.  We need to see you.  So, please, just come.  You will never regret this time given to God!
 
Fr David and I are very much looking forward to spending Holy Week and Easter with you.

Yours with every blessing,

Rev. Douglas Anderson, Rector
THE SCHEDULE OF LAY MINISTERS FOR HOLY WEEK IS POSTED HERE.   PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF YOU OR A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY IS LISTED TO SERVE. 

PLEASE NOTIFY THE PARISH OFFICE IMMEDIATELY IF YOU CANNOT MAKE YOUR APPOINTED TIME.  IT WILL HELP KEEP THE RECTOR IN A HOLY AND CONTEMPLATIVE FRAME OF MIND.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER AT SAINT JAMES’ CHURCH

Wednesday, March 28th          
Holy Wednesday or "Spy" Wednesday
                     
     No Mass, Meal or Class tonight. 

     First Holy Communion rehearsal at 6:00 pm

Thursday, March 29th       
Maundy Thursday
             
     Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7pm (nursery)
          The Bishop of Dallas is preaching.
 
Friday, March 30th            
Good Friday 
                       
     Stations of the Cross at 12:10pm
          Fr David preaching.
     Solemn Liturgy & Veneration of the Cross at 7pm
          (nursery)   The Rector preaching.
 
Saturday, March 31st        
Easter Even                         

     Great Vigil of Easter at 8pm (nursery)
          Fr David is preaching.
          Resurrection Party to follow in the Great Hall.
 
Sunday, April 1st                
Easter Day 
                          
     Low Mass at 8:00am
     Resurrection Buns and Egg hunt for the children at 9:00 am
     Procession & Sung Mass at 10:00 am (nursery)
          The Rector is preaching.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION NOTICES
 
Christian Education activities for the upcoming Sundays.
  • Wednesday, March 28, 6:00pm. Rehearsal in the church with Father Doug for those children who have been attending the First Holy Communion class with Ms Leighsa.
     
  • Maundy Thursday, March 29, 6:30pm. FHC children gather in the library with Ms Leighsa before processing into the church for their First Communion.
     
  • Easter, April 1, 9:00am.  All children gather in the coffee area to make Resurrection buns followed by the annual Easter Egg hunt.
 
RESURRECTION PARTY HELP

Your help is needed to make the Resurrection Party a success! 

Ham is being provided by the Church. 

If your last name begins with A – G – please bring an appetizer; H – M – salad, potato/pasta dish; N – S – veggie; and, T – Z – dessert. 

Please drop off dishes in the great hall on Saturday evening, March 31st, on your way into Church. 

Have questions?  Please ask me! Tracy Jones. 903-277-6575. tracyjones@stjamesdayschool.org
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ITEMS OF PARTICULAR NOTE

EASTER FLOWER ENVELOPES are in the pews.  This special collection pays for the decoration of the church at Easter.  The deadline is today.  Please call the parish office.
 
VIGIL MUSIC SPONSORSHIPS.  We are planning to have strings at the Easter Vigil.  If you would like to help underwrite the music at the “Queen of Feasts,” please use one of the Discretionary Fund envelopes in the pews, and clearly mark your intentions on the envelope.   You may give the gift of music in honor of someone living, or in memory of someone departed.  Names will be listed in the Vigil bulletin.  The deadline is today.  Please call the parish office.
 

THINKING AHEAD TO THE SUMMER.  Sewanee: The University of the South, a university owned by the Episcopal Church, offers the following summer programs of interest to high-school aged children:
--Bridge Program in Biomedical Sciences (Jrs), June 10-26
--The Environmental Studies Institute (Jrs & Srs), June 27 to July 7
--The Choral Institute, June 27 to July 1 (9-12)
--SUMMA Theological debate camp, July 17-25, (9-12)

Partial scholarships may be available.  Please speak to the Rector

CAMP ALL SAINTS’, the Diocese of Dallas summer camp is an affordable, Christian summer opportunity for children of all ages.  More information can be found here: http://www.campallsaints.com/summercampschedule/parent-information-letter.html
Scholarships may be available.  Please speak to the Rector.
 
PARISH NOTICES

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK:
Deby Prime (25), Olivia Pilgreen (26), Dennis Landreaux, Bill Miller (28), Kathy Norment, Alix Matteson (30).

CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES: 
Dennis & Susan Landreaux (25).
 

REST ETERNAL
Rest Eternal grant unto them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Anniversaries of death falling this week:
Nancy Keyton, 2006; Gladys Martindale, 2017; Thomas Collins, 2014; Fisher Plymale, 2016; Barbara Wade, 2010.
PARISH GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES

THE FLOWER DONOR CHART is in the Narthex (porch) to sign-up to give flowers in memory or in thanksgiving of a loved one, or you may call or e-mail Martha Bean at 903-547-6911 – e-mail wpmvb@windstream.net .  The cost is still just $35 per donor, per Sunday.  What a great way to honor or remember those who are important in our lives!

THE ROSARY GROUP meets on Tuesdays at 10am to pray the “Bible on a String.” Come join us.  For more information, contact Lova at lova@cableone.net

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE KING is an Order for Episcopal women founded in 1885.  We are a prayer and service group who meets once a month.  We regularly take part in worship, study, and aid our Clergy as asked.  If you are interested in more about us, please call or e-mail Lova Wile (903-832-2533  lova@cableone.net ), Tammy Cowdery (903-277-2148 cowdery@txkusa.org ), or Gail Crisp (903-838-0942 gjcrisp@cableone.net )
Copyright © 2018 Saint James' Church, All rights reserved.


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