Announcements
Bible study and all Church programming has been postponed until further notice
Diaper Depot Update SEE PAMPHLETS BELOW
Diaper Depot is in NEED of SIze 5 Diapers and Size 3T/4T Girls's Pull-ups. PAMPERS are preferred as they are the least allergenic. Diapers can be purchased and shipped directly to the church using the following Amazon wish list: https://amzn.to/2TK7dp7
Its a lot of fun helping out at Diaper Depot! SIGN UP TO HELP: CLICK HERE
COVID-19 PRAYER APRIL 2020 by Sue Burkart
O God of all the nations of the earth, hallowed be thy name. Help us to feel your presence in these dark and terrifying times.
Give comfort to all who are suffering: those ill with the virus; families of those who have succumbed to it; those out of work and those who have had to close their businesses; those who are alone and vulnerable.
For humanity’s sake, guide all who are working toward a cure and protect all the health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers who are risking their own safety to help us.
May this pandemic bring out the best in us and in our leaders, so that we may love and care for all in our communities and in the world.
Lastly, help us remember to give thanks each day for the blessings we receive from you. God of mercy, hear our prayer.
A Good Friday Poem by Ken Johnson
Cut saplings, one six foot, the other four,
Short over long, and a third the way down
Were bound together arms to the body,
Frayed hemp twine wound tight,
Kinda’ Girl Scout-y
So serenely starts our grave ceremony
By a woman in white, she’s called a LEM,
Singly processing with the solemn Cross,
A product of our rude New England woodcraft
She bows as to one who is adored,
Then lays the cross upon the Chancel floor,
That one by one we each may pace up to kneel,
A solemn reverence to our Holy Lord
Where upon singly we touch it, hold it, raise it,
Some just gaze it, with ponder and pity,
Imbuing it with Holy consecration,
This transmogrified embodiment, of wood
I my turn kneel, and with two calloused hands
As a modern Simon of Cyrene I lift,
Glad to take the weight off Him, for the moment,
Mindful of what a weight it was, and who bore it
There I whispered then this silent prayer;
“Might I share too the sacrifice you bare,
Might I share too the heavy cloak you wore,
And bare with thee what burden bore Our Lord”
That’s when looking up brought the great revelation,
This simple cross was no benign wood token,
But the brand of Roman tyranny, fear,
And a grievous tool of mighty oppression
I saw the burning stake binding the martyrs,
I saw the noose and tree with the eyes of the Negro,
The the electric chair to those false accused,
Smelled the smoking camps of the Holocaust’ wrath
And unable to bear its burgeoning weight
I was forced down by the heels of jack boots on my neck,
Oppressed upon my back, squeezing my soul,
Usurping free will, denying me breath
I saw Mother, Brothers, Friends, helplessly watching,
None could move and neither could I,
As the snakes of twine bound me to the spars
That rose me to the height beyond their reach
The sky began to sparkle from my lack of air,
While a gold mist descended, deaths’ minions shimmering lights,
When a voice above the skylights boldly spoke;
“Will you, My Son, be martyred by faggots?”
That revived me with a wondrous inhale,
My arms I hauled against the wooden cross bar,
My back I bent against the unyielding post,
Sending snapping thunder renting through the Earth
As the body of oppression there and then was routed,
Its arms I broke off, its back I wrenched and splintered
As the poles remaining I broke upon my knee,
And with this God set people free
I broke the Ritual that placed the Ritual above the Faith
I broke The Word that said no new Word could be The Word
I broke the Faith that this Faith is mine and that Faith yours
I broke the Law that made the Law above our Love
I broke the Truth that made abuse of Truth our Politic
I broke the Chain that Chains us to Death in servitude
I broke the Contract that Contracts us all to usury
I broke the Lease that Leases us back this Earth, our own
I broke the Conscience that could not Conscience this being done
I broke the False Cross that absolved our obligation,
to our neighbors, our brothers, our sisters, our parents and our children,
I broke it all because He broke it all
And I broke it all, because,
I Love You
Helping Each Other:
Members of our congregation stand ready to help run errands to the pharmacy, get groceries and deliver them to your door, and help you navigate online ordering of grocery delivery. If you would like help with these tasks, or anything else, please let Rev. Kapya or Christine D. know by emailing RectorCCW@gmail.com or wardens@christchurchwaltham.org. We would be more than happy to connect those who want help with those who are offering help.
Please know that there is dignity and holy meaning both in asking for help and in being able to help.
Online Episcopal Resources:
Both the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal are available online! Here are the links:
Book of Common Prayer: https://www.bcponline.org/
1982 Hymnal: https://hymnary.org/hymnal/EH1982
1993 Hymnal: https://hymnary.org/hymnal/LEVS1993
If you page through the BCP, you'll note that some services can be observed at home (no priest is required to officiate). Compline and Morning Prayer are two examples.
Reliable Sources of Information about the novel coronavirus - Covid-19.
The Diocese of Massachusetts has held a number of different calls for clergy and a few for wardens too over the last 2 weeks. During those calls, the following websites have been recommended by the team of experts (including epidemiologists and emergency preparedness experts) who are advising the Diocese as having good, factual information.
The World Health Organization: https://www.who.int
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov
MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency): https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-emergency-management-agency
The Latest Guidance from the Diocese:
The most recent guidance from the Diocese of Massachusetts, issued on March 25, requires all churches to suspend in-person, public workship services through and including May 24. Christ Church will comply with this and all guidance from the Diocese. The diocese hopes that we will all be able to worship in-person together again on Pentecost, May 31. Rev. Kapya and the Vestry will keep you updated on any changes in the guidance from the Diocese.
You can read the guidance from the Diocese here: https://www.diomass.org/news/diocesan-news/covid-19-updates
You can now make pledge payments online via PayPal
With our regular worship suspended, our treasurer Phil C. has moved quickly to get an option for online payments to our church. You can find the link to Paypal on our website: https://www.christchurchwaltham.org/giving/
Pledges for 2020. It is not too late to make a pledge for this year! Pledge cards are available from Rev. Kapya, Christine Dutt (your warden) and Phil Crider (your treasurer) on Sundays. Pledge cards are also available from the office.
Building Committee Notice anything around the building that needs attention? Send the Building committee an email: CLICK HERE
Grandma's Pantry News
We will stay open for our twice-monthly sessions by serving pre-bagged food from the rear parking lot. On March 28 we only had 8 clients come and delivered one bag of food. Hopefully we will see more on April 11 as the people who came pass the word. We also may be able to get the addresses of a few more clients to deliver to.
One thing that seems to be in short supply in the stores is bags of white rice. Please look when you shop and perhaps pick up 3 or 4 bags (1 or 2lb size). I could pick them up from your doorstep if convenient if you notify me and also reimburse you.
If anyone is willing to help prebag (April 25 would be the next needed date, as we already have leftover bags right now) or help out at a Pantry session (we maintain a 6-foot distance), please let me know in case there is a shortage of regular Pantry volunteers.
Stay well.
Sue B.
EVENT INFO & SHARING: Christ Church is a VERY busy place, and many rooms are in use at any given time. If you'd like to use space at the Church for a meeting or an event, please contact the office (office@christchurchwaltham.org) to schedule. Or if you have any news that you'd like to share with members of the parish, please send the information to the office by Wednesday morning. Thank you
|
|
