March, 2004 Calendar In This Issue: St. A's Kitchen Cabinet Convenes Commentary on The Heart of Christianity Readings for Lent Women's Annual Retreat: Being a Prayerful Woman The Rector's Charge: Annual Parish Meeting 2004 So Our Priest Was Canonized?? Holy Week, Lutherans and Community The Annual Men's Retreat: May 21 & 23, 2004 Lenten Series: Meeting Women Mystics Ministry Fair

by Jim Boline and Hartshorn Murphy

Holy Week, which begins with Passion (or Palm) Sunday and runs through Easter, is the holiest week of the Christian year. In those few days, we go in spirit with Jesus on his journey into the Holy City, walk with him the Way of Sorrows, experience the bitter sweet farewell of the Last Supper, die with Christ and then enter the Sabbath rest of Holy Saturday as we enter the tomb with Jesus and await God's vindication of Easter. As Christian folk, each year we reenact the passion, death and resurrection of Christ as the Church, the Body of Christ on earth. It is a wondrous privilege.

This year, The Rev. Jim Boline, the Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (958 Lincoln Blvd, two blocks north of Wilshire) and I have chosen to intentionally live into the concordant relationship signed some years ago between our two great historic churches which permit "intercommunion" and shared worship between us. This "ecumenical" outreach, especially during Holy Week, stands as sign and symbol of the larger community which binds Christian folk beyond our historic differences. Your clergy ask that you prayerfully consider attending worship with our Lutheran brothers and sisters on those days (see below in bold) in which we have been specially invited to join with them; as Pastor Boline prays his folk will come and join us. What a wonderful opportunity to witness to the "oneness in Christ" of our baptismal covenant.

2004 Holy Week Schedule

• April 4th - The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday -- regular services at 7:30, 9 & 11
• April 7th - Wednesday in Holy Week Meditation (spoken) -- 7:30 a.m. at St. Paul's (note: there will be no Market Day worship that day at St. A's)
• April 7th - Wednesday in Holy Week Meditation (walking) -- 7:30 p.m. at St. A's The Labyrinth will be available in Pierson Hall (bare feet or socks pls.)
• April 8th - Maundy Thursday -- Liturgy at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 7:30 p.m. Members from St. A's will join the worship at St. Paul's Lutheran.
• April 9 - Good Friday liturgies -- noon and 7:30 p.m. at St. A's
• April 10 - The Great Vigil of Easter -- 10:30 p.m. Members from St. Paul's will join us.
• April 11 -- Easter Sunday morning -- regular services at 7:30, 9 and 11.

Copyright © 2004 St. Augustine by-the-Sea