Dear
Peace family,
We come again to Easter, to the most important days of the year
for those who claim Jesus Christ as Lord.
This year my adult class has been studying Mark, and most of our
gospel lessons on Sunday have been drawn from Mark. I have to admit that Mark’s
account of Easter is probably my own favorite. It is the briefest and simplest
of the four accounts, but also, to my mind, the most powerful.
In Mark, you see, we don’t read of any appearances of the risen
Christ. We don’t read of the joy and excitement of the women at the tomb. We
don’t read of an earthquake, or other supernatural signs.
No, in Mark, the women go to the tomb on Easter morning and find a
young man, apparently an angel, sitting in the empty tomb. He tells the women
that Jesus has been raised, and that they should go and tell the disciples. But
the women, Mark says, “fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized
them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”
That’s how it would have been with me. Terror and amazement! It’s
hard to imagine having any emotion other than that, after what they had
witnessed—both on Good Friday and now on Sunday. This was not the way the world
was supposed to work!
I think we often try to tame the mystery of God. We like the
happily ever after stories, where everything is clear and all the loose ends
are tied up. We don’t like to be left hanging.
But Mark leaves us hanging. Indeed, the Greek sentence at the end
of Mark is grammatically incorrect—it’s what we might call in English an
“incomplete sentence.”
Some scholars suggest that this is a deliberate tactic by Mark.
The sentence, the thought, is incomplete, because what matters most of all is
how you, the reader, are going to respond. Your response will be “the rest of
the story,” so to speak. It isn’t something that is completed with what these
women do; it is open ended because you and I must respond.
So how will you respond to the mystery and the wonder of that
empty tomb? Will you come to church, sing “alleluia,” and then just go about
your every day life?
Or will the earthquake, missing in Mark, take place in your heart
and soul? Will you be the one to obey the angel’s instruction, “Go and tell”?
Will your life be different because of what happened on that long ago morning?
“He is risen indeed!” I pray that he will be risen for you, and in
you.
Peace to you,
Pastor Richard O. Johnson
O God, our
Heavenly Father, we Thy children come now to Thy feet with our supplications.
We cannot live without Thy blessing. Life it too hard for us and duty is too
large. We come to Thee with our weakness, asking Thee for strength. Help us
always to be of good cheer. Give us grace to be encouragers of others, never
discouragers. Let us not go about with sadness or fear among men, but may we be
a benediction to every one we meet, always making life easier, never harder for
those who come within our influence. Help us to be as Christ to others, that
they may see something of His love in our lives and learn to love Him in us.
Amen.
--James R. Miller (1840-1912)
Liturgy
Notes: More Vocabulary of Worship (Advanced Version)
We had lots of interested response to last months
vocabulary test, so let’s add a few more words. Choose the best definition for
each word.
(1) Surplice: (a) an overabundance of
communion hosts; (b) white vestment worn over a cassock; (c) offering on Sunday
that overflows the offering plates; (c) the stop on the organ which makes the
"tinkling bell" sound.
(2) Lectionary: (a) another word for
sermon; (b) the person who reads the Scripture lesson on Sunday; (c) the
calendar of Bible passages for use on Sunday morning; (d) a reprimand delivered
to an unruly acolyte.
(3) Fair linen: (a) a vestment that fits
properly; (b) the white linen parament that covers the top of the altar; (c)
any piece of white fabric used in worship; (d) the process of making sure that
no individual gets too much communion wine.
(4) Cincture: (a) medicine used to treat
diseases contracted from common cup; (b) a five-sided linen cloth used to cover
the communion elements; (c) the rope tied around the waist of a liturgical
leader; (d) the stop on the organ which makes the "tinkling bell"
sound
(5) Corporal: (a) the piece of linen on
which the Eucharistic elements are set; (b) the second in command among
acolytes; (c) punishment meted out to acolytes who are unruly; (d) the Body of
Christ.
(6) Agnus Dei: (a) the pastor’s aunt; (b) a
liturgy of blessing a herd a cattle; (c) technical name for the hymn "Lamb
of God"; (d) a secret liturgical society.
(7) Anamnesis: (a) our response to Jesus’s
words, "do this in remembrance of me"; (b) a secretary who writes
down the words of the liturgy; (c) the person who prepares the printed
bulletin; (d) what happens when the pastor forgets the liturgy.
(8) Zimbelstern: (a) a special spoon used
for stirring up crumbs of bread into the wine; (b) the epiphany star; (c) the
stop on the organ which makes the "tinkling bell" sound; (d) none of
the above.
(9) Compline: (a) the last of the
traditional prayer offices, said just before going to sleep; (b) a hymn of
lament; (c) a complete liturgy; (d) a visiting pastor who volunteers his
services.
(10) Intinction: (a) the practice of dipping
the Eucharistic bread into the wine and consuming both at once; (b) the
practice of a liturgical leader ad libbing when he or she forgets the words;
(c) the special soap used to wash liturgical linens; (d) the practice of submerging a baby in a
baptismal font.
Answers:
(1) b; it may
be knee-length or ankle-length, and is appropriately worn by either an ordained
pastor or a lay leader.
(2) c; from
the Latin for reading. It can also refer to the book in which the calendar is
printed.
(3) b; it
traditionally represents the sheet in which Jesus’ body was wrapped.
(4) c; it may
be band of fabric, as well as a rope.
(5) a; from
Latin for "body."
(6) c; the
Latin phrase means simply "lamb of God.”
(7) a; from
the Greek for "remembrance." We celebrate the Sacrament "in
remembrance of" Jesus.
(8) c
(finally!); the German word means "cymbal-star" because this was
originally an independent instrument shaped like a star (before the days of
electronic organs).
(9) a; from
the Latin for "complete"—i.e., these prayers "complete" the
day.
(10) a; from
the Latin for "to plunge."
O God, our Heavenly Father, we Thy children come now to Thy feet
with our supplications. We cannot live without Thy blessing. Life it too hard
for us and duty is too large. We come to Thee with our weakness, asking Thee
for strength. Help us always to be of good cheer. Give us grace to be
encouragers of others, never discouragers. Let us not go about with sadness or
fear among men, but may we be a benediction to every one we meet, always making
life easier, never harder for those who come within our influence. Help us to
be as Christ to others, that they may see something of His love in our lives
and learn to love Him in us. Amen.
James
R. Miller (1840-1912)
Liturgy Notes: More Vocabulary of Worship
(advanced version)
We had lots of interested response to last months vocabulary test, so let’s add a few more words. Choose the best definition for each word.
(1) surplice: (a) an overabundance of communion hosts; (b) white vestment worn over a cassock; (c) offering on Sunday that overflows the offering plates; (c) the stop on the organ which makes the “tinkling bell” sound.
(2) lectionary: (a) another word for sermon; (b) the person who reads the Scripture lesson on Sunday; (c) the calendar of Bible passages for use on Sunday morning; (d) a reprimand delivered to an unruly acolyte.
(3) fair linen: (a) a vestment that fits properly; (b) the white linen parament that covers the top of the altar; (c) any piece of white fabric used in worship; (d) the process of making sure that no individual gets too much communion wine.
(4) cincture: (a) medicine used to treat diseases contracted from common cup; (b) a five-sided linen cloth used to cover the communion elements; (c) the rope tied around the waist of a liturgical leader; (d) the stop on the organ which makes the “tinkling bell” sound
(5) corporal: (a) the piece of linen on which the Eucharistic elements are set; (b) the second in command among acolytes; (c) punishment meted out to acolytes who are unruly; (d) the Body of Christ.
(6) Agnus Dei: (a) the pastor’s aunt; (b) a liturgy of blessing a herd a cattle; (c) technical name for the hymn “Lamb of God”; (d) a secret liturgical society.
(7) anamnesis: (a) our response to Jesus’s words, “do this in remembrance of me”; (b) a secretary who writes down the words of the liturgy; (c) the person who prepares the printed bulletin; (d) what happens when the pastor forgets the liturgy.
(8) Zimbelstern: (a) a special spoon used for stirring up crumbs of bread into the
wine; (b) the epiphany star; (c) the stop on the organ which makes the
“tinkling bell” sound; (d) none of the above.
(9) Compline: (a) the last of the traditional prayer offices, said just before
going to sleep; (b) a hymn of lament; (c) a complete liturgy; (d) a visiting
pastor who volunteers his services.
(10)
intinction: (a) the practice of dipping
the Eucharistic bread into the wine and consuming both at once; (b) the
practice of a liturgical leader ad libbing when he or she forgets the words;
(c) the special soap used to wash liturgical linens; (d) the practice of submerging a baby in a
baptismal font.
Answers:
(1) b; it may be knee-length or ankle-length,
and is appropriately worn by either an ordained pastor or a lay leader.
(2) c; from the Latin for reading. It can
also refer to the book in which the calendar is printed.
(3) b; it traditionally represents the sheet
in which Jesus’ body was wrapped.
(4) c; it may be band of fabric, as well as a
rope.
(5) a; from Latin for “body.”
(6) c; the Latin phrase means simply “lamb of
God.’
(7) a; from the Greek for “remembrance.” We
celebrate the Sacrament “in remembrance of” Jesus.
(8) c (finally!); the German word means
“cymbal-star” because this was originally an independent instrument shaped like
a star (before the days of electronic organs).
(9) a; from the Latin for “complete”—i.e.,
these prayers “complete” the day.
(10)
a; from the
Latin for “to plunge.”
Lent continues. . .
Sunday, April 2:
Fifth Sunday in Lent. The sense of drama heightens in our gospel lesson
today, as Jesus promises, when he is crucified, to “draw all people to
himself.” The choir will sing at 10:45 this week, a reflective anthem entitled
“By Christ Redeemed.” Don’t forget to set
your clocks ahead for Daylight Savings Time, or you’ll miss church!
Thursday, April 6, 7 p.m.: The last of our Lenten Evening Prayer services, using the beautiful “Holden Vespers” liturgy. Our focus this year is on the Psalms, with Pastor Dean reflecting this evening on Psalm ---. Join us for the soup supper preceding at 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 9: Palm Sunday. Always a festive day at Peace, both 8:00 and 10:45 services include a procession with palms, the reading of the Passion story, and lots and lots of music. Come with us as we retrace Jesus’ steps toward the cross.
Friday, April 14: Good Friday. Two services this day. The first is at noon at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on South Church Street in Grass Valley, and ecumenical Good Friday liturgy. The second is at Peace (also an ecumenical service), for the service of Tenebrae at 7:30 p.m. Come to both on this, the most solemn day of the liturgical year.
Saturday, April 15: Easter Vigil. This festive “first service” of Easter begins at 7:30 p.m. If you’ve not experienced an Easter Vigil, you are missing something special! Join us this evening.
Easter Day, Sunday, April 16. Two jubilant services of Holy Communion, one at 8:00 and one at 10:45 a.m., as we celebrate the Festival of the Resurrection. Pastor Dick will preach, and the choir, with brass accompaniment, will sing “Good Christians All, Rejoice!” Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Save the date:
Saturday, May 13, we will have as our guest Dr. Paul Maier, nationally known church historian and popular lecturer. He will be presenting a seminar at Peace on “Christianity and the Competition.” Full details in the May Tidings.