Dearly beloved,
The Risen Christ came and stood among his disciples, saying, “My peace, I leave with
you, not as the world gives, but what I give to you.” We have experienced the Lenten
messages relating to levels of poverty and our Christian response to it. We have been
challenged with the hopeful idea that we have as a nation the opportunity, affirmation,
compassion, courage, and imagination to eradicate discrimination, health care, and other
social ills if we work together. Added to this, we also need affirming and assuring
peace that our Lord gives. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “There is within every soul a thirst for
happiness and meaning.” Everyone wants his or her life to count and to make a difference
in the world.
We have much to do to bring hungry souls back into the worshipping community.
Will the Easter experience of the Resurrected Christ help this realization? Will sin
prevail? What is this thing called sin? Someone once said, “Sin means knowing what
What you’re about to do, think, want, or say is really bad, but doing, thinking, wanting, or
saying it anyway.” It is the damnable propensity to put ourselves near the center of
virtually everything. It is this tilt towards making ourselves, our gender, our family, our
nation, and our religion, the measure of all things. It is the opposite of sharing and serving
and caring and giving ourselves away.
How can we find release from the consequences of our human irresponsibility and the
guilt that goes with it? Easter teaches us that we are released, liberated, and freed for service
and living of radiant creative lives by the loving act of forgiveness. Easter brings renewal
of grace, that we know enables us to treat one another compassionately, with humor and
understanding. As John writes in his letter, “We love because God first loved us.”
Lent and Easter this year have become for me, an enlightening experience at our church.
Week after week, we felt and were challenged by the teachings of “Enriching our
Worship” with meditative disciplines and sharing, especially with our mission hub weekly services.
Yet we hunger, not for food (we’re certainly able to provide it in abundance) but for
growth. We are willing and able to share our Resurrected experience with others. We are
one of many churches in multi-denominational Roxbury, and our separate churches,
their beloved and hallowed traditions of devotion and practice are the visible means by
which we have known Christ, been nourished in him, and been united in him. Yet in our
corporate pride, the separateness that hides from the world, the all-sufficiency of the cross,
“I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Join us for the services of the Triduum and Easter:
Thursday, March 28 at 6 pm: Feet washing, Holy Eucharist, and stripping of the altar
Good Friday, March 29, at 12 Noon service with the ministry of the Word and the Veneration of the Cross
6 p.m.: Cantata: The Resurrection by St. Cyprian’s Choir
Holy Saturday, March 30 at 6 pm: Service of the light, the Exultet, and renewal of Baptismal Vows.
Easter Sunday, March 31 at 10:30 am: Family Service with Holy Eucharist
On a personal note, a big THANK YOU to all the well wishes and cards I received from you during my medical procedure, as well as well wishes to Valda. Thank you for all the preparation and participation for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter, and for beautifying our church.
I will be leaving for South Africa on April 1 and will return with Valda on May 1. Traveling mercies to all who will travel during this time.
Have a happy and Blessed Easter.
Noble and Valda Scheepers