Spirit of the Eagle – April 2017
Spiritual Tidbits for April from Father Tim
Spring with April in tow has arrived along with, as we always pleasantly await, a freshness in the air. New life, new beginnings and new awakenings. Speaking for myself I can truthfully say this past winter and its illness took a toll on me physically. Some of you most likely would say the same. Thus Spring is a much welcomed season this year. Janet and I took advantage of the Archdeacon’s recent visit and made a much needed retreat to visit my spiritual father, Fr. Seraphim Hicks, and his wife Vicki at St. Simeon Skete in Taylorsville, KY. At St. Simeon Skete, with a Community of the Ordinary in tow, we were able to refresh our spiritual selves deeply from, as we always pleasantly discover, a holiness in the air. Eternal Life, Eternal Beginnings and Eternal Awakenings. I hope and pray the following Offering from Fr. Seraphim’s Remnant Rosary for each of you this April: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, may you give to those who are in most need of what I have just received.” ~ Father Tim
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This wisdom bringeth with her as companions soberness and meekness. Meekness disposeth and maketh us apt to receive the spirit of God. For in the lowly, humble and meek person He rejoiceth to rest. And when the Spirit hath replenished our minds with his sevenfold grace, then forth withal springeth that plenteous herbage of all virtue, with those blessed fruits of which the chief is the secret joy of a clear conscience, which joy is known of none but only of such to whom it hath chanced to taste of it. Joy that never vanisheth away, nor fadeth with the joys of this world, but increaseth and groweth to eternal gladness and mirth. This wisdom my brother (after the counsel of James) must thou require of God with fervent and burning desire. ~ Desiderius Erasmus, 1466-1536, The Manual of a Christian Knight
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First Communion
Sunday, the 30th of April, will be First Communion for Arthur Robbins, Grace Cook, Elyse Akhtar, Lillian Grothaus, and Max Meadows. These five precious children have studied and prepared over the last six months for this special and important day. Please come and celebrate this most Holy Day with them. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” St. John VI: 35
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Bible Study
Our current Winter/Spring session of Bible Study will conclude on the 9th of April and will resume after Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Adam Cook will start a Spring/Summer session and the church will once again open at 9:15 AM for the Bible Study Class (9:30- 10:15 AM). Details will be forthcoming. This is a wonderful opportunity to pray, learn more about the Bible, or both! Please come downstairs to the Parish Hall if you would like to attend the Bible Study. This group is learning much and having a wonderful time doing so! Please come and bring a friend!
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April Spirituality Class
Please join us on after Holy Mass on the 23rd of April as we discuss the Roots of Christian Mysticism. We will continue this month again with St. Benedict. We will discuss an overview of St Benedict, the background he came from as a disciple of the Desert tradition, and how he transmitted that wisdom into Western Christianity. We will look at how monasticism shaped the Christian Mystical Tradition in the Middle Ages and beyond. All devout Christians must look into their own hearts and first determine who they are, and how their own identities relate to Jesus the Christ as Saviour, Messiah, Man and God. If Jesus were to ask you, “Who do you say I am?”, what would you answer? How seriously do you take this question? Your answer will bring forward how well you actually know yourself.
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The little creature is stirred and called by something over against itself, not only to a new knowledge and intercourse, a new happiness and assurance, but also to a new level of life and of action; a life and action which, whether it fulfill itself in a humble or in a spectacular way, is yet definitely orientated to other-worldly aims and carries other-worldly sanctions. This in itself involves an interference with human history, difficult to explain on naturalistic grounds. The inciting Power requires and obtains from its creature a definite response, set towards a definite end. ~ Evelyn Underhill, Man and the Supernatural
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Lenten Soup & Salad
Our Wednesday evening services begin conclude on the 5th of April at 6:00 PM with Fr. Neuroth and Stations of the Cross. At 6:30 PM all will gather in the Parish Hall for a simple Soup, Salad, and Bread. While the fellowship at the meal is important, we should not disappoint God by receiving His bountiful blessings without offering up our prayers and thanksgivings. Please do your best and attend the entire evening. ~ Father Tim
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The Psalm Children will start the month of April learning about Holy Week. April 9, Father Tim will review the final set of First Communion questions with the children, followed by a lesson on the Resurrection of Christ. After a break for Easter, lessons will resume on April 23 with the story of the Good Shepherd. April 30, the children will be taking a well deserved break from lessons as five of our children will receive First Holy Communion. All parishioners are invited to contribute prayers to our Prayer Cross, which the children have been praying for each week during Lent. The Psalm Children ministry aims to provide religious education and encourage service through a combination of lessons, crafts, and activities. All children ages 2-12 are encouraged to attend, and adolescents have an open invitation to participate as assistant teachers. ~ Mary Matias Akhtar
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Please be sure to attend as many of our Holy Week services as possible! Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and the hope of the coming Messiah, but soon after a darkness begins closing in toward Good Friday that tests the strength of our faith. And just when the darkness reaches its blackest depth the morning of Easter Sunday suddenly erupts in charity with a brightness “no fuller on earth” could have accomplished. The old creation had died in the night. A new day has dawned. One again God walks in the garden (St. John 20: 15) in the semblance of a gardener, in the cool, not of the evening as He did with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3: 8), but this time in the cool morning dawn of a new creation. Please make every effort to attend Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Service times can be found on the attached Ordo Kalendar and will be announced.
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Anglican Church Women News
At our recent ACW meeting on Sunday, along with the Lenten meals, we also discussed the upcoming events that will take us into the summer. There is a lot going on!
4/23: Families can start bringing in raffle donations for the Fundraiser Meal
4/30: First Communion during Mass
5/14: Mother’s Day
5/20: Church Fundraiser Meal: Grill Out
6/18: Father’s Day
6/25: Father’s Day Luncheon Sponsored by ACW
* No ACW Meetings in July and August
Fundraiser Meal: Grill Out-this year we will be having a grill out with hotdogs, brats, burgers and sides to help raise money. We will also once again have a raffle so start thinking of some gifts you could donate for the cause. We will also need those awesome Grillin’ guys to help out!
ACW Dues: It’s that time of year again! All women parishioners of the church are automatically members of the ACW; no sign up required! Our annual dues are $5 and can be given to Judy Hulsey or Sharon Dietz. This money goes towards things like coffee hour and meal supplies.
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April Birthdays & Anniversaries
Gracie Cook – Birthday – April 11
Brittany Sams – Birthday – April 13
Ethan Whalen – Birthday – April 15
Carol – Birthday – April 22
Julie & Mike Murray – Anniversary – April 28