March 2021
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
March 2021 from Father Tim
The first day of Spring arrives on the 20th of March. The Holy Church celebrates Mothering Sunday on the 14th (the secular world will celebrate it on the 9th of May). On the March Church Ordo Kalendar we celebrate the last two Sundays in Lent and finish the month with Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday. The other two days of prominence in March are Saint Patrick’s Day on the 17th (and sadly no matter how much you like green beer and lively parties it is still a day of Fast & Abstinence) and the Annunciation, B.V.M. on the 25th (only a Fast Day and no one outside the Church throws a party). Passion Sunday (21st) kicks off the Passiontide Season. The title ‘Passion Sunday’ has some medieval precedent, but the terms ‘Passion Week’ and ‘Passiontide’ originated in Anglicanism (not Romanism). ‘Palm Sunday’ comes from the procession traditionally held on this Sunday. The procession originated in the Jerusalem Church of the fourth century. Pilgrims visiting Jerusalem participated in the observance and later returned to their own lands where the observance was then adopted by their home church. Observance of these Holy Days are important. They must become woven into the very fabric of our lives. Why? Because when we observe Holy Days we actually observe the life of Christ. We participate in His life. And then we will return to our own homes where family, peers, and neighbors will observe the life of Christ within, and that life will hopefully be adopted by those around us. I pray that all of you are observed with a palm in March, and that those around you adopt the Passiontide. ~ Father Tim
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Is there someone in your life who never observes Passiontide? Do they spend their Passion Week awaiting only worldly events like a Saint Patrick Day party or the Easter bunny? Passiontide is a beautiful season to invite family and friends to enjoy the preparation for Holy Week and the joy of the Risen Christ. The observance of this holy season may be a life changing moment for a lost soul who needs a passion to begin seeking the Way, the Truth, and the Life. ~ Father Tim
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Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us. ~ Saint David of Wales, Bishop and Confessor, feast day 1st of March
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Did you know?
Did you know that Saint John’s made a nice donation to the Brighton Center – Newport and to the newly established Trinity Anglican Catholic Church, Connersville, Indiana in February? Did you know that major window repair is going on right now at Saint John’s? Did you know a slow but steady renovation of the downstairs continues at Saint John’s? Did you know the Saint John garden is being prepared for a refresh this Spring?
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Have confidence in the compassion of our Creator. Reflect well on what you are now doing, and keep before you the things you have done. Lift up your eyes to the overflowing compassion of heaven, and while He waits for you, draw near in tears to our merciful Judge. Having before your mind that He is a Just Judge, do not take your sins lightly; and having also in mind that He is compassionate, do not despair. The God-Man gives man confidence before God. ~ S. Gregory the Great, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor, feast day 12th of March
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St. John March Ordo Kalendar
Wednesday, the 3rd of March at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 7th of March at 10:30 AM, Lent III
Wednesday, the 10th of March at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 14th of March at 10:30 AM, Lent IV, Mothering Sunday
Wed., the 17th of March at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer, S. Patrick Day soup and green salad
Sunday, the 21st of March at 10:30 AM, Passion Sunday
Wednesday, the 24th of March at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 28th of March at 10:30 AM, Palm Sunday
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Your accumulated offences do not surpass the multitude of God’s mercies: your wounds do not surpass the great Physician’s skill. ~ S. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor, feast day the 18th day of March
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Important Dates
If you are recently new to Saint John’s please send me (if you have not already) your important dates (birthday and anniversary) so your church family can celebrate with you! ~ Father Tim
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March Birthdays & Anniversaries
Joanna Barnett – Birthday – March 16
Cora Adams – Birthday – March 17
Judy Hulsey – Birthday – March 28
Kay Matthews – Birthday – March 31
Kevin Matthews – Birthday – March 31
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Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. ~ S. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor, feast day the 17th day of March
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Saint Patrick driving all the snakes out of Ireland
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Even if I could possibly hide myself in a tiny dwelling on a rock, where the waves of the swelling ocean surrounded me on all sides, and shut me in equally from the sight and knowledge of men, not even thus should I consider myself to be free from the snares of a deceptive world: but even there I should fear lest the love of wealth should tempt me and somehow or other snatch me away. ~ S. Cuthbert, Bede’s Life of S. Cuthbert, commemoration day the 20th of March
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[John Keble’s, The Christian Year] is a dirge over the lost glory of the Church; but it is much more than that; it is a trumpet-call to Christians to be true to the life which is in them, even though they may have to face the martyr’s death. Christian brothers must draw closer together to bear witness to the value of each soul and to knit firmly the bond of brotherhood. It seemed to him that it was the true function of poetry to rise above the marks of sin and woe to recreate the ideal before men, and he rouses poets to their task in these stirring words —
“Ye whose hearts are beating high
With the pulse of Poesy,
Heirs of more than royal race,
Fram’d by Heaven’s peculiar grace,
God’s own work to do on earth
(If the word be not too bold),
Giving virtue a new birth,
And a life that ne’er grows old—
Sovereign masters of all hearts!
Know ye who hath set your parts?
He who gave you breath to sing,
By whose strength ye sweep the string;
He hath chosen you, to lead,
His Hosannas here below; —
Mount, and claim your glorious meed;
Linger not with sin and woe.”
~ Walter Lock, John Keble
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The seeking of Jesus Christ, and the quest for chivalry combined, lead directly to one place only: Anglican-Catholicism. Courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help and defend the weak and the poor. Welcome to the Anglican Catholic Church. ~ Father Timothy Butler