April 2021
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
April 2021 from Father Tim
April 2021 arrives with the Triduum Sacrum beginning on its very first day. Maundy Thursday (1st), Good Friday (2nd), and Easter Eve (3rd). Triduum Sacrum is the name given to the last three days of Holy Week – the most solemn days of the Christian year – when the services of the church take on a special solemnity. Last year, during this same week, it was especially solemn with the uncertainty of the covid threat. Only a handful of people came for Holy Week, but when Easter Sunday dawned new life arrived. Once covid arrived data shows 20 churches every day have closed permanently. Do the math. That’s over 7000 churches a year. And let me clarify. These are not churches who are simply closed awaiting covid’s defeat so they can reopen. These churches have closed permanently, they have been silenced, and many more will suffer the same death unless new life arrives. In the second century, on Easter Eve, an anonymous author wrote, “Something strange is happening, there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and Hell trembles with fear. He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, He who is both God and the Son of Eve.” Easter is about new life. Easter is the hope of the future. The promise that we can put to death our old life and step into a new life. Easter empowers us to live beyond ourselves. Our weaknesses become our strengths. Our gifts are magnified and increased. This year we will be stronger. Despite the past suffering we can have peace that passes our own understanding. Something good, even miraculous, can come from terrible things. I hope your April is full of miracles. ~ Father Tim
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Is there someone in your life who has closed their doors to Christ? Do their worldly possessions and desires drown out the great silence of Easter Eve? Easter is the season of hope to invite family and friends to enjoy Triduum Sacrum and a glorious Easter Sunday. The acknowledgement of the Risen Christ this holy season may be a life changing moment for a lost soul who needs the peace to begin seeking the Way, the Truth, and the Life. ~ Father Tim
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PEACE is the first thing the angels sang. PEACE is the mark of the children of God. PEACE is the nurse of love. PEACE is the mother of unity. PEACE is the rest of the blessed souls. PEACE is the dwelling place of eternity. The faith of those who LIVE their faith is a serene faith. What you long for will be given you; what you love will be yours forever.” ~ Saint Leo the Great, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor, commemoration day 11th of April
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Did you know?
Did you know that Saint John’s made a nice donation to the Salvation Army – Northern KY Corp in March? Did you know we purchased a Rectory in March? Yes, we did! 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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Let it be understood that those who are not found living as He taught are not Christian- even though they profess with the lips the teaching of Christ. ~ S. Justin Martyr, feast day 14th of April
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St. John April Ordo Kalendar
Thursday, the 1st of April at 6:00 PM, Maundy Thursday Stripping of the Altar
Friday, the 2nd of April at 12:00 PM, Stations of the Cross
Friday, the 2nd of April at 3:00 PM, Good Friday Liturgy
Saturday, the 3rd of April at 6:00 PM, Easter Eve & Lighting of the New Fire
Sunday, the 4th of April at 10:30 AM, Easter Sunday
Wednesday, the 7th of April at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 11th of April at 10:30 AM, Easter I, Low Sunday
Wed., the 14th of April at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 18th of April at 10:30 AM, Easter II Good Shepherd Sunday
Wednesday, the 21st of April at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 25th of April at 10:30 AM, S. Mark, Evangelist
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What reward can I hope for if I spend upon myself what belongs to the poor? Better give to the poor what is ours, then take from them the little which is their own. ~ S. Alphege, Bishop and Martyr (954 – 1012) feast the 19th day of April
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Important Dates
If I have missed your special days or 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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April Birthdays & Anniversaries
Max Meadows – Birthday – April 20th
Carol Petrie – Birthday – April 22nd
Mike & Julie Murray – Anniversary – April 28
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I do not try, Lord, to attain Your lofty heights, because my understanding is in no way equal to it. But I do desire to understand Your truth a little, that truth that my heart believes and loves. I do not seek to understand that I may believe; but I believe so that I may understand. For I believe this also, that unless I believe, I shall not understand. ~ S. Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor, commemoration the 21st day of April
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Saint George and the Dragon
feast the 23rd day of April
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Easter Day
By John Keble
OH! day of days! shall hearts set free
No “minstrel rapture” find for Thee?
Thou art the Sun of other days,
They shine by giving back thy rays:
Enthroned in thy sovereign sphere
Thou shedd’st thy light on all the year:
Sundays by Thee more glorious break,
An Easter Day in every week:
And week-days, following in their train,
The fullness of thy blessing gain,
Till all, both resting and employ
Be one Lord’s day of holy joy.
Then wake, my soul, to high desires,
And earlier light thine altar fires:
The World some hours is on her way,
Nor thinks on thee, thou blessed day:
Or, if she think, it is in scorn:
The vernal light of Easter morn
To her dark gaze no brighter seems
Than Reason’s or the Law’s pale beams.
“Where is your Lord?” she scornful asks:
“Where is his hire? we know his tasks;
“Sons of a king ye boast to be;
“Let us your crowns and treasures see.”
We in the words of Truth reply,
(An angel brought them from the sky,)
“Our crown, our treasure is not here,
“’Tis stored above the highest sphere:
“Methinks your wisdom guides amiss,
“To seek on earth a Christian’s bliss;
“We watch not now the lifeless stone;
“Our only Lord is risen and gone.”
Yet even the lifeless stone is dear
For thoughts of Him who late lay here;
And the base world, now Christ hath died,
Ennobled is and glorified.
No more a charnel-house, to fence
The relics of lost innocence,
A vault of ruin and decay;—
Th’ imprisoning stone is roll’d away:
‘Tis now a cell, where angels use
To come and go with heavenly news,
And in the ears of mourners say,
“Come, see the place where Jesus lay:”
‘Tis now a fane, where Love can find
Christ every where embalm’d and shrin’d;
Aye gathering up memorials sweet,
Where’er she sets her duteous feet.
Oh! joy to Mary first allow’d,
When rous’d from weeping o’e his shroud,
By his own calm, soul-soothing tone,
Breathing her name, as still his own!
Joy to the faithful Three renew’d,
As their glad errand they pursued!
Happy, who so Christ’s word convey,
That he may meet them on their way!
So is it still! to holy tears,
In lonely hours, Christ risen appears:
In social hours, who Christ would see,
Must turn all tasks to Charity.
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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