St. Timothy’s Episcopal ChurchPO Box 7416 • Salem, OR 97303

503-363-0601 • mail@sainttimothys.org • www.sainttimothys.org

Tidings

MARCH 2015

A Field Guide to Holy Week (Especially for those new to it)

If you are relatively new to the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Tradition, Holy Week can seem like a formidable and even forbidding challenge: services every day or night, culminating in an intense period of fasting and one enormous mid-dle-of-the-night liturgy followed by a raucous feast going into the morning hours. It is all so different from the usual, so unlike the neat-and-tidy Easter celebrations we usually see: and that is the point. Liturgy means “work of/by/for/on behalf of the people.” This week we experience in a special way the “work” of liturgy—and thus gain a blessing only faithful workers know.

Holy Week and Easter is the fountain of our faith. It is the essential point from which everything else we are and do flows. The events during this time form what we call the Paschal Mystery, and each Eucharist throughout the year is directly connected to that mystery, as is our entire Christian journey.

To the degree you are physically able, it is important that all participate in these liturgies…not as an exterior ritual but as immersion into the Eternal Truth of Christ so that we may be what we receive and show forth what we experience. Please clear your calendar as much as possible during Holy Week and plan to attend Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil or Easter Day.

The events these liturgies recount and actualize cannot be made to conform (Continued)

to “normal” life. They point to something so radically upsetting to the usual, so counter-cultural and overturning that they only way to enter into them is by jump-ing in the deep end, not standing coolly by as spectators. And it is this immersive experience that characterizes the worship during Holy Week. It isn’t meant to be demanding or punishing. It is an invitation to something that cannot be put into words, something so beautiful, profound, and life-altering that only song, ritual, sign, poetry, and mystery can adequately address it.

Here are some thoughts about what to expect and what is most important along the way.

Palm Sunday: Holy Week begins (Essential)This service is both raucous and solemn. Christ enters Jeru-salem in a joyously ironic parade. We form up for the 10 AM service in the Parish Hall and make our way to the church bearing palms, immersing ourselves in the truth that Christ can be hailed King and yet turned against and abandoned out of the same mouth. After arrival in “Jerusalem” (the church’s nave), we hear the Passion Gospel read by various members of the congregation and participate directly in the story. The service culminates in the Holy Communion, being strengthened for the journey ahead with mystical food. This will be the last Eucharist until Maundy Thursday.

Monday & Tuesday: Watching and waiting (not essential)On these two days Christ’s movements are hidden, quiet. Simple services of Evening Prayer are offered on Monday & Tuesday in the Chapel (Morning Prayer in place of the usual Holy Eucharist service on Tuesday). We hear passages of Scripture and writings from the Early Church that give us insight about the offer-ing Christ will make as well as what it means to follow him as disciples. These days are very much optional services, but help keep a continuity from Sunday to the Great Three Days of Thursday-Friday-Saturday/Sunday.

Wednesday: The day of shadows (important, but not essential)

Wednesday in Holy Week has long been associated with Judas’ agreement to turn over Christ to the authorities. To mark this, St. Timothy’s offers the service of

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Tenebrae (“shadows” or “darkness”) at 7 in the evening. The worshipper is immersed in Psalms, laments, and readings about betrayal and forgiveness, becoming a companion to Christ as he is gradually abandoned by those around him—symbolized by the gradual extinguish-ing of candles. The message is hope-through-trial, and it perfectly prepares us for the decisive events ahead. This is not an essential service, but is unique and valuable.

The Triduum (the Great Three Days): Essential These three days really form one great mystery (the Paschal Mystery), and one liturgy—there is no dismissal from the start of the Maundy service through the end of the Great Vigil of Easter. Each day expresses a part of the mystery and all should be experienced as a unity just as the seamless garment Christ wore shows us that his teaching and life are one integral, whole offering of Love and Truth.

1. Maundy Thursday

7 PM: Maundy Thursday LiturgyThis service starts much as the Lenten services do, but focuses on the two great commandments (or mandates, from which the word “Maundy” comes) Christ gave on this night: for members of this Body the Church to love each other as he loves us, and for Christians to share in the Holy Sacrament of his presence through the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood. So, on this night the rite of foot-washing is offered—by which we see that humble service is essential in the Christian life—and the Eucharist is celebrated on the anniversary of its beginning at the Last Supper. After this, extra Sacrament is taken to the Altar of Repose in the chapel for use on Good Friday, and the altar is stripped while one of the Psalms of the Passion is sung, recalling Christ’s betrayal, arrest, and humiliation. The lights lower and we leave in silence.

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Prayer Watch: An annual opportunity everyone should take when possibleAn all-night Prayer Watch is held in the chapel until noon Friday, with parishioners taking one hour shifts to pray with Christ in the Holy Sacrament, recalling his words to his dis-ciples: “could you not watch with me for one hour?” This is a particularly holy and blessed opportunity to stretch our-selves spiritually and physically for the sake of our God (a sign-up for the Prayer Watch will be available in the narthex as we approach Holy Week).

2. Good Friday

Noon: Stations of the CrossThe Triduum continues on Good Friday with the Stations of the Cross in the nave, concluding the Prayer Watch. We will make the circuit of the church, recall-ing Christ’s passion and death, giving praise to Christ for his extreme humility and love.

7 PM: Good Friday LiturgyThe liturgy takes up in silence as we kneel in humility before God who has loved us so much as to allow his Son to take on our ancient enemies—Sin and Death—in personal combat, and to overcome them in Love Divine. The Passion Gospel according to St. John is then read, and a sermon preached. Following this, the assembly begins the Solemn Collects, taking our part as a priestly people be- fore God, interceding on behalf of the world with our God who has redeemed the world and showing forth the true power and significance of what Christ has done of the Cross, and continues to do through the Church and its members. Then a rugged Cross is brought before the people and venerated by all those desiring to do so. Finally, the Reserved Sacrament is brought from the chapel and Holy Communion offered as a sign of Christ’s working and pres- ence—even in death—for us, and as an affirmation that this is indeed “Good” Friday, where life has the final word. We leave again in silence.

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3. Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday

10 AM: Holy Saturday “Tomb” Service (not essential, but powerful in its simplicity)This simple service continues in silence, then moves to an account of Christ’s burial. A sermon on Christ’s decent into Hades from the Early Church period is read (it is an amazing text), and prayers from the Burial Liturgy are read. An amazing peace and quiet pervade this liturgy. The Holy Temple of the church is then readied for the Easter Vigil.

9 PM: The Great Vigil of Easter—our main Easter serviceThe Great Vigil is the most joyful and blessed moment of the Church Year, and it opens the Royal Doors to the cen-tral fact of the Christian Faith: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life!” At. St. Timothy’s, the ancient prac-tice of making the Easter Vigil the principal Easter service has long been the case, so do not expect Easter Day to be larger service. Children—even very young ones—are very much welcome at the Great Vigil. You may want to dress them in clothes they would find comfortable for sleeping. The nursery will be open, and little ones sleeping in the pews is entirely permissible and encouraged. Guests are very much encouraged…please invite as many people as you know and feel will be open to this experience of New Life.

The Vigil is long; it is meant to be. We are waiting on God, putting ourselves at the end, not the head, of the line. We wait in darkness to see the Paschal Fire struck (reminding us of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem each Easter) and the Paschal Candle—harbinger of the Resurrection—lit, processed, and blessed. Then come the readings from the ancient Hebrew Scriptures, telling the story of God’s loving and saving work from the beginning through the Prophets. A sermon is preached and then Holy Baptism cele- brated. Following that, more darkness and waiting. And then, the glow of the Resurrection is seen behind the screen between us an the holy altar; the curtain is parted, and we rise to hear the

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Lent II 1 Chad of 2Lichfield

John and 3Charles Wesley

4 5 6 Perpetua 7and Compan-ions

Lent III 8 Gregory of 9Nyssa

10 11 Gregory 12the Great

13 14

Lent IV 15 16 Patrick of 17Ireland

Cyril of 18Jerusalem

Saint 19Joseph

Cuthbert 20of Lindisfarne

Thomas 21Ken

Lent V 22 Gregory 23the Illumina-tor

24 The 25Annunciation

26 Charles 27Henry Brent

28

Palm Sun 29 Mon. in 30Holy Week

Tue. in 31Holy Week

MARCH

8 am HE 9 am CS 10 am HE Choir Film

10 am HE

8 am HE 9 am CS10 am HE Choir

10 am HE

8 am HE 9 am CS 10 am HE Choir Tidings Deadline

8 am HE 9 am CS 10 am HE Choir Visitation Concert 3

8 am HE 9 am CS 10 am HE Choir

4 Yolanda Cervantes

12 John Dashney

14 Andreas von Foerster Johanna Dakopolos

18 Irene Rector

21 Joan Teigland Isabela Gaupo

22 Dale Cannon

30 John Hanson

31 Janine Stephens

10 am HE

10 am MP

Vestry 7

Altar Guild Meeting 9

Quiet Day 9:30-3:00

Mission Comm Coffee Hour & Program

EP 7 pmEP 7 pmChoir 7 pm

Wed. APRIL 1 in Holy Week

Maundy 2 Thursday

Good 3 Friday

Holy Sat./ 4Easter Eve

Tenebrae 7

Choir 6MT Liturgy 7Watch after

Watch con- tinuesStations, noonChoir 6GF Liturgy 7

Tomb Lit 10Work PartyChoir 7:30Vigil 9 Agape after

Diocesan Meeting 9-2

Dioc Meet 1:30

Lectio divina 2

Lectio divina 2

Lectio divina 2

Lectio divina 2

Adult Study 6:30

Adult Study 6:30

Adult Study 6:30

Adult Study 6:30

Guild 4:30

Meditation Stations Adoration 7 pm

Meditation Stations Adoration 7 pm

Meditation Stations Adoration 7 pm

Meditation Stations Adoration 7 pm

Set clocks ahead!

Catechu- menate 7

Catechu- menate 7

Catechu- menate 7

7 pm HE

10 am HE

Elder Care?

Elder Care 7

Calendar Notes for MarchSunday, March 1: First Sunday Film: Cool Hand Luke, after church (Pizza, $5)Saturday, March 7: Altar Guild Meeting, 9 AM

Sunday, March 8: Daylight Saving Time begins Mission Commission Coffee Hour and ProgramSaturday, March 14: Quiet Day, 9:30 - 3:00; please bring a sack lunch.Tuesday, March 17: Diocesan Meeting, 1:30 PM Elder Care Meeting, 7 PM

Vestry Meeting, 7 PM

Sunday, March 22: Bishop’s Visitation, 8 & 10; Organ Concert 3 PM

Wednesday, March 25, The Annunciation: Holy Eucharist, 7 PM

Thursday, March 26: Guild of Sts Anna & Simeon, 4:30 PM

Friday, March 27: Diocesan Meeting, 9:30 - 2:00Sunday, March 29, Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday 8:00: Blessing of Palms and Holy Eucharist 9:00: Choir Rehearsal and Church School 10:00: Palm Procession and Holy EucharistMonday in Holy Week, March 30: Evening Prayer, 7 PM

Tuesday in Holy Week, March 31: Evening Prayer, 7 PM Choir Rehearsal, 7 PM

Wednesday in Holy Week, April 1: Tenebrae, 7 PM

Maundy Thursday, April 2: Choir Rehearsal, 6 PM Maundy Thursday Liturgy, 7 PM Watch at Altar of Repose followingGood Friday, April 3 (Fast Day): Watch at Altar of Repose continues Stations of the Cross, 12 PM Choir Rehearsal, 6 PM Good Friday Liturgy, 7 PM

Holy Saturday/Easter Eve: Tomb Liturgy, 10 AM Work Party following Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 PM Great Vigil of Easter, 9 PM Agape Feast followingSunday, April 5, Easter Day: Holy Eucharist,11 AM

Bach-a-thon

most beautiful words in any language: “Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Now comes the joyous, almost raucous celebration of the Resur-rection as everyone produces hand bells (or keys on rings!) they have brought to ring as we sing the Gloria in excelsis.

The Gospel of the Resurrection is sung and then the Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom (often called “the perfect ser-mon”) is read, the congregation taking its part as directed. The First Eucharist of Easter is celebrated and the liturgy begun on Thursday is brought to a glorious conclusion with a sung blessing and dismissal, replete with alleluias. We then leave what earlier seemed a tomb but is now revealed to be a joyous temple; the priest hands us a dyed egg (blessed at the offertory) and we share the Paschal Greeting (“Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed!”) that will be our theme for the Great 50 Days of Easter.

Agapé Feast (following the Great Vigil)After the Vigil liturgy, St. Timothy’s hosts a great feast of radiant joy in the Parish Hall, celebrating the Resurrection and the Agapé love we all share through it. Anyone may come, and guests are most surely welcome! If you want to help provide food or other assistance, sign-up sheets will be available in the narthex in the weeks prior to Holy Week. Please bring your own beverages and glassware. Young persons are encouraged to par-ticipate and help out where possible. This meal takes the experience of the Vigil and begins to live it out in a foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet where all sorts and conditions may gather together in holy joy.

11 AM: Easter Day Eucharist (much simpler and quieter than the Vigil)The Easter Day Eucharist tells the story of St. Mary Magdalene meeting the Risen Christ in the garden. It is a moving account of spiritual awakening and de-voted love. The familiar Easter hymns and beautiful flowers all combine to bring our Easter Day celebrations to a radiant and peaceful conclusion. Easter Day has come—but Eastertide has just begun!

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Lenten Meditation/Stations/Benediction, Fridays at 7 PM

This Lent we continue the practice of offering Stations of the Cross on Fridays. It is preceded by a short meditation on prayer (using the Southwell Litany as our guide to spiritual self-examination this year), and followed by the short but beauti-ful service of Benediction.

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is a special form of Eucharistic Devotion. It logically follows on the Stations of the Cross, which ends with Christ’s body being placed in the Tomb. At Benediction, the Holy Sacrament—full of Christ’s presence in a world so often defined by emptiness—is placed on the altar. We kneel in silent adoration for a time, then sing two short hymns of praise to God for Christ’s being with us in the Holy Mysteries. Then the officiant takes the container holding the Holy Sacrament and blesses the people with it—a very personal experience of Christ’s eternal presence with us. There follows a set of“Divine Praises” to God, said by all, and then a final Psalm of praise concludes the service.

I am asking that each member of St. Timothy’s—new or seasoned—come to at least one Friday evening Stations/Benediction service this Lent. Not only is it a good part of a Lenten observance that this parish is privileged to offer each year, but it gives us spiritual preparation for a deeper observance of Holy Week and Easter. I hope to see you there! BLF+

Confession Schedule

Confessions will be heard:

During the Quiet Day, March 14

Saturday, March 28, 11 AM - 2 PM

Saturday, April 4, 11:30 - 1:30 PM

Looking Ahead to Holy Week Things to Do:

• Sign up to bring colored, hard-boiled eggs on Good Friday or Holy Saturday.

• Sign up to help with the Agape Feast

• Sign up to watch at the Altar of Repose for an hour on Maundy Thursday night - Good Friday morning.

• Bring new pillows, pots & pans, or paper towels to church anytime up to April 12.

Sunday, March 22

8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Bishop’s Visitation

3:00 p.m. Organ Concert in celebration of the birthday of J. S. Bach presented by the Salem Chapter, American Guild of Organists

News and Announcements

On Sunday, March 22, Bishop Michael will come for his official Visitation. Be here with your parish family to welcome our “reverend father in God”!

The Salem Chapter of the Americal Guild of Organists invites you to a special concert celebrating the life and music of the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The free concert will be played on St. Tim- othy’s organ on Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 PM and will feature Salem Chapter organists. A reception, celebrating the composer’s birthday, will follow the concert. Merryn Grae and Joel Henderson are making Anglican rosaries from gemstone beads for sale at $25 to $45. These are works of art and devotion, suitable for gifts or heirlooms. See Merryn or Joel for more details. Or go to: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HandheldPrayers

Our Lent Outreach Project this year is collecting these items for Salem Interfaith Hospitality Network: • bed pillows for families staying at host churches • paper towels for the Day Center • pots and pans for graduating families who are setting up housekeeping in their own apartments. All items donated should be new, durable but not necessarily high-end (try to balance quality and quantity!). A collection tub is by the door in the narthex; ingathering is on April 12. On Tuesday, March 17 at 7:00 PM, the Pastoral Care Commis- sion will sponsor a gathering for those of us who are caring or making decisions for elderly relatives (or are expecting to be soon). Some of our loved ones have passed new milestones since we last met, and more of us in the parish will have embar- ked on this journey. See Mary McFetridge for more information.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSALEM, OR

PERMIT NO. 409

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St. Timothy’s Episcopal ChurchPO Box 7416Salem, OR 97303

503-363-0601www.sainttimothys.org

Lenten Quiet DaySaturday, March 14

9:30 - 3:00Meditations given by

Fr. Anthony Petrotta“The Psalms and the Life of Faith”

Please bring a sack lunch.