The Beacon of St. Alban s Illuminating the Word of God in the World

Transcription

1 The Beacon of St. Alban s Illuminating the Word of God in the World Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed Alleluia, Alleluia! It has been said that the resurrection is the very hinge on which Christianity depends. The resurrection is the center, the core, the foundation upon which we base our faith. Without the resurrection there would be no Christians. Why then do you suppose that there were no eyewitnesses? Why did no one write a personal account of the event? Why didn t any of the gospel writers paint a picture for us so clear, that we know exactly what happened on that special morning? Why aren t we told about a blinding ray of light that brought Jesus back from death? Why can t we hear the rumble when the stone was rolled from the tomb? We are told nothing whatsoever. Nothing! Not one word. All we are told is that the tomb was empty. The empty tomb evoked fear in the disciples and followers of Christ. The empty tomb brought about fear, plain and simple. Of what were they afraid? Did they fear that the message of Jesus was a lie? Were they afraid that they were being fooled by a Roman guard who had actually stolen the body of Jesus and was playing some gruesome practical joke? Or, were they afraid that not only had Jesus life been taken from them but now his body had been taken too? And what might happen next, could the guards be coming for them? Or, was it something different? Were they afraid that the unbelievable report they had heard was true? Could it really be that he had been raised? How could that news stir up fear? To answer that question we might want to think about our own live and the fears we have surrounding Inside Winter Relief...3 Sunday School News...3 Social Ministries...4 Snow and Supplies...5 Roof Committee...5 Calendar...6 & 7 Top 10 Reasons...8 Earth Day...9 News & Happenings &11 Rector s Ramblings Rev. Cindy Tipton-Zile this day. Could it be that after the pageantry of Easter morning and the beauty of the flowers and the altar adorned in white that we will return to life unchanged or even untouched? Are we afraid that we will go home to our family, eat our Easter banquet and then on Monday return to a life unaffected by the Resurrection of our Lord? Perhaps we are afraid of the possibility that God is out there! Are we afraid that Jesus is out on the loose, trying to break into our hearts like a thief in the night? Are we afraid that if he succeeded, our lives might never be the same again? After all, if Jesus met the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Continued on page 2...Rector s Ramblings)

2 (Rector s Ramblings...Continued from page 1) perhaps he is waiting for us just down the street. And don t you just know that he will ask things of us in the same way he challenged the disciples. Perhaps this is the morning that the living Christ will grab us by the shoulder and send us off on some wild journey of discipleship. Perhaps this Jesus is like that coach who once said to us, Hey, you there, get out on the field and show me what you can do. Yes, I've got your name on my list, now march out into the world and make some kind of difference. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, take care of the widows and orphans and bind up the wounds of the injured. Maybe that's what scares us. Of course we love Jesus; we go to church, don t we? But we really don t want God to mess with us, to make demands on us. We don t want our life to cost us anything. Please just leave us alone hands off our careers and our politics and oh yes, keep your nose out of the way we do business or care for our family. We want Jesus to stay where he belongs. We want him down there with the Sunday School kids in the basement, or maybe even hanging on the wall in the hallway, but we don't want him wandering around in our hearts, and minds messing up our lives waiting for us to do His will, waiting for us to take the good news of His resurrection out into a needy world. That sort of Jesus is more than enough to make a person afraid. If he is not cold in the tomb, if he is really raised, then that s enough to set our whole world spiraling out of balance. No wonder Mark tells us that the women, "fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them." No wonder we read that, the disciples met in the upper room in fear of the Jews. Perhaps they were really afraid of what Christ was to ask of them next. Would the risen Christ lead them into something they felt that they were not prepared to take on? Could it be that all of us are hiding in our own upper rooms? Perhaps we feel the same way as did the disciples when the saw the empty tomb. Oh, we know that there will almost certainly never be a time when we need to be concerned with being crucified, but are we prepared for something even more frightening than death? Are we prepared to give our lives to Christ? Are we prepared to die to selfishness, greed, gluttony and pride? Are we prepared to be resurrected to forgiveness, love, compassion, hope and joy? Are we prepared to say Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed Alleluia, Alleluia! Your Servant & His, Cindy LASAGNA DINNER: Please reserve Saturday, April 10th on your calendar for our Lasagna Dinner, 5:00-7:00 pm. Sponsored by the Roof Cmte. 12 and up $10.00, 4-11 yrs $5.00, 3 & under Free 2 This Is the Church For You

3 Winter Relief By Dottie Moore Once again this year, we prepared a dinner for the Winter Relief at St. Christopher s. We want to thank everyone who participated in helping with our dinner especially Barbara Philips for her help in carving the turkeys and Louise Izat s help in loading the dinner. Those attending the dinner, serving and making lunches included: Sandy, Caitlin and Victoria Murphy Kristy and Tyler Moore Alice and Lillian Cook Matthew Marshall Kalli and Renee Weaver Susan Payne We thank everyone for donating quarters, laundry detergent and dryer sheets. Tyler and I took a van to the Laundromat on Wednesday night. Everyone appreciated the donations and were happy to do their laundry. The Winter Relief program is another event that our students enjoy doing and helps them to help others. Bring in Your Lenten Boxes Don t to forget to bring in your Lenten boxes after Easter. The Lenten boxes benefit The Ark. We want to thank every- one for their help in our Lenten project. This year we have been studying the Opac section of Uganda, their lifestyle and the effect of sunflowers on their lives. The sunflower seeds are eaten, the oil is used in their cooking and also sold for income. This study has enabled the children of St. Alban s to realize the advantages they have and a desire to help others less fortunate. The students in grades 1 to 5 have been using sermons4kids as their guides for the week. The lesson is based on the gospel of the week, is downloadable from the web and contains various worksheets. Important Dates: Easter Sunday: Worship with our families Memorial Day Weekend: May 30th --No Sunday School Church Picnic: June 6 th -Lake Waterford Park Sunday School is each Sunday at 10:30 am. The Junior Youth Group meets monthly. For more info, call Dottie Moore at

4 A Very Odd Year for St. Alban s Outreach by Louise Izat In a year when the Vestry is exploring new ministries for our church to fill needs in our community, ironically, the Social Ministries Committee discovers it hasn t enough funding to cover the outreach ministries we have. Wow. How did that happen? Last fall, the Social Ministries Committee willingly accepted an $800 reduction in outreach funding from the church. We have budget problems here at St. Alban s, so Social Ministries had to tighten its budget like everyone else. No problem, we thought. We will still have our usual generous contributions from parishioners of food for NCEON, beach towels for Camp Amazing Grace, and school supplies for the children for Back to School. So, what s the problem? Well, for years, St. Alban s has served a monthly meal for about 40 hungry people at the local Salvation Army on Crain Highway. The meal is funded with a monthly interest check from a Certificate of Deposit from the Dorothy LeMarquand Endowment for Social Ministries. This wonderful, generous parishioner, years ago, left $60,000 for the church to use for outreach. I ve often wondered if her family is aware of the hundreds of hungry people who have been fed over the years by the generous legacy of that endowment. How gratifying that must be. Here is the unpleasant surprise we received last month. The interest rate on the Social Ministries endowment CD has dropped to 1.6% - an all time low- and we are not getting anywhere near the $130 a month needed for the Salvation Army meal. Last month, we received only $90; quite a drop from the $169 last year. This reduction was quite a shock because we use the leftover funds from the CD check to allow us to fund our other outreach efforts. Now, we will have to rely on the funds collected in the outreach envelopes to fund part of the Salvation Army meal as well as other outreach projects or donations. That s our only option because we won t be fundraising for outreach right now while the church is fundraising to pay off the roof loan. In the past, St. Alban s used the 4 outreach envelopes as a pass through. We d tell parishioners that outreach envelope contributions would be donated to ERD, Habitat, Sarah s House in May in honor of Mother s Day, or NCEON in December for fuel bills so their clients would have heat in the cold winter. Now, we might need that money to pay for the gift cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for the Angel Tree families($800 -$1000); backpacks for the children for Back to School ($150); movie tickets at Easter for the boys at the Eastern Point Children s Shelter and Group Home ($240); to sponsor a child at Camp Amazing Grace ($500). So, it seems that the money the Vestry voted for outreach from the church budget will not cover all of this. It will be difficult to decide which donation or annual outreach tradition we might have to let go. You can help us continue these vital ministries with your generous donations. Thanks to all who contributed special food for Social Ministries Committee next meets Tuesday, April 20th at 6:00 p.m. Homeless Resource Day 4 This Is the Church For You

5 Snow and Supplies By Joe Biddle As many of you know, in 2010, we made significant cuts to the budget so that we could continue to keep up with our current financial obligations. However, the weather has not cooperated. We spent our entire snow removal budget before the end of January. We have also cut our supplies budgets to the bone Office, Worship, and Altar. If you d like to help us keep up with the budget, here s a couple of things you can do. For snow removal, we have a contract with a professional service whom we pay to plow the walks and parking lot. To help in that effort, just drop a check in the plate and put snow in the memo. Any funds we don t need for snow will help with the irrigation and garden work. For our office supplies, you could help by grabbing a ream of paper or two each time you go to a warehouse club or office supply store during your usual routine. You can just drop them off at the church. Paper is the main item we buy regularly. The office staff is doing their best to conserve, but getting information out is important so will still go through some paper. Another way you can help is to grab some extra stamps for the church when you go by the post office. One of our ongoing goals is to communicate better. While we ve begun to use more effectively, there are still many people who need to be reached by regular mail. Parishioners have already contributed to allow us to continue to supply the Forward Movement booklets, and wine and wafers for communion. You can also help by making additional altar contributions (using the forms). Any additional contributions, whether specific or not, will help us reduce the deficit and stay on track financially. If you just have some extra cash in your pocket and you feel called to share with us, it will help. Anything you can offer will be a blessing. Roof Committee Update by Peg Davidson The drawing for the Easter Basket will be Sunday, March 28th. Sales are going great thanks to all of you. Back by popular demand - our Lasagna Dinner, Saturday, April 10th from 5-7pm in our Fellowship Hall. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board for donations of lasagna and desserts. Tickets will go on sale beginning Sunday, March 28th. Cost is 12 & up $ $5 and 3 & under free. We will need help in setting up the hall and serving. Take out dinners will be available. Please come and let your friends and neighbors know about it. Proceeds will benefit our Roof Fund. Peg Davidson On a personal note I would like to thank you for your prayers and support at the time of my mothers passing. The support of my St. Alban's family means more than you will ever know. 5

6 April Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday This Month: Holy Week Services begin on April 1 Easter Services and Breakfast on April 4 Lasagna Dinner on April 10 Earth Day Service at 10:30 am on April 25 1 MAUNDY THURSDAY 7:00 pm Service 2 GOOD FRIDAY Noon Service 7:00 pm Service 3 4 EASTER DAY No Choir Rehearsals :00 am Easter Service 9:15 am Easter Breakfast 10:30 am Easter Service 7:30 pm Food Addiction Anonymous 9:30 am Eternal Quilters 7:30 pm Vintage Tin 7:30 pm Alanon 7:30 pm Alateen 5:00 pm Lasagna Dinner :30 pm Food Addiction Anonymous 7:00 pm Roof Committee 6:30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Voice Choir 7:30 pm Alanon 7:30 pm Alateen :00 pm Social Ministries 7:30 pm Ladies Guild Mtg 7:30 pm Food Addiction Anonymous 7:00 pm Vestry Mtg 6:30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Voice Choir 7:30 pm Vintage Tin 7:30 pm Alanon 7:30 pm Alateen 25 10:30 am EARTH DAY Service :30 pm Food Addiction Anonymous :30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Voice Choir 30 7:30 pm Alanon 7:30 pm Alateen Coming May 15th: Ladies Guild Spring Flea Market 6 This Is the Church For You 7

7 Top Ten Reasons Why Children are Welcome in Our Church 10. Repeated exposure to the sights, sounds and symbols of Eucharist help form all Christians. 9. Children actually LIKE sitting in those usually-empty front row seats so they can see and hear what s going on. 8. It would be expensive to repaint all those signs to read The Episcopal Church Only Welcomes Adults. 7. Practice Makes Perfect Teaching young children to enjoy and participate in the service helps them become active and receptive worshipping adults. 6. There are no pop quizzes at the communion rail! We all experience the Eucharist as a mystery. You don t have to be able to explain it in order to benefit from it. 5. Children have their own unique relationships with God. Being in church helps them learn how to pray, sing, worship and otherwise strengthen that relationship. 4. If children aren t in church, who are the candy-unwrapping, restless, coughing, whispering adults going to blame for all the noise? 3. Sunday services make great family-togetherness time. Use the quiet space for extra handholding or snuggling time that may get lost during a busy week. 2. Children teach us what absolute joy looks like and what better place to experience that than in church? Tracey E Herzer, President, 2007 National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors Friends, I have looked at this list on the Sunday School bulletin board for several months, and have wondered about what vehicle I could use to pass these thoughts along to you. This month s Beacon seemed to be the perfect opportunity to give you the message that CHILDREN ARE AL- WAYS WANTED at St. Alban s. With summer coming soon I am very aware that fewer families bring their children to church when we are not having Sunday School. I want to give you a little of my own perspective. I love having children in church during our services. They bring their own special love, laughter and innocence to St. Alban s. I find nothing more moving than having the small hands of a child reaching out to me to receive communion, and a little noise in the service has never bothered me. I encourage you to take the time this summer to come to church and bring your children!!! They are God s most precious gift to us. We need to be teaching them that they are loved and wanted in God s House. I am --- Your Servant & His, Cindy 8 This Is the Church For You

8 It s Almost Here...Mark Your Calendars! You will not want to miss the event everyone at St. Alban s will be talking about! Beginning at 6:00 pm on May 5th and continuing for 3 consecutive Wednesdays, join us for fellowship, fun, and food...sharing, celebrating and envisioning. Stay tuned for more information... Earth Day Celebrates its 40th Birthday! On April 22nd, Earth Day marks its 40th Birthday. The idea of US Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin, Earth Day was created to be used as an environment teach-in through college campuses and educational institutions to bring to the forefront the many concerns about the environment. It is even believed that Senator Nelson chose April 22 for the date, so that it would not conflict with college exams. The first Earth Day celebrated in 1970, was a great success with over 2,000 colleges and universities, nearly 10,000 primary and secondary schools and approximately 20 million people participating in various activities. Earth Day is now observed in over 175 countries and celebrated by more than a half-billion people worldwide. Here in Maryland the Episcopal Diocese is leading the way through its Environmental Initiative Committee. The Diocese is committed to caring for our environment and being stewards of creation. The Diocesan website even has a page with information on how the church and individuals can foster a green environment. Please visit for ideas on how you can help care for our environment. Join us on Sunday, April 25th as St. Alban s celebrates Earth Day 2010 during the 10:30 service. Weather permitting we ll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in our St. Andrew Donation Only Flea Market St. Andrew the Fisherman Episcopal Church is holding a Donation Only flea market on April 17 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The flea market is just one way the people of St Andrews serves the community, allowing people to "purchase" items they need with what they feel they can afford to donate. St. Andrews is located in Mayo, Md at Rt. 214 & Carrs Wharf Rd. For additional information call

9 Anniversaries April 17 Candy & Walter Morrison Our past Interim Rector, the Reverend Bob Wickizer has accepted a call as Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma (see gracemuskogee.org). Please offer Bob+, Joan and their family your prayers as they begin their new life at Grace. April 21 Michael & Jennifer Hunt 9 years April 28 Bob & Barbara Phillips April 28 Rich & Linda Bumgarner 47 years REMINDER: All Holy Week services will begin at 7:00 pm, with the exception of Good Friday. On that day St. Alban s will hold services at both Noon and 7:00 pm. Many ways to Serve at St. Alban s: Looking for a way to serve our church? We can always use your help with ushering, reading the Prayers of the People, serving at the altar, singing, coffee hour and more. If you are interested in any of these or have additional questions on how you can help your church please talk to any of those volunteers you see or Rev. Cindy. 10 This Is the Church For You

10 Visit our Website: Jim Koblinsky has been hard at work improving our presence on the internet. If you haven t visited the website lately you really should. On the website you can see the latest events coming to St. Alban s, view back issues of the Beacon and read the Book of Common Prayer among other things. Be sure to visit the site often as Jim continues to update and make improvements. The address for the website is Please update your address. If you have not already done so, please update your address with the church office. We are using to notify parishioners of important events that happen as well as explore newsletter delivery in the near future. Sylvia Day...4/3 Betty Smith...4/9 Dana Matsis...4/11 Barbara Phillips...4/11 Jim Koblinsky...4/19 Jordan Moneski...4/27 Nicholas Lloyd...4/28 Deadline for April s issue of the Beacon is April 18th. Please send your submissions to The.Beacon.at.St.Albans@cablespeed.com or place them in the church office or in the newsletter box in the Vestry room. 11

11 The Beacon of St. Alban s St. Alban s Episcopal Church 105 1st Ave SW Glen Burnie, MD Phone: , Fax: stalbans.church@verizon.net The.Beacon.at.St.Albans@cablespeed.com NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Glen Burnie, MD Permit No. 8 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Sunday Worship Services 8:00 am - Holy Communion, Rite I (no music) 10:30 am - Holy Communion, Rite II (with music) 10:30 am - Sunday School, K-12 and Nursery Inside: Rector s Ramblings Earth Day 2010 News and Happenings 12 This Is the Church For You