THE PARISH VISITOR
Rhonda Rousey is a female fighter. This may not be your thing, its really a brutal sport. Recently she was soundly defeated by a fighter she was supposed to beat easily. Instead, the opposite occurred, stunning her and in addition to literally knocking her off balance in the ring, it knocked her sense of self off balance. In a recent interview on the television program Ellen, she authentically and emotionally shared just how vulnerable she had become both in the ring and out of it. Everything she had expected of herself and everything she knew of the fight game in one hard blow to her head shook her. She was vulnerable, beatable, and it made her doubt the very essence of who she is, what she is about, is the way she said it. Our diocesan pilgrimage has us engaging the story of Nicodemus and a theme of vulnerability. Nicodemus, the esteemed master classman of the Jewish tradition, who finds himself sneaking in the night to see Jesus because what he has spent his whole life being the expert about knowing things of faith seems off kilter for him. He seeks wisdom from Jesus, who only knocks him further off base when suggesting he ll need be born again i.e. be open to learning the whole essence of his faith anew, IF he wants to know of this Kingdom Jesus is preaching. Nicodemus is vulnerable, uncertain, and the only way forward is to live into that vulnerability and risk asking Jesus one more question. Life can be like this. We think we ve got it, whatever it is. We think we understand. We think we are in control, then something happens and we are off balance. The only way forward is to acknowledge our vulnerability and offer it. Offer it to one another, offer it to God. This is true too for our experience of the Church as the winds of change blow us about. Much of what we knew about church is different. We are vulnerable. Ms. Rousey shared her vulnerability and came to the conclusion that though she considered an alternative path, the only path that s really in front of her is to get back up scared and exposed and step forward. This is true to for Nicodemus. I think its true as well for us in life and certainly true for the Church. March 6, 4 PM We welcome Vox Philia, a very fine recently-formed group of singers from the Reading/Berks County area, founded and directed by David McConnell, is set to sing an exquisite program, including works mostly by living composers, such as Prayer of Desmond Tutu (James Whitbourn), Stay with me, Lord (Will Todd), The Making of the Drum (Bob Chilcott), Time, Real and Imaginary: An Allegory (David Himes, who is also a member of the group), and the challenging and fascinating Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine (Eric Whitacre). All of these are must-hear works of art, and if that s not enough, they will also sing Randall Thompson s beloved Alleluia and others that you ll not want to miss.
The season of Lent and the preparation for Easter are starkly different than what we experience during the season of Advent and the approach of Christmas. Preparations during Advent are busy and full of activity. We decorate, listen to Christmas carols, shop, visit with loved ones, and attend parties in joyful anticipation of the coming of Jesus. The mood is jovial and the air full of excitement and electricity as we count down the days to Christmas. But Lent has a completely different tone. Lent is a season in which we intentionally slow down and eliminate distractions from our lives. Lent calls us into a purposeful time in which we watch, listen, and draw closer to God. Lent is the season in which we walk the long road to Jerusalem with Jesus knowing his fate and the agony that awaits him at the end of this journey. Lent has a somber tone as we contemplate the scriptures and stories that lead Jesus to the cross. This walk can generate emotions of sorrow, lament, regret, wonder, and amazement as we consider the love and the injustice our Savior willingly endured by going to the cross for us. Life can be busy and full of responsibilities, but Lent is a season that invites us to put aside our distractions and discover God in a deeper way. Lent invites us to join in the solemnity and unite ourselves, our bodies and minds, in a deeper union with God through prayer and meditation. Lent invites us to ponder and discover the love, forgiveness, and power of God. Join us this Lent; come participate in any of the additional devotions and services offered at Nativity. Come ponder the extravagant display of love offered to each of us by our God who offers us eternal hope and eternal life through Jesus Christ. -Canon Michelle Lent 2001 JOYCE RUPP The cosmos dreams in me while I wait in stillness, ready to lean a little further into the heart of the Holy. I, a little blip of life, a wisp of unassuming love, a quickly passing breeze, come once more into Lent. No need to sign me with the black bleeding ash of palms, fried and baked. I know my humus place. This Lent I will sail on the graced wings of desire, yearning to go deeper to the place where I am one in the One. Oh, may I go there soon, in the same breath that takes me to the stars when the cosmos dreams in me.
Come Worship with Us PALM SUNDAY MARCH 20 8*, 8:45* and 10:30* AM Liturgy of the Palms and Passion Eucharist 9:15 AM Church School for ALL Ages HOLY WEDNESDAY MARCH 23 9 AM Holy Eucharist & Healing Service 7 PM Tenebrae Service, Cathedral MAUNDY THURSDAY MARCH 24 7* PM Maundy Thursday Liturgy/Foot Washing, Bishop Sean Rowe Presiding, Holy Eucharist, Stripping of the Altar GOOD FRIDAY MARCH 25 7:30 AM Liturgy & Holy Communion from reserved sacrament, Sayre Chapel 12-1 PM Good Friday Liturgy, Bishop Sean Rowe Presiding 5:30 PM Cathedral Interactive Experience: Individual & Family Stations of the Cross Note: The Cathedral will be open all day Friday for private prayer. HOLY SATURDAY MARCH 26 8:30 AM Morning Prayer, Good Shepherd Chapel 5* PM Great Vigil of Easter, Bishop Sean Rowe Presiding Celtic Spirituality Night with live Celtic Music EASTER SUNDAY MARCH 27 8* AM Holy Eucharist 10:30* AM Festival Eucharist with Brass, Bishop Sean Rowe Preaching * Nursery available for infants and toddlers during these services. For additional information, contact us at 610-865-0727 or visit our website at www.nativitycathedral.org
The Vestry met on Monday, February 22, 2016. The Vestry welcomes Kyle Cole as our newest member. He was elected to the Vestry to serve out Don Kelley s term. The Property committee has been asked to look into hiring a landscape architect to help us in vision how to efficiently use our campus property. The Annual Meeting and elections will be held Sunday April 24, 2016 at 9:00 AM in Sayre Hall. The 321 Contact Service is cancelled for that day. THERE WILL BE SUNDAY SCHOOL AND CHILD CARE! We will have an open agenda. Mark your calendars! We will be looking for you. The Vestry will meet again Monday, March 21, 2016 Deaths Eleanor Weiler 02/09/2016 Transfers In Charles & Sue Glandorf from St. Martin s Episcopal Church Radnor, PA Joseph & Olivia Tramontana from Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Collingswood, NJ Transfers Out Christopher, Kate, Christopher, Hannah & Phoebe Tompkins to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Little Rock, AR March 6 Joshua 5:9-12 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Psalm 32 March 13 Isaiah 43:16-21 Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8 Psalm 126 Palm Sunday, March 20 The Liturgy of the Palms Luke 19:28-40 Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 The Liturgy of the Word Isaiah 50:4-9a Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49 Psalm 31:9-16 Maundy Thursday, March 27 Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Psalm 116:1, 10-17 Good Friday, March 28 Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1-19:42 Psalm 22 Easter Vigil, March 29 At the Liturgy Genesis 1:1-2:4a [The Story of Creation] Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18, 8:6-18, 9:8-13 [The Flood] Genesis 22:1-18 [Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac] Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 [Israel's deliverance at the Red Sea] Isaiah 55:1-11 [Salvation offered freely to all] Baruch 3:9-15, 3:32-4:4 or Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6 [Learn wisdom and live] Ezekiel 36:24-28 [A new heart and a new spirit] Ezekiel 37:1-14 [The valley of dry bones] Zephaniah 3:14-20 [The gathering of God's people] At The Eucharist Romans 6:3-11 Psalm 114 Luke 24:1-12 Easter Sunday, March 30 Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43 John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, Bishop Provisional The Very Rev. Anthony R. Pompa, Dean and Rector tpompa@nativitycathedral.org The Rev. Canon Michelle Moyer, canonmichelle@nativitycathedral.org Richard Guyer, Sr. Warden RichardGuyer837@gmail.com Kris Warner, Jr. Warden kristinaww@yahoo.com