Our Saviour s Voice March 27, 2018 Holy Week From Ashes to Gladness Christianity is a non-spectator endeavor. Participation is the key to our spiritual growth. Holy Week is when our sacramental and spiritual participation in the dying of Jesus and rising of the Cosmic Christ offers a critical opportunity for transformation. Through the biblical, liturgical, and sacramental rites of passage during Holy Week, we voice our quest for union with God and listen for His voice in us. We follow Jesus demonstration against the empire and religious corruption with our Palm Sunday Hosannas and at the turning over of the money tables in the temple. We sit together at what could be the last supper for any one of us. We cringe at the thought of betrayal, when our own lives are full of judgement toward others. Then we shout crucify him when our expectations are not met. We agonize in the passion (suffering and death) of Christ, not sure we can follow His footsteps, for His was a passion for peace and justice (the Kingdom of God). We are saddened at loss, pressed into despair at the prospect of death s apparent finality. We are aware of the need for God s grace to awaken the Cosmic Christ s presence in us. The stone in front of our tomb needs to be moved. SUDDENLY the unexpected the stone is rolled away. We discover the Easter light, it still shines within us the morning comes to end the dark night life does not end in death s dark tomb. HE IS RISEN! We are risen. Love is stronger than death. Our hope for things beyond the tomb is now a life giving present reality. God raises us to new life. Our shared prayers and hymns, our sacramental nature, and our shared faith have brought us from ashes to gladness. Participate in this life giving journey be intentional about every step. Participate in worship, embrace our story - the passing through death to life. Tell it out with joyful voice. ~Fr. Kerry + As an epiphany of God, Jesus discloses that at the center of everything is a reality that is in love with us and wills our well-being, both as individuals and as individuals within society. As an image of God, Jesus challenges the most widespread image of reality in both the ancient and modern world, countering conventional wisdom s understanding of God as one with demands that must be met by the anxious self in search of its own security. In its place is an image of God as the compassionate one who invites people into a relationship which is the source of transformation of human life in both its individual and social aspects. Marcus J. Borg, Jesus: A New Vision: Spirit, Culture, and the Life of Discipleship
2018 HOLY WEEK Schedule Thursday, March 29 Immortal Diamond, week 5, 1-3 pm. Bring Brown Bag Lunch March 29 Maundy Thursday Service, 5:30 pm March 30 Good Friday Services, 12:30 pm & 5:30 pm April 1 Easter Sunday Worship, 7:30 am Outdoors, 9 am Indoors Maundy Thursday 5:30pm will be the traditional service including foot washing, Holy Communion and stripping of the altar. The Ponderosa Pines Barbershop group will be the musical guests Good Friday Service; 12:30 will be from the ELW (Lutheran) tradition. It will include the reading of the passion in parts from John s Gospel. It also includes the procession and veneration of the cross. Were You There will be sung, with Everett and Kerry providing music. Pastor Roger Thompson will be the officiant. Good Friday Service 5:30 p.m. will be The Stations Of The Cross. Rev. Kerry will be the officiant. Easter Morning 7:30am will be an Outdoor Celebration. The Holy Eucharist will be thematically creation based. Rev. Kerry will be the officiant and several contemporary songs will be sung. The Navajo corn pollen blessing will begin the service. Easter Morning 9:00am Festival Choral Holy Eucharist, special inspirational music by the choir and individuals set within the backdrop of the ornamental sanctuary with beautiful lilies will enable us to experience the Risen Christ dwelling within us. Easter Reception with Easter treats, coffee and fellowship, follows the 9am service. Outreach Recent donations have been made to: Our sister parish, San Marcos, in Honduras ($150.00) The White Mountain Homeless Coalition ($500.00) and several office printers Donations for Sue s Crew Cancer Walk Hospitality at the church are requested
RECTOR S FORUM Sunday s at 10:30am Watch a short video and enjoy the discussion. April 8: Embracing An Adult Faith, a New Look at Jesus April 22: The Emergent Church, Being Christian in the 20 th Century April 29; Embracing an Alternative Orthodoxy, the Cosmic Christ Sue s Crew to Use Church of Our Saviour On May 12, 2018, the seventh Sue s Crew Walk will take place. This is a 30 mile walk and is anticipated to have 200+ walkers this year. Jim Hillebrecht, husband and co-founder of the walk spearheads the walk to honor his wife s fight against breast cancer. Sue died in 2010. Jim s daughter started the walk in Cumberland, VA., and Jim started the walk in the White Mountains to raise money for cancer societies. Last year the money was directed to the American Cancer Society Show Low; The American Cancer Society Cumberland, MD.; and Summit Healthcare Oncology in Show Low. This year, COS will again serve as a major pit stop. Big 5 will set up a tent and help us tend to anyone feeling the effects of the walk. COS will provide other items of support i.e. bathrooms; popsicles, hot dogs, buckets of cold water to soak some tired feet, and of course some kind words of support for the walkers. COS will be a first aid station and referred to as a Community Center so there will be non-walkers here to cheer on the walkers. We are seeking help on the 12 th of May from about 7:30 A.M. until up to 3:30P.M. or so. Help for as many hours as you can. Please sign up to help a few hours if you can, see the sign-up sheet in the parish Hall. We need finger foods and goodies of all kinds, Fat Chance will be playing music in our tent, and other music is in the works, Questions about the walk can be directed to Jim Hillebrecht at 602-717-6746. We are offering hospitality, friendly smiles, and great food! Please jump on board! LIFE IS THE BEST GIFT; THE REST IS EXTRA. Swahili proverb.
Some of Our Parish Leadership Clergy and Staff~ Bishop Diocesan: the Rt. Rev. Kirk S. Smith Rector: Kerry C. Neuhardt Pastor Roger Thompson: Assisting Caring Ministries: Barbara Stone Organist: Juanita Simpson Asst. Treasurer: Tim Wooley Parish Secretary: Marcia Allen Vestry~ Senior Warden: Dick Hileman Junior Warden: Brent Roubal Vestry Clerk: Don Murrow Pastor Sherwood Glover: Assisting Treasurer: Ted Mueller Pastoral Care Ministries: Pam Johnson & Donna Hockersmith Vestry Members: Don Murrow, Barbara Stone, Tim Wooley, Stephanie Irwin, Bonny Brady, Steve Bell Other Ministry Leaders~ Altar Guild Director: Lauren Novy Coffee Hour: Juanita Wooley Webmaster: Vacant Fellowship: Juanita Wooley Worship Coordinator: Lynda Klingler Budget/Finance: Ted Mueller Outreach Ministry: Kerry Neuhardt Inreach Ministry: Jean Ann Abel Music Ministry: Carol Risch Welcoming Ministry: Janice Koons, Brenda Roubal Greeters, Hospitality and Assimilation: Chris & Gary Weber
REMINDERS March 29 Library 10:30-12:30 pm March 29 Immortal Diamond, week 5, 1-3 pm. Bring Brown Bag Lunch March 29 Maundy Thursday Service, 5:30 pm March 30 Good Friday Services, 12:30 pm & 5:30 pm April 1 Easter Sunday Worship, 7:30 am Outdoors, 9 am Indoors April 4 - Finance Meeting 4:30, Vestry Meeting 5:30 April 5 Library 10:30-12:30 pm April 5 LOL (Ladies Out To Lunch) 11:30 @ Matty s Beef & Beer April 5 - Immortal Diamond, week 6, 1-3 pm. Bring Brown Bag Lunch April 24 Taco Tuesday @ 5:30 pm PLAN AHEAD May 12 Sue s Crew Walk, 7 am 3 pm May 16 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, 5:30 pm June 2 @ 5 pm: Ministries Fair, Bienvenue Mon Ami Cajun Dinner, Welcome back party summer members June 15 Rummage No Sale Dinner @ 5:30 pm July? Date to be announced soon, Annual BBQ at the Hileman s in Pinedale Aug 2 Annual Beef & Brew Auction Party @ the Nature Center Aug 5 Lutheran Interim Bishop Lowell Almen s visitation. Oct. 6 Oktoberfest @ 5 pm
DIVINE DINERS: It s time to sign up and have FUN TOGETHER. Divine Diners are groups of eight who meet together in homes, restaurants, parks, etc., and share a meal. The first round of Divine Diners will be beginning the middle of April and run through the middle of June. Divine Diners can be individuals or couples. If you are a seasonal member, and will return in April or May, you can still sign up to be a fill in, meaning you could be called to fill in when needed by a functioning group. Round two will begin in mid-june and run through August, with sign up beginning in mid-may. To belong to a group or to be a fill in, please call Joan at (970) 560-3888 or e-mail her at peterpanjoan@yahoo.com. If you are in church you can sign up on the sheets posted in the parish hall. Please be sure to sign the appropriate sheet as a participant or a fill-in. Participants will be notified in early April which group you will be assigned to for round one. Have fun together by signing up! New Website for COS will be available soon!