The Severn Light St. Stephen s Episcopal Church Severn Parish Crownsville, Maryland March 2016 IN THIS ISSUE: Service Schedule Page 1 HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SCHEDULE Holy Week at St. Stephen s Page 2 Good Friday Offering Page 3 Easter Flowers Page 4 Musical Notes Page 5 Vestry Updates Page 5 Pretzels Page 6 Upcoming Events Page 6 VBS 2016 Page 7 Garden Page 8 **This newsletter is either emailed to those who have online capabilities or sent through the postal system for those who don t. If you have a delivery preference, please let the church secretary know: 410-721-2881 or st_stephens@verizon.net MARCH 20, PALM SUNDAY 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Liturgy of Palms and the reading of the Passion according to St. Luke MARCH 21, MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK 10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer 5:00 p.m. Evening Prayer MARCH 22, TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK 5:00 p.m. Evening Prayer MARCH 23, WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist 5:00 p.m. Evening Prayer MARCH 24, MAUNDY THURSDAY 10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer 6:00 p.m. Agape Meal, Holy Eucharist, and Stripping the Altar (The Agape Meal begins in the Parish Hall celebrating the Liturgy of the Word with a Sederlike supper and continues in Church at the Offertory for the remainder of the Service.) The Prayer Vigil (Night Watch) in Woodward Hall begins after the evening service and continues until Good Friday at noon. MARCH 25, GOOD FRIDAY 12:00 p.m. noon Good Friday Liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer, Stations of the Cross, and Private Prayer until 3:00 p.m. MARCH 27, EASTER SUNDAY 8:00 a.m. Lighting of the Paschal Candle and Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA
PAGE 2 MARCH 2016 THE SEVERN LIGHT HOLY WEEK at St. Stephen s The Paschal Mystery Christ s dying and rising for us is the heart of the Christian Faith. From Palm Sunday through Easter, we will walk this path with Jesus. Join us for prayer and worship. How can we make this week different than any other week of the year? Please consider taking a few minutes here and there to pray and meditate on the great mystery of our salvation. Father Hagerman offers the prayer opportunities listed on our cover page to gather as church. MAUNDY THURSDAY Highlighting the week is a rite unique to St. Stephen s. The evening service on Maundy Thursday (March 24) begins in the Parish Hall with an Agape Meal in a design borrowed from the Jewish Passover Meal. After a Scripture reading, children are chosen to ask questions that will tie the Old Testament with the New Testament. For some families, this meal will be the culmination of Holy Communion instruction and there will be a special presentation to the children who participated in these classes. The food is simple - a salad bar potluck. Please bring a dish to share (no desserts). We will have lamb cakes as part of the symbolism of the evening. Even if you did not participate in the Communion Classes, we invite all of our parish families to join us. This Seder-like meal serves as the Liturgy of the Word. Around 7:00 p.m., all assemble in the church where the service continues at the Offertory, beginning with an appropriate hymn. (Please understand that if you are joining us in church at this time, this is the point of the service in which we are continuing.) After Holy Communion, we set the stage for the Stripping of the Altar, first by singing a hymn, followed by a reading of the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John, which are the final prayers of Jesus before his arrest. The ladies of the Altar Guild remove all items from the sanctuary to remind us of the bleakness of Good Friday. NIGHTWATCH The altar of the prayer vigil has already been prepared in Woodward Hall, where the sacred elements will be contained until noon the next day. Flowers fresh from gardens surround the prayer area to remind us of the Garden of Gethsemane. All are invited to take time to come, pray and meditate during the night hours. (There will be a sign up sheet in the narthex to make sure all hours of Night Watch will be covered.) Recall the words of Christ, Could you not spend one hour with Me? This time isn t limited to one or two persons families or groups of friends can participate in this silent, devotional prayer time. GOOD FRIDAY From noon until 3:00 p.m. we commemorate the time that Jesus spent dying on the cross through prayer and meditations contained in the Good Friday Liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer and the Stations of the Cross. The remainder of the time is spent in silent, private prayer. EASTER SUNDAY We arrive in church and experience the newness of life in the sweetness of flowers, the ceremonial lighting of the Easter candle, the sounds of Alleluias sung by one and all and joyously celebrate our risen Lord in the Eucharist.
THE SEVERN LIGHT MARCH 2016 PAGE 3 GOOD FRIDAY OFFERING During the Good Friday services, we leave a collection plate out for the Good Friday Offering. The money collected is sent to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society in support of the Anglican Church in the Holy Land. The following letter from Bishop Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, offers encouragement in our efforts: Lent 2016 Dear Clergy of the Episcopal Church, My hope and prayer for you is that you will find time during this Lent for prayer, for study and for renewal of your spirit as you share with me in the joys and challenges of leading the people of God of our beloved Church. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fill each of us with the desire and the will to follow him ever so more closely in the weeks to come. Our journey during Lent always leads us to Jerusalem. We walk with Jesus over the Mount of Olives and behold the Holy City. We join in laying out our palm branches and shouting Hosanna. We will be there at the garden but most of us will not be able to stay awake for even one hour. We will walk the Way of Sorrows. How close will we come to the cross on that Friday? Will our journey include skepticism or amazement when the women bring us the news from the tomb? Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Our journey as Episcopalians also includes remembering our sister and brother Christians in the Holy Land who maintain the faith which we hold so dear. The political, social and spiritual challenges are well known. Their witness is an inspiration. As you know, each year, every bishop and congregation is encouraged by the Presiding Bishop to participate in the Good Friday Offering. This tradition is decades old and is an important statement of our solidarity with the members of the four dioceses of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. We have a Gospel imperative to be sure they know they are not forgotten behind the headlines or because of the distractions in our own lives. This year, on this Good Friday, it is my hope and prayer that you will stand with me in prayer and action by promoting the Good Friday Offering among your people. Your leadership in encouraging generosity is important. Your willingness to speak out in support of the ministry of the Anglicans who keep the faith on our behalf in the land our Lord Jesus Christ once walked is needed and appreciated. With thanks to God for your support and leadership, I remain, Faithfully The Most Rev. Michael Curry Presiding Bishop and Primate The Episcopal Church
PAGE 4 MARCH 2016 THE SEVERN LIGHT Easter Flowers To help celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Altar Guild decorates the church with lovely spring flowers. Lilies, tulips, and hyacinths are being offered for you to give in honor of loved ones at the price of $11.00 each. Place your order and your check, made out to St. Stephen s Church, in the collection plate or give to the church secretary. Last day for ordering is Sunday, March 13, 2016. After Easter, take your flowers home and plant them in your garden - they will bloom again next year and for many years to come. If you have any questions, call Gail Brooks, Altar Guild Director, at 301-261-0647. Easter Flower Order Form Name QUANTITY LILIES TOTAL @ $11.00 EACH = HYACINTHS @ $11.00 EACH= TULIPS @ $11.00 EACH= ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 13, 2016 IN MEMORY OF: IN THANKSGIVING FOR:
THE SEVERN LIGHT MARCH 2016 PAGE 5 Musical Notes Warm weather stirs us to action: cleaning house, planning and planting gardens, pruning trees, and...practicing music. Our choirs are busy readying Zadok the priest, by Handel, our latest and greatest Easter anthem, sung last year here for the first time in St. Stephen s long history, something tells me. I had thought for years this is the one anthem made for children, and I determined to give our kids the chance, but, I thought, how could a coronation anthem ever be sung appropriately in this, a monarch-less country, in a church service, i.e. not as a concert piece? Then it hit me: The text is a direct quotation from the Bible s story of the coronation of Solomon as the second king of Israel. The anthem was composed by George Frederick Handel to be used at the coronation of his friend and countryman (Germany), King George II, at Westminster Abbey, London. Thus, the use of the Old Testament text is already at one remove from the original occasion, as a metaphor for the 1727 event at hand. By singing this anthem on Easter, in this country without a king, we celebrate our (spiritual) king, Jesus, who, says the New Testament, was crowned king of the universe by God the Father, by his resurrection from the dead. Moreover, we conclude our rendition of this anthem with the exclamation: Hallelujah! borrowed from the Hallelujah Chorus, where Jesus is called King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hence, the symbolism of the coronation is carried 285 years further down in history to today and to our celebration of Easter, the day of Jesus resurrection and coronation! Thanks for all the extra work by our choirs in preparation of this amazing anthem. Don t miss it! Don t miss Episcopal choir camp this summer either! King s College Choir Training Course, at King s College, Wilkes- Barre, PA, is held this summer form July 18-24 (Monday thru Sunday afternoon). If you or your son or daughter in Spirit Singers or either of our other choirs (Senior, Celebration Choirs) - or planning to join in the fall - any age from 10 up, and you wish to know more or register, please see the website: kingscollegecourse.com. (Adult soprano and Teen Girls Houses (sections) are already filled. Boys, Girls, Teen Boys and adult alto, tenor and bass sections are still open for registration.) Deadline for registration and deposit is April 1. This is the largest summer choir course sponsored by the RSCM America (Royal School of Church Music, America) whose curriculum we have used for many years in our Ribbon program. Evensong services are prepared and held daily except Friday, and the Course choir, usually over 150 strong, sings the Sunday morning Eucharist liturgy and final Evensong (after noon) at St. Stephen s Pro-cathedral, Wilkes- Barre, two blocks from the college. An Anglican cathedral organist-director is brought over to lead the course each year. Standard Anglican choral repertory is used we do services just like in English cathedrals with choirs of children and adults! - once you ve registered, you may obtain a set of music for the week to begin preparing. Some scholarship aid is available from St. Stephen s: apply NOW because there are several steps to the process, including obtaining a letter of reference from me, plus another from Father Hagerman. DO NOT hesitate to apply for a scholarship at St. Stephen s! Partial scholarships are available at least. Do not hesitate to contact me with questions: ddpctuner@aol.com; 443-924- 8264. This could be the highlight of your singer s young choral career! It s always great fun and extremely educational, besides the spiritual uplift shared with so many, both choristers and families the final day. Have a happy Easter! Yours for Church music, Donald P. Chandler, ChM Organist-Choirmaster VESTRY UPDATE We congratulate our new Vestry members, elected at the Annual Meeting on February 7: Melissa Bednarik Ben Brown Kyle Kruse Marsha Thompson David Van Wagoner We thank outgoing members for their years of service: Jenny Levendusky, Senior Warden (2 yrs) Bob Versis Scott Vining and Jim Ludwick, Investment Fund Advisor VESTRY OFFICERS for 2016 Senior Warden Bryant Centofanti Junior Warden David Lockard Registrar Chuck Sands Treasurer John DiBenio Assistant Treasurer Jessica Kruse Archivist Lynn Bernard Cemetery Administrator Carol McNemar Investment Fund Advisor Chuck Lewis Diocesan Delegate Jim Dietrich Stewardship Chair Sue Hoge
PAGE 6 MARCH 2016 THE SEVERN LIGHT Hey kids, let s make some pretzels Sunday, March 13 9:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall Wikipedia quotes about pretzels: There are numerous unreliable accounts regarding the origin of pretzels, as well as the origin of the name; most presume that they have Christian backgrounds and were invented by European monks. [1] According to legend, as cited by several sources, including The History of Science and Technology, by Bryan Bunch and [unreliable source?] Alexander Hellemans, in 610 AD "...[a]n Italian monk invents pretzels as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, 'pretiola' ("little reward[s]")". Within the Catholic Church, pretzels were regarded as having religious significance for both ingredients and shape. The knot shape has been claimed to represent hands in prayer. [1] Pretzels made with a simple recipe using only flour and water could be eaten during Lent, [12] when Christians were forbidden to eat eggs, lard, or dairy products such as milk and butter. As time passed, pretzels became associated with both Lent and Easter. Pretzels were hidden on Easter morning just as eggs are hidden today, and are particularly associated with Lent, fasting, and prayers before Easter. [13] Spring Forward March 13 for Daylight Savings Time Set your clocks ahead Altar Guild Meeting March 13 at 9:10 a.m. Church Undercroft Holy Week Preparations Guild Meeting Sunday, April 3 at 9:00 a.m. Parish Hall Make plans for May Spring Fling Adult Confirmation Classes April 3, 10 and 17 at 9:10 a.m. Woodward Hall For adults who wish to be confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church Confirmation Rehearsal Sunday, May 1 at 9:10 a.m. Church Practice for youth and adults who will be confirmed/received the following Sunday Bishop s Visitation Day Sunday, May 8 The Right Reverend Chilton Knudsen will visit St. Stephen s to meet with the Vestry, Confirmation Candidates, and Parishioners. Confirmation will be celebrated at the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist that day. There will only be ONE service (customary for bishops visits). Exact schedule of meetings TBA. Sunday bulletin.. Look for the next Severn Light in May Watch the
THE SEVERN LIGHT MARCH 2016 PAGE 7 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2016 Fishing with Faith JUNE 20 24 CLOSING PROGRAM - SUNDAY, JUNE 26 th SHOUT OUT FOR VOLUNTEERS!! THE TEACHING STAFF IS ORGANIZED. However, we need volunteers for classroom assistance, craft center, and snack duty. Contact Berney: shbjh@verizon.net
PAGE 8 MARCH 2016 THE SEVERN LIGHT St. Stephen s Episcopal Church Severn Parish 1110 St. Stephen s Church Road Crownsville, Maryland 21032 Phone: 410-721-2881 Fax: 410-721-0043 Email: st_stephens@verizon.net Office Hours: MON-FRI 9:00 am to 4:00 pm www.ststephens-severn.ang-md.org The Rev. Steven W. Hagerman, Rector EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES MARCH 27 8:00 & 10:00 A.M. BACK TO EDEN GARDENING At the last Board Meeting for the Crofton Christian Caring Council, a parish member from Mid Atlantic Community Church eagerly shared his congregation s latest ministry in support of the CCCC Food Pantry. They are cultivating a vegetable garden on their church grounds using a simple organic method of raising produce called Back to Eden. They are excited at the prospect of being able to supply the Food Pantry with fresh healthy vegetables for the summer. All are invited to come and view a movie explaining this method of gardening on Sunday, March 13 at 12:30 p.m. in the Youth Hall at MACC, 2485 Davidsonville Road, Gambrills. The film can also be viewed online at: www.backtoedenfilm.com. The members of MACC gladly welcome volunteers to come and help in this process if so inclined. It may be a great way of obtaining service hours for youth or just a way for anyone to get out and enjoy the gifts of nature. Contact Elmer Dengler if interested at: dangler.elmer@gmail.com.