PASTOR'S MESSAGE
So, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
John 13:14
There aren't too many places in the Bible where the answer to WWJD? is more clear. What would Jesus do for his friends? And in this case what does Jesus tell us to do?
But how long as it been since you washed someone else's feet? Unless you're caring for the elderly or the very young, it's probably not lately. And how long since you had someone wash your feet? We want to think Jesus means that symbolically. But Jesus doesn't let Peter get away with that. He responds to Peter's natural protest with, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." Then Jesus "gets down and dirty" and ministers, really serves, his friends.
Footwashing is an intensely intimate act, so intimate that it is embarrassing. That's how ministry is meant to be -- intimate, bodily, and touching. Footwashing reminds us that ministry is intimate and risky, and that it changes lives. We all need to be washed. We all are called to serve others -- this is "total" ministry. Footwashing here is "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace." It is a sacramental sign of ministry, of our call to serve one another.
Our church counts seven sacraments. Two of those sacraments, Baptism and Communion, are called "dominical" because Jesus told us to do them. The other five are ‘sacramental,' with a bit less support in scripture. Footwashing meets all the criteria for a dominical sacrament, yet we don't count it and seldom do it, even though Jesus clearly told us to. But it is in our Prayer Book for Maundy Thursday.
In Holy Week we have a chance to experience this sacrament of ministry. On Maundy Thursday, April 20, at 7 pm, we will have Footwashing and Communion at the Church of Our Saviour in Little Falls. Anyone may choose to share the intimacy of this sacrament of ministry, others may choose share with us in prayer. All are welcome.
"If you know these things,
you are blessed if you do them."
John 13:17
pat +
MEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Lu Tax
Our Saviour's, Little Falls
Called to be a liturgist
I'm one of those "cradle Episcopalians". Born and raised. Though I was born in New Mexico, all but my immediate family lived in Minnesota, and I was brought back to Minnesota to be baptized at The Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour in Faribault. If you¹re from there, as I am, it is thought of as THE Cathedral (as opposed to St. Mark¹s in Minneapolis) it is the first cathedral, after all. We moved back to Minnesota when I was three, so I was confirmed, and married there as well. How could I be anything else, but Episcopalian? (There are easier denominations to spell, though!)
I sang in church choir since grade school. I always thought being an acolyte would be cool, but girls didn't do those things then---I get to do it now! Anyway, almost as far back as I can remember, I was part of the service through music. After coming to Church of Our Saviour in Little Falls (twenty years ago), I began serving in other ways as well.
Before coming to Little Falls, I graduated from the University of Minnesota, Morris with a degree in music, and a minor in biology. Music has always been an important part of my life, and continues to be. At present, I'm a member of the Minnesota Center Chorale (MCC), and MCC Chamber Choir.
My husband, Joe, and I live in the country outside of Pierz. We have a business in Pierz, and have lived in the area for about 20 years. We have a son, Peter, who is in his second year of college at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California.
We really love gardening, and spend as much time as possible outside when weather permits. We especially enjoy camping and hiking in the mountains.
About five years ago, I enrolled in a two-year course sponsored by the diocese called The Leadership Program for Musicians in Small Parishes, or LPM. It was a great course, and really sparked my interest in the "how's and why's" of liturgy, and how all the elements of our services go together. I began to work with Charlie Preble (our priest at the time) in the capacity of liturgist for our church in Little Falls. The studying I have done in the past, and the training we are receiving as the Spirit of the Heartland Total Ministry Team, have deepened my understanding of the church year, our liturgies, and most importantly my own faith.
WHERE'S OUR TEAM?
The Spirit of the Heartland team met recently On Saturday, March 11, 2000 at the Church of Our Savior in Little Falls. We brought a scripture verse for the day and we used it as a check in focus for touching bases with everyone on the team. There was also discussion on whether to hold an Easter Vigil service or not at Little Falls. It was decided to have a sunrise service beginning at 5:30 a.m. with the Easter Vigil liturgy as a prelude to the First Eucharist ( Communion service) at dawn.
We also talked about the importance of finding a spiritual director and about the Rule of the Order of St. John the Evangelist ( Episcopal Order known as the Cowley Fathers) as a possible rule of life for us a community. Rob will bring a theme/chapter to us for our next meeting so that we can explore and analyze it together.
Our session ended with the celebration of Eucharist in the chancel of the church. Our team continues to be formed through interactions with one another, our readings and our prayer lives. Formation for us is an ongoing lifelong process.
Rob Cavanna
HOLY WEEK
Holy Week is a very special time of our church year. Each major day and service has a particular structure and intensity, giving it also a sense of drama. These services do not stand alone. They are each part of the whole picture. Easter is not as meaningful unless the triumph and pain of the week before are also experienced.
Palm Sunday: This service has two parts, each having its own theme and emotion.
1. The Liturgy of the Palms: This first part depicts the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It has its own opening collect, gospel reading, and prayer of thanksgiving and blessing over the palm branches, which are then carried by the people.
2. The Eucharist: In the second part of the service, the palms are put away, and the mood changes. The remainder of the service is somber, and the readings and psalm speak of Jesus' suffering. The reading of the Passion is very important. Our participation in this gospel connects us to the event and we become part of the drama. We are drawn together to share the week ahead, which begins in tragedy and ends in triumph.
The Triduum or "The Three Great Days" begins at sunset on Thursday and ends at sunset on Sunday. We regard this time, the dying and rising of Jesus as one event. Therefore we celebrate an extended liturgy during these three days: you will notice that from Maundy Thursday, no service has a Dismissal until Easter.
Maundy Thursday: This is the Last Supper, when Jesus said farewell to his disciples, saying "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you." The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin "mandatum", meaning commandment. This is where the "washing of feet" has its origin. The act of total self-giving love for others. Holy Communion received at this service carries us through out Good Friday fast. The liturgy does not end after Communion. Remaining consecrated bread and wine are placed on another altar if needed for Good Friday, and the altar used for Eucharist is stripped and left bare.
Good Friday: This is a quiet and somber service filled with readings from Holy Scripture, Solemn Collects of intercession for the church and the world, special music, and silence. It should not be thought of as a funeral for Jesus. It is a celebration of the good to come from the tragedy of Jesus' death. This service ends in silence. (If you are unable to attend this service, please read the service and appropriate readings beginning on page 276 of your Book of Common Prayer.)
Easter: This is the last act of the drama of Holy Week. We celebrate Easter in two parts.
1. The Easter Vigil: We gather in darkness for this service after sunset Saturday evening, or Sunday morning before dawn, after having left in darkness and silence on Good Friday. The new fire is kindled, from which the Paschal Candle is lighted. (The Paschal Candle is burned at all services from Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost.) The Exsultet is sung, and the service continues with vigil readings surrounded by silences and responses in the words of Scripture and solemn prayers. This part of the service ends with the renewal of our Baptismal Vows. (Baptism, and/or Confirmation are also very appropriate to be done at this service.)
2. The Eucharist: The service continues with the celebration of Holy Eucharist. We feast on the Bread of Heaven, an the Cup of Salvation. This is the finale of the liturgical drama of Holy Week, but not the end of our celebration of Easter. The Easter season lasts for fifty days‹until the Day of Pentecost, and is known as The Great Fifty Days.
"Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!"
SUNRISE SERVICE
Come to Our Saviour's in Little Falls for an early morning Easter Vigil to welcome the Light of Christ. Traditional readings, a joyful noise at sunrise, and celebration of Holy Communion. Service begins at 5:30 am on Easter Day, Sunday, April 23.
LENT & HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Ash Wednesday Services – March 8
1:00 St. Stephen's
4:00 Good Samaritan
7:00 Our Saviour's
Maundy Thursday – April 20
12:00 St. Stephen's
7:00 Our Saviour's
Good Friday – April 21
1:00 St. Stephen's
4:00 Good Samaritan
7:00 Our Saviour's
Easter Sunday – April 23
5:30 Sunrise Vigil, Our Saviour's
9:00 Holy Eucharist, St Stephen's
10:30 Holy Eucharist, Our Saviour's
11:00 Holy Eucharist, Good Samaritan
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Bible Study: the Book of Jeremiah
St. Stephen's, Paynesville
Thursdays, April 6 & 20, at 11:00 am
Bible Study: the Gospel according to John
Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
Tuesdays, April 11 & 25, at noon
Book Study:
The Practice of Prayer by Margaret Guenther
Our Saviour's, at the Black & White Hamburger Shop in Little Falls
Wednesdays, March 22 & 29, April 5
Book is available from Pat for $10.00
PICTURE DIRECTORY
Our Spirit of the Heartland picture directory is finally coming together. We hope to have it in time to welcome our snowbirds back home. Many thanks to Holly Ryan of Our Saviour's who put the layout together. Because of the confusion and delay during the photo sessions, United is giving us extra copies of the directory, absorbing a cost of about $150 so that those who were not able to be photographed may still have a copy of the directory.
ZIPPORAH'S QUESTIONS ?
"If people were superior to animals,
they'd take better care of the world."
Winnie the Pooh
Today I chewed through the Christmas lights. That's right, Christmas lights. My people did get the tree and other decorations put away before Lent, but the string of lights around the window just got unplugged and still hangs there. At Christmas it made pretty lights for everyone to see, but now it doesn't do anything. No one would notice if it disappeared. There's a lot of stuff like that, left around doing nothing. Maybe I have a clean-up ministry – making things disappear that no one notices.
So, you people, who think you are superior to us animals, my question this month is:
What would happen if our churches disappeared?
No more buildings, no more people gathering to do whatever it is that you people do: worship, mission, ministry, and stuff. Would anybody but us miss our church? Would the rest of the world or anyone in our town notice?
Does our church take care of the world somehow? Does our church make a difference in other peoples lives, or only in our own? I've sniffed out a lot of good stuff in our churches, but some of it reminds me of those Christmas lights that don't do anything anymore.
Maybe it's time to show that silly Pooh Bear that the people in our churches know how to take care of God's world, before some superior beagle comes along and chews things up.
Zippy 
Team Mascot and Merry Maker
Read our Region News
Check our Calendar
Newsletter Archives
Return to Spirit of the Heartland INDEX