PASTOR'S MESSAGE
Who can resist those little packets of seeds that appear everywhere this time of year? The neatly organized displays, the pretty pictures, the promise of good things. It's spring and stores market little envelopes of hope.
I buy a package of mixed flower seeds and shake them into my hand. Not being serious gardener, although a few shapes look familiar, most will be surprises. It's awesome: a whole garden right here in my hand.
Our parishes are like that – a mixed bag of unknown potential and hope. We look at one another and try to discern what the seed will grow into. We look at ourselves and often see only the seed. But other experienced gardeners see the potential. Will this parish member sprout and grow into a preacher or an evangelist?
It is our task in the spring to sort the seeds in our parishes and give them what they need to grow. It is time to discern those among us with potential to grow into spiritual leaders in our congregations and to help them find what they need for that growth. And it is time too search for the tiny seeds in our own lives that are ready to grow and bear fruit.
We even have some seeds sprouting already on our ministry team. And some of us have tasted a bit of delicious fruit when our team preachers are ministering with us.
Our parishes are like seed packets. How often Jesus talks about seeds. The kingdom of heaven is like those bright, little packets of hope. It's true, then, the kingdom of heaven is among us. May it grow, blossom, and bear much fruit in your life.
Easter blessings !
pat +
MEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Ann Beard
Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre
Called to be a sacramentalist
I am called many names, Mom, Grannie Annie, Grandma, Nana, Sis, and Friend.
First of all I am a Child of God, a widow, a mom, a grandma to many. I was raised in Mo., found God at age 11, and yes, I am a born again Christian (don't knock it if U haven't tried it). I was raised a Methodist, then became a Missionary Baptist during my first marriage. When I met the love of my life, Hollis, I had 2 children from my first marriage, he became their Dad in every sense.
We moved to Mn. in 1973, and started going to Good Samaritan and soon knew we were home. I lost Hollis in 1998 which was Heaven"s Gain. I thank God for the 25 years we had together and the son we had together.
Prayer is so very important to me as is the Holy Sacraments of Christ's blood and body and especially at this Holy Week, a person really remembers what God did for us. God gave up his only Son, so that we all could be saved. The thought of how Christ suffered tho it was meant to be, breaks my heart. I am studying to be a Sacramentalist, I pray that god will help me to open my mind, heart, and thoughts in this venture.
I am a mother to 3 children and 2 step children. I have 4 grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren. I have 2 brothers married with families in Mo. My parents are both deceased. I'm sure with Hollis, my mom and dad watch over me as my guardian angels, and God's help, I will make it.
I am physically disabled, tho I dispatch for the rural electric company, from my home. I am on the Melrose Area Dist. 740 school board. I have a love for family and friends, especially children, the disabled, and the sick. I pray that people can tell from my everyday walks in life, that I am a Child of God, and not just when I go to church or I tell them. I tell people I'm a single, white female, that walks with a cane but I do have a Man in my life and His name is JESUS. I could write a book of all the things I have done but it would take up many pages. I have been a farmer, a waitress, secretary for a Mo. State Representive and doctor, investigator for Sears Credit, a waitress, but most of all a wife and mother. So I say to all, Go With God
WHERE'S OUR TEAM?
After the preacher's meeting we met as the team. We continued discussing the issue of confidentiality. We also discussed the topic of calling new team members.
Our time together is bearing fruit in knitting us together. We all seem to feel good about how the team is becoming cohesive.
We always begin and end our meeting with prayer. On this Saturday for our closing worship we had an Anglican high Mass. Rob brought his beautiful vestments, thuribul and incense. Cynthia played a prelude: Elevation by dom paul Benoit. We sang a hymn and the Sanctus. Rob and Pat chanted the entire service. This was a real treat for me because this was the type of service I played for every Sunday in my last 15 years in California.
TEAM MEETING
All are invited to attend the open session of the Team Meeting at 2pm on Saturday, May 13th, at St. Stephen's in Paynesville. The topics under discussion will be Resolution and Reconciliation: Living with Conflict.
BIBLE STUDY
Jeremiah: At St. Stephen's, Paynesville. Thursdays at 11 am
May 18 : Prophetic Images
June 1: Jeremiah in the New Testament and the Lectionary
John: At Good Samaritan, Sauk Centre. Tuesdays at noon
May 9: The "I am" passages
May 23: Irony in John
FAMILY TREES
Interested in finding your roots and tracing your ancestry, both personal and spiritual? Join Jan ("Zippy") Zeman and Pat Gillespie for an introduction to genealogy and how our ancestry affects our self-identity and spiritual journey. Wednesday nights, May 31 and June 28, at Our Saviour's in Little Falls.
DEACON STATUS
The Rev. Priscilla Gray has been missed in our smaller parishes this year. Here's an explanation from Archdeacon Irma Wyman: "For the period from 1 January to 1 July, 2000, Priscilla Gray will be on inactive status. She will not function as a deacon liturgically or otherwise unless a specific request is made of me and permission is given. During this time she will be helping her mother get settled in St. Cloud. As a part of that task she will be accompanying her mother to St. John's in St. Cloud from time to time, and worshipping with that community, to introduce her mother to that congregation. This does not mean that she is, or will be, deployed there, and she is not to perform any work at that church or in connection with that congregation, whether diaconal or otherwise. During the first four months of this period, Priscilla and Patricia will try to put together a Covenant in which they could work as a team for The Spirit of the Heartland, with the Archdeacon being the supervisor of their work."
PRIEST'S CONTINUING EDUCATION
Pat will be away on continuing education June 5-19. She will be traveling in the Holy Land, Egypt, and the Agean and considering options for leading a future Holy Land Trip for people from Spirit of the Heartland and others interested.
PICTURE DIRECTORY
Our directory has been delayed yet again while the company tries to locate some missing photos.
THE GREAT FIFTY DAYS
The oldest part of the church year is the Easter season or Eastertide, and sometimes referred to as the Great Fifty Days. It is the 50-day period from Easter Sunday through the Day of Pentecost (April 23-June 11). Pentecost is the Greek term for "50 days". This season has three parts, but it is considered one event: rising (Easter Sunday), ascending (Ascension Day, June 1) and giving the Holy Spirit to the Church (the Day of Pentecost or Whitsunday, June 11)
You will notice several things about our liturgies during the Easter season.
The Pascal Candle, which was lighted at the Easter Vigil, burns at all services until the Day of Pentecost. To the early Christians this was a symbol of resurrection‹the bringing of light into a dark place. Notice the nails that may decorate the candle. These represent the wounds still present on the risen Lord's body.
Each Sunday of Eastertide has a specific theme, which is evident in the Scripture readings, sermons and hymn texts.
During Eastertide, "Alleluia" is spoken and sung more often throughout our services.
The Day of Pentecost or Whitsunday completes the Easter season. This day celebrates the third part of Eastertide‹the gift of the Holy Spirit. (A vigil similar to the Easter Vigil sometimes is done the night before.) This is one of the baptismal days of our church year, however, even if there are no candidates for baptism, we renew our baptismal vows. During our worship on The Day of Pentecost, Sunday June 11 this year, please notice the references to the Holy Spirit in Scripture, sermon, and hymn texts!
THE EASTER FIRE
People at Our Saviour's, Little Falls, welcomed Easter Day with a "great noise" of bells and drums at sunrise. They began the Easter Vigil with a fire in the darkness outside and then a candlelight procession to carry the light into the dark church. The exsultet was chanted and the traditional lessons were read before dawn. The great noise was followed by more contemporary folk music to celebrate the resurrection and a less traditional sermon that included an egg hunt for the adults, assisted by the children, with "readings" from the eggs. The celebration continued, at the more reasonable hour of 10:30, with the baptism of Alexandra Elizabeth, with lots of "good eggs" attending worship.
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