Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate
Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen
Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing
Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty
Christ is Risen indeed from the dead,
the first of the sleepers,
Glory and power are his forever and ever
St. Hippolytus (AD 190-236)

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Today is the fourth day of the great 50 days of Easter. During this celebratory time, I am reminded of a passage from the Song of Solomon:

Arise, my fair one, and come away.
The winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth.
And the time of the singing of the birds is come.

While the words speak of the beauty of spring, they also remind us that Christ is calling us to himself; calling us to come away with him into the beauty of resurrection. Resurrection is the true Sabbath, the time when all sorrows will pass away, and we will once again be with Christ. Until that day of our own resurrection, Christ calls us to walk in the newness of life that his resurrection secured for us: the knowledge that his grace and goodness are with us each day; the joy of knowing our sins are forgiven; the mandate to forgive and love one another.

Rejoice in the Great 50 Days. Rejoice in the coming of spring. Allow your heart to soar toward Christ no matter what difficulties try to bring you down. He is Risen, and he comes with power to help in time of need.

"On the third day he rose again."

Tell us, Mary, what did you see
that early morning
on your way?

"I saw his tomb,
I saw the glory of Christ,
now risen,
angels who gave witness.
I saw the cloths
that covered his head and body.
I heard him speak my name
and turning, saw he was alive
At daybreak
I came weeping to the garden
for the one I lost.
But now, the Sun risen,
it was paradise,
and I, a new Eve,
had news of life for all the living."

You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16

The Center for Spiritual Development at Saint James is dedicated to the exploration of pilgrimage as the metaphor for spiritual journey.

This is not new, as we can see from the Psalm.

Moving through the world is as ancient an activity as worship itself.

We are nomads, and yet we are residents.

The spiritual journey is a life of paradox, not contradiction.
It is a life of wisdom, not confusion.

And what is the difference?

Christ, and Him crucified.

Can there be any larger conundrum than that of life springing from death?

As we contemplate the Resurrection mystery, we can see all around us that everything is moving toward ending, even as beginnings erupt from the very ground upon which we stand.

Like Rocks smoothed and changed by the force of gentle water,
we are changed by the Living Water of the Spirit.

Sometimes we are the rocks, and sometimes we are the river.

Sometimes we need to be still and let God reform our hearts,
then move into action from the still pool of reflection.

Whether we are still or moving, we are held by the Spirit,
And led by Christ.

We are pilgrims, and we are on the way to Jerusalem.

Blessings,
Debra

Daily Morning Prayer:
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/churchonthewebpage.htm

GOD'S GRANDEUR

THE world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs --
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
---Gerard Manley Hopkins---

This Week at St. James:

Saturday: 8-5 Election of the new Bishop of Maryland
Sunday: 10:15 Children’s Eucharist; 11:45 Inquirer’s Class; 4-6 pm Confirmation with Fr. Art
Monday: 10:00 CS Lewis Book Study; 7:30 Vestry Discernment Workshop
Tuesday: 7:30 Vestry Admin.
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist; 9:30 Bible Study

Prayers Etc.

For those on our prayer list:
David; Owen; Arabella; Brittany; Lori S.; Jennifer D.
Rob C.; Nancy K.; Bill D.; Mary S.; Susan L.; Elizabeth C.
Vicki; Dawn; Joe; Oliver; Charlie M.; Matt S.
Mary B.; Anne P.; Alan; Larry; Betsy; Andrew
Jason; Mimi and Poppa B.

For Laura our Seminarian
For those who are deployed and their families.

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to your never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that you are doing for them better things that we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

Raise me up! Renew my life!
Father of life, I see the light again!
I was in darkness and had lost hope
but Jesus Christ, your son,
has won out over death - for me.
I celebrate today, your love, the life you give me.
I feel your presence as you breathe on my mind
and open my heart.
So many times in my life my eyes are closed
but today I see the risen Lord
in the breaking of the bread.
Thank you for this morning of hope,
thank you for such incredible love.
--from Collaborative Ministry at Creighton.edu--

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

<- Back to Parish News