Easter 2010
My dear friends,
Easter is about the unexpected outcome of a profound confrontation.
It's true that our culture prefers the sweet images of lilies and bunnies and Easter eggs, but the original Easter was about the outcome of a confrontation.
On the one hand was Jesus seated on a donkey with his feet touching the ground entering the holy city surrounded by crowds where everyone was welcome. On the other hand was a Roman general seated on a great horse surrounded by the latest technology of violence at the head of an entire Roman legion. Both were entering the holy city on the same day – what we now call Palm Sunday – and by doing so, Jesus ensured that a confrontation was inevitable.
And the outcome was predictable. Five days later Jesus was dead.
And if that had been the end of it, his life would have been just another example of how, when things get serious, the power of violence and injustice have the final say.
But we live in the extraordinary claim that the result of that confrontation was that it was Rome that died and Christ who lived.
From one point of view, our entire faith makes no sense whatever. How could an unarmed man on a donkey defeat an entire Roman legion? But that's exactly our claim, and year after year we insist on shouting it out.
“Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” will shout in the darkness of Easter Eve. “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” we will shout Easter morning as an adult is baptized into the glorious outcome of that confrontation.
Despite all expectation, despite all calculation, despite all experience, the outcome of this confrontation is the exact opposite of what we anticipated. No wonder we shout “Alleluia!”
The holy city? That's us and our planet. The Roman general? That's the forces which drive us and our world toward failure and death. The man on the donkey? That's still Christ, still insisting on provoking a confrontation, still reversing what everyone still thinks is the inevitable outcome.
Shouting “Alleluia!”? That's not just us rejoicing that God has reversed the outcome, but it's the shout that the world so desperately needs to hear. So that everyone can join in Christ's confrontation with whatever would kill humanity, and so that everyone can join in the glorious reversal of the inevitable. We shout “Alleluia!” not just because we rejoice, but because we owe it to the world to make that victory clear to everyone.
So join your fellow-rejoicers and be here Easter Eve and Easter Day and experience that victory in which, despite all expectations to the contrary, life and fulfilment and inclusion and justice and joy and peace are the amazing outcome of that confrontation between Christ and the death-dealing empires of our time.
What a gift! To us who are learning to follow Christ, it means that our own active, or passive, or fearful violence won't be allowed to win. What a relief! God has won our real self back for us! Caught up in Christ's resurrection, you and I find ourselves becoming what we were always made to be. No wonder we shout “Alleluia!” at the top of our lungs!
And the resurrection is a gift for the empire, which in our day is the global system of keeping some poor so that others can be rich. The resurrection proves there is an alternative way of organizing the world – the resurrection has demonstrated that it is possible to construct a society where the planet and all people are fulfilled. What good news that is! It can actually be done! Christ is risen indeed! And so is our hope for the world's future. Alleluia! If such a world has already been won and simply awaits us to embrace it, then we vote and speak and persuade with new freedom and energy. And we rejoice that our own personal reluctance has been confronted and defeated. That's what it's like to be resurrected!
This Easter, let’s make the rafters ring with shouts of joy that the outcome of that confrontation is still the most powerful force in all the world.
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Please take advantage of two ways by which we can deepen our experience of God's Easter victory. The first is to take part in the experiences of the Holy Week services. Make time to experience them deeply. Palm Sunday is about experiencing Jesus' confrontation with the empire – it is our confrontation with today’s empire. Quiet Eucharists on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday that week allow us to meditate on that experience. The Agapé Supper and mutual hand-washing and stripping of the altar on Thursday night allow us to enact God's vision of a fulfilled community as well as anticipate the final confrontation with death. On Good Friday the young people enact Christ's final confrontation in the morning, and starting at noon with music and meditations we can symbolically remain with Jesus for all or part of his three hours on the cross. That night, in Tenebrae, we experience Jesus being laid to rest in the grave – and that experience concludes with our being startled by a hint of the resurrection.
On Saturday the church remains as silent as the grave until late that night when the resurrection bursts upon us in full glory and we are caught up into God's victory – a victory which we continue to celebrate at both Easter Day services and for six weeks following, and indeed on every Sunday of the coming year.
The second path to experiencing God's victory is to take part in a study series following Easter, designed for those who would like to renew their commitment to living in Christ's risen life by preparing to take vows before our bishop on Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd. Please make good use of these opportunities.
An envelope is enclosed to help make possible St. John's continuing proclamation of the amazing result of Christ's confrontation with evil and death.
With blessings,
Sincerely yours
The Rev. Canon Dr. Harold Munn
Rector
Staff announcements
I am very pleased to announce that The Rev. Michael Hemmings has been appointed by Bishop Cowan to serve at St. John's as one of our clergy for up to a year as he returns to parish ministry after a time on leave. Michael is the former rector of St. David's, Cordova Bay and was formerly one of the clergy at Christ Church Cathedral. Please warmly welcome Michael and his wife Daniela and their sons Liam and Morgan.
We rejoice with Su McLeod and the entire diocese that she has been appointed as the Director of Youth and Family Ministries for the diocese. Su’s last Sunday at St. John’s will be May 30th, at which time we will give thanks for her ministry among us the past five years and send her off, (just down the street!), to her new ministry.
Karen Fast will be retiring this summer after 11 years at St. John’s, and we will honour her with special events on her last Sunday, July 4th.
Special dates
Easter Day, April 4th, there will be an adult baptism at the 10:00 am service. Please keep Heather Smart in your prayers as she prepares for her initiation into the Body of Christ.
Sunday, April 11th, the 10:00 am service will be specially designed by the young people of the parish. The service will be a Eucharist, and hymns, prayers and leadership roles will be organized by the young people.
Starting April 14th, the rector will lead a weekly Wednesday evening preparation anyone who would like to make an adult commitment of faith before Bishop Cowan on Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd. Please leave you name with the office to register for this series. There are several options for such a commitment: it could be confirmation if the person has not been previously confirmed, or adult re-affirmation of baptismal vows as a commitment to the Christian way, or a re-commitment at a time of change in life, or for personal renewal.Sunday, April 18th - A special Vestry will be held following the 10:00 am service, with Divine Brunch. The congregation will be asked to approve a parish study process for the next year or so which could culminate in proposals a year from now for redevelopment on St. John's property.
Sunday, May 2nd, the 10:00 am service will be an instructed Eucharist - the background and meanings of the service will be explained as the service proceeds.
Sunday, May 23rd will be Pentecost and Bishop Cowan will preach and preside at the 10:00 am service, and will hear commitments and confirmations and lay hands on as a sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
On the weekend of September 10th-11th, 2010, our Primate, Fred Hiltz, and our former Primate Andrew Hutchison will lead a conference at St. John's for the church and the wider community on the subject of how the church can connect with the wider world.
The Church of St. John the Divine
1611 Quadra Street, Victoria 250-383-7169 www.stjohnthedivine.bc.ca
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR EASTER through PENTECOST
(please watch the weekly leaflets for further details and updates)
Regular services (unless otherwise noted):
Sundays: Communion at 8:00 am (BCP); 10:00 am (BAS) Contemporary Eucharist
Laying-on-of-Hands for Healing each week after both the 8:00 am service and
the 10:00 service;
3rd Sunday of each month will be an Alternative Liturgy
Mid-week: Holy Communion every Wednesday at 7:15 am followed by breakfast;
Ecumenical Meditation every Wednesday at 8:30 am (20 minutes);
Meditation Eucharist every Thursday 12:10-12:50 pm
Daily 10:00 pm – 7:00 am
The Divine Shelter, run by Cool-Aid, provides mats for 40 people in our Crypt, until the end of April.
MARCH
Sunday March 21 12 Noon Divine Sunday Brunch in parish hall
$5.00 – tickets must be picked-up a week in advance.
2:00 pm Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Mondays March 22, 29 6:30 pm Plan B Youth Group
9:30 pm ‘Out of the Rain’ Night Shelter for Youth
Tuesday March 23 3:00 pm Lent Study Series with Harold Munn – “The Shack”
Wednesday March 24 12 Noon Noon Forum – “My Spirituality”
Speaker: Robert A. Daum, Director,
Iona Pacific Inter-Religious Centre
My Spirituality
6:00 pm Lights, Camera, Faith and Action
Christian Faith in the Movies We All Enjoy
Final Reel Transformation and Transformers
Theatre St. Mary of the Incarnation, Metchosin
Directed by Logan McMenamie
Thursday March 25 2:00 pm Chancel Guild meeting
7:00 pm Something Else Youth Group
7:00 pm Choir Practice
7:00 pm Contemplative Prayer
Friday March 26 11:00 am Christmas Crafts Group
Palm Sunday March 28 8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Contemporary Eucharist
We will have a live donkey here for this service.
Monday March 29 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist - BAS
Tuesday March 30 3:00 pm Lent Study Series with Harold Munn – “The Shack”
5:00 pm Holy Eucharist - BCP
5:00 pm Faith in Action
Wednesday March 31 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist - BCP
APRIL
Maundy Thursday
April 1 6:00 pm Agapé Supper
8:00 pm Stripping of the Altar
Good Friday April 2 10:00 am Family Service
12 Noon Music for Good Friday
1:00 pm Quiet Meditations
2:00 pm Holy Communion
8:00 pm Tenebrae
Holy Saturday April 3 9:00 pm New Fire and First Eucharist of Easter
Easter Day April 4 8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Choral Eucharist & Adult Baptism
Tuesday April 6 2:00 pm Pastoral Care Committee Meeting
Wednesday April 7 2:00 pm Seniors’ Fellowship Meeting
Thursdays April 15, 22, 29 12 Noon Drop-In Bible Study
Thursday April 8 7:00 pm Contemplative Prayer
Saturday April 10 5:00 pm Parish Potluck and Games Night
Sunday April 11 8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Contemporary Eucharist designed by the youth
of the parish.
Mondays April 12, 19, 26 6:30 pm Plan B Youth Group
Tuesday April 13 2:00 pm Anglican Church Women monthly meeting
Tuesday April 14 7:00 pm Adult Confirmation Class – led by Harold Munn
Thursdays April 15, 22, 29 7:00 pm Choir Practice
Sunday April 18 8:45 am Care for Creation Committee meeting
12 Noon Divine Sunday Brunch in parish hall
$5.00 – tickets must be picked-up a week in advance.
1:00 pm Special Vestry – Task Force – Redevelopment
2:00 pm Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Monday April 19 1:30 pm Book Club
Tuesday April 20 2:00 pm Ministry of Healing Meeting
7:00 pm Parish Council meeting
Wednesday April 21 7:00 pm Alliance Club Cooking for youth in need
7:00 pm Adult Confirmation Class – led by Harold Munn
Thursday April 22 7:00 pm Contemplative Prayer
Sunday April 25 2:00 pm Holy Eucharist – Book of Common Prayer
7:00 pm Compline
Tuesday April 27 5:00 pm Faith in Action monthly meeting
Wednesday April 28 7:00 pm Adult Confirmation Class – led by Harold Munn
Thursday April 29 7:00 pm Something Else Youth Group
MAY
Saturday May 1 5:00 pm Parish Potluck and Games Night
Sunday May 2 8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Instructed Eucharist
Mondays May 3, 10, 17, 31 6:30 pm Plan B Youth Group
Wednesday May 5 2:00 pm Seniors’ Fellowship Group
7:00 pm Adult Confirmation Class – led by Harold Munn
Thursdays May 6, 13, 20 12 Noon Drop-In Bible Study
7:00 pm Choir Practice
Sunday May 9 8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Contemporary Eucharist
Celebrating the Patronal Feast of St. John
150th Anniversary Event
12 Noon Brunch
Tuesday May 11 2:00 pm Anglican Church Women monthly meeting
Wednesday May 12 7:00 pm Adult Confirmation Class – led by Harold Munn
Ascension Day
Thursday May 13 7:00 pm Choral Eucharist
7:00 pm Contemplative Prayer
Sunday May 16 8:45 am Care for Creation Committee meeting
2:00 pm Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Monday May 17 1:30 pm Book Club
Tuesday May 18 7:00 pm Parish Council
Wednesday May 19 7:00 pm Alliance Club Cooking for youth in need
7:00 pm Adult Confirmation Class – led by Harold Munn
PENTECOST
Sunday May 23 8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Confirmation and Contemporary Eucharist
Presider & Preacher: The Rt. Rev. James Cowan
Bishop of British Columbia
Monday May 24 The Office is Closed for Victoria Day
Tuesday May 25 5:00 pm Faith in Action monthly meeting
Thursday May 27 7:00 pm Something Else Youth Group
7:00 pm Contemplative Prayer
Saturday May 29 TBA Sock Hop Dance
Fundraiser for St. John’s Emergency Food Services
watch leaflets for further details
Sunday May 30 7:00 pm Compline
JUNE
Wednesday June 2 2:00 pm Seniors’ Fellowship Group
7:30 pm Greater Victoria Police Chorus in Concert
150th Anniversary Event
Saturday June 5 5:00 pm Parish Potluck and Games Night
Mondays June 7, 14, 21, 28 6:30 pm Plan B Youth Group
Thursday June 10 7:00 pm Contemplative Prayer
Sunday June 13 12 Noon Divine Sunday Brunch in parish hall
$5.00 – tickets must be picked-up a week in advance.
Tuesday June 15 7:00 pm Parish Council
Wednesday June 16 7:00 pm Alliance Club Cooking for youth in need
Sunday June 20 8:00 am Holy Communion
8:45 am Care for Creation Committee meeting
10:00 am Parish Picnic at Beacon Hill Park (near rose garden)
10:00 am Holy Eucharist – Book of Common Prayer
2:00 pm Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Monday June 21 1:30 pm Book Club
Thursday June 24 7:00 pm Contemplative Prayer
Sunday June 27 8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Contemporary Eucharist
Celebrating the work of St. John’s in the Community
150th Anniversary Event
2:00 pm Holy Eucharist – Book of Common Prayer
Tuesday June 29 5:00 pm Faith in Action monthly meeting
JULY
Sunday July 4 8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Contemporary Eucharist followed by
Retirement Party for Karen Fast
July 5-14 Youth Pilgrimage to Alert Bay
Thursday July 15 7:00 pm Garth MacPhee in Concert
150th Anniversary Event
AUGUST
Wednesday August 11 7:00 pm Christina Edinger, organist, in Concert
150th Anniversary Event
SEPTEMBER
Friday-Monday September 3-6 Parish Camp at Camp Columbia
Registration forms will be available in May
Thursdays September 9, 23 7:00 pm Contemplative Prayer
Friday-Saturday September 10-11 TBA Parish Conference with Primate Fred Hiltz and
former Primate Andrew Hutchison
Sunday September 19 12 Noon Welcome Back Divine Brunch
