Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
I am so grateful for what we experienced together over Holy Week and Easter Sunday at St. Stephen’s! From the boisterous Palm Sunday procession to the washing of one another’s feet on Maundy Thursday, the dramatic reading of the Passion on Good Friday to the joyful shouts of Alleluia! and the shaking of tambourines on Easter Sunday.
In the resurrection story we heard on Sunday, from Matthew 28: 1-10. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were the most steadfast disciples in their faith in Jesus Christ and His resurrection. Unlike the other disciples who fled when hope seemed lost, they came to the tomb on the third day looking for his resurrection. The women and men who serve week in and week out at St. Stephen’s remind me of those most faithful disciples. The disciples at St. Stephen’s – the vestry, the altar guild, the lay readers and ministers, the ushers, musicians and livestreamers – are not deterred from their faith in the hope of resurrection, the hope that new life is coming.
This week we experienced the hope of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and we experienced new life here at St. Stephen’s. A newly formed choir sang four times during Holy Week – twice with members of All Saints’ and Ascension! Currently, the St. Stephen’s Choir plans to sing once a month – on the Third Sunday of each month. If you wish to join the Choir, please reach out to the Jimmy Coogan, Music Director, at james@ststephensandthevine.org. We are also recruiting students in fourth grade and up for private music lessons through the Music on the Vine program
We have resumed Children’s Time during 10 a.m. worship and we plan to resume Children’s Chapel very soon. If you wish to assist with Children’s Chapel, please contact Susan Fazio, Senior Warden, at fazfam6@aol.com.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:20,21
Many Blessings, as we begin the great 50 Days of Easter! Alleluia!
In Christ,
Pastor Teresa