Springtime Reflection
Springtime is often thought of as a time of rebirth and regeneration, as flowers
and trees bloom and days warm. There is an awakening after a long winter’s
dormancy. We who have lived through a year of a cruel and death filled pandemic
might well have lost our personal sense of renewal and rebirth. Can we really
experience in our hearts the joys of spring’s advent?
For me, hope-filled thoughts come from two sources. One is from the Book
of Genesis, Chapter One, Verse Fourteen, which describes how God “Let the
earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding seed and trees of every kind bearing
fruit with seed in it. And God saw that it was good.”
Second, the poet William Wordsworth gives us a different image of a world
where “nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory
in the flower.” But the poet then tells us “We will grieve not, but rather find
strength in what remains behind… In the soothing thoughts of human suffering;
in the faith that looks through death.”
During the darkest days of the pandemic, during the bleak winter months, so
much seemed lost to us. It is the tragedy of our time and place. Yet, we can
put aside our grief and darkness and “find strength in what remains behind.”
And by our faith in the risen Lord “we can look through death.”
Indeed we can revel in the glory of spring’s renewing power, knowing that
God called His creation good.
Jim Mannon
Connect With Us
Prayers and Reflections for the Easter Season
Blessings!
Terry Noble
Click here to view the readings and the accompanying links to the scriptures for each day.
New St. Andrew’s Book Study Beginning Soon
If asked, what’s the first prayer which comes into your head? Chances are most people will answer “The Lord’s Prayer.” How about you?
While “The Lord’s Prayer” is the best-known Christian prayer, have you ever wondered why this is so? Would it surprise you to know that it is as much a Jewish as a Christian prayer? Would you be surprised to learn that it is “both a revolutionary manifesto and a hymn of hope?”
Beginning on Wednesday evening, April 28, please join us for our next St. Andrew’s Book Study as we read and discuss The Greatest Prayer: Rediscovering the Revolutionary Message of The Lord’s Prayer by John Dominic Crosson.
As before, our Book Study will occur at 7:00 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: April 28, May 12, and May 26. If interested and needing a copy of the book, please contact Renee at the Parish Office or Fr. Mark at frmark1988@gmail.com.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Sunday Worship, April 25
You can connect to the service via Zoom. Click on this link to connect. If you have not used Zoom before, you will be prompted to download Zoom, go ahead and do that. When you enter the meeting you should be able to see and hear others and others can see and hear you. If you come in a little late, please listen for a moment before speaking. In order to see everyone, go to Gallery view (upper right on PCs and upper left for Macintosh). When we get started everyone except the speaker will be muted. If you are reading or playing music, please be sure to unmute yourself.
If you are connecting via telephone dial 301-715-8592 and when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 847 8600 1703 and press #, then enter the password: pray and press # again.
Click here for the service booklet for April 25
Non Food Pantry Latest
Saturday, April 24
• Noon to 3:00 p.m.
There will be a drive through distribution and no lunch. Kate Berry is coordinating the distribution. We are very grateful to Martha Rainbolt, Carl Huffman, Karen Hirt Mannon, and Christiane Wisehart who have worked very hard to obtain supplies for the Non-Food Pantry. Kroger is not able to acquire enough products for us so the items are being purchased from a variety of sources. This is much more expensive. Donations to help offset this extra cost will be gratefully accepted!
Top 4 Needed Items
Your prayers are asked for:
Lorrie Anderson, cousin of Joanne Haymaker
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at Saint Andrew’s
Jo Ella Burns, friend of Terry Noble
Douglas Butler, brother-in-law of Claudia Butler
The family of Eric Fladeland, friend of Tim and Caroline Good
The family of Tom Gibson, brother of Gwen Morris
The family of Micah Grimm, friend of Zac and Savannah Johnson
Mary Ellen Gurnon, aunt of Daniel and Stephanie Gurnon
Rena Hale, sister of Thea Warren-Simpson
Steve Jones
Keith Keysor, friend of Andy Cullison
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob and Mimi Breese
Grayson Lyons, great nephew of Peggy Angleton
Jill McDermott, mother of Jim and Karen Mannon’s son-in-law
Stanley Morris
Mary Mountz
Marilyn Mourouzis
Bruce Ploshay, friend of Page and Narda Cotton and former member of St. Andrew’s
Gordon Redden
Jordan Sanders, sister of Jim Ensley
The family of Jeff Sheffler, son-in-law of Page and Narda Cotton
The family of Peter Staats, friend of Suzanne Hassler
Skip Sutton
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
The family of Phyllis Wright, grandmother of Zac Johnson
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Christ Church, Madison: Mr. Aaron Lynch, Senior Warden.
Our companion dioceses: The Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil: The Most Rev. Mauricio Jose Araujo De Andrade, Primate of Brazil and Bishop of Brasilia. The people and Diocese of Haiti and Saint Andre’s in Mithon.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Nippon Sei Ko Kai.
Birthdays: Josephine Glessner, May 1
Anniversaries: None.