The Tidings
Church of St. Luke The Beloved Physician
The Rev. Ann Gaillard, Rector
136 Main Street,
Saranac Lake, NY 12983-1734
518-891-3605
[email protected]
www.stlukessaranaclake.org
MARCH/APRIL 2016
From the Rector’s Desk
It has been a weird winter, almost non-existent,
especially if you are snow-lover. Winter did put in
an appearance once or twice, though--as those
parishioners who braved sub-zero temperatures to
march in the Winter Carnival parade can attest!
Even without much snow, winter was still bleak
enough to make me long for spring at about the
same time I always do--late February--and send me
running to Price Chopper to buy some daffodils.
Early springtime has arrived, the time that poet
e.e. cummings refers to as “just spring.” Birds are
returning from their southern sojourn, ice on the
lakes is melting, sunlight stretches its arms across
the day, and deep within the earth, new plant life is
pulsing and gathering energy to push through the
soil. The world is so full of life right now that it’s
easy to forget that death had to occur last fall and
winter before nature could be reborn. The grass and
flowers, the trees and bushes, all had to die back,
lose their leaves, or go into dormancy in order for
us to have our spring festival of life.
That life can only come out of death is one of the
universe’s great paradoxes. It’s not a paradox that
human beings much like, for it is our nature to want
to clutch life tightly with both hands and not let go.
So God must patiently teach us over and over again
that only in letting go of our lives will we have true
life.
Nowhere else in humankind’s sacred history, of
course, has God so strikingly revealed this truth
about death and life than in the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. And so as Holy Week
and Easter approach, we at St. Luke’s have an
opportunity to journey with Christ as he walks the
Way of this Truth. On this journey with Christ we
experience the themes of death and life, sorrow and
joy, hope and resurrection.
Beginning on Palm Sunday, with loud hosannas
we will welcome Jesus as our king, and then vilify
him in the Passion drama.
On Maundy Thursday, we
will join the disciples
gathered for the Last Supper
and re-discover through the
ritual of foot washing what it
means to serve. On Good
Friday we will witness the
mysterious power of sorrow
and love intermingling on
the Cross. And on Easter Sunday we will celebrate
the springs of joy that poured forth on that
resurrection morning.
All of Holy Week tells a powerful story of
change, a story that continues to change the world,
and to change peoples’ lives. I invite you to
participate in this story with me.
Before the fruit is ripened by the sun,
Before the petals or the leaves uncoil,
Before the first fine silken root is spun,
A seed is dropped and buried in the soil.
Before we gain the grace that comes through
loss,
Before we live by more than bread and
breath,
Before we lift in joy an empty cross,
We face with Christ the seed’s renewing
death.
(author unknown)
Peace and many blessings,
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Holy Week and Easter
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday (March 20)
7:45 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms and the Holy Eucharist (no music)
10:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms, Festal Procession, and the Holy Eucharist
(The service begins in the Parish Hall.)
The people shout “Hosanna” as the church reenacts Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Yet
triumph turns quickly to tragedy, shouts of “Hosanna” to “Crucify him,” as the Passion Gospel of
St. Luke is read.
Holy Monday and Tuesday (March 21 and 22)
5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist
Holy Wednesday (March 23)
5:30 p.m. The Way of the Cross
For centuries, Christians of many denominations have conducted services (known as the Way
of the Cross or the Stations of the Cross) that commemorate Jesus' journey from being condemned to
death by Pilate to his entombment. We will be using the Way of the Cross service from Celtic Daily
Prayer. A quiet, meditative service.
Maundy Thursday (March 24)
6:30 p.m.
Maundy Thursday Liturgy
The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin "mandatum," which means “command"; Christ’s Great
Commandment is that we love one another as he has loved us. At this service we reenact his
demonstration of this commandment through the ritual of foot washing (optional). We will also
commemorate the first Lord’s Supper. The service concludes with the solemn stripping of the altar.
Throughout the night we will also endeavor to "keep awake" with Jesus as we maintain a vigil with
the consecrated bread and wine, commemorating the night before his death that he spent in the
garden of Gethsemane.
(If you would like to participate in the vigil, please call the parish office to sign up.)
Good Friday (March 25)
12:00 noon
The Good Friday Liturgy
This solemn service includes the reading of St. John’s Passion Gospel and the veneration of the
Cross.
Holy Saturday (March 26)
10:00 a.m. Holy Saturday Liturgy
A short, simple service of readings and prayers.
The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day (March 27)
7:45 a.m. The Holy Eucharist (no music)
10:00 a.m. Festal Eucharist
Friends old and new join the St. Luke’s family to celebrate the Sunday of the Resurrection. All are
welcome. An Easter Egg Hunt for our children will follow the 10 a.m. service.
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Fun in Lent!
Yes, we know that the words "fun" and
"Lent" don't usually go together, but there are
two occasions coming up when parishioners
have fun together during the final days of Lent.
The first is on Saturday,
March 19th: Palm-CrossMaking/Silver-and-BrassPolishing/Easter-Egg-Filling
Day. We meet in the parish
hall at 10:00 a.m. Some of
us make palm crosses for
Palm Sunday, the next day.
Others fill the plastic eggs
with candy for the children's
egg hunt on Easter Sunday. And others polish
the brass and silver in the church and get
everything ready there for Holy Week. We end
around noon with a celebratory pot-luck lunch,
at which (by popular demand) Mtr Ann serves
her famous curried broccoli soup. We always
need help, and we always have a great time.
The second occasion is on Saturday, March
26th, the day before Easter Sunday. On that day
we gather in the church for Holy Saturday
readings and prayers, and then we get a sneak
preview of Easter by decorating the church
with the white Easter vestments and newly
polished silver and brass, along with lilies,
tulips, greens, and candles. It's a fun, creative,
joy-filled time, and we invite everyone to join
us.
The Sacrament of the
Reconciliation of a Penitent
In the Episcopal Church, the Rite of
Reconciliation (otherwise known as private
confession) is available to all who desire it, but
it is not required of anyone. The classic
Anglican statement is: “All may, some should,
none must.” Although confessions can be made
at any time of year, Lent and Holy Week are
particularly appropriate times. If you are
interested in the possibility of making your
confession, please contact Mtr. Ann.
Opportunity to Help Kids
Br James Dowd, OHC, was with us the first
weekend of March to lead a Lenten Quiet Day
on Benedictine spirituality and its connection to
social justice. He also preached at both Sunday
services and gave a presentation at both coffee
hours. Br James had
lived for many years
at the Holy Cross
Monastery in West
Park, NY, before
discerning a call to
the Order's sister
house near
Grahamstown in
South Africa. The
Br James Dowd, OHC
monastery there operates a school for the
impoverished children in the area.
In response to Br James's wonderful
presentation on the Holy Cross School, we are
doing a special collection on behalf of the
school. If you would like to make a donation,
you may do so in one of three ways:
Make out your check to: Church of St. Luke,
with "OHC South Africa Fund" in the memo
line, and put it in the offering plate; OR
Make out your check to: OHC South Africa
Fund, and put it in the offering plate. (If you
would like to mail your check directly, you
would send it to: Fiduciary Trust International,
c/o Ms. Mary Davey, 600 5th Avenue, New
York, NY 10020); OR
On Palm Sunday, March 20th, place cash in
the designated envelope in your pew, and put it
in the offering plate.
If you were unable to attend Br James'
presentation, you may view the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8XyPT9M
i4w, and you can find out more about the
monastery and school here:
http://www.umaria.co.za/.
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Baldwin House Project:
Clean-Out and Clean-Up!
IMPORTANT DATES: April 16 and
23. 9:00-3:00. Lunch provided.
These are Parish Work Days to Spring Clean
the 2nd floor of the Baldwin House.
“We wandered around and finally found” a
lot of stuff. What a mixture of “treasure and
trash.” Let’s have fun as a group and reorganize that area. Before we are able to
efficiently utilize those spaces there needs to be
some physical improvements; but even before
that, there needs to be sorting, cleaning, and
recycling. Many hands and able-bodied people
are needed for this project. It will be helpful to
have everyone with any connection to any of
the stored items in the Baldwin House give us
your comments. Please speak with Nita,
Michele, and any member of the Vestry.
Sign-up sheets for your assistance will be in
the Trudeau Parish Hall after coffee hours on
the 3rd and the l0th. Please volunteer as many
hours as you are able. Thank you.
--Nita Kohanski
Spring Bible Study Opportunity
Parishioner and Warden Nita Kohanski will
be leading a Bible study on "Lesser-Known
Women of the Bible and Modern Counterparts"
on the Sundays in April. The study will look at
biblical women such as Rahab, Deborah, Lydia,
Sapphira, and several other women who played
significant roles in their times and cultures. The
study will also explore who in the 21st century
might have similar roles as these biblical
women. Dates: April 3, 10, 17, 24. Time:
Following the coffee hour after the 10:00 a.m.
service. Location: Emmaus Room.
St. Luke's parishioners braved the minus-15 degree temperatures in order to march in Saranac Lake's
Winter Carnival parade in February. St. Luke's theme was "Heroes and Heroines of the Faith." Noah,
St. Francis, Julian of Norwich, and St. Cecelia were among those represented. And St. Luke's entry
won First Place in the "walking group" division!
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Time for Laughter
April Birthdays
2
Caroline Touby
5
Linda Jackson
9
Virginia Daniels
12
Darleen Small
13
James Carpenter
20
Jean Poole
21
Cadence Roddy
Christina Schmeichel
22
Ann Cantwell
23
Curt Saccone
24
Julianna Caguiat
26
Ellen Saccone
29
Kitty Thorne
May Birthdays
3
Debbie Duso
5
Barbara Duncan
9
Garth Olsen
Bill Small
13
Tucker Jakobe
18
Keith White
19
Charlie Carpenter
20
Bob Ohmann
21
Marilyn Granquist
22
Thomas Cantwell
25
Laura Kleist
26
Ann Gaillard
One Sunday morning, the priest noticed little
Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring
up at a large plaque. It was covered with names
with small American flags mounted on either
side of it.
The seven year old had been staring at the
plaque for some time, so the priest walked up,
stood beside the little boy, and said quietly,
"Good morning Alex."
"Good morning Father," he replied, still
focused on the plaque. "Father, what is this?" he
asked the priest.
The priest said, "Well, son, it's a memorial to
all the young men and women who died in the
service."
Soberly, they just stood together, staring at
the large plaque. Finally, little Alex's voice,
barely audible and trembling with fear, asked,
"Which service, the 7:45 or the 10:00?"
A Special Thank You!
...to Paul and Cindy King for their
technological expertise in making the Trinity
Institute webcast possible.
...to Lee Foster for wiring the new Carillon.
...to Keith White, Bruce Barnard, and
Toby Touby for their work on the Parochial
Report, a complicated project.
...to the members of the Altar Guild
(Michele Raville, Laura Duncan, Barb
Touby, Chris Schmeichel, Linda Jackson,
Jane Harris, Franny Preston, and Virginia
Daniels) for all the extra time and effort they
put into their ministry during the busy season of
Lent and Holy Week.
...to Music Director Frank Jacobson for the
many hours he gives to ensuring beautiful music
for Easter.
...to Parish Coordinator Eileen Marino for
creating the many extra bulletins for Holy Week
services.
Easter
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Easter
Rise, heart, thy lord is risen. Sing his praise
Without delays,
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise
With him may'st rise:
That, as his death calcinèd thee to dust,
His life may make thee gold, and, much more, just.
Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part
With all thy art,
The cross taught all wood to resound his name
Who bore the same.
His stretchèd sinews taught all strings what key
Is best to celebrate this most high day.
Consort, both heart and lute, and twist a song
Pleasant and long;
Or, since all music is but three parts vied
And multiplied
Oh let thy blessèd Spirit bear a part,
And make up our defects with his sweet art.
George Herbert
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