April 28, 2022 Holy Comforter | Newsletter | |
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The Season of the Resurrection Dearest Holy Comforter Family, Holy Week is now behind us. The absolutely gorgeous days, filled with sunshine and gentle breezes, tell us something about the days that come after Good Friday and Holy Saturday—the 50 days we call the Season of Resurrection. Everything seems to overflow with new life! I spent a few days with family, at an Airbnb a block away from a beautiful beach. The evening I arrived, the sun had already set but there was still reflected light in the sky so I walked to stand at the very edge of the ocean. I wondered what the day after, and the one after, and then the next one, after Resurrection Sunday were like for the Risen Christ. I wondered what it was like to stand at the edge of the Sea of Galilee and look out at his friends, casting their nets and bringing in no fish. Listening to the gentle surf, I found myself hoping that the sounds, the bracing smell, the silence beneath all the noise at water’s edge was a source of joy and peace. On Friday, after I returned, the Rev. Elizabeth O’Neil, pastor of Immanuel, and I met with the Food Pantry leadership team. The Food Bank has reinstated all the FDA-mandated requirements for food pantries like ours, so we are not able to continue to partner with Metropolitan as directly as we had until now. I hope people who have been volunteering at Metropolitan will continue to do so, but now it was time to ask ourselves, “Where do we go from here?” The leadership team had put together a well-thought-out plan to spend the month of May restocking shelves that have grown very bare. Then, they’ll do what we are calling a “soft launch” of the Food Pantry program starting on June 7th. Initially, we will only be open once a week on Tuesday, between 10-12 noon. The leadership team will staff the weekly session long enough to identify any ‘knots’ that need to be untangled. Once we know how the Food Pantry works in this new season we live in, they will issue a ‘call for volunteers’ and provide an orientation session before starting to schedule more sessions during the week. Volunteers and food stocks permitting, the goal is to be open again 3 times a week. We are taking it one step at a time, but there is great joy knowing this will allow relationships to be built and rebuilt as neighbors come to the Food Pantry to ‘shop’ from our shelves for the food that keeps hunger at bay. On Saturday, a small and mighty group of Holy Comforters spent the morning cleaning out storm drains on Fairmont, Colonial, and Ashlawn. We are now members of the Gay Meadows, Gladlane Estates, Clubview Neighborhood Association and this was one of their clean-up days. Several had the opportunity to meet some of the board members of the association. We worked hard, laughed a lot and enjoyed each other’s company! The day was perfect for the work we had at hand. We were exhilarated to start to do what we had committed to as one of our major goals this year: to knit ourselves back into a neighborhood we’ve been so insulated from for too long. Some of the storm drains were in really bad shape and all of them needed attention. We actually made a difference. We met and introduced ourselves to a number of our neighbors, and one of them, Mr. Emmett said he’s coming to visit our church soon. I could wax rhapsodic for quite a while, but what matters is this: The Kingdom of God is like an ordinary street in an ordinary city. There, people without pretense, political agenda, or ambition, and plenty of laughter, goodwill, and kindness can help tame the raging waters and floods caused by stopped up storm drains. Can show that love is as practical and down to earth as raking off mud and gunk and leaves and picking up trash. Can say “hi” to children, moms, dads, folks who are aging, and the very young without needing anything in return. Can mark a new beginning simply by showing up. That to me goes to the heart of this Season of the Resurrection. With joyous news that Christ is risen and that we get to live in the abundant life offered to us in the resurrection, I send big Easter blessings and love to all of you! Rosa+ |
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Tending To Our Heart & Spirit |
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JOIN US SUNDAYS Holy Eucharist |10AM also streamed live on Facebook ✠ |
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WORSHIP ON WEDNESDAY Facebook Live Morning Prayer | 10:30AM Randy Woodland is the officiant Compline | 7PM |
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Events, Programs & Updates |
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Preparing for Pentecost Mark your calendar for Pentecost Sunday, June 7th! More information coming soon. |
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Feeding Ministries As we look ahead to reopening the Food Pantry on June 7th, I'd like to ask the entire congregation to help to restock our shelves. We need canned vegetables and fruit and it would be particularly helpful if we could get packs of cans (for example, a 12-pack of peas). Also, be thinking if this is a ministry you would be willing to volunteer for. We will make a call for volunteers after we open and work out any kinks--please prayerfully consider saying yes to that call! Drop-off containers with yellow lids are outside McMaster Hall. -Rosa It’s high season in the Community Garden! Have you noticed? Beds have been cleared, tilled, mulched, and planted with lovely, healthy seedlings courtesy of Mary Wisdom from Immanuel. Now, we could use your help! If you have a talent for weeding, tending, or harvesting, we could use your help. For information or to sign up, contact Jean Murray or the office. Please leave a message if there is no answer and Jean will get back to you. Many thanks! The Backpack Ministry is in need of canned fruit for the children. There is a drop-off location right in front of the chapel. |
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MAY Birthdays & Anniversaries Watch over thy children O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and in their heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Birthdays McRae Peavy, Carroll Isaac, Kirby Simpson, Kinsley Barber, Mayson Barber, Maria Mallow, Todd Pruitt, Gwen Northcutt, Will Kelley, Kathy Barrowman, Dorothy Gidiere, Lea Russell, Leigh Davis Anniversaries Maurice & Mark Semler, Leigh & Billy Davis, Blake & Todd Pruitt, Mary Lois & Alden Monroe |
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We thank everyone for being a part of Rains' Baptism on Easter Sunday. It was a beautiful day! -Terri, Missy, Aiken & Rains |
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Vestry Senior Warden Steven Speaks Junior Warden Randy Bryan Treasurer Mary Lois Monroe Clerk Jeri Tippit Members: Kathy Albree Haynes Kelley Rand Neeley Amy Seanor |
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Please Pray For Parishioners Nancy Boston, Ann Carlton, Rob Dailey, Fred Earle, Sidney Hennessey, Jason Hicks, Lamar Higgins, Mac & Douglass Porter, Lea Russell, Claudene Thomas, Judith Granger Ward Friends Tracey Bailey, Eileen Black, Elizabeth Via Brown, Cindi Colley, John Conway, Gay & Harry Curlin, Jo-Ann Currie, Todd Daniels, Jayce Davidson, Casey Dodd, T. J. Esco, Nan Fairley, Julie Gantt, Linda Garrett, Judy Glanzer, Rosine Hall, Rick & Becky Harris, Alison Hill, Jay Hornsby, Tom Hyde, JoAnn Ivey, Brenda Jones & family, Sharon Kelley, Dorothy King, John Nelson, Sharon M. Nelson, Michelle Northsworthy, Nanette Olson, Patricia, Dianne Pinkston, Dusty Pouncey, Samuel Purcell & family, Dave Seanor, Arthur Segal, Joe Soliday, Riley Soliday, Taylor Scroggins, Caroline Simpson, Michal Slovic, Isaiah Taylor, Christina Waite, Joe Wilkins, Patsy Wilkins, Ben Winbury, Ellen Wood Students Emma Franklin, Will Franklin, Addie Hoffman, Caroline Lee, Will Lee, Taylor McLemore, Michael Moore, Rachel Moore, Mary Ellen Neeley, Charles Speaks, Thomas Speaks, Connie Tapia, Braxton Trest |
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Photos: Kathy Albree, Leanne Barber, Dabney Mckenzie and Terri Via |
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