19 March 2010
The eClarion
A Weekly Publication of
Christ Episcopal Church of Puyallup

The Easter Clean Up Day is scheduled for TOMORROW Saturday, March 20th, from 9am until noon. Come and help spruce up the place for Easter. Please bring: gloves, rakes, pruners, wheel barrows, and your favorite weed digging tool.

Meanwhile, inside the church the altar guild will be doing their Easter cleaning of the sanctuary and it's accouterments. Coffee and snacks will be provided. It looks to be a beautiful day, so come on down and we'll have the place looking beautiful before lunch time!
 
This Sunday

March 21st
The Fifth Sunday of Lent
 
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8

8am: Holy Eucharist

Our early service is unaccompanied by music and usually lasts about 50 minutes. Coffee and fellowship are offered before the service begins in the parish hall, while the sanctuary is available for quiet prayer. Another coffee hour follows the service.

9am: Sunday School
In addition to Nursery care for children under three, there are two classrooms of Godly Play offered from pre-school through 2nd grade. 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are invited to their own classroom where they'll study the Episcopal Prayerbook and Catechism in a pre-confirmation type class. One the first Sunday of most months, a special Children's Chapel event is offered for all kids. This year is brand new for us, so come early (or stay late of you're an eight o'clocker) and join us!

10am: Holy Eucharist
Our late morning service is accompanied by organ music, congregational singing, and the offerings of our adult mixed choir. On the first, and occasionally second, Sunday of each month, Soul Purpose, our contemporary music band, accompanies the liturgy. Nursery care is available for our youngest members and guests. A festive coffee hour for children and adults follows the Eucharist.



Next Week at Christ Church

March 22nd through 27th

Monday
Cornerstone Office Closed
Wednesday
Eucharist & Lunch, 12:05pm, Parish Hall & Sanctuary
Lenten Program, 6pm, Parish Hall
Friday
Youth Cafe, 7pm, Youth Room


For a look at our full calendar, and to see dates further in the future, check out our online calendar.
Announcements

 
Upcoming Events

Next week on Friday is our monthly Youth Cafe. All youth grades 6 through 12 are welcome. Bring a friend! The evening starts at 7pm and wraps up by 10.

Tapestry Singers' annual concert
to benefit the Puyallup Food Bank:  Saturday, March 20th at 3 pm at Pilgrim Lutheran Church 10510 136th Street E., Puyallup. Admission is either a food donation, or a monetary donation for the Food Bank. The concert will feature: Cascade Foothills Chorale, Hands & Voices, Peace Lutheran Gospel Choir, Puyallup United Methodist Handbell Choir, Tapestry Singers (part of Valley Arts United). Bring friends and family for a fun after-noon filled with a variety of vocal and instrumental music. Recent economic conditions have created a critical food need right here in our own community. Join us to support the mission of Puyallup Valley FISH Food Bank. Light refreshments served immediately following the concert.

Our Wednesday Evening Lenten Program finishes up this next week on March 24th. A dinner of soup and bread will be offered at 6:00pm, followed by a video program and discussion. The evening will close with a short prayer service.

This year's celebration of Maundy Thursday will include an Agape Meal. We will gather in the Parish Hall at 6:00pm on the Thursday in Holy Week, April 1st. The meal is being planned by Rob Nathe and a volunteer crew, and will be a nice, sit-down meal. In addition to excellent food, the meal itself, an Agape Feast, will become part of the liturgy for the evening. In the tradition of Seder meals, scripture will be read and questions asked and answered. Bread for the meal will be blessed, and a cup of wine as well. Following the meal, the congregation will process silently into the Sanctuary to participate in the stripping of the Altar in preparation for Good Friday. Because of the nature of this meal, an accurate count is very important. As soon as you know you'll be attending, please put your name on the list. Reservations will be cut off on Tuesday, March 23rd, so get your names on the list soon! There will be a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall, or you can email your reservation to us at office@episcopallup.com. This Holy Week, give yourself the space to contemplate the mystery of Easter by attending this sacred meal with us.

On Palm Sunday, March 28th, there will be a potluck lunch following the 10am service. Along with lunch will be activities for all ages. Learn to fold your own palm cross using the blessed fronds from the liturgy. Bring a dozen hard-boiled eggs for a natural dyeing workshop. Start saving up onion skins (yellow and red) so we'll have enough for everyone to dye. Food, folks, and fun!


If you are ready to deal with the grief of being widowed, separated or divorced, there is help. As a faith based organization Beginning Experience offers men and women the opportunity and skills to build deeper self respect, to cope with the pain of loss, and to move into the future with renewed hope. Join us for a 'Weekend Away for a Life Time of Change' coming up on April 9-11th. Weekend retreats are the heart of the Beginning Experience program, and are offered throughout the year in Lacey, WA at the Gwinwood Christian Retreat Center. The $185 weekend fee covers Friday and Saturday night lodging, a follow up reunion gathering, and the six week Continued Beginnings class. The Continued Beginnings six week session is an opportunity to continue the healing that takes place at the weekend retreat. These session are led by peer mentors. For more information contact: Kim @ 253-302-4611; Pat @ 360-878-9325; or Sara @ 253-861-9084.



Please check the 'Mark Your Calendars!' section for more upcoming events, or see our online calendar.


General Announcements


Here are some things to collect for upcoming events. In the next couple of months we'll be having some special events that need particular items. Please save these things and bring them to church:
  • Dry onion skins, either red or yellow (for natural dyeing of Easter eggs)
  • Old candles (preferably white, for melting down into new candles and campfire starters)
  • Dryer lint from cotton loads (also for campfire starters)
  • Cardboard egg cartons (also for campfire starters)
  • Votive Candle holders (glass, & empty, for filling with new candles)

March is 'Hot & Cold Cereal Month' for the Food Bank
.  Thank you for your generosity!


Mark Your Calendars!

Looking Ahead...

These events are a bit further off, but you may want to mark your calendars now, so you can plan on being there! New entries appear in bold type. And of course, you can look even farther ahead using our online calendar.

  • Palm Cross/Easter Egg Event, March 28, 11:30am
  • Holy Week
    • Song of the Shadows (Wed. in Holy Week), March 31, 7pm
    • Agape Dinner, April 1, 6pm (Reservations Requested!)
    • Good Friday/Stations of the Cross, April 2, 7pm
    • Holy Saturday, April 3, 9am
    • Great Vigil of Easter, April 3, 8pm
  • Potluck, Campfire Starters, Candlemaking, April 18
  • Parish Picnic, July 11th, 10am

Questions? Comments? More Information?
 
phone: 253-848-2323
e-mail: office@episcopallup.com
website: www.episcopallup.com




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