HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE 

April 4: Seder Supper

6:00 pm, Reservations required

$5 per person, $20 for families

April 5: Maundy Thursday

7:00 pm Service: Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing and Garden of Repose followed by a Prayer Vigil (if interested in Prayer Vigil, please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex) 

April 6: Good Friday

Services at noon and 7:00 pm

April 7: Easter Vigil

8:00 pm Service: Holy Eucharist with Baptism

April 8: Easter

Services at 8:00 am and 10:30 am with flowering of the cross and offering of mite boxes. There will be Easter Pot-Luck Brunch and Egg Hunt between the services. The Egg Hunt begins at 9:30. Please bring dishes for the pot-luck on Easter. There will be no formation classes today. 

CAREY'S CONVERSATIONS 

"I am a hole in a flute that the Christ's breath moves through- Listen to the this music."

Hafiz, 14th century Persian poet

There are times we are blessed with moments of grace that we did not seek - they simply drop into our laps. I experienced such a moment this Tuesday.

I was sitting at the front of the nave near the altar in a rocking chair and I was reading the collect for Tuesday in Holy Week that says: O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP p.220) As I was sitting there in the shaded darkness of the church on this cloudy day I heard someone coming up the stairs and moving toward the backside of the altar. I saw them but they did not see me. I started to speak to them but was afraid it would startle them so I practically held my breath. As they reached the area near the credence table the person reverenced and then looked up at the cross and in raspy but holy voice whispered - "Jesus." The Word as it came out was a weighty word indeed, full of trust, heartache and hope for all the situations that no doubt made up their heroic life.

In the hustle and bustle that is Holy Week for a priest I was given a powerful reminder of The Reason for all the busyness - Jesus. The parishioner that day was just like the poet's metaphor "a hole in a flute that Christ's breath moves through."

May we all take some time this week to try our hardest not to try and with all the effort we can muster, finally let go and whisper, 'Jesus' knowing that in that Name above all names is the hope of our life and everyone else that we love and for those we have never met.

I look forward to listening to some more beautiful music like I heard on Tuesday!

Yours in Christ,

Carey+

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       I have become absorbed by the passion pageant of Holy Week. I can imagine myself as so many of the players in this extraordinary drama. I have been Judas and betrayed Jesus for politics and money. I have been among many who have had supper with Christ. He has washed my feet. I have sung hymns with him on the way to mountaintops. I have publicly declared him as my Lord in front of large groups of people.   I have prayed with Christ and fallen asleep either literally or by still staying unconscious to the present moment. I have figuratively cut off ears defending him in my zeal. I have been Nicodemus coming to him secretly at night and speaking out for him in ways that would still keep me safe. I have given false witness against him by making my plan his plan.   I have been Peter and denied my Lord more than three times. I have spat on him and mocked him by my actions. I have been Pilate's wife receiving dreams that tell me that God is among us. I have been Pilate and washed my hands of situations where I should have spoken out for what I knew in my heart was wrong. I have been Barabbas, the criminal who was freed, and did not have to face the consequence of my sins. I have been privileged to wipe the face of God in many who have been suffering. I have perhaps been Simon of Cyrene and carried someone's cross for brief periods of time. I have been among the women who followed Jesus from Galilee and looked helplessly on his crucifixion from a distance. I have been the thief on the cross crying out for God's mercy in my distress. I have been the other thief on the cross still trying to tell God what God should do to relieve my pain. I have been like the centurion at Jesus' death and finally recognized God in the lives of so many only after they have died. I have been Joseph of Arimathea and found a resting place for him. I have been one of the women at the empty tomb still looking for my Lord. I have been Mary Magdalene in the garden, searching for God and not recognizing him.

        Lastly I contemplate whether I would be strong enough to stand the humiliation and suffering and abandonment of crucifixion as our God experienced. But then I remember that our God knows much more than any of us about suffering. God promises to be with us in our distress, and through the story of Jesus' personal suffering and resurrection continually brings us the promise that out of our Good Fridays will always come a new life, a resurrected life now and throughout all eternity.  

Thanks be to God and thanks be for God.

Joanna Seibert, Deacon

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I want to wish you all a very blessed Holy Week and Easter-tide. For those of us in the 'business' of the church, this can be a stressful time. There are so many services and so much different music that it is very easy to get caught up in the work and to lose track of the message of this week; no matter what, God grants us salvation and wants us to be in relationship with God. When I studied the Hebrew Testament, one of the recurring themes was that no matter what the Jewish people did with their relationship with God, they were still welcomed back into God's grace with open arms. No exception. There is something very beautiful and hopeful about that.

I wanted to share with you about an upcoming event. On April 13, the American Guild of Organists Central Arkansas Chapter will be holding their monthly meeting at St. Luke's again after a long absence. There will be a dinner and a meeting at 6:45 pm followed by a recital in the church at 8:00 pm. The program will be for organ and viola. Carol Rodland will be the violist and Catherine Rodland will be the organist. There is no cost for the recital but the dinner is $10.00. Reservations for dinner can be made by contacting Craig Chotard at dinner@cacago.org or by calling 501-225-4203. It will be a wonderful evening and will be nice to see the church filled with people from the central Arkansas area again.

There will be a reception after, and if you could please bring something to share with everyone and show our great hospitality at St. Luke's, that would be great. Details will be coming next week as to the logistics.

Please avail yourself of the many opportunities this week to come to church and worship.

God bless you.

Michael

PRAYER LIST

Carolyn Ford, Jim Howell, Katherine Herring, Rhonda Herring, Annette Gerace, Cory Moses, Laura Dues, Pete Caro, Lawson Anderson, Anne Gontermann, Sheila Crim, Tim Woods, Mike Roh, Vince Roh, Bobbi West, Jamie Poole, Kate Toepfer, Valerie Baker, Nicholas, Martha Stroope, Mary Jo Ring, Kathy Rose, Thalia, Parker, Kathy, Lisa Williams, George Cline, Jim Ellwanger, Hannah Brown, the Acord Family, the Gontermann Family, Bill Spradlin, Mary Paal, Forest Pollard, Ricky Parks, Shirley Miles, the Clawson Family, Stephan Mays, Clarence Davis, the Virgil Wiedner Family, Jayson Phillips, David Porterfield, the Gentry Family, Connie and Kevin Delsinger, Kay M., Bob, the Langlais Family, Kevin Quinn, Wyatt Cole, Ron Meeks and Family, and Joseph and Marion Murphy.

Special Concerns:  All of the men and women of our Armed Forces, especially Jake, Justin, Bret, Joshua, Mark, Tim, Matt, Doug and Lance.

CHURCH HAPPENINGS 

BAPTISMS     

We will offer the sacrament of baptism on Easter Eve, April 7.  If you wish to be baptized or have a child you would like baptized at that time, please contact the church office to arrange a time for baptismal instruction.

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CHURCHMEN'S BREAKFAST      

Dear ChurchMen:  Our monthly ChurchMen's breakfast will be next Saturday. April 14th, in Wilder Hall at 9AM.  Please feel free to bring a guest and come enjoy great food and fellowship!     

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EASTER EGG HUNT      

The Easter Egg Hunt begins at 9:30 am. Don't be late or you'll miss all the eggs!! 

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MAUNDY THURSDAY

Please bring your plants on Palm Sunday for Garden of Repose on Maundy Thursday. Plants should be labeled as to who owns them and placed in the Chapel. Please call the office if you have any questions: 753.4281.

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AN EVENING ON THE CARIBBEAN    

No need to pack your bags and book an expensive trip. We are bringing a splash of the carefree Caribbean to St. Luke's on April 29th. Join us at 5:30 pm to kick off our new Fifth Sunday Series at the Church.  

Love the beat and sound of the rhythms from the Caribbean? Calypso will be on the music menu with the sounds provided by the Steel Drum Band from the Episcopal Collegiate School. Accompanying the music is the dinner menu with authentic style Caribbean favorites. Tempting and tasty dishes will trick your taste buds into thinking you are on one of the islands. Mark your calendars for April 29th and invite your family and friends to join you. Details will follow in future announcements.  

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DAUGHTERS OF THE KING

Our mission is to "extend Christ's Kingdom through Prayer, Service, and Evangelism". During this season of Lent the mission is ever present in the hearts and minds of the Daughters at St. Luke's. Saying daily prayers, fulfilling service needs, and living out our Lord's commands are part of each day. Let us know about you, your family, or your friend's special needs by filling out a prayer card in the church pew rack, calling the church office for hospital/ other visitation needs, or simply speaking to any Daughter in confidence. What we ought to do, by the grace of God, we will do.

"Carry each others burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  

Galatians 6:2

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LENT HAPPENINGS  

Lord, you have searched me out and known me;

you know my sitting down and my rising up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

Psalm 139

Lenten Season 2012

Ash Wednesday, February 22 to Easter Sunday, April 8.

Special Dates in Lent

April 4: 6:00 p.m. Traditional Seder Family Supper for adults & children. Call church office by March 28 for your reservation

Weekday Lenten Services

Morning Prayer -7:00 a.m. Monday & Friday

                  8:30 a.m. Wed. & Thursday

Evening Prayer -5:30 p.m. Monday & Friday

Centering Prayer - 9:30 a.m. Monday

Healing Eucharist - 12:00 p.m. Wednesday

Stations of the Cross- 5:30 on Wed. and following  

the Evening Prayer service on Friday 

Holy Week

Palm Sunday - April 1 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 p.m. services

Wednesday Seder Family Supper -April 4 6:00 p.m. for adults & children - Call church office by March 28 for your reservation

Maundy Thursday - April 5 7:00 p.m. service with Foot Washing and Garden of Repose followed by Vigil

Good Friday - April 6 12 noon & 7:00 p.m. services

Saturday Easter Vigil -April 7 8:00 p.m. service with Baptism

Easter

Easter Vigil - Saturday, April 7 8:00 p.m. with Baptism

Easter Day - Sunday, April 8:00 a.m. & 10:30a. m. with flowering of the cross and offering of mite boxes

Between Services there will be an Easter Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt. (no formation classes today.)

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH  

Community Outreach for April:

• If you have been keeping a mite box from the Episcopal Relief and Development during Lent, please put it in the offering plate on Easter Sunday, April 8.
• Adopt-a-Highway cleanup:   Saturday April 14 at 10am, after the Churchman's breakfast. Please call Carmen at 993-1883 if you will be attending the cleanup.
• Respite Care Help:  The Respite Care program, which takes place in our Parish hall on Thursdays, is in need of volunteers. They are always looking for volunteers to help with clients, from 9am to 2pm. In addition, volunteers are needed to help with cooking and bringing food for 24 people approximately once every 5 weeks; and someone is needed as dishwasher from 11am to 1pm (this position includes lifting racks out of the dishwasher.) If you are interested and can work on Thursdays, please call Lalia at 912-9615 (cell), 851-4946 (home) or 501-376-1519.
• Stock the Pantry Sunday: April 15. 

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ADULT AND YOUNG ADULT FORMATION 

The Adult and Young Adult class will meet in the adult formation room after Easter for a lectionary Bible study starting April 15 through May 20. This is a Bible study of the lectionary readings for Sunday. For more information contact joannaseibert@me.com

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CHRISTIAN FORMATION 

Classes are Sunday mornings at 9:15 am.

2012-2013 Christian Education Classes

3 year olds:        Brouke Reynolds, Guide

                            Paula Benson, Assistant

Catechesis I:       Beth Maze, Guide

(4-6 year olds)    Paula Volpe, Guide

                            Martha Cross, Assistant

Catechesis II:      Ginna Simmons, Guide

(7-9 year olds)    Ellen Moses, Assistant

Catechesis III:     Kimber Barber-Fendley, Guide

(10-12 year olds) Laura Woford, Assistant

Teenager:           Wanda Dunwoody, Co-teacher

(13-18 year olds) Suzzette Patterson, Co-teacher

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Nursery Care is provided for all activities on Sunday mornings.

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EVENTS  

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE 2012 

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