Dear Friends,

A very happy Easter to you all.  April and the Easter season are upon us and there is much to celebrate and look forward to.   A schedule for the month is in the sidebar. 

Of special interest this month are two performances of a play by Jonathan Brower of Third  Street Theatre, Oblivion.  Oblivion is a semi-autobiographical story that beautifully portrays the complexities surrounding faith and queer identity.  Paralyzed by his past, Tim stands at a crossroad where he must decide the future of this faith before it destroys him. Act One is a 60-minute staged reading where professional actors interpret the play with the script in their hands.  Act Two is a conversation with the audience. In past performances, the conversation has lasted 30-60 minutes but exact timing is up to the presenter. This act allows for reflection, feedback and dialogue and is an opportunity for audience members to tell their own stories, ask questions of the artists, and digest what they have just witnessed together.

St. Laurence and the Wisdom Centre have partnered with Knox Presbyterian and St. Stephens Anglican Church for these performances.   Please join us for one of two  performances

Friday, April 15th at St. Stephens Anglican Church (1121 14 Ave SW)
Doors open at 7:30 and performance at 8:00 pm

Saturday, April 16th at Knox Presbyterian Church (3704 37 St. SW)
Performance at 10:30 am followed by a light lunch and Act 2

Both performances are by donation.  Please join us and invite others who might be interested. 

As April begins I would also like to direct your attention to a number of links (all in blue below).

First of all  as we continue to look at Food Security, you may want to take a moment to read an excellent article about the possible implications of a new trade agreement with the EU on Canadian local food security.  Thank-you to our small but hardworking Food Security Group for finding this article.  They would also encourage you to read the book The Omnivore's Dilemma.  Copies will be available at church for only $10 in preparation for a Wednesday evening 4-week book study beginning May 11.  

In addition our partner church in Ramleh Israel has a 6 minute video of their Palm Sunday procession you may enjoy watching Palm Sunday video.  They have also joined Facebook and encourage St. Laurence to friend them. Last year's Easter special offering went to support the building of the new parish hall in Ramleh and if you watch the video or go on Facebook you can get a look at the lovely new addition.

This year's special Easter offerings will be directed to the PWRDF.  We look forward to having special guests for our PWRDF service on April 17th who will tell us about a project in the Sudan. 

With every blessing for the Easter season I leave you with an Easter poem, Risen, below,

Anna Greenwood-Lee
St. Laurence Anglican Church
403-249-6184 x. 2



Risen by Jan Richardson

If you are looking
for a blessing,
do not linger
here.

Here
is only
emptiness,
a hollow,
a husk
where a blessing
used to be.

This blessing
was not content
in its confinement.

It could not abide
its isolation,
the unrelenting silence,
the pressing stench
of death.

So if it is
a blessing
you seek,
open your own
mouth.

Fill your lungs
with the air
this new
morning brings

and then
release it
with a cry.

Hear how the blessing
breaks forth
in your own voice,

how your own lips
form every word
you never dreamed
to say.

See how the blessing
circles back again,
wanting you to
repeat it,
but louder,

how it draws you,
pulls you,
sends you
to proclaim
its only word:

Risen.
Risen.
Risen.
April at St. Laurence
 
Sunday, April 3
10:00 am 2nd of Easter  Holy Eucharist with The Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee

FairTrade Coffee and Tea Sales after church in the church hall 

Thursday, April 7
9:30 am Contemplative Prayer Service with Geri Urch

Friday April 8 to Sunday, April 10
Images of Spirituality at Entheos Retreat Centre with Sister Ita Connery, FCJ and The Rev. Carolyn Herold

Sunday, April 10  
10:00 am 3rd of Easter 
Holy Eucharist. with The Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee

Thursday, April 14
9:30 am Prayer Group with Stuart McKay

Friday, April 15
8:00 pm Oblivion Performance at St. Stephens Anglican

Saturday, April 16
10:30 am Oblivion Performance at Knox Presbyterian
 

Sunday, April 17  
10:00 am PWRDF Sunday 
Holy Eucharist. The Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee and guest speaker The Rev. Dr. Cathy Campbell

This is also Food Bank Sunday. Please remember to bring your donations.

Thursday, April 21
9:30 am Contemplative Prayer Service with Geri Urch

Sunday, April 24  
10:00 am St. Mark the Evangelist Holy Eucharist. The Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee
 
Thursday, April 28
9:30 am Prayer Group with Stuart McKay