Bob & Donna Weber, Mickey Federico, Yasso Herath, Peter Lubeck, Catherine Lubeck, Shirley Federico, Courtney Hoenveld, Janet, Thomas Humeston, Elaine MacPhee, Tankert Mahler, Marie Haynie, Jack Seeman, Evelyn, Miranda Pinckert, Adele, Clinton Taplin, Dominique Rhoklin, Fred Teyan, Marie Stay, Marie Young, Peggy, Madeline Schnalzer, Peter Zakrepine, Betty Mettler, Marvin Spruck, Jeannie, Lyn Casey, Rosemarie Buri, Louise Bohr, Carl, Meredith Gilmor, Sally Sarvent, Alexandra Mettler, Barbara DelPizzo, Sharon, Dr. Roufa, Sophie Weber, John, Helen Scalici, Rosemary Owen, Kathleen Hoenveld, Betty Wolfe, Terrence Berg
Readings [We are using Track 2 of the indicated readings.]
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.
Reflection
Every hour I stand closer to death than I did the hour before. All of us draw closer all the time, but rarely with the awareness that comes when the simple fact of old age - or a serious accident or illness - reminds us of where we stand. I have no wise words about dying and death. I've watched loved ones die in fearful anguish, others in joyful anticipation. How I will travel that last mile, I have no idea. As for death and its aftermath, I'm not privy to reports from the other side. But I'll know I've made it to Heaven if I can get early-morning coffee there, and I have reason to believe that's a possibility. I'm told they can dark-roast coffee beans in The Other Place.
What I know for sure is this: We come from mystery and we return to mystery. I arrived here with no bad memories of wherever I'd come from, so I have no good reason to fear the place to which I'll return. And I know this, too: Standing closer to the reality of death awakens my awe at the gift of life.
Last Friday morning, that gift included seeing the world at sunrise through a rose window; reading a stranger's generous letter alongside a friend's evocative essay; possessing the physical and mental capacity to make coffee, climb the stairs, and start working on this piece; and having a laugh with myself about coffee roasted in Hell and served in Heaven. How could I abide my own gravitas without the leaven of humor?
Courtney says that her daughter "approaches the world with only one giant, indiscriminate expectation: delight me." Like sixteen-month-old Maya, I want to approach the world with only one expectation as I stand "on the brink of everything" at age 76.
I'm old enough to know that the world can delight me, so my expectation is not of the world but of myself: Delight in the gift of life and be grateful.
The Senior Youth Group's festive Easter Fair features games, crafts, bake sale, and an Easter Basket raffle to help raise funds for the 2015 Church Youth Service Mission (CYSM) trip to Beards Fork, WV. Be sure to stop by and get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny!
FINAL LENTEN EVENING PRAYER AND ORGAN MEDITATION
Our Lenten series of Evening Prayer followed by a thirty-minute Organ Meditation by our esteemed organists concludes Sunday afternoon with organist Richard Kuczkowski, assisting organist at Grace. Evening Prayer begins at 4:00pm and the Meditation begin at 4:30pm.
Announcements & Reminders
EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO PRESENT LIVE WEBCAST OF ITS FORUM: THE CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 24, KICKING OF 30 DAYS OF ACTION
The Climate Change Crisis, presented by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society on March 24, will address one of the most pressing topics in today's society. The 90-minute live webcast will originate from Campbell Hall Episcopal School, North Hollywood, CA, in partnership with Bishop J. Jon Bruno and the Diocese of Los Angeles, beginning at 11:00am Pacific. The webcast will be viewable here
To sign up for daily emails during the 30 Days of Action click HERE
DO YOU HAVE A ROOM AVAILABLE TO RENT? We're trying to help someone locate short-term housing -- if you have space that might be available, contactFr. Owen.
EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS
Envelopes for your Easter Flower memorials are available in the narthex. Requests need to be received by next Sunday, March 29, to be included in Easter bulletins. You may drop your envelope in the offering plate, or phone/email your request to the office and mail your donation to us.
"I GIVE ELECTRONICALLY" If you are one of our pledgers who give electronically through the diocesan E-pledge service, or have made arrangements to have your pledge paid at regular intervals through a credit card payment, you might like to use one of our new "I give electronically" cards to put in the plate during the collection of offerings on Sunday. Look for them at the church entry, or ask an usher. If you're interested in electronic giving options, you'll find more information there as well.
Parting Thought
"So I want to give thanks to God without ceasing. He frequently forgave my lack of wisdom and my negligence, and more than once did not become very angry with me, the one who was meant to be his helper.
I was not quick to accept what he showed me, and so the Spirit prompted me.
The Lord was merciful to me a thousand thousand times, because he saw in me that I was ready, but that I did not know what I should do about the state of my life."
