Lenten Links
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This Week and Holy Week
at St. James
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You can view the parish calendar here.
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Grief Recovery Program @ 2 PM
Vestry Meeting @ 6:30 PM
Saturday, April 12
Springtime Music Series - An Evening in Dixieland
Sunday, April 6 Bible Study @ 8:45 Chancel Choir Rehearsal @ 8:45
& Holy Eucharist @ 10:00 AM Children's Sunday School at 10:00 AM
Coffee Hour @ 11:15 AM Reading of The Passion Narrative@ 12 Noon (Please attend this worship service if you are unable to attend worship services on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday).
Wednesday of Holy Week (April 16) Eucharist w/ Healing Service @ 12 Noon
Knitting and Prayers (Stitches) @ 12:30 PM
Maundy Thursday (April 17)
Agape Meal @ 5:30
Holy Eucharist w/ Foot Washing and Stripping of Altar @ 7:00 PM Good Friday (April 18)
Holy Eucharist and Veneration of Cross @ 12 Noon
Stations of The Cross @ 3:00 PM  Holy Saturday Preparation and Preparation for Easter @ 12:00 Noon Easter Vigil @ 8:00 PM
Vigil Celebration @ 9:40
Easter Sunday Festival Eucharist and Celebration @ 10 AM
Easter Egg Hunt and Coffee Hour (Outdoors - Weather Permitting) @ 11:15 AM
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| St. James Episcopal Church Westwood
Weekly Epistle - April 10, 2014
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee." Matthew 21: 9-11
Read Sunday's Lessons here.  | | Learn more about Palm Sunday traditions around the world |
An epic story worth its weight begins with conflict and confusion. Heroes and villains establish themselves. Perplexed citizens seeking release from their captivity are caught in the middle of a drama they can't control or likely don't understand.
Such is the story behind the story of Jesus' last week in Jerusalem. It begins again and again with his "triumphant" entry in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Passover was a huge celebration for the Ancient Jews. They celebrated their Exodus from captivity in Egypt. It (Pesah) still is today. However, their celebrations were definitely risky when Jesus rode into town. Jews who lived in Jerusalem very well understood that they were subjects of the Roman Emperor. Pontius Pilate was the Roman prefect (governor) in Jerusalem. He and his armies were present there to protect the empire's interests and to ensure that "order" was maintained. He possessed power to violently quell any disturbances he deemed a threat to the emperor. This threat was especially true when subjects to the throne were motivated to cause an insurrection. Thus, the Jews who were praising God for their liberation from captivity were on a very short leash as far as Pilate was concerned. Unquestionably, 1st Century Jewish Temple leaders knew that these circumstances existed too. Jesus willingly enters into these dramatic circumstances. It is in this historical cauldron that Jesus' passion and resurrection transpire.
 Theologian Jay Koyle writes:
"Essentially, two "kingdoms" are on display in the narrative of Christ's Passion and Resurrection. The one seen in Jesus and that personified by Pilate and Herod stand in stark contrast to each another. The latter stands for greed, status, ruthlessness, trust in economic or military might. That embodied in Christ is characterized by non-violence, service, compassion, solidarity with the world's vulnerable and rejected, trust in God. " (April, 2014,para. #3).
These tensions aren't only ancient in nature. This epic battle narrative is alive in so many ways within and outside of us. It's such a narrative that we enter into this Holy Week just as Jesus, Pilate, and people such as Peter, The Centurion, Nicodemus, Simon of Cyrene and Mary Magdalene enter into it with us.
My hope and prayer for us this Holy Week is that we won't avoid any of the chapters of Jesus' Passion story. Don't jump in with joy at Palm Sunday then skip ahead to Easter Sunday. Participate in each and every chapter. All of our worship services communicate the most meaningful messages of our Christian faith. They meld together into the story of God's most absurd yet most miraculous love. We will begin our pilgrimage with the Litany of the Palms and Eucharist on Sunday Morning. We've intentionally set aside the reading of the entire Passion Narrative because we are honoring the journey through Holy Week as Christian tradition offers it to us. We invite people who cannot attend our mid-week Holy Week services for one reason to participate in our special Passion Reading taking place at 12 Noon on this Sunday. If you can, please look at our parish calendar and join us on Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.
The curtains are rising. The forces of human and divine nature are moving toward one another. Open The Work. Pray constantly. Celebrate and behold The Sacraments. Observe and listen to what's taking place. Our core of Christian faith unfolds, with and for you. Blessings Along The Way, Jim+ |
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Recent and Upcoming Special Events at St James:
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Check out Julie Murray's Terrific Pop-Up Beer Garden Photos! |
Last Saturday's Popup Beer Garden was an awesome day for us and for our neighbors. Thanks to Westwood Works, especially Works' board members, including John Eby, Nikki Mayhew, and Alex Gartner. They invested a huge amount of time and energy into making the event such a tremendous success. A huge thank you too shouts out to the all the St. James' folks who contributed and participated in what indeed a very special day at the parish. Can't wait for the next one ???? Stay tuned. There will be an announcement in May!
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Springtime Music Series is in Swing
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St. James 2nd Annual Springtime Music Series continues on Saturday April 12th at 7:00 PM. Dixieland Music returns to St. James! Learn more about the Series here.
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Taking it to the Streets on Palm Sunday
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Weather permitting on Palm Sunday, we will begin our worship from the office porch and in front of the church's doors. We will process with palm fronts in hand from the doors across the front yard. We'll head down Montana toward Glenrose for a block or so. We'll then turn around and walk back to the Y. Lastly, we'll cross Cheviot and process into the church. Please feel free to remain at the church if this traditional procession doesn't work for you.
The music for our Palm Sunday "entry" will be "All Glory, Laud, and Honor." Here's a video of the tune in case you don't know it. See you on Sunday!
All glory, laud, and honor To Thee, Redeemer, King, To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David's royal Son, Who in the Lord's name comest, The King and Blessed One.
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