JUST HOW "INTOLERABLE" ARE THOSE SINS?

The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; the burden of them is intolerable (The Book of Common Prayer, 1928, p. 75)

Some of us have been saying these words as long as we can remember, their psychological impact upon us most likely varying at one time or another.  They bring to mind that other disturbing phrase from the Daily Office Confession: "There is no health in us."  Indeed, many faithful Christians state their preference for the new liturgies precisely because they do not always feel that "there is no health [in them]" or that the burden of their sin is "intolerable".  Admittedly the words in both confessions are extremely powerful, and when we say them we may not always feel their impact, not to mention their reality.  Why then, ought we continue to say them?

Taking the Daily Office Confession first, it's important to remember that when we pray either form of the Prayerbook Confession, we are not necessarily telling God how we feel at that given moment.  Rather, we are confessing to Him as well as reminding ourselves of the perpetually fallen state in which we live:  that there is no "health", i.e. "wholeness" in us apart from God.  By no means does that phrase mean we are incapable of good, but that without God's grace, we are less than we were created to be.  We constantly need the "bridge" of Jesus and His grace to be reconciled with God the Father.  When we profess there to be no health in us, we further confess that we continue to live in that state of what the Church calls "original sin", meaning that it's easier for us to be bad than it is to be good - and although Jesus' death and Resurrection has opened to us the gates of Heaven, Easter doesn't wipe away original sin.  It's still easier for us, most of the time, to do what we want rather than what we ought.  Quite simply, there is no health or wholeness in us.

Does one always need to feel that the burden of sin is intolerable?  Perhaps not necessarily, but that doesn't nullify our need to continue to say so.  Frankly when we recall, how in spite of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, we continue to commit the same sins, that truly is a "grievous" state.  To refuse to say so would be a denial of the truth.  Further, while not wanting to "anthropomorphize" God, and while our sins at any given moment may not seem an intolerable burden to us, one wonders what those sins feel like to God.  On the Cross our Lord cried, "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"  Do not our sins continue to add to such an intolerable burden?, a burden so complete that Jesus felt for a few unspeakable moments that God really had turned His face from Him.

There exists a further reason why we should say these words even though we don't feel their truth at the moment.  At the end of Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing, Benedict and Beatrice are arguing, as they do throughout the play, about whether or not they love each other.  Finally at the denouement while both are denying that they feel their love at the moment, friends and family of each produce letters, in which each had formerly written of their love for the other - and Benedict says:  "A miracle!  Here's our own hands against our hearts."  That is, both are recognizing the fact that their wills (what they have written with their hands) mean more than what they fail to feel at the moment with their hearts.  And they kiss.  It is a wonderful example of the theological and psychological fact that our affections always follow our wills.  What we pray is what we believe.  Our hearts follow our actions.  Most married couples can easily attest to this truth.

As such, regarding our own "intolerable burdens", we prayed last Sunday that God would "order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men," and one way for our unruly affections (our feelings) to be subdued, is for us to attempt with God’s grace to will those feelings into submission.  The affections of our hearts (our feelings, as with the love between Beatrice and Benedict) always in time will submit to our wills.  The same principle applies to the "intolerable burden" of our sins.  Whether we feel such a state at any given moment, the fact that we continue to remember their grievousness cannot but in time, help us to appreciate and realize the heinousness and fact not just of our own sin, but that of all mankind.  In essence we are confessing not how we feel at the moment, but simply how and what we are - not an unimportant thing to recall throughout the year, not to mention during Holy Week.  FAB

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

On Palm Sunday, we will discuss the events of Holy Week using the Stations of the Cross.  One might, before the class, walk through the Church to refresh one’s memory of each "station".

Taking a day off on Easter Day, we will resume classes on April 15 through the Sundays of May studying a selection of the Psalms.  FAB

HOLY WEEK:  YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE 

Once again the school calendars have conspired to make Holy Week attendance difficult for many of us.  For those who remain in town, a few reminders:

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Eve, are the most important days of the year, and it grieves me each year to see the choir, altar guild, layreaders and acolytes work so hard to make these services beautiful and worthwhile giving them the dignity and reverence they deserve, while relatively few of the congregation attend - Easter Day excepted.

It may be that part of the reason we have as many young children attending the Ash Wednesday service is the visual and physical aspect of having the ashes placed on their [our] heads.  I'd give just about anything to see as many children in Church for Maundy Thursday and Easter Eve.  We do pretty well with Palm Sunday, although this year all three school systems will be on Spring Break that day.  However, if you want your children to understand the events of Holy Week, a picture speaks a thousand words and the visual and dramatic aspect of these services (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Eve) is profound.  Further, the gradual darkening of the Church and the sound of the "earthquake" during Tenebrae (Monday - Wednesday 5:30 p.m.) carries its own drama.  No matter their age, your children will learn, and Easter Day will be more meaningful for you and them.

Good Friday (along with Ash Wednesday) are the two major fast days of the year.  We generally understand this to mean, for those who are healthy, coffee or juice and a donut, i.e. a very light breakfast, and then a light meal after sundown.

Please see the Holy Week schedule elsewhere in this newsletter, and place it on your refrigerator door, or wherever you keep the other "reminders"!  FAB

ON THE PARISH WEBSITE

Please visit allsaintsthomasville.org for the Primates' Communique, the proposed Anglican Covenant draft, as well as commentary on those events.

We have also recently posted the House of Bishop's letter to the Church (from March), as well as the resolutions adopted at their semi-annual retreat last month.

ST. CECILIA AND ST. DAVID CHOIR NEWS
 
Both choirs joined the ECW and visited Camellia Gardens on Wednesday March 21. The St. David Choir sang first, with Neel Gurley singing a solo on one of the anthems. Beginning Jerger School band members and choristers Meme Hand on flute, Annalee Jackson on trumpet, and Ali Hall and Caroline Sewell on clarinet then performed. The St. Cecilia Choir sang last and charmed an appreciative audience. The choristers then hand delivered Easter cards that they had made and colorful pots of spring flowers for each table in the dining hall.  We all enjoyed participating in this annual ECW outreach project.

There will be no choir rehearsals on April 4 (Holy Week).  The choirs will sing Easter II, April 15, and also on Mother's Day, May 13.

Kathy Buechner

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMENS NEWS

OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

We are so pleased to announce that Lee Mitchell and Lee Chubb will co-chair the ECW for its coming year.  While we've enjoyed the last few years and have accomplished a great deal, Lee and Lee will continue to build our ministries -- as they have already in previous years.  We will continue to co-chair the auction.

Please note our next meeting is on Wednesday, April 18 at 5:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

Thank you,
Jenny Ladson
Liz Parvey

EYC NEWS

EYC will be selling raffle tickets for the "Very Special Easter Basket" after Church Palm Sunday, April 1
 
We will also sell tickets during the Easter Egg Hunt, April 8. The winning raffle will be drawn during the Easter Service.
 
Remember the money raised by this activity is going to help our friends in Americus who are recovering from recent tornado damage.
 
Our next organized meeting of EYC will be on Sunday, April 15--look for details in the mail.

Thank you,
Andrea and Chip Hancock

FLOWERING OF THE CROSS

Remember to have your children bring a flower to Church Easter morning so we can "flower" the Cross at the Offertory.

MAUNDY THURSDAY VIGIL

Following the 10:00 a.m. service on Thursday, April 5, we will hold the traditional Maundy Thursday Vigil in the chapel until 5:00 p.m.  The vigil stems from Jesus' words to the apostles, "Could you not watch one hour with me?"  A 30 minute segment schedule is in the office and will be in the Church this week.  Please call the office or sign up for one or more slots in order that we have at least one person in the chapel between 10:30 and 5:00.  The Stripping of the Altar and Reading of the Passion will follow the 7:30 p.m. Eucharist in the Church.  FAB

OFFICE CLOSING
 
The office will be closed on Friday, April 6 in observance of Good Friday, and Monday and Tuesday, April 9 and 10 in observance of Easter.

EASTER LILIES

Those of you who would like to give memorial and thanksgiving lilies for Easter, please call the Church office before Tuesday, April 3.

VESTRY MEETING

The Vestry will hold its meeting this month on Sunday, April 15 at 8:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall Library. 

 
USHERS FOR APRIL:

April 1 
Raleigh Rollins   
Charles Sanders

April 5
Mike Shea

April 6    
Tom Simmons   

April 7
Marc Todd
Charlie Whitney

April 8    
Geoffrey Young  
Robert Balfour   

April 15
John Brinson
Don Bruhn

April 22   
John Daniel   
Charles Deal   

April 29
Jim Funk
John Glenn

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"The Donkey"
    by G.K. Chesterton

  When fishes flew and forests walked
      And figs grew upon thorn,
  Some moment when the moon was blood
   Then surely I was born.

  With monstrous head and sickening cry
   And ears like errant wings,
  The devil's walking parody
   Of all four-footed things.

  A tattered outlaw of the earth,
   Of ancient crooked will,
  Starve, scourge, deride me:  I am dumb,
   I keep my secret still.

  Fools!  For I also had my hour;
   One far, fierce hour and sweet:
  There was a shout about my ears
   And palms before my feet.

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TRANSITIONS:

Happy Birthday in April to:

William Thomas Bragg   4-1-98
Michael Houston   4-1-93
Caroline Sewell    4-2-96
Elizabeth Anne Rollins   4-14-03
Annalee K. Jackson   4-28-96

Happy Birthday in May to:

Ella Simmons    5-18-01
Samuel Sewell    5-18-94
Audrey Simmons   5-22-95
Christopher C. Watt   5-27-99
Samuel Bruhn    5-28-01
Savannah Singletary   5-29-96

Requiescat in Pace:

Anne McClurkin Woodham departed this life March 8, 2007.
Linda S. Roan departed this life March 9, 2007.

May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.  Amen.
 
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HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Palm Sunday, April 1
10:30 a.m. - The Blessing of the Palms
Reading of the Passion and Holy Communion

6:00 p.m. - Holy Communion

Monday-Wednesday, April 2-4
5:30 p.m. - Holy Communion and Tenebrae

Maundy Thursday, April 5
10:00 a.m. - Holy Communion
(Vigil in Chapel)

7:30 p.m. The Commemoration of the
Institution of the Lord's Supper,
Holy Communion, the Stripping of the Altar,
and the Reading of the Passion

Good Friday, April 6
12:00 Noon - 1:00 p.m. Ante-Communion, the Reading of the Passion,
an Address, and the Reproaches

6:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross

Easter Eve, April 7 - 8:00 p.m.
The Easter Vigil and The Holy Eucharist
(the First Service of Easter)

Easter Sunday, April 8
9:30 a.m. - Easter Egg Hunt
10:30 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist
NO EVENING SERVICE
 
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From the Holy Sonnets

Thou hast made me, and shall thy work decay?
Repair me now, for now mine end doth haste;
I run to death, and death meets me as fast,
And all my pleasures are like yesterday.
I dare not move my dim eyes any way;
Despair behind, and death before doth cast
Such terror, and my feebled flesh doth waste
By sin in it, which it towards hell doth weigh.
Only thou art above, and when towards thee
By thy leave I can look, I rise again;
But our old subtle foe so tempteth me
That not one hour I can myself sustain.
Thy grace may wing me to prevent his art,
And thou like adamant draw mine iron heart.

-- John Donne

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Mock on! Mock on!

Mock on, mock on, Voltaire, Rousseau:
Mock on, mock on: 'tis all in vain!
You throw the sand against the wind,
And the wind blows it back again.

And every sand becomes a gem
Reflected in the beams divine;
Blown back they blind the mocking eye,
But still in Israel's paths they shine.

The atoms of Democritus
And Newton's particles of light
Are sands upon the Red Sea shore,
Where Israel's tents do shine so bright.

--William Blake