THIS WEEK

Wednesday – Noon: Holy Communion and anointing for healing

Thursday -10 a.m. Bible Study (no 7 p.m. Bible Study this week); 7:30 p.m. – Holy Communion in observance of Ascension Day

Please bring donations for the Salvation Army Food Pantry next Sunday (May 20).

A good way to give thanks and praise to God as well as remember deceased loved ones is to provide the altar flowers on one or more Sundays during the year.  If you are interested in this, please use the 2012 flower chart posted in the undercroft to indicate the Sunday(s) on which you would like to give the flowers. There are a number of Sundays still not “spoken for” this year.

Volunteers are needed to host the coffee hours after the 9 or 11:15 a.m. services on a number of upcoming Sundays.  If you can help, please so indicate on the new coffee hour sign-up sheets posted in the undercroft.

The Good Shepherd

The collect, the Epistle, and the Gospel of this second Sunday after Easter, they all portray Jesus as a shepherd. More importantly, the Good Shepherd.

The Symbolism of the Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd symbolizes Christ the Savior, “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep” (John 10:11). The Shepherd represents Jesus who will search devotedly for even one lost Child of God until it is found (Luke 15). This shows the special connection the shepherd has with the sheep. He knows them by name. Among thousand and thousand of other sheep is able to recognize the voice of his own sheep. Unlike a hired hand, the good shepherd will risk all to protect what is his.

How far will the good shepherd go? Jesus tells us that he will lay down his life for his sheep. That’s the new way of living that Jesus is teaching us today. Lay down your life somebody. Have ever done that before? It is not what we are used to. We are used to holding onto things so tightly. It is so hard for most of us to let go. But our lives will be full, most full of love, when we are most willing to give love away.  We empty ourselves to be filled. We give to receive. We lay down to take up. We set down power to gain power.

Now, you may be asking yourselves why Jesus needed to lay down his precious life for us. The answer to that question is that we all have sinned! And because of our sin we have lost our rights to have eternal life. The only way to enter heaven and enjoy eternal life is to accept Jesus the Good Shepherd. Either you like or not, His blood was shed as payment for our sins. But he is alive and he lives as our shepherd today.

The description of the Good Shepherd

He will never abandon the sheep. He will go after the one that gets lost and will make sure he finds him and bring him back into the fold. The Good Shepherd is compassionate.

Are you looking for a picture of true shepherding? Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me”. Jesus is concerned to bring together and unite his flock. When one sheep strays for any reason, Jesus doesn’t criticize him. He doesn’t gossip about him. He doesn’t gather the other 99 around to demonize him. Jesus goes out to find him and restore him to the fold. He is the one who will heartedly fight until death for the well-being of the sheep. That’s what a shepherd does. That’s what the clergy, Bishops and Priests, they are called to do. Now, let me not go any further.

The great shepherd will do whatever it takes to protect His sheep. We remember in the garden, that Adam shepherded the animals and gave them names. Jesus as the second Adam becomes the One who calls the sheep by name. Jesus is also the greater Moses. Moses was a shepherd for 40 years in the wilderness defending his sheep from the enemies. Jesus defends His sheep from the enemies’ attack. In fact, shepherding is a first step to becoming a king. The first two kings of Israel are shepherds before they become kings. We see Saul and David as shepherds before they assume the greatest of all roles as kings shepherding a nation. The role of the shepherd is to lead His sheep into victory; into green pastures, says Psalm 23.

I encourage you to pray for your Priests and Bishops so that they may be good shepherds taking good care of the flock entrusted to them.

Let me be clear about this. We clergy are not perfect. We are just human beings like you and we who are called to a huge, difficult, self-sacrificing, but very rewarding task. Which is to lead you to eternal life through the gospel proclamation, through bread and wine, and through exhortation and encouragement to live faithfully to your calling. Our request as your priests is that you would remember us in prayer and that you are very aware that we care deeply for you as a shepherd cares for his sheep.

Jesus as a Shepherd had been successful because he works with his sheep and his sheep work with him. Whenever he offers them anything they will take it. When says there is Bible study on Thursday they are there. When he says Sunday after church we have Sunday school, you will see all the sheep participating. Whenever he says there is a program to bring more people to the church, all the sheep put hands together to run it. They all go out to win more souls. Evangelism is not the business of a couple of people who call themselves committee. Winning souls for Jesus is the responsibility of every baptized person.  

We are all called to have a little shepherd in us. If one of us falls, the rest of us stop and pick him up and put him on our shoulders. If one of us strays, the rest call out and point the way to go find him. Together, we follow Jesus, for there is but one flock, and one Shepherd.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday – Noon: Holy Communion and anointing for healing

Thursday -10 a.m. and 7 p.m.: Bible Study; Noon: Holy Communion

Saturday – 9 a.m.:  Church Yard Day –  a Spring Cleaning of our church grounds; all are invited and encouraged to attend

The synod of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic States will be held June 7-9 in Roanoke, VA where the meeting will be hosted by St. Thomas of Canterbury Parish.  All clergy of the diocese, plus delegates, alternates and observers whose names have already been submitted to the diocese, should receive registration materials by mail soon.  Anyone else who wishes to attend the synod as an observer can find copies of registration materials in the narthex.

The Faith-Based Work Group of the Re-Entry Council of Alexandria is looking for churches providing services that inmates need to successfully re-enter society. People recently released from incarceration need the basics of clothes, food, jobs, etc., but they also need mentoring to help them find God’s love and a path of good citizenship. If you are interested in visiting or working with the Faith-Based Work Group speak to one of the wardens or priests for contact details.

Have not heard of that madman who lit a lamp in the bright morning hours, ran to the market-place, and cried out: “I am looking for God! I am looking for God!”

As many of those who did not believe in God were standing there, they started laughing at him. “Have you lost him, then?” said one. “Did he lose his way like a child?” said another. “Or is he hiding somewhere? Is he afraid of us? Has he gone on vacations?

The madman replied: “Where has God gone? I shall tell you. We have killed him – you and I. We are his murderers “ (Friedrich Nietsche).

It has been said that on that same day the madman entered diverse churches and there he sang a requiem. And people tried to shut him up. But he still had the courage to ask: “What are these churches now if they are not the tombs and sepulchers of God?” The question of this madman, the search of this madman is justified by the events of what we call Good Friday: the passion, meaning the sufferings and the death of Jesus of Nazareth.

And man thought that God is dead. God is silent forever.  Man thought he had the power to silence God; to kill God, the creator of heaven and earth.

But our God reigns! Jesus Christ died, yes. But even more importantly, He rose again and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, as we say in the Creed.

Jesus Christ defied death FOREVER. And He has reclaimed life for all those who believe in Him.

There are three major truths that we learn from the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

• Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In his Epistle to the Romans Paul said that Christ is the Son of God with power…by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4)
• The resurrection tells the world that the Kingdom of God is ruled by a living King. In Revelation 1:17-18 the word of God declared: ”I am the first and the last, and the living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore”
• The Lord’s resurrection previewed the ultimate victory of Christianity over all its enemies. In the book of Revelation, Jesus is portrayed as a lamb that had been slain, but was standing again (5:6). This same Lord was “the lion of the tribe of Judah” that had overcome his foes (5:5). Christians too will overcome as a result of the Lamb’s sacrifice and victory over death (Revelation 12:11).

It is the New Testament that makes God’s eternal plan for every human being clear. There is an eternal destiny; a life beyond this life. Resurrection lies ahead. And it is the resurrection of Jesus that is the final proof.  Yes, truly, Jesus’ resurrection not only declared him to be what he claimed to be, the Son of God. But is, also, the guarantee for those who believe.  The Bible reveals that because Jesus lives, believers too will live and share his destiny: “When he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1John3:2).

Easter Sunday to many people, means the Easter bunny, Easter egg hunt, a day of food and celebration. For some it is a day of obligation and they have to go to church, after which life goes on as usual. How sad that we have so quickly forgotten the true meaning of Resurrection Sunday.

Please consider today the wonder of God’s power and His love for you. God doesn’t need your praise or your service to Him; He desires it. It is not what we do for God that gets us into heaven and it is our relationship that we have with God. Therefore, let us not forget to honor and appreciate the reason for our celebration, for it is because of his self-less sacrifice that we have life. Let us live today and ALL the days of our life not for ourselves but for our Savior in mind.

The question to you this morning is this: what dreams or desires or talents have you buried that need to be raised from the dead in your life?

Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we have some dead dreams in us that need to be brought back to life. They were dreams we had years ago that over time we continued to push deeper and deeper into the grave of no hope. Our dreams could be the key to a more fulfilling life if we raise them from the dead.

Some of us need to resurrect a new attitude in life. We have to raise up a better way of looking at life.

Whatever your gifts, talents, skills or dreams are that are living in you that need to be resurrected, do it now as Jesus has made available to you the power of his resurrection!

As you leave this church today, any madman that you will meet out there, tell him that God is not dead. Show him that He is alive forever.

Let us remember the lesson of the Epistle today:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Christ is Risen Alleluia, Alleluia!

Easter Egg Hunt Pictures

John+

Holy Week
Holy Monday: Noon Holy Communion
Holy Tuesday: Noon Holy Communion
Holy Wednesday: Noon Holy Communion & Anointing for Healing
Maundy Thursday: 7:30pm Holy Communion
Good Friday: Noon Mass of the Pre-Sanctified (Anglican Missal)
Good Friday: 7:30pm Communion from the Reserved Sacrament (1928 BCP)
Holy Saturday: 7:30pm Easter Vigil (Anglican Missal), including the Striking of the New Fire (no Holy Communion)
Easter Day: 7:45am; 9:00am; 11:15am: Holy Communion

THIS WEEK

Monday – Noon: Holy Communion service in observance of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Tuesday – 7:30 p.m.: The Rt. Rev. Julian M. Dobbs, the U.S. Executive Director for the Barnabas Fund, speaks at the invitation of the Evangelism Committee on “The Arab Spring – Its Effects on Christians in the Muslim World and the Growth and Challenges of a Resurgent Islam.” Following the talk, refreshments will be served in the undercroft. If you can bring food, please sign up downstairs.

Wednesday – Noon: Holy Communion and anointing for healing

Thursday -10 a.m. and 7 p.m.: Bible Study; Noon: Holy Communion

Friday – Noon & 7 p.m: Stations of the Cross. The 7 p.m. devotion will be followed by a Lenten supper. If you can provide the supper this Friday, please so indicate on the sign-up sheet downstairs.

Special envelopes are available in the narthex for those who wish to donate funds for Easter flowers. Also, volunteers are needed to assist with Easter flowers at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 7. If you can help, please speak to Julia Taylor (703-239-2898; uktaylor2@verizon.net).

An Easter Egg Hunt for children 10 & under will be held between services, about 10:30 a.m., on Easter Day. So that we know the approximate number to plan for, please indicate on the list posted on the Sunday School bulletin board if you have children/grandchildren who will be joining the hunt.

An updated parish directory is now available. Parishioners may pick up copies of it in the undercroft – one copy per family, please.

The Faith-Based Work Group of the Re-Entry Council of Alexandria is looking for churches providing services that inmates need to successfully re-enter society. People recently released from incarceration need the basics of clothes, food, jobs, etc., but they also need mentoring to help them find God’s love and a path of good citizenship. If you are interested in visiting or working with the Faith-Based Work Group speak to one of the wardens or priests for contact details.