 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Friday, February 25, 2022 Transfiguration Sunday Last Sunday after Epiphany  The Change of Seasons This Sunday marks the last Sunday after the Epiphany. You see that toward the right of the circle. The liturgical color is white. Next Wednesday we will begin the season of Lent with two services for Ash Wednesday – at noon and at 5:30 pm. The color is purple, both for repentance and for royalty – The two ideas are bound up together. The Lord is not an elected representative, nor a despot, but the one who comes from God in order to show us what God’s kingdom looks like, and even to die, rather than to betray the love of God by giving allegiance to anything else. During Lent we repent, rethink, turn, re-turn, re-consider, re-assess, re-evaluate our own lives in light of all that God offers to us, and all we have too often chosen to neglect. It is not a time for shame.God doesn’t do shame. But God does show us ourselves: the beautiful, the ugly, the magnificent, the tawdry, the frightened, and urges us to “repent and believe the good news” – to becomes one single thing –  Burying the Alleluia It is customary not to use the word, Alleluia! during Lent – so you will notice a whole lot of alleluias in this Sunday liturgy! As a visual, we “bury the Alleluia” by making a large banner covered with butterflies, flowers, and the word “Alleluia!” I’d like to ask you to have your children make colored butterflies, bugs, spring flowers or whatever feels like resurrection to them today or tomorrow – We will paste them on the long paper banner after Church before we “bury” it. We will being it out again during the first service of Easter. Psalm 103 I have already begin to receive a few reflections, both serious and whimsical! And it has been powerful for me, too, to read this psalm again every day, and to know that you are doing it as well. If you have contributions, bring them on Sunday as well unless you send them to me by email (susanna601@aol.com) or send photos of artwork by text or message. We will continue to think about this text through Ash Wednesday, of which liturgy it is part, and then begin to reflect on the next passage together. Mardi Gras We will NOT have our pancake supper and party this year. There are still too many cases of COVID in our area. However, after Church this Sunday we will have donuts and sweet rolls both to celebrate Lowell Korber as he moves to Lincoln, Nebraska to a senior living facility, and also to have a time of fellowship before Lent begins. We will finish the Alleluia banner and bury it – and also burn last year’s palms, which will become the ashes we use to mark our foreheads next Wednesday. Please try to stay for a short time if you are able.  The readings for Sunday This Sunday, Ryan Williams will preach the transfiguration during the 10:30 Eucharist. As you know, Ryan is in the process towards ordination in the Episcopal Church, and an excellent preacher. Exodus 34:2-35 Psalm 99 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 Luke 9:28-36 |
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