 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Wednesday, March 23, 2022 4 Lent – “Rose Sunday”Laetare! – Rejoice!  Laetare Sunday In the Roman Catholic liturgy for the 4th Sunday in Lent, the entrance antiphon that is traditionally sung at the beginning of Mass begins: “Laetare, Jerusalem…” “Rejoice, O Jerusalem; and come together all you that love her; rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow, that you may exult and be filled from the breasts of your consolation.” In place of the purple vestments, signifying penitence, clergy may wear rose – to celebrate that we are halfway to Easter, halfway through the Lenten season of repentance, renewal, returning to ourselves and to God. Even though those are joyous in themselves, they are also difficult. And so people are often reluctant to make the effort.”Rose Sunday” offers a bit of refreshment to those who are lagging or struggling, or slogging through, (or those who maybe haven’t yet begun to live into Lenten hope by the practices of prayer fasting, or giving.) The 4th Sunday in Lent and the 3rd Sunday in Advent are the only two days of the year when you might see rose colored vestments. Many churches don’t have them at all. We do, only because Mother Virginia Brown made them for me long ago.  Coffee hour/fellowshipThis Sunday we will have rose-colored pie for everyone – traditional cherry or strawberry pie and raspberry jello pie.There may be pink cookies for the kids who don’t want pie, too!  Here is one reason for Lenten joy Psalm 32 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven,and whose sin is put away!Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, and in whose spirit there is no guile. While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, because of my groaning all day long. For your hand was heavy upon me day and night;my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord. Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin… You are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance… |
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