RI The Apr i l 2021 Cornerstone Christ Church | West erly, IN THIS ISSUE: RECTOR'S MESSAGE The Rev. Sunil Chandy NEWS FROM THE ?Therefore, I tell you, do not worry ALTAR GUILD about your life, what you will eat PG 3 or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than FROM THE PRIEST food, and the body more than ASSOCIATE clothes? Look at the birds of the PG 4-5 air; they do not sow or reap or CELEBRATING store away in barns, and yet your GEORGE KENT'S 65TH YEAR AT heavenly Father feeds them. Are CHRIST CHURCH PG 6-7 you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?" CHRISTIAN Matthew 6: 25-27 FORMATION PG 8 As I write this newsletter article in the middle of March, I hear the birds chirping on this glorious Spring morning, reminding me of the above words of Jesus. TRIVIA ?Why do you worry? ? every tim1 e I read or remember PG 8-11 these words of Jesus, I sense he is speaking to me. Perhaps it is because I know that I have a holy vocation HOLY WEEK & VIRTUAL as a priest to be a man of faith. I know that I should be WORSHIP SERVICES a faithful role model for my family and church family. PG 12-14 But friends, one of my sins that I confess daily is the CALENDAR AND sin of ?lack of faith.? Because I am a worrier, yes, Jesus EVENTS speaks these words to me and to all of humanity. For PG 15-18 it is our human condition to worry. Now before I indulge in my guilt-ridden ?mea but not to let them dominate our culpa?, I want to gratefully lives, preventing us from hearing acknowledge that I have gotten the lovely conversations of birds, better through prayer and my the smell of flowers, the affections deepening relationship with God. of friends both new and old. In No, I am not perfect, but neither Easter, we acknowledge the fears does God require our perfection to and worries that beset our lives, receive God?s grace and love. but we embrace a faith that gives I have come to understand the good us the courage to live despite news. That God gives us faith and those fears. We know that the fear to be tools that help author of life has created us adapt and live in the this life and us, and it is world. Sometimes fear is ?good.? necessary, for it protects So this spring, when the us from the dangers birds are chirping, don?t inherent in life. But when forget to listen to their fear dominates our melody that honors our thoughts and Creator and reminds us conversations, we don?t that it is our choice to see truly live. the beauty and joy in life. When we worry, we become dominated and imprisoned by fear. But if we step outside that prison, then we see that fear can become part of the conversation along with faith, love and joy. I have found that it is far better to have our 2 fears in conversation with our faith. When we do this, like Jesus, we can live and love despite the risks Blessings, inherent in life. Fr. Sunil+ Friends, in the Easter season and the springtime, Jesus invites us to let go of our fears. To be aware of them NEWS FROM THE ALTAR GUILD How wonderful it is to be able to decorate our beautiful church for Holy Week and Easter. Although things are still not ?back to normal? we are so pleased to be able to go back to being able to keep up our traditions. This is a very busy time for the Altar Guild! The Garden of Repose will be in place for Maundy Thursday and on Holy Saturday we will unveil the crosses, return all of our brass, bring back the hangings (white) and adorn the Paschal Candle with a ring of flowers. This year the All Night Vigil in the Garden of Repose will be virtual. One will be able to click on the link and pray and meditate at any time during the night. The Altar Guild wishes to thank Vickie VanHorn, a longtime member of the Altar Guild for replacing the gold fringe and braid on the altar white and gold hanging given by Janet M. Gordon, an Emeritus member of the Altar Guild and mother of our Co-Directress, Natalie Pukas. Almost two years ago at Easter, we discovered that the mice had loved the gold fringe at the bottom and destroyed most of it. It was a difficult task to find a match but finally, it was found in England and was sent to us. We received a very generous donation from Barbara Capalbo for its repair. Vickie has replaced it and it will once again adorn our altar for the Easter Season. Thank you all for your generosity and support for our Mothering Sunday Rose Sale. Again, we were so happy to do it this year with the addition of a drive through pick up. From last year?s add3itional profits after buying the chairs for the Parish Hall, we were able to donate $900.00 to the refinishing of the Parish House floor. We are also glad to be able to offer the Caring Crosses for Easter with our memorials and thanksgivings. All names will be published in the email blast as well as during the 10AM Easter Service. Crosses will be blessed and be available for pick up after each service on Saturday and Sunday. They will be placed outside of the office for pick-up during the week. FR. ERIK LARSEN From the Priest Associate Dear Friends: Here's an Easter meditation: There was a charming article in the Times of London a fewyears ago about a six-year-old girl named Lulu who went to a Scottish church primary school. Her teachers asked her to write the following letter: "To God, How did you get invented?" Her father was somewhat taken aback: "We had no idea that a state primary school affiliated with a church would 'do' quite so much God," says her father. He could have told Lulu that, in his opinion, there was no God; or he could have pretended that he was a believer. He chose to do neither, instead emailing her letter to the Scottish Episcopal Church (no reply), the Presbyterians (ditto) and the Scottish Catholics (a nice but theologically complex answer). For good measure, he also sent it to 4 "the head of theology of the Anglican Communion, based at Lambeth Palace" ? and this was the response: Dear Lulu, Your dad has sent on your letter and asked if I have any answers. It's a difficult one! But I think God might reply a bit like this ? 'Dear Lulu ? Nobody invented me ? but lots of people discovered me and were quite surprised. They discovered me when they looked round at the world and thought it was really beautiful or really mysterious and wondered where it came from. They discovered me when they were very, very quiet on their own and felt a sort of peace and love they hadn't expected. Then they invented ideas about me ? some of them sensible and some of them not very sensible. From time to time I sent them some hints ? specially in the life of Jesus ? to help them get closer to what I'm really like. But there was nothing and nobody around before me to invent me. Rather like somebody who writes a story in a book, I started making up the story of the world and eventually invented human beings like you who could ask me awkward questions! And then he'd send you lots of love and sign off. I know he doesn't usually write letters, so I have to do the best I can on his behalf.? Lots of love from me too. It was signed, +Archbishop Rowan Williams (the now retired Archbishop of Canterbury.) I love this. Could anyone have done better? What do you think? Fr. Erik+ 5 I had t he honor and privilege of sit t ing dow n w it h George Kent t o discuss his upcom ing 65t h Anniversary w it h Christ Church. George, you?ve been here for 65 years? w hat m ade you st ay? I?ve had other opportunities, but there were no oceans! It really boils down to the people here? they are so important. For instance, I knew Meg Roy since she was in kindergarten. It?s also this special area and the beauty of this place that I never tire of. Lastly, in the Episcopal Church, music is such a large part of the service. The choir feels like it?s a ministry for them and their dedication is inspiring. Can you w alk dow n m em ory lane a bit for m e and t alk about w hat it w as like w hen you first st art ed at Christ Church? In 1956, there were only 4 choir members. I had this idea to get the children involved, and once they were, they really helped to grow the choir. The girls sang at one service and the trebles (the boys) at another. I have fond memories of choir camp which was always a part of my life and my family?s life.
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