T H E B E N E D I C T I O N
Newsletter
of St. Benedict’s Anglican Catholic Church
O WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS
Our parish, which was founded in
1979, has maintained the Liturgy of the traditional Book of Common Prayer. Our
preaching and teaching draw on the Holy Scriptures in light of the Tradition of
the Church from the earliest days.
Easter 2019
A
prophecy of Christ’s triumph over death is in the 25th chapter of the Book of
Isaiah
(vs. 6-8):
“And
in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat
things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on
the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the
covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He
will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from
off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the
earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.”
Christ’s
resurrection, in that time and place almost two thousand years ago, was the
death of death itself, for death has been dealt a mortal wound and will not
recover. It is the last enemy, and St.
Paul
In the past, I think I used too much the phrase “the empty
tomb.” It is popular to speak of Christ’s resurrection this way. But, to speak
too much about the empty tomb is to speak about a puzzle, a story that ends
with a question mark. But, in fact the Gospel history does not end with a
question mark about an empty tomb, but with an exclamation point about a
certainty, a certified fact documented by the evidence of many a triumphant
martyr’s blood. The curtain does not come down on Mary Magdalene weeping
outside the empty tomb and saying, "They have taken away my Lord, and I
know not where they have laid him.” The curtain stays up as she says “Rabboni!” The curtain does not come down
on the weary and frightened band of apostles as they hide sorrowing. Because
the curtain is yet up, and we hear the words: “Then were the disciples glad,
when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:11-23)
And, the curtain has never come down. For Christ is alive
even now. Through us He continues His ministry here in this fallen world. So,
let us not speak of the empty tomb unless we speak also of the risen Christ,
seen by eyewitnesses, most of whom died as martyrs in order to give us
the certainty of their faith. Consider well the faith of those eyewitnesses;
that is, eyewitnesses to the fact that Jesus rose from the dead.
Food
Basket
Please remember that we have a food basket by the door of
the church. What we collect is taken directly to, or collected here by, needy
families and individuals, or taken to the food bank of the Interfaith Council
in Carborro.
Diocesan Synod
The dates for the Diocesan Synod will be May 2 and 3. It
will hosted by St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Catholic Church located in Fleming Island, Florida, which is about 30
minutes southwest of Jacksonville. Fr. Hart will be the clergy
delegate, and the lay delegates will be James Lazenby, Jackie Kylander and Diane
Hart.
Parish
Growth
Thanks
be to God for several new members of our parish family. Along with thanksgiving
to God, I ask you to offer daily prayers
for our growth, perhaps also joining with those of us who gather Wed. evenings
at 6:30. I also urge you to pray for and be sensitive to opportunities to invite people to come. Studies prove that is the most effective means of growing.
Prayer for parish growth
O God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose will is that none should perish, and Who hast
given us gifts by thy Holy Spirit to do thy will on earth, By the power of the
same Holy Spirit make us always true and living witnesses for thy Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ; And so guide us and use us to bring people into thy holy church.
Grow this parish in Chapel Hill that is named
in honor of thy saint Benedict. Make us a light to the world around us. Draw
people to our parish that they may partake of Christ and His salvation in our
fellowship. And Father, Direct us in all our doings, with thy most
gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works
begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally,
by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; All of this we pray through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. Holy WeekPlease see the schedule of services below. I urge everyone to attend as much of these as you can. The services
are, each of them, unique. They are part of the whole experience of going
through Christ’s Passion and Death, and entering into the Joy of His
resurrection.
Holy Week Schedule :
Wednesday before
Easter: (April 17)
Holy Communion at 12: noon and Evening Prayer at 6:30
Maundy Thursday (April
18) Holy Communion 7:00 PM (with the
Stripping of the Altar)
Good Friday (April
19) Observances at 12:00 Noon and at
6:00 PM
Holy Saturday (April
20) The usual service at the Stratford
Senior Care Facility will be the celebration of Easter at 3:00 PM Easter
Eve Vigil at 5:00 PM
Easter (April
21) Sunday 8:30 Morning Prayer &
10:00 Holy Communion
Regular Schedule:
Sundays
8:30 AM Morning Prayer & Holy Communion
(Said).
10:00 AM Holy Communion (Sung Mass) with Sunday
school for children in the parish hall.
Wednesdays
Holy Communion 12:00 noon
Evening Prayer 6:30 PM (special emphasis on
church growth and evangelism)
Saturdays
3:00PM Holy Communion at the Stratford
Rev. Robert Hart, Rector
Mr. James Lazenby, Organist
Mr. Michael Murray, Senior Warden
Dr. Gordon Ibeanu, Junior Warden
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