experience the power of holy week pilgrims at easter time ... filesuggested jesus sent judas out...

Trinity Long Green 12400 Manor Rd. Glen Arm, MD 21057 410-592-6224

April 2017 The Newsletter of Trinity Long Green www.trinitychurchlonggreen.org

HOLY WEEK

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, April 9

8 & 10 am The Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist

10 am Mystery Walk— Children’s Stations of the Cross

Monday in Holy Week, April 10

6:30 pm Stations of the Cross

Tuesday in Holy Week, April 11 6:30 pm Quiet Prayer

Wednesday in Holy Week, April 12

6:30 pm Quiet Prayer

Maundy Thursday, April 13 7:30 pm Maundy Thursday Liturgy with Eucharist

Stripping of the altar

Good Friday, April 14 7:30 pm Good Friday Liturgy

with communion from Reserved Sacrament

Easter Day, April 16 8 am First Eucharist of Easter 10 am Festival Holy Eucharist

11:30 am Easter Egg Hunt

EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF HOLY WEEK

Since the fourth century, Christians in

Jerusalem have celebrated the great events of

the last week of Jesus' earthly ministry.

Churches were built on the sacred sites

mentioned in the gospels. The faithful began

to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to walk

where Jesus walked. To handle the influx of

pilgrims at Easter time, the churches of

Jerusalem developed liturgies focused on the

specific events which occurred at each

location. The pilgrims took reports of these

liturgies home with them. Holy Week

Liturgies were developed as it became

apparent these services permitted people,

separated from the life of Jesus both by miles

and years, to experience these mysteries for

themselves. Anglicans rediscovered the power

of the Holy Week liturgies in the twentieth

century and they are part of our worship

tradition.

The liturgies of Holy Week and Easter are not

dramas meant to stimulate our imaginations.

They are more than signs pointing us to

events of the past. They are sacraments -

outward and visible signs of inward and

spiritual grace, grace-bearing signs which are

able to bring into being what they signify. To

the extent that we live the liturgies of Holy

Week, we allow

ourselves to be

changed by the

power of the

mystery they

celebrate.


It was Lent about 20 years ago and I was a new assistant at St. John’s, Lynchburg, VA. I was standing at the altar along with Frank Dunn+, the rector as he celebrated the Eucharist. The altar was against the wall which meant we faced away from the congregation. Behind the altar was a stained glass Lord’s Supper. All the disciples were looking towards Jesus, but not Judas. He was staring straight at me, or so it seemed, clutching the money bag, oblivious to the sacrament Jesus was instituting.

I have given a lot of thought to Judas over the years.

When I first learned the passion story, all I could see was that Judas had betrayed Jesus. I didn’t wonder why so much as I felt horrified by what he had done. How awful that one of the people closest to Jesus sold him for a few pieces of silver. Later, I learned more of the story; that when Judas realized the horror of what he had done he tried to return the money he had been paid. I don’t remember how I felt when I discovered he had killed himself, but suspect I thought that was a proper end for someone who would do what Judas did.

As I matured, however, I began to wonder more about what had gone through Judas’ head that led him to the betrayal in the first place. I knew that the gospel according to John painted Judas as selfish and a thief (he stole from the common purse which he managed). It was so easy to see Judas as the villain, as he is usually portrayed. That didn’t sit well with me, the more I thought about it.

Didn’t Jesus know his character when he chose him as a disciple? Didn’t Jesus send Judas out after they had shared that last supper, to do what he needed to do, knowing what he was going to do? If so, then Judas was not simply “the bad guy.”

I began to consider various explanations for Judas’ actions. Perhaps he hoped his “betrayal” would force Jesus’ hand, push him hard enough for Jesus to exercise his power and be the Messiah, and deliver them from the Roman authorities. Perhaps he was mentally unstable and had a psychotic break. Some have suggested Jesus sent Judas out with the directive to sell him out so that Jesus could begin the passion, the self-sacrifice that would bring salvation to the world.

I no longer spend a lot of time pondering the “why.” Now I spend more time considering what happened to Judas afterwards. Was he forever damned, as so many think? Was his tossing the blood money at the feet of the religious leaders his expression of remorse, and his suicide evidence that he could not live with the results of his actions (whatever the original motivation)? Could God condemn Judas for playing the role that had been given him to play?

I have no answers. But as I looked at Judas that Lent, he became more of a real person for me, and less of an abstract concept, a player in some holy drama. He was no longer someone to despise or someone to condemn. I realized that Judas was a human being, no worse than most and better than some. And I found comfort in another “Last Supper” I had seen at All Saints, Sharon Chapel, VA. This one was done in copper, and there was a halo over the head of every disciple sitting at the table with Jesus. Judas was walking away, leaving his halo over his empty chair. I found in that halo over the chair the essence of hope – it would be there waiting for Judas if and when he returned.

We may, like Judas, leave the presence of God, but a place remains for us at God’s table. All that we need do to reclaim our halo is repent and return to God.

Fran+


HELP WANTED The Easter bunny needs help. If you want to contribute plastic eggs stuffed with candy, please place them in the kitchen. If you can help hide eggs for the Easter Egg

Hunt Easter morning, please contact Sandra Lancraft at the church office.

MARCH MADNESS Reading the Psalms

10 people have signed the board in the parish hall indicating they took my challenge to read through the entire book of Psalms this Lent. We each have placed a star on the board for every Psalm read, creating a miniature Milky Way! It's not too late to take the challenge. Just sign your name and start adding stars.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Since the early first centuries, Christians have marked the events of Holy Week and Easter by following in the footsteps of Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem. As early as the third century, pilgrims returning from the Holy Land reported this practice in their journals. In time, those unable to

make the trip to the Holy Land recreated the experience in their own towns and cities. This practice gradually evolved into a devotional practice referred to as Stations of the Cross, or The Way of the Cross. There are fourteen stations marking episodes from the time of Jesus’ arrest, to the placement of his body in the stone tomb. Nine of these stations have their origins in the scriptural account of Jesus’ passion, the other five come from pious legends that arose during the Middle Ages. Stations can involve walking from one location to the next, sometimes marked by plaques on the wall of a church or a simple cross set into the ground along a path, or the service can be read in place in a church. At each station, a short scripture is read, a reflection given, and a prayer response made. The service typically ends with the Lord’s prayer. Trinity will hold a service of Stations of the Cross on the Monday of Holy Week, April 10, at 6:30 pm. Come and walk the way of the cross with us.

- Fran Stanford -

MYSTERY WALK

One way to ensure our children understand that Easter is NOT about chicks, bunnies and candy is to attend a Mystery Walk. A

Mystery Walk is a child-friendly Stations of the Cross (sometimes called Way of the Cross), that is, a devotional practice where one moves from location to location recounting Jesus’ journey from his arrest to his death on the cross. At each station, the child receives a token to help remember that event. For example, at the station where Jesus takes up his cross, the children receive pocket crosses, and at the station where Jesus is laid in the tomb, each one receives a stone. Unlike the traditional Stations of the Cross, we end the Mystery Walk with a Resurrection Station. This helps the children complete the story, and remember the reason we celebrate Easter.

This year the Mystery Walk will take place on Palm Sunday, April 9, during Sunday School. Plan for your children to be there, and if you can assist, please contact Dr. Fran.

-Fran Stanford-


Mulch Madness

Where: Trinity Playground

When: Sunday April 9, at 1:00

Who: ANYONE who is willing to help!

Why: Spread mulch to ensure the safety of our

children

*~*Please bring a rake, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow (if you have one!)*~*

EASTER FLOWERS

Trinity traditionally

uses a variety of

spring flowers to

decorate the altar

and windows for

Easter. If you would

like to make a

donation in memory

of a loved one who

has died, or in

thanksgiving for

blessings in your

life, please use the

form found in the

bulletins beginning

March 26 or in the church office, or by calling the

church office. Deadline is Palm Sunday, April 9th.

BISHOP CHILTON AT TRINITY On March 18th Trinity hosted a leadership retreat in conjunction with three additional small Episcopal Churches located in the Baltimore area. The event was lead by Bishop Chilton, who was formally the Bishop of Maine and an expert in small churches. We learned that a small Episcopal church is defined as a church that has an average weekly attendance of less than seventy people (Trinity averages about sixty people). By this definition, nationally 80% of Episcopal churches are considered ‘small churches’ and in the state of Maryland 90% of Episcopal churches are small churches. Therefore, the overwhelming majority of Episcopal churches are small churches and face similar issues.

During our retreat we were able to discuss as a group the challenges that face all of our parishes. This includes how to better minister to our children, include our eldest parishioners, and find new and creative ways to reduce the costs of managing a parish. We were also able to appreciate challenges Trinity does not face including extremely large budget deficits, buildings that are too large and costly to operate, and moving a parish. The goal of this meeting was to work together to find new solutions to small church problems. Despite the fact we were discussing challenges, the tone and message of the meeting was very positive. I walked away energized, and we learned of new and creative ways to approach difficulties Trinity faces. While I believe we must be diligent and actively address our weaknesses as a Parish, this meeting made me realize that Trinity is blessed and our problems are few. Moving forward, the leadership at Trinity hopes to find new ways to engage our community, solve our financial challenges, better minister to our youth, and enhance our worship and music programs. Please, contact me if you are interested in learning more about our small church leadership retreat or if you have suggestions about how to improve Parish life at Trinity.

Sincerely,

Randal Hand, Senior Warden


Baltimore County Genealogical Society Greg Burton, president of the Baltimore County Genealogical Society, and Ross Smith volunteered to scan Trinity’s historical records. The society contacted Trinity in the fall of 2016 to explain the services they provide to churches as a community outreach project. After the approval of Dr. Fran, the Vestry and a signed Letter of Consent stating that the society had permission to scan the records with the guarantee that no records would leave the premises, Ross and Greg were ready to preserve what we at Trinity call our “historical beginnings”. The men arrived at Trinity on the morning of March 9, 2017 eagerly anticipating what their job would entail. They worked diligently to complete the job in one day using task appropriate scanning techniques to make their job as efficient as possible. Trinity’s records of Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages and Funeral Services, as well as some cemetery records were included in the process. The Baltimore County Genealogical Society will provide a copy of the scanned records on a flash drive. The images will be provided in a PDF file. Each book that was scanned will be in a separate file on the flash drive. All records that were available were included but any baptisms less than 75 years old will be excluded from public view. The society requested that permission be granted to have Trinity’s records available for research in their library and to publish in book form extracted indexed records. If the work is published Trinity will be provided with a copy of the book. The Baltimore County Genealogical Society will not publish the scanned images on the internet. Dr. Fran, The Vestry and Members of Trinity are grateful to Greg and Ross for their effort in contacting Trinity Episcopal Long Green. Their expertise provided an invaluable service to Trinity, one which will help others in generations to come research their family history and learn more about those of decades long ago who belonged the Family of Trinity Long Green. The Baltimore County Genealogical Society was founded in 1977 to help educate members in tracing their family ancestry, to collect and publish material related to genealogy, and to encourage the open exchange of genealogical ideas and experiences. To learn more about the Baltimore County Genealogical Society visit their website www.baltimoregenealogysociety.org or feel free to call the church office for contact information. The society holds meetings at the Parkville Senior Center, Room 308 (Elevator available), 8601 Harford Road, Parkville, Maryland 21234

Sandra Lancraft

http://www.baltimoregenealogysociety.org


Coming to Communion This year’s Coming ot Communion class met for it’s mid-point pizza party. This year’s class includes Asher and Douglas Collins, Charlie Cook and Greta Milio. We had a great time making the pizzas, learning how to take communion properly, and then eating the pizza. Over the eight weeks of the program, the children are learning about the various parts of the Eucharist and connecting those to Bible stories and their own lives.

25 Jeff & Elaine Christ Clay & Carolyn Evans

29 George & Eleanor Tucker

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

APRIL BIRTHDAYS 5 Sue Berry 7 George Tucker 8 Joyce Jennings Robert Hamilton 10 Beverly Snyder 12 Jeffrey Christ Bob Newton Fran Stanford 16 Henry Cook 17 Anne Eve 18 Nancy Hoffman 22 Jeanine Bausman Katherine Meyer 23 Caroline Bausman 24 Jeremy Knight 25 Kathy Talbot Betty Arney Donna Lytton 28 Katie House Feigenbaum

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!

If you have news of 2017 graduations, recognition awards of children or grandchildren please contact Bobbie Nelson, 410-628-2107 or email [email protected]. We will include names and awards in the Trumpeter.

TRUMPETER ARTICLE DEADLINE Please submit your May articles to

[email protected] by April 24, 2017.

Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU to

those church members who were able to

attend TCDS’ Annual Bull and Oyster Roast

on March 3. The event was very successful,

bringing in $16,424 for our school. Plus, it

was a lot of fun! We truly appreciate all of

your support!

Much Love,

Chrissy Cook, Jen Collins, and the Parents’ Club


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Trinity Episcopal Church 12400 Manor Rd. P.O. Box 4001 Glen Arm, MD 21057

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experience the power of holy week pilgrims at easter time ... filesuggested jesus sent judas out...

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