LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, April 24, 2411: Easter

The Lighting of the Paschal Candle Page 285, BCP

The Reading of the Exultet Pages 286 and 287, BCP

Reading from Exodus 14:10-31, 15:20-21; Canticle 8, Page 85, BCP

Reading from Ezekiel 36:24-28; Canticle 9, Page 86, BCP

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows Pages 292-294, BCP

First Reading: Acts (10:34-43)

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Page 760, BCP

Paul's Letter (Colossians 3:1-4)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (20:1-18)

Suggested Readings For the Week

Monday Acts 2:14,22-32; Tuesday Acts 2:26-41 (42-47); Wednesday Acts 3:1-10; Thursday Acts 3:11-26; Friday Acts 4:1-12; Saturday Acts 4:13-21 (22-31).

Sunday, April 17, 2011: Sunday Of The Passion: Palm Sunday

First Reading: Isaiah (50:4-9a)

Psalm 31:9-16, Page 623, BCP

Epistle: Paul's Letter (Philippians 2:5-11)

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (26:14-27:66)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Philippians 3:1-14; Tuesday Philippians 3:15-21; Wednesday Philippians 4:1-13; Thursday 1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 11:27-32; Friday John 13:36-38; Saturday Hebrews 4:1-16.

Sunday, April 10, 2011: Fifth Sunday In Lent

First Reading: Ezekiel (37:1-4)

Psalm 130 Page 784, BCP

Epistle: Paul's Letter (Romans 8:6-11)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (11:1-45)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Romans 9:19-33; Tuesday Romans 10:1-13; Wednesday Romans 10:14-21; Thursday Romans 11:1-12; Friday Romans 11:13-24; Saturday Romans 11:25-36.

Sunday, April 3, 2011: Fourth Sunday In Lent

First Reading: 1 Samuel (16:1-13)

Psalm 23 Page 612, BCP

Epistle: Paul's Letter (Ephesians 5:8-14)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (9:1-41)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Romans 7:1-12; Tuesday Romans 7:13-25; Wednesday Romans 8:1-11; Thursday Romans 8:12-27; Friday Romans 8:28-39; Saturday Romans 9:1-18.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Welcome From the Pastor

Directions To Saint Monica's

Readers Needed

Readers are needed for the Passion on Palm Sunday, April 17th and Good Friday, April 22nd

Episcopal Church Women

In celebration of Mother's Day and Women's Day, the Episcopal Church Women ask all women to wear pastel colors on Sunday, May 8, 2011. Women are asked to do do this at both the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services. Please see any member of the Episcopal Church Women if you have questions.

Holy Week and Easter Services

1. Sunday April 17, 2011: Palm Sunday services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. We will have the Liturgy of the Palms followed by the Eucharist during which we will have the reading of the Passion instead of the Gospel.

2. Monday April 18, 2011: Holy Monday usual Bible Study.

3. Wednesday April 20, 2011: Reconciliation and Healing services begin a 6:30 p.m.

4. Thursday April 21, 2011: Maundy Thursday service begins at 6:30 p.m. Feet Washing, agape meal, the stripping of the altar and the Watch until midnight. We need twelve volunteers for the washing of the feet.

5. Friday, April 22, 2011: Good Friday service begins a 12 noon. Good Friday Liturgy which includes the reading of the Passion, the veneration of the Cross and communion from the reserve Sacrament. The Good Friday collection goes to the mission of the Church in Jerusalem. We are asking for donations of grapes, prunes, cheese, olives, loaves of whole wheat bread, wine, dried fruits for the Agape meal and we need twelve volunteers for the foot washing ceremony.

6. Saturday April 23, 2011: Holy Saturday Confirmation and Reception at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, Connecticut begins at 7:30 p.m. Candidates must arrive a 6:00 p.m. for a rehearsal. Jovanna Elliott, Jason Harvey, Kalan Lewis, and Dennis Williams will be confirmed. Daisy Bell and Barbara Lindo will be received into the Episcopal Church. Please pray for our candidates.

7. Sunday April 23, 2011: Easter Sunday 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Celebrations. Baptism at the 10:30 a.m. celebration.

Upcoming Events

1.

A Second Collection to Rebuild the Episcopal Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Sunday, April 10, 2011 at both services.

2. Stations of the Cross. Every Friday in Lent and beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Walk Against Hunger T-Shirts

The deadline to purchase Walk Against Hunger T-Shirts is Sunday, April 10, 2011. Please see Mavis Blackwood or Susan

Mother's Day Corsages

The Young People's Fellowship are selling Mother's Day corsages. You may place your order by

April 17, 2011. The cost is $10 and you must specify either white or red. Please see any member of the Young People's Fellowship to sign up.

Easter Flowers

If you would like to celebrate a blessing or remember a loved one at Easter, you may contribute toward the cost of Easter Lilies and other flowers by filling out the form in the entry and giving it with your donation to any member of the Altar Guild. Deadline for entry in the Easter program is Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011. Thank you for helping to beautify our space.

Horace V. Davidson Scholarship Announcement

The Horace V. Davidson Scholarship Committee is asking each parishioner to contribute to the Scholarship Fund. Applications for the Scholarship are now available and are located in the Narthex.. There are two scholarships, one for first time applicants and the other for continuing students. The deadline for first applicants is Sunday May 15, 2011. The deadline for continuing students is Wednesday June 1, 2011.

Vestry Installation

The Vestry will be installed on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the 10:30 a.m. service. After the service we will continue our conversation about either the renovation/additions to our multipurpose building or the building of a traditional church. No decision will be made at that time. We want to hear what the membership has to say to the Vestry and each other.

Food Share's 26th Annual Walk Against Hunger

Our annual Walk Against Hunger will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2011. Saint Monica's Church has participated in every Walk Against Hunger. The Walk is our major fund raiser for the Food Pantry and the Saturday Reach Out Luncheons. Last year, 59 parishioners walked and raised $8,494.00. This year, with God's help, our goal is 75 parishioners who walk or make donations to the Walk. We hope to raise $10,000.00. If you cannot walk, please return your brochure and donation to Patricia Nelson, Mavis Blackwood or Susan Davis.

Food Pantry Outreach

Members of the congregation volunteer for the Food Pantry and Outreach Community Feeding Programs. To learn more about the Programs click HERE.

Mother's Day/Father's Day Dinner

The Young People's Fellowship will host its annual Mother's Day/Father's Day dinner on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. Please signup by Sunday, April 17, 2011 if you plan to attend.

Gift Day

Gift Day is Sunday, May 15, 2011 and

our contribution is $107. Saint Monica Patronal Festival is Wednesday, May 4, 2011; however we will also celebrate it on Gift Day.

Liturgical Hangings

We give thanks to God for the donations made by Pat Bell, Hyacinth Tate, and Carmon Funeral Home for the purchase of Liturgical hangings.

Birthdays and Anniversaries In April

Happy Birthday to Winston Barnaby and Greta Jordon 1st; Kishuana Lightfoot 2nd; Elvida Montgomery 3re; Ijeoma Nwazojie 6th; Kylee Lightfoot 8th; Carmen Garvey and Justin Hall 10th; Nicole Walters 11th; Donna Ricketts 13th; coral Harris 14th; Maureen Anderson 19th; Hattie Henry 21st; Norma O'Neil 22nd; April Elliott, Joan Jones, Andre Krauz, Denzil Ricketts, and William Washington 23rd; Richard Bailey, Jr. 24th; Julio Anderson 26th; Ingrid Dupuy and Norma Ifill 28th.

Happy Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Garvey 12th. Mr. and Mrs. Linton Winston 24th; Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Harvey 25th.

Condolences

We extend our deepest Christian sympathy to the family of Florence Mursell whose funeral was yesterday Saturday 9, 2011. May she rest in peace.

Fr. Davidson will attend the funeral of his nephew on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 in New York City. May he rest in Peace.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

I Wonder Why?

This is an occasional column that answers interesting questions.

I Wonder why the Thursday before Easter is called Maundy Thursday?

"From the earliest times, the week before Easter has been a period of very special services.

Maundy Thursday is the name given to the fifth day of the week in the English tradition-or Holy Thursday in the Roman tradition. The word maundy comes from the the Latin word mandare, or "commandment" because this is the day that Jesus, at the Last Supper, gave his disciples 'a new commandment, that you love one another' (John 13:34). Jesus demonstrated the spirit of this commandment by washing his disciples' feet, so there may be a ceremonial foot washing at this service. Jesus humbled himself to serve others, as we also should learn to do so. At the end of the service the altar is often stripped and left bare so that the church on Good Friday is barren of all ornamentation."

Christopher L. Webber. Welcome to Sunday: An Introduction to Worship in the Episcopal Church (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing 2003), pp.50, 52.

Clergy

The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members

Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Veronica Airey-Wilson,

Joyce Asiedu,

Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden),

Nora Brown,

Terry Brown (Treasurer),

Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary), Evelyn Green, Shannon Holder, Bates Lyons, Joe Noel, Peter Marsele, Terrie Thomas, Herbert Bowen ( Hon)

Music

Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir

Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus

Canon Cyril Burke

Email

monicahartford@gmail.com

THE BOOK CORNER

Heaven Is For Real

by Todd Burpo

Heaven Is For Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.

Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us.

Told by his father, but often in Colton's own words, The disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.

Review is an Editorial Review