LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, April 29, 2012: Fourth Sunday Of Easter

The Rector is away on Continuing Education and vacation. The Rev. Judith Alexis was our celebrant and preacher today and last week. 

First Lesson: (Acts 4:5-12)

Psalm 23, Page 612 BCP

Second Lesson: John's 1st Epistle (3:16-24)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To John (10:11-16)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Matthew 5:1-10; Tuesday John 1:43-51; Wednesday Matthew 5:17-20; Thursday Matthew 5:21-26; Friday Matthew 5:27-37; Saturday Matthew 5:38-48.

Sunday, April 22, 2012: Third Sunday Of Easter

First Lesson: (Acts 3:12-19)

Psalm 4, Pages 587 and 588, BCP

Second Lesson: John's 1st Epistle (3:1-7)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesu Christ According To Luke (24:36b-48)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Matthew 3:1-6; Tuesday Matthew 3:7-12; Wednesday Mark 1:1-15; Thursday Matthew 4:1-11; Friday Matthew 4:12-17; Saturday Matthew 4:18-25.

Sunday, April 15, 2012: Second Sunday Of Easter

First Lesson: (Acts 4:32-35)

Psalm 133, Page 787, BCP

Second Lesson: John's 1st Epistle (1:1-2:2)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (20:19-31)

Suggested Readings for the Week

Monday John 14:8-17; Tuesday John 14:18-31; Wednesday John 15:1-11; Thursday John 15:12-27; Friday John 16:1-15; Saturday John 16:16-33.

Sunday, April 8, 2012: 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 Epistle (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)

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

Suggested Readings For the Week

Monday Mark 16:1-8; Tuesday Mark 16:9-20; Wednesday Matthew 28:1-16; Thursday Matthew 28:16-20; Friday Luke 24:1-12; Saturday Matthew 12:1, 8-27.

Sunday, April 1, 2012: Palm Sunday

First Lesson: (Isaiah 50:4-9)

Psalm 31:9-16, Page 623, BCP

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

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ The Passion (Mark 14:1-15:47)

Suggested Readings For the Week

Monday Mark 11:12-25; Mark 11:27-33; Wednesday Mark 12: 1-11; Thursday Mark 14:12-25; Friday John 13:36-38; Saturday Hebrews 4:1-6.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Welcome From The Rector

Directions To Saint Monica's

The Rev. Judith Alexis

The Rev. Judith Alexis is the priest in charge of the Haitian community in Connecticut and she worships at St. John's in Stamford. She is an American of Haitian parentage and grew up for some time in Haiti. She was ordained a deacon on July 27, 2006 in the Diocese of South East Florida and then priest on April 13, 2007.

From the Desk Of The Rector

Palm Sunday begins Holy Week. There are three days in Holy Week that I hope we will make a great effort to observe: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday/Easter. together they are called the Triduum. They are so important in our life as Christians that to take them out we would be just another cult.

Maundy Thursday reminds us of Our Lord's institution of Holy Communion. The day also reminds us that we are a 'servant church, John 13:1-15, the washing of the feet.' We have an "Agape Meal." Parishioners are asked to donate cheese, soup, wine, olives, dried fruits and bread.

Good Friday reminds us of the passion, death and burial of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament lesson (Isaiah 53:5) reminds us "but he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." The reading of the Passion reminds us of the trial, crucifixion and death of Jesus: Romans 5:8 "but God proved His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for our sins."

Holy Saturday/Easter allows us to move from the darkness of Good Friday to the joy of the resurrection which we will experience because of our baptism: Romans 6:3-6 "... were baptized into His death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father so we too might walk in the newness of life." This year we are having a baptism which, I hope, will remind us of God's adoption of us as His children and empowering of us through the giving of the Holy Spirit, after He has washed our sins away; John 3:4-6 reminds us that we were born of water and the Spirit. What a blessed assurance we have in Jesus.

Maureen Evans and Exercise

The first six-week session ended on March 29, 2012. Participation was first-rate, and a donation was made towards the upkeep of our church building. There are no classes during Holy Week. The next six-week session will start on April 9, 2012. Thanks to all the exercisers for their interest and commitment. Happy Easter and May God continue to bless us all.

Food Pantry

Please continue to donate to the Ruth Small Food Pantry. Suggested items are canned or instant potatoes, canned meats (tune, salmon, chicken), canned sweet potatoes, soup, peanut butter, jelly and individual fruit cups. Thank you for your continued support.

Rescheduling Meetings

Fr. Davidson needs our cooperation if we wish to reschedule a meeting on Monday or Wednesday between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Fr. Davidson schedules interviews and pastoral counseling either before or after Prayer Meetings on Monday. He may also schedule interviews and pastoral counseling on Wednesday. He schedules events when there is no Bible Study. As a courtesy, please call Fr. Davidson to verify if he has anything scheduled.

Activity Calendar

Weekly: 1) Mondays-Prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Wednesdays-Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Weekly): 1) Wednesdays and Fridays-Food Pantry opens 10:00 a.m. to noon.

2) Every other Thursday-Pro's and Con's Task Force at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Monthly): 1) First Thursday-Stewardship Committee at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Second Thursday-Vestry Meeting 6:30 p.m.; 3) Third Tuesday-Women of Valier; 4) Third and fourth Saturday opens at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.; 5) First Saturday-Episcopal Church Women (ECW) at 12:00 noon

Birthdays and Anniversaries In April

Happy Birthday to: Winston Barnaby 1st; Ijeoma Nwazojie 6th; Carmen Harvey 10th; Justin Hall 10th; Nicole Walters 11th; Donna Ricketts 13th; Maureen Anderson 19th; Hattie Henry 21st; Norma O'Neil 22nd; April Elliott; Joan Jones, Andre Krausz, Denzil Ricketts and William Washington 23rd; Julio Anderson 26th; Ingrid Dupuy and Norma Ifill 28.

Happy Anniversary to: Mr. and Mrs. Garvey 12th; Mr. and Mrs. N. Harvey 25th.

In Memory For April

Im Memory of: Mary Countryman, Eyrich and Florence Mursell 1st; Audrey Martin and Thomas Owens 4th; Carrie Bobcock 5th; Anna Fish 6th; Wilfred Jaell 8th; Mabel Ramsey and Phoebe Smith 12th; Silver Gardne, George Sadler and Marie Williams 13th; Clinton

Dowen 16th; Mabel Mitchell 17th; Emma Walker, James Weeks and Theodore Canigen 18th; Vernah Morgan 20th; Glendora Skeete 21st; Doriel Feurtado (belated March 31st); Georgianna Scott 22nd; David Murray 23rd; Anna Crawford 24th, Bevbal Atkins, Lillian Seymour and Clarence Williams 25th; Gertrude Elliott and Muriel Callender 29th; Llewellyn Hanson and Christine Lambert 30th.