LITURGY OF THE WORD 






                                                                                                            

Sunday, April 24, 2016: Fifth Sunday of Easter
First Lesson: Acts (11:1-18)
Psalm 148, Page 805, BCP
Second Lesson Revelation (21:1-6)
The Holy gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (13:31-35)
Sermon by Jason Harvey

Sunday, April 17, 2016: Fourth Sunday of Easter
First Lesson: Acts (9:36-43)
Psalm 23, Page 612, BCP
Second Lesson: Revelation (7:9-17)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (10:22-30)
Sermon by Ann Perrott

Sunday, April 10, 2016: Third Sunday of Easter
First Lesson: Acts (9:1-6, [7-20])
Psalm 30, Page 621, BCP
Second Lesson: Revelation (5:11-14)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (21:1-19)
Sermon by The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell

Sunday, April 3, 2016: Second Sunday of Easter 
First Lesson: Acts (5:27-32)
Psalm 118:14-29, Page 760, BCP
Second Lesson: Revelation (1:4-8)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John ( 20:19-31)
Sermon by the Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell
  

NEWS AND EVENTS

Sermons Of The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell

To hear the sermons of The Rev. Johnson Russell CLICK HERE

St. Monica's Website

To visit St. Monica's website CLICK HERE.
 
Directions To St. Monica's

For driving directions to St. Monica's, 3575 Main Street, Hartford CLICK HERE
 

Food For The Soul

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers..." (1 Peter 4:8, NIV)
So often, people try to make others fit into their own mold, conform to their ideas, and be just like them. We think, "If they would just change, then they wouldn't get on my nerves." But really, we need to give people room to be who god created them to be. Life is too short spend it trying to fix somebody, my friends.

Yes, we should encourage people and help them grow in their knowledge and love of God. But at some point we have to step back and say, "All right, this is who God made them to be, and I'm going to accept them the way they are.  

My friends, we have to choose love every day because love covers over our differences and offenses. Love is what allows us to appreciate what others bring into our lives, and it brings us together in unity.

Today, above all, choose love. Choose to focus on the things that make your relationship stronger because in the end, love is all that remains.

"Lord, today I choose to set my heart and mind on you. I choose to love others the way you command. Give me the strength to walk in your ways and understand your love more each day in Jesus' name. Amen."

Blessings  All!

Rev. Tracy

Women's Day Observances 
Women's Day Observances include a Women's Day Ad booklet; There will be an evening Devotional on May 6, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, May 8, 2016 the Brotherhood of St. Andrews will sponsor a Brunch. 


Walk Against Hunger
Foodshare's 33rd Annual Walk Against Hunger will be Sunday, May 1, 2016. 

Horace V. Davidson Scholarship
Horace V. Davidson Scholarships applications are available in the Narthex. the deadline for first time applicants is May 15, 2016. The deadline for continuing students is June 1, 2016. Applications must be completed and submitted on or before the deadline date.

Birthdays And Anniversaries In April

Happy Birthday to: Carmen Garvey and Justin Hall 10th; Nicole Walters 11th; Donna Ricketts 13th; 
Maureen Anderson 19th; Hattie Henry 22nd; Norma O'Neil 22nd; April Carter, Joan Jones, Ande Krauss and Denzil Rickets 23rd; Julio Anderson and Camille Geathers 26th; Ingrid Dupuy and Norma Ifill 28th.

Happy Anniversary to: Nicholas and Marie Harvey 25th.

In Memory Of: Phoebe Smith and Mabel Ramsey 12th; Mary Williams, Siler Gardner and George Sadler 13th; Clinton Dowen 16th; Mabel Mitchell 17th;  Theodore Canigen, James Weeks and Emma Walker 18th;  Vernal Morgan 20th; Glendon Skeete 21st; Georgianna Scott 22nd; David Murray 23rd; Bevbal Atkins, Lillian Seymour and Clarence Williams 25th; Gertrude Elliott, Muriel Calendar and Victoria Naraine 29th; Christine Lambert and Llewellyn Hanson 30th.

Family of Carmen Brown

The family of Carmen Brown would like to thank our St. Monica'a Family for the calls, cards visits and others expressions of love. Our hearts are filled with joy and love for the life of our mother/grandmother/ great grandmother/ aunt/ cousin and friend and the legacy of faith she instilled in each of us.
Thank you, The Brown Family

Jackie Robinson
St. Monica's extends its prayers on the death of Jackie Robinson, the daughter of Hattie Henry. May her soul and the souls of all departed rest in peace.

Many thanks to my St. Monica's Family for your expressions of sympathy with your cards, phone calls and prayers during the passing of my daughter Jacqueline. Thank you so much, Hattie Henry.

Vestry Members

Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Winston Barnaby, Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden), Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary), April Carter, Evelyn Green, David Hickmon, Stephanie Lightfoot, A. Bates Lyons, Joseph Noel, Evelyn Stewart, Terrie Thomas. Geraldine Williams.

Music

Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir

Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus

Canon Cyril Burke

Email

monicahartford@gmail.com

ITEM OF INTEREST             












Easter
The center of the church's year is Easter Day. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that lies at the center of /christian faith. The resurrection, St. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, is of "first importance" (15:3) because "if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and our faith has been in vain(152:14). Christ conquered death, enabling Christians to receive the gift of new life through baptism into Christ's body.

The fortieth day after Easter, always a Thursday, is called Ascension Day since the gospel tells us that Jesus was carried up into heaven on that day. Instead of feeling sorrow over the separation, the disciples returned to Jerusalem with "great joy" (Luke 24:52) because Jesus has promised to be with them always. This apparent separation was actually a transformed relationship: Jesus would be present to the whole church throughout the world, rather than confined to the small limits of Palestine.

Source: Welcome to Sunday by Christopher L Webber (Morehouse Publishing: Harrisburg, PA, 2003. pp. 53, 54).

 

THE BOOK CORNER

Freedom In Congo Square
by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie

This book tells the important story of Congo Square, the one place that slaves were able to congregate for one half of a day each week. It  was a place to feel free, to dance, to sing and to loosen the shackles of slavery. In simple poetry and beautiful illustrations, the plight of slaves and the hope of the unique spot in New Orleans is beautifully brought to life. More children need to know more about slavery and this book helps to do that without harshness, though with honesty. My 7 year old daughter was curious and touched. High recommended. 
                                            Review by Ahhling