LITURGY OF THE WORD












Sunday, March 27, 2016: Easter Sunday
                Sunrise Service Only
   Lighting of the Paschal Candle
   Exultet  
   Exodus (14:10-31, 15:20-21)
   Canticle 8, Page 85, BCP
   Ezekiel (36:24-28)  
   Canticle 9, Page 86, BCP
   Renewal of Baptismal Vows page 292, BCP 
First Lesson: Acts (10:34-43)
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Page 760, BCP
Second Lesson: (Paul's Epistle 1 Corinthians 15:19-26)
 The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John 20:1-18                                                                                                                                                                              
Thursday, March 24, 2016: Maundy Thursday
First Lesson: Exodus (12:1-14)
Psalm 116:1, 10-17, Page 679, BCP
Second Lesson: (Paul's Epistle: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus According to John (13:1-17, 31b-35)  
Homily by Ann Perrott
Sunday, March 20, 2016: Palm Sunday
First Lesson: Isaiah (50:4-9a)
Psalm 31:9-16, Page 623, BCP
Second Lesson: (Paul's Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Luke (22:14-23; 56)
Sermon By The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell
Sunday, March 13, 2016: Fifth Sunday In Lent
First Lesson: Isaiah (43:16-21) 
Psalm 126, Page 782, BCP
Second Lesson: (Paul's Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (12:1-8)
Sermon By The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell

Sunday, March 6, 2016: Fourth Sunday In Lent
First Lesson: Joshua (5:9-12)
Psalm 32, Page 624, BCP
Second Lesson: (Paul's Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Luke (15:1-3, 11b-32)
Sermon By Darryl Burke

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

"How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity...for there the Lord has commanded the blessing..." 
(Psalm 133;1-3, AMP

So many people today desire God's blessing in their lives and that is great! However, did you know that God blesses us when we are at peace with the people around us?

My friends, as believers in Christ, we are called to serve one another in love and serve together in the house of the Lord. Is there someone in your life that you don't quite get along with? the Bible says to pray for that person and go out of your way to be a blessing to them. I will be the first to admit that it ain't easy, but the reward is great. God's blessing is everlasting!

So, I ask you today, to make the decision to live in peace and unity with the people around you. Look for common ground. Even if the only thing you can agree on is Jesus, focus on that! Make every effort to focus on the love you have for God and for seeing people come to know the love and grace of God. Live together in unity and open the door to see God bless every area of your life.

Gracious God, search my heart today and see if there is anything that is keeping me from walking in unity with other believers. I choose love today. I choose peace. Help me to be an example of love to those around me in Jesus' name. Amen

Blessings!

Rev. Tracy

Holy Week Services
Wednesday, March 23, 2016: Lenten book Study and Eucharist, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 24, 2016: Maundy ThursdayPreacher Ann Perrott, 6:00 p.m.
Good Friday: Communion from Reserved Sacrament, 12:00 noon.
Good Friday: Stations of the Cross, 6:00 p.m.

Young People's Fellowship
The Young People's Fellowship (YPF) will host a spaghetti dinner on Thursday, March 24, 2016 after the Maundy Thursday service. The cost is $10.00. See any member of YPF to purchase a ticket.

The YPF is currently taking orders for Easter Buns. The price is $15.00 for large and $8.00 for small. See any member to place your order.

Having Our Say
St. Monica's Gospel Choir and the Food Pantry are co-sponsoring the the performance of the play Having Our Say. It will be held Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Hartford Stage Company.

Birthdays And Anniversaries In March

Happy Birthday to: Edwina Tuning 6th; Robert Rose 9th; Arlette Hurdle 11th; Cyrus Aimey 13th; Camille Lawrence 14th; Brandon Hall and Travis Samuda 15th; Dee Flowers, Cherone Levy, Chantel Russell and Eloy Toppin 16th; Jackie Noel and Victoria Mitchell 18th; Mavis Blackwood 19th; Alton Esson, EvertonPaddyfote, K paddyfote and Cheryl Thomas 25th; Gloria Burke and Phillip Hanson 26th; Barbara Reid and Oswald Smith 27th; Gilda Shepherd and Walter Benjamin 29th; Mary Reid 30th.

Happy Anniversary to: Marcus and Leslyn Clark 6th; Marvin and Joan Jones 17th; Fitzroy and The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell 21st.

In Memory Of: Irma Lyons 6th; Dorothy Wakefield, Mildred Jerkins and Katherine Lyons 7th; cora Williams 8th; Harold Cunningham and Kenneth Levy 9th; Winniefred McBean 10th; Marion Mobley and Percy Nelson 11th; Trudie Lawson and Dorothy Woodson 15th; Nellie Smith and Ella Gamble 16th; Ronald Stevenson, Ruth Holmes and Lillian Wood 18th; Fellie Canniger 19; Rita Littman and Helen Watts 20th; Connie Hickmon, Mariam White and Albert Maule 22nd; Elizabeth Marvis  and Edythe Gaines 23re; Jessie Maule, Harold Bostie, Norbert Featherstone, Florence Robinson and Zepharia Brown 25th; Oswald Knight and Daniel Damiano, III 26th; Mary Leckey 27th; Obed Pinnock and Robin Jones 28th; Vivian McKoy and Denise McCurrie 29th; Lawrence Smith 30th;
Doriel Feurtado and Fannie Diggs 31st.

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

Veiling the Cross
This old custom of veiling religious images is a way of focusing on the penitential aspect of this liturgical season. It reminds us in a visual way that our faith is made possible only through the work of Christ in his suffering and death. 

The tradition is often practiced during the last two weeks before Easter, starting on Passion Sunday (the Sunday prior to palm Sunday) and ending on Good Friday. This time period was originally called Passiontide. Even though it is no longer called by this name as often, the tradition is still practiced in many places.

Then, as in a dramatic unveiling, the images are again revealed to mark the end of the penitential season and the beginning of the joy of the Easter season and the hope that the Resurrection brings. It is a beautiful custom that teaches us about the meaning of the liturgical seasons.

For the source of this CLICK HERE

THE BOOK CORNER

Before I Forget
by B. Smith and Dan Gasby

Dan Gasby shares his journey with wife, B. Smith, from the first time they met almost 30 years ago, to the moment he knew he had fallen in love with her, their fairytale marriage, and how younger onset Alzheimer's came knocking at their door to change life forever. The book also includes a sprinkling of short chapters written by B., to help us understand the disease from her perspective.

Every page is honest, bold, and compelling, and anyone who has been touched by alzheimer's will no doubt find many parallels to their own story. So many of the thoughts and emotions Gasby speaker of were reminiscent of those I felt with my own mother during her illness., I found those passages particularly validating.

Gasby gives readers an inside look at his life with B., sharing common challenges such as taking away car keys, coping with changes in personality, and bringing in outside assistance. Along the way, he offers tips and shares valuable lessons learned. He also explores the world of science, critical need for more study participants, and reasons African Americans are at a higher risk for the disease yet historically have a lower participation rate in research studies and critical trials.

This book is many things: a memoir, a caregiving guide, an Alzheimer's research primer, and a passionate advocate's call to action. Most of all, though, it's a beautiful love story.
Reviewed by Ann Napoletan