From the Interim Rector
Alleluia, Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
I pray you were able to experience the holy at St. Christopher’s during Lent and Easter. We marched with Jesus into Jerusalem, gathered in the upper room, prayed in the garden, heard God’s holy story, then proclaimed resurrection on Easter dawn. Just like back then, these holy mysteries, which are the foundations of our faith, and of our relationship with God and God’s people, cannot happen without the enactment of many people. Resurrection is not a singular act done by God alone. We must participate and proclaim “Alleluia” for resurrection to become a reality in our lives.
Preparing the sanctuary for worship across a variety of services is an intentional, prayerful task. Thank you to our Altar Guild, under the leadership of Peter Walters, for making us ready for Holy Week. Additionally, Richard Sobak and the choir prepare sacred music, chant, and anthems to help us celebrate the spirit of the season. They are at all services, and their singing invited us to connect deeper with God.
Without the staff administering additional formation activities, our experience of Jesus’ final days on Earth would not be as meaningful. Thank you to Jen Enriquez and Christa Creps for working with our children and families. And we wouldn’t know what to do if Uziel Martinez-Hernandez had not created all the Holy Week bulletins, preventing crucifixion one tree at a time, then getting them all printed.
At Maundy Thursday’s agape meal, Paul Clark took the lead and organized our liturgical soup supper. Thank you to all who made soup – Curt Amolsh, Sue and Howie Anderson, Paul Clark, Eileen Murphy, Deb Maue, and Priscilla Nied. We broke bread in remembrance of Jesus thanks to Gabriela Denton, Becky Dunlavey, Kathy Egan, and Patti Ferguson. The O.P.P. – Other People’s Pinot – (but Orleans Parish Prison to me) was provided by Emily Culbertson and Hal Rees.
As she does every year, Wendy Norris lovingly created our beautiful Altar of Repose, an indoor garden for meditation, reflection, and prayer, on Thursday evening and for Friday services. The wonderfully colorful Good Friday Stations were created by our families with children and many of us journeyed with Christ from the trial, then tears, to Calvary. Bob Wyatt provided our Good Friday meditation which invited us to balance the good, the bad, and the tragic during our journey of faith.
As Easter Day dawned, our Easter Egg Hunt was organized by Leah and Susan Curtin, with our youth leaders helping hide them in appropriate places for people of all ages. Our Easter Day reception was organized by Paul Clark, resurrecting leftover bread from the agape meal, transformed into five festive strata casseroles created by our talented chefs. Additionally, countless lectors read the scriptures, passion narratives, and prayers to sanctify our spirits.
Additionally, thank you to Mary Kay Tobin for offering Morning Prayer on Wednesdays during Lent and to Trish Joy, who organized and trained over 60 volunteers through our Ministry Scheduler Pro system. Not an easy task.
The danger of thanking people by name is leaving people out. That is my biggest fear. If I’ve done this, I apologize. Thank you to all of the people of St. Christopher’s who journeyed together from dust to resurrection this Lent and Easter.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday. I had my calendar messed up in my head. My cousin’s retirement from the Air Force is the following weekend, so I will be away the weekend of the 21st. I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday.
Faithfully,
Kevin