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APRIL, 2018
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A Few Words from Fr. Ted –
A STRANGE AND WONDERFUL WORD
One of the Lenten traditions that our children learned was refraining from saying or singing “Alleluia” during this time. Just before Ash Wednesday, Sunday school classes would make posters or cutouts of Alleluias and then bury them or hide them securely away to be brought out on Easter. I try to conscientiously keep from using this word in Lent, though at another parish where I selected the music every year I seemed to choose as a hymn the familiar song, “Let all mortal flesh keep silence” which uses the “A” word repeatedly in its fourth verse. Our music committee is much more careful. Anyway, we do try not to use Alleluia in Lent.
I came across an essay on the word, Alleluia, written by Balthasar Fischer which was reprinted in An Easter Sourcebook: The Fifty Days published by Liturgy Training Publications. (1988, Archdiocese of Chicago) In it he says, “It is an unusual word that is not native to the English or even the Latin liturgical vocabulary: the word “Alleluia.” As a matter of fact, it sounds less like a meaningful word than the babbling of child...” It is, of course, a word and it does have a meaning. If I asked you, could you say what it means? The dictionary will tell you that it means Hallelujah. A little more digging will show that this word which is found often in the Psalms means simply “Praise the Lord.” It is an interjection; Fischer calls it “a cry of jubilation.” It is a strange word that doesn’t always flow easily from the tongue, yet the church has chosen to continue to use it without translation especially in the Easter acclamations. Why?
Fischer explains it this way:
“I think the church meant to say: “In the presence of the mystery that we celebrate on Easter, the mystery of our redemption, our usual intelligible vocabulary is inadequate; when faced with the superabundant mercy of God we can only stammer in amazement like children.”
That is how it is with Christians: As we gaze at the Sun that has risen high over the darkness and cold of our Good Friday, all well-chosen words are useless. We can only stammer our Alleluia of wonder and jubilation.”
We do not refrain from saying Alleluia during Lent because we don’t praise God at this time. We continue to offer our worship of praise and thanksgiving. By withholding our Alleluias during this time, we make them more meaningful when we again cry out with them at the Easter Vigil. “Alleluia, Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen, indeed. Alleluia!” Throughout the Great Fifty Days we will add a double Alleluia to the dismissal concluding our Sunday worship. This is only done during the season of Easter to remind us of the specialness of this time.
I have found that Easter is the most difficult occasion for me to preach. It should be the easiest. When could we better tell the Good News than at the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, his victory over death and his promise to us of life eternal? Yet I have trouble. I think I now know why. It is because the story of Easter is too wonderful for words. It is the wonder of God’s love beyond our imagination or comprehension. We are loved that much! We are forgiven that much! Jesus died and rose for us! The only possible response is Alleluia! As we gather at Easter and hear of God’s saving grace in the resurrection of Jesus, let us along with Christians everywhere resurrect our Alleluias and praise God singing, “Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”
Fr. Ted+
A WORD OF THANKS
Special thanks to all who made our Palm Sunday weekend a glorious celebration and a time of gracious hospitality to both the people of the 509 Community Church and our Bishop, Doug Sparks. The Saturday reception with the Bishop was a time of warm fellowship enhanced by good food and the beautiful decoration of the parish hall. Sunday, with what will most likely be our last joint worship with the 509 congregation, provided a great kickoff to our Holy Week observances. I can’t help but believe that Bishop Sparks recognized the love shared at Christ the King and our willingness to share that with others.
I have to make particular mention of the efforts of Nancy Heasley in organizing the hospitality both days; the work of Diann Parker and June Prezbindowski in preparing the parish hall; all who contributed food or beverages; Linda Beatty for the bulletins and purchasing the palms; Senior Warden, Beth Ebersole, for arranging to have all of our carpeting cleaned, Sue Nunemaker and the choir for the beautiful “Antiphonal Hosanna” at the Offertory; Sue Jepsen and Carmen Oswalt for seeing to all of the Altar Guild details; and Stuart Hall for braving the brutal cold to carry the cross through downtown. I found myself proud and grateful to a part of this community of faithful and caring followers of Christ.
Fr. Ted+
A REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE
On Saturday, March 24, 2019, I was privileged to accompany Bishop Douglas Sparks and a number of others from the Diocese of Northern Indiana who attended the March for Our Lives in Indianapolis. This event, organized and conducted by young people from various parts of the state, was a call to action following the horrendous killing of seventeen young people and their teachers at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. We were there in support of these remarkable teenagers. Each of the young people who spoke did it with passion and conviction, having carefully thought out the problem of gun violence in our schools and cities. It was not a partisan event; no particular candidates or parties were endorsed or condemned. People of good will can disagree with the details of the measures being called for by the young speakers, but we should all be proud of their commitment and courage in trying to move us towards action against the plague of gun violence in our country. We should also be proud to live where efforts such as these are possible and permitted. Let us hope that these brave young people will encourage us all to do what we can to make this a safer place to live and learn.
Fr. Ted+
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SENIOR WARDEN’S NEWS
Continuing with my series on the Ministries of The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana, if you have ever been to South Bend you may have visited St. Margaret’s House. It was founded by Deacon Sarah S. Tracy as a joint project of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana and the Cathedral of St. James. A day center committed to the gospel value of hospitality, St. Margaret’s House improves the lives of women and children by providing individual attention to their immediate needs, breaking the bonds of isolation and helping them acquire skills to better their lives. St. Margaret’s House welcomes women and children who live in economic poverty. They provide meals and offer assistance through programs. Together, they work to break down barriers of isolation while discovering the unique talents and gifts of everyone who walks through the doors. Pray for St. Margaret’s House, those who keep it going and all those who have been blessed through these programs. Beth Ebersole, Sr. Warden
Thank you to the adult and children's choirs and to Marlene Schleiffer for all their hard work in the month of March! As of this writing, I don't have schedules finalized for April, but both choirs will be singing. We are also hoping to schedule another children's choir performance at Peabody Retirement Community sometime in April or May. It is a challenge to find a date when everyone is available! Thank you to everyone at Christ the King for their continued support of the music program. Sue Nunemaker
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APRIL BIRTHDAYS
4 Les Graham
5 Diann Parker
10 Deanie Garber
15 Beth Ebersole
19 Kelly Beasey
29 Doris Waters
APRIL ANNIVERSARIES
30 Stan & Susan Rice
Remember tosend updates to Sue Jepsen at ()
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BOOK CLUB
Our next meeting will be on Monday, April 30at Kathy Rhodes’ home. We will be discussing The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How my Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan. It's a true story of a woman who entered contests to put food on the table in the 1950s –a bit of nostalgia for those of us who grew up in that era.
Join us at 7 p.m. on April 30 fordiscussion and refreshments.
LITTLE BLESSINGS NEWS
Just a few notes from below. Little Blessings is doing great! We just recently hired three new employees: Wendy Yaste, Katrina Hitzfield and Autumn Gamble. We will be opening up a new toddler room soon. We held an Easteregg hunt for all the children out on the front lawn over spring break and it was a great hit. Thanks to all who provided candy. The school age group and I recently did a cleanup day around the church and Little Blessings; we cleaned our playgrounds and raked leaves and picked up sticks around the building. The staff of Little Blessings and I would like to say thanks for all your support and generosity, and for all you do.
Shallie Brown, Director
REMEMBER TO FILL OUR BASKETS FOR
Love INC. (In the Name of Christ) (2nd Sunday) and
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Little Blessings (4th Sunday)
CHRIST THE KING
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APRIL, 2018
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SunDAY / MonDAY / TueSDAY / WedNESDAY / ThuRSDAY / FriDAY / SatURDAY1 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist
EASTER
SUNDAY / 2 / 3
7:30 p.m. AA / 4
7:30 p.m.
Al-Anon / 5
5:30 Evening Prayer / 6 / 7
8 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist / 9 / 10
7:30 p.m. AA / 11
7:30 p.m.
Al-Anon / 12
5:30 Evening Prayer
5:45 Vestry Meeting / 13 / 14
15 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist / 16 / 17
7:30 p.m. AA / 18
7:30 p.m.
Al-Anon / 19
5:30 Evening Prayer / 20 / 21
22 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist / 23 / 24
7:30 p.m. AA / 25
7:30 p.m.
Al-Anon / 26
5:30 Evening Prayer
6:00 P.M. Little Blessings Board / 27 / 28
29 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist / 30
sERVICE ROSTER
remember to sign up for next month !
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Christ the King Episcopal Church
1224 North Jefferson Street
Huntington IN 46750
APRIL, 2018
PHONE NUMBERS
Church:
260-356-3570
Sr. Warden:
260-356-7372
Little Blessings Childcare:
260-359-1161
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