Lent Holy Week Easter 2015

Transcription

1 Lent Holy Week Easter 2015 Cnr Howard and Queensberry Streets, North Melbourne Ph: (03) ; Web:

2 From the Vicar This booklet is an encouragement for us all to use the time of Lent well. Here are many opportunities for each of us to take on something extra during Lent that will help us in our spiritual life. This is the traditional preparation time of forty days from Ash Wednesday up to Good Friday, and the resurrection of our Lord on Easter Day. How about considering coming to morning prayer one day a week, or coming to the Thursday lunchtime Eucharist? What about being part of one of the groups or special events? What about being careful about what you eat on the Fridays of Lent, or abstaining from alcohol? Have you considered clearing the spiritual decks, perhaps making your confession before Easter? What about planning the Easter break so the great liturgical celebrations are a central part of what you do? We have in the pages that follow an overview of the Lenten forty days and beyond here at St Mary s. Please be encouraged, and have a good Lent! God bless you, Fr Craig D'Alton WHY DO WE OBSERVE LENT? From about the 4th century the Church has observed a period of 40 days of fasting in preparation for Easter. The custom arose from the prescribed fast of the candidates for Christian initiation at the conclusion of their long period of instruction and preparation. As the event of their Baptism approached, this intensive preparation of the weeks before Easter began and the whole Church took up this process as being a period of renewal of their own baptismal promises. This we still do at the Liturgy of Holy Saturday. The austerity of the Lenten season reminds us that our faith is centred on the essentials of human living, thus we dispense with some of those external symbols of our religious background in order to concentrate more fully on what they represent. The Lenten array of unbleached linen veils paintings and images, flowers are removed, the exultant passages of praise, such as the Gloria and Alleluias are omitted from the Liturgy. The dominant colour is purple, the colour of royal mourning. 2

3 ASH WEDNESDAY 18 February LENTEN DIARY 8am & 12.30pm 7pm Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes Sung Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes SUNDAYS IN LENT 8.00am 11.30am Eucharist Sung Eucharist Bible Study WEEKDAYS IN LENT Daily Office 8.30am Morning Prayer (Monday-Thursday), followed by coffee at Griggons & Orr Lenten Study 6.30pm Wednesday (at Mark the Evangelist Uniting Church) Eucharist 12.30pm Thursday MAKING YOUR CONFESSION Lent is traditionally a time for making use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, commonly known as Confession. Anglican use of this sacrament has never been universal. The general Anglican rule regarding the practice of confession is all may, none must, some should. If you have never made your confession before, or have not done so for a long time, perhaps this Lent might provide an opportunity to engage in this process of self-examination. The clergy are happy to discuss this sacrament with you, and it is always wise to consult a priest before your first confession. 3

4 Reformation Questions for the Contemporary Church North Melbourne Ecumenical Lenten Studies 2015 This series of ecumenical Lenten Studies will examine several of the key doctrinal questions that drove the Reformations of the Sixteenth Century, and which are foundational to the theologies of both the Anglican and Uniting Churches. After an initial week of setting the scene we examine four doctrinal questions, each of which have at their heart the issue of authority within the church. After a historical introduction to how each question was addressed during the Reformation period, we will discuss how that question is understood today within the ecclesial traditions of which we are part. 1) A romp through Reformation History Setting the historical and theological scene 2) Who may reform the church? Some Reformation answers: Popes, bishops, Councils and Synods, theologians, lay leaders 3) How do I access Salvation? A Reformation answer: Sola fides: Justification by grace through faith 4) How do I know what God wants? A Reformation answer: Sola Scriptura: Scripture alone 5) What is my role in God s Church? A Reformation answer: The Priesthood of All Believers The presenter for these studies is the Revd Dr Craig D Alton, vicar of St Mary s North Melbourne, who also lectures in Reformation History at Trinity College Theological School, University of Divinity. Craig has taught Reformation studies variously at Trinity, the UFT and Yarra Theological Union since His doctorate was on the early response to the Reformation in England, and he has published numerous articles and contributed to several books on Reformation history and theology. Wednesdays Feb 25, March 4, 11, 18, pm (soup and bread) 7.00pm (studies commence) Mark the Evangelist Uniting Church, 2 Elm Street, North Melbourne Sponsored by St Mary s Anglican Church and the Congregation of Mark the Evangelist (UCA), North Melbourne 4

5 SERMON SERIES THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOVE THREE SERMONS FOR HOLY WEEK 8.00pm 9.00pm Maundy Thursday Good Friday The Great Vigil of Easter Preacher: The Vicar BIBLE STUDY SUNDAYS IN LENT AT 11.30am Mark s story of the Passion A detailed look at chapters of the Gospel according to Mark Leader: The Vicar SUNDAY 22 MARCH 1pm-4.30pm at St Mary s QUIET AFTERNOON Bring a notebook and a pen, and any contemplative activity you find helpful (eg. knitting, a reflective book) Leader: The Revd Emily Payne 5

6 HOLY WEEK DIARY PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY 29 March 8.00am Eucharist Sung Eucharist with blessing of palms and procession 8.00pm A Palm Sunday Tenebrae Monday Tuesday Eucharist 6.30pm Eucharist 6.30pm Wednesday Eucharist 6.30pm MAUNDY THURSDAY 2 April 8.00pm Evening Mass of the Lord s Supper (The Church will remain open for the customary vigil until midnight, and starting again at 8am. Please sign your name on the chart at the door of the Church and commit yourself to one hour of prayer and silence). GOOD FRIDAY 3 April The Celebration of the Lord s Passion HOLY SATURDAY 4 April 9.00am Morning Prayer, followed by working bee 9.00pm Easter Liturgy, including the Service of Light, Vigil, Renewal of Baptismal Vows and the First Mass of Easter EASTER DAY 5 April 8.00am Eucharist Procession and Sung Eucharist BAPTISM, AND RENEWING BAPTISMAL VOWS The Easter Liturgy of Holy Saturday includes an opportunity for all baptised Christians to renew their baptismal vows. If you have not been baptised and would like to be, this is the perfect opportunity. Candidates for Baptism should speak to one of the clergy as soon as possible. If you would like to discuss a specific program of preparation for the liturgy of renewal, please contact one of the clergy as soon as possible. 6

7 EASTERTIDE DIARY The fifty days of Easter run from Easter Day until Pentecost. During this season the Pascal Candle remains a focal point of the liturgy, and the themes of resurrection, baptism and new life permeate both the readings and the liturgical action. SUNDAYS IN EASTERTIDE 8.00am 11.30am Eucharist Sung Eucharist (19/4 24/5) Study Group WEEKDAYS IN EASTERTIDE Daily Office: 8.30am Morning Prayer (Tuesday-Thursday) Eucharist 12.30pm Thursday ASCENSION DAY Thursday 14 May 6.30pm Sung Eucharist, followed by supper THE DAY OF PENTECOST Sunday 23 May 8.00am Eucharist Sung Eucharist EASTERTIDE STUDY GROUP THE FIVE MARKS OF MISSION The Anglican Consultative Council in 1999 established five marks of mission, which provide a creative way of examining a sometimes difficult to grasp subject. These studies will introduce the five marks and provide an opportunity to reflect on how they might inform how we act locally. - The God of Mission has a Church (general intro) - Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom - Teaching, Baptising, Nurturing new believers - Responding to human need by loving service - Transforming injustice and pursuing peace - Safeguarding creation Leader: The Revd Emily Payne 7