Loading...Dear Friends in Christ,
March was full of activities and the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was hectic and tiring, but full of blessings. I really miss Emily, but am so proud of her. The good people of Christ Church in Marion are in good hands. We, in the Cluster, are so blessed to have had her a little while , now, we are sharing our blessings. We have begun the discernment process for a couple of people who feel they may be called to serve God as priests.
The month started off with a 'walkabout' by five nominees for bishop. Over a hundred members of the Abingdon and New River Convocations met at St. Thomas in Abingdon. The candidates were interviewed and reinterviewed for several hours. I had said that any of the five could be my bishop, and the walkabout proved that. One of the delegates said that meeting them and talking with them just made it harder to decide which one to vote for.
The following weekend, the lay and clergy delegates met in a special council at St. John's in Roanoke to elect oursixth bishop. The election was held in the context of Holy Communion. We could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Rev. Canon Mark Bourlakas was elected on the third ballot. Mark will be ordained, concecrated on July 20 at the Roanoke Civic Center. I encourage you to attend this beautiful, inspiring service.
Between the walkabout and the election, we had our second Lenten Program at Christ Church. The first program was a dinner at St. Mary's, followed by a video of the candidates for bishop. The Healing service on March 5 was on a cold and snowy evening. Only a handful braved the weather, but the healing service was inspiring as we prayed for ourselves and others, had communion, laying on of hands, and anointing with oil.
The final Lenten program was a Seder Meal at Stras. Our Jewish friends, Robert and Annabelle Galumbeck, presented the program. A Seder is an observance of Passover and the meals the Hebrews ate before their freedom from the Egyptians. It is also the meal Jesus ate with his disciples the night before he was crucified. Robert and Annabelle led us through the ritual in Hebrew and English. The meal was delicious, fellowship wonderful and the program inspiring. It is good that we remember that we as Christians, are descendants of Judaism. I thank Robert and Annabelle for thier friendship and love.
As I write this letter, I am preparing for Palm Sunday and the Holy Week. I will be at Stras Memorial on Palm Sunday and will lead the good folks there into the church as we remember the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Holy Week is a very busy time for the church but also such a blessing. On Monday, I will deliver the sermon at the Tazewell Ministerial Association's Holy Week services at Main St. United Methodist Church. The noon day service will be followed by a meal. On Tuesday, I will be at the Greater Bluefield Ministerial Association's Holy Week service.
Thursday, the Maundy Thursday service will be a Cluster service at Stras Memorial, beginning at 7:00 PM. The Good Friday service will be held in each parish. Stras at noon, Christ Church at 6:30 PM and St. Mary's at 8:00 PM.
On Easter Sunday morning at 6:30 AM, I will be participating in the Pocahontas Ministerial Association's Sun Rise service at the Baptist Church, followed by services at Christ Church and St. Mary's at regular time.
My prayer for you this Easter season is that you remember each day the love God has for you and that you love others as God loves you.
In Christ's Love,
Father Russ
