Sunday, May 8 was the second Sunday after Easter. Altar and vestment colors continue to be white and we have our Easter lilies and Paschal candle to celebrate the season. Now that Kip has restored the chimes on our organ he opens and closes the service with chimes, making our music even more beautiful.
Bishop Hartley based his sermon on the Epistle for the day, I Peter 2:19, in which he discusses how we endure suffering, and on the gospel for the day, St. John 10:2 in which Jesus refers to himself as the good shepherd. The Roman world into which Jesus was born was a slave society in which many people were slaves and there was much suffering and inequality; Peter instructs us to endure suffering patiently as “because Christ also suffered for us.” But Bishop Hartley reminded us that as Christians we have Christ as our example and conforter as He introduced into the world the concept of equality and brotherhood.
Bishop and Mrs. Hartley and other members of our congregation will be in Heber Springs, Arkansas this week for the national convention of our parent body, the United Episcopal Church of North America.
Kip Smith’s mother, Peggy, will be returning to New York this week and we will miss her as we always look forward to her visits.
Everyone is welcome at St. Francis Anglican (Traditional Episcopal) Church where Bishop Glen Hartley conducts services Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Visit our website at stfrancisavamo.org.
