Easter Message from Fred Hiltz Primate of Canada - The Way of The Cross: Holy Week, 2016

The liturgy for Palm Sunday invites us to follow our Lord this week “from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrections by way of the dark road of suffering and death”. In making that journey, we pray “united with Him in his suffering on the cross, may we share his resurrection and new life” (p 297, BAS)

One way of drawing near to Christ this week is through participating in an ancient form of devotion known as the Stations of the Cross. This holy practice dates as far back as 381 AD when a Spanish pilgrim, Egeria, made a pilgrimage from the Mount of Olives to the Church of The Holy Sepulchre, built over the place of Jesus crucifixion and burial. To the original six stations several more have been added through time. Since the 1700’s there have been typically fourteen. Nine come from the Gospels; five others from medieval European piety—Jesus falling three times along the way, Jesus meeting his mother, and Veronica wiping his face.

Bishop Mary's Easter Message

Some years ago a film called “The Passion of the Christ” was produced. There was much furor about its graphic and violent content and about whether “real Christians” should ever watch it. I don’t like scary or violent movies and I try to avoid seeing representations of people suffering. I see enough real suffering going on around us, and the news media are only too willing to find a sensational photo or audio clip to draw us in. Nevertheless, I announced that I would go see this movie with any one in the parish who wanted to go. Several carloads made the trek from Ste-Agathe to Ste-Adele on a wintry night in Lent.

I don’t remember very much of the actual movie now because the story of (what Christians call) Holy Week has always been part of my faith life. Except for the sound track and the visual effects, I was already aware that Christ’s suffering was a brutal and tortured journey to the cross and death.

The Passion of Jesus Christ is read on Palm/Passion Sunday(this year it is Luke 22:14 -23:56) and usually again on Good Friday. Maundy Thursday celebrates Jesus’ Last Supper and his gift to us of Holy Communion or the Eucharist, and Jesus’ final commandment that we are to love one another as he has loved us. The service ends with Jesus agonizing in prayer about what is coming next and the arrival of the guards to arrest him.

Rector's Easter Letter

Warden's Easter Letter

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Easter is almost upon us and along with it Spring. This is a time of promise, of new hope, new joy and new aspirations. Easter also marks the end of Lent as we celebrate the risen Christ. This is a blessed time of renewal for all of us as Christians and for our church as we celebrate our 125th anniversary with a full slate of activities.

Christ's Prayer at Gethsemane: "Let this cup pass from me"

Christ’s prayer at Gethsemane, “let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want” (Matthew 26: 39), has been a point of contention for theologians for over a thousand years. How could Christ, as God, even waver? This question goes to the heart of our soteriology, anthropology and Christology. By the 6th Ecumenical Council (681) it was affirmed that Christ having two natures (human and divine) also had two wills (human & divine). The realization that unfolds is that Christ’s natural human will is transcended: its desire for self-preservation is eclipsed by its desire for the divine.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Sunday March 20 10:00 am Palm Sunday Procession and Eucharist
Tuesday March 22 7:30 pm Trinity Memorial Church (Stations of the Cross)
Wednesday March 23 7:30 pm Tenebrae (Service of Darkness)
Thursday March 24 6:00 pm St. Thomas Church (Maundy Thursday)
Friday March 25 12:00 pm Liturgy of Good Friday
Saturday March 26 7:00 pm Children’s Easter Vigil

Looking for Artisans / Artisans Recherchés

St. Philip's Church welcomes artisans to take part in its upcoming Spring Fair to be held on Saturday, May 7th, 2016. Artisans who create handmade jewelry, painting, greeting cards, wood-working, and pottery are welcome to display their wares. We are located on the border between Montreal West and NDG. This well-attended event is a unique opportunity to promote and sell your crafts.

Contact Mark R. at markreimer@bell.net for more details on how you can secure a table.

Deadline for receipt of applications is April 22, 2016.

Please forward this to anyone that may be interested. ___________________________________________

L'Église St. Philip invite les artisans à participer dans la Foire du Printemps, notre nouvelle vente annuelle de livres, pâtisseries et objets faits à la main qui aura lieu samedi, le 7 mai, 2016. Les artisans et artisanes qui fabriquent les bijoux, peintures, cartes de voeux, boiseries, poteries, etc sont invités à offrir leurs créations. Nous sommes situés entre les frontières de Montréal Ouest et NDG. Cet événement attire plusieurs acheteurs et présente une opportunité unique pour promouvoir et vendre vos créations.

 

Pour plus de détails ou pour vous procurer une table, communiquez avec Mark R., markreimer@bell.net.

La date limite pour nous remettre les formulaires est le 22 avril, 2016.

Faites parvenir cette invitation à tout ceux qui peuvent être intéressés.

Kingdom Fellowship Demands Grace and Forgiveness

Every month I go to see my Spiritual Director, Father Bob. We sit. We pray. We talk about all sorts of matters of faith life and ministry. Father Bob always gives me a verse for the month, a verse which I am supposed to reflect on every day. I must confess that I don’t always do this. I often start out very well, but then lose my momentum as I progress through the month.