“Courage is being scared to death…and saddling up anyway.”
John Wayne
It’s quite appropriate the book following the Gospel is called Acts as it describes the actions of God following the death and resurrection of Jesus. It records how the Church was born in the tiny city of Jerusalem with just a handful of believers and quickly spread throughout the Roman Empire. While Acts describes people coming to Christ in droves, this growth wasn’t easy. The disciples worked despite grotesque flashbacks of Jesus’ death, they worked despite enormous grief of having lost a deeply loved leader and friend. They worked with religious and political leaders watching them and plotting against them. They worked despite floggings, imprisonments, and executions. They had to have been at all times, scared to their core and yet, as John Wayne would say, they saddled up anyways. With deep anxiety they clung to God and followed wherever God led.
Perhaps we should call the next stage for our church “Acts” as we too we will be forging along without our leader and our friend. While he isn’t exactly Christ, its jarring for us to say goodbye to Father George. Many in our congregation assumed he would perform their wedding, baptize their children and conduct their funerals. To no longer feel certainty about at least those details in life is understandably very troubling. To wonder what the future can bring with our usual leader and haunted by images of churches who have struggled and not recovered during a change in Rector, isn’t helpful. Thankfully we can look to the book of Acts and do what the disciples did. Forging their way in the dark, they clung to God, looking constantly for God’s guidance, willing to follow God’s directions. Because they ministered like this, they were able to see God’s glory in everything they did. So saddle up cowgirls and cowboys of St. Edmund’s, we may be bracing for a scary time of transition but there is still much work for us to do. With every decision, with every step may we be in constant prayer, clinging to God’s guidance and presence. If we do so, we know beyond a doubt that the ministries of St. Edmund’s will spread, allowing God’s love and healing to be a blessing to those in our community and beyond.
~ Street Hockey Madness ~
Our Sunday school appears to have street hockey fever. It’s wonderful how excited students are to play yet their enthusiasm is rough on our sticks. We recently purchased four to replace the five that have been shattered, however we are working with a very tight budget. If you would like to donate more sticks, we would be tremendously appreciative. They can be purchased through Amazon: Franklin Sports 64018X NHL Youth Street Hockey Goalie/Player Stick Set
~ Sunday at the Beach and Paddleboard Yoga ~
The study of Acts will take us through the middle of July.
What better to complete a book full of islands and shipwrecks than
by spending a Sunday at the beach!
Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey is a beautiful spot with lots of parking, nice bathrooms, calm water, life guards, picnic areas and a playground. Families are welcome to join us at any point during the day and stay as long as they like.
The Sundays in July are being considered for this trip to the beach, if you have a preference or any questions please contact Heather.
If you want to come for some early morning sun and stretching, join us for Paddleboard Yoga! The first 30 minutes of the class is dedicated to learning how to properly use a paddleboard and enjoy a peaceful paddle around the harbor. The remaining hour is dedicated to yoga on the paddleboard. Each board has an individual anchor that is dropped down before the Yoga portion of class begins so that the student does not drift away while focusing on their practice. YOGAqua classes are open to “all levels”. Students are taken through a Vinyasa Yoga flow with customized and detailed instruction for the paddleboard so even if they have not been practicing yoga for years, or if they have never been on a paddleboard, they will be able to follow along with no problem.
A single class costs $44 which includes use of a paddleboard.
~ Youth Group ~
Due to Mother’s Day we will be moving Youth Group to May 20th.
Evites will be sent out shortly.
~ Upcoming Events ~
TONIGHT!
SENS Fundraiser at Blaze Pizza
4:30 pm – 8 pm
1100 S. Fair Oaks
South Pasadena, 91030
Please present this flyer to your server.
Hard copies are available in the narthex.
~
Sunday, April 29
Celebration of Father George
We are encouraging all kids to attend worship with their parents.
If any kids would like to sit in the back with Antonio and Heather, they are more than welcome to do so. We will be gathering all of the Sunday School and youth during the announcements to present our gift to Father George.
During the 10 am service Father George will officiate his last service with the Reverend Canon Colville Smythe delivering the sermon.
Following worship there will be a luncheon and celebration ceremony. Please RSVP to Debra Spaulding at
dspaulding@socal.rr.com or 626.284.1443.
If you would like to help defray the cost of the lunch,
please send a check to the church office with the notation,
“Farewell Luncheon” in the memo line.
There will be a time for personal tributes to be expressed by anyone who so desires during the ceremony. Since there will be many people, please limit your remarks to one minute or less. The ceremony will end promptly at 1 pm.
Traditionally, some parishioners give their departing rectors a cash gift called a “purse” in appreciation of the rector’s service. Father George has requested that any such gift on his behalf be given instead to the
St. Edmund’s Endowment, now named the “Woodward Endowment”. Checks for this purpose may be sent to the church office with the notation “Woodward Endowment” on the memo line.
Please add you personal notes Father George’s timeline on the wall of Fellows Hall before or after any Sunday service. Instructions and Post-it notes are available for your memories, thoughts and personal stories. A scrapbook is also being created. Tell Father George what he has meant to you by submitting a card, poem, letter, or photograph to the church office or in the marked box in the Fellows Hall.
Questions? Contact Wendy at WendyTaylorGreenleaf08@gmail.com
or 626.353.3987
Transition Question & Answer
The next Question and Answer session will take place on April 22nd after the 8 am and 10 am services in the Library.
~
Sunday, May 6
Team 1 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Teaching: Shawna, Heather & Antonio
~
Sunday, May 13
Mother’s Day
Team 2 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
~
Sunday, May 20
Team 3 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Youth Group
5 – 7 pm | Youth Room
~
Sunday, May 27
Team 4 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Please feel free to contact Heather if you have questions.
