Holy Week Newsletter

[University Lutheran Church]

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

As the holiest of weeks in Christendom unfolds, we invite you to enter as deeply into the mysteries of faith and the rich rituals of worship which are part of the experience here at University Lutheran.

Some things remain constant, and we continue in service to the poor and the afflicted through Feast Incarnate, which can always use your help. Tonight's meal was just dropped off by the pastor from Holy Trinity in Abington. Because they do not stay to serve, extra hands are always useful, any time between 4PM and 6PM. Pastor Root is feeling under the weather (please keep him in your prayers) and so Pastor Kvande will lead tonight's Bible Study.

Also, one note on Easter Memorials: To allow people who might wish to make a flower or music contribution in memory of Joan Wells, if you send me an email by Thursday, I'll include your listing in the Vigil/Easter Sunday bulletins. You can include the contribution later.

Wednesday Night-please remember that there is no mid-week Lenten worship tomorrow night.

Thursday, 10 past noon, Mid-day Eucharist

Thursday, 7PM, Joint Maundy Thursday Service with St. Mary's parish begins at UniLu. We will gather around the font in Holy Silence. * We will begin with confession and then individual absolution. We will then move into the sanctuary for the service of the Word and for Footwashing. After the Prayers of the People, we will process across campus to St. Mary's for celebration of Eucharist commemorating Christ's last meal, and then stripping of the altar. The service take a bit over two hours. For individuals unable to participate in the procession, we will have at least one vehicle driving to St. Mary's.

Scheduled to serve: Preacher & Presider at UniLu: The Rev. Eugene Root; Presider at St. Marys: The Rev. James Littrell; Music Director & Organist: Andrew Hauze; Cantor: Drew Cardinale; Verger: Carl Ostermann; Deacon: Fred Wolfe; Sub-deacon: Carl Beck; Thurifer: Gary Bronson;  Crucifer: Kim-Eric Williams; Torchbearers: Roland Noreika, Steve Drabkowski; Lector: Steve Mann; Prayer Leader: Louise Shoemaker: Usher: Sue Schmitthenner; Greeter: Dorothy Linderman


Good Friday, 10 past Noon
On Good Fridays we take our Christian Witness to the sidewalks of University of Pennsylvania, reminding passerby of the day of Christ's crucifixion. We stop along the way and offer prayers for the life of the world, winding up at the Peace  sculpture on College Green outside the library.


Good Friday, 7PM
On Good Friday, when the church gathers to hear again the Passion story of Jesus' suffering and death.  We pray for the life of the world, and we recite again the familiar Psalms of the suffering servant. 

We meditate on the life-giving cross, and offer thanksgiving for the wood of tree on which our Salvation suffered and died.  It is a very personal service, one of quiet meditation in a darkened church. By UniLu tradition, the organ is silent from Thursday night until the Easter Vigil, so all chants and songs are sung without accompaniment

Scheduled to serve: Officiant and Preacher: Eugene Root; Assisting Minister: Raymond M. Kvande; Music Director: Andrew Hauze; Section Leaders: Sara Posey, Drew Cardinale; Vergers: Gary Bronson, Sue Schmitthenner; Lector: Anita Heeren;
Cross Bearers: Janah Szewczyk, Steve Szewczyk, Fred Quivik; Usher: Sue Schmitthenner; Greeter:Dick Linderman; Passion Readers: TBA

Easter Vigil:10PM
The liturgy's Easter proclamation announces in words written more than 1500 years ago, "This is the night in which all who believe in Christ are rescued from evil and the gloom of sin, are renewed in grace, and are restored to holiness."
 
The service begins beside a small fire outside the church, where we hear the familiar, historic stories of creation and, moving to the baptismal font, of Noah and the flood.  By the light of the Paschal candle, we move into the dark sanctuary to hear the other stories of God's love and salvation.
 
Returning to the font, we will renew our baptismal promises, receive two new members into the church, and baptize Kevin Saunders,  who has been preparing to become a Christian throughout the Lenten season.

We return to the sanctuary to celebrate the first Mass of the Resurrection.  Singing a hymn of praise, once again we enter God's temple, hear the story of the Resurrection, and celebrate the Eucharist. We rejoice and celebrate once more, for the fast is over; Christ is risen from the dead.

Afterwards we retire to the lounge for a great fine feast of all the treats people have missed during their Lenten fasting, including champagne. Charlie Horn is coordinating this effort. If you are able to bring a contribution to share, could you kindly email him at  "Charlie Horn" <ChasW...@comcast.net> and let him know what you intend to bring. It just helps him plan what other food he'll need to be sure is here for a more compleat feast.

Scheduled to Serve at Easter Vigil:  Preacher and Presider: The Rev. Eugene Root; Music Director: Andrew Hauze; Vocal Quartet: Sara Posey, Laura Lukasewycz, Erik Nordgren, Drew Cardinale; Verger: Bruce McCullough, Assisting Verger: TBA; Deacon: Rich Tolsma; Sub-deacon: Fred Wolfe; Thurifer: Janah Szewczyk; Crucifer: Fred Quivik; Torchbearer: Kristen Myer, Steve Szewczyk; Readers, TBA, Lector: The Rev. Raymond M Kvande, Prayer Leader: Sue Schmitthenner; Communion Assistant: Sue Schmitthenner; Usher:  Sue Schmitthenner; Greeters: Dick and Dorothy Linderman; Reception Coordinator: Charlie Horn

Easter Sunday: 8:30am Choir, 9:00am Easter Breakfast, 10:30am Festival Mass of the Resurrection; After Worship: Easter Egg Hunt

Scheduled to serve Easter Sunday:  Preacher and Presider: The Rev. Eugene Root; Music Director: Andrew Hauze; Cantors: Sara Posey, Drew Cardinale; Verger: Carl Ostermann; Deacon: Sharon McCullough; Sub-deacon: TBA; Crucifer: John Heeren; Torchbearers: Lisa Shoemaker, Emma Reuschel; Thurifer: Gary Bronson; Lector: Alexa Epstein; Communion Assistant: Anita Heeren; Prayer Leader: Fred Quivik; Breakfast Coordinator: Carl Beck & Friends; Usher: Bruce McCullough; Greeter: Irene Wong

Music for Easter  

ELW Setting 3
 
Cantor: Sara Posey
French Horn: Al Blatter, Michele Zoeckler
 
Prelude:
Round: Wake Every Breath – William Billings
            “Wake ev’ry breath and ev’ry string, to bless the great Redeemer King; His name             through ev’ry clime adored! Let joy and gratitude and love, through all the notes             of music move, and “Jesus” sound on ev’ry chord.”
           
Chorale Prelude: Christ Lag in Todes Banden, BWV 695 – J.S. Bach
 
Introit: Easter Introit – Denis Mason
Entrance Hymn: ELW 449: “We Know that Christ is Raised”
 
Hymn of Praise: “This is the Feast of Victory for our God”
 
Psalm:

Give thanks to the LORD, for the Lòrd is good;
God's mercy en- dùres forever.
Let Israel nòw declare,
            "God's mercy en- dùres forever."
The LORD is my strength ànd my song,
and has become my salvation.
Shouts of rejoicing and salvation echo in the tents òf the righteous:
            "The right hand of the Lòrd acts valiantly!
The right hand of the LORD ìs exalted!
The right hand of the Lòrd acts valiantly!"
I shall not dìe, but live,
            and declare the works òf the LORD.  
 
ANTIPHON
 
The LORD indeed pun- ìshed me sorely,
but did not hand me o- vèr to death.
Open for me the gàtes of righteousness;
            I will enter them and give thanks tò the LORD.
"This is the gate òf the LORD;
here the righ- tèous may enter."
I give thanks to you, for you have ànswered me
            and you have become my salvation.  
 
ANTIPHON
 
The stone that the build- èrs rejected
has become thè chief cornerstone.
By the LORD has thìs been done;
            it is marvelous ìn our eyes.
This is the day that the Lòrd has made;
let us rejoice and be glàd in it.  
            Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Hòly Spirit,
            As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forev- èr. Amen.
 
ANTIPHON

Verse:

“Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the feast.”

 

Hymn of the Day: ELW 378: “Awake, My Heart, with Gladness”
 
Offertory Anthem: Påsksång [Easter Song] – Harald Fryklöf (1882-1919)
            Hallelujah! He lives, O my spirit, know your Lord and your God again!  He lives, He lives, He leaves his rest, and voices are heard that were dumb, and hands reach out that were cold with death.  He lives, He lives, He lives, and you must live!  Hallelujah!
 
Communion Music:
Hymn: ELW 370: “Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands”
 
Chant: Jubilate Coeli; Music by Jacques Berthier
 
            The cantor will sing the verses of ELW 368: “With High Delight” between repetitions of the chant

Translation: “Heaven and earth rejoice, for Jesus Christ is truly risen.”
 
 
Hymn:  ELW 362: “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing”
 
Sending Hymn: ELW 365: “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”
 
Concluding Chorus: “Hallelujah!” from Messiah – G. F. Handel
[brass arrangements by W.A. Mozart]
 
Postlude: Finale from Symphony no. 1 – Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
 
 
Acknowledgements: Communion Chant, Music By Jacques Berthier
© Ateliers et Presses de Taizé (A&PT), Communauté de Taizé, 71250 Taizé, France edit...@taize.fr
Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-715135

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Next Monday Night: 3-24 You are invited to join the students to watch "For the Bible Tells me So." An exploration of the intersection between religion and homosexuality in the U.S. and how the religious right has used its interpretation of the Bible to stigmatize the gay community.

Featured families include the Right Rev. Gene Robinson and his family, and Chrissy Gephart

NEW YORK -- Using true-life stories to complement its obligatory assemblage of talking heads, Daniel Karslake's documentary handles the theme of religious attitudes toward homosexuality in moving and educational fashion. While the film is unlikely to sway anyone whose mind already isn't made up, it provides plenty food for thought in its examination of biblical doctrine on same-sex love and how it resonates to this day

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Following Monday Night: 3-31  You are all invited to a "Meet the Artist: Meaghan Hull" reception. Meaghan's photographs have been hanging in our lounge since last Novemeber. She will be reclaiming them soon, but before she does, she'd like to hear your thoughts on her work and her subject (life after death) and have the opportunity to share with you the journey she took while working on the project. .

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Finally, our thanks to all the people who worked so hard last Saturday to prepare the church for this week.


In Christ's love,

Fred

Fred Wolfe
Interim Coordinator for Campus Ministry
University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation
Chestnut Street at 37th Street Walk
215.387.2885
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