What a superb Holy Week we celebrated! I want to thank everyone for their hard work. The acolytes, musicians, ushers, worship guilds, and kitchen crew truly outdid themselves, and it showed. It was also wonderful to celebrate the week with the full ceremonial we had enjoyed before the pandemic. Now we may enjoy the full 50 days of Easter.

This Monday is the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, our patron saint. I hope you are able to join us for the Solemn Mass at 6:15 pm. Dinner will follow in the Parish Hall, and the choir will sing. This feast often comes right on the heels of Holy Week, and thus it is tempting to observe the day with minimal solemnity. As well, feast days during Easter must be observed on their actual days and cannot be transferred to the Sunday after. Tradition states that Saint Mark was martyred, and martyr days are particularly well-observed during Eastertide due to the principal theme of resurrection.

Before Monday's great feast, however, we have the Second Sunday of Easter, often referred to as Saint Thomas Sunday. We will hear Saint John's Gospel of the disciples gathered on the evening of Easter Day, and Jesus appears to them offering his peace and forgiveness. We are reminded that the new life that Jesus brings to all of us is frequently conjoined with the forgiveness of sins. Abundant forgiveness is one of the great gifts of our Lord's resurrection.

Happy Easter,
Father Paul Lillie+

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

Rector's Journal

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

The Rector's Journal

From the Rector: Holy Week Thanks

Rector's Journal

We have much to celebrate over the next few days and weeks. Tomorrow is the fortieth day of Easter, and according to the Acts of the Apostles, it is the Day of the Ascension. One of the great feasts of the church, we will celebrate with a Solemn Mass at 7:00 pm.

Last Saturday morning I met with a cross section of lay leaders who devote many volunteer hours to our worship ministries. Our task was to evaluate what went well with Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, as well as what we might improve for the future. We also looked at the upcoming feasts.