Lenten Reflection Day 41 (April 3): UPHOLD (Isaiah 42:1-9).
ONG: The Wynans: Uphold Me: https://youtu.be/xkHfGzAcD6E
POEM: Rebecca Hazelton: Vow (excerpt): … When they looked at their options / it seemed there weren’t really that many / after all. They swore to uphold the bonds / and the principles …
QUOTE: Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl: People who have a religion should be glad, for not everyone has the gift of believing in heavenly things. You don’t necessarily even have to be afraid of punishment after death; purgatory, hell, and heaven are things that a lot of people can’t accept, but still a religion, it doesn’t matter which, keeps a person on the right path. It isn’t the fear of God but the upholding of one’s own honor and conscience. How noble and good everyone could be if, every evening before falling asleep, they were to recall to their minds the events of the while day and consider exactly what has been good and bad. Then, without realizing it you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day; of course, you achieve quite a lot in the course of time. Anyone can do this, it costs nothing and is certainly very helpful. Whoever doesn’t know it must learn and find by experience that: “A quiet conscience makes one strong!”
Lenten Reflection Day 40 (April 2): CHOSEN (Isaiah 42:1-9).
SONG: Rytikal: Chosen: https://youtu.be/thNWIM5Oe6w
POEM: Uche Nduka: Untitled [When Shall Your Wounds] (excerpt): … daily your kingdom squeaks / and leaps to the starlight / it wants all of you / you of all and the music … you are the one the music / has chosen and whom strings call / twilight moans behind you / all you are you are all
QUOTE: Henri Nouwen, Out of Solitude: When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
April INSIDE OUT Newsletter
The most recent edition of the Jackson Community Church Inside-Out Newsletter is attached with all the information you may need for Holy Week and upcoming events.
A few things to note:
We are a couple of weeks into spring, now we can look forward to the Sun warming the skies and earth. As the snow recedes from your gardens or as you begin to plant seeds think of the Mission Committee Plant Sale. The Mission Committee would love to utilize any plants you do not need for their sale on May 20th. – they cannot do it without you.
Also – upcoming April 15th the revival of the Men’s Breakfast. All men are invited – more information in the newsletter.
Joanne Turner, Administrative Assistant
Jackson Community Church
Lenten Reflection Day 39 (April 1): DELIVERANCE (Psalm 40:5-10).
SONG: Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell: Dueling Banjos (Deliverance 1972): https://youtu.be/p8t8uqEf6_A
POEM: Linda Hogan: The History of Red (excerpt): … A wildness / swam inside our mothers, desire through closed eyes, a new child / wearing the red, wet mask of birth, delivered into this land / already wounded, stolen and burned / beyond reckoning.
QUOTE: JRR Tolkien: Fairy tale does not deny the existence of sorrow and failure: the possibility of these is necessary to the joy of deliverance. It denies (in the face of much evidence, if you will) universal final defeat…giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy; Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.
HOLY WEEK: Palm Sunday, April 2 to Easter, Sunday, April 9
April 2-9: WAY of the CROSS
- VIA CRUCIS – Way of the Cross
Ongoing • JCC Sacntuary
- Self-guided.
- Crosses used in this personal pilgrimage, most hanging in the windows, come from around the world.
- Front doors open and unlocked 24/7. Come whenever your schedule permits. Several written guides are available, tracing the Via Crucis journey with specific concerns in mind: healing, environmental care, recovering from addiction, surviving trauma, discerning prayer. The guides also include ones written specifically for women, children, refugees, seniors, LGBTQ+ allies, and using perspective from St Teresa,
St Francis, Ignatians, and using Biblical versions offered by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.
- 24/7: Daily during Holy Week • JCC Sanctuary
Sun, Apr 2: PALM SUNDAY
- INTERFAITH WORSHIP
8am • JCC Sanctuary & Zoom- Join us for poetry, conversation, and prayer.
- Zoom link and password required.
- PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP with Communion
10:30am • JCC Sanctuary & Zoom- Zoom link and password required.
- Music: Sharon Novak
- HOSPITALITY @ JCC
11:30am • Parish Hall
- BYZANTINE ART, ICONOGRAPHY & ARCHITECTURE Tour with John Heropoulos, MDiv.
2pm • Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Berlin, NH- Led by John Heropoulos, MDiv., retired Greek Orthodox priest.
Thurs, Apr 6: MAUNDY THURSDAY
- SOUP SUPPER & MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP
6pm • Parish Hall of JCC
- Worship at table as communion meal
- Discussion over the meal
- Scripture: Last Supper & Prayers in Gesthemane
- Special song written & performed by Sharon Novak
- Soups prepared by Sue Carrigan & Wendy McVey
- Event hosted by the deacons
- Close with stripping of the altar
Fri, Apr 7: HOLY FRIDAY
- VIGIL on HOLY FRIDAY
Noon-3pm • JCC Sanctuary
- Scripture readings offered aloud in the sanctuary at noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm.
- Texts narrate final hours of Christ
- Traditional day to experience Stations of Cross (also offered in sanctuary during this time and throughout Holy Week).
- Virtual stations of the c ross will be posted to Facebook and the website.
- ECUMENICAL WORSHIP for HOLY FRIDAY
6pm • Christ Church Episcopal, North Conway, NH
- Tenebrae service
- Last even words of Christ
- Putting out candles
- Scirpture and song
- This service is offered by Clergy of the Eastern Mountain Slope in Mt Washington Valley.
Sun, Apr 9: EASTER SUNDAY
- SUNRISE EASTER SERVICE
6am • Presidential Drive Cul-de-Sac, Jackson, NH
- In-person only
- Scripture
- Singing
- EASTER WORSHIP with Flowering of Cross @ JCC
10:30am • Jackson Community Church
- Zoom link and password required.
- Featuring harp with Dominique Dodge and special music by Gia Osborne
- Flowering of Cross @ JCC
- HOSPITALITY @ JCC
11:30am • Parish Hall - COMMUNITY EGG HUNT
11am-2pm JCC and around village