Thursday evening!

Northern & Central Louisiana Interfaith

invites you to come learn about

Higher Education Funding & the Workforce

 

St. Thomas' Episcopal Church

Thursday, May 1

7 - 8:30 p.m.

 

The purpose of Interfaith Civic Academies is to provide data and instigate discussion. Come and be part of the dialogue about the important issues of our community!

  

Meeting Cancelled

Tonight's tech meeting for Episcopal Mission of Northeast Louisiana is cancelled due to the burial visitation for the Davenport's grandson, Cal. We will reschedule.

At St. Thomas'...

It's time for St. Thomas' Annual
 

Back to the Bayou

Fish Fry

at

St. Thomas' Episcopal Church

3706 Bon Aire Drive

 

Saturday, May 3, 5:30 pm

$8 adults

$5 children under 12

Come for a great meal of fish, hush puppies, fries, slaw, desserts & tea,

PLUS entertainment by the Back Pew Pickers, a cake walk and other fun stuff all for a good cause.

See you there!

      

Today's sermon: Wounded Healer

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Mer Rouge, La. 

I have a scar on my knee. It’s not actually a very impressive scar. You probably wouldn’t notice it even if I were wearing shorts this morning!

But I enjoy telling the story of getting it anyway. I even think of the story in church sometimes because it involves sheep. In fact, I can’t NOT think of it when scripture reminds us, “all we are like sheep who have gone astray”!

You see, sheep are not very smart. One day on a small farm in Iowa, I and my brothers were helping my father in the barn when suddenly the skies opened and the rains came down—huge, drenching, rains.

Our small flock of ewes and newborn lambs was grazing in a pasture nearby. “Quick,” my father said, “get the lambs.”

And we all rushed into the pasture, took a soaking wet lamb into our arms and ran into the barn—the mother following us, of course—then back for another and another until all had been saved.

Sheep will stand in a heavy rain until the lambs get cold and water-logged, fall to the ground and die. 

The scar happened because, running to the barn with an armful of wet lamb in a downpour, I failed to see a hunk of barbed wire on the ground and ran into it, ripping open my knee.

No big deal, really. Didn’t even go to the doctor. With no medical insurance, it had to be a lot worse than that to merit a trip to the doctor!

But I enjoy telling the story. It tells you something about me. It gives me a bit of “street cred,” if you will, or I guess “farm cred” would be a better term.

Today’s Gospel story often gets used to talk about things like Thomas’ doubting, his need to get visual confirmation of the resurrection of Jesus, and his ultimate, powerful statement of faith.

I, myself, have used this story to preach about how it is okay to be a bit skeptical, to ask questions and to wait and see. After all, the other 11 also didn’t believe the women when they first burst into the room claiming they had seen Jesus! So Thomas certainly should not take the rap alone!

And the story is about those things..., but I think that focus passes over something very, very important—namely, Jesus showing the disciples his scars, and then breathing the Holy Spirit into them.

More 

Civic Academy

Northern & Central Louisiana Interfaith

invites you to come learn about

Higher Education Funding & the Workforce

 

St. Thomas' Episcopal Church

Thursday, May 1

7 - 8:30 p.m.

 

All are welcome! This will be a good introduction to Interfaith. Civic Academies are one of our important tools for helping people understand the issues that shape our lives. The purpose is not to push a given set of solutions, but to initiate dialogue and encourage people to think critically about solutions.

Saturday at St. Thomas'

Training and fellowship....

Join us... if you want to be a Daughter, are curious about the Daughters, or just want to spend the morning sharing a spiritual journey with other women! This is session 2, but you are welcome whether you attended session 1 or not.

Saturday, April 26

9 a.m. - Noon

Coffee & Light Lunch Provided

On the Sun Porch at St. Thomas'

3406 Bon Aire Dr., Monroe

 

Easter 2014

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! 

Chistós anésti!

God Play, by Bette J. Kauffman

Anésti̱ o Kýrios , prágmati.

    

Great Vigil of Easter

St. Thomas' and St. Alban's will celebrate the Great Vigil of Easter

Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m.

at St. Alban's

All welcome!

Tenebrae

All are welcome at St. Alban's, Wednesday in Holy Week, for Tenebrae. The liturgy begins at 6:00 p.m. The name Tenebrae is from the Latin word for “darkness” or “shadows.” The service symbolizes the growing darkness as we move toward Good Friday and the return of the light at Easter. 
    
   

The Episcopal Church on Tumblr!

Morning and evening prayers are offered daily at The Episcopal Church on Tumblr. Holy Week is a good time to join us for our blog devoted to liturgy and prayer. http://theepiscopalchurch.tumblr.com/

Tenebrae and The Great Vigil of Easter

St. Alban's in Monroe invites everyone to two special liturgies this Holy Week:

Holy Wednesday
Tenebrae – 6:00 p.m.
Tenebrae symbolizes the growing darkness as we move toward Good Friday and the return of the light at Easter.

and on

Holy Saturday:
The Great Vigil of Easter with Baptism - 6:00 p.m.
This is the Church’s ancient first celebration of Easter. Come and experience this wonderful liturgy with Holy Baptism.

St. Thomas’ will be joining us both nights and we hope you will too (but don't miss your church's offerings)!

Tuesday at Grace...

Fr. Bill Easterling from Redeemer in Ruston gives the meditation for the final Lenten Lunch at Grace in Monroe this Lenten season.
    

A Sermon by Bishop Jake

The latest from Bishop Jake...

Meeting Tonight!

The Planning Committee of the Episcopal Mission of Northeast Louisiana will meet tonight, Thursday, April 3, at 6 p.m. at St. Alban's, Monroe.

Join us for some Gobbler Cobbler Pie, Salad and a very non-Lenten cake! See you there!

To see what we are up to, follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/episcopalmissionnela or on our blog at episcopalmissionnela.blogspot.com