Dear Friends, April 11, 2011

Yesterday, Rev Denise preached on the raising of Lazarus and how that teaches us to renew our own relationship with God, in which we receive the Spirit of Christ and the promise of the Resurrection.

Please keep in your daily prayers all those in need of healing, and those who serve in our military forces. And our Search Committee and Vestry. To assist in our spiritual life, Forward Day by Day booklets are $.85 each in the back of the Church [Tower Room].

If we want to grow and share God's prosperity of faith, we must love God, love our friends and then speak openly to them. A congregation grows starting with each faithful person. God will help us share the Bread of Life.....God will help us live into our Baptismal Covenant of sharing His word and our lives and resources [which is the true Meaning of Life]. We never know how ready a friend may be to hear a word of encouragement in faith. We never know when God will bring someone to speak to us, and enrich our own life.

WOMEN'S GROUP: For the May 5th meeting at noon, a presentation by the Wende Clinic on Women's Breast Health. This is the second presentation in their series on Women's Health. For this interesting program, the Group has invited the women of the Cathedral Community to participate. Also - bring a friend or relative for this event. Salad and dessert luncheon will be provided before the presentation. Those willing to contribute a salad or dessert should let Jan Wills know, 621-3900.

LENTEN BOOK STUDY: Meeting this Wed, April 13th. The Lenten Book Study is using "The Last Week" by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. This book is a day-by-day account of Jesus' final week in Jerusalem. Anyone interested in exploring the message in this book is encouraged to attend the sessions for an inspiring discussion of the last week of Jesus’ life before his ultimate sacrifice.

CHICKEN AND BISCUIT DINNER: Gourmet diners - and chefs - are preparing for our dinner on Saturday, April 30th. The menu for this home-cooked Chicken and Biscuit Dinner includes tender chicken in gravy, home-baked biscuits, mashed potatoes, vegetable, salad, cranberry sauce and homemade desserts. The cost is $9.00 for adults, $4.00 for children aged 6 to 12; under 6 will eat free. Patty Frasca invites additional help on clean-up. If you would like to volunteer, please let Patty know, 315-986-5726 or cell 585-615-6790. Also, if you are willing to make a homemade dessert, please call her or Joan Swan.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES:
+Holy Week will begin next Sunday, April 17, with the celebration of Palm Sunday at 8 and 10 AM services .
+On Thursday, April 21, the Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 PM. Besides the celebration of the Eucharist we will participate in the traditional "Washing of the feet". +Following the service we will observe the all night vigil up to the Good Friday service at noon on Friday, April 22nd. [There will be a sign-up sheet for those wishing to keep silent vigil for a period of an hour at any time between these two services. This is a wonderful opportunity to spend some silent time in reflection, prayer and study and to reflect on the sacrifice that this Holy time represents. Security will be provided in the Church throughout the night.]
+On Good Friday, April 22, an ecumenical Stations of the Cross walk at 8:45 AM, @ 56 Chili Ave. Also, our Ascension service at Noon.
+Our first Easter Celebration is Saturday Evening, April 23 at 7 PM. This is the first time in a very long time that we have celebrated this most holy service at Ascension. We will celebrate with all of the traditions of this blessed service: fire, bells, music and celebration. The choir will be participating in this service.
+The traditional Easter Celebrations are Sunday, April 24th at 8 and 10 AM. Call friends and family to be present with you in church on this most holy day.
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Note - All of these are traditionally Holy Days of Obligation in the Episcopal Church. As we endeavor to welcome new clergy in the future, we may well dedicate ourselves to this most Holy Week of the Christian year, in preparation for our own personal ministries.

DIOCESAN SUBSCRIPTION UPDATES: A reminder: If you have not completed the individual and family information updates for the diocese, please go on the Diocese web site and update your information or get a form from Mary in the office to complete.

DON'T FORGET - Our Ascension Piecemakers Quilt Group is offering a stunning queen-size quilt. This quilt would be a handsome addition to any decor! Coupons are $2 or 3 for $5. All proceeds will go to the Bell Tower Restoration Project. You can see the quilt and get more details each Sunday at Coffee Hour.

TIME TO MARK CALENDARS! There are two delicious dinners upcoming this spring....and one is just around the corner!

Saturday. April 30th, 2011 CHICKEN & BISCUIT DINNER
Friday. June 3rd, 2011 LOBSTER DINNER

PLEASE MAKE NOTE!!!

Coffee Hour after the 10 AM Sunday service is a wonderful opportunity to greet friends, old and new, and catch up on news. There are opportunities to host Coffee Hour in the weeks ahead. Won't you help this ministry? If not sure how to host, you may call Nancy Lennox at 663-5805 or Stu or Gene Denison at 663-0988. To sign up - see list in the back of the church or call 458-5423. Thanks!

Please phone or visit a friend who is not able to get out or whom you've been meaning to contact. There are many who would love a call and an invitation to church or an inquiry as to when you might pay a visit. We can invite friends to accompany us to church - and take them out for brunch afterward!

To beautify our worship, in upcoming weeks there are opportunities for altar flowers. Will you take up this ministry to the glory of God and to our spirits? To donate, please contact Laurie Phillips, 865-2802 or email LBP@rochester.rr.com

+ EASTER LILIES: Deadline is April 15 Last call to donate Easter Lilies in memory of loved ones. A reservation form is in the Messenger for April. Please send payment of $13 per lily and memorial dedication [up to 6 names - please print - per lily] to Laurie Phillips, 148 Lida Lane, Rochester 14616 ASAP.

If we wish to learn the true Meaning of Life, grow as Christians and share our love of God, we need to know the stories of the Bible. Thursday Bible Study is in the Library at 9 AM. Please 'Come and See'. The Lenten season is a time for careful reflection on Jesus’ teachings and how we model our faith to family, friends and all whom we meet. God’s Word guides such a process. Much food for thought and often refreshments to share. The study is of the Gospel Lesson for next Sunday, found below. No Bible Thumping, just good conversation!!

The Rochester Interfaith Jail Ministry asks your ongoing help - by donating through United Way or directly by check to R.I.J.M., 2 Riverside St., Rochester, NY 14613. This will bring books of healing and group sessions to those needing to start lives anew. Remember the Good Samaritan... Please answer this call. To volunteer, call 254-6790. The invitation to help is ongoing, so you are not late to the party! We recently began doing visits to the young men ages 16-19 in the Downtown Jail. Many Thanks! The prayer for this week, in which you are invited to join daily in your devotions is:

Dear Lord, those we visit in prison are often like Lazarus, and their families like Martha and Mary. We pray that your love for them will bring them to new life and change their grief into hope through their faith. Amen.

There is God's work for each of us when we see new people on Sunday or at an event. Let's introduce ourselves and make them welcome. An invitation to chat at Coffee Hour is a great ice-breaker. So is sitting with a new person and guiding her/him in the materials, if this is their first time with us.

Do you have a pocket card to hand to a friend who asks about Ascension? Cards are on the table in the back of the church. Please take a few, and be ready to share. We have pocket crosses in the table drawer to hand to those who answer the call to "Come and See"..

MUSIC: The anthem for next Sunday is the beautiful Ave Verum by W.A. Mozart - link/cut&paste. Let this music wash your soul and inspire your heart:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t486sKLNgtQ

If you have a new or better email address for yourself, or know someone who might like to receive this weekly e-letter, please send in that information.

Full of noble simplicity and great savor, to satisfy our hunger this Lent, please see the recipe below for a Quick Clam Chowder.

Great thanks to Jan Wills for so well and expertly taking on the Happenings for the three months I was away. I truly appreciate her contributions of caring and sharing.

Blessings and all good wishes,

Dyson
D. Dyson Gay
585-671-0364
dysongy@aol.com

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RECIPE:

Quick Clam Chowder

By: Lew Sweet from the internet

"So easy but so delicious." [the price of the 'ease' is use of canned ingredients - but with sauteed
onion and celery and esp with a pinch or two or three of herbs...Voila'. Ed.]

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Prep Time:
10 Min

Cook Time:
20 Min

Ready In:
30 Min

Servings

Yield 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can New England clam chowder
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of potato soup
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
• 1 (6.5 ounce) can minced clams
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• 4 cups half-and-half cream or milk of your choice!
• [could add tiny pinch[es] dill/oregano/thyme/marjoram/tarragon.... and ground pepper to taste]
  

Directions

1. In large pan cook onion and celery in butter or margarine. Add clam chowder, cream of potato soup, cream of celery soup, clams, and half-and-half, and heat through. NOTE: Half-and-half is best but milk will do.

Serve it with crusty French bread and perhaps a dusting of Parmesan cheese, accompanied by a green salad, dressed to compliment the chowder.
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GOSPEL FOR PALM SUNDAY

Matthew 21:1-11

When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

"Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

"Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."