  March 19, 2026   *March 24th will be the last Lenten Lunch for 2026 What Happens on Good Friday? Good Friday is the solemn liturgy in remembrance of Jesus' passion and death. On this day we hear eighty-two verses from the gospel of John* which recount the events of Jesus' passion. As Good Friday is a continuation of the Maundy Thursday liturgy, it begins as the prior service ended: in silence. The altar, which was stripped following Thursday evening's service, remains bare. This is the only service in the liturgical year at which we have the opportunity to venerate the cross. The Eucharistic prayer is not said on this day. Instead, communion is distributed from consecrated sacrament reserved the night before. At Saint Francis, this year's Good Friday liturgy will be offered at noon and 6 p.m. on April 3. Our evening Good Friday service will be livestreamed. *Why a different Gospel translation? We use the Common English Bible translation of the Passion story rather than the New Revised Standard Version. Though the NRSV is the most commonly used translation in Episcopal worship, our canons allow for a variety of translations. The CEB was chosen for Good Friday because it uses the terms "Jewish leaders" and "Jewish leadership" rather than the more general label "the Jews." Articulating this difference is important not only because it more accurately describes the realities of the Passion story, but also because of the generations of antisemitism inspired by the more general label -- a label which blames an entire faith tradition for the actions of a very small group of its members at a specific point in history. What is the Altar of Repose? Because of the solemnity of Good Friday services, no new Eucharist is consecrated that day. Instead, extra elements are consecrated on Maundy Thursday for distribution on Good Friday. In conjunction with the stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday, the tabernacle is emptied. The stripping of the altar and removal of all reserve sacrament from not only the tabernacle but the sanctuary symbolizes Jesus' descent to the dead following his death on the cross on Good Friday. Throughout the rest of the year, the sanctuary candle is always lit to signify Jesus' continuous presence in the sanctuary. Following the Maundy Thursday service, both the sanctuary candle and the sacrament reserved for Good Friday are moved to an altar of repose outside the sanctuary, paralleling Jesus' departure from this world in the Passion story. A tradition sometimes encountered in other parishes is praying in the presence of the sacred elements on the altar of repose. Such traditions provide space to reflect on the Passion story and the opportunity to give thanks for Jesus' willing sacrifice. Saint Francis' altar of repose will again be in the narthex. You are welcome to sit and pray in its presence either before or after one of our Good Friday services. Why Hold a Morning Service on Holy Saturday? The Holy Saturday day service is held on the Saturday morning between Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening. It's a time to honor the space between Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection on Easter, and the experience of the disciples in those first moments and hours after Jesus' death: the grieving, the not-knowing, the waiting, the feeling of being abandoned by God. In honoring the disciples' experience on that first grief-stricken Holy Saturday, we honor our own experiences of and struggles with grief, with not-knowing, with waiting, and with feeling abandoned by God. (Because this service will be held in the Mary chapel, it will not be live streamed.) What is Easter Vigil? The Great Vigil of Easter is the culmination of Holy Week. Though it takes place on Saturday evening, the church considers it the first service of Easter Sunday. There are four parts to this liturgy: a service of light, a service of lessons (or readings), renewal of our baptismal vows, and Holy Eucharist. Through these components, the story of redemption is retold and re-lived by all participants. We re-experience the movement from darkness to light, celebrate our belonging in the new creation by remembering our baptism, and look forward to the glory we will share with the Risen Christ. This year, Saint Francis will celebrate this richly symbolic service on Saturday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday: The Culmination of Holy Week, and the Highest Holy Day of the Church Year! Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher)...Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. ~ John 20:11-16, 18 All are welcome to join the Saint Francis community for a celebration of our Lord's resurrection! Services are at 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 20. The 9 a.m. service will be livestreamed. Incense will be used at the 10:30 a.m. service. ~Rev. Erin+ _____________________________________________________________   This is Tayens senior year, and his last year playing for the All West Native American Basketball Tournament. The tournament is March 25th through the 27th. Donations to help Tay with lodging, gas and food would be appreciated by the family. Donations can be left in the front office. Checks should be issued directly to the family. We wish Tay and the team success!  Those who serve, Sunday, March 22, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Stephanie Schingle Ushers Diane Morrison, Kathy Shambaugh Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Emma Schaaf, Monica Shambaugh Lector/Intercessor Beth McKibbin Eucharistic Minister Jane Sayre Altar Guild Collette Suhr, Ann Peterson, Jane Sayre Coffee Hosts Christie Shaver, Karen Larson Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 03/24 Centering Prayer 11:15a Library Lenten Lunch 12p First Presbyterian *Final Gathering Wednesday 03/25 Midweek Eucharist 12:15p Mary Chapel Lectionary Study & Compline 3p Library Soup, Stations & Eucharist; Dinner 5:30p Parish Hall, Stations 6:15p Sanctuary *Final Gathering Thursday 03/26 Discipleship Group 12p Library Friday 03/27 Men's Bible Study 8a Library Saturday 03/28 Holy Week Service Rehearsal 10a Sunday 03/29 Palm Sunday Eucharists 9a St Francis, 11:30a Good Shepherd, Harrisburg Godly Play Sunday School 9a Conference Room Note: There will be no announcements or enews published April 9th. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Birthdays Patty Clown Horse March 25 Eain Peterson March 26 Melissa Moreno March 28  Palm Cross Workshop will be held on Friday, March 27 at 7:00 PM in the parish hall. lease bring a cutting board and small knife. UTO offerings
United Thank Offering is about more than putting a few coins in a box as thanks. It is about practicing gratitude. Why is practicing gratitude important? Evidence-based research has suggested that gratitude: 1. Drives out toxic emotions such as anger and envy 2. Reduces stress and increases relaxation 3. Promotes resistance to common illnesses 4. Increases self-esteem, willpower, and creativity 5. Deepens relationships and spirituality 6. Improves athletic and academic performance 7. It increases generosity—grateful people give more of their time, talent, and treasure to their communities Please take time to practice gratitude each day and remember that gratitude is about so much more than giving. _________________________________________________________________ Prayer Requests Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for February-April are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office. Comments are closed.
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Rev. Erin Rath
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