We enjoyed a robust week of worship, prayer and fellowship.
Category: Worship
St. Margaret’s will hold several services to mark Holy Week from Palm Sunday, March 24, through Easter on March 31.
Worshippers are asked to gather in the church parish hall, 95 Court St., by 9:45 a.m. on Sunday March 24 to receive palm fronds and participate in an opening prayer. They will then be led outside by the Rev. Barbara Briggs for a short procession into the church for the service, which will include a dramatic reading of The Passion.
Maundy Thursday, March 28, will be observed with an informal Middle Eastern meal at 6 p.m. in St. Margaret’s parish house, 95 Court St. Participants are asked to bring a simple item such as nuts, hummus, dried fruit or pita bread to share at the Agape dinner. The meal will be followed by Eucharist and optional foot-washing, symbolic of Christ’s servanthood in washing the feet of his disciples, and a brief service in the church for the Stripping of the Altar and start of the Easter Vigil.
Good Friday’s service at St. Margaret’s will be at 6 p.m. to accommodate those who are employed during the day.
St. Margaret’s will join with other Mid-coast Episcopal churches on Saturday March 30 for an Easter Vigil service and celebration at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Thomaston at 7 p.m. The sermon will be delivered by the Rev. Paul Briggs, Interim Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Camden.
Easter Sunday, March 31, will be celebrated at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church at two festive services at 8 and 9:45 a.m. This will mark the return of two Sunday morning services that will continue every week until November.
Mark your calendars! Throughout the year, GBAM hosts a monthly prayer in the tradition of Taizé in various locations in the Greater Belfast area.
JUNE 6, 7PM: St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 95 Court St. Belfast (6:30 Song Practice)
JUNE 11, 5PM: Moose Point State Park.
SUMMER MONTHS: Semi-weekly Taizé prayer at St. Margaret’s at 7 p.m.,
June 20, July 11, 18, 25, Aug 1 ,8, 15, 22, 30.
On Sunday afternoon at 4PM on May 21 Bishop Brown is coming to celebrate Baptism, Confirmation and Reception with us during a service of Evening Prayer. There will be a simple reception following the service as we greet Magnolia Vandiver, (Baptism), Caleb Briggs, (Confirmation), and Chris Quigley, (Reception).
We are familiar with the service of Baptism, and even of Confirmation, but we do not often get to celebrate reception. Baptized persons who have been members of another Christian fellowship and who wish to be affiliated with the Episcopal Church may make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their baptism in the presence of a bishop. The bishop lays hands on the candidate for reception and says, “We recognize you as a member of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, and we receive you into the fellowship of this Communion” (BCP, p. 418). Candidates for reception normally have made a mature commitment in another Christian fellowship.
On Thursday, May 18 at 6PM we will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. This feast is one of the major festivals in the church calendar, but since it always falls on a Thursday, (since it is always on the 40th day after Easter), we will never encounter it on a Sunday. So, we’ve added a Eucharist for that Thursday!
The Ascension marks the conclusion of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances. It is the final elevation of his human nature to divine glory and the near presence of God. What it means for us is that jesus is no longer bound by time and space. At the ascension, he becomes present to all humanity at all times and in all places, being no longer subject to the impossibility of being in two places at once. When Jesus stops showing up in bodily form, he is able to uphold his promise to be with us always.