Beloved in Christ:
First of all, I had to wrap my mind around the truth that April is almost over; May 1 is in a week. Then I remembered how busy May is for almost everyone as the school year begins to wind down, graduations, proms, and for high school and college seniors, all of those special “last” moments to mark. Families are thinking about summer plans – really, everyone is thinking about summer. There are gardens to plant, picnics to plan, and meanwhile, lots going on at Calvary – I want you to know about a few dates to get them on your calendars!
Sunday, May 5 is the final day for children’s and youth Sunday school, and a special day for our Sunday school teachers, who will be treated to a delicious brunch. This is also Rogation Day – a very old tradition of holding the Sunday and following three days before Ascension Day (May 9 this year) as a time to seek God’s blessing for a faith community and all that sustains it. We will ask God’s blessing on our farmers and gardeners and on our land, which we hold in honored trust for generations of indigenous people past, and generations of people in the future. All farmers and gardeners, whether you plant on acres or your back deck, are invited to bring a sampling of seeds to church at both services for a blessing.
Sunday, May 12 is Mother’s Day, and between services, from 9:15 – 10:15 in Crawford Hall, we will hold our next all-parish meeting for the updates on the Mayo Clinic expansion plans and Calvary’s response. This will be the meeting when we discuss the parking plans for the months when there will be disruption of the Damon Ramp and other current parking options, among other important things.
Sunday, May 19 is Pentecost this year – one of the great feast days of the universal Church around the world as we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles after Jesus’ ascension to Heaven – Pentecost is called the birthday of the Church and we will celebrate it as such. Cake anyone?
Of course, May 26 is Memorial Day weekend and the much anticipated start of what we all hope will be a beautiful Minnesota summer, with plenty of rain and plenty of sun, with God’s help!
Opportunities for joyous worship and meaningful fellowship, including a Calvary Happy Hour at Beetle’s on May 10; opportunities to gather to pray and sing together and begin to vision what God will be calling us to in the months and years ahead. The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in wind and tongues of flame; the Holy Spirit is very present with Calvary Episcopal Church – may the Spirit imbue us all with strengthened faith, hope and imagination as we travel together.
In the joy of Easter,
Beth+
