Ashley Malesky

The Field Guide to Holy Week Worship outlines the customs and arrangements specific to the period from Palm Sunday to Easter Day, highlighting the importance of adapting liturgies to the parish’s customs while considering deeper spiritual currents and safety measures due to COVID. Services throughout the week, including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Day, are described with instructions for participation, emphasizing moments of reflection, silence, and joyous celebration of the Resurrection.

Today’s note is brief due to distractions from carpet installers just outside my office. The new carpeting in the church is installed, creating a fresh look just in time for Easter, relieving the Deacon, crucifers, ushers, and myself from navigating the old carpet’s wrinkles and seams.

In this excerpt, Mother Laura reflects on recent global hardships but finds solace in local efforts to combat food insecurity. She highlights the participation of farmers connected to St. Margaret’s/Emmaus in the Lehigh Valley Food System Coalition, emphasizing the importance of community action in addressing societal challenges.

Ash Wednesday worshipers gather worldwide, bearing diverse life experiences symbolized by the ashes on their foreheads, each individual reflecting on personal vulnerabilities and gratitude amidst the ancient reminder of mortality. As they embark on the Lenten journey, they are called to recognize the shared humanity, fragility, and resilience in themselves and others, finding glimpses of God’s presence in the faces of fellow travelers along life’s paths.

In times of despair, reflecting on the state of the world can be overwhelming, but it’s important to channel those feelings into positive action, no matter how small, inspired by the motto of the Episcopal women’s order Daughters of the King. This Lent, instead of being discouraged, let’s consider how even the smallest efforts can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, guided by the desire to serve and improve the world in the name of Christ.

The passage discusses the significance of St. Margaret’s Annual Meeting Day, which is compared to the secular New Year’s Day but occurs at the end of January. The community reflects on the past year, sets goals, and comes together for prayers, songs, and Eucharist. Mother Laura emphasizes the importance of unity, gratitude for blessings, and seeking wisdom as they enter the new year, inviting everyone to join the joyful day on February 4.

As tax season approaches, Mother Laura emphasizes the moral duty to pay owed taxes while highlighting the importance of thoughtful allocation of funds to support meaningful causes. She also discusses strategies, such as utilizing Required Minimum Distributions (RMD), to reduce taxes and contribute to charitable causes, emphasizing the potential impact of such actions.

This Sunday, our church commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement. Born in 1929, Dr. King’s commitment to non-violent social change and tireless efforts against racism led to significant milestones, such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, 1965, and 1968. As we reflect on his legacy, let us pray for a world where divisions crumble, suspicions disappear, and justice and peace prevail.

In the New Year’s message, the community anticipates celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany and the Baptism of Jesus this Sunday. Depending on the weather, there might be an in-person service or a Zoom gathering, and updates will be posted on St. Margaret’s Facebook page and website. Additionally, the Vestry is working on the budget, and the Wellness Committee plans a Souper Potluck on January 26, while the Annual Meeting is scheduled for February 4, encompassing both in-person and Zoom participation.

In a message to fellow believers, Mother Laura reflects on the busyness of the fall season and encourages a pause amidst the holiday rush. Emphasizing the true priority of the Advent and Christmas seasons—Christ’s presence—she urges a daily 20-minute break to contemplate the significance of Christmas in the midst of hectic schedules.