Farewell to the A-word!

Last Sunday we bid farewell to our old friend "A______a."  We have observed the tradition of putting away the A-word on the last Sunday before Lent begins for many years, which reflects our Church's liturgical practice of ceasing to use that festive word during the contemplative season of Lent.

It was a quiet Sunday due to yet another Sunday morning snow fall, but the children enjoyed decorating the letters during Christian formation and we all processed up the aisle with the word during the final hymn.

After putting the letters together so that the congregation could see the word, Rev. Peter walked down the line and collected them in a basket and we covered them with a piece of black felt. They were left on the altar and later moved to the Sacristy.

The letters the children decorated will reappear on Easter morning as a large banner across the front of the Church. Until then, keep the A-word to yourself!

Butterflies, continued!

My last post included many photos of the Church decorated with butterflies. I forgot the most important picture - the only one I have of the crew setting up the spectacle! Here it is - a photo of Will and Katie busy creating our butterfly Easter. Thanks again to both of them, and to Mimi, Anne, Chris and Callie for their help on Holy Saturday!

Butterflies!

Our butterflies were a big hit this Easter! Many thanks to Will, Katie, Mimi, Anne, Callie, and Chris who helped to hang our decorations for Easter on Holy Saturday. It was a big job on a busy day and I really appreciated it! Thank you also to the many parishioners who cut out over a hundred butterflies for our Easter celebration this year.

Butterflies over the congregation.

Butterflies!

Holy Week has begun! In addition to attending Holy Week services and preparing our Maundy Thursday Service for Families, I'm quietly getting ready for Easter morning.  We are making a new banner with the "A" word on it this year which has got me scratching my head a bit. I'm so grateful to the many parishioners who have been cutting out butterflies. A small group will be meeting on Saturday morning to put the banner together. If you're local and want to help let me know - we could use you!  I can't wait to see how it turns out! Pictures to follow.

Blessings to you and yours this Holy Week.

Saying Goodbye to Alleluia!

It's that time again! Lent begins on Wednesday and so on Sunday we said goodbye to our old friend "Alleluia." At Christ Church, we refrain from using this word of celebration throughout the more sober season of Lent and find that it makes our Easter "alleluias" all the more joyful.

During the recessional hymn, children gathered in the front hall to get ready!

The children processed up the aisle and lined up in front of the Church so that we could see the "alleluia."

Then Rev. Peter collected our butterflys and tucked them away in the sacristy. We won't see them again until Easter morning.

This year the "alleluia" we put away looked a little different than in the past. You can see pictures of last year's "Farewell to Alleluia!"  and the final alleluia banner in other posts. We have something new planned for Easter morning this year! Stay tuned!

Farewell Alleluia!

Today we said goodbye to our old friend "Alleluia." At Christ Church we refrain from using this joyful word during the more solemn and contemplative season of Lent, which begins this week on Ash Wednesday and ends when we gather at the Easter Vigil.

The children decorated the letters of the word "Alleluia" during Christian formation time today. 

During the recessional hymn, the children brought their letters forward so that everyone could see them.

Then Rev. Peter helped us to put them all away.

Farewell Alleluia! We'll see you again at Easter!