Join us for an Easter Egg Hunt and Fellowship Hour hosted by the Young Adult Ministry of the Diocese of Missouri and the Church of St. Michael & St. George, aimed at young adults in their 20s and 30s. This event will take place on Saturday, March 30th, at 3 pm, offering a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and fun this Easter season. We're looking to connect members from across the diocese, so come be a part of our growing community. For more details and to RSVP, visit the Diocese website.
Beloved Members of St. Martin’s,
In the epistle we will hear after our Palm Procession this coming Sunday, we will hear St. Paul’s glorious “Kenosis Hymn” from the letter to the Church in Philippi. In these verses, Paul speaks of Jesus “emptying himself” of all his rightful honor and glory due to him as the Son of God, and choosing to be born as one of us. The Greek term for emptying is “kenosis.” In Jesus, as Paul explains, one who was the greatest became a humble human, and not just a human but a peasant in the farthest, out-of-the-way occupied corner of a vast and relentless empire. Jesus faced rejection again and again, even to the point of being accused of being a rebel and blasphemer and dying for it. Jesus lived out of a love that sustains the world, a love that challenges the calculus of exploitation and injustice, and that made him an enemy of the state and a threat to those who thought themselves righteous. Jesus did this so that we would know that God has experienced all our suffering, and stands in solidarity beside us. As his disciples, Jesus calls us to be brave enough to likewise empty ourselves—but in our case, what we are called to let go of is what SEPARATES us from each other, and from God. Now that can still be scary—in a time of crisis, the human tendency is to hold tighter to what we have, even if it’s really not good, rather than let go of the familiar. But what exactly is Jesus calling us to let go of and empty ourselves of? What does kenosis mean for us? Kenosis is emptying ourselves of our willfulness, all of our prerogatives for self- aggrandizement, in order to make room for the beauty of living from in truth, rather than self-delusion, to living for each other in unity rather than fear. That’s the foundation of discipleship—loving and embracing each other, creating the beloved community in which no one is an outcast. It’s opening ourselves to the possibility of love. Kenosis is especially about emptying ourselves of our demands to always get what we want, when we want it—no matter the consequences. It’s about being willing to work for the collective good of your community, rather than standing on the sidelines, critiquing or complaining. It’s about living a life for others, as Jesus did, rather than living focused solely on your own demands. Our hearts are about the size of a fist, but a fist cannot take hold of the good. It’s only when our hearts are open that we feel the presence of God alongside us. Kenosis is not the terrifying emptiness of the wilderness, the emptiness of fear and scarcity that besets them and us as we long for proof that God is with us—it’s about making room. This emptiness we are called to embrace is to make room for God within us—so that we can never again wonder where God is, because God will dwell within us and guide us to a deeper faith and unity.
As we prepare to enter into Holy Week, may we open ourselves to see the wonders of God’s abiding concern for us, and reflect that concern into our relationships, with both beloved and with strangers.
In Christ,
Mother Leslie+
This Sunday we will begin our Holy Week journey waving palm branches in a processional and singing All Glory Laud and Honor, with children merrily ringing bells! Later in the service, the choir will sing an arrangement of John Ireland’s (1879-1962) beautiful hymn, My Song is Love Unknown, which brings us into the Passion of Jesus. Samuel Crossman wrote the meaningful lyrics in 1664, and it has stood the test of time: My song is love unknown-my Savior’s love to me; love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. Oh, who am I, that for my sake, my Lord should take frail flesh and die? Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine: never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine. This is my friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend. The anthem was arranged by James Kirkby for St. James Music Press in 2014.
There will be several musical opportunities to carry us through Holy Week. For Maundy Thursday, the choir will sing the meaningful spiritual, Steal away to Jesus. The congregation can also join us in singing our Taize songs that support and illuminate the liturgy. On Good Friday, Mother Leslie will lead us in singing a spiritual that often evokes tears: Were You There when they crucified my Lord.
I want to especially recommend our Easter Vigil service on Saturday, March 30th, beginning at 7:30 pm. We start outside (weather permitting) as the sun begins to set. We light the Christ candle from an open fire and then pass the light to each person holding a candle (as on Christmas Eve). With beautiful liturgy, we process into the dark nave, bringing the Light of Christ into the church, and begin reading Genesis and other scriptures from the old testament and the Psalms, interspersed with lovely songs sung by everyone: Many and great, O God are thy works, Canticle of the Free, Surely it is God who saves me, Healing River of the Spirit, and finally, Christ Be Our Light. The last song was the one that we sang last December when we lit the candles on the Advent wreath each Sunday, but the composer, Bernadette Farrell, has written new lyrics specifically for Easter Vigil: This is the night of new beginnings. This is the night when heaven meets earth. This is the night filled with God’s glory, promise of our new birth!…Now will the fire kindled in darkness burn to dispel the shadows of night. Star of the morning, Jesus our Savior, you are the world’s true light! Christ,, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today. (2000 OCP)
After this, we begin the First Eucharist of Easter and finally, once again, sing Alleluia! It will be a unique experience to participate in the first service of Christ’s resurrection before it is replicated again on Sunday morning. I challenge any of you who are able to attend an evening service to join us as we celebrate Easter on Saturday evening, just as we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve! The Holy Spirit can fill your soul!