Middletown transcript., 1917-04-07

1880 Morning Prayer, Sermon & Holy
Communion.
11.45 Sunday School session.
7.30 Evening Prayer and Address.
Notes: The Missionary Mite boxes are
to be returned on Easter Day. The
offering on Easter Day is for the Gen
eral Fund of the Parish. Every pa
rishioner is asked to contribute accord
ing to his ability. The choir will render
a beautiful musical programme and the
public is cordially invited to the services.
On Easter Monday, at o'clock, the
Annual Parish and Vestry meeting will
be held in the Parish House The
treasurer of the Parish is requested to
have his report of the finances ready t
this time.
Every loyal communicate is expected
to partake of the blessed Sacrament
on Easter Day. Let there be as large
an attendance at the early service on
Easter Day as possible. in order to
shorten the Midday celebration and
service.
Those who intend to contribute flowers
to decorate the Church are asked to
have them sent to the church on Satur-
day morning. We can use potted plants,
palms, ferns and cut flowers.
| EASTER DAY
"Why seek ye the living amongst
the dead? Heis not here, but is risen. ="
St. Luke XIV 5, 6.
The term Easter, as used by the
Church, is from the old Saxon word
Oster, signifying ''to rise" the day of
| the Lords rising from the dead. The
Church has always celebrated this great
festival of the Resurrection (and uni
versally, on the same day, since A. D.,
325) as the most important festival of
the year. The joy, the glory, the
triumph Of this day has been her song,
as year after year, since ever the true
Paschal.
Lamb was slain, she has kept at
this time ''the Lords Passover.
Christ is risen In despite of watch
and seal, the stone is rolled away from
the sepulchre, and as angels brought
the glad tidings of His birth, they bring
also the glorious news of His resurrec-
tion-pledge of our own rising from the
dead. In joyful anthems and exulting
hymns the Church takes up the strain,
and our hearts thrill even as though,
with the disciples, we beheld again ''the
linen clothes lying;' and, with Mary,
heard once more the voice of our risen
Lord. The early christians greeted
each other on Easter morning with
"Chrlst is risen," and were answered
in the Latin Church, ''He is risen in
deed - or, in the Greek Church, ''And
hath appeared unto Simon" Christ
our Passover is sacrificed for US, there
fore let US keep the feast. Oh, with
what love, joy, and thankfulness should
we keep the feast which typiies to US
an eternal feast in His promise, "where
there shall be no more death. neither
sorrow nor crying -
Passion Tide, 1917.
My Dear Parishioners:
Easter is the time-honored season for
making to Almighty God the two-fold
offering of self and substance. l coun-
sci you, good friends, one and all, to
spend a Holy Week of careful prepara-
ton, because that alone will enable you
to make worthy and happy Easter
Communion. All communicates are ex-
pected to receive the Holy Communion
on Easter day. The acceptance of the
Easter invitation expresses your loyalty
and devotion to the risen Christ. By
means of our Easter communion We not
only receive the same for the strengthen
ing and refreshing of our souls, but in
that way we render thanks for the
priceless Easter gospel, which gives US
the confident hope of Immortality.
Every worshiper should also make a
special thank-offering on Easter day as
an expression of gratitude for the res
direction of Jesus Christ. The Vestry |
urges upon US at this time the necessity |
Of liberal Easter offering because the
current expenses of the parish demand |
it. With worthy response from each |
of . our parishioners, what a splendid |
Thanksgiving we shall hare! God ex-
poets an honest and conscientious Easter |
offering. More than that could not |
reasonably be asked; less than that |
should not be given by faithful Church
man. Such response, be it large or
small, will be acceptable and wel-pleas-
ing to Almighty God.
Wishing you Happy Easter, am,
Faithfully your Friend and Rector
Percy Lowry Donaghay.