The Ward Hill Church Bell Ringer – March 28, 2021 – Palm Sunday

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Apr 1  Maundy Thursday Common on Zoom, 7 pm

Apr 2  Good Friday Vigil, Noon to 3 pm

            Good Friday Service, 7 pm – Facebook Live & in person

Church Calendar & Lectionary

This Season:    Lent – 40 days and 6 Sundays prior to Easter (Feb 17-Apr 3, 2021)

Color:             Purple – for repentance

This Week:      Holy Week

Color:             Red – for the shed blood of Jesus Christ

This Sunday:   Palm Sunday – Sixth Sunday in Lent

Thu, Apr 1:     Maundy Thursday

Lectionary:     Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-2,12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17,31b-35

Hymns:           420 – At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing; 595 – Let Your Heart Be Broken; 422 – ’Twas on that Night When Doomed to Know; 431 – A Parting Hymn We Sing

Fri, Apr 2:       Good Friday

Lectionary:     Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Ps 22; Heb. 10:16-25; Mark 14:1-15:47

Hymns:           262 – O Come and Mourn with Me Awhile; 79 – My God, My God, O Why Have You Forsaken Me?; 247 – O Sacred Head, Now Wounded; 244– He Was Wounded for Our Transgressions

Sun, Apr 4:      Easter Sunday

Lectionary:     Isaiah 25:6-9; Ps 118:1-2,14-24; 1 Cor. 15:1-11; Mark 16:1-8

Hymns:           277 – Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; 276 – Up from the Grave He Arose; Red Hymnal – He Lives

Bible Display at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill

https://www.museumofprinting.org/

Address:  15 Thornton Avenue, Haverhill, MA 01832

Many historic Bibles are on display in March and April, including the original 1663 printing of John Eliot’s translation of the Old and New Testaments into the indigenous Massachusett language. The museum is open on Saturdays from 10 to 4 or by special appointment.

Monthly Prayer Focus for March

Local Church Focus:  Sacred Hearts Parish, Bradford – Fr John Delaney, pastor

Missions Focus:  Community Meals and Somebody Cares New England

Community Resources – Food, Clothing, Shelter, & Other Help www.communityactioninc.org/phocadownload/resource_guide_english_october_2017.pdf          National Suicide Hotline:  1-800-273-8255

Refugee Ministries: Interserve USA (interserveusa.com); Emmanuel Gospel Center’s Greater Boston Refugee Ministry (http://www.egc.org/refugee)

Global Crisis Help:  World Relief – worldrelief.org

Information on Persecuted Christians: Open Doors USA – opendoorsusa.org

Monthly Scripture Memory for March

Romans 5:6-8 (ESV) – For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Catechism: An Outline of the Faith

Q.  What is the ministry of the laity?

A.  The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.

Q. What is the ministry of the diaconate?

A.  The ministry of deacons and deaconesses is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as a servant of those in need; and to assist the clergy in the proclamation of the Gospel and in the pastoral care of the Church.

Q. What is the ministry of pastors?

A.  As ordained ministers of Word and Sacrament, pastors – also called elders, presbyters, and bishops in the Bible — are to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church; to proclaim the Gospel and the Word of God; to administer the sacraments; to bless and declare pardon in the name of God; to act in Christ’s name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church; and to guide the ordination of others to continue Christ’s ministry.

78 Q.  What is the duty of all Christians?

A.  The duty of all Christians is to follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God.