Getting Lost on The Road to Emmaus

I’m an optimistic person.  As my friend Bill Campbell puts it, I’m all about the Resurrection.  We are, after all Resurrection people:  forever alive with the forever God. Which may be why I keep getting lost on The Road to Emmaus.

Recently, I stood for oral exams, surrounded by very supportive, very theologically grounded and scripturally literate examining chaplains.  I cannot remember being as nervous about anything in my adult life.  I’d studied, but one of their questions concerned the New Testament reinterpretation of Messiahship, especially as presented on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-49).  Taking a deep breath and trying to absorb wisdom through my fingertips in holding my notes, I talked about the unrecognized Jesus who walks with us always.  I talked about our blindness and our lack of faith.  I talked about our inability to understand that Jesus is with us in good times and bad.  I babbled, until one of the faculty broke in asking me to get back to the story:  “What did Cleopas (and presumably his wife) talk to Jesus about…and how did Jesus answer?”  And in re-telling the story, my eyes were opened and I remembered Jesus’ words: “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?”  Hey, says Jesus – don’t you remember what Moses and the prophets taught us?

Jesus rose – and lives still -- only after the night in the garden, only after his Good Friday suffering.  The only way to Easter is through the cross, and the only way to walk with Jesus is to take up our own crosses, and follow.  Our road has been mapped, and it will not be an easy journey.  I know that I will likely become lost again, but through sacraments, and sacrifice, and service, and study and with fellow travelers, I also know it will continue in Easter reality and Easter joy.  Through the lostness of Good Friday, we are invited to the foundness of Resurrection life.       

Easter Blessings.

Ongoing HELP FOR HAITI

We will continue our collection of musical instruments for our friends at the Holy Trinity School of Music in Port au Prince through the Rev. Tracy Bruce’s parish, St. John’s, Glyndon.  All instruments, in multiple quantities, are needed, and should be in good condition.

 And – we’ve been invited to join St. John’s in welcoming an eight piece Ensemble from Holy Trinity Philharmonic Orchestra (a part of St. John’s Music in the Valley Series) on Sunday evening, May 2 at 5:30 p.m. with a reception following.  Hear their stories and experience the pathos and beauty of Haiti.  Free will offering accepted.  Contact Mary Beth for more information.

Oh, Yes…It’s Ladies Night, and the feeling’s right –

all for the Arlington Pediatric Center!

A fundraiser and social is being held on Thursday evening (Feast of the Ascension),

May 13^th to benefit The Arlington Pediatric Center at the home of Nina Bacas.

Tickets are $40.  Contact Lesley Parker, Development Director at APC at 703.271.8800.

Old Dominion Neighborhood Day & YARD SALE – Saturday, June 6th, 8am to1pm

 So – all the stuff you’ve been saving for that yard sale – sell it FOR GOOD at the Old Dominion Neighborhood Day & Yard Sale.  Live entertainment, fun for kids, great food – come and meet your neighbors.  Individual Yard Sale tables are available for $15 a piece, or we could sell your stuff at a St. Mary’s table, to benefit the Arlington Food Assistance Center.   Join us!  Contact Mary Beth for more information.

What’s up with VOICE??

 As a direct result of VOICE’s Richmond Action, where over 200 traveled to ask our state legislators to hold the line on safety net dental health services for Virginia’s poor – no budget cuts were made.  We conversed, we educated, we listened and it worked.  More conversations are happening around Arlington on the issue of affordable housing, and lots of state and federal conversation goes on concerning immigration overhaul.

VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Development) is being heard and is making a difference.  You can make a difference, too:  contact any member of our VOICE Core Team to learn more.

Roseann.ashby@ed.gov

psdouthit@yahoo.com

vagreenfam@verizon.net

You have donated over 1,000 pounds of food this Easter (so far), collected in our yellow basket/bags, to help feed the hungry through the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

Yea…YOU!!!!  And, Thanks.

Summer Saturday Gleaning

Every Saturday this summer, and into the fall harvest season, St. Mary’s is invited to go gleaning with groups from all around Northern Virginia.  Good crops, left in the fields by commercial pickers, are gleaned for distribution through The Arlington Food Assistance and other food banks, food pantries and feeding ministries.  Summer Gleaning will begin in late June – watch for more information.

SHRINEMONT 2010

Please join us for Saint Mary’s annual weekend retreat in beautiful Orkney Springs, Virginia this June 11-13.   Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come! ShrineMont is a great way to get away, meet more people from the parish, deepen friendships and your relationship with God, reflect and relax, and have a really fun weekend.  The weekend includes great food, fellowship, Golf Tournament, All Inclusive Family Forum, Comic Book Workshop, Bonfire, Compline, Ultimate Frisbee Tournament, Water Gun fun, Saturday Night Variety Show, Sunday Eucharist and much more!

Rates: Per weekend rates for Shrine Mont (includes all meals and activities) are as follows:

* Scholarships are available to anyone interested – contact marybeth.emerson@stmarysarlington.org

Registration:  To register, please complete the online form (www.stmarysarlington.org)

and send in your check to Mary Beth Emerson,  Saint Mary’s 2609 Glebe Rd, 22207/or inquire about scholarship NO LATER THAN MAY 31^st. Once you are registered, you will receive emails with more information.

Outreach Camp 2010

What might it mean to

Do Justice…Love Mercy…And Walk Humbly?

God calls us all to work toward Justice – but what does that mean? 

Right in our own Arlington backyard, and with friends from

Congregation Etz Hayim, Macedonia Baptist Church, Rock Spring United Church of Christ, St. Mary’s and other Region 3 Episcopal Churches and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington

We’ll explore our call in faith fun and friendship.  Outreach camp is open to Rising 6^th Graders through Rising 9^th Graders, and will be held August 23^rd through 27^th.

Cost is $100 (scholarships available) – detailed schedule will be mailed to all campers in June.  Join us!!  Register online, or contact marybeth.emerson@stmarysarlington.org

VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) needs your support! 

VOICE is asking our own Arlington County Board, and leaders in adjoining jurisdictions to pay special attention in budgets for the coming fiscal year to affordable housing/homelessness programs, funding for an additional dentist in the clinic that serves patients who can’t otherwise afford care, and funding for English as a Second Language classes.

The economic downturn is particularly hard on people with little or no income. St. Mary’s, as one of the founding congregations of VOICE, is actively engaged in advocating for our sisters and brothers in need.

For more information, contact Mary Beth Emerson at MaryBeth.Emerson@stmarysarlington.org, Marjorie Green at vagreenfam@verizon.net, or Paul Douthit at psdouthit@yahoo.com.