This summer I will be going again to the Dominican Republic in late July to help start a NEW Project for a Church / School building in a different town called — Bani. As participants we are again asked to seek help with the cost of construction, etc. and for this I ask for your help in raising the $1,500. Special envelopes will be at the back of the church for the next few weeks and I am very thankful for any amount you are able to donate. (All cash / cheques will be handled and tax receipted by St Mary’s). With your help we will finish this new church / school over the next couple of years and be able to increase attendance for the underprivileged children. THANK YOU for your continued support!

Trevor Kimpton

Mark Kinghan

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Please join us to tour St. Mary’s historic Chapel, designed after St. James’ Cathedral and recently restored faithful to the period, as well as our main worship space, dedicated in 1964. St. Mary’s has an interesting collection of stained glass windows, including more modern work by noted designer Gerald Took whose windows are found in many prominent buildings throughout Ontario.

St. Mary’s doors will be open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, see the Richmond Hill page on the Doors Open Ontario web site.

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Please join us.

Not really a surprise, but as I was reflecting on our experience of Easter I realized how much our resurrection faith is evident at all the various spiritual milestones in our lives. And in particular I remembered that we refer to this essence of who we are as an Easter people in the rituals of our liturgies at the various rites of passage we celebrate and participate in. Again not a surprise, but that’s the extent to which our resurrection faith is a blessing to us and a major part of defining who we are.

First, for many at the beginning of our lives as infants through baptism. As part of the blessing over the water the presiding celebrant prays: “Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection.” And again after the baptism the congregation proclaims to the candidate, “We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.”

Second, in the marriage service there is reference to the hope and promise that comes out of our resurrection faith. The marriage blessing includes this petition, “Bless them in their . . . life and in their death. Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home . . .”

Third, when as a person is dies, when we especially need to hear words of hope and comfort, the priest prays, “The old order has passed away; welcome her now into paradise where there will be no more sorrow, no more weeping or pain, but only peace and joy with Jesus, your Son, and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.”

And finally at a funeral, our resurrection faith upholds us and gives us strength. This is expressed a number of times throughout the funeral liturgy. To begin with we refer to the liturgy as “A Celebration of the Resurrection.” Can we be more explicit than that? The collect prayer begins, “grant us, and all the faithful departed, the sure benefits of your Son’s saving passion and glorious resurrection . . .” And at the time of the prayers of committal, we can commend our love one to God’s care and keeping “In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ . . .”

Our whole lives, whether in moments of joy and celebration or times of grief and sorrow, from the day we are born to the day we die we are defined by our faith in the resurrection. We are a resurrection people. It’s not always easy to proclaim that with boldness and conviction. However, that is what we are none the less, even and especially on our darkest days.

Being in Christian community together certainly assists us in that proclamation though. How much easier it is to proclaim the good news of the resurrection when we do so together. And when one among us may be having difficulty saying it, or perhaps even believing it, as the gathered community we can offer it on their behalf. By so doing, we remind one another what is central to who we are as followers of Jesus Christ who is very much alive and active and involved in our lives each and every step of the way.

Today, as we greet the new life and promise of Easter morning, may the message we celebrate and give thanks for this day always be at the forefront in who we are and in how we live out our lives.

Alleluia!! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!!

The Rev. Mark Kinghan is the Incumbent Priest at St. Mary’s. This is the concluding reflection for the Season of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter in 2012.

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