Highlights from Resurrection Day (and much more!)...

Hello, family!

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

Wow!  What a wonderful whirlwind of a week and weekend we’ve had at Saints Mary and Martha!  We prayed the Stations of the Cross on Wednesday, celebrated The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (including the stripping of the Altar and Sanctuary), gathered for The Solemn Liturgy of Our Lord’s Passion on Good Friday (with Holy Communion from the reserve Sacrament at the Altar of Repose), participated in the Montgomery County Homeless Coalition’s “Trade Fair” on Holy Saturday, celebrated The Great Vigil of Easter after sunset on Holy Saturday, and then rejoiced in celebrating Mass on The Feast of Our Lord’s Resurrection on Sunday!!!

Here are a couple from pictures of Bonnie, Sandra, and Alice (with Pete and Liz providing support) at the “Trade Fair”…

Here is the video from Mass on The Feast of Our Lord’s Resurrection…

Please keep us prayer over the next couple of weeks!  We are in the final stages of planning for the open house that will introduce “Children’s Guardian Angels” to the community.  In fact, we’re already receiving support and help – even before we’ve officially announced the ministry!  The need for this ministry is genuine and so very wide-spread in Montgomery County.

Please pray: 1. That God will bring us those who most need this ministry;  2. That God will raise up people with needed talents and resources to help these folks (beyond what we’ve already assembled), and;  3. That those who participate (both ministry recipients and helpers) will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ if they do not already have a personal relationship with him.

If you would like to receive fliers to distribute to people who may need what we’re offering in “Children’s Guardian Angels”, please e-mail us at mamachurch4you@yahoo.com!  Also, please keep us in your prayers as we begin talks with a crisis pregnancy center regarding a partnership with them at Bethany House!

Please keep us close in your prayers, and may the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection fill your hearts and minds to overflowing!

Laudetur Jesus Christus!  (Praised be Jesus Christ!)

Father Todd

Highlights from The Great Vigil of Easter...

Welcome, family!

"Alleluia!  Christ is risen!  The Lord is risen indeed!  Alleluia!"

This video is from our celebration of The Great Vigil of Easter on the night of Holy Saturday (Easter Eve).  It begins with the ancient Easter hymn "Exultet" and continues with the readings from the Old Testament and prayers, followed by the sermon, the Proclamation of the Resurrection, the singing of the "Gloria in Excelsis Deo", the Epistle and Gospel readings, and the first Holy Eucharist of Easter.  We pray God's blessing on you as you watch!

Special thanks to Sandra, Bonnie, and Pete for serving as Lectors, and to Alice for her logistical assistance!  You are a wonderful bunch!

Laudatur Jesus Christus!  (Praised be Jesus Christ!)

Father Todd

A Resurrection Day Reflection...

Dear friends,

What a wonderful Resurrection Day this was!  I found, this year (as I do each year), that walking through all the Liturgies and Masses of Holy Week is the only way to really appreciate The Great Vigil of Easter and The Feast of Our Lord's Resurrection.  We simply cannot have the empty tomb without the Passion of our Lord.

So, as today dawned (and after celebrating the Vigil Mass last night - Holy Saturday), I actually bounded out of bed!  I was so excited to see the dawn this morning, knowing that what we had walked through this past week ends in Good News.  How could I help it?  The joy bubbled up from within, from the depths of my soul - a soul made free by Jesus in Holy Baptism and Confirmed in the Holy Spirit.

From the sunshine to the smiling faces of the good people at Saints Mary and Martha to the sweet birdsong outside the chapel to the thundering of the Easter music to the sense of being lifted along as I preached to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist: This was a day of days for me!

May your Easter Octave (Easter Sunday through to the First Sunday of Eastertide) be filled with the joy of Jesus' resurrection!

Father Todd

Our First Easter at Bethany House!

Saints Mary and Martha Church's first Great Vigil of Easter at Bethany House is in the books!  What a wonderful evening of hearing about God's faithfulness and the Good News of victory over sin and death!

Alleluia!!!

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

Let the bells rings, let our hearts be filled with joy, and let the world know that salvation is real!

A Sermon from Good Friday...

Dear friends,

May these words from the Solemn Liturgy of Our Lord's Passion on Good Friday be a blessing to you!

Father Todd

A Sermon from Holy Thursday...

Dear friends,

As we approach the day of our Lord's resurrection, may this sermon from the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday be a blessing to you!

Father Todd

The Empty Tabernacle...

For love of us.

Children's Guardian Angels...

Dear friends,

Please join us for an Open House introducing "Children's Guardian Angels" on Tuesday, April 12 at 7:00pm at Bethany House (408 Levee Road in Mount Sterling)!

CGA is a ministry of Saints Mary and Martha Anglican Church designed to support and encourage the non-parental caregivers of children whose parents are drug or alcohol addicted.

Feel free to share this invitation with anyone who is caring for a child/children of parents who are dealing with addiction issues.

Father Todd

Excerpts from Mass & Holy Week Schedule...

Dear friends,

Each time the Mass is celebrated in this place, Jesus comes to us: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity! He feeds us, fills us, strengthens us, and sends us out to do his will and love his people. What a miracle!  We will celebrate that miracle in a special way during this Holy Week.  We'd love for you to join us!  Here's our schedule...

- The Stations of the Cross on Wednesday (March 23) at 7:00pm

- The Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday (March 24) at 7:00pm

- The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday with Holy Communion (March 25) at 7:00pm

- The Great Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday (March 26) at 8:00pm

- The Feast of Our Lord's Resurrection on Easter Sunday (March 27) at 10:30am with guest preacher, Father Tim Doubblestein!

It was a special joy to be with the MAMA Church family at Bethany House this past Sunday - The Passion of Our Lord: Palm Sunday!  I hope you'll be blessed by joining us (via this video) for the readings from sacred Scripture, the sermon, the Prayers of the People, the Great Thanksgiving, and Holy Communion.

Please let us know via e-mail at mamachurch4you@yahoo.com or by calling 859-404-8374 if we can do anything for you.

Join us for Holy Week!

Father Todd

Our Holy Week Schedule...

Dear friends,

We stand on the threshold of Holy Week.  The forty days of Lent have brought us, with astonishing swiftness, to "the week that changed the world!"

Here is our schedule for Holy Week at Bethany House (not including our last "Lenten Soup & Study" on Thursday, March 17 and the Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 18 – both at 7:00pm):

-  The Passion of Our Lord: Palm Sunday (March 20) at 10:30am

-  The Stations of the Cross on Wednesday (March 23) at 7:00pm

-  The Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday (March 24) at 7:00pm

-  The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday with Holy Communion (March 25) at 7:00pm

-  The Montgomery County Homeless Coalition's Vendor Fair (March 26) at Mapleton Elementary School (MAMA Church is participating & looking for helpers) from 11:00am to 3:00pm

-  The Great Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday (March 26) at 8:00pm

-  The Feast of Our Lord's Resurrection on Easter Sunday (March 27) at 10:30am with guest preacher, Father Tim Doubblestein!

We'd love to spend these times of worship and service with you!  Please feel free to call me at 859-404-8374 or e-mail us at mamachurch4you@yahoo.com with any questions!  You can also see any updates to the schedule at www.mama.church!

May God richly bless your Holy Week remembrances and Easter celebrations!

Father Todd

Excerpts from Mass...

Dear friends,

It was truly a joy to be with the MAMA Church family at Bethany House this past Sunday!  I hope you'll be blessed by joining us (via this video) for the reading of the Gospel, the sermon, the Nicene Creed, the Prayers of the People, the Great Thanksgiving, and Holy Communion.

Please let us know via e-mail at mamachurch4you@yahoo.com or by calling 859-404-8374 if we can do anything for you.

You are in our prayers!
Father Todd

A Sermon from Mass...

From the vicar...

I struggled to find a way to not make this sermon quite so personal. I was not able to do that. The parable of the prodigal son (the older brother's attitude and behavior, in particular) is something I identify with intensely. Even so, I believe that the underlying message is one we all need to hear. May it be a blessing to you!

Father Todd