From The Rector:

With the observance of Rogation Sunday last week, the Great Fifty Days of Easter are drawing to a close.  Our Rogation observance was "totally awesome".  Okay, the procession needed a little fine-tuning, but next year we'll have all the kinks worked out.  A few of you brought seeds and plants to bless; the Ragsdale's even brought a planter filled with beautiful green wheat.  Unfortunately, we had no takers on livestock this year.  I love singing all the "earthy" songs:  All things bright and beautiful, All creatures of our God & King, O beautiful for spacious skies.  My favorite, though, is O Jesus, crowned with all renown, which maybe isn't the most familiar, but the next is so powerful:

Lord, in their change, let frost and heat, and winds and dews be given;

All fostering power, all influence sweet breathe from the bounteous heaven.

Attempter fair with gentle air the sunshine and the rain,

That kindly earth with timely birth may yield her fruits again:

That we may feed the poor aright, and gathering round they throne,

Here, in the holy angel's sight, repay thee of thine own

That we may praise thee all our days, and with the Father's Name,

And with the Holy Spirits, the Savior's love proclaim.

Thanks, all, for the bountiful feast we enjoyed after church.  It was a wonderful day. 

I would like to invite and encourage all of you to join the community on May 1, Ascension Day, in the National Day of Prayer observance beginning at noon at the M.K. Brown parking lat.  If we ever needed a day of prayer for our nations, it is NOW!

On Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m., Bishop Ohl will be at St. Matthew's for Confirmation.  I am thrilled that we have five persons to be confirmed and possibly and infant to be baptized.  Please come and support our confirmands and join with them in renewing our Baptismal vows.  Rick and Russ are cooking up some splendid music and the EFM group has planned a grand reception.

And then we arrive at the Day of Pentecost on May 14.  In wind and flame the Holy Spirit will come down upon us and empower us for our many ministries.  As we prepare to observe the "birthday" of the Church, think about the gifts and talents God has given you (everyone has a gift some are blessed with many gifts).  Ask God to renew your spirit and give you courage and the desire to serve your church, your community, the world, in Christ's name:

And now, Father, send us our to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.  BCP p. 366.

Faithfully, Linda