ST. MICHAEL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MICHIGAN MARCH 2010

Easter

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. To a Christian, Easter is the most sig-nificant event in the history of the world. It is probably the best documented epi-sode in the life of Christ. The events leading up to it are recounted in all four of the Gospels, and the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus can be confirmed from other non-Christian sources. Yet, there are things about Easter that most people do not fully understand; for example, where did the name Easter come from, and when are we supposed to celebrate it?

The Latin term for Easter is Pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew Pesach, which means the festival of Passover. That seems reasonable because all of these events took place during Passover. Most of the European and Arabic lan-guages use words related to Pesach. So, where did the word Easter come from? Bede, the earliest British chronicler, believed it was derived from the name of a pagan goddess Eastre, the Goddess of Spring and fertility. Pagan worship had died out by Bede’s time, but the festival of the goddess was converted into the Christian feast. This may explain why we still associate colored eggs and bunny rabbits with Easter.

When we get to setting a the date for Easter, it gets more complicated. Scripture records that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, the day after Passover and rose from the dead on the following Sunday morning. Passover takes place on the first full moon after the vernal equinox, as observed by Jewish priests in Palestine, but in the year 135, the Roman Emperor banished all Jews from Palestine. When the exiled Jews tried to establish the date of the vernal equinox in different countries, they found that their astrological observations yielded different results, thus giving various regions different dates for Passover. Until this time, Christians had been looking to their Jew-ish neighbors to determine the date of Passover, but there was growing dissatisfaction with this arrangement.

Finally, in 325, the Council of Nicaea (the same Bishops who gave us the Nicene Creed) decreed that all Chris-tians should celebrate Easter on the same day, the first Sunday on or after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Unfortunately, we have little evidence that the Council prescribed any formula to calculate the spring equinox. As a result, the Irish Christians, and many Churches in the Middle East celebrated Easter on a different date than most European Christians. The problem was compounded when, in the year 1582, Pope Gregory re-formed the old Julian calendar that had gotten about ten days behind the actual solar year. The new Gregorian calendar was a great improvement on the old version and is, in effect, the calendar we use today. However, hav-ing been proposed by a Pope meant that the Orthodox and Protestant nations rejected it. In time, its superiority to the old calendar became apparent and, one by one, these countries accepted it. England converted to the Gregorian calendar in 1751. You can still see colonial documents that designate dates as N.S, new style or O.S., old style. Russia did not go Gregorian until after the 1918 Revolution - thus, the October Revolution of 1917 actu-ally occurred in November. However, some sections of the Orthodox Church still use the old calendar. This is why our Orthodox friends sometimes celebrate Easter a week or so after we do.

- Jack Renick

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Vestry Highlights from January 31 and February 16, 2010 On January 31, 2010, the Vestry convened after the Annual Parish Meeting and welcomed newly elected members Barbara Barringer, Julie Biermann, Derek Farr and Cheryl Mac Donald. The Vestry elected Grant Gilezan as Senior Warden, Dave Zmyslowski as Junior Warden, Drew McSkimming as Treasurer and Bar-bara Barringer as Secretary. During its meeting on February 16, 2010, the Vestry approved of the Treasurer’s reports for full-year 2009 and January 2010, as well as the Treasurer’s letter to the Parish on related financial topics, copies of which are posted in the Informa-tion Center. The Vestry formed a Committee named Affirmative Aging, which will be led by Roger Walker with the assistance of the Rev. Marianna and Vestry Members Judy Appleton and Grant Gilezan. This new Committee will focus on ministering to the needs and interests of Parish members who are approaching or in their senior years. In an effort to enhance communications, interactions and knowledge between the Vestry and all Parish Committees, and among the Committees themselves, Vestry members volunteered to serve as Com-mittee liaisons. A Committee organization chart listing Committee Co-Chairs and Vestry liaisons will be developed and posted in the Information Center. Since the elimination of the full-time Sexton position in late January 2010, volunteers have graciously

taken over some tasks, a cleaning service has been engaged after a bidding process and interviews of candidates for a part-time Sex-ton position have been conducted. Dennis Angell, our former full-time Sexton, was invited to interview for this part-time position, but he declined. The hiring of a part-time Sexton is expected to occur by February 19, 2010. The estimated 2010 cost-savings resulting from these changes are currently anticipated to be around $29,000 compared to what the Parish would have had to spend over the year meeting our prior full-time Sexton arrangements. I want to recognize and thank the members of the Vestry’s Execu-tive Committee - which consists of the Rector, the Wardens, the Treasurer and Kevin O’Connor - for the many extra hours they have spent over the past several weeks leading the Parish through these important changes with thoughtfulness, patience, compas-sion, fiscal accountability, transparency and an unwavering focus on serving the Parish’s best interests.

Faithfully, Grant P. Gilezan

Senior Warden

Following the Annual Meeting, the vestry selected officers for the year. They include: above Dave Zmyslowski, Junior Warden, Bar-bara Barringer, Secretary to the Vestry, below Grant Gilezan, Senior Warden and Drew McSkimming, Treasurer.

Grant Gilezan, Senior Warden

Communications Committee Update

Please remember to send any information relevant to the St. Michael’s parish to the Communications Committee via email to: communications@stmichaelsgpw.org.If you do not have access to email, you may bring your information to the church office.

Any information for The Sword should be typed in Arial typeface in 10pt. font. If you are using the 2007 version of Microsoft Word, please save your document so that it can be opened in older versions of Mi-crosoft Word.

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ECW March Program The next ECW luncheon and program will be at noon on Tuesday, March 9. The speaker is Margaret Gorman, Professor of Nursing and Health at Madonna University. She will present "Reducing Infant Mortality in a High-Risk Community.‖ Everyone is invited to bring items for donation to the Infant Mor-tality Program. Suggestions include infant tee shirts and clothing, blankets, sleep sacks, sleepers, in-fant toys, baby wipes, car seats, swings, bassinets, cribs, ―Pack-and-Play‖ style portable cribs, dispos-able diapers (newborn though size 4), infant and toddler books and DVDs. Read more about this minis-try online at http://infantmortprogram.org/. The luncheon is hosted by St. Margaret’s Guild. Please sign up in the Information Center. Looking Ahead: The April program on Nutrition and Weight Loss will be hosted by St. Mary’s Guild. This an evening event on which will be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 7 p.m. Mark your calendars!

A Celebration of Black History Month in Song

The Wayne State University Concert Chorale gave a fantastic performance for the latest ―Music in the Woods‖ Skinner Fund Raising concert Friday, February 19. Led by Dr. Norah Duncan, IV, Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Music, the chorale featured such works as Jacob's Ladder by Ralph Simpson, and I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes by Adolphus Hailstork. Gavin Craig, our Music Director per-formed an organ solo by Sowande. Christian Shaum, and Clare Sawicki, our choral scholars were also part of the chorale.

Join us on Sunday, March 28th at 4:00 p.m. for the next Music in the Woods concert featuring Dr. Roelofs on violin, and Dr. Con-way on piano. Remem-ber: half the funds raised go to support music scholarships at Wayne State, while the other half supports our Skinner 705 Fund rais-ing efforts.

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Holy Week and Easter

Service Schedule Palm/Passion Sunday, March 28 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite One 10:30 a.m. Palm Procession & Holy Eucharist Rite One

Maundy Thursday, April 1 6:15 p.m. Simple Agapé Supper 7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist & Sermon Note: Service in evening only

Good Friday, April 2 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy 7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday, Easter Eve, April 3 4:00 p.m. Family Easter Eucharist Child care provided. An Easter Egg hunt will follow.

Easter Day, April 4 8:00 a.m. Festival Eucharist & Sermon 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist & Sermon Nursery care and Story Hour at 10:30 a.m. service. Child care will be available for any Holy Week service by request. Please call the Parish Office.

Carl Griffin brought his friend, Edward, to the Pancake Sup-per.

Kevin Hahn, Lisa and Angela Sparks and Norm Hahn met for supper at the church on Shrove Tuesday.

Roger Walker was king of the Mardi Gras parades.

Susan and Brian Tyr-rell at one of the sev-eral parades at the Pancake Supper.

Catherine Poleski gets her face painted by Shannon Gra-ham during the Shrove Tues-day Pancake Supper as her father, Lee Poleski, looks on.

Annual Pancake Supper Hit All the

Right Notes!

And a good time was had by all! The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, once again, proved to be a wonderful event. Good food, good fellow-ship, and good fun was the recipe for success!

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Youth Events Planned

Both Middle School and High School Youth Groups are looking forward to several Diocesan Youth events. New Beginnings is a weekend retreat for students in Grades 6 – 8 and is designed especially to respond to their unique challenges and concerns. It was created by adults and young people to help participants grow in their love of themselves, others and Jesus Christ. The program begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 12 and continues through Sunday, March 14 at 4 p.m. The retreat takes place at the Church of the Advent, West Bloomfield. Participants will meet peers from across the Diocese, enjoy skits, listen to talks and participate in small group activities and discussions. Two High School events are planned by the Diocese, beginning with Nightwatch: Detroit to be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Detroit April 10-11. Set in the Cathedral, students will explore what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. Also, for High School students will be Happening #6, April 23 – 25 at All Saints, East Lansing. Happening is a retreat weekend that is used by high school students throughout the Episcopal Church with everything from praying to playing and from singing to sleeping. There are talks, small groups, free time and fun. The group comes together to praise God in an amazing environ-ment. All these youth Diocesan events provide excellent opportunities for teens to explore their faith, form friendships with others throughout the Diocese and experience the love of Christ through the sacra-ments and ministry. Bev Veit and Deborah Cooper have information on scholarship assistance, registration forms and parent permission forms for all these events.

Lenten Study Program and Potluck

Lenten Study – PBS Frontline Series “From Jesus to Christ.” Our Lenten series continues on Wednesdays through March 24

th. Please sign up in the Information Center. Childcare will be

provided as needed. 6:00 p.m. Potluck Supper. 6:45-8:00 p.m. Video and Discussion.

The Lenten Study Program we will view and discuss the PBS Frontline Series video ―From Jesus to Christ.‖ Rev. Marianna will lead the discussion on this fascinating program that takes us back 2000 years and looks at the origins of Christianity. Questions? See Rev. Marianna or call Elaine Backhurst (Home: 884-6718)

World Day of Prayer The annual World Day of Prayer will take place on Friday, March 5 at 1:00 pm at Grace United Church

of Christ, Grosse Pointe Park. The theme of this year’s service is ―Let everything that has breath praise

God‖. It was written by women of Cameroon and is a beautiful worship service of music and readings.

IN MEMORIAM The following faithful departed, whose deaths occurred during the month of April in years past, will be remembered at the Requiem on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

“Rest eternal grant them, O Lord; let light perpetual shine upon them.”

THE SWORD

Vol. 57 No. 1 Picture Credits: Deborah Cooper, Derek Farr Editor: Dianne Pegg 313-881-1173 Producer: Kathy Zmyslowski 313-885-9440

Submissions can be sent to the St. Michael’s Church office or e-mailed to: communications@stmichaels.org The Sword is published 11 times a year. St. Michael’s Episcopal Church 20475 Sunningdale Park Drive Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 313-884-4820 Fax: 313-884-4821 Website: www.stmichaelsgpw.org SUNDAY SCHEDULE 8:00 a.m.— Holy Eucharist 10:30 a.m.—Holy Eucharist with church school at 10:15 The Rev. Marianna Gronek Rector Cell: 734-358-0877 The Rev. Jack G. Trembath Deacon Assistant (part-time) Grant Gilezan Senior Warden 313-885-1360, cell 313-310-6334

David Zmyslowski Junior Warden 313-885-9440 Drew McSkimming Treasurer 313-881-5862 Barb Barringer Secretary to the Vestry Deborah Cooper Church School Director Gavin Craig Music Director Barbara Pappas Youth Choir Jack Renick Parish Historian Mary Gage Parish Secretary marygage@stmichaelsgpw.org Patti Coe Financial Secretary

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Raymond R Amluxen George N Bashara, Jr. Armina Besimer William A Carey Virgil Raymond Fraden-burgh Charles A Gibson Albert Grefenberg Dorothy Hittel Lorenz Hittel

Frederick R Jose Margaret D Kalso Nellie L Little Donald Near Stella B Payne Joseph G Rhein, Jr. Elizabeth Rossiter Marie Ryskamp Donald W Scrace Robert S Sinclair

William Smale Garnet Smith Nellie L Twiddy Gary Vickers Edward White Edgar H Yeoman

CALENDAR MARCH 1 SWORD mailing, 10:45 AM; Creative Care every Monday, 7 PM 2 YAYA (Youth and Young Adult) Committee, 7 PM 3 Lenten Series, Potluck 6 PM, Video and Discussion, 6:45 PM; Pastoral Care, 7 PM 4 Adult Choir practice, 7 PM (every Thursday) 5 World Day of Prayer, Grace United Church, noon 7 Worship, 8 AM, 10:30 AM 8 Creative Care every Monday, 7 PM; Outreach, 7 PM; 9 ECW (Episcopal Church Women) Board, 10 AM.; Luncheon, Noon;

Property Committee, 7 PM; Evangelism Committee, 7 PM 10 Lenten Series, Potluck 6 PM, Video and Discussion, 6:45 PM 11 Adult Choir practice, 7 PM (every Thursday) 12 Friday Night @ Mike's, St. Patrick’s dinner, 6:30 PM; New Beginnings Retreat begins 13 Monthly Requiem, 9 AM 14 Worship, 8 AM., 10:30 AM; *SWORD articles for April due.*

15 Creative Care every Monday, 7 PM 16 Finance Committee, 6 PM; Vestry, 7 PM 17 Lenten Series, Potluck 6 PM, Video and Discussion, 6:45 PM 18 Adult Choir practice, 7 PM (every Thursday) 20 Altar Guild, 9 AM, in kitchen. 21 Worship, 8 AM, 10:30 AM; Thrift Shop open; 22 Blood Pressure Clinic, Lounge 9:15 -10:15 AM 22 Creative Care every Monday, 7 PM; St. Teresa’s Guild, 7:30 PM 23 St. Mary’s Guild, noon; St. Elizabeth’s Guild, 12:30 PM 24 Lenten Series, Potluck, 6 PM, Video and Discussion, 6:45 PM 25 Adult Choir practice, 7 PM 26 Movie Night@ Mike's Film Night, 6:30 PM 28 Worship, 8 AM, 10:30 PM; Music in the Woods,‖ 4:00 PM 29 Creative Care every Monday, 7 PM 31 Businessperson’s Lunch, Noon APRIL 1 Maundy Thursday, 6:15 PM Supper, 7:30 PM service

2 Good Friday, Noon Liturgy, 7 PM Stations of the Cross; Thrift Shop closed 3 Thrift Shop open; Family Easter Eucharist, 4 PM. 4 Easter Sunday, Worship, 8 AM, 10:30 AM

WEDDINGS Eric Papiez and Amanda Salter February 14, 2010

DO NOT FORWARD Address Service Requested St. Michael’s Episcopal Church 20475 Sunningdale Park Drive Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 313-884-4820 Fax: 313-884-4821

Thrift Shop News

Lots of great new spring items are arriving weekly so be sure to stop by the Thrift Shop and take a look around!

For the month of March, the Thrift Shop will be open on the third Sunday of the month due to Palm Sun-day falling on the fourth Sunday. Please remember to visit the Thrift Shop after the 10:30am service on Sunday, March 21

st.

Detroit Tiger’s Baseball Game

Spring must be "just around the corner." Deacon Jack has reserved tickets for St. Mi-chael's at the June 15th game. Please sign up in the information center for game and bus transportation, or for game only. It's bound to be a rollicking good time for all!

Bunko Babes Unleashed!!!

Is there a Bunko Babe hidden in you? Come find out. Certified Bunko instructors will help you unleash your potential. Bunko is a fun, fast paced, easily-learned dice game. It’s guaranteed to make you laugh and potentially rich! You and your friends are invited to our Ladies’ Night Out on Tuesday, April 27th from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in Yeoman Hall. Pizza and salad will be served. Cash prizes awarded to winners!

Tickets will be sold for $10 each following both services beginning April 11. Dress comfortably - slippers are

encouraged. Have any questions? Call Stacey Fischer-Lewis at 313-204-0638.