March 31, 2013 Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

SATURDAY March 30 —Holy Saturday

9:30 p.m. People of St. Peter

SUNDAY March 31—Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

9:00 a.m. +Raymond & Eva Gardner

(Patrick & Jenny Snyder)

MONDAY April 1— Monday within the Octave of Easter

8:00 a.m. No Mass

TUESDAY April 2— Tuesday within the Octave of Easter

8:00 a.m. +Martha Kiefer

(Bev Richardson Family)

WEDNESDAY April 3– Wednesday within the Octave of Easter

8:00 a.m. +Chinnamma Kuttothara

(Annie Kuttothara)

THURSDAY April 4—Thursday within the Octave of Easter

No Mass

FRIDAY April 5— Friday within the Octave of Easter

Noon +Cleland Wingart

(Ken & Sharon Gosche)

SATURDAY April 6 —Vigil

5:00 p.m. +Roma & Margret Studer

(Pat Studer)

SUNDAY April 7—Sunday of Divine Mercy

9:00 a.m. People of St. Peter

Mass Schedule

Stewardship Report March 24, 2013 Actual Budget Envelopes & Online $ 2,144.00

Loose Cash $ 89.25

Art & Env. $ 25.00

Maintenance $ 300.00

Religious Edu. $ 0.00

Social Concern $ 0.00

Mortgage $ 10.00

Holy Day $ 0.00

Christmas $ 0.00

Total $ 2,568.25 $3,225.00

Fiscal YTD $124,865.49 $125,775.00

Thank You!

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading — Peter is an eyewitness: The Lord is risen (Acts

10:34a, 37-43).

Psalm — This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be

glad (Psalm 118).

(1) Second Reading — All who are baptized, set your hearts on

heaven (Colossians 3:1-4) or

(2) Second Reading — Christ our Passover is sacrificed; there-

fore let us celebrate (1 Corinthians 5:6b-8).

Gospel — Three witnesses, Mary, Peter, and John; each re-

sponds to the empty tomb (John 20:1-9) or Luke 24:1-12 (or, at

an afternoon or evening Mass, Luke 24:13-35).

Liturgical Ministers

Saturday, April 6, 2013 5:00 p.m. Lector: Leslie Kamenik Server: Caitlyn Drockton Eucharistic Minister: Helen Ankney Cup Ministers: Rob Turk, Kristin Donley Greeter: Mary Davis

Sunday, April 7, 2013 9:00 a.m. Lector: Larry Henley Servers: Joe Henley, Paul Henley Eucharistic Minister: Joe Morganstern Cup Ministers: Tom Esselburn, Karen Morganstern, Deb Allerding Greeter: Sharon Gosche

Collection Counters: 4-1-13 Team 1 4-8-13 Team 1

Les Miller, Bea Blubaugh, Bill Walker, Kim Huy, Angela Plant, Ed Baum, Shane Lehman, Phillip Morganstern,

Linda Sage, John Allerding, Mamie Heffelfinger, Teri Johnson, Eileen Esselburn, Kim Hershberger, Nancy Kline,

Fr. Elmer Marquard, Pope Benedict, and for peace throughout the world. Pray for... If you would like to have a Mass said to mark a special occasion or in memory of a loved one, please contact the parish office.

Meetings & Events

April 2 ~ Community Meal 5:30 p.m.

April 3 ~ Youth Group 6:30 p.m.

K of C Fun Night 7:00 p.m.

April 7 ~ PSR 10:15 a.m.

Catholic Cemetery Final Expense Planning 10:30 a.m.

April 10 ~ Knights of Columbus Meeting 7:00 p.m.

April 13 ~ Parish Social Night Out - Mifflin Inn

April 14 ~ Afterglow of the Eucharist 10:00 a.m.

PSR 10:15 a.m.

April 15 ~ Mission Society Meeting 8:30 a.m.

April 17 ~ K of C Fun Night 7:00 p.m.

April 19 ~ Adoration 12:30 p.m.

April 20 ~ Parish Pastoral Council 9:00 a.m.

April 21 ~ First Holy Communion 9:00 a.m.

No PSR

April 23 ~ After Alpha 10:00 a.m.

April 28 ~ Catholicism Video Series 10:15 a.m.

PSR 10:15 a.m.

Breakfast Refreshment Schedule

April 7 Parish Council

April 14 Youth Group & PSR parents

April 21 Knights of Columbus

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; Mt 28:8-15

Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41; Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; Jn 20:11-18

Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105:1-4, 6-9; Lk 24:13-35

Thursday: Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8:2, 5-9; Lk 24:35-48

Friday: Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118:1-2, 4, 22-27; Jn 21:1-14

Saturday: Acts 4:13-21; Ps 118:1, 14-21; Mk 16:9-15

Sunday: Acts 5:12-16; Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24;

Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; Jn 20:19-31

Day trip to Our Lady of Consolation

Helen Ankney is planning a trip to visit Our Lady of Consolation

in Carey, OH and would like to extend an invitation to anyone in

the parish that would like to join her. A day trip is planned for

Wednesday, May 15th. If you would like to join Helen or would

like more information about the day trip, please call her at 419-

908-3672.

Lyrics for Life Benefit

Lyrics for Life—a community based ecumenical fundraiser for

the Wooster Gabriel Project—is extending an invitation to all

parishioners to it’s 2013 event on April 20th spotlighting local

artist Mary Kay Ellis. Please join us for an evening of fun and

fellowship featuring a benefit concert, 50/50 drawing, Chinese

and live auctions, and refreshments for the ticket price of $20/

guest. The event will be held at the American Red Cross, 244 W.

South St., Wooster. Contact Pam Vogt at 419-994-3198 for more

information or to purchase tickets.

I never got the eggs. I never really understood the bunnies either. They were just always there. Sewn so deep-ly into the celebration of Easter that no one thought to ask what they were all about, or where they came from to begin with. I asked someone once, hoping to gain some clarity on the issue. They looked at me, and stated in a very matter-of-fact tone, that they were symbols of rebirth. Apparently, I had missed the universal memo that was posted on my forehead. Everyone else seemed to have figured out the equation already: Bunnies + Eggs = Easter Rebirth. I still don’t get it. To me, the only symbol or image that makes sense for what we as a Church have just cele-brated, what we as a people of God have spent the last four days preparing for, is the empty grave. Of course, if we are

really honest with ourselves, this is much more than a symbolic re-birth. In fact, there is nothing symbolic about this! The empty grave is, at its very core, our literal and definitive entrance to the Kingdom of God. Consider this: men and women walk into a small cave that is cut into the hillside. They carry with them a body. They lay the body down, seal the cave with a large stone, and then leave by the same door. Several days later they return, enter the cave, find the body gone, but when they exit the cave, unbeknownst to them, everything they have ever known has changed. This might sound absurd to the casual passerby, but to us as Christians, it is the foundation of everything we place our trust in. You see, we are forced to concede certain things when we encounter the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. We are compelled to admit that the way we see the world is not as it really is. Where we see death, there is life. It is the great paschal mystery. This is the message of Easter: That our God has provided for us, on the cross, the keys to enter his kingdom, we must only con-front and accept the empty grave to gain entrance. From my family to yours, Happy Easter! ~Nate

Gabriel Project Update

The Gabriel Program at Saint Peter Church continues

to wait for assistance requests. Many of you may recall that we

supported five mothers during our first year. We have not re-

ceived requests for assistance during the past year. However,

we have provided periodic and limited support for local moth-

ers. This week we continued our mutual support program with

the Saint Mary's Gabriel Program by donating items that they

needed.

During a recent Board Meeting we discussed various

suggestions for publicizing our program. We also added Abbey

Bucher to the Board as a liaison to LPHS.

HAPPY EASTER

Women and Suffering Weekend Retreat

Women and Suffering, a quiet, weekend women’s retreat focus-

ing on the mystery of suffering and God’s redemptive love in

their lives will be held at the St. Therese’s Retreat Center, 5277

E. Broad St., Columbus, on April 19-21. The retreat will be di-

rected by Rev. Michael Mary Dosch, OP, pastor of St. Patrick’s

Parish in Columbus. The retreat begins on Friday afternoon and

concludes Sunday. Cost for the weekend event is $125. For

registration or additional information, contact St. Therese’s at

614-866-1611 or mmurphy.stthereses@gmail.com

Free Final Expense Workshop A funeral/cemetery burial can be the third largest expense most families will have to pay for in their lifetime. This educational workshop/seminar focuses on what you need to know so you are not caught in a situation of being misinformed and possibly overspending and what can be done to gain peace of mind. Workshop to be held here at St. Peter, on Sunday, April 7th, 10:30-11:30am.

Toni Dunmire Bob Sheeter Ruth Stanger Lou & Margie Krieg Renata Lunt Wayne Meyer

Paula Bush in memory of Paul B. & Mary D. Henley, Donald Ray Bush, Father Ed Dowling, William & Mona Henley, Rayden Bush

Bea Blubaugh in memory of Ed & Dorothy Blubaugh, Joe Smith Heisler, and Becky, Craig, Lucy & Paul Blubaugh/Ryan

Chuck & Rita Henley in memory of the deceased of the Henley/ Allerding and Strouse/Kaylor Families

Stephen & Debbi Smith in memory of Clemens & Blandina Smith and James Smith

Becky Cawrse in memory of Tom Cawrse, Richard Baechle, Russell & Ruth Harris

Katie Steffens in memory of John & Margory Rafeld and D.R. & Sylvia Witman

Tom & Leslie Kamenik in memory of Tom & Irene Kamenik and Lee Bowyer

Teresa Cooperrider in memory of the Thomas and Coopperrider Families

Helen Ankney in memory of William Ankney and Ray & Martha Kiefer

Ed & Katherine White in memory of the White and Ried Families

Ed & Delores Baum in memory of the Baum & Wachtel Families

Woody & bonnie Coleman in honor of Marilyn Coleman

Peter & Rebecca Schlund in memory of Mary & Julia

Dwain & Roberta Stitzlein in memory of Bob Frey

John Allerding in memory of the Allerding Family

Howard & Vee Whims in memory of Rick Whims

Bob & Mary Moses in memory of Betty Glossop

Pat Studer in memory of the Studer Family

Art Adams in memory of Marilyn Adams

Jill Lyons in memory of Betty Allerding

Thank you to all who have donated to the

Easter Flower Fund Dear Church, In our Judeo-Christian Tradition, we note that the great moments of God’s Word occurred in the darkness. In the Book of Genesis, we read how God created light out of darkness. In the Exodus story, it was at night that Pharaoh sent for Moses to take his people and go into the wilderness. It was also during the night watch that Jesus, the Light of the World, was born. The Gospel of St. John on this Easter Morning begins with the words “Early in the morning while it was still dark…” In the darkness of the Easter morning, some disciples met the Risen Christ. Two thousand years later, as followers of this same Christ, we are called to look for Christ and transformation in “dark places.” Many of these “dark places” are familiar to us, e.g., the death of a loved one, loss of health, loss of love and friendship, loss of job, loss of meaning, and loss of faith. For many others, the “dark places” might be an aging parent, caring continuously for a sick loved one with little or no support, fighting an addiction of some sort, quarreling with neighbors, conflict and stress in the workplace, and so on. I pray that, in the same spirit of Mary, Peter and John, visit that “dark tomb” and believe that good can come from it. Fortunately, to inspire our faith, we have lots of wonderful examples of people whose lives give a resounding “yes!” to the Risen Christ. Actually, I personally understand that the meaning of the Resurrec-tion is God’s resounding “yes!” to Jesus and all that he stood for, did, taught, and went through. In the dark place of his prison cell, St. Paul wrote some of his best epistles. St. John of the Cross wrote some of his best poetry in the darkness of his prison cell. Handel wrote part of his famous Messiah while in prison. These exam-ples and millions of others down through time, testify that “good things” can be discovered in “dark places.” Likewise, in confronting our “dark place” and our pain, we are greeted with love and support. As we are gradually lifted out of our place of suffering, we begin to experience new life. There is nothing magical about the process. Rarely, if ever, is there a quick overnight transformation. Rehabilitation or growth does not happen easily or quickly. Rather, it occurs through lots of prayers, hard work, and the support of friends. For me, the important question is not so much “Do I believe that God raised up Jesus 2,000+ years ago” but rather, “Do I believe that God can raise up someone like you and me?” The question is not so much whether God em-powered Jesus to come forth from the dark place of death, but whether you and I can believe that God can empower us to come forth from our dark place of pain, sin and suffering. Hopefully, our answer is a resounding “yes!” If so, we have Easter faith. If not, we are in need of some help, and that is alright as long as we are willing to take a first step toward acquiring the faith that will sustain us when we go through a tough stretch in life’s journey. We need to allow Easter faith to guide and empower our daily lives. Remember the times we thought we could not endure the pain or the loss any longer? It seemed too much to bear. Maybe we are in a situation like that now. At such times it’s difficult to believe that grief will be turned into joy. Others can assure us that the pain will pass with time, but usually every-thing in us doubts this. That’s why we need to celebrate Easter continually. We need to recall and welcome the Easter story much more than just once a year. We celebrate Easter every time we look closely at the little surprises of joy in our lives. Each time we announce these joys to ourselves or to others, we are like the angels at the empty tomb an-nouncing resurrection. In other words, an Easter person is the one who chooses to believe that he/she does not have to stay in the tomb of pain and discouragement. There is one lesson in particular which I learn over and over again. It is the truth that I cannot control the diffi-culties of my life all alone. Usually my anxiety level has to reach an intense level before I admit to this reality. Each time I re-learn how necessary it is to throw myself into the arms of God, I promise myself that I won’t forget again; but somehow I always do. I guess it is part of being human. Easter is a wonderful reminder that we cannot overcome our difficulties and get out of our “tombs” on our own. Even Jesus did not overcome his great obstacles alone. Jesus did not rise up from the tomb by his own effort. The Acts of the Apostles tells us that “This Jesus God raised up” to new life. The Easter story assures us that we need God’s guidance and strength and we need to let go of trying to control life by ourselves. Let us place our hand in God’s hand and trust that God can raise us from our dark and dead places just as Jesus was raised to new life. May you and your loved ones have a very blessed Easter.

Father Vince