DeiBreak Communicator

Volume 8; #4 April 2020

St. Paul writes: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquer-ors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 35, 37-39)

Well...Things certainly have changed since last month when we were thinking about Lent and planning our services for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter. I heard both Bishop Lee and Bishop Clements tell us that all services are canceled until further notice. For the first time in any of our memories, there will be no Easter worship. Churches are scrambling to create a virtual on-line pres-ence. First it was live-stream your service. Then it was no service. No contact with people, the church is closed. Most of us are working at home if possible. Non-essential businesses are shuttered. People are worried about running out of food and medicine and the all-important toilet paper. Some folks are hoarding neces-sary items, stocking up on more than they need, and some are stockpiling ammu-nition for fear of looting. Some folks have willingly followed leaders' instructions to practice safe social distancing and self-quarantine while other defy this as over-reacting and unconstitutional overstepping. Every day, sometimes more than once a day, there are updates and new reports and changes in procedures.

As I contemplated all this, which is making my head spin, I was reminded of the Gospel reading we heard on the first Sunday in Lent, Matthew 4:1-11, the tempta-tion in the wilderness. I don't know anybody who has spent forty days alone in the desert fasting and praying, do you? This story has always made me shudder, im-agining what that would be like, especially the part where the devil himself shows up. Think about how that would feel!

We may not be in a desert with Satan tempting us to misuse whatever power we may possess. But right now, this social distancing and lockdown, endorsed by our state and local governments as well as our bishops, might help us to experience this story differently. Our daily routines are turned upside down. No church activi-ties, no going to the office, no shopping unless absolutely necessary. Items we might normally buy are out of stock. Businesses are closed and people are losing their jobs. No pastoral visits to our homebound members and no family visits! High anxiety to be sure.

This is our modern-day wilderness. We are forced into a fast we never thought possible- we have given up church for Lent! We are not receiving the body and blood of Christ. We are not seeing our church friends, our congregations. We are not passing the peace, nor are we dipping our hands in the baptismal font's waters. We are not having a Maundy Thursday service with foot washing and Holy Com-munion. There will be no Easter celebrations in our sanctuaries. Yes, this is bleak and barren and lonely and frightening and outside of the life-experience of most, if not all of us. This the desert we find ourselves in.

However, as in every Gospel story, there is good news. We may not be able to go to church but we can still be the church. We are a resurrection people. We may not have a festival worship for Easter, but Easter is going to happen anyway. Noth-ing will separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. When this trial in the de-sert of Covid 19 is finally over, we will once again gather and say “Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!”

Pastor Jill Flynn

From The Preacher

Pastor Priest

DeiBreak/Communicator is a monthly publication for members and friends of:

Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church

4700 Augustana Drive Rockford, Illinois 61107

www.gloriadeirockford.com 815-399-0202

-AND-

St. Anskar Episcopal Church 4801 Spring Creek Road Rockford, IL 61114-6321

www.stanskars.org 815-877-1226

Both Congregations Served by: The Reverend Jill Flynn

Pastor’s Cell: 815-399-0202 Email: jksflynn@gmail.com

To submit items for inclusion on the church calendar or to feature in DeiBreak or our weekly bulle-tins please contact Church Ad-ministrator, Bob Black bobinrkfd@gmail.com or 815-742-9197

St. Anskar Episcopal

Church

While we are not able to gather in person, a daily time of reflection, devo-tion and meditation becomes even more important. Below are the daily readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for the month of April. Combining them with another reading or perhaps the Spiritual Commun-ion practices described elsewhere in this newsletter can help you find center and comfort until we can gather together again. Wednesday, April 1, 2020: Psalm 143; Jeremiah 32:1-9, 36-41; Matthew 22:23-33 Thursday, April 2, 2020: Psalm 31:9-16; 1 Samuel 16:11-13; Philippians

1:1-11 Friday, April 3, 2020: Psalm 31:9-16; Job 13:13-19; Philippians 1:21-30 Saturday, April 4, 2020: Psalm 31:9-16; Lamentations 3:55-66; Mark 10:32-34 Sunday, April 5, 2020: Liturgy of the Palms Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Matthew 21:1-11 Sunday, April 5, 2020: Liturgy of the Passion Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew

26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54 Monday, April 6, 2020: Monday of Holy Week Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-

11 Tuesday, April 7, 2020: Tuesday of Holy Week Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John

12:20-36 Wednesday, April 8, 2020: Wednesday of Holy Week Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John

13:21-32 Thursday, April 9, 2020: Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corin-

thians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Friday, April 10, 2020: Good Friday Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16;

5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42 Saturday, April 11, 2020: Holy Saturday Job 14:1-14 or Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24; Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16; 1

Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66 or John 19:38-42 Sunday, April 12, 2020: Easter Vigil Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26; Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18;

8:6-18; 9:8-13 and Psalm 46; Genesis 22:1-18 and Psalm 16; Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 and Exo-dus 15:1b-13, 17-18; Isaiah 55:1-11 and Isaiah 12:2-6; Baruch 3:9-15, 3:32-4:4 or Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6 and Psalm 19; Ezekiel 36:24-28 and Psalm 42, 43; Ezekiel 37:1-14 and Psalm 143; Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Psalm 98; Romans 6:3-11 and Psalm 114; Matthew 28:1-10

Sunday, April 12, 2020: Resurrection of the Lord Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10

Sunday, April 12, 2020: Easter Evening Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 114; 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; Luke 24:13-49 Monday, April 13, 2020: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21; Colossians 3:5-11 Tuesday, April 14, 2020: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Exodus 15:1-18; Colossians 3:12-17 Wednesday, April 15, 2020: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Joshua 3:1-17; Matthew 28:1-10 Thursday, April 16, 2020: Psalm 16; Song of Solomon 2:8-15; Colossians 4:2-5 Friday, April 17, 2020: Psalm 16; Song of Solomon 5:9-6:3; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Saturday, April 18, 2020: Psalm 16; Song of Solomon 8:6-7; John 20:11-20 Sunday, April 19, 2020: Second Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John

20:19-31 Monday, April 20, 2020: Psalm 114; Judges 6:36-40; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Tuesday, April 21, 2020: Psalm 114; Jonah 1:1-17; 1 Corinthians 15:19-28 Wednesday, April 22, 2020: Psalm 114; Jonah 2:1-10; Matthew 12:38-42 Thursday, April 23, 2020: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; Isaiah 25:1-5; 1 Peter 1:8b-12 Friday, April 24, 2020: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; Isaiah 26:1-4; 1 Peter 1:13-16 Saturday, April 25, 2020: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; Isaiah 25:6-9; Luke 14:12-14 Sunday, April 26, 2020: Third Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1:17-

23; Luke 24:13-35 Monday, April 27, 2020: Psalm 134; Genesis 18:1-14; 1 Peter 1:23-25 Tuesday, April 28, 2020: Psalm 134; Proverbs 8:32-9:6; 1 Peter 2:1-3 Wednesday, April 29, 2020: Psalm 134; Exodus 24:1-11; John 21:1-14 Thursday, April 30, 2020: Psalm 23; Exodus 2:15b-25; 1 Peter 2:9-12

Birthdays Dennis Blunt on 4/1

Angela Baxter on 4/4 Fred Schilling on 4/5 Jan Pringey on 4-6

Dorothy Kallberg on 4-17 Julie Monarski on 4-18 Rachel Soliba on 4/20

Nathaniel Bradford on 4/21 Paul Toboldt on 4/27

Please join us for Shel-ter Care luncheon The Annual

Spring Shelter Care Luncheon will be held at Prairie Street Brewhouse on Wednesday May 6.

The Marketplace opens at 11 a.m., and lunch is served promptly at noon.

Further information will be relayed as it becomes available.

If you’re interested in going and being seated at the St Anskar and Gloria Dei table, please contact Pastor Jill to make your reservation.

Make checks to Shelter Care and turn in to Pastor Jill by April 26 so that they can be turned in together.

Since St. Anskar parishioners will be observing Good Friday at home this year, those wishing to donate to the Diocese of Jerusalem can do so by writing a check to St. Anskar’s and earmarking if for the Diocese of Jerusalem by writing Good Fri-day Donation on the memo line. .

The history of the Good Friday Offering reaches back to 1922 when, in the aftermath of World War

I, The Episcopal Church sought to create new relationships with and among the Christians of the Middle East. From these initial efforts which focused on a combination of relief work and the improvement of ecumenical and Anglican relations, the Good Friday Offering was created.

Through the years many Episcopalians have found the Good Friday Offering to be an effective way to express their support for the ministries of the four dioceses of the Province of Jerusa-lem and the Middle East. Pastoral care, education and health care continue to be primary ministries through which the recon-ciling spirit of the Christian faith serves all in need. Participation in this ministry is welcome. The generous donations of Episco-palians help the Christian presence in the Land of the Holy One to be a vital and effective force for peace and understanding among all of God’s children.

We offer up prayers for comfort in this time of grief for Ginny Frisk after the passing of her sister.

Spiritual Communion: What is it, how do we do it?

Spiritual Communion is a Christian practice of desiring union with Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. This practice is well estab-lished in the Lutheran Churches, Anglican Communion, Methodist Churches,as well as in the Roman Catholic Church.. The practice of Spiritual Communion has been especially used by Christians in times of persecution, such as during the era of state atheism in the Eastern Bloc, as well as in times of plagues, such as during the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic, when Christians were unable to together to celebrate the Eucharist on the Lord's Day. (From Wikipedia)

It is something many of us have never heard of and never felt a need for.

Episcopal Bishop Lee suggested that we take a look at this practice during our fast from receiving Holy Communion in church. He recommended the prayer of St. Augustine. Lutherans will remember that Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk and remained true to those roots throughout his life. This is the form you can use on Sundays and everyday.

Begin with this prayer

Blessed be God + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And Blessed be his kingdom forever. Amen.

Let the power of the Holy Spirit come upon me, O Lord, to mercifully cleanse my heart and defend me from all adversities; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read the Scripture Lessons and Gospel for the day

Say the Apostles' Creed

Confession

O God, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you, and for all the wrongs I have done, and the good I have not done. Especially I confess ...Forgive me for Jesus' sake, and grant me strength and wisdom to amend my life. Amen

Act of Reception

In union, blessed Jesus, with the faithful gathered at every altar of your Church where your blessed Body and Blood are offered this day I long to offer you praise and thanksgiving, for creation and all the blessings of this life, for the redemption won for us by your life, death, and resurrection, for the means of grace and the hope of glory.

And particularly for the blessings given me ...

I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament, and, since I cannot at this time receive commun-ion, I pray you to come into my heart. I unite myself with you and embrace you with all my heart, my soul, and my mind. Let nothing separate me from you; let me serve you in this life until, by your grace, I come to your glorious kingdom and unending peace. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Blessing

And may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep my heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ my Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, + the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with me now and always. Amen.

For more than 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been work-ing with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease.

To learn more about the Anglican organization, its work or to offer finan-cial support, visit its website at www.episcopalrelief.org Checks also can be sent to: Episcopal Relief & Development, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116.