Have you ever wondered why we toll the Church Bells on Friday at noon?
We were blessed on Easter Sunday, to have over twelve hundred people worship with us. What a festive and joy-filled time was had celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the primary tenet of our faith. It was wonderful so see so many people "come home" to St. John's.
As people were leaving the service, I found myself exchanging the ancient Easter greetings, "Alleluia. Christ is risen." Some would say, "Happy Easter" back. One man, who I did not know, exchanged the ancient greeting back, "The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia." Then we began to talk for a brief while. He was comfortable enough to suggest that we ought to be praying for our soldiers in Iraq. I assured him that we thought so too, and that weekly we included those serving in Iraq in our Sunday bulletin, asking our parishioners to pray for God's presence and mercies and to be with them. I pointed out that in the Sunday bulletin, we have a special place for naming those who are, in some way, a part of our parish family serve in Iraq.
What I did not have an opportunity to share with this man is that every Friday at noon as we begin our Holy Eucharist of Reconciliation, whenever anyone has died, with the tolling of the bell. Our service begins in silence and reflection as the bells tolls, reminding us of the number, of those whose name we know, who have died that week. We read the names of soldiers and medical personnel who have died in Iraq that week. Additionally, we pray for all those who have died that week in other places of strife, conflict, and bloodshed throughout the world. Later we add the names of those who have died in Iraq to a Memory Board that we have created, and that is a reminder of those who have given their lives.
So yes, friend who worshiped with us on Easter Sunday, we do remember those who serve our country in Iraq, and we pray for peace and reconciliation there, as we pray for peace and reconciliation in our own lives.
In Christ,
Mother Nancee+
