Easter Celebration and Sermon

Alleluia Christ is Risen! It was a wonderful day in Suffolk and we had a great turn out for both our services. ~50 at each and it was glorious at sunrise with the woodpeckers hammering away and the geese honking. A blessed day when we asked what Mary was expecting when she went to the tomb and what are we expecting from the risen Jesus.

Peace,

Les+

http://chirb.it/wPnpMs

Community Good Friday Service and Sermon

As we continue through Holy Week some of the Chuckatuck churches were gathered at Wesley Chapel for Good Friday Celebration. Rev. Ileana Rosario hosted and celebrated and Rev. Mark Burns from Oakland Christian Church preached. It was a moving service and I've attached Mark's sermon (his intellectual capital).
Peace,
Les+
http://chirb.it/w55cwz

Maundy Thursday - Community service at Oakland Christian Church

A holy and blessed Holy Week to you all; we celebrated the first of three Chuckatuck Community celebrations this evening. Tonight was a fantastic celebration with many thanks to Pastor Mark Burns and the parish at Oakland Christian Church. We had a special supper and celebration of Tenebrae, Communion, and Maundy Thursday. I was selected to preach the sermon tonight and I pray you are touched by this sermon entitled, “God calls us into an intimate relationship with him.”

Peace,

Les

http://chirb.it/B2BkJO

Holy Week Celebrations

Holy Week celebrations will be held in conjunction with the other Chuckatuck Churches; Oakland Christian Church (UCC) and Wesley Chapel (UMC). As a community we will celebrate Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunrise Service; one at each church. Additionally, the Celebrant and Preacher will rotate between Pastors.  The Schedule for our remaining services and celebrations is:

Maundy Thursday:  At Oakland Christian Church
6:30 pm Community Supper (RSVP to the Oakland church office)
7:30 pm Community Maundy Thursday Celebration with Tenebrae, Foot Washing, and Eucharist
Principle Celebrant:  Rev. Mark Burns (UCC)
Preacher: Rev. Les Ferguson (TEC)

Good Friday:  At Wesley Chapel
7:00 pm Community Good Friday Service
Principle Celebrant:  Rev. Ileana Rosario (UMC)
Preacher: Rev. Mark Burns (UCC)

Easter Sunrise Service: At St. John's Church
6:30 am Community Easter Service with Eucharist
Principle Celebrant: Rev. Les Ferguson (TEC)
Preacher: Rev. Ileana Rosario (UMC)
Reception follows in the Parish House

Festive Easter Mass: At St. John's Church
10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II
Celebrant and Preacher: Rev. Les Ferguson
Nursery provided
Reception follows in the Parish House

Come join us in our Holy Week celebrations.
Les +

Sermon for Palm Sunday (A) - 4/17/2011

Today was a great day as I celebrated my first Palm Sunday as a priest. A nice turn out and we had great weather for the procession along the sidewalk from our Parish House to the church (about 500 feet). We had a fine service and even celebrated with some non-traditional musical instruments (at least for St. John's) - tambourines and drums. In fact, our recessional was a drum cadence as the congregation processed out of the church. All in all, it was a great beginning to a blessed Holy Week and today’s sermon title was “God is amidst us in our ever changing life.” Blessings on the walk through Holy Week.

Peace,

Les+

Palm Sunday Sermon

http://chirb.it/OAm5LO

A Celebration of a New Ministry - April 12, 2011

It was a great day on Tuesday, we had about 75 people at St. John's; gathered from much of the past 7 years of discernment and formation. I was blessed to have many from the St. John's family present to welcome me officially as their Rector and to share in their ministries with me. We also had the Rev. Canon Michael Spear-Jones from the Bishop's Office to install me as Rector. One of the biggest blessings was the sermon delivered by my mentor from Reston, Rev. Jim Papile. Many thanks to all who helped make tonight’s celebration a huge success. Thank you all and for those who weren’t there enjoy the sermon posted below.
Les+
http://chirb.it/tgq157

Lent 5 Sermon (A) - 4/10/2011

I bid you greetings on the 5th Sunday in Lent; Southside Virginia is trying to be spring-like for good and it was a beautiful day today. We have been reminded about God’s time and how we still have work to do between now and Easter – we can’t skip Holy Week. Today’s Sermon was entitled “timing is important.” Blessings to you on the remainder of your Lenten journey.

Come join us for Holy Week services, either at St. John's or our community services with Oakland Christian Church or Wesley Memorial Chapel. The services will be held:

Maundy Thursday   Oakland Christian Church at 7:30 pm with a 6:30 pm dinner;

                               Rev Mark Burns is celebrant and I am preacher for this service

Good Friday           Wesley Memorial Chapel at 7:00 pm; Rev Ileana Rosario is celebrant and Rev Mark

                               Burns is preacher

Easter Sunrise         St. John's at 6:30 am; I am celebrant at this service, Rev. Ileana Rosario is preacher

Peace,

Les+

http://chirb.it/NrmEth

Sermon for the 4th Sunday in Lent (A) - 4/3/2011

Greetings from the middle of Lent. It was a great spring day today at St. John’s; a welcome change from last week in the rain. We have continued moving forward in our mutual ministry and started providing Nursery care today and had a few little ones there today. We continued to enjoy our Lenten musical offering by our keyboard player, Nellwyn Beamon, and our guest vocalists Joe DeBeasso (tenor), and Brian Gilbert (baritone). Looking up from the middle of Lent today we reflected on Jesus’ miracles and our reaction to them. Some images to think about include God meeting us and healing us down in the dirt where we are. Let us ponder “how Jesus and God meet us in miraculous way exactly where we are.”

Peace,

Les+

http://chirb.it/vAwLth