St. Joe's Dispatch | March 21st, 2025
I. From the Desk of the Vicar
Dearests,
At the beginning of Lent, new art appeared on the walls of the St. Joe’s nave: a set of 14 images, made by Margaret Adams Parker, of Jesus walking to his death, Jesus dying, the corpse of Jesus being cared for and buried.* In church-art speak, such images are called “Stations of the Cross,” a term that refers both to the images themselves, and to the devotional practice of praying prayers and reading Scriptures while standing near, gazing at, and moving amongst the images.
Not all sets of Stations art focus on precisely the same events, but most include Jesus’ being condemned to death; Jesus’ falling, under the weight of the cross, three times; a woman, sometimes called Veronica, wiping Jesus’ face; Simon of Cyrene briefly shouldering the cross on Jesus’ behalf. The Stations invite us to contemplate those events. The architecture of St. Joe’s is such that it’s not easy to walk from Station to Station — but it’s not impossible, and bodily moving from image to image is a key part of the devotional practice. That is, people don’t, typically, flip through the Stations in a book or on Instagram. We walk them, and the walking makes of our contemplation something more — it makes us participants in the events the art depicts. In turn, our participation invites us to sense how the past bears down on the present; it invites a bitter sadness about the events depicted; it invites, perhaps too, a sense that sadness is not an exhaustive response. The Stations help us see how Jesus’ death transfigures our deaths. They help us consider present-day crucifixions, and our relation to those crucifixions.
Stations images created by different artists are very varied. Some Stations are abstract and modern, some are representational. In the set that now adorns our walls, Jesus and his community look decidedly modern — they’re wearing clothes that could have come from our closets, their posture and carriage and bodily gesture are much like ours’. This intentional anachronism closes the gap between Jesus’ story and our stories, and helps us see, I think, how the events of Jesus’ suffering and death respond to and reshape our suffering and that of our world.
Some Station art emphasizes the physical anguish Jesus experienced—his blood, his sweat, his contorted muscles. Other art makes explicit the resonance between Jesus’ circumstances and the artist’s political and social circumstances — for example, an artist attuned to incarceration might sketch Stations that emphasize the connections between the arrest, stripping, and shackling that she experienced and that which Jesus experienced. Some Station art, that which strays furthest from the representational, seems to direct the gaze upwards; these more abstract or iconized works of art don’t abandon the events of Christ’s life, but turn them into windows, through which one might peer at eternity.
During the remaining weeks of Lent perhaps take a few minutes with Margaret Adams Parker’s Stations. Let them work on you. What do they do? Where do they direct your gaze? Your attentions? Your loves?
With love from
Vicar Lauren
*This set of Stations was a gift to St. Joe’s, from Ellen Davis and Lachlan Hassman, in honor of the years of service Ellen’s late husband, Dwayne Huebner, gave to St. Joe’s, and in honor of Lachlan’s ordination. Thank you, thank you, dear Ellen and Lachlan.
II. Holy Week at St. Joe’s
Community Breakfast every weekday morning beginning at 7:00 am in the Parish Hall. Morning Prayer every weekday beginning at 8:15 am in the church.
Family Service: Wednesday, April 16, 5:15 PM, Parish House
Tenebrae: Wednesday, April 16, 6:00 PM, church
Maundy Thursday: Thursday, April 17, 6:00 PM, church
Night Watch: Thursday, April 17 beginning at 7:00 pm- Friday, April 18 concluding at 8:15 am before Morning Prayer, church. Sign up here.
Good Friday Liturgy: Friday, April 18, 6:00 PM, church
Holy Saturday: Saturday, April 19, 10:30 AM, church
The Great Vigil of Easter: Saturday, April 19, 9:00 PM, church
Dessert social in the Parish House following the Easter Vigil. Email CJ Surbaugh to sign-up.
Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 20, 10:30 AM & 6:00 PM, church
III. Announcements
Parish Workday * Tomorrow, Saturday, March 22 is our monthly parish workday! Our tasks vary each month depending on the season and changing needs outside and inside the buildings. No special skills are required. We will begin to work at 10:00 am-2:00 pm—but come anytime and stay for as long as you like! We would love to have you join us! It is a great way to meet other parishioners and learn more about our property. Questions? Email Isaac.
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Migrant God conversation and book signing with Isaac Villegas, Jed Purdy, and Vicar Lauren * Tomorrow, Saturday, March 22 from 5:00-6:30 pm in the nave. Join us for a conversation about Isaac’s book, immigration and faith, and how we live out our hopes for democracy. Isaac Villegas is an ordained Mennonite minister and the author of Migrant God. Jedediah Britton-Purdy is a professor at Duke Law School. His most recent book is Two Cheers for Politics: Why Democracy is Flawed, Frightening—and Our Best Hope. (NB: on June 10, from 7 to 8:30, the vicar and Isaac will host a discussion of the book, at the vicar’s house.) Email Vicar Lauren with questions.
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Breakfast Fundraiser Letter Writing * Help raise money for our breakfast ministry. We’ll gather to write letters and send emails to friends and family who might wish to sponsor a day of breakfast.
Sunday, March 30, beginning 10 minutes after coffee hour in the Parish House and also at 4:30 pm at Dains on Ninth Street (first beverage of your choice on Fr. Lachlan).
Thursday, April 11, 5:00-7:00 pm at the Vicars house with cocktails, mocktails, and savory nibbles.
If you cannot attend a gathering but wish to participate in fundraising (or have any questions), email Hannah and she will be happy to provide you with all the information you need to involve your friends and family in supporting our breakfasts.
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Spiritual Friendship Group for young adults (~20 to 39) * Wednesday evenings during the season of Lent. The group will gather following Evening Prayer at 7:00 pm at Julia’s house. During Lent, the group will be focused on going deeper in the season: into hope, grief, repentance, and reconciliation accompanied by the book of Lamentations. Email Julia for the address.
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Song in a Weary Throat discussion * Monday, April 7 from 6:00-7:30 pm at Fr. Lachlan’s home. Questions? Email Fr. Lachlan.
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Parish Potluck lunch * Sunday, April 27, immediately following the 10:30 am service outside (weather permitting). If your last name starts A-I bring: salad/veggies; if J-R: cold cuts/cheese slices; if S-Z: dessert. Drinks and bread/rolls will be provided. Questions? Email Jan Krause. (Please note - this potluck replaces the April evening potluck.)
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Save the date for the Newcomers Soiree * Friday, May 2, 5:00-7:00 pm at Vicar Lauren’s home. RSVP here. Questions? Email Lauren Norton.
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And she the date for a three-part discussion of Spiritual Practices for Resilience and Resistance * at the vicar’s house, May 26, June 5, and June 16, from 7 to 8:30. More details in the next Dispatch.
IV. Art
V. Highlights of the March Vestry Meeting
Welcome Weavers—multiple efforts are underway to improve integration of newcomers and not-so-newcomers into the fabric of St. Joe’s. Be on the lookout for one-on-one connections, social gatherings, easier access to service opportunities, scripture study offerings, and more.
Structural Engineer’s Report—structural review of our 1908 sanctuary building identified issues with the foundation and the floor’s framing. The company proposed solutions and the next step is securing bids from contractors.
Property Exploration Committee—work of last year’s Property Discernment Committee (exploring and discerning future use of St. Joe’s property for dual purpose of serving the community and ensuring our financial stability) will be extended by the newly-formed Property Exploration Committee. It will ascertain feasibility of the possibilities proposed, explore grant opportunities, etc. The committee will be chaired by Sue Rice. Fr. Lachlan Hassman, Dn, Jan Lamb (chaplain to the committee), Annelise Staw, Sarah Neff, Paul Krause, Mike Woodard, Bp. Scott Benhase, and Blake Strayhorn; Hannah Flack will provide administrative staff support.
VI. Community Events
51st annual Durham CROP Hunger Walk * Sunday, March 23, beginning at 1:30 pm at Duke Chapel. The Crop Project began in 1947 when farmers were asked to donate food and seed crops to our hungry neighbors in post-World War II Europe and Asia. Since then, CROP Hunger Walk events have been held in hundreds of communities, large and small, raising millions of dollars to eradicate hunger and poverty. The full route is approximately 4.5 miles (but participation in any part of the route is welcome). Learn more and register here.
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Faithful Engagement: Race and the American Church * Friday, April 4–Saturday, April 5, hosted by our neighbors at Blacknall Presbyterian. This two-day workshop will explore the intersections of our faith, Scripture, and racial justice. Learn more and register here.