
Expansion Update Meeting
Everyone in the Parish is invited to an Expansion Update meeting on Sun, May 4 between the services. Fr. Jordan, the Building Committee and Vestry will give you all the up-to-date details. The meeting will be filmed if you can’t make it. Sun, May 4 at 9:50am in the Church.

Toast to Mothers Celebration
Join us for our annual Mother’s Day Celebration on Sun, May 11 between the services. Our simple, yet elegant affair will be under the tent up by the office. There’ll be live jazz music, mimosas, and light finger foods (so you can still enjoy your brunch afterwards!). Bring your mom and join us for a special morning.

Confirmation
Confirmation with Bishop Reed for youth and adults will be Sun, May 18 at the 10:45am service.

Men's Bingo at UGM
All men of the Parish are invited to Bingo Night at UGM on Mon, April 19. Join us for a great night of fellowship with the men at Union Gospel Mission in Ft. Worth. Meet at Swift Lindley’s House at 6:00pm to car pool. Bingo starts at 7:00pm.

Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is happening this summer on June 2-5. We have an exciting and uber-creative plan for having it in the Church, since the Parish Hall will be getting renovated. The theme this year is “True North - Trusting Jesus in a Wild World.” The kids will be guided on an ultimate Alaskan adventure, exploring how easy it is to lose sight of what’s true in our wild world. VBS will point them toward Jesus, showing them that He is always our True North. VBS is for kids age 4 through entering 5th grade. Registration is only $5/child before May 1st, going to $15/child afterwards.

God Squad
The God Squad’s Year End Party is Sun, April 27 and will be lots of fun and celebrating with all the kids. Join us from 3:30-5:00pm in the Youth Room.

Youth Sunday
Youth Sunday, on April 27, is when we have both our Sunday School Recognition and Senior Sunday. We’ll be highlighting the Sunday School year and then we’ll recognize all our high school graduating seniors, celebrate their accomplishments and hear about what they’re doing next. Come help us celebrate all our amazing youth! Sun, April 27 at 9:50am in the Church.

Funeral for Rob Glover
The funeral for Rob Glover is Sat, April 26 at 3:00pm, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. All are welcome. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Men's Bingo at UGM
All men of the Parish are invited to Bingo Night at UGM on Mon, April 21. Join us for a great night of fellowship with the men at Union Gospel Mission in Ft. Worth. Meet at Swift Lindley’s House at 6:00pm to car pool. Bingo starts at 7:00pm.
Easter Egg Hunt
Our Easter Egg Hunt will be held in the grass lot to the north of the Parish Hall parking lot. Please bring 12-18 plastic eggs per child (filled with individually wrapped candy, stickers or trinkets). The hunt is for all kids 5th grade and under and will be divided by age. Kids should bring a basket for their eggs and parents should be ready for some incredible photo ops! A special food table for the kids and their parents will be available so they don’t miss out on anything.
Easter Brunch
Join us Easter Morning for an incredible Easter Brunch complete with bountiful food tables and mimosas! Both indoor and outdoor seating will be available. Come celebrate our Risen Lord with your St. Laurence family.
Easter Sunday
Join us for a glorious Easter morning as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. The Alleluias repeated again and again throughout the Masses of Resurrection Day signal the beginning of the Church’s fifty-day celebration of the Resurrection.
At 9:50am between the morning services, we’ll have a spectacular Easter brunch complete with mimosas and an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids.
Service Schedule:
8:30am
10:45am
Easter Vigil
The Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday night is the most important of all Christian feasts and liturgies. It is the Church’s most ancient way of celebrating our Lord’s resurrection and is celebrated during the night which begins Easter Day.
On this most holy night our Lord Jesus Christ passed over from death to life. Thus the Church calls her children throughout the world to come together in vigil, prayer and celebration. Through the unique liturgy of this feast we celebrate not only Christ’s Victory but our share in it.
The Vigil is comprised of four elements:
The Service of Light: The Vigil begins outside the Church with a fire being kindled and blessed. From this fire, a very large candle, the Paschal Candle, is lit. This great candle represents the risen Christ, triumphing over darkness and death; it will burn throughout the fifty days of the Easter Season. From the light of this candle, the congregation’s candles are lit, and then all go in procession following the Pascal Candle into the Church. The Church is dark, like a tomb. Except for the flickering of the candles, the Church remains dark until the Mass of the Resurrection. As the people enter, the darkness of the Church is pushed back, the power of Christ’s resurrection to overcome death is seen, and we understand the words of St. John, “And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it!” (John 1:5 ) The Service of Light concludes with the chanting of the Exsultet (“Rejoice!”), an ancient hymn in praise of our Lord’s Passover victory.
The Vigil Readings: We hear the record of God’s saving deeds throughout history as we read several Old Testament Lessons.
The Baptismal Liturgy: Easter and Holy Baptism are intimately connected. In “going down into the water” we are joined to Jesus’ death and in coming up, we are joined to His resurrection. Thus the Vigil proceeds to Baptism and the renewal of Baptismal Vows by all the faithful. For many centuries, this was the only time in the entire year when Baptism was administered.
The Mass: The Vigil reaches its consummation in the glorious first Mass of the Resurrection. As the bells ring, the Celebrant says “Alleluia, Christ is Risen,” suddenly the darkness is dispelled as all the lights in the Church are lit. Then we hear the news of the Risen Christ.

Confessions
We are offering many times for confession throughout Holy Week and we hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to come to Easter wiped clean of sin. Don’t worry if you’ve never made a confession before, the priest will help you. All Confessions are in the Chapel. “How to Make a Confession” pamphlet is available here to help you prepare.
Good Friday Service
On this day, Jesus was murdered, for us and for our salvation. It is a day to think on Christ crucified, to confess our sins, and to remember God’s incredible love for each of us. Service begins at 7:00pm

Confessions
We are offering many times for confession throughout Holy Week and we hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to come to Easter wiped clean of sin. Don’t worry if you’ve never made a confession before, the priest will help you. All Confessions are in the Chapel. “How to Make a Confession” pamphlet is available here to help you prepare.
Stations of the Cross
Join us for Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at noon. Parishioners are invited to retrace the final journey of Jesus Christ to Calvary, moments lived in suffering for our sake. Walk the 14 stations or participate from the pews, it’s a truly personal and meaningful service.

Good Friday at Union Gospel Mission
We are once again heading to UGM to provide a wonderful spaghetti lunch on April 18, Good Friday! There are lots of ways to serve. Food donations, meal prep and cooking, serving drinks and the meal, singing hymns, and helping the youth hand out blessing bags to our friends on the street just to name a few! If you are interested in signing up to help or to donate a food item, please see Trudy Baade or Gail Lindley in the Parish Hall between the services on Sundays.
The Watch
At the end of the Maundy Thursday service, the blessed sacrament (Christ’s presence) is removed from the Church and brought to the Altar in the Chapel. The Chapel is decorated with many flowers to represent the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus went after the Last Supper to pray. Jesus asked His disciples to watch with Him one hour. As Christians have for centuries, we say “Yes” to Christ and watch with Him in one-hour shifts throughout the night. Pray, read scripture or just sit in His holy presence. It is a beautiful experience that will enhance your Holy Week. Sign up for a time slot on one of the boards in the Church Narthex or just come at any time throughout the night.
Maundy Thursday Service
This is the night Jesus gathered with His disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem for one last supper.
This is the night Jesus took a towel and washed His disciples’ feet, manifesting the life of service to which He calls His followers.
This is the night Jesus instituted the Eucharist. On this night Jesus intended for every generation of His followers, through this meal, to enter into the sacrifice He was about to make and be nourished by Him on our journey to heaven.
All these elements of the first Maundy Thursday are part of the liturgy of every Maundy Thursday. It is one of the most beautiful and deeply moving of the Church’s liturgies. During the service, our priests will wash the feet of those parishioners who wish to participate.

Confessions
We are offering many times for confession throughout Holy Week and we hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to come to Easter wiped clean of sin. Don’t worry if you’ve never made a confession before, the priest will help you. All Confessions are in the Chapel. “How to Make a Confession” pamphlet is available here to help you prepare.

Holy Week Liturgies
In this brief, half hour class, Fr. Klukas will give us a preview of the unique liturgies in the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil services. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of what happens in each of these services and why. Recognizing the symbolism behind the elements of the liturgy will strengthen your awareness of the spiritual depth of these very special services.

Family Night on Holy Wed
Bring the kids and join us for a fun evening on Holy Wednesday, April 16 outside on the lawn between the Church and Parish Hall. The little ones will dye Easter eggs with the help of the God Squad. We do ask that parents stay and help as well. Please bring 1 dozen hard boiled eggs per child. The Middle and High School Youth will assemble Blessing Bags which will be handed out to the homeless on the street outside Union Gospel Mission on Good Friday. We’ll start at 5:00pm with activities, we’ll serve pizza and then end with Stations of the Cross at 6:30pm. What a great night!

Confessions
We are offering many times for confession throughout Holy Week and we hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to come to Easter wiped clean of sin. Don’t worry if you’ve never made a confession before, the priest will help you. All Confessions are in the Chapel. “How to Make a Confession” pamphlet is available here to help you prepare.

Confessions
We are offering many times for confession throughout Holy Week and we hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to come to Easter wiped clean of sin. Don’t worry if you’ve never made a confession before, the priest will help you. All Confessions are in the Chapel. “How to Make a Confession” pamphlet is available here to help you prepare.

Prayer Book Class
This is your chance to hear from the man himself, the primary developer and main author of the new 2019 Book of Common Prayer. He’ll talk about how it came together, what sets it apart from the old Prayer Book and why it was so important that this be written. Sun, April 13 at 5:45pm, following Evensong, in the Parish Hall.

Youth Group Bake Sale
The annual Youth Group Bake Sale is Sun, April 13 at 9:50am in the courtyard between the Church and Parish Hall. Come hungry and help the youth raise money for their summer mission trips. There won’t be any food served in the Parish Hall so if you want snacks, you’ll have to go to the Bake Sale!
Palm Sunday
On this day almost 2,000 years ago, our Lord entered the holy city of Jerusalem. It seemed to be His moment of triumph as the people welcomed Him in the way they welcomed their kings on great occasions, with shouts of praise and palm branches thrown in His path. But by the following Friday, the crowd’s “hosannas” had changed to “Crucify him!” and Jesus was being raised onto a cross. The Palm Sunday Mass highlights this shift from triumph to agony.
The Mass begins remembering Jesus’ “triumphant” entry into Jerusalem with the Liturgy of the Palms. This mini-liturgy will begin on our back lawn. There, the palms will be blessed and distributed to the congregation. We will then sing the traditional hymn, All Glory, Laud, and Honor and go all together in procession into the Church just as the people would have done that day in Jerusalem.
Beginning with the readings from Holy Scripture, the mood of the Liturgy changes dramatically. The focus shifts from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to His passion on the cross. The reading of the Passion Gospel reminds us that we are all part of this great drama of redemption. The truth of this day is that, by our sins, we all are responsible for the passion and death of our Lord. The glory of this day is that we know the Resurrection is coming, bringing with it the promise of everlasting life.
Truth and Glory - these are Palm Sunday’s gifts to the worshiper. Holy Week begins.
Meet on the lawn in the back by the office. The service will start there and then the congregation will process into the Church. If walking is difficult for you, please go directly to the Church. There will be a separate palms service there and you will be joined by the congregation as they process in.

St. Laurence Women's Group
All women of the Parish are invited to the April meeting of the St. Laurence Women on Thurs, April 10 from 6:30-8:30pm in the Parish Hall. Through some fun engagement activities, the women will enjoy sharing impactful pieces of advice they’ve received from older loved ones, role models or the special people who God has put in their lives. Come for dinner and a fun evening. Please bring your beverage of choice and $10 for dinner. Childcare for kids 5 and under is available.

Wednesdays in Lent
Join us for Wednesdays in Lent
5:45pm, Dinner in the Parish Hall, hosted by various ministry groups
6:30pm, Stations of the Cross in the Church
7:05pm, Stay in the chuch for a short teaching by one of our clergy

Men's Retreat
All men of the Parish are invited to enjoy a weekend retreat at Camp Crucis full of faith growing sessions, great food, campfires, fellowship and a service project. Led by Fr. Wilson this year, the theme is Evangelism. Whether you’re already comfortable sharing your faith or scared to death by the thought of it, Fr. Wilson will help you increase in confidence and ability to share the gospel message. The retreat starts at 6:00pm at Garcia’s restaurant in Granbury on Fri, April 4 and finishes before noon on Sunday, April 6. Cost is $150 (scholarships are available) and includes all food except dinner Friday night.

Wednesdays in Lent
Join us for Wednesdays in Lent
5:45pm, Dinner in the Parish Hall, hosted by various ministry groups
6:30pm, Stations of the Cross in the Church
7:05pm, Stay in the chuch for a short teaching by one of our clergy

God Squad
This month’s God Squad meeting will give us practice in bravely stepping up to lead prayer in front of others - good thing we have such a tight-knit supportive group! There’ll be lots of fun and games too. Join us Sun, March 30 from 3:30-5:00pm in the Youth Room.
Funeral for Shelby Dawson
The funeral for Shelby Dawson is Sat, March 29 at 11:00am, followed by a luncheon reception in the Parish Hall. All are welcome. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Wednesdays in Lent
Join us for Wednesdays in Lent
5:45pm, Dinner in the Parish Hall, hosted by various ministry groups
6:30pm, Stations of the Cross in the Church
7:05pm, Stay in the chuch for a short teaching by one of our clergy