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| Second Sunday in Lent - March 8, 2009 |
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sparks from Beth Chapman Money, especially in the context of church, tends to make people uncomfortable. As though by its very holy nature, church should somehow be above it. Lent also tends to make people uncomfortable. It steers us to face the human/godly sacrifice, humiliation, and gory aspects of our faith, not just as reenactment with pretty cups and standing shoulder to shoulder with friends, but head on in a very personal way. How do we manage? How do we make right our loving God and the horror of the Crucifixion? How do we come to terms with money and the fact that we all have less, yet in order to sustain our Mission, the church needs more?
Perhaps there is a small and simple way to do both.
One common Lenten observance is giving something up, a small forfeit that reminds us of Jesus' sacrifice for us. In my house, it was always beer. And let me tell you, no beer for the Rector, especially during holy week, reminded us ALL of the meaning of Lent. Catholics traditionally eat no meat on Friday (albeit each Friday, not just during Lent). Maybe this year we follow that lead and brown bag it on Fridays-Peanut Butter and Jelly for Jesus. Please send your submission for sparks, a column for parishioners to write about things that have sparked insight, new ways of thinking, faith, etc. to Elizabeth Laurencot at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for inclusion in an upcoming Calendar.
Lenten House Church begins Friday, March 6 and continues through April 3. The evenings start with a potluck supper from 6:30 to 7:30 (host provides a pot of soup, the rest of us bring the go-withs). From 7:30 to 8:30 the facilitator du jour will introduce the evening's topic and we'll spend some time in conversation. March 6 hosts are Nancy Madden and Randy Gioia, 224 Aspinwall; March 13 we'll be at Steve and Kate Kelley's, 85 Lancaster Terrace. All are welcome to be part of house church for all five Fridays, or for as many as you wish. Watch the Calendar each week for host locations.
Daily meditation from Episcopal Relief and Development This year ERD is emailing daily Lenten meditations, so I'll choose one each week to include in the Calendar. This came March 3:
So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34
Sure, we have to plan. But planning and worrying aren't synonyms. Planning is developing strategies, while worrying is experiencing pain in advance of its actual arrival in your life. Planning makes life easier. Worry makes things harder. It paralyzes our thinking, riveting it on the terrible things we think might happen and preventing us from seeing the new thing that really does.
How do we stop worrying? Visualize your worries as a field of weeds, which you gather together in a bunch. Then leave it with God. Do this each time worry overwhelms you. Picture it: you, gathering them up and leaving the whole untidy bundle with God.
(You may subscribe to the daily meditations at www.er-d.org.)
Lay preaching group returns Jason Fairchild leads off this Sunday, March 8, at the 9 and 11 a.m. services. He's also coordinating the group and has assembled a wonderful group of folks, one of whom will preach each month through next fall.
Where have all the Search Committee members gone? They're out visiting candidates! Having narrowed the field to five semi-finalists, your hard working Search Committee is spending the Sundays in March going to hear them preach and getting to know them. Our prayers continue for the committee, the process, and for the candidates.
Friday, March 6 6:30-8:30 p.m. Lenten house church at the Madden/Gioia home
Saturday, March 7 7:05 a.m. Middle school youth leave for trip to Heifer Farm Sunday, March 8 Second Sunday in Lent 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Chapel 8:15 a.m. Pajama Choir rehearsal in choir room 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Church 10 a.m. Church school in Rectory 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Church 7:30 p.m. Concert: Winsor Music, benefit for Project STEP
Tuesday, March 10 7-9 p.m. Knitting group Friday, March 13 6:30-8:30 p.m. Lenten House Church at Steve & Kate Kelley's
Sunday, March 15 Third Sunday in Lent 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Chapel 8:15 a.m. Pajama Choir rehearsal in the choir room 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Church 10 a.m. Church school Conversation about 10 a.m. service plans in Lichtenberger Rm. 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Church 12:15 p.m. Conversation about 10 a.m. service plans in Lichtenberger Rm. |
