Let's Do Lent (Revisited)

In five short days, we will again be hearing those words, "I invite you, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word," and we will again have ashes imposed on our foreheads and hear the words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."  Now is the time for each of us to think about how we will accept this invitation--how we will observe a "holy" Lent--how we may fully use this "holy" time to prepare to enter in to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Our church is offering many ways to encourage us to take this pilgrimage through Lent.  (Despite the weather, we did manage to have three Ash Wednesday services!)

We are starting out with a festive celebration of Shrove Tuesday on March 4 including a pancake supper, hosted by the Youth Group with the assistance of Men of Grace and others.  This event is planned as a fundraiser for Grace Kindergarten and Pre-School, and we are hopeful that, as well as church members, many others who are associated with the school will come and join us.  (Well, the Shrove Tuesday pancake supper morphed into the Thursday pancake brunch, which then had to be rescheduled because many of the parents of kids in the kindergarten and pre-school couldn't get out of their driveways because of the ice and snow.  At this point, we are hoping that Tuesday, March 18, at 10:00 am will be a good time for a Pancake Brunch and Spring Show--still a fund-raiser for Grace School.) 

In addition to our usual Sunday morning services, we will be having Sunday evening services at 6:00 pm during this upcoming season.  Of course, we will have our usual Celtic service on the third Sunday of March, but, in addition, we will have meditative services (Quiet Time for Lent) on the the other Sundays. The vision is for these times to include periods of silence interspersed with short readings, prayers, and music.  There will be no celebration of the Eucharist but consecrated elements will be available for those who would like to receive them.  (Come join us on March 9.)

Three weeks ago (four now), we started a weekly prayer group that meets on Thursdays at 1:00 pm in the chancel of the church.  In addition to prayer and meditation, we are reading and discussing sections of Richard Foster's book, Prayer. What better time than Lent to develop our prayer lives?  

On Wednesday evening, March 26, we will have a time of community fellowship with a light supper and viewing of a particularly appropriate movie for Lent--"Babette's Feast."  (No change. Mark your calendars!)

March will be a month of five Sundays, and I am proposing that we do a special in-gathering of peanut butter for Aaron McNeil.  Peanut butter is an item they always need, and, as we know, it is very nutritious.  Maybe the Youth Group would like to build a pyramid of peanut butter!  How many can we collect?  200?  300?  More?  Take the peanut butter challenge! (The pyramid has begun, and the Missions Group is giving out a sheet of info about peanut butter each Sunday, and a peanut butter recipe!)

The Peace of the Lord be with us all as we journey through this especially holy time!  Alice+

Other Ideas for Lent

Haven't decided on a way to do a personal observance of Lent?  How about adding in the Holy Eucharist on Wednesdays at 12:10?  How about attending the services and luncheons for the Lenten Preaching Mission--Fridays at 12:00 noon?  

First Service and Luncheon of Lent 2014

The ice is melting rapidly, and we had almost sixty people in attendance for our first Lenten Friday.  Many thanks to Charlie Evans for being with us and delivering the homily.  Lunch met up to our usual standard of perfection--thanks to Gail Blane and her group of helpers!  If you weren't there, see you next Friday?  

Adult Forum

Continuing this Sunday, March 9, those attending Adult Forum at 9:00 am are viewing chapters on a DVD entitled "Saving Jesus Redux."  This DVD is described as an "exploration of a credible Jesus for the third millennium" and is part of a series called Living the Questions. Contributors include Diana Butler Bass, Matthew Fox, Amy-Jill Levine, Brian McLaren, John Shelby Spong, and others. Please join us for some interesting input that is leading to great conversation.  The entire program is twelve sessions long, but this particular format makes it easier for those of you who want to participate to come and go as you are available.    

"Tend My Sheep": 2014 Loving Service Challenge

Jesus said, "Tend my sheep." In the spirit of discipleship, the Deacons of our Diocese have challenged all of us to go outside the doors of our church to extend the love of Christ.  One of the Five Marks of Mission of the Episcopal Church is Loving Service.  This "Tend My Sheep" Loving Service Challenge for 2014 carries forth that mission through inspiring, supporting, documenting and reporting acts of outreach and service to our neighbors.  

Together during this year, the Deacons of our Diocese of Kentucky hope to collectively record one half million hours of person-to-person service to our neighbors.  Although this number sounds astounding it will only require that each of our 10,000 church members in the Diocese give one hour per week for 50 weeks.  Based on our membership, our parish goal is 5,000 hours.  

Hours of service will be recorded on line, using the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TendMySheep.

As you will see when you click on it, it's easy to do.  This link will be on the Diocesan website and may be copied and distributed to anyone participating in the program.  

Darla Munday is our parish coordinator for this effort.  If you do not have access to a computer to record your service hours, Darla will record them for you.  Our hope is not only to inspire acts of Christion love and kindness, but to give us invaluable information at the parish, deanery and diocesan levels that will lead to ministry formation and support.  Progress will be reported regularly throughout the year.

Please join your Vestry and clergy in supporting this great effort!

(You will also be receiving a letter about this project that gives a bit more detail.) 

Grace School Update (Please re-read for additional info)

Our Kindergarten Board Chair, Tom Schmidt, is working diligently to improve the financial status of our Kindergarten and Pre-School--to bring in enough money to at least be able to cover the salaries of our wonderful teachers. This is just a reminder that any money that comes in as thanksgiving offerings for birthdays automatically goes into the Kindergarten operating account.  So, please consider a gift the next time your birthday rolls around.

We are asking all the children and their families to participate in a sale of cookie dough through a company called "Little Lambs Gourmet Cookie Dough."  We have adjusted the dates of our sale due to the weather issues, and, beginning next week, materials will be available for taking orders for 12 varieties of cookie dough, for 4 varieties of cheesecake, and for "Cookiegrams" which can be used for sending fresh baked cookies to family and friends anywhere in the continental U.S.  Orders must be placed by March 26, and orders will be delivered to us early in Holy Week.  Eva Akpom has been using this program for nine years as a fund-raiser for Kidz Academy and has found that they sell quality products that result in a good profit.  

We hope that church members will also participate in this effort.  Men of Grace?  Youth Group?  Kindergarten Board?  Others?  

Mark Your Calendar 

Friday, March 7--6:00 pm--Vestry Retreat at Grace

Saturday, March 8--8:30 am--Vestry Retreat at Grace

Sunday, March 9--10:15 am--Holy Eucharist Rite I with Great Litany

Sunday, March 9--11:30 am--Missions Group

Sunday, March 9--6:00 pm--Quiet Time for Lent

Monday, March 10--4:00 pm--Kindergarten Board

Tuesday, March 11--4:30 pm--Junior Warden's Group

Tuesday, March 11--5:30 pm--EFM

Wednesday, March 12--12:10 pm--Holy Eucharist

Friday, March 14--12:00 noon--Lenten Preaching Mission and Luncheon (Rev. Tom Steiner)

Sunday, March 16--9:00 am--Adult Forum and Catechesis

Sunday, March 16--10:15 am--Holy Eucharist Rite I Penitential Order

Sunday, March 16--4:00 pm--Race Relations Group

Sunday, March 16--6:00 pm--Celtic Eucharist

Tuesday, March 18--10:00 am--Pancake Brunch and Grace School Spring Show

Thursday, March 20--4:30 pm--Membership Group