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March 5, 2017 | First Sunday in Lent
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The Temptations of Christ by Botticelli
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In 2008, I had the opportunity to visit St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. No doubt a “bucket list” moment, I hope to one day return and spend some more time in the Sistine Chapel. I’m sure it’s this way all the time, but when I was there, we were pushed through the chapel like glass in a bottle factory. Understandably we all walked through the chapel with our necks bent backwards to see what we all stood in line for: the ceiling. What I/we didn’t realize was there is so much more to the Sistine Chapel than Michelangelo’s masterpiece above (he has masterpieces at eye level too!).
One fresco that I don’t remember seeing is Botticelli’s Temptations of Christ. Due to the busyness of the painting, it is difficult to see everything. Click here for a high resolution version. The foreground shows the Old Testament ritual of the cleansing of a leper. The leper is bringing the prescribed elements to be declared ritually clean. In the background we see three scenes of Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (our Gospel scene for Sunday). Notice how Satan is dressed as a monk. He has the habit and cowl, a walking stick of a hermit, and a rosary. Yet his wings and demonic feet are still evident. Working from left to right, Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, to throw himself from the pinnacle of the Temple (this building is actually the Church of the Holy Spirit in Rome), and the promise of all the kingdoms of the earth in exchange for his submission. The point is that temptation does not always come dressed in scales and pitchforks, but often comes disguised as something benign or even good. We see this both in the temptation and the tempter. The Lenten call is to uncover temptation and expose it for what it is and dash it on the rock that is Christ.
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The 11am mass begins Sunday with the Great Litany sung in procession around the church. Translated in 1544, the Litany is the first liturgy in English used during the reign of Henry VIII. The Litany is a series of petitions that ask for God’s protection and deliverance. Henry ordered it’s use in churches during England’s war with France and Scotland. It is now customary to sing the Litany during the Sundays in Lent. By procession around the church, we surround the building and the people inside with our petitions to God. Only the clergy, cantor, and altar servers process (the church is just too small for everyone to join) while the people kneel or sit. The Great Litany will be sung in procession Sunday and on the 5th Sunday in Lent.
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Sunday's Music | Christin Barnhardt
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Because
Sunday's
Old Testament Lesson is from Genesis 2-3, the choir will sing Boris Ord's setting of "Adam Lay Ybounden" during communion. "Adam Lay Ybounden" is a 15th century text that points to Thomas Aquinas' concept of "felix culpa" (blessed fault). Adam eats fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and humanity falls into sin (Genesis 3). But this fall makes possible our redemption through Jesus Christ, son of Mary. the "Queen of Heaven." Therefore we sing "Deo gracias," "Thank you, God."
The children's and youth choirs are singing at for the
11am
mass, which will begin with the Great Litany in procession and will include the anthems
God Be in My Head by William Stevens and
Miserere mei by William Byrd.
Hymns:
The glory of these forty days, No. 143
Lord, who throughout these forty days, No. 142
If thou but trust in God to guide thee, No. 635
My song is love unknown, No. 458
O love, how deep, how broad, how high, No. 448
Anthem:
Adam Lay Ybounden, Boris Ord
Postlude:
Praeludium in B-flat Minor, Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck
Raymond Hawkins, organ
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Children and Outreach | Katie Bryant
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Children's Formation
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent. The children have paraded and feasted on pancakes at Shrove Tuesday, lifted their voices in song at the Ash Wednesday service, and now will journey together through these 40 days of Lent. The K-5th kids made prayer chains last Wednesday where they wrote prayer focuses for each of the 40 days. Encourage your kids to adopt spiritual practices like these prayers during Lent. This is a wonderful time to start new spiritual disciplines with your whole family, by praying together, keeping the sacraments, and reading and reflecting on scripture together. All of our children's formation these forty days will help prepare our hearts for the mystery of Easter.
This Sunday and every Sunday, PreK children (ages 3 and potty-trained to age 5) gather downstairs during the 9am mass for a time of songs, stories, wonder, and play. Parents can drop children off as early as 8:45am in room C-4. Children join their families in mass at the passing of the Peace.
This Sunday is Parish Breakfast between the 9am and 11am mass. Join our church family and enjoy a hot breakfast in Drake Hall.
Club 543 meets after the 11am mass in Drake Hall this Sunday (I'll try to be down there by 12:20pm). Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be helping in our community garden to get it ready for planting. Kids can be picked up at 1:30pm at the garden (by Gribbin). Bring 3 boxes of pasta for New Communion!
Pasta!
We continue to collect pasta for the New Communion Mobile Food Pantry each month. We are known by New Communion as the "Pasta Church"! Our goal is to donate 100 boxes of pasta each month. Next time you are at the grocery, remember to pick up some pasta for New Communion. If you're interested in helping with a distribution with New Communion, contact katie@sttimothys.ws to arrange a time to go.
Overflow Shelter Updates
We are in the last month of providing overflow shelter for our guests. March is always the hardest to recruit volunteers because of the obvious reasons: warmer weather, NCAA basketball, people making Spring Break plans, and volunteer fatigue. I checked the sign-up program this morning and we only need 19 more overnight spots filled to complete the season. I believe most of the dinner spots and check-in spots are covered. Don't miss out on an incredible opportunity to serve--check out
www.citywithdwellings.org
to learn more, see what spots are available, and sign-up to volunteer. Thanks to all who have supported the shelter and guests in so many ways!
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All of our shrine lamps are open for sponsorship. They are $25 for a month's sponsorship. We've also added an additional lamp next to St Michael in the Law Enforcement Chapel. We've (hopefully) found an easier way to sponsor a lamp or lamps. Click
here and you can choose which lamp and which month. Then go back to the poll and click the link in the description for the payment page. If it's all a bit confusing, email Chris Ervin or Fr Steve.
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The Our Lady of Walsingham Lamp
is given to the Glory of God
and in memory of Finn Doss and in honor of Kevin, Lisa and Sayre by Shannon Hurley
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The St. Timothy Shrine Lamp
is given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for my children and grandchildren by Salli John
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The St Michael the Archangel Lamp
is given to the glory of God and in honor of the Winston-Salem Police Department
by Fr Steve Rice
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The Sanctuary Lamp
is given to the glory of God
and in memory of Valeria J Tocci by Catherine King and Jonathan Williams.
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