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As Lent Begins
Prayers are important. Every day I find occasions that call for prayer. Whether for individuals suffering illness, for challenging life situations, for discernment or encouragement or some other life event, prayers are a significant way I engage my world. I suspect the same is true for you.
Years ago while serving in Minnesota as a parish priest I began a practice I have continued to this day. In that congregation we had a very long prayer list and while we prayed each Sunday for the list of those seeking prayer, I wanted a way to signify to the congregation that we held these individuals in prayer each day and, in a sense, all the time. What I came up with was the practice of maintaining a spiral bound notebook of prayer requests that remained on the altar throughout the week. It was a visible symbol of our prayers for the people on our hearts and minds.
Today in the chapel of the diocesan office at the Bishop’s Close we maintain such a spiral bound notebook of prayer requests that remains on the altar at all times. (See photo above.) A few individuals have been on that list for a long time and other names come and go as staff or others add new concerns to the list or remove someone from the list. It is for me an outward and visible sign of the love we share in Christ.
As Lent begins I do hope that you have prayer practices that enrich your life and that of your community. This is a good time to renew practices that have grown old or been left behind in the rush of life and to begin other practices of prayer that can sustain us through the challenges we face.
As Lent begins I would leave you with one of my favorite prayers from the beginning of the Ash Wednesday liturgy: “Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
+Michael
Read other recent news on our website, including an Ash Wednesday statement, "Remember the Refugees and Migrants," from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and other American and Canadian church leaders.
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Feeding An Unrecognized Spiritual Hunger
When the Rev. Anne Bartlett was invited by the Rev. Tony Hutchinson, rector of Trinity, Ashland, to organize a once-a-month Sunday Celtic Evensong and Communion, no one realized that this service would tap into an unrecognized spiritual hunger. The first service in October 2015 was advertised as a quiet, candlelit service, with poetry, music, and a brief personal reflection by a member of the congregation, and the usual Sunday evening congregation of twenty-five church members were anticipated. Over 60 people came to that service, and 30 were not members of Trinity! This year, average attendance at the Celtic service has been over one hundred, and half are not members of Trinity.
Several people who have attended have emailed Celtic team members their satisfaction. A non-member wrote, “Thank you for taking me to the beautiful service last night. It stays with me. I wish we had more services like that in our town and am so glad that Trinity DOES have one. It soothes and feeds my soul.”
For further information and pictures taken during the service, see the Trinity website, trinitychurchashland.org.
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Iconography: The Word Comes Alive
Master Iconographer, Theodoros Papadopoulos’s Byzantine School of Iconography offers students of all levels an opportunity to learn or refine their techniques in the sacred art of Byzantine Iconography. He travels to the United States from Greece to teach six-day iconography workshops and will be teaching in Salem, Oregon June 5-10! During the workshop we will write the icon of the Archangel Gabriel. This icon will come alive before you as Theodoros guides you, step by step through the ancient techniques of Byzantine iconography. The course will focus on the art of egg tempera painting and the goal is for students to understand and learn the artistic practices as well as the philosophy of Orthodox Iconography. The techniques of painting will be taught in a clear and concrete way enabling the students to apply what they have learned once the workshop is complete. Space is limited for this workshop so early registration is recommended. Please don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn the sacred art of Byzantine Iconography from this master iconographer.
For more information or to register please visit www.theodoreicons.com/salem-oregon.
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Upcoming diocesan and church events:
There are several Safe Church and
Diverse Church 1
trainings around the Diocese this year.
P
lease register early so plans can be finalized with accurate numbers.
Lenten Evensong & Cello Recital: The Trinity Cathedral Choir of Girls, Boys, and Adults sing, followed by a free recital by Bruce Neswick and cellist Tim Scott. March 5, 5 pm.
Love in Action: a free one-hour webinar from Episcopal Migration Ministries on welcoming refugees. March 8, 1 pm. Registration is required.
Plan Your Own Funeral: a workshop led by the Rev. Alcena Boozer and the Rev. Dn. Marla McGarry-Lawrence. SS Peter & Paul, Portland, March 18, 10 am - 12 pm.
Youth Mission Trip: applications are now available for YMT 2017, returning to the Paiute Reservation in Burns to host VBS and do work as needed around the reservation.
Call for Artists
: Trinity Cathedral is accepting submissions through
April 1 for original works of art for their juried exhibition, "The Circus of Life."
Check out the
online calendar
for the full schedule.
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Events and Notices
Bishop Michael's Visitation Schedule:
St. Edward, Silverton: March 19
St. Gabriel, Portland: March 26
Mark your calendar: Clergy Conference will be April 24 - 26 at the Oregon Garden Resort. Our guest speaker will be Sister Simone Campbell of the Catholic social justice group "Nuns on the Bus." Registration is available here.
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Word of the Week
Whether you're a cradle Episcopalian or just walked through the red doors yesterday, chances are you've encountered some of the special vocabulary specific to our faith and wondered, what does that mean?
Check out previous entries on our
Instagram
account.
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We are the people in the Diocese
The Bishop's Staff are starting a reading group as part of our desire to understand how we can grow in supporting the congregations of the Diocese. Despite the rather sensationalist title, this little book looks to be full of wisdom. Read a review of Chapter One: Fear and spend a few minutes considering what fears you see at work in your congregation.
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