A Message from The Rev. Penny Nash |
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While it may seem to many of us that the last twelve months have been just one long season of Lent, the actual season of Lent 2021 is about to begin again with the observance of Ash Wednesday on February 17th. We have planned a number of offerings for this special season, which is traditionally marked by special times of prayer, disciplines of fasting (abstaining from something, be it food or drink or a habit), and giving alms (focusing on charitable efforts to relieve the poor and suffering among us) as a way of repentance - of reorienting ourselves to the values Jesus taught us. Some people may give up something for Lent, and put aside the money they would have spent on that thing, and donate that money to a charity. Or find an organization to support as a discipline. Other disciplines include “taking something on” such as engaging in study or adding extra time of prayer or even embarking on a project.
But Lent is not just about giving things up or being super serious all the time. It is also a time of fellowship and even joy as we know that at the end of our time of self-reflection and trying to do better is the glory of Easter. Lent is a good time to try to balance these things, so that we try to align ourselves with God by practicing humility and engaging in disciplines AND making time for taking in beauty and appreciating our blessings and engaging in honest interaction and communication with family and friends.
This year we are offering opportunities to do all of these things during the Lenten season. For worship, we will provide you with ashes if you would like to have them (although you can certainly make or use your own ashes from home - just retrieve some from your fireplace or fire pit, or burn something from your yard!) and a pre-recorded video that you can use any time on Ash Wednesday. Families will be provided with additional materials for creating sacred space at home and worship materials as well as ashes. Devotional readings are available for pickup as well. For study, Assistant Rector John Hogg will convene a class considering Frederick Buechner’s book Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale. For fellowship and honest communication, Interim Rector Penny Nash will host weekly gatherings in interactive storytelling form to tell The All Saints Story (Past, Present, and Future) as part of our interim work together. For enrichment, our music department again partners with St. Paul’s to offer weekly musical programs.
We hope that you will find this season of Lent to be extra meaningful this year as we yearn for the time to be able to re-gather as a community on our grounds when it becomes safe to do so, which we can see is truly coming. And in a few weeks, we will have a better idea of how we will observe Holy Week and Easter this year.
So we invite you to a Holy Lent and hope that you will participate in any or all of our offerings for the season.
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Virtual Ash Wednesday Service on February 17 |
Our Ash Wednesday will be a pre-recorded virtual service so you can watch it whenever it is convenient for you. You are welcome to use ashes from your fireplace or you can do a "contactless" pickup of ashes from the green shed by our playground. Ashes can be picked up anytime starting Wednesday, February 10. The service will be emailed on the morning of Ash Wednesday. |
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Telling the All Saints Story: Past, Present, and Future
An Interactive Series with The Rev. Penny Nash
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Join Interim Rector Penny Nash for an interactive series in which we will explore All Saints Church (past, present and future) by telling stories about the parish. Penny will have topics and questions for participants that explore the parish history, parish identity, relationships and ministries in the community, and hopes for the future. This is part of our interim work together and this work will help clarify for all of us - both Penny and parish leaders and congregation at large - who we are and who we want to be as a parish. The sessions will take place on Zoom on Wednesday nights for five weeks - February 24 through March 24 - from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. All are not only welcome but strongly encouraged to come to every session and offer your stories and engage with the stories of your parish family. Zoom link and information is below.
Meeting ID: 872 1504 8637
Passcode: 8787
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,87215048637#,,,,*8787# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,87215048637#,,,,*8787# US (Chicago)
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It is only when you hear the gospel as a wild and marvelous joke that you really hear it at all….
This line taken from Frederick Buechner in his book, Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale pushes us to explore how we view and respond to the Gospels.
Throughout his book Buechner asserts that the truth of our lives is available to us in the good news of the Gospel. But first, we must hear "the new that is bad before it is good, the word that is tragedy before it is comedy because it strips us bare in order ultimately to clothe us." Whereas nearly everyone is aware of the bad news of our lives, Buechner wonders how many realize that most individuals are desperately seeking something miraculous to believe in not realizing it is already present. From the popularity of do-it-yourself therapies and spiritual but not religious movements all are competing with the Gospel for our attention. However, the truth is that we only need to help each other look at the world with fresh eyes and fresh imagery to see the truth. The Gospel can never be, and doesn’t need to be, replaced.
You are invited to join us this Lent as we explore and discuss Buechner’s book and the many themes and truths it may bring up in our own lives, both as individuals and as a community. The discussions themselves will seek to last about 4 weeks and offer the opportunity for a casual and open group conversation. Our aim is offer it at a time so that anyone occupied during the days may have the opportunity to join us in the evenings. Once we have a group signed up we will select a day and a time that best fits everyone’s schedule. Thank you and we hope and look forward to you joining us for this opportunity to deeply and richly explore our faith.
To sign up for this book study, please click HERE. The book can be purchased on Amazon. If you need financial assistance purchasing the book, please email us.
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About the Author, Frederick Buechner
Frederick Buechner (pronounced BEEK-ner) is an American writer and theologian. He is the author of more than thirty published books and has been an important source of inspiration and learning for many readers. His work encompasses many genres, including fiction, autobiography, essays, sermons, and other nonfiction. Buechner’s books have been translated into twenty-seven languages for publication around the world. Buechner’s writing has often been praised for its ability to inspire readers to see the grace in their daily lives.
Buechner has been called a "major talent" by the New York Times, and "one of our most original storytellers" by USA Today. Annie Dillard (Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek) says: "Frederick Buechner is one of our finest writers." As stated in the London Free Press, "He is one of our great novelists because he is one of our finest religious writers." He has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, and has been awarded eight honorary degrees from such institutions as Yale University and the Virginia Theological Seminary. In addition, Buechner has been the recipient of the O. Henry Award, the Rosenthal Award, the Christianity and Literature Belles Lettres Prize, and has been recognized by the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.
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Noon Day Recitals
Wednesdays in Lent
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Continuing our partnership with St. Paul’s Church, we’ll present a series of 30-minute noonday recitals on the Wednesdays of Lent featuring area musicians over Facebook & YouTube livestreams.
February 24 – Dr. Christopher Reynolds, Organ
March 3 – Dustin Deane, Guitar
March 10 – Loretta McCray, Violin and students with Scott G. Hayes, accompanist
March 17 – Joel Kumro, Organ
March 24 – Daniel Stipe, Organ & Piano
Two concerts will originate from All Saints – a March 10 program featuring with Loretta McCray (our violin instructor “in residence” at All Saints) will present a program with Director of Music Scott Hayes and some of her students, and a March 24 concert featuring Daniel Stipe, organ and piano. From St. Paul’s, Organists Christopher Reynolds (Director of Music at St. Paul’s) and Joel Kumro (Director of Music at St. Benedict Catholic Church) will present recitals on the wonderful Rosales organ on 2/24 & 3/17, and we’ll hear once again from classical guitarist Dustin Deane, on March 3.
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Preparation for Family Lenten Devotion |
All Saints Christian Formation is preparing Lenten bags for our families. You are invited to pick up bags on Saturday, Feb. 13th at 10:00 am or on Sunday, Feb. 14th at 3:00 at the preschool portico for contactless pick-up.
These Lenten bags will contain a small container of ashes for Wednesday, Feb 19, a simple liturgy to use at home along with the virtual service on YouTube, the Lenten Journey booklet from Westminster Canterbury, items to set up a Sacred Space, and materials from Illustrated Ministry.
We would also be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thanks!
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