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March 3, 2019,
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
(Transfiguration Sunday)
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Jesus was always full of suprises, so you would think that his disciples would have learned to expect, well ... the unexpected. Overturning tables in the Temple, hanging out with outcasts and sinners, besting the Pharisees in theological debates--this was the bread and butter of Jesus's ministry. Yet, when Our Lord takes Peter, James and John up the mountain with him, and he is transfigured before them, his friends are not only surprised, but terrified! I guess you can't prepare yourself for some things. They are just too mindblowing.
In this last Sunday before Lent, when we hear the story of Jesus's Transfiguration, we are reminded that--to quote one of my favorite lines from Star Trek--"sharing an orbit with God is no small experience." Whenever we venture into those so-called "thin places" where the veil between heaven and earth is pierced, we are often unequipped to deal with it. Lent is a time in which we are invited to risk an encounter with God. Like the mountain, the spiritual terrain for us can be wild, untamed, and a little dangerous. As the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, says to his nephew in the
Lord of the Rings, “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” True. Very true.
Lent is undoubtedly an adventure, not only because we may encounter God on the road, the mountain, or another thin place, but we may encounter ourselves. It may frighten us to come face-to-face with our pain, our anxieties, or those things about ourselves that we don't like very much when we examine our consciences. But whenever his disciples take a risky, dangerous step out into the world, Jesus reassures them. Don't be afraid, he tells them, because he will be with them to the end of the age. An encounter with God is dangerous, not because it will harm us, but because it will transfigure us; and change brings with it growing pains. Our Lenten journey will demand much from us, it may scare us a little; but at the end, we will look back and realize that the change has been good for us, which willl encourage us to to take a second step, and a third.
Abundant blessings,
Fr. Ethan+
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On this Last Sunday after the Epiphany,
March 3, at both Masses, we will celebrate the medieval tradition of
Burying the Alleluia as a sign that we are about to enter the penitential season of Lent, during which will we refrain from using the word, "Alleluia." It is a way of fasting (one of the key disciplines of Lent) from the ordinary exuberant joy of the Church, especially this church, which loves its alleluias! For some hightlights from last year's burial, see the video here.
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Special Donations for Diocesan Common Mission Share
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At last week's meeting, St. Helena's vestry agreed to raise the parish's voluntary contribution (called the Common Mission Share) to the Diocese of Chicago by 10% to support its mission and ministry. This increase is in recognition of the continual generosity of the Diocese to the life and work of St. Helena over the years and the mutual support between the Diocese and its congregations.
We would like to raise this money in time for Bishop Lee's visitation on March 17th.
Anyone who is able to contribute $10, $25, $50 or more to this collection should write a check to St. Helena's with the words,
"Common Mission Share," in the memo line. You can also put cash in an envelope marked, "Common Mission Share." Thank you for your generosity!
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Express Yourself with Sacred Scribbles!
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Each Sunday in the bulletin (as space permits), there is a box for you to doodle, sketch, and reflect on the day's readings, homily, and liturgy. The church's worship is not only the work of the clergy, but of all the people of God. We encourage both children and adults to offer their artwork, poems, or reflections. Pens are available on the narthex table next to the bulletins. Feel free to turn in your masterpieces after the service, and you may see your work in a future bulletin!
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Confirmation Preparation after 9 am and 11:30 am Masses
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Fr. Ethan is using our usual adult formation time to offer preparation for people preparing for confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church when Bishop Lee does his official visitation on March 17. This is also be a good introduction for people new to the Episcopal Church and a good refresher for lifelong Episcopalians. We are basing our study on the Outline of the Faith (Catechism) in the
Book of Common Prayer. All are encouraged to attend.
Youth preparing for confirmation are continuing to work with Deacon Daryce from 10:15 to 11:15. The classes after the 9 am Mass are in English, and the classes after the 11:30 Mass are in Spanish.
Students are encouraged to purchase or borrow a church copy of the
Book of Common Prayer
for home study.
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Last Week's Homily:
"Sibling Rivalry"
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Miss church last Sunday? Don't worry, you can still hear Fr. Ethan's homily from last week,
"Sibling Rivalry."
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Pick Up a Holy Card, Say a Prayer, Light a Candle
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Have you ever noticed the beautiful statue of Mary in the niche just inside the sanctuary? She was hand-carved in Orvieto, Italy and brought back to St. Helena's by the parish's first rector, Fr. Johnson. This little shrine is a lovely, peaceful place to offer a prayer and light a candle in remembrance of a loved one, a special concern, or as an act of gratitude. Holy cards with some common Marian prayers have been printed and blessed for you to use as a tool to focus your prayer to God. Take one and keep Mary near you as a prayer companion on your spiritual journey.
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Vestry Meeting Sunday, March 10, 2019, 10:15 am
All are welcome to attend.
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On Ash Wednesday, March 6, Fr. Ethan and Deacon Daryce will be administering ashes at the Starbucks at 6001 Lagrange Road in Countryside during the morning rush hour.
Ashes-to-Go is a wonderful outreach event that invites members of the wider community to be mindful of the reflective and penitential character of Lent. The heartfelt gratitude and positivity from our neighbors last year was powerful and deeply touching. If anyone is interested and available to join Fr. Ethan and Deacon Daryce as part of the team for that day, please let one of them know. View the video here to see some of the highlights from last year's event!
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On Ash Wednesay, March 6, we will offer a bilingual Mass at 6:30 pm with the imposition of ashes. We will also be having a simple soup and salad supper at 5:15 pm, and anyone who can contribute something simple, such as cheese, fruit, bread, or of course, the soup or salad, should speak to Fr. Ethan or Deacon Daryce.
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Lenten Theme: Sacrifice, Surrender, and Salvation
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The world tries to deceive us into thinking that the acquisition of wealth, power, prestige, and other vanities is what matters in life. Lent, however, encourages us to reject these delusions and to focus instead on our dependence on and love of God. Lent is about going back to basics by stripping away all of the idols and temptations that enslave us through the three traditional Lenten disciplines of fasting, almsgiving (or charity), and prayer.
Very little work has been done to show that
sacrifice can be a healthy and joyful act and that the
surrender of our need for control to God's wisdom and movement can be liberating, leading in turn to our
salvation. This Lent, we will reflect on these three themes as a way to reorient ourselves back toward God, which is what that other great Lenten word, "repentance," means, "turning back," getting us back on the right path. We hope that you will spend this Lenten season with us, and enter deeply into the grace of sacrifice, surrender, and salvation that is the heart of the Paschal mystery.
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Soup, Salad, and Spirituality on Wednesday Nights in Lent
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During Lent, our normal "Soul Kitchen" faith discussion group is doing something special on Wednesday nights.
We will meet at church at 5:15 pm for a simple soup and salad dinner with the usual no-holds-barred theological debate. Each dinner will then be
followed at 6:30 pm by a different spiritual practice or form of prayer. This is a great way to take a break from your hectic life for a moment of peace and enter into the unique spirituality of Lent, so please join us for the following services:
Wed, Mar 6, Ash Wednesday - Bilingual Mass for Ash Wednesday with the imposition of ashes.
Wed, Mar 13, Lent 1
- Stations of the Cross
Wed, Mar 20, Lent 2 - Evening Prayer
Wed, Mar 27, Lent 3 - Rosary
Wed, Apr 3, Lent 4 - Compline
Wed, Apr 10, Lent 5 - The Great Litany
Wed, Apr 17, Holy Week - Tenebrae
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Flowers: Anyone interested in sponsoring flowers for a Sunday or feast day in memory of a loved one should sign the sign-up sheet in the narthex or speak to Jan Shangle. The charge is $50.
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St Helena’s/S.Elena Winter Food Drive
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Many thanks to all those who contributed to our food drive over the past month. We want to particularly thank Boy Scout troop, pack, and crew 69 for collecting food at their recent banquet. All of these donations will make a difference in feeding hungry people in our community. Deacon Daryce will schedule a food distribution day, so stay tuned for more information.
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Confirmations and Reception into the Episcopal Church
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The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee, Bishop of Chicago, will be making his regular parish visitation to St. Helena's on
Sunday, March 17, the Second Sunday in Lent
. The regular parish visitation is a time when the bishop offers confirmation, or for those who have been confirmed in certain other churchs (Roman Catholic, ELCA Lutheran, Orthodox) to be received into the Episcopal Church.
Any child or adult who has been accepted by Fr. Ethan for confirmation and recepttion in March will need to attend all of the upcoming preparation classes after the Sunday Masses.
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Tentative Office Hours for Fr. Ethan @ Starbucks, Week of 3/3
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Fr. Ethan keeps office hours every week at the
Starbucks at 6001 S. Lagrange Road in Countryside
. Feel free to stop by for a chat, pastoral care, or to help Fr. Ethan spread the good news about St. Helena's!
If you are interested in meeting during this time, or would like to set up an appointment for a different day or time, please text Fr. Ethan at 847-606-0891.
Times are subject to change to meet pastoral and administrative needs.
W 3/6
Administration of Ashes all morning at Starbucks, 6001 S. Lagrange Road, Countryside.
Th 3/7 4-6
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Collect and Readings for This Sunday,
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
"
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his
likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen."
Exodus |
Éxodo
34:29-35
Psalm |
Salmo
99
2 Corinthians |
2 Corintios
3:12--4:2
Luke |
San Lucas
9:28-36
Colecta y Lecturas para Este Domingo,
El Último Domingo después de la Epifanía
"
Oh Dios, que antes de la pasión de tu unigénito Hijo, revelaste su gloria en el monte santo: Concédenos que, al contemplar por fe la luz de su rostro, seamos fortalecidos
para llevar nuestra cruz y ser transformados a su imagen de gloria en gloria; por Jesucristo nuestro Señor, que vive y reina contigo y el Espíritu Santo, un solo Dios, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén
"
Ministers of the Liturgy this Sunday (9:00 am)
Priest:
The Rev’d Ethan Alexander Jewett, SCP
Preacher:
The Rev’d Ethan Alexander Jewett, SCP
Deacon:
The Rev'd Daryce Hoff Nolan
Minister of Music:
Frank Showers
Acolyte:
Todd Landry
Readers:
Dick Mulder | Beth Sances
Intercessor:
Carole Partsch
Greeter:
Eileen Robinson
Offering:
Deborah Allen, Joe and Barbara de La Van
Ministros de la Liturgia este Domingo (11:30 am)
Sacerdote
:
Revdo. Ethan Alexander Jewett, SCP
Homilista
:
Revdo. Ethan Alexander Jewett, SCP
Diácono
:
Revda. Daryce Hoff Nolan
Ministro de Música:
Alex Luna y su coro
Monaguillas
:
Toña Lopez | Rosa Lopez | Sandra Alarcon | Alejandra Gomez
Lectores
:
Ismael Cruz | Ulysses Lechuga | María Ordonez
Intercessora
:
Rosa Jara
Hospitalidad y Ofrendas
:
Familia Cruz
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Weekly events |
Eventos semanales
Wednesday |
Miércoles
"Soup, Salad and Spirituality" Lenten discussion group, Dinner at 5:15 pm and Prayer at 6:30 pm
,
Thursday|
Jueves
Kung Fu, 6-8 pm
Saturday |
Sábado
Kung Fu, 9-11 am
Sunday
Holy Eucharist with music and homily, 9 am
Sunday | Domingo
Christian Formation | Formación cristiana, 10:15 am (English)
Domingo
Santa Eucaristía con música y homilía,
11:30 am
Sunday |
Domingo
Christian Formation | Formación cristiana, 1:00 pm (español)
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Sitio Web Parroquial
Parish Website
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Visite nuestro sitio web bilingüe para conocer los eventos de la parroquia y los programas para niños y adultos.
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Visit our bilingual website to learn about the parish's events and the programs for children and adults.
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Connect with us / Conéctate con nosotros
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