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The Rev. C. Phillip Craig, Jr.
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Friday, March 8, 2019
And So It Begins
Like others before it, this past Ash Wednesday was a complicated day. Much of my time was spent finding age appropriate ways to discuss the common bonds of our humanity and our mortal nature with young children, who it seems were mostly concerned with whether or not the ashes were hot, and who got the bigger smudge. In truth, I love these conversations and moments, complicated as they remain. At the same time, our parish service was a beautiful end to the day.
There are often two ways of approaching this Lenten season of simplicity and prayer. One suggests the giving up of things comfortable (and ancillary) in our lives. The other suggests the taking on of new and generous endeavors. I find merit in both. With that in mind, may I offer the following poem, which allows for both approaches, and may I invite you into a season of fasting, and a season of feasting.
Blessings,
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Fast From; Feast On
Fast from judging others;
feast on the Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences;
feast on the unity of life.
Fast from apparent darkness;
feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness;
feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent;
feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
feast on optimism.
Fast from worry;
feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining;
feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives;
feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures;
feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility;
feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness;
feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety;
feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragements;
feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress;
feast on verities that uplift.
Fast from lethargy;
feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from thoughts that weaken;
feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow;
feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip;
feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
feast on prayer that undergirds.
-William Arthur Ward (American author, teacher and pastor, 1921-1994.)
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From the Parish Administrator
Sally LeBaron
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Prayer
Fasting
Almsgiving
I love sugar. Love it. I know it’s terrible for me but if rationality were to rule the world, children would eat their vegetables and understand how wise their parents can be. So, sugar is one of the hardest things for me to give up and why I do just that for Lent.
I noticed something right away on Ash Wednesday this week: I was starving! I am so out of practice finding non-sugar things to eat that I ended up just drinking more water- the horror. (Have I mentioned that I’m also incredibly lazy so this is also a reason I end up eating sugar-- it comes in so many ready-to-eat forms, and saves my energy for cooking things like frozen pizza.)
The focus for me in Lent has traditionally been on the fasting part, as the prayer part seemed a given (Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday AND Good Friday? That’s a lot of praying.), and the almsgiving overlooked in my hangriness (that’s hungry and angry morphed together for those of you lucky enough to escape it). But, now that I think deeper about it, and want to articulate it to my captive audience, I mean my children, it can be easy* to combine the three. When you’re faced with a temptation, turn your attention to prayer and ask for strength, but just as importantly, look for gratitude, a form of prayer that has immediate gratification (something both kids and adults like). For me, it’s the gratitude that I have a full pantry and surely this is the time to eat those dried figs in the back that aren’t going to eat themselves. I’m grateful that I’m not so hungry that I have to eat anything I can find, sugar or not. That I can afford to buy some great protein options that suppress sugar cravings but are more expensive than junk food (I’m looking at you almonds and string cheese.**). I plan to also weave almsgiving into this by donating good filling foods to the William Temple House. One of those –wait for this shameless plug- is peanut butter as they are collecting nut butters and jellies/jams/honey this month and there are only four lonely jars in our bin.
I realize that giving up sugar sounds a bit “Lent Lite”. But I also realize that there’s absolutely no other time of the year when I can follow through on such intentions (oh I’ve tried) so it certainly sounds like the Holy Ghost at work to me. See, my dear children, how wise your mother can be? Too bad she didn’t give up humble bragging for Lent.
I’d love to hear how you incorporate the Lenten Holy Trinity into your life. Do you add things into your life? Give them away? Scramble them up? Pray tell…
Take care...
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*Oh wait- Lent isn’t supposed to be easy? Just thinking about Lent is hard sometimes.
**Yup, another example of ready-to-eat, my favorite food group.
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From the Minister of Music
Emma Mildred Riggle, M.M.
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Concert Tomorrow at 7:00 P.M.:
Motets of Isabella Leonarda
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Therefore I, most blessed daughter, am pleased to rejoice
And triumph through singing in Jesus alone.
Dear Jesus, your daughter lives in you, joyful and content.
To enjoy your blessed heart, to rejoice in your true body,
Are sweet joys that satisfy and fill me.
When my heart sings, my soul is enriched and satisfied.
That's a quote from the passionate devotional poetry set to music by 17th Century Italian composer and abbess, Isabella Leonarda.
The Latin poetry, possibly written by Leonarda herself, is full of heartfelt love for Christ, the raw emotions of the Christian experience, and meditations on the power of song.
I hope many of you will be able to join us tomorrow at 7:00 P.M., when Ascension Music presents a very special concert of motets by Isabella Leonarda. We'll be joined by Baroque singers Nan Haemer, Charlotte Engler and Ben
España
to perform little-known works by two of the great women composers of the Baroque.
It will be a wonderful way to enrich your Lenten experience.
There will also be a reception after the concert to visit and meet the artists. There is an optional suggested donation of $15 per adult, but please come even if you can't contribute monetarily - this concert is a ministry of music for you.
Soli Deo gloria,
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Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday, March 10
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Don't forget - Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday, March 10! Remember to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday nigh!
Be warned - we've heard a rumor that every 8 o'clocker who shows up in time for the 9:00AM choir rehearsal will be drafted into the tenor section!
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We want to offer an enthusiastic thank-you to everyone who worked so hard to make our Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner a success! The food was delicious, the decorations were delightful, and the conversation and fellowship amongst our Parish family was a joy. Thanks for helping us wrap up Epiphany in style!
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Ascension Featured in
Portland Heights Living
!
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Many thanks to Fr. Phillip, who wrote a wonderful article on our beloved Parish for the Portland Heights community newsletter,
Portland Heights Living. We hope this welcoming message helps remind our neighbors that our historic doors are open to all! You can read the article by clicking the image below!
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This Month
March 10, 9:00 A.M.- Choir Rehearsal
March 17, 9:00 A.M. - Choir Rehearsal
March 24, 9:00 A.M. - Choir Rehearsal
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Looking Ahead
April 18, 7:00 P.M. - Maundy Thursday Mass
April 19, 12:00 P.M. - Good Friday Service
April 21, 8:00 A.M. & 10:00 A.M. - Easter Sunday Mass
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This Sunday: March 10, 2019:
Lent I
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8:00 A.M. LEM & Lector:
Bob Howard
10:00 A.M. LEM:
Bob Howard
10:00 A.M. Lectors:
Quinland Porter, Xander Dominitz
10:00 A.M. Usher:
Terry Horley
Sacristans:
Susan Bodin, EllaKathryn Craig, Kat Dominitz, Shirleen Horley
Refreshments:
Sally LeBaron, Judy Hecht
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Next Sunday: March 17, 2019: Lent II
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8:00 A.M. LEM & Lector:
Bob Howard
10:00 A.M. LEM:
Emily Guimaraes
10:00 A.M. Lectors:
Suzan Berry, Ian Miller
10:00 A.M. Usher:
Susan O'Holleran
Sacristans:
Eloise Gibson, Pam Howard, Shoshawna & Mia Rainwater
Refreshments:
Kim Kraft, Eloise Gibson
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Patience
Quotes for the beginning of Lent.
“Patience is power. Patience is not an absence of action; rather it is ‘timing,’ it waits on the right time to act, for the right principles and in the right way.”
- Fulton J. Sheen
“Patience is the companion of wisdom.”
- St. Augustine
“Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself.”
- St. Francis de Sales
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- Becky Dimond's sister Barbara
- Eloise Gibson’s niece Bella
- Eloise Gibson’s friend Richard
- Richard Jester
- The family and loved ones of Jonathan Lloyd
- The family and loved ones of Marilyn Portwood
- Richard Reinhart
- Andrea Rosselle
- Janet Mersereau
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Today in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
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- Gardiner: St. Mary. PRAY for the communities of Gardiner and Reedsport and for us as we strive to be active witnesses of God’s love. Pray that we can celebrate the Holy Eucharist together, live the covenant of baptism in our daily lives and inspirit one another in ministry.
- Gold Beach: St. Matthew. PRAY for a vision of the Gospel that will empower our mission with strength of purpose and active outreach.
- Grants Pass: St. Luke. Ernestein Flemister, rector; Joani Bristol, deacon. PRAY for discernment for a new rector.
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The Collect for the First Sunday in Lent
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Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
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In honor of the return of choir season.*
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*Also, our organist just finished playing piano in a performance of
The Pirates of Penzance, so she has pirates on the brain.
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Ascension Episcopal Parish | 503-227-7806 | office@ascensionepiscopalparish.org www.ascensionepiscopalparish.org
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