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Offering Meaningful Worship
Teaching the Gospel
Caring for God’s People
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KEVIN’S KERYGMA
by Fr. Kevin Warner
Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word.
BCP pp. 264-265
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I love Lent! Today, as I write this, I am celebrating the 36th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. People are often surprised that Lent is a joyous time for me as we run extra services and programming during the season. After 31/2 decades why am I still excited and not exhausted? Perhaps because the beginning of Lent marks the end of my term of paperwork (Annual Report, Parochial Report, Budget, etc.) and begins a 3-month period of some of the best worship opportunities the church offers. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, Sundays in Lent, Holy Week services, Easter and culminating with the feast of Pentecost I am drawn into the story, struggle, and triumph of my Savior, crowned by the gift of His Spirit.
The season of Lent is a great time to get back in the habit of regular church attendance. Covid has messed with us for a long time, and many got out of the habit of coming to church regularly. The six Sundays of Lent give us an opportunity to renew our commitment to Him and the keeping of the Fourth Commandment.
Such renewal is well placed in the Lenten season as it is a time of self-reflection and self-discipline. Dating back to at least the fourth century, the forty days commemorate Jesus’ fast as recorded in the first three Gospels. (Matt. 4:1ff., Mk. 1:12ff., Lk. 4:1ff.) Originally it was a time of preparation for those to be baptized at the Easter Vigil, and a time for notorious sinners that had been removed from fellowship to serve a time of penance and be welcomed back into community. It evolved into a season of special devotion, teaching and spiritual disciplines. Fasting and extra time of study and prayer are the most common of these disciplines. Fasting, or “giving up something” for Lent is an especially effective way at getting at those areas of your life that are sin-infested. As you think about what you would give up, the first thing to come to mind is probably an area of sin for you. Often what needs to be given up is obvious (drugs, pornography, etc.), but often it is subtle. Food, alcohol, TV, video games, and other spiritually inert things and activities may have become idols in our lives. Lent provides a time to ferret out those subtle sins and turn our hearts completely to God. Better yet, use the season as a time to renew your relationship with Him, not so much “giving up” time on Sunday mornings but rather, rededicating it.
The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, this year March 2. We will have two services of Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes. The first will be a 10:00 AM and the evening service will begin at 7:00 PM. Begin this season of confession and repentance at one of these services, thanking God for the gift of His son Jesus Christ and the continual offer of forgiveness we receive through Him. Come back and worship the Lord, knowing that we cannot triumph over sin by our own strength. Use this season of Lent to overcome temptation and sin in your life by welcoming the power of the risen Christ into your life.
Blessings!
Fr. Kevin+
II Timothy 1:11
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You probably know that, when disaster strikes, SAMARATIN’S PURSE, responds quickly to provide assistance and lifesaving relief. You may remember their Emergency Field Hospitals deployed to New York, California, Mississippi and North Carolina during the early days of the Covid pandemic.
Volunteers continue to work rebuilding and repairing homes after hurricanes, floods, fires and tornados in hard hit areas of the United States, as well as devastating earthquakes in Hati, Ecuador, and Nepal, typhoons in the Philippines and to large scale crises in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Working throughout the world in more than 100 countries, they provide critical needs for desperate, oppressed, and impoverished people around the world.
And they always go IN JESUS NAME.
Samaratin’s Purse North American Ministry Team and the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is offering a training conference in Orlando with hands-on skills training to be a first responder in Critical Incident Stress Management. The training, SHARING HOPE IN JESUS’ NAME is to help one prepare for a crisis in the church, community or when deploying to a major disaster.
I will be attending those training sessions and will miss our first Wednesday Lenten Study, but I am leaving my study materials, hand-outs and such to Aubrey Thompson who will teach that class (The Power of Faith) for me.
FatherLee
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Lenten Soup Suppers and Programming
Please join us Wednesday nights in Lent beginning March 9 at 5:30 p.m. for a light supper followed by our Lenten Classes that will meet at 6 p.m. for approximately 60 – 90 minutes. Please choose between:
INQUIRERS’ CLASS. Fr. Kevin will meet with those interested in entrance rites such as baptism, confirmation, and reception. Topics also include sacramental theology, church history and more.
Upcoming dates for baptism are: April 17 – Easter; June 5 - Pentecost
Confirmation will be sometime between those dates. This class is tentatively scheduled to meet in the Dons’ Room in the Banner Building.
THE CASE FOR THE RESURRECTION. Fr. Lee will present a six-week course looking at the evidence for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This class is tentatively scheduled to meet in the Wilder Room.
TRIPLE T PRESENTS. The Triple T Ministry will present 6 sessions to help you be better stewards of your Time, Talent, and Treasure. Four different speakers will present over the four weeks. Titles are:
· March 9 Your Financial “New Normal” and Beyond.
· March 16 History and Operations of the SCC Emergency Squad.
· March 23 Long Term Care: Not just insurance but family planning.
· March 30 Fraud Prevention and keeping South Shore safe.
· April 6 Household Organization for Good Times and Bad.
· March 13 Safeguarding you Treasures.
This class is tentatively scheduled to meet in the Wirick Room in the Banner Building.
We look forward to seeing you all Wednesday nights during Lent!
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Ordinary or Extraordinary
The pastor of a congregation in our area is a dear friend of mine. As we gathered for our weekly meeting for prayer, I could tell something was wrong. He told us his wife had received a medical diagnosis that was frightening. The cancer had spread through her body.
One day I sensed the Lord telling me to go pray for her healing. I phoned my friend to let him know what the Lord had said. Two days later, Sunday morning, I concluded my Sunday morning ministry activities as quickly as I could and went to the place where he was leading his Sunday service. The service was already in progress when I arrived, so I took a seat in the congregation. Soon after I arrived, I noticed my friend’s wife ask the assistance of two ladies in the congregation to help her to the bathroom. Her breathing was labored. She could walk only with much difficulty.
The pastor had seen me come in and at an appropriate time in the service invited me to minister as the Holy Spirit directed me. I asked the people there to raise a hand if they believed in God’s power to heal. Almost every hand went up. I said to the congregation, “Today, you are going to see a miracle. In fact, today you are going to do a miracle.”
That was a bold statement. Not everyone I pray for gets healed. But since God told me in advance to lay hands on her and pray, and since my beloved Redeemer does not play cruel jokes, I trusted He was about to do something significant. I asked the congregation to gather around, gently lay hands on her as best they could, and pray in the Spirit for her as I prayed for her healing.
After a moment or two I asked her what she was feeling. She said she felt she was breathing more easily. I asked her if she was willing to stand up without help. She slowly stood up. Then I took her hand and asked her to take a step. She did. She said, “I feel stronger!”
So I asked her to try to walk across the room without help. I reminded her the congregation was standing all around and if she began to lose her balance, they would not allow her to fall. She began to walk. With each step she looked stronger. By the time she got back to me she was striding confidently. Asked her if she was ready to dance before the Lord. She said, “I think I am.”
The praise band struck up a lively tune and she began to dance with energy, as Pentecostal pastor’s wives are known to do. Her husband and the rest of the congregation joined her with exuberant celebration of her healing. Later medical examinations showed there was not a trace of cancer in her body.
We, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, have the ability to help people on two different levels. First, we can do things in our own strength and ability. But then, anyone can do that. But there is another level of help that no one but the followers of Jesus can operate in. We are given the privilege of cooperating with God to do things only He can do. Anyone can help a pastor’s wife to the restroom, but only a Christian can pray and watch her be healed of cancer on the spot. Every one of us can do that. Don’t underestimate the power of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Let’s rise above the ordinary and show our surrounding community the extraordinary love and power of Jesus.
Ordinary or extraordinary?
God bless you,
Howard Roshaven, Senior Warden
(Taken from my latest book, The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory).
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Jr. Warden's Report
Hello to all,
From the Jr. Warden's corner I would like to introduce my self as the new Jr. Warden of Saint John Divine.
I am replacing Annie Hunter and would like to thank her for passing the baton and showing me around last week.
I along with my wife Sharon have been attending St John Divine for the past 25 years and recently retired from a company that kept me from doing much church work other than ushering on Sunday's as I traveled quite a bit. My wife on the other hand has had many duties at the church including Sr Warden, Vestry, Outreach, Lord's Light House, Lector and Eucharistic Ministries to name a few, so she is much more recognized in the church than I. We mostly attend the 11:00 o'clock service and therefore this little introduction is to help the 8 and 9 o'clock service people know who their new Jr. Warden is as well as the 11:00 o'clock folks that don't not know me.
I look forward to serving all of you and to keep our church looking good both inside and out.
Please to do not be a stranger and come up and say hello as we move forward through the year. I look forward to meeting you all.
With God's Blessings
Steve Van Loan
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Adult Bible Study
During Lent in Sunday Adult Bible Study, we begin a special series featuring video segments with Max Lucado and including classroom discussion and personal reflection. In this series, we will explore the many gifts provided for us at his crucifixion. These include not only the gift of the cross but also the gifts of the thorns that pierced his brow, the nails that tore his flesh, the seamless robe he removed for us and the empty tomb where he forever defeated sin and death.
March 6 He Chose to Be One of Us
March 20 He Chose to Forgive Us
April 3 He Chose to Invite Us into His Presence
April 10 He Chose to Love Us Forever
April 17 He Chose to Give Us Victory
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GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRY SEEKING REFERRALS
Members of the Good Shepherd Ministry, a recently commissioned group dedicated to visiting homebound parishioners, are seeking referrals. If you are aware of a homebound parishioner who would enjoy regular visits from a caring volunteer (or if you yourself would appreciate being visited), contact Susan Morgan at (908) 783-4986 or simorgan319@gmail.com.
Visitors will stop by at a prearranged time to chat with, read to -- or just be present with -- recipients of this ministry.
These visitors can also be helpful to family members who are caring for homebound parishioners. Volunteers can provide caretakers with the opportunity to take a brief break to run errands or handle personal matters while their loved one is visiting with a vetted fellow parishioner.
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Triple T Ministry
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of
God than to dwell in the tents of wicked.
Psalm 84:10
Church ushers lacking in the proper insights and motivation might see their role as merely that of a distributor of church bulletins, adjuster of thermostats, a collector of offerings, and a traffic director to monitor at the Communion rail. Those who see ushering as a ministry, however, find much more.
Ministering ushers should first examine their motives for ushering. They might ask themselves, “Am I doing this willingly and gladly as a service to my Lord and my church, or grudgingly because I can’t get out it without appearing in a bad light?” They might run a checklist to determine if they are ushering out of habit, duty, or coercion. The proper starting point for useful service is a proper attitude toward that service….
Realizing that the first face most worshippers see on Sunday is that of the usher at the front door, the person involved in this ministry will want to appear cheerful, warm, and loving, so as to set the tone for our worship of God right from the beginning…Naturally, the most important part of advance preparation will be a time for prayer and quiet meditation.…a general prayer outline might include an offering of oneself to the Lord for service, thanksgiving for the opportunity to minister, and petitions and intercessions for the church service, including specific prayers for the clergy and congregation….
Ushers who would thus view their role as a part of the total worship experience on Sunday morning and who give themselves to each task as to a holy calling to ministry would not only enrich the Sunday morning blessing for those entering and leaving church, but also enrich their own lives as well.
The previous information is excerpted from the SJD Church Usher Manual. As ushers, we want to feel that we are contributing something more than handing out the Sunday bulletins. If we make our members and visitors feel welcome and wanted, we set the tone for the entire service encouraging each person to enjoy being a participant.
Next month will briefly examine another SJD ministry and the giving of time and talent glorifies God.
Doug Roderick
Usher team member
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South Sudan Report
Under attack in Bor Town, So.Sudan...January 22, 3a.m., ECSS Bishops were attacked in
the church compound...2 people injured, including one of the bishops...This is the 3rd
attack in Bor..Please pray for peace and harmony in all of So.Sudan.
The Episcopal/Anglican church is growing in So.Sudan...I don't know if everyone is
receiving my facebook photo's and messages sent to me from Bsp.Moses in Maridi
So.Sudan, but it appears the The Church is growing in numbers and leaders in it's
ministries. Bsp, Moses sent photo's on facebook showing how our money is being
used for training,repairs to the cathedral, support for the Mother Union, and many
other needs..
I will be standing by the Mission table and available to answer any questions you
may have..
Blessings, Isabel DeTringo
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Hello,
May people who suffer from or may suffer from grief for a variety of reasons, may not clearly understand with what they are dealing. We strive to assist to help one cope with grief, but cope with what?
When we suffer a loss, the pain we experience can feel unbearable. Understandably, grief is complicated and we sometimes wonder if the pain will ever end. We go through a variety of emotional experiences.
A theory developed by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in 1969, suggests that we encounter five stages of grief: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. There are several other theories, but this one is very accepted.
Denial
Denial helps us minimize the overwhelming pain of loss. As we process the reality of our loss, we are also trying to survive emotional pain. Our reality has shifted completely in this moment of loss. It can take our minds some time to adjust to this new reality. We are reflecting on the experiences we have shared, wonder how to move forward in life. This is a lot of information to explore and a lot of painful imagery to process. Denial attempts to slow this process down and take us through it one step at a time, rather than risk the potential of feeling overwhelmed by our emotions. Denial is not only an attempt to pretend that the loss does not exist. We are also trying to absorb and understand what is happening.
Anger
It is common to experience anger after loss. We are trying to adjust to a new reality and we are likely experiencing extreme emotional discomfort. There is so much to process that anger may feel like it allows us an emotional outlet. Keep in mind that anger does not require us to be very vulnerable. However, it tends to be more socially acceptable than admitting we are scared. Anger allows us to express emotion with less fear of judgment or rejection.
Bargaining
When coping with loss, it isn't unusual to feel so desperate that you are willing to do almost anything to alleviate or minimize the pain. Grief can cause us to consider any way we can avoid the current pain or the pain we are anticipating from loss. There are many ways we may try to bargain. When bargaining starts to take place, we are often directing our requests to GOD, or something bigger than we are, that may be able to influence a different outcome. There is an acute awareness of our humanness in these moments when we realize there is nothing, we can do to influence change or a better end result.
Depression
During our experience of processing grief, there comes a time when our imaginations calm down and we slowly start to look at the reality of our present situation. Bargaining no longer feels like an option and we are faced with what is happening.
We start to feel the loss more abundantly. As our panic begins to subside, the emotional fog begins to clear and the loss feels more present and unavoidable.
In those moments, we tend to pull inward as the sadness grows. We might find ourselves retreating, being less sociable, and reaching out less to others about what we are going through. Although this is a very natural stage of grief, dealing with depression can be extremely isolating.
Acceptance
When we come to a place of acceptance, it is not that we no longer feel the pain of loss. However, we are no longer resisting the reality of our situation, and we are not struggling to make it something different. Sadness and regret can still be present in this phase, but the emotional survival tactics of denial, bargaining, and anger are less likely to be present.
Conclusion
As we consider the five stages of grief, it is important to note that people grieve differently and you may or may not go through each of these stages, or experience each of them in order. The lines of these stages are often blurred—we may move from one stage to the other and back again.
In addition, there is no specific time period suggested for any of these stages. Someone may experience the stages fairly quickly, such as in a matter of weeks, where another person may take months or even years to move through to a place of acceptance. Whatever time it takes for you to move through these stages is perfectly normal.
Your pain is unique to you, your relationship to the person you lost is unique, and the emotional processing can feel different to each person. It is acceptable for you to take the time you need and remove any expectation of how you should be performing as you process your grief.
The Grief Support Group at Saint John Divine offers more than just discussions for those who have lost someone. Grief is a natural process. It isn't a disorder or an illness. You may be grieving about anything you've lost, whether it's a loved one or a job or something that had meaning for you. We meet every month on the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 10:00 AM in the Wirick Room in the Banner building. When you feel the need, we can be there for you.
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The Color of Lent
The Episcopal Church’s most important liturgical season is the one that starts on Shrove Tuesday and ends on Easter Sunday. The weeks that lead up to Easter are filled with liturgical music, altar flowers (or lack thereof), vestments and altar cloths that reflect the passion, suffering, mystery and, ultimately, the ecstasy of the Christ and His resurrection. The coordination of all these is sacred to the parish and congregation. Coming to services and seeing how all these coordinate to reveal, impress and convey Christ’s passion is paramount to our personal connection with our Lord and the Easter resurrection meaning.
Along with the sacred music of the season, altar flowers provide a visual impression of the music, the church service, and a reminder of His suffering and the eventual glory of His ascension and the Glory of God. All of this should be sensed subtly by the congregation as it participates in worship.
Why is Purple the Color of Lent?
Purple is typically associated with Lent, suggesting repentance and solemnity. Purple, as all colors, is full of symbolism. Its deep dark richness invites us to slow down and consider the sacrifices Jesus did for us.
The Bible tells us that the garment the guard put on Jesus during his trial and beatings was purple. Thus, purple symbolizes pain, suffering, and mourning and penitence.
“The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.”
Mark 15:16-20
What Does this Color of Lent Mean to Me/to You?
Lent reminds us spring is coming and as many colors erupt as the weather warms, so do the purples.
Purple crocuses Purple hyacinths Purple lilacs Purple irises.
Purple can symbolize both the pain and suffering leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus as well as the suffering of humanity and the world under sin.
But since purple is also the color of royalty, it reminds us of Jesus’ resurrection and hope of newness that will be celebrated on Easter Sunday. Jesus is our King, our royal King.
Research tells us that the color purple represents the balance of red simulation and blue calm. In stained glass the color purple or violet are seen as the uniting of the “wisdom” of blue and the “love” of red and symbolizes justice. Purple affects us mentally and physically with emotions that are uplifting and calming and often gives a sense of spirituality.
“Come and listen to my story,” says Purple, “a tale of pain and feeling abandoned by God with an amazing and surprising ending. The story of the resurrection of our Savior and King.”
We rejected our King, our Savior in this purple account and mocked Him while He suffered and died for us.
Jesus rescued the color purple from the pits of sin, anguish, and despair and transformed it into a royal and majestic color.
Thank you, Jesus, for doing the same for us.
What does the color of Lent – purple say to you?
Blessings,
Chér Cerebe
Maggie Pliska
Altar Guild Co-Directors
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SJD BREAKFASTS
Our January and February breakfast gatherings were extremely popular, with more than 75 people in attendance at each one! Thank you to all the volunteers who made them flow seamlessly by pitching in to help with prepping, cooking, serving and cleaning up.
Two more breakfast events are scheduled, one on March 27 and the other on April 24. As with the previous two, breakfast will be offered continuously from 9:00 to 11:00 am to accommodate attendees of all three worship services.
The menu includes scrambled eggs, bacon, grits, bagels, fresh fruit, home-baked contributions, and gluten-free options. While there is no charge, a donation to offset the cost of the breakfast is greatly appreciated.
You can help with the March breakfast by assisting with the grocery shopping, working with the kitchen crew to prepare and serve the meal. or contributing homemade coffee cake or bread. If you would like to volunteer in any of these capacities, please sign up on the sheet located on the kitchen counter in the Parish Hall or contact Joy Johnson at (757) 876-5235 or morris.johnson1@verizon.net.
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BIRTHDAYS
Mary Hilderbrand - 3/5
David Sample - 3/5
Katherine Lanoue - 3/6
Chase Garis - 3/11
Rudy Ann Joseph - 3/11
Barbara Garside - 3/11
Katie Arp - 3/14
Jutta Teichman - 3/15
Bob MacDonald - 3/15
Gene Doyle - 3/15
Susan Morgan - 3/19
Mary Soja - 3/21
Anthony Primiano - 3/22
George Miecyjak - 3/22
Judy Pieper - 3/24
Tracy Fraser - 3/24
Negla Mentus - 3/25
Nancy Lillie - 3/26
Alyson Barrett - 3/27
Dawn Hennen - 3/28
Al DeMellier - 3/28
Valerie Bryant - 3/29
Betsy Pagnini - 3/30
Roger Mills - 3/31
ANNIVERSARIES
Greg & Paulette Diehl - 3/3
Aubrey & Clare Thompson - 3/4
Walter & Sandy Powell - 3/12
Allen & Brenda Coman - 3/15
Bill & Linda Duhn - 3/20
Carl & Brenda Wales - 3/22
Gary & Linda Gabler - 3/25
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Vestry
Howard Roshaven -- Sr. Warden, Steve Van Loan -- Jr. Warden, Val Bryant -- Clerk
Debbie Carlisle, Greg Diehl, Linda Duhn,
Don Fisher, Linda Floyd, Mary Lane Kullmann,
Ralph Powell, Doug Roderick, Clare Thompson, Jackie Winder
Clergy and Staff
The Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith
Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida
The Rev. Kevin Warner - Rector
The Rev. Lee Miller - Associate Rector
Scott Gardner - Praise Leader, Aline Giampietro Trifonov - Music Director
Tristan Warner - Media & Tech Specialist, Tommy Blair - A/V Assistant
Connie Minnoe - Accounting Administrator, Denise Smalls - Nursery Attendant
Mr. Thomas Kreidler - Director of Christian Education
St. John Divine Episcopal Church
1015 E. Del Webb Blvd. Sun City Center, FL 33573
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