Beloved Community,

Lately as I've thought about Lent, I had an image of deeply rooted growth. The mental image is similar to the photo on the left, which is what I hope a paint-by-numbers I haven't started will eventually look like. As I was thinking about how incredibly fertile the soil for growth in the Holy Spirit is a around here, I got to thinking about the Good News Garden, which isn't exactly the way my Lenten prayer and reflection usually goes. And then it occurred to me that it is a good place to sit in Lent because it is about preparation and patience and trust that there will be growth, there will be nurturance, there will be life.

We are going to expand the Good News Garden this year, building on the success of last year when our garden seemed to explode with produce and we were able to give so much to the Interfaith Food Bank of the Oranges. This year we are going to "Grow the Good News," as it were and hope you will choose to join us by donating plants or by helping with the build-out or the planting when we get that scheduled.

We've set up a SignUp Genius so you can let us know what plants you would like to donate. We had truly amazing luck with square foot gardening last year so, with a bit of tweaking, we are doing that again. Doubling the size of the garden and cutting back on the number of some plants (Who knew banana peppers and jalapenos would be so prolific?) means we can expand the variety this year. Companion planting means we will get the growth and pest-reducing benefits of some herbs and the food pantry guests will get some fresh herbs for their cooking.

Peace & Blessings,

Paula+



Join us on Sunday, March 12th 8:00am and 10:00am for the

Third Sunday in Lent.

ALL are welcome.

Masks are optional.

At Communion, you may receive the wine by sipping from the cup,

or you may choose Communion in one kind only (the bread).

ANNUAL MEETING AND PARISH CELEBRATION

We had a wonderful turnout on Sunday, March 5th for our Annual Meeting.

The Annual Report is available for viewing/downloading on our website

"News & Events Calendar" page.

Thanks to everyone who attended in-person and online!

READING WITH THE RECTOR

Sunday, March 12th

11:30am - 1:00pm

in the common room, or via Zoom

We will be discussing:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, caught in the tragic sweep of history, The Kite Runner transports readers to Afghanistan at a tense and crucial moment of change and destruction. A powerful story of friendship, it is also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

We have many options to observe a holy Lent this year, including additional worship services here and with our sister parishes in the Evelyn Underhill Region.

See all Lent and Holy Week offerings here.

Join us in-person, or via Zoom for Adult Formation discussing “Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent”, connect online for Noonday prayers, participate in Lent Madness and join us for a Golden Halo themed coffee hour!

EVENSONG FOR LENT

Sunday, March 12th at 4pm

You are invited to Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral in Newark for a choral Evensong. The service will be sung by the Christ Church in Short Hills Parish Choir, directed by Dr. Andrew Moore with Dr. Brian Harlow on organ. This service will include the works of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Robert Chilcott. The Rev. Bowie Snodgrass and The Rev. George E. Dredden III, Priest-in-Charge at the cathedral, will preside. A reception will follow.

North Porch Women & Infants' Centers provides emergency aid, in the form of baby supplies, to mothers and infants in northern New Jersey, to help them stabilize and improve the quality of their lives.

Our collection bin is located outside the education building doors year-round. Donations can be dropped off at any time. Items of urgent need are:

• Enfamil 12.5 oz powdered baby formula and soy formula
• Diapers especially Large size diapers - 4, 5, 6 and Pull-ups of all sizes
• Baby wipes
• Jars of baby food all ages-fruit, veggie and 1st foods

If you would like to make a monetary donation to North Porch, please click here.

TRINITY RETREAT CENTER

Trinity Retreat Center, located in the Northeast in West Cornwall, CT, offers a place of spirituality and gracious, authentic hospitality—where you can slow down, connect deeply with nature, experience the rhythm of a community, enjoy farm-to-table meals, discern direction for your life, and go home ready to make an even greater impact on the world.

Trinity Retreat Center is an Episcopal mission of Trinity Church Wall Street and is open to everyone, regardless of denomination or faith.

For more information, go to the Trinity Retreat Center's Facebook page or click here.