Sing Before Breakfast;
Cry Before Bed
Mother Rebecca
Growing up in my single-parent home in the 1970s wasn’t always easy. My mother was the Director of Nursing at a retirement community an hour’s drive from our house, and she worked long hours for paltry pay. Her staff came from all walks of life and brought all their personal problems to work with them. At the end of the day, Mom was often, understandably, exhausted. As a latch-key child, after-school activities were not a thing. The routine was wake, before-school care, school, walk home alone, homework, cook dinner, stressful meal, bath, bed, repeat. And, no matter what, make space for Mom to unwind!
Weekends, though, had a different tenor, especially those Saturday mornings when Mom would put a Bill Cosby record on the record player (I know, this was before all that) or (in the early 80s) a Pink Panther movie in the VCR – not the comic; the ones with Peter Sellers. In the hands of these comedians, the stress of our lives would melt away and we would laugh until our sides nearly split, tears tumbling down our cheeks.
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Parents' Night Out
Tomorrow, February 12, 6:30pm-9:30pm, enjoy an evening out and support Fig Youth’s efforts to fundraise for upcoming pilgrimages! Drop your kids off at the Youth Center to enjoy a movie, games, arts & crafts, along with dinner, snacks and refreshments. It will be our pleasure to make sure they have a fantastic evening of fun and fellowship! Discounted rates for multi-child families will be applied at registration.
Please note: children must be potty trained to participate. Thank you!
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Shrove Tuesday
Save the Date! March 1 will mark the return of our Shrove Tuesday (aka Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday) pancake supper, provided by Episcopal Men's Fellowship (EMF). We will gather outside under the Parish Pavilion for food, fellowship, the ceremonial burning of the palms, and more as we prepare for the season of Lent.
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Formation
Belonging to God: James Martin’s Learning to Pray (in Roper Hall and zoom): We long for connection with God – for a sense of real belonging to the One who created and loves us. This connection comes through prayer – through cultivating a relationship with God. Prayer is conversation, presence with, and deep listening for God’s voice. There is no one secret formula for prayer; rather everyone can discover forms that work best for them. In this class we’ll explore the rich history of different styles of prayer with a view toward enriching our connection with our gracious and loving God.
Belonging to One Another as Parents (Parish Pavilion): Parents of children living at home are invited to us under the Parish Pavilion to connect and dream together about formation and other activities for 2022.
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Dr. Waters Visits
Next Sunday, February 20, Rev. Dr. Michael Waters will join us as our guest preacher at both services. Dr. Waters, who led our Civil Rights Pilgrimage in 2019, is the founder and Lead Pastor of the Abundant Life African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas. As a pastor, professor, award-winning author, activist, and social commentator, Waters’ words of hope and empowerment inspire national and international audiences. His most recent book, Something in the Water: A 21st Century Civil Rights Odyssey, takes readers on a journey through the sacred spaces of America’s racial history through the use of poems, eulogies, sermons, prayers, historical commentary, and more.
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February 27 is FIGWORKS Day!
Figworks Day is a semiannual day of outreach when we actively commit ourselves to the work of seeing and addressing the needs in our community.
Service opportunities will include:
- Writing letters for shut-in members of our Fig family
- Assembling toiletry bags for our Food Pantry families
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An at-home soup kit drive. Get shopping list and instructions here.
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A blood drive. The Carter Blood Mobile will be stationed in the parking lot from 10:00am - 2:00 pm. Sign-up to donate here.
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Transfigured Nights Evensong
February 27, at 5:00 pm. The service will be in commemoration of George Herbert, priest (1593-1633), and will feature the Transfiguration Choir singing Harold Darke's Magnificat & Nunc dimittis in F Major and Bruce Neswick’s Preces and Responses for St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Buffalo. The anthem will be the Dallas premiere of Joel Martinson's Antiphon & Praise which is based on two of Herbert's most well-known poems.
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Parents Circle: Families Forum
Sunday, February 27 in Roper Hall and online during the formation hour. The Parents Circle – Families Forum is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of more than 600 families who have lost loved ones in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ravages lives in the Middle East. Each member family has made a choice to move toward reconciliation instead of revenge. Join us as we host members from two such families who will share the human side of the conflict in their ongoing efforts to foster peace and reconciliation. You will not want to miss this deeply moving discussion.
In-Person and Remote on Zoom - Link will be in your confirmation email.
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Black History Month
Throughout the month of February, Racial Justice Ministry (RJM) will be commemorating Black History Month with a spotlight on the work of Black Episcopalians and Anglicans.
In 1977, The Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray became the first African American person perceived as a woman in the U.S. to become an Episcopal priest, after the church changed its policy. Their autobiography, Song in a Weary Throat: An American Pilgrimage, was published posthumously in 1987.
All month, RJM will have a table in the Tower Cloister outside the Library on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings with more information. Stop by the table to chat with an RJM member and sign up to receive emails of community and civic events to deepen our understanding of racism and the harm it does to all of us and to learn how you can make a difference.
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Lent Madness begins March 2
Join in on some friendly competition as 32 Saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket deciding who will win this year’s Golden Halo!
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Serious “Saints” fans may contact Anne Schmidt and, for a $5 fee, submit their bracket, enter giveaway drawings, and a chance to allocate the winning purse to the Fig ministry of their choice.
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Vacation Bible School - Save the Dates!
North Castle is hidden in a frozen land. The King’s valiant Knights are on a quest in search of the King’s Armor. But the armor isn’t what they think it is. We invite children to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of God’s power! Kids will take on the role of brave Knights and begin their quest each session by opening the King’s Book. They will explore Old and New Testament stories and discover different pieces of protective armor- the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Justice, the Shoes of Peace, the Shield of Faith, and the Helmet of Salvation- at work in the lives of familiar Bible characters and explore how that armor works in their own lives as they follow and serve God. Help kids take up the gauntlet and accept the challenge to “armor up” and be strong by remaining with God!
Registration opens April 3!
Save the dates: June 6-10
Time: 9am-Noon
VBS Volunteer Meeting
VBS is not just for kids. We need adult and youth volunteers to join the fun!
Join us:
March 6 at 11:15 am
Classroom S203
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Reception Desk Volunteers Needed
We are looking for volunteers to work the reception desk. Hours are Monday through Friday, 1pm - 4pm. There may be occasional times that we need someone to work 9am- 1pm. Responsibilities include answering the phone, providing information, and routing calls to the appropriate staff members. The receptionist also greets individuals who are arriving on campus to meet with a staff member or who are seeking assistance.
If you are interested, please contact Fred Ellis at (972)233-1898
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Bookstore Corner
Store Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sundays from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
All proceeds benefit St. Hilda's Guild and our church's ministries.
For questions about books or gifts, contact Carolyn by phone at (972) 231-1634.
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