Thursday, February 18, 2021
Friday, February 19th - Stations of the Cross, 2PM

Friday, February 26th - Stations of the Cross, 2PM
Family Prayer 

First Sunday of Lent

Reading I : Genesis 9:8-15
I am setting my covenant with you forever!
  • The first reading is the conclusion of the Noah story. The event takes place after the flood waters had receded.
  • God makes a covenant with Noah and, through Noah, with all creation.
  • For the author's audience, whose world had seemed destroyed through exile, the story of God's covenant with Noah established new hope.

Reading II : 1 Peter 3:18-22
You are saved by your baptisms!
  • The First Letter of Peter uses the imagery of the flood and the covenant with Noah as a symbol of Baptism.
  • This letter was written to encourage Christians in the face of persecution.
  • Today's passage presents Christ's death and resurrection as the true reason for deliverance from sin and death.

Gospel : Mark 1:12-15
Jesus was sent by the Spirit into the desert.
  • The story of the temptation of Jesus is told on the First Sunday of Lent every year.
  • Mark's brief account brings to mind figures and events from the Hebrew Scriptures.
  • After Jesus' baptism, the Spirit who had descended upon him drove him into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Today's Gospel relates to Baptism and its meaning.
A Message from Mrs. Laidlaw Otto
 
Dear SJE Families, 

I would like to thank all of you who have reached out to me with kind words regarding my impending retirement. I am so grateful to all of you.

Yesterday we celebrated Ash Wednesday together with all-school mass. Ash distribution looked a bit different, but our students easily adapted and, as always, we were glad for the opportunity to worship together.

It has been our tradition for many years to eat lunch in silence throughout Lent. This practice helps to slow our students down a bit. We use it to model fasting from the noise and hubbub of our day. As I supervise students during the silent lunches I have observed a couple of things. First - much more food is consumed when students are silent. Focus is on eating - although there are definitely whispers and giggles here and there, there is far less waste, and I believe that there are fuller tummies. Second - our students are done eating and ready to head outside to recess about five minutes earlier. Although they are not watching the clock, I am.  

I would never advocate for silent lunch every day. The importance of this opportunity to socialize while eating far outweighs the advantages of eating in silence. However, as with everything, there are lessons to be learned. Conversing quietly with classmates while eating is not, in spite of our best efforts, the reality day to day. The noise level is rather high even on our best days. Hopefully our students are absorbing some of the lessons that they learn and comment on during silent lunch periods. Maybe they will eat a little more and talk a little less. That would be just fine with me.  

I wish all of you a peaceful and prayerful Lent. 

Mary Laidlaw Otto 
Open Gym

If your child signed up for Open Gym, he or she is bringing home a waiver that needs to be signed by a parent or guardian. (You can also find the waiver here.) Open gym will begin next week, February 22nd. The dates are listed on the waiver. We must receive the signed waiver before your child will be allowed to participate. Open Gym for grades Grades 4 & 5 will be held on Tuesdays, Grade 6 will be on Mondays, and Grades 7 & 8 will have their open gym on Thursdays. Students should be picked up promptly at 4:00 PM.

If your child is in grades 4-8 and would like to participate, it is not too late to sign up. Please contact Mrs. Kaminski in the school office and she will provide the proper forms for you.
St. John the Evangelist School
414-321-8540
Fax: 414-321-4450
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