You are cordially invited

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1 February 2015 You are cordially invited The Jacksboro Parish Sweetheart Dinner Sponsored by the Nurture Committee and the Men of the Parish You are invited to a very special Valentine dinner in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, February 7th at 6:30PM. You will not want to miss this event. Please RSVP to Bob or Roxanna Maddox. Bob Maddox Roxanna Maddox (940) (940) bob@maddoxrealty.com roxanna@maddoxrealty.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE Calendar... 2 Brite Divinity... 3 Transfiguration... 4 New Year, New Name!... 5 Bake Sale... 6 Greystone Help... 7 Food Pantry... 8 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST February 18th, Ash Wednesday February 15th, Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday February 18th to April 2nd, Lent March 29th, Palm Sunday April 2nd, Maundy Thursday April 5th, Easter

2 February 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat AM-3PM 6PM 7PM 9AM-3PM Sweetheart 6:30 PM Bake Sale after Church 9AM-3PM Youth Advisory 6:30PM 6PM 7PM 9AM-3PM Happy Valentines Day Parish 6:00PM 9AM-3PM Soul Noon 6PM 7PM Ash Wednesday Beginning of Lent 9AM-3PM Newsletter Articles Due AM-3PM 6PM 7PM 9AM-3PM 2

3 NEWS FROM BRITE DIVINITY SCHOOL Submitted by Martha Salmon This year students at Brite Divinty School at TCU offered the invocation at ten performances of the Forth Worth Rodeo. Below is a prayer offered one night by a first-year Master of Divinity student Stephanie Kendall. I thought you might want to know what one of our students prayed for in a very distinctive public arena! Sincerely, Newell Williams President Brite Divinity School God of the dirt and sky. The one who blesses the cinch, saddle and spur Inspired Creator of the horse and the rider We are from many different backgrounds, families, and organizations, but we are all gathered here, in your great arena, reminded of your incredible power and abundant grace. We are thankful for all that you have made in this world and understand that even in the passion of competition, we are obligated to respect and love all that is yours. As your grateful children we ask that you be with each competitor, animal and human alike, and see them safely through each competition. Help us to know that in 3 seconds or 8, we are never alone on the ride. We are thankful tonight for the men and women whose job is to keep us safe. From the armed services abroad, to the police in our cities, to the bullfighters in our arena, both paid and volunteer. Help us to be mindful of their willingness to be servants of civility, and return them home safely, when their job is done. Loving Creator, you know our stories and see our passions. Help us to understand that our individual journeys are a gift from you, and all you ask in return is that we love each other as you love us, unconditionally. For each day, and each ride, we are infinitely grateful and eternally yours. Amen. 3

4 TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD SUNDAY, ASH WEDNESDAY, AND LENT By Anne Dyer In 2015 February 15 is when we celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord during our liturgical journey, and we use white as the liturgical color. The Transfiguration of Christ occurs soon after His Baptism by John the Baptist. One may find the description of the event in Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9: Jesus took his inner circle of disciples (Peter, James, and John) up on a high mountain where Jesus was transformed before them his face shining like the sun and his clothing became a dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared before them and began to speak with Jesus. Then, a bright cloud appeared above them, and a voice said: This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!! The disciples fell on the ground and were very afraid. Jesus told them to rise up and not be aftraid, but he ordered them not to tell anyone about this vision. It is believed that the Transfiguration occurred to reveal Christ s future glory, and it is also likened to God s appearance to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The appearance of Moses and Elijah could be representative of the law and the prophets, or, perhaps, two prophets. The bright cloud represents the presence of God. It is often thought that the Transfiguration was one of Jesus miracles, but what makes the Transfiguration unique is that the miracle happens to Jesus himself. In Christianity, it is believed that the Transfiguration is a pivotal point where human nature meets God. The mountain serves as a point when the mortal meets the eternal with Jesus Christ being the bridge between heaven and earth. Ash Wednesday is February 18, 2015, and it marks the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday is the time of public confession and contrition signified by the impostition of the ashes (the ashes are the burned palm leaves from the previous year s Palm/Passion Sunday). It is the time when we all stand in solidarity as we acknowledge our sins and realize that we all fall short of the glory of God. We are keenly aware of our own mortality, and we pledge to begin once again to live by God s Word. Lent is a time of inner reflection, prayer, fasting and preparation for the great three days which culminate on Easter. Our Lenten journey begins from the ashes of death to the resurrection of life. Lent is a period of 40 days (like the flood in Genesis; Moses on Mt. Sinai; Elijah s journey to Mt. Horeb; Jonah s call to Ninevah to repent; and Jesus own testing in the wilderness). The Sundays during Lent are not counted as we believe every Sunday is the Lord s Day which is a witness to and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lenten period is represented by the color purple. Lent will last from February 18 to April 2 which is Maundy Thursday. Holy Week begins with Passion/Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015, and continues through Holy Saturday, April 4,

5 Volunteers Needed The Food Pantry is always looking for someone willing to carry, pack and load groceries. Help is needed on the third Monday of every month starting at 2:00 Pm. John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. To do more for the world than the world does for you that is success. Henry Ford How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. Anne Frank NEW YEAR, NEW NAME! By Margaret Johnson Soul Support will be the new name for Bible Babes. This name was chosen because the members of this group desired a name that more accurately reflected the purpose of our group. The members share in a desire to grow in faith and to support others on the journey toward living a life more centered on the teachings of Christ. This group is for all ages and will continue to be held the third Wednesday of each month at 12:00 noon at the student activity center. A light lunch is served, and there is always a lively discussion about various topics concerning women in today s church. Please consider joining the group for an hour of worship, fun, and fellowship. Our next meeting will be February 18th. We hope to see you there! 5

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8 JACKSBORO COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY PROGRESS REPORT Written by Sheri Kettely Submitted by Mitchell Davenport January 2015 begins the third year of distributing non-perishable food to those in need in Jack County. Jacksboro continues to dominate those seeking food with 99% of those assisted living with the city limits. In 2013, we provided 26,715 meals at a cost of.27 cents per meal. In 2014, we provided 58,755 meals at a cost of.22 cents per meal. The feeding America data shows that Texas average cost per meal of $2.28 is below the national average of $2.67 per meal. The state s food insecurity rate of 18.7 present is 3.8 percent higher than the national average of 14.9 percent. The key in minimizing cost has been the food drives from local churches, businesses and individual donation of food. Additionally, this is accomplished by strategic meal planning, purchasing in bulk from the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank as well as taking advantage of weekly sales at our local grocery store. These cost effective measures, combined with the donation of space from the First Assembly of God and food transportation provided by Christian Missions, enable us to keep our average cost per meal significantly lower than both the state and national average. Additionally, we were blessed to have Produce Express from Wichita Falls Area Food Bank bring a sack of fresh produce each month to supplement our non-perishable food. The Produce Express truck has distributed 70,365 pounds of produce in Jack County since inception March At this time, we continue to provide a five-day supply of breakfast, lunch and dinner to each family member. We distribute the third Monday of every month from 2:30-6 God s House/First Assembly of God Fellowship Hall. JCFP is committed in the name of Christ to feed the hungry in Jack County and establish a permanent sanctuary to nourish God s children. If you have any questions about the Food Pantry, or would like to see how our facility organizes and distributes, please do not hesitate to call