St. Paul s Episcopal Church Page 1 March 2017 The Epistle Shrove Tuesday Rev. Jody Lediard Have you ever been shriven? What does being Shriven have to do with Shrove Tuesday? The name Shrove comes from the old word shrive, which means to confess. It s interesting that in older times, the shriving was done before Lent and one would go into the season of Lent already forgiven with room to repent (turn) and renew. Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day in the UK, is the day before Lent (Ash Wednesday) begins. It is considered a tradition to eat pancakes on this day before commencing Lent when fat, butter and eggs used to be forbidden. The people would use up all of the fat, butter, and eggs to allow them not to be tempted during their fast time. This year, the Shrove Tuesday Feast took place on February 28 th from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. St. Monica s Guild cooked and served the dinner in the Fireside Room. Part of our time on that evening was spent visiting the rooms previously used by Quest to observe what things are necessary in our lives and what things can be given away, sold (sale to be held later in the spring), or taken to the dump. We look forward to rededicating those areas to God s service. What Is Lent? Lent is a period of 40 days set aside in our church calendar during which we are called to consciously stream line our lives. We are invited to remove those things from our days that are not as important as others to free-up time to spend as Holy Time. During Holy Time we can center on our relationships with God and with others, to ripen them, to polish them and to make them more wholesome. For Episcopalians holy means that something is set apart-special or sacred, if you will. It also means something that is complete. The German theologian Rudolf Otto defined the holy as an experience of something wholly other or mysterium tremendum et fascians a frightening and fascinating mystery. We are encouraged to think of God in relationship. God, in and of God s self is whole. We describe God as the Trinity three in one and thus a mystery. God is three separate beings and yet connected. God leads us into wholeness into being complete. It takes a person who is centered to explore Holy and Whole. Let us center in community to do our explorations and support each other in our search for holy and wholeness. Lo que se Cuaresma? La Cuaresma es un período de 40 días en nuestro calendario de iglesia durante el cual estamos llamados a la línea de corriente consciente nuestras vidas. Se nos invita a quitar esas cosas de nuestros días que no son tan importantes como otros a tiempo libre para pasar como Tiempo Santo. Durante el Tiempo Santo, podemos centrar en nuestras relaciones con Dios y con los demás, para que maduren a ellos, pulirlos y hacerlos más saludables. Para episcopales Santo significa que algo es aparte especial o sagrado, si se quiere. También significa algo que está completo. El teólogo alemán Rudolf Otto define al Santo como una experiencia de lo totalmente otro o mysterium tremendum et fascians un misterio aterrador y fascinante. Nos animamos a pensar en Dios en la relación. Dios y el de Dios es todo. Describimos a Dios como la Trinidad tres en uno y por lo tanto un misterio. Dios es tres seres separados y aún conexión. Dios nos conduce a la plenitud en ser completa. Se necesita a una persona que está centrada en el Santo y todo. Nos del centro en comunidad nuestras exploraciones y apoyarse mutuamente en la búsqueda del Santo y la totalidad.
St. Paul s Episcopal Church Page 2 March 2017 Some Cons for Lent Deacon Lynn Yule Concept. At the end of the sermon on February 19 th, I gave the congregation a homework assignment. I invite you now to join them in picturing what the Kingdom of God looks like for you. That s what the Sunday Paper for the children gave as an assignment that Sunday and I figured the adults could rise to the challenge. What came to my mind was the classic scene of the lion and the lamb lying down together in peace. When I think further of the Kingdom of God, I think of how I act as a citizen of it. That would be hard to draw, but I think a lot of it has to do with how I would be considerate of others. Let me know how you do with picturing the Kingdom of God. What s your concept? Consider Lent itself. We are called to a time of prayer, fasting, and alms giving. Any of these can be an occasion of taking up a practice such as daily Morning Prayer, or giving up something (ice cream, anyone?) or even a combination of both. For example, every time you pass up dessert, put the money saved into a special container for alms giving at the end of Lent. Please consider what you will do to help yourself make the 40 days of Lent a time of reflection and renewal. Constancy. Whatever you do to observe Lent, make it a practice. That means don t give up if you slip up and forget a day. Don t try to double up the next day to make up for the day you missed. Remember this is a practice you are doing, and contrary to the popular saying, Practice does not make perfect, it makes better. Keep on practicing. Contacts. Our Sunday bulletin includes Prayers of the People and lists those for whom we are praying. The Society of St. John the Evangelist has a Lenten program, The Five Marks of Love. You can access it via their website http://www.ssje.org. Mission St. Clare has the Daily Offices online at the following: http://www.missionstclare.com. May you have a blessed Lent. St. Paul s Episcopal Church 1609 W. 10th Avenue Kennewick, Washington 99336 (509) 582-8635 stpaulskennewick@frontier.com Church Staff Rev. JoAnne Lediard, Priest-in-Charge Rev. Lynn Yule, Deacon Mary Esther Lippold, Organist Brian Kady, Sunday School Superintendent Cindy Winter, Sunday School Coordinator Kathy DeMers, Adult Education Margie Weed, Jim Carter, Youth Leaders Bill Buchmiller, St. Paul s Church Website Marji Parker, Micki Furr, The Epistle Newsletter The Bishop s Committee Susan Moore, Senior Warden"... 783-8293 Kathy DeMers"... 735-4518 Richard Elizai"... 460-2547 Brian Kady"... 374-8796 David Langstaff"... 586-1525 Marji Parker"... 547-5028 Ron Weed"... 586-4905 Johnathan Hicks, Treasurer"... 547-8598
St. Paul s Episcopal Church Page 3 March 2017 Patrick the Saint We associate St. Patrick with Ireland, but he was actually an Englishman who was kidnapped, taken to Ireland, and enslaved as a sheep herder. He finally escaped, went to Gaul, and studied for the priesthood. He then went back to Ireland to convert as many as he could to Christianity, an effort that was largely successful. He preached, built churches and converted pagan chiefs and their followers all over the island. There are many legends about him and his work, some of which may be true. But he probably did not slay any dragons. He is said to have used the three-leaved green shamrock to illustrate the nature of the Trinity. Hence the wearing of the green to celebrate his day. He died in 461 at the age of about 76. Ongoing Needs (None Have Gone Away) We need regular reminders of of the need for the things (and people) required to make big things happen. The budget is tight. Here again is the list. Altar flower memorials. The Altar Guild also needs money for candle oil and other supplies. Toilet paper (regular size rolls) Copy paper: Paper seems to vanish as if on wings. Stamps People to count money after church (see Bob Andrews) Ushers (this is not a hard job) (see Dorothy Sherwin) Coffee hour hosts/hostesses. You don t necessarily need to do any work. This can be a team effort. Somebody can bring food while somebody else arranges it, someone else can set up, and still another person can clean up. A sign up sheet is on the Fireside Room door. If we are to have coffee and things to munch, to go with greetings and conversation, and the greetings and conversation are an important part of our fellowship, we all need to share in bringing goodies. Contributions for the food bank. Volunteers to help with Sunday School one Sunday each month.
St. Paul s Episcopal Church Page 4 March 2017 Grand Episcopal Celebration in Spokane of the Consecration of New Bishop At 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 18 th, the Rev. Canon Doctor Gretchen Mary Rehberg will become the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane. She is the 59 th woman to be elected bishop in the Anglican communion, and the first in the diocese of Spokane. The Rev. Rehberg is the former rector of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Lewiston, Idaho. Former presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori will preach at the event, and the Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, will be the consecrator. The consecration ceremony and reception following will be at St. John s Cathedral, Spokane. All are invited; clergy and diocesan officials are requested to RSVP. Anyone wishing to attend may want to ride the bus scheduled to leave All Saints Church, which will be returning that evening. The cost is $25. Lenten Soup and Study Soup and Study during Lent will be held on Tuesday evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m. We will be talking about celebrating our lives at the end of our lives. We will be looking for meaning, importance, liturgy, music, and legacy. There have been requests for this topic. Even though some may think this is mainly for the older folks, all are invited as making memories, meaning, and moments of love throughout our lives connects us with each other and with God. World renowned soups will be served with tasty breads as food for thought. Come and join us as Lenten discipline and choose to broaden your relationships with God and community. Sopa de Cuaresma y el Estudio Sopa y de estudio durante la Cuaresma se celebrará el comienzo del martes por la noche en 6:30 p.m. Nos hablará sobre celebrando nuestras vidas al final de nuestras vidas. Lo se estés buscando significado, importancia, liturgia, música y legado. Ha habido solicitudes para este tema. Aunque algunos pueden pensar que esto es principalmente para las personas mayores, todos son invitados como recuerdos, lo que significa, y momentos de amor durante toda nuestra vida nos conecta con los demás y con Dios. Sopas de renombre mundial serán servidos con panes sabrosos como para reflexionar. Venga y únase a nosotros como disciplina cuaresmal y elija ampliar sus relaciones con Dios y la comunidad.
St. Paul s Episcopal Church Page 5 March 2017 March Birthdays 1 Warren Monroe Allan Sherwin 6 Marvin Mason 13 Allyson Zarate 14 Betty Jo Monroe 15 Pat Conway 17 Betty Smith 25 Max Cervantes 30 Casey Armstrong 31 Diane Anderson March Anniversaries 13 John & Anita Massie Fudge Easter Eggs April 2017 EPISTLE Article Deadline: Thursday, March 23, 2017 7 p.m. Talk over your ideas with Marji Parker. A special thank you to Whitney Sherwin for her help with proofreading the Spanish translations in this edition! It s time again for chocolate fudge and the making and decorating of chocolate Easter eggs. Profits from their sale will be used to help send kids to camp. All are encouraged to help make the eggs. The first session, to cook the chocolate, will be Friday, March 24 th at 10 a.m. in the Parish Hall kitchen. On the following day, Saturday the 25 th at 10 a.m., the chocolate will be shaped into egg forms, and then weighed and decorated. Decorations can be an outlet for creativity. All are invited to come and help on either (or both) Friday and Saturday. Meetings and Other Important Gatherings Lenten Soup and Study: Every Tuesday during March, and 1st Tuesday in April, 6:30 p.m. (FSR) Planning/Outreach Committee: March 9 th, 6:30 p.m. (FSR) Altar Guild: Saturday, March 11 th, 10 a.m. (FSR) Bishop s Committee: March 12 th, following the morning service. Bishop Ordination: Saturday, March 18 th. See story on page 4. Aunt Ida s Sewing Circle: Saturday, March 18 th, 11 a.m. (FSR) New projects are planned. Come, learn, create! Outreach Committee: Tuesday, March 21 st, 5:30 p.m. (FSR) Choir: Practices are each Wednesday when the choir is expected to sing the following Sunday. Crafts: Anyone interested in knitting or other crafts in the company of others is welcome on Thursdays at 11 a.m. (FSR). Men s Group: Every Saturday, 9 a.m., Denny s. Introduce yourself to somebody you don t know!