THE EPISTLE The Season of Lent A message from The Rev. Phyllis A. Spiegel February 2016 I love the seasons of the church. Though admittedly I would like for some of them to come a bit further apart. It seems as if we just finished Advent, and it is Lent already! But regardless of how the dates fall, what I love is that each season gives us the chance to focus on particular parts of our faith life. During Lent of course we are encouraged to simplify our lives, to be more intentional about reading scripture, to fast (especially appropriate on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday), and to adhere to a spiritual discipline. I was raised that you needed to give something up in Lent, like chocolate or soda. This practice went towards the simplifying your living idea. But over the years the church seemed to realize that such teaching had the effect of turning Lent into the great opportunity to lose weight before swim suit season. So the church turned away from suggesting that people give something up and rather that we take something on. I myself am of this frame of mind, or at least I have been. But this year, as I find myself thinking about Lent I realize that my perspective has changed yet again. Continued on page 2 Table of Contents Lenten Series Dinners (page 1) Soup Supper (page 2) Stepping Forward (page 3) Shrove Tuesday (page 4) Men s Book Group (page 6) Deadline for March Epistle: February 20 Lenten Dinner Series Sign up now to be a part of the Lenten Dinner Series! These inhome dinner/discussions will take place in a host s home on four consecutive Sundays or Wednesdays. Then the final dinner will take place at the church. We are now looking for hosts and participants to sign up for either a Wednesday or a Sunday. Signup sheets are in the Community Room at church. Join the conversation, and see where God leads us! For more information, contact Lois Erven at lerven@cinci.rr.com 1
St. Anne Episcopal Church Continued from page 1... February 2016 The Season of Lent I think I will always simplify during Lent and lean towards the idea of taking on a practice for Lent, but my current thought about Lent is that it should be a season of intentionality. To live intentionally would be to live by considering how others live and to moderate my use of resources (i.e. simplify my living); to live intentionally would be to spend time each day listening for God in prayer/meditation; to live intentionally would be to balance work, play, rest and time for spiritual practices (that might be ending the day with Compline or taking a hike and pondering God s creation, or journaling). Maybe being intentional during Lent means waking up each day and asking God, how I should encounter the holy on this day? However you choose to observe Lent I would offer one overarching principle: The idea is not for Lent to be a 40 day self-help course. Lent is a season meant to put aside one s self-focus and self-indulgence and to center one s life on God. So whatever practice, discipline or intentionality you choose for Lent, ask yourself, How does this practice draw me closer to God? If you can answer this, even if the answer is, Each day I will seek to draw closer to God by.(insert your chosen discipline) then you will have fulfilled the mandate of the church that each of its members observe a holy Lent so that we as the Body may be prepared for the yearly remembrance of Christ s death, resurrection and ascension. On Ash Wednesday I will stand before you and on behalf of the church I will invite you into the observance of a holy Lent. Don t let it catch you off guard. How will you draw closer to God during this holy season? Yours in Christ, Phyllis+ St. Anne Soup Supper / Feb 6th The Soup Supper started 30+ years ago as a way to raise funds to buy land for the newly formed St. Anne Episcopal Church. This event, the brainchild of Margaret Koegle, was traditionally held the first weekend in December. It helped kick off the Christmas season for St. Anne parishioners and was a great way to fill the coffers. After many years, the event moved to the Madyda and Croisant homes on alternate years. It has since moved to St. Anne s Parish Hall where it continues to be a wonderful night of fun, fabulous food and funds for the mortgage. Join the fun on February 6, 2016, starting at 6:30pm. We ask for a $5/per person donation that goes toward the reduction of the mortgage. 2
Stepping Forward -Second Tuesday of the Month- February 10th Second Tuesday of the month means it s time to roll up your sleeves and help with Stepping Forward on February 10 th. This month, we are cooking and preparing the main meal so any desserts or fruit to complement the meal would be most appreciated. Please sign up in the Community Room. In addition, volunteers are always needed to serve food, clean up afterwards, and help with childcare. And now, there is also a reading program for children after the meal! So we are looking for mentors for the children and also for the some adults. Please bring your desserts/fruit to St. Anne s kitchen before 2pm on that Tuesday. And please indicate that they are for Stepping Forward. Stepping Forward is a program overseen by The Faith Alliance of West Chester and Liberty Township, a collaborative network of Christian churches who work side by side to serve the needs of our community. This outreach initiative takes place at Faith Community United Methodist Church, 8230 Cox Road, West Chester. Two Services for Ash Wednesday This year Ash Wednesday is February 10 th. Two services will take place that day at 12 noon and 7pm. We are asking all parishioners to bring their palm crosses from last year to the church on Sunday, February 7 th, or to the Pancake Supper. The children will be invited outside at 6:30pm on Tuesday night to burn the palm crosses and to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday. This completes the cycle. Each year we bless the palms and then the crosses are place in our homes to remind us that we are always preparing the way for Christ. Since they are bless the proper way to dispose of them is to burn them. Toy Drive Update! The Three Kings Toy Drive was a HUGE success! We collected 60 toys, 53 games, 29 puzzles, and 74 books. All will be donated to various facilities that serve the needs of families and children. Thanks to everyone who donated! Contact me for more information or to volunteer. -Kathy Tracy katracy1955@yahoo.com 3
Shrove Tuesday/Feb. 9th Juntique is Coming! Please join us on February 9th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm as we prepare to eat yummy pancakes for our traditional Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper. Shrove Tuesday originated during the Middle Ages. As in contemporary times, food items like meats, fats, eggs, milk, and fish were regarded as restricted during Lent. To keep such food from being wasted, many families would have big feasts on Shrove Tuesday in order to consume those items that would inevitably become spoiled during the next forty days. The English tradition of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday came about as a way to use as much milk, fats, and eggs as possible before Ash Wednesday began. In France, the consumption of all fats and fatty foods on this day coined the name "Fat Tuesday" or Mardi Gras. This year, gluten free pancakes will be available, along with the regular pancakes and bacon/sausage. Donations will be given to help offset costs for the upcoming Appalachian Service Project (ASP) mission trip is summer. For more information, contact Kirk Ealy at (513) 490-3554 or by email at kirkealy@hotmail.com. Mark Your Calendars! Feb. 6: Soup Supper Feb. 7: Bring palm crosses to church Feb. 9: Shrove Tuesday Feb. 9: Stepping Forward Feb. 10: Ash Wednesday Feb. 13: Secret Sister Luncheon Feb. 21: Men s Book Group Clean out those closets, garages, and basements! The annual Juntique is scheduled for April 9 th. We ll take your old furniture, Christmas decorations, appliances, jewelry, sports equipment, housewares and more! (no clothes, please) The sale benefits the J2A class and their pilgrimage for 2017. For more information, contact Jenni Kim at jlk6031@gmail.com. Did you know? that each Sunday during the coffee hour, the food provided is donated by various parishioners? If you would like to help on a regular basis or a one-time basis, contact Pat Madyda at secamad@gmail.com or Alick Watson at awatson28@cinci.rr.com. that the Altar Guild is looking for new members? Male or female! If you are interested, contact Cathy West at cvwest2013@gmail.com. that you can listen to most of Rev. Phyllis Sunday Sermons online through the website? Go to www.saintanne-wc.org; click on the NEWS tab, then go to SUNDAY SERMONS. that we are still expecting snow this winter and are still looking for volunteers to help with snow shoveling. Contact Jeff Leininger at mleininger1@cinci.rr.com or Dave Saunders at finz2dart@aol.com. that you can always learn something interesting at the Adult Forum on Sundays at 10am in the Music/Media room? Like the history of the Mormon Church! 4
February 2016 This is a very busy month!! Calendar Please note that this calendar is a snapshot of the full calendar from the St. Anne website. For more detailed information, go the website and click on the item listed. To include your event on the calendar, contact the parish office. www.saintanne-wc.org/calendar 5
Men s Book Group / February 21 For the next meeting, the Men s Book Group has selected Accidental Saints: Finding God in all the Wrong People. New York Times bestselling author Nadia Bolz- Weber invites readers into a surprising encounter with what she calls a religious but not-so-spiritual life. This former standup comic turned pastor stubbornly, sometimes hilariously, resists the God she feels called to serve. But God keeps showing up in the least likely of people a church-loving agnostic, a drag queen, and a felonious Bishop. Our next meeting will be Sunday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. at The Rusty Bucket at Liberty Center. Men -- of all ages -- who enjoy reading and conversation and movies are welcome to join us. For more information, please contact Bill Pearce at labpearce67@gmail.com, or Rob Turley at rsturley@mac.com or Baker Meyer at bakermeyer@mac.com. About St. Anne Parish Office: 513.779.1139 Email: info@saintanne-wc.org Website: www.saintanne-wc.org Office Hours: Tues to Fri: 9am-3pm In case of an emergency, contact Rev. Phyllis Spiegel at 513.283.2760 The Epistle is a publication of St. Anne Episcopal Church of West Chester, Ohio Please feel free to contact us regarding any of the information in this publication. Call 513.779.1139 or email us at stanne@fuse.net The Epistle St. Anne Episcopal Church 6461 Tylersville Road West Chester, OH 45069