February 14, The First Sunday of Lent

February 10, 2016 

7:00 p.m.

Ash Wednesday Liturgy

Imposition of Ashes

Holy Eucharist

Ash Wednesday is one of the most solemn and significant events of the Church Year.  It marks the beginning of Lent which is the period of preparation for Easter.  The Preface for  the Eucharistic Prayer in Lent puts it this way: 

You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the Paschal Feast, that fervent in prayers and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace, which you have prepared for those who truly love you. 

There is a lot here.  The word “cleanse,” is also used in St. John’s Gospel in Jesus’ discourse on the True Vine where it means “pruning”  “Every branch that does not bear fruit he cleanses, or prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”  So you have the idea of getting rid of things that get in the way of our flourishing, or, “The glory of God is Man and Woman fully alive.”  It is not a pleasant experience, particularly when the cleansing involves things deeply rooted and long standing.  “Prepare with joy for the Paschal Feast,”  that is get ready and anticipate and begin to live from the joy that comes to us at Easter.  We’re getting ready for something wonderful, the most wonderful thing there is.  “Fervent in Prayer and in Works of Mercy,” tells us that Lent is not just about “giving things up,” it’s about taking things on, good things like expressions of love for God in prayer, and love for one another in actions that are kind and compassionate.  “Renewed by Word and Sacraments,”  that is what they are for, and Lent is a time to focus deeply on that and receive all they offer.  Finally, the “Fullness of Grace,” which is we are made ready to share fully all God wishes to bestow, which is his whole self to us. 

Lent is not an easy season.  We ponder what it is about us that makes it necessary for Jesus to lose his life and to lose it in the way he does.  It’s not so much about listing our faults as acknowledging our afflictions, those we endure and those we perpetrate in what one writer has called, “the hell of self knowledge.  We can do that and believe it or not do it with joy because the Good News is that words of the imposition of ashes, Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return, are not the last word, but only the first and that Ash Wednesday leads us to Easter and our sharing in Christ’s Risen Life. 

 Daily Scripture Readings;  bookofcommonprayer.net/daily_office.php

See the different options.  There is full morning and evening prayer.  There is also the option of the readings only.  There is also an app for receiving the daily readings by email, or on a mobile device

Sunday Scripture Readings:  bookofcommonprayer.net/lectionary.php

Set it for 1979 Contemporary, and the Bible version used in Church is Revised Standard Version

Shrove Tuesday Reprise

A big THANKYOU  goes to Briony James for making the meal for last night’s Shrove Tuesday dinner.   She made a fabulous gumbo, along with Swedish Pancakes, and a King Cake for dessert.   Everyone who came had a great time.  We know it was successful because all the food was eaten!.   Also helping were Sonny Premo, Jennifer Uniack, Sally Dungan, and Kelly Russell.  

The Call to Lenten Observance

 The Liturgy for Ash Wednesday states:

 I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. 

 In many people’s minds, the word “Lent,” means “giving up something.”  But if you listen carefully to the liturgy, you’ll note that it’s more about increasing, adding to, intensifying one’s Christian practice.   This taking on rather than giving up is in the two fundamental areas of Christian living:  Love of God, and Love of Neighbor.

 Love of God:   We’ll have several things to assist with this once Lent begins.  Once again we will have booklets of Lenten Meditations provided by Episcopal Relief and Development. 

 Also we have something new, a Lenten Poster, that corresponds to the Advent Poster that so many found helpful before Christmas. 

 Love of Neighbor:   We’ll have two opportunities beginning Sunday February 14.

 Hillsides Executive Director Joe Costa, will visit COA at the 10:15 Liturgy and speak of the ministry of Hillsides Home, our next door neighbor.   For decades, COA and Hillsides have collaborated as neighbors under the same umbrella, The Diocese of Los Angeles, sharing equipment and other resources to strengthen each other’s mission.   We welcome Joe’s visit to us.

 Episcopal Relief and Development:   Chris Ortiz, ERD coordinator for COA will have materials and handouts for this very important ministry of the Episcopal Church.

 Episcopal Community Credit Union.   Again Chris will have material on the work of our Diocesan Credit Union that makes loans available to low income people. 

From the Outreach Committee:

Many of you made donations at Christmas time in support of the new building for the elementary school in Bukeka.  Here are some photos of the building that is being built.  Suubi School will hopefully open it’s doors this month.  If you would like to make a donation in 2016, Global Hands of Hope is still short of funds for the building and furnishing the classrooms.  Donations can be made through the church and marked for Uganda or GHOH.  They can also be sent to: Global Hands of Hope 1210 Hillcrest, Normal, IL  61761

We collected books at Christmas that will go into the classrooms at Suubi.  The children, teachers and directors at Global Hands of Hope send you all a heart-felt “thank you” and pray that God will bless you abundantly.

Coffee Hour Needs: 

We need people to volunteer for Coffee Hour on the following Sundays:

7:45 Liturgy:  February 14, & 28

10:15 Liturgy  February 21, 28

Anglican Rosary:  Saturday, February 13,  9:00 a.m 

The Anglican Rosary devotional group meets Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. in the Church.  Everyone is welcome.

 Emmaus Road

Emmaus Road resumes it’s reading of  Marilynne Robinson’s book, The Giveness of Things, on Monday, February 15.  , in the Parish Hall Living Room.  Anyone is welcome to join in.  The book is readily available at Vroman’s in Pasadena.  For Monday February 15,  we will read chapter 4,  “Giveness.”

Das Boot:  Working on the Boat that is Church of the Angels

 Eric Jones has been at work “Sweating the Small Stuff”

 “I tightened the bolts underneath the outdoor benches, but one was left undone which didn't have any attachment mechanisms..  It really needs to have metal plugs put into the concrete like the others.  I'll pick them up on my next trip.  

 Also, today I tightened the screws in the pew kneelers, adding any missing screws, added some new plugs to stripped screws, and bent some of the metal supports so that the kneelers don't fall out of their supports.  Lastly, I put some Armor-all on the "leather."  They should all be set for the next year at least!”