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Email: office@stmarysucc.org
Page last updated: February 9, 2010
T H E P A R I S H N E W S
St. Mary’s United Church of Christ
Silver Run, Maryland
Volume XXXI February 2010 No 2 modified for the Web.
(Previous issues available: 2008, 2009, 2010)
Ash Wednesday - February 17th
Lenten Communion Service - February 22nd
Penitence follows epiphany.
In the first three gospels we read the story that after Jesus was
baptized by John in the Jordan River, he went into the wilderness beyond the
Jordan for a time of prayer and fasting. The
climax of our season of Epiphany is our celebration of Jesus’ transfiguration.
We again behold the vision of Jesus’ glorious appearance upon the
mountaintop with Moses and Elijah. God
grants us these times of profound religious encounter: the Holy Spirit
descending upon Jesus after his baptism, Moses encounter of the burning bush,
Isaiah’s vision before the throne of God, Paul’s encounter of the risen
Christ upon the road to Damascus, the disciple’s vision of Jesus in dazzling
display upon the mount of transfiguration. But
what are we to do with such intensity of religious experience?
How should we respond to our encounter with the holy?
Penitence follows epiphany. Jesus’ responded to his vision of the Holy Spirit descending upon him by heading out into the wilderness. For forty days he prayed and fasted; he opened his heart and his soul to the leading of the Spirit; he was strengthened to withstand temptation and prepared for the difficult tasks of the ministry that he was called to do. So often we think of Lent as a season of preparation for Easter that we fail to see Jesus’ wilderness experience as a response to an epiphany, his time to reflect upon what the experience really meant, to discern the will of God, and follow where the Spirit was ready to lead him.
Penitence follows epiphany. With our communion service on Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of penitence that we refer to as Lent. But it is more than our time to prepare for Easter. It is our time to reflect upon our encounter with the holy during epiphany, to remember our vision of the transfigured Christ, and to ponder the implications the vision has for our lives and the life of our church. We will be called to leave behind us the sins of the past and turn toward the new paths that the Spirit would have us travel. May our season of penitence make clear the meaning of our vision of the holy, and make clear our direction for the ministries to which we are called for our lives and for our life together.
Grace and peace, Dick
Lent
begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17th.
As we begin this season of reflection and repentance, everyone is invited
to join in our annual Ash Wednesday service beginning at 7:30 PM.
This year, other UCC churches in our Westminster area will be joining
with us. The service will include
the imposition of Ashes and the sacrament of Holy Communion.
As we host this event, all of us at St. Mary’s UCC are encouraged to
participate in this meaningful service of worship and celebration.
The
first Sunday in Lent is Sunday, February 21st.
We at St. Mary’s UCC will begin our season of reflection and penitence
with our 10:30 AM traditional service of worship which will include Holy
Communion served in the pews. As we
prepare our hearts and our lives for the coming of Holy Week and Easter, all are
invited to share in this most meaningful way to begin the Lenten season.
From
the STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
Our special thanks go to all those who helped support our strong finish in a difficult year. Thanks to our year-end gifts and a small transfer from our Contingency Fund, the General Fund ended 2009 with a dollar to spare. And while we did not make our benevolence goal, we were still strong supporters of our OCWM and we hope that putting a greater emphasis on our other benevolences our overall support will continue to remain strong. Thanks to all of you for your continuing prayers and contributions for our church and its mission.
We will be taking orders for Easter flowers the end of February and early March. Look for flyers in upcoming Sunday bulletins.
The Flower Calendar for the year 2010 is posted in the bell tower entryway. If you wish to place altar flowers on the altar in honor or in memory of a loved one, please sign you name on the Sunday desired and let the church office know what you wish in the bulletin for that Sunday. You are also responsible for ordering your flowers. Any questions call the church office 410-346-7977.
At
the beginning of the New Year the
children and youth changed the emphasis of their benevolence from global to
local. Their offering monies will be
donated to the Carroll County Humane Society.
The children enjoy helping animals and relate to the animals housed
at the Humane Society. Monetary
donations are gratefully accepted, but
the Humane Society also accepts items that benefit their organization. I have
included a Wish List if anyone would
like to donate an item. Collection
boxes will be available in the vestry and downstairs. If you have any questions
contact Linda.
WISH LIST:
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Join us the last Sunday of the month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for an evening of fun & games. All kids in Grades K through high school are welcome. Bring a friend! A light snack will be provided. Contact Brian or Lisa for more information.
In John 15:12, Jesus says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Christian love and caring for one another is not just the pastor’s job --- it is something Jesus calls all of us to do! Stephen Ministry is a ministry in which people with special gifts for caring ministry can put those gifts to use in an organized way, bringing Jesus’ love and care to those who need it during a challenging time.
If you feel that you could use a Stephen Minister and/or for more information about Stephen Ministry, please contact Pastor Scott, Steve, or Dorothy Ellen.
Thank You for sharing our Parish News! If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact the church office.
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