Celebrating Our Ministries: Rides

When you want to get to church, but you don’t have a ride, call. We can help. One of the most active ministries of our Care Teams is our Rides Ministry. A call to the office, or an email to Karen Tynes is all it takes to get to church. This is a 100% volunteer effort, and is a wonderful expression of Christian stewardship. Karen Tynes told me, “Just to say, when someone needs a ride, we have always been able to take care of them.”

Currently, the regular drivers are Janet Allen, Dennis Beals, Karen Tynes, Henny Van Dursen, and Rica O'Connor. Back-up drivers are Phyllis Collingwood, Rich and Karen Williams, Chris Johns, Harley and Melinda Wahl, Jill Spruce, and Karin Rogers. We now give rides to more than a dozen people.

Stewardship is our response to God’s love and generosity. When we bless others with our own bounty, as when you offer a ride to someone, you are giving thanks to God in the most practical way.
If you would like to offer rides, or if you find yourself needing a ride, please contact Karen Tynes.

Yours in Christ,
David+

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The Hands of God

I touched the hands of God today. Actually, I anointed the hands of God today. I was taking communion to the elderly mother of one of newer our members at an Adult Family Home. As we prayed the Lord’s Prayer, I noticed that this caregiver, Ramona, was praying with us, so I invited her to join us. We shared communion and then she began to express her grief at the recent loss of one of her residents who had been with them for 12 years: “My daughter was just two when this woman came to live with us. They used to watch cartoons together. Now my daughter is turning 14. I am so sad. She was like family to us.”

So, I took out my oil for anointing and asked her if I could anoint her hands: “Ramona, I anoint your hands in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Loving God, these hands do your work. Her heart is your heart. Bless these hands to be your loving care and presence for each person she touches.” I anointed both her hands. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

When I finished, her eyes were full of tears, and I was sure I had just held and anointed God’s own hands. There is a moment like this in the Gospel for this coming Sunday. Peter, James and John go up the mountain with Jesus to pray, and they see him in a new way. He begins to glow, Moses and Elijah appear to speak with him, and God speaks from the clouds, “This is my son with whom I am very well pleased. Listen to him.” In that moment, the three disciples saw a deep truth about Jesus. I was grateful to see the truth about Ramona today.

Yours in Christ,
David+

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Lent 2017 Adult Education series:
Growing a Rule of Life

On the five Sundays of Lent, and on Palm Sunday, Father David and Mother Catharine will facilitate a program called, Growing a Rule of Life. The program, developed by the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE).

This series focuses on God as the Chief Gardener of our souls and uses a tool from monastic spirituality called a ‘Rule of Life’ to explore and cultivate our relationships with God, Self, Others, and Creation. Just as stakes and lattices nurture the growth of young plants, so too can spiritual disciplines support the flourishing of our whole being.

Click the image to the right for a preview video.

When you sign up at the SSJE web site you will receive a daily email with a short video for you to watch. Then, at each Sunday session, we will watch a brief video presentation, enjoy conversation, and work with the materials together to support you as you develop your own rule of life.

We will need to prepare materials for each participant, so please sign up on the list in the parish hall or e-mail Mother Catharine at cbreid50@comcast.net.

Coffee Hours in March

• We are asking for members of the Congregation to help provide the coffee hour on March the 5th. You can bring anything that you would like, that fits into your budget. We are hoping for several people to contribute, making it easy on all! Please let Madeline Sego or Ann Patrice know if you are interested.
• Josef will be providing one of his lovely brunches on March the 19th, so plan on attending!
• The last Sunday will be a celebration of all the Birthdays and Anniversaries in that month.

Another Successful Saint Agnes Guild Fundraiser

The Saint Agnes Guild is very happy to announce that, after expenses, the Valentine Dinner raised $1261.46 for the organ fund! We are delighted. Joan Mackie has given a check to Father David. Another giant step toward the purchase of the organ.

Thanks to all who contributed so much toward the success of this great event. Folks like the Carosiello Family who prepared the delicious meal, Don Riccardo who assisted in the kitchen, Terry Rogers and Andy Mirkovich, who always make beautiful music, Dixie Buol, who diligently sold the tickets, Joan Mackie who manages the money, and Ann Patrice, dinner coordinator, Tina Bunes and Joyce Babb. Thanks to Bill Barnsdale, Harvey Lazelle, and Chris Johns who are always are there for us to set up and take down tables and chairs and anything else we may need. Thanks to bartenders Ginger and Charla, and the rest of you who contributed so greatly to the dinner of Fellowship and Fun.

Sincerely,
Lu Gardiner, President, Saint Agnes Guild

Listen to Last Week's Sermon

Year A, Epiphany 7
1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23
The Rev.Catharine Reid

This Sunday’s Readings Last Sunday after Epiphany

Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18 | 1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23
Matthew 5:38-48 | Psalm 119:33-40

Understanding, insight and inspiration often come in a blinding flash, a moment of clarity, or a moment of wonder. We imagine theologians pondering and priests studying and monks meditating, as though their work were a logical, linear process that leads, eventually, to new understanding, but more often we are surprised by insight. That is what seems to have happened with Peter, James and John when they went up the mountain with Jesus and saw him transfigured. What did they learn? What was their new understanding?

Calendar of Ongoing Events