Pray 💜 Fast 💜 Give During Lent

OBSERVING LENT

Consider All Ways You Might Get Closer to God

Lent might be called, “The Christian Season of Repentance. ” It is an opportunity to renew your faith in Christ. Here are three ways you might observe the season of Lent.

1.FAST Fasting recalls Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness. Some people abstain from meat, sugar, alcohol, or any number of things. Choosing to go without something reminds us of our dependence on God. Fast from something you don’t need.

2.PRAY Prayer draws us closer to God. We ask God to forgive us and grow our hearts. Practice praying faithfully for friends, family, strangers, and our world.

3. GIVE Giving leads to creating a more just world. It also helps us to be mindful of how God is working in our hearts. Practice giving by bringing food for the Blaine Food Bank each Sunday of Lent; by giving your time to some community service such as Loads of Love; by donating to charity.

Loads of Love, our ministry of giving to the Blaine community provides laundry money, soap, and dryer sheets and refreshments on the first and third Mondays of the month 5:30-7:00 pm. We have identified a need for hygiene kits for folks who come to do laundry. Consider bringing a baggie with toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc. to provide for needs around this ministry. Inspired from, Lent in 3 Minutes, YouTube

LENTEN SOUP & BREAD GATHERING
Wednesday Nights, 5:30-7pm in Gibbs Hall
March 4, 11, 18, 25 and April 1 and April 8

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 26) and ends on Maundy Thursday (April 9). It is a period of 40 days (Sundays excluded) that recalls Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness before he made his public ministry. It is traditionally a time of abstention and preparation. People of faith are encouraged to confront sinfulness, remember our mortality and give thanks for the gift of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We plan to hold a simple soup and bread meal followed by a time of prayer and reflection as well as conversation. We will use the book, Entering the Passion of Jesus by Amy Jill Levine. The book is not necessary but if you want to buy it, it’s about $9 on Amazon.com.

The simple meals will be held in Gibbs Hall for all who wish to come. You may attend one, some, or all of these. You can sign up to bring soup or bread and help to set up or clean up. You will find sign up sheets in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome!

Episcopal Relief & Development 2020 Lenten Meditations are available for pickup in the parish hall. This free booklet invites daily reflection on the spiritual, physical and emotional lives of children—and our role in nurturing their growth. Produced by Episcopal Relief & Development in partnership with authors of Grow Christians, a resource to teach and nurture the faith in children.

CHRIST CHURCH CALENDAR

2/26-4/4 Season of Lent
3/9 Discernment Meeting (@ St. Paul's)
3/15 Bishop's Committee Meeting
4/5 Palm Sunday
4/9 Maundy Thursday (5:30pm)
4/10 Good Friday (12:00noon) Stations of the Cross
4/12 Easter Sunday, Easter Egg Hunt
4/19 Bishop's Committee Meeting

WORSHIP MINISTRY LEADERS
Visit this page for links to the appointed scripture readings for each Sunday.

March 1, 2020
First Lesson + Psalm: Carl Bradley
Second Lesson: Jeane Austin
Prayers: Gwynne Fowler-Briggs
Chalicists: Jodith Allen / Pete Corcorran
Ushers: Jeane Austin / Myra Ryneheart Corcorran
Altar Guild: Mary Rebman
Acolyte: Mary Rebman
Coffee Hour: Blue

March 8, 2020
First Lesson + Psalm: Carl Bradley
Second Lesson: Gwynne Fowler-Briggs
Prayers: Pete Corcorran
Chalicists: Myra Ryneheart Corcorrran/ Wendy Dahl
Ushers: Jeane Austin/Eileen Richardson
Altar Guild: Debbie Little
Acolyte: Myra Ryneheart Corcorran
Coﬀee Hour: Yellow

March 15, 2020
First Lesson + Psalm: Myra Ryneheart Corcorran
Second Lesson: Debbie Little
Prayers: Leslie Mason
Chalicists: Leslie Mason/Mary Rebman
Ushers: Jeane Austin/Steve Windell
Altar Guild: Leslie Mason
Acolyte: Mary Rebman
Coﬀee Hour: Red

March 22. 2020
First Lesson + Psalm: Sue Peeples
Second Lesson: Bruce Smith
Prayers: April Thomson
Chalicists: Jodith Allen/Pete Corcorran
Ushers: Jeane Austin/Pete Corcorran
Altar Guild: Mary Rebman
Acolyte: Myra Ryneheart Corcorran
Coﬀee Hour: Green

March 29, 2020
First Lesson + Psalm: Jodith Allen
Second Lesson: Jeane Austin
Prayers: Gwynne Fowler-Briggs
Chalicists: Myra Ryneheart Corcorran/Leslie Mason
Ushers: Jeane Austin/Myra Ryneheart Corcorran
Altar Guild: Debbie Little
Acolyte: Mary Rebman
Coffee Hour: Blue

VICAR TRANSITION UPDATE

A Call Committee is being formed as we wait in hope for a candidate for Vicar for our congregation. The Committee will be responsible for reviewing candidates' materials, meeting with the candidates, and strict confidentiality is required. 5-7 members are needed, and we have some suggested guidelines from the Canon to the Ordinary regarding Committee makeup. Nominations will be considered by the Bishop's Committee. If you would like to nominate someone or volunteer for this Committee, please contact Doug Dahl.

Christ Church's position has been posted on the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia's job listings, so we are making progress!

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a priest for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, p. 818, Prayer 13).

UPCOMING EVENTS
DIOCESE OF OLYMPIA

3/7 BETTER TOGETHER 2020. Looking for inspiration and fresh ideas as you plan your congregation’s faith formation program for 2020? Seeking creative solutions to address your program’s time and financial limitations? Or are you in need of some time for connection and collaboration with other faith formation colleagues? Join the Diocese of Olympia March 7 at St. Margaret, Bellevue for Better Together, a day-long conference for church staff, clergy, volunteers, and anyone who works in their congregation’s faith formation! The conference includes an inspiring keynote address from faith formation guru Sharon Ely Pearson, 12 distinct workshops from four different tracks, opportunities for regional networking with other faith formation colleagues, and time for worship as a community of formation leaders in the Diocese of Olympia! So register today and go back to your congregations, inspired, refreshed, with some new ideas and some new connections, ready to take on your faith formation journey in 2020!Registration includes continental breakfast and lunch.Childcare is available for $10 per child for the entire day. Please pack snacks and a lunch for your child. Register here: https://ecww.org/event/better-together-2020/.

4/27-4/28 BISHOP'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, Port Townsend. The Diocese of Olympia’s Office of the Bishop is pleased to bring back “The Bishop’s Leadership Conference: Size to Size, Strength to Strength” – a conference that explores what it means to be faithful, healthy, and effective in your church’s current, local context and help you discern if God is calling your congregation to grow in new ways. Over the course of the week, each church will attend two days of the conference. The first day, connect and network with other churches of similar size to share and discover strengths specific to your congregational size. On the second day, learn more about how growth would look by joining the next congregational size up! More details and registration info will be coming soon, so mark your calendars! Visit with last year's attendees...Myra Ryneheart Corcorran or Doug Dahl...if you have any questions about the conference.

6/21-6/27, COLLEGE FOR CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Federal Way. The College is a comprehensive training program that seeks to nurture and develop congregational development practitioners from within existing parish lay and clergy leadership. The program draws on a) organization development theory and practice, b) congregational development theory and practice, c) theory and practice related to healthy, responsive leadership and ) current and traditional understandings of Anglican/Episcopal ethos, culture, spirituality and ways of being the church today. The training consists of readings, presentations, experiential exercises, application activities, and back-home projects and will be offered in two formats:

Four 2-day sessions for each of two consecutive years, or
Two seven-day intensive sessions over two consecutive summers.

For more information, visit www.cdcollege.org or visit with previous year's attendees...Myra Ryneheart Corcorran or April Thomson...if you have any questions about the conference.

10/23-10/24 DIOCESAN CONVENTION, Seatac, WA. The Diocesan Convention is held annually for clergy and lay delegates to conduct diocesan business. This includes electing individuals to offices and deputations, admitting worshiping communities as missions or parishes, and voting on resolutions. The bishop also gives an annual address. Visit with previous year's attendees...Jodith Allen, Mary Rebman, or April Thomson...if you have any questions about the convention.