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Father Douglas Anderson's weekly KneeMail to parishioners and friends of Saint James Church, Texarkana
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Kneemail from Saint James Church

February 27, AD 2019

FROM THE RECTOR:

 
Lent begins on Wednesday, March 6th.  Have you begun thinking of your Lenten Rule?
 
FIVE THINGS TO DO DURING LENT
By Fr David McMannes
 
Do you love Lent? I do, but a lot of folk don't have all that much affection for the season. Many Christians have come to think of it in negative terms; however, Lent is not about hair shirts, solemn countenances and the like. Rather, it is a positive, strengthening, lovely spiritual experience, and if you want to grow in your love of God and your neighbor, then Lent is for you! Here are five things to do with single-mindedness this Lent which, if you do them, will give you a clearer vision of the Risen Christ, come Easter.
 
FASTING & ABSTINENCE
The biggest problem we moderns have with fasting and abstinence is one of confusion; that is, we don't really understand them. The priest gets up and talks about what they mean, and when he's done, people are more confused than they were when he started. So, here's a simplified elucidation of fasting and abstinence: Abstinence lowers the quality of food (usually by not eating meat) and fasting lowers the quantity, and usually means not more than a light breakfast, one full meal, and one half meal daily each fast day, usually Fridays.

Therefore, the rule is "keep it smaller and keep it simpler. " Smaller portions of food, and simpler menus. Don't eat so much during Lent. Not because you necessarily have to lose weight, but because the practice will give you strength in your spiritual life by weakening the attractions of the sensate pleasures. Fasting makes the waistline shrink and the heart get larger, and abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.  Indulge in both fasting and abstinence during Lent, and you will have a clearer vision of the Risen Christ, come Easter.
 
PRAYING
For the forty days of Lent, start and end each day with prayer. Dust off that old grace you used to say before eating - spend some table time in quiet reflection and prayer instead of chattering and chomping. Pray daily, making sure you indulge in all the qualities of Christian prayer - adoration, thanksgiving, petition, penitence, and invocation.  Pray daily, and you will have a clearer vision of the Risen Christ, come Easter.
 
BIBLE READING
Do this daily, also, and if you haven't availed yourself of reading the Daily Office of morning and evening prayer, you are missing out on the opportunity the Church has given you for daily study and reading of Holy Writ. There's solace, insight, encouragement, grace and a whole lot more in scripture, and that can't be said about any other book in your library. The Good Book is precisely that, and those who read it daily learn how to be good - godly - themselves.  Read Holy Writ daily, and you will have a clearer vision of the Risen Christ, come Easter.
 
CORPORATE WORSHIP
Corporate worship is a basic Christian duty. Our prayer book puts it succinctly, telling us that part of our bounden duty is to worship God every Sunday in his Church.  Doing so brings us understanding, strengthens our faith, gives us hope, fills us with encouragement, and gives us the first-hand experience of being loved by God - and that gives us the ability to love others more fully. There is nothing we can do on Sunday morning that is more important than being in God's House and being fed by His grace-filled presence in the Blessed Sacrament.  Make a commitment not to miss one single Sunday in God's House this Lenten season. Jesus told us to this do, (Luke 22:19; 1Cor 11:24-25) so let's do it together, every single Sunday, and you will have a clearer vision of the Risen Christ, come Easter.
 
WORKS OF MERCY
The final step is to, as the prayer says “do all such good works as [God] has prepared for us to walk in. There are fourteen 'works" which enable us to put our faith in Christ into action in our life. They are both spiritual and temporal and are as follows:
Spiritual Works Of Mercy
(1) converting the sinner, (2) instructing the ignorant, (3) counseling the doubtful, (4) comforting the sorrowful, (5) bearing wrongs patiently, (6) forgiving injuries, (7) praying for the living and the dead.
Corporal Works Of Mercy
(1) feeding the hungry, (2) giving drink to the thirsty, (3) clothing the naked, (4) harboring the stranger, (5) visiting the sick, (6) ministering to prisoners, (7) burying the dead.
 
Finally, and no doubt most importantly, let your Lenten lapses and failures - whatever they may be serve only to increase your dependence upon God. None of us will do all we want to do during Lent. That's the human condition. The point is not to get a good grade; the point is to increase your capacity to love God and your neighbor.  After all, Lent is a time to learn how to love - God's way - once again. That's the whole point of the season!
 
WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT SAINT JAMES':
Low Mass at 5:30pm
Supper at 6:00pm—
Shepherd’s pie by Johnny B’s
Classes, children's activities and adult choir at 6:30pm.


THE LAST SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY: 
3 March 2019
Low Mass at 8am.
Christian Education for all ages at 9 am.
Sung Mass at 10am
Nursery provided from 9am onwards.
Coffee Hour follows the 10 AM Mass
 
ITEMS OF PARTICULAR NOTE


Tuesday, March 5th: SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKES.
EYC cooking and serving from 5:30pm to 7pm.
 
Wednesday, March 6th: ASH WEDNESDAY, 
Masses at 12:05pm & 6:00pm.  Fr Richard Daly preaching. No meal or class this night. 

 
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN AN EVENING CHAPTER OF THE D.O.K.? 
If so, please speak to Lova Wile or the Rector.  You can fill out a brief questionnaire here:  
https://goo.gl/forms/gcuHhCiqjs8sBV8A2
UPCOMING CALENDAR ITEMS
  • Thursday, February 28th: SJDS BOARD MEETING
  • Saturday, March 2nd: ATLANTA MASS at 4pm.
  • Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (EYC Fundraiser) EYC cooking and serving from 5:30pm to 7pm.
  • Wednesday, March 6th: ASH WEDNESDAY, Masses at 12:05pm & 6:00pm.  Fr Richard Daly preaching. No meal or class this night. 
PARISH NOTICES

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK:
Shari Keller (24), Ernest Pender (25), Cory Floyd (26), Shelley Lewis (1).

CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES: 
Russ & Lisa McDermott (25).

WEEKLY HOUSEHOLD PRAYERS:  
David Warrick
 

REST ETERNAL
Rest Eternal grant unto them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Anniversaries of death falling this week:
Peggy Kososki, 2014; Richard Lawrence, 2017; Jay Young
Did you know that you can now pay your pledge or make a gift to Saint James' Church through our secure online payment system?  

See http://saintjamestxk.org/giving/ for details.
LAY SERVER SCHEDULE
THOSE WHO SERVE March 3rd
Last Epiphany
Quinquagesima
Reader 8am Tammy Cowdery
C.B. 8am Scott Bruner
C.B. 10:00am Billy DeLoach
Chuck Firmin
Acolytes
10:00am
Davis Miller
Emma Anderson
Henry Kyles
Austin Miller
Will Burks
Isabelle Collins
Reader 10am Ann Coleman
POP 10am Jennifer Jordan
Sunday School Teachers Jennifer Jordan
Children’s LOTW David Warrick
S.S. Snacks Summer Floyd
 
Ushers 10am
Nick Williamson
David Warrick
Tom Coleman
Greg Davis
Altar Guild Team 1
Household Week  Sandy Wentz
Vestry
Lock Up
Ann Coleman
Julie Huntley
PARISH GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES

THE FLOWER DONOR CHART is in the Narthex (porch) to sign-up to give flowers in memory or in thanksgiving of a loved one, or you may call or e-mail Martha Bean at 903-547-6911 – e-mail wpmvb@windstream.net .  The cost is still just $35 per donor, per Sunday.  What a great way to honor or remember those who are important in our lives!

You can also now make your flower dedication through the Parish Website by visiting the form here.

THE ROSARY GROUP meets on Tuesdays at 10am to pray the “Bible on a String.” Come join us.  For more information, contact Lova at lova@cableone.net

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE KING is an Order for Episcopal women founded in 1885.  We are a prayer and service group who meets once a month.  We regularly take part in worship, study, and aid our Clergy as asked.  If you are interested in more about us, please call or e-mail Lova Wile (903-832-2533  lova@cableone.net ), Tammy Cowdery (903-277-2148 cowdery@txkusa.org ), or Gail Crisp (903-838-0942 gjcrisp@cableone.net )
Copyright © 2019 Saint James' Church, All rights reserved.


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