Hello Jubilants,

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.” ~ Matthew 6:28-29

Our theme this week is Rooted and Grounded in Faith – but isn’t faith more of a leap? Jackie Dobrinska is taking that leap after seven years of coordinating the life of this Jubilee! Community. After this Sunday, Jackie will be guiding another type of faith community as she expands her work with the Love Serve Remember Foundation.

Trusting the universe to hold us through changes can feel disconcerting. In this week’s Seeds for Celebration there’s a story about carrying a marble to remind us of the magic that’s just around the corner. Sometimes we have to squeeze that marble as we move through the scary places until the miracle appears.

It feels daunting saying goodbye to Jackie. She helped steady the ship when the seas got rough over the last two years. Her bright face and calm smile became an anchor on Sunday mornings. Things may be topsy turvy, but Jackie was still smiling. As we send Jackie off this Sunday with an after-celebration party (details below), it may feel like the ship is filling with water again. As Jackie takes her leap of faith, this community can ground ourselves again in the faith that this crazy enterprise is more than one person – or two or three or even four…so even as we wish Jackie to “Go with God,” we can also pray, “And remind us, God, that you are staying with us, too!”

See you Sunday,
Laura Collins

LET'S SEND JACKIE OFF IN STYLE
Laura's message at the beginning of this week's newsletter summed up what Jackie Dobrinska means to our community.  For sure, we are going to miss her...and want to give everyone a chance to get involved in saying goodbye and wishing her well:

• It's not too late to include your well wishes to Jackie on the "gratitude" page on our website...help fill it up with your blessings and memories. Please send your messages, photos, video links, etc. to michele4sf@gmail.com by end of day Friday to be included. We'll feature a link to the page in this week's Sunday reminder and post it on our social media sites Sunday afternoon...so don't miss this opportunity to be included.
• Make sure you attend the online after-celebration party honoring Jackie immediately following the regular Sunday celebration on Zoom. We are still working on the details, but it will include a slide show, lots of music, laughter and love...and an open mic!

LABYRINTH OF LOVE
Take a walk with us on the Labyrinth of Love in Carrier Park at 3pm on Sunday, February 14th. This will be is a processional labyrinth with separate entrance and exit to ensure safe distancing (masks required) while still creating the camaraderie of a community walk. Bring a heart (paper, stone, something you created) or a gift of the heart for those in need (canned goods, a book, a donation) that Jubilee can distribute; these will be left at the altar in the center. The labyrinth walk is limited to the first 50 people who RSVP. SIGN UP HERE NOW! 

ASH WEDNESDAY 
If you've been missing 46 Wall Street (and who hasn't), on Ash Wednesday, the first first day of Lent, you will have a brief opportunity to step inside. On February 17th, the Celebration Center will be open for quiet prayer and the imposition of ashes from noon to 1:00pm. This will be a time to come enjoy the Celebration Center with its winter altar and to write prayers for the prayer wall or light candles. We will make sure that no more than 10 people are in the Center at the same time. There will be a station for receiving ashes and a station for receiving communion. Masks will be required and everyone is asked to maintain a 6 foot distance.  

THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM VIRTUAL SCREENING 
The amazing fresco mural at the Haywood Street Congregation is the topic of Theirs is the Kingdom, an inspiring documentary that examines the intersection of poverty and portraiture by following the rare creation of this contemporary work of art. This is a painting not of the rich and powerful, but of people battling homelessness, addiction and mental illness. From first sketch to final unveiling, the viewer witnesses the difficulties of this ancient artistic technique, while also meeting an ensemble cast of rich, complex characters. The earliest known fresco was created about 5,000 years ago...this new one speaks about ancient truths too. If you sign up, you can watch it any time between February 12th-18th; and there’s an online Q&A with a special guest on Thursday, February 18th at 8pm. The screening is free of charge, but donations are accepted to help keep the project going. Find out more, and RSVP for a screening link here. 

BUILDING BRIDGES
Building Bridges of Asheville offers two 9-week programs each year with a focus on racial justice education and dialogue. The upcoming Building Bridges program is February 23 through April 20 from 7-9 pm on Zoom.  The program offers an introduction to the dynamics of racism and is an important opportunity to explore how race has impacted our relationships, communities, and institutions.  You must be registered to attend and the fee is $45.  Equity seats and scholarships are available. Learn more and register here.

ECO-GRIEF CIRCLE
Jubilee! is part of Creation Care Alliance, and there are still a few more weeks left in their Eco-Grief Circle series on Thursdays.  Although the circles started a few weeks ago, it runs until February 25th, so you can still join as long as space is available. This is an opportunity to explore grief, sorrow, anxiety, fear, guilt, shame, anger and despair related to the social and ecological challenges of our time. Learn more and register here.

HELP JUBILEE! SINGERS CATALOG THEIR MUSIC
The Jubilee! Singers are looking for help documenting all of their music. Teri Sandoval is looking for several people who would be willing to come and hang out for a while (safely) in the Celebration Center and enter information for each piece in our Library in a spreadsheet. So if you can't carry a tune, this is a great way to participate in the Jubilee! Singers! (And if you can carry a tune, then perhaps we can "whistle while we work...")  Please contact Teri Sandoval at jubileesingersavl@gmail.com to get involved.

IT'S THAT PESKY TAX TIME AGAIN
It's coming up on tax season again. Do you need a record of your donations to Jubilee! for 2020?  We will gladly provide you a statement detailing your donations if you need such a report. If you would like us to send you a donations report please send a request to Patrick at patrick@jubileecommunity.org or call him at 828-777-2495.

SO MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT JUBILEE!
We know it's not the same as filling the basket in person, but there are lots of different ways you can donate to Jubilee! and the Hunger Basket.  Please give as generously as you can!

~  Online: Click here.
~  GivePlus app: Download the app, enter zip code 28801, then click Jubilee!
~  Text: Text 844-962-2639
~  Snail Mail: Mail your check to Jubilee!, 46 Wall Street, Asheville, NC 28801

Please donate to the hunger baskets or Jubilee!'s operating costs or both.  Jubilee! continues to have expenses to keep running.  And know all hunger basket donations are going to Bounty & Soul and other organizations providing COVID relief.