Lent is a beautiful time to examine what practices and habits are serving us well in our spiritual lives. Sometimes we pick something up or set something down, but it’s a time for spiritual inventory. How do my daily habits and practices reflect the reality of my life in Christ? Our identity is made clear in the Scriptures. We are made new in Christ, temples of the Holy Spirit, co-heirs with Christ (2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Cor. 6:19, Rom. 8:17). We are God’s masterpiece, a royal priesthood and we are Christ’s ambassadors, co-workers in God’s service (Eph.2:10, 1 Pet. 2:9, 2 Cor. 5:20, 1 Cor. 3:9). 

In our community we summarize this with “Open Minds, Full Hearts.” We are open to all that God wants to teach us and we rest with full hearts in the comfort of God’s presence. This is a little bit different from the values of our culture which imply that there is always something a little better just over the horizon. But the great truth is that we have it all right now. We have the incredible comfort that we have more than we can ever possibly need right here in this moment. We have the perfect love and freedom of Christ and as long as we take the time to realize that our every breath is sourced in God then we will know a peace that surpasses all understanding. Our goal is not to come up with a perfectly curated list of things to do in order to have a perfect lent but rather to just set aside the things that do not serve us and to rest in the messy truth that we are not perfect and that we abide in a perfect God. This is the whole big picture that we are always working to keep in focus. And the bite-sized versions of this are what we are teaching the children and youth.

So it is with great excitement that we announce that VBS registration is officially open. Invite the kids in your life to join us for the week and pray for our ministry that it would be fruitful and abundant. 

With love in Christ, 
           Renee

 

Scroll down for information on VBS!

Shared Narratives: Wisdom Literature
Rabbi Ron Segal & the Rev. Bill Murray | Wednesdays, March 1-22, 7:00-8:15 PM. Registration Required. 

ATTENTION: The church received two stock donations in January without a donor name. If you made the donation please contact Caroline Fleming cfleming@holyinnocents.org

Sunday Forum & Outreach News

March 5
We’ll welcome leaders from the Community Assistance Center to share more about their work in our community. Community Assistance Center provides basic needs assistance for neighbors to prevent homelessness and hunger while promoting self-sufficiency and empowering them to thrive. https://ourcac.org

Here are the food pantry wish lists.

March 11 | Horizons’ Student Breakfast Volunteers Needed
Will you give a helping hand by providing breakfast for Horizons at HIES students? Each year we take a couple of Saturdays to donate healthy breakfasts to approximately 20 students in our Horizons' program. It is especially important to provide breakfast on the weekends for our Horizons' students. Gather a few friends or members of your ministry to share the fun and expense. The first opportunity is on Sat., March 11 with drop-off at 8:45 at the STEM building.

Breakfast suggestions include breakfast sandwiches or biscuits with a protein, breakfast casserole, mini muffins, mini bagels (pre-sliced please) and cream cheese, Gogurt brand yogurt, apple slices (available at Publix), grapes cut into small bunches, “Cutie” oranges, cheese sticks or individually wrapped cheese, individual cereals with spoons, bowls, and milk, bacon, pancakes, granola or other snack bars.

Here is a link to SignUp Genius to volunteer -  Horizons Breakfasts.  Or, for more information, please contact Mary Catherine Willis who serves on the Advisory Council at willisfamily5507@att.net. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Kenyon College Chamber Singers | March 9 
Next week the Kenyon College Chamber Singers perform at HIEC on Thursday, March 9, at 7:00 p.m. They will sing works from Brahms, Palestrina, Alice Parker, and others.   
We are still seeking hosts for these undergraduate singers. All that's needed to be a host is space for two or more, a ride home from the concert that night, and a ride back to church after a light breakfast the next morning.  
Please contact Alice Ball, aliceball@gmail.com, if you would like to volunteer to host. 

Men of Holy Innocents' Retreat | April 21-23

The Men of Holy Innocents will gather at Lake Logan Episcopal Center, for spiritual enrichment, fellowship and renewal.  

This year's theme is Bad Boys of the Bible: Lessons on Power, Leadership & Love. Our Vicar the Rev. Stewart Lucas will lead us through the stories of some selected “bad Boys” with strange accounts of good and bad, obedience and failure. We’ll explore and learn from their contexts of leadership and their challenges of character as we attempt to work on behalf of God and God’s people.

Lake Logan, located in Canton, North Carolina near the Blue Ridge Parkway is set on 300 acres at 3000 feet in elevation. Lake Logan offers rustic, comfortable lodging, dining and gathering facilities with a world class mountain lake.

John Harris | harris4338@gmail.com | 678-761-6765

Since we started our Debt Reduction Campaign, we have paid off over $1 million on our mortgage. The balance as of February 1, 2023 is $884,211. We have pledges to cover roughly $818,968. 

As of February 15, our Annual Stewardship drive has reached 230 pledges for $1,332,490, just $193 short of last year. This is incredible in light of the fact that we have 145 for $1,874,420 to the Capital Campaign!

Your gift can help us pay off this debt faster. Our hope is to collect as much of the payments in 2023 as possible to lower the interest payments immediately. 
Give now. Give repeatedly. Thank you to everyone who has helped already!

Seder Meal | March 29 
We will once again have a Seder Meal. We are delighted to share that Rabbi Samantha “Sam” Trief and Cantor Beth Schafer will lead our celebration.
Registration is available below!

Learn more

This Week

8:00 AM:  Worship, Christ Chapel
8:45 AM:  Breakfast, Bishop Commons
9:00 AM:  Christian Formations
10:15 AM:  Worship, Nave
5:00 PM:  Exploring HI Class
5:00 PM:  Spanish-speaking Worship, Nave
6:00 PM:  Celtic-style Worship, Christ Chapel