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The Fledgling--Week of March 10, 2023

I am, as I have for over a decade now (!), writing for the online Lenten devotional Lent Madness.  This year, I again have excellent saints, and again, I am excited for them to see the light of day, and for everyone to "meet" them through reading about them, and incorporating their witness into your journey.  

Each year, without fail, I find at least one saint I never knew of before, and learning about them gives me a new companion on my walk of faith.  Or, I hear the story of some familiar saint in a new way, and begin to think of my life differently.  

Saints, after all, aren't meant to be perfect people leading perfect lives.  They are meant to show us a glimpse  of the gospel,  lived out in different times and places, in this confusing world.  So saints themselves are complex, confused, and often difficult characters.  One of my personal favorites, Florence Nightingale, was such a pill that her sainthood was delayed for decades.  The reason for her irksomeness?  She didn't think the conditions for the British military's wounded were sanitary, and so she thought nothing of offending the sensibilities of the entire military establishment to get it fixed.  Jerome, also, was notoriously grumpy and difficult to get along with (which either resulted in or was caused by) his choice to live in a church basement in Bethlehem, but he still wrote the Vulgate, and some stunning theology.  

From their example then we in turn can learn to forgive our own faults, and persevere more in our own pursuit of faithfulness.  To walk in the company of saints is to celebrate our uniqueness and even our faults, while we press on towards the goal of the kingdom.

This Lent, may you too meet one or two new saints on your way.

If you have an announcement for the Fledgling, send it to the office by Thursday morning for inclusion on Friday.  Bulletin announcements should be into the office by Wednesday morning.
  • If you know of someone who would like to receive the Fledgling, please send their email to the office. 

Prayer for the week 

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
Have you had coffee/tea/hot cider with Mtr Megan?  Send me an email and we'll set up Skype/Facetime and chat!  It's fun (I promise) and we can still meet while we're staying safe right now.

This Sunday

Bulletin is here
Prayer Book is here
Schedule this week:


Daily Morning Prayer: Monday--Thursday 9:30am on FB and YouTube

Adult Education:  9:15am in Parish Hall and on Zoom

Sunday Worship: 8am Rite 1 and 10:30am Rite 2

Episcopal 101: Join us following the 10:30am service.  Grab some coffee and snacks, and head to the Chapman room!



Lenten Series:  Dinner with Loaves and Fishes at 5pm (Doors open at 5pm, hot food service at 5:30) Class begins at 6:15pm in the Nave.
 


 


Christian Education

 Adult Education resumes with a new book.  We are now reading Jesus and John Wayne, by Kristin DuMez.  Join us in person or via Zoom with Chapter 12 THIS week.

CW: This book discusses difficult topics at times, and includes descriptions of child abuse, and racist and homophobic violence.  Please take care of yourselves.

                                                                                Historical Moment
In celebration of our 200th year, which began in April, we are perusing the various records of the parish to offer up different tidbits of our past. Going wayyyyyy far back, we discover that prior to the establishment of Central New York as a diocese, Ithaca was considered a missionary district of the Diocese of New York, and our clergy reported back to their convention from a missionary field.  In those years, upstate NY was known for successive, enthusiastic religious revivals, but the Episcopalians were not inclined to look upon these favorably.  In fact, in 1828, the Rev. Ezekiel Gear reported the following:

"Since my last report, my services have been confined principally to the congregation at Ithaca.  Circumstances of a peculiar nature, with regards to religion, have rendered this measure more necessary.  The annals of fanaticism would scarcely present a parallel to the scenes which have been acted here during the last year.  Every wheel in the mighty engine of a revival of the highest order, was directed against the venerable forms and somber worship of the Church; and every art and trick was practiced by its managers to seduce and alienate the affections and weaken the attachments of her members and friends."  

Want to hear more?  Come to the Thursday evening Lenten series on parish history at 6:15pm!

Good Things:

Game Night Returns! Game Night will return to great acclaim on March 17th, at 6pm.  Come one, come all for games, fellowship and fun!  RSVP to the office to let us know if you can come.

 As Lent approaches, we again have a Lenten series.  This year, our topic is 200 Years of St. John's.  We are going over the things we've learned in our deep dive into our history, and what that teaches us about life as a community of faith, and how that will shape us moving forward.  The series meets on Thursdays, after dinner with Loaves and Fishes, beginning at 5pm.  The next session is on March 16!  See you then!

Do you have extra grocery bags?  Laundry Love needs extra tote/grocery bags so guests can carry their things home in comfort!  If you have spare grocery/tote bags (those fabric-ish ones you pay 5 cents for are perfect) bring them by the church!

How Can I Help?

 
  • Our Dignity Pantry is running low!  This is a ministry that provides hygiene items, socks, underwear, and other necessities to our guests who come to Loaves and Fishes and Laundry Love.  As you're doing your holiday shopping, why not pick up a multipack of detergent, diapers, shampoo, toothpaste, or other hygiene necessity for our guests?  
     

  • Loaves and Fishes needs volunteers! As of May 2, Loaves & Fishes has resumed in-person dining 5 days/week (with social distancing and other COVID precautions in place). Lunch is served Monday, Wednesday and Friday; dinner is served Tuesday and Thursday. Volunteers are needed, especially for the 2:30-5:00 pm and 4:45-7:45 pm shifts on Tuesday and Thursday. You must be fully vaccinated to volunteer and wear a mask at all times in the building. Please email Dominique or call 607-272-5457 if you can help or are interested in learning more. Thank you!

 

  • Did you know that Laundry Love is back up and running?  We're doing more laundry than ever before!  If you would like to help out, and do someone's laundry (you don't even have to be around other people!) let Pam Talbott or the office know.  


     

 

Lots of ways to support St. John's!

We've partnered with Tithe.ly to offer the option of online giving for St. John's. Go to the website at stjohnsithaca.org, and look for the donate button in the upper right corner. It's safe, secure, and VERY convenient!

***

You can also download the Tithe.ly app on the iTunes store or Google Play store to your smartphone, and search for St. John's Episcopal Church, and give that way.  It will even set up automatic payments so you never have to remember your checkbook again!

 


 



 
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