He
came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly!
Epiphany 2009
6 January
’09- 24 February ’09
OK… Christmas has come and
gone… the wrapping paper has been picked up and the tree put away… the new
year has come and probably more than one New Year’s resolution has already
been broken…. So much for the home front…
What’s next on the Church’s agenda?
Epiphany is the
season of DISCOVERY!
We are each called upon to have our own ‘AHA’ moment… to Discover
something NEW about our faith this epiphany season.
We are all called upon to take a fresh outlook on life, and like the Magi
to take our OWN trek across the desert of our souls to find anew the Christ
child within us.
We are called upon to learn how we are being called to serve him in our
lives… to act as his ambassador to the people we encounter in our daily lives.
How can we do all these
things? How can we not only
“Prepare ye the way of the Lord” in our lives (as we did in Advent), but
also Discover what he is calling us to do
in his name?
Isaiah calls us to listen in the stillness of our lives… to listen to
the inner voice of the Holy Spirit as he tugs on our hearts, fills the void in
our lives and to discover what seems ‘right’ … what serves others and
makes us feel good inside.
What is YOUR Epiphany? I
can’t tell you. The exciting thing
to look forward to is the JOURNEY you will have to find it… to DISCOVER WHERE
YOUR STAR has come to halt… and when you arrive, don’t be surprised if it
looks a lot like a manger- needing just your
touch to spruce up the place… and, while you are there, give the baby
Jesus a smile and a hug for me. Thanks
and pleasant journey!
What’s Happening at Saint Martin’s?
Here
are a number of important dates. Winter
is here and Fun things are happening!
Wednesday Evening
Program:
Continues starting at 6 PM- we have a small meal followed
by a discussion of one of the history of the Church of England.
We will cover the times from Pagan Britain through the
‘Christianization’ of the country, to the split of the English Church from
Rome to the current day. We will use
films to enhance the learning process. Afterwards we have Prayers of
Thanksgiving and Intersession. Folks
head home @ 7:30-8:00 PM. Come Join Us-bring a friendJ
Sunday January 11th
= Annual Meeting after
church in the Commn Hall!
You will hear what the church has been doing this past year (you MAY have a few
surprises!). Enjoy each other’s
company as we carry out the business of the church, elect representatives to
Diocesan Council.
Tuesday
sewing group We finally had a
formal “thank you” as we delivered the last of the 70 personalized lap
blankets for Windcrest Nursing Home. They took a well deserved rest in December
and started meeting once again last week.
Think about what YOU would like to see made- bring your ideas, your
talents and help in this important ministry!
COME JOIN -
you’ll be SEW Surprised- well, you get the point!
Bishop Committee Retreat
will be Friday 16 January-Sunday (early AM) 18 January.
Ms. Mary Parmer will be the facilitator for this weekend.
We all look forward to an exciting and refreshing opportunity to form
closer working ties with the other’s who lead this church in its day to day
operations. We will be ‘out of the
net’ during that time… and please PRAY for us as we better understand our
opportunity to serve the Church and each other.
Sunday
School activities for young
children (Godly Play) and adults
(currently studying parables) is Sunday
at 10 AM.
Brian Smock has made himself available for teaching an older age bracket
if the opportunity presents itself. Please
be at the church a little ahead so that the programs can begin on time J
Positions remain open in most all of the
Church Ministries- Usher/Greeters, Altar Guild, Acolytes, Lay Readers (now
called Worship Leaders) etc. Let Fr. Rich know if
you are called to assist in one of these important ministries so we can arrange
training!
Down in the dumps?
Help someone in need- perform
some Church ministry and see how God
uses your service to raise your
spirits!
The celebration of member’s Birthdays
- topping it off with a birthday cake and song- will be done at the periodic potluck meals!
The Birthday ‘sign-up’ Calendar is in the common hall- indicate the date
of your birthday (year not required… mark the month and day).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL- you might even enjoy it more with the Delayed Gratification!
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January
Birthdays:
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5- Reese H
6- Blake A 10-
Samantha A
22- Sandy S
24- Melissa 29-
Amal B
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February
Birthdays:
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6-Dianne B 16-Linda C 17-Evi
E
20-Dalia
27-Ingrid H
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Diocesan
Council will be 13-14 February in Houston. We
will elect the lay delegate (and
alternate) during our annual meeting. Please
keep us in your prayers as we carry out the business of the diocese.
The Episcopal Church
holds Confirmation Classes to
instruct individuals who desire to ‘Confirm’ as adults the baptismal
promises made for them when they were infants or young children.
This acknowledgement is then ‘formalized’ in the service of
Confirmation, when the Bishop welcomes you into full membership
of the Episcopal Church. At
the same service individuals may reaffirm their prior confirmation
promises. If you would like to
reaffirm your confirmation promises, please let Fr. Rich know.
Bishop Harrison is coming February
8- Keep your calendar free for this special Sunday visit!
The final Confirmation Class will be held for ‘confirmands’ on Thursday
15 January @ 6:30-7:30 PM in back classroom.
WANT TO READ THE DAILY LESSONS BUT DON’T HAVE A
PRAYER BOOK AT HOME? - If so, take one of the Forward
Day by Day booklets located in several
locations within the Church. They
both list the lessons for the day at the bottom of each page as well as have a
brief reflection about one of the readings.
What Readings are coming up?
Try
reading them before church & asking
what do they tell me?
February
24th @ 6:30-7:30 Shrove Tuesday Pancake (& other stuff) Supper-
This
annual event is a time to CELEBRATE
the sweetness of life, the blessings of our lives and to SHARE
with others our bounty- that means PLEASE BRING your friends and others to the
meal- we haven’t run out of food yet! No
cost, but free-will offering will be gratefully accepted.
Projected
2009 St Martin’s Church Calendar (not
exhaustive
& may
change)
January:
11- Annual Meeting
16-18- Bishop Committee Retreat
Reports to Diocese for Council
February:
1- Safeguarding God’s Children Program
8- Bishop Harrison
Visitation- no Sunday School
13-14- Diocesan Council in Houston
24- Shrove Tuesday Supper 6:30-7:30 PM
25- Ash Wednesday (12 noon & 6 PM services with imposition of ashes)
March:
4- Wednesday Lenten Program (“Commit” Program)
***8-
Daylight Savings Time***
28- Spring Clean-Up 9am
April:
Holy Week
5- Palm Sunday
w/palm procession
9- Maundy Thursday
10- Good Friday (12 noon & 6 PM service)
12- Easter (11AM service w/Pot Luck & Easter egg hunt)
26- Service in CC City Park
May:
9- Breakfast for Women of the Church 0900
10- Mother’s Day
17- Final Day Sunday School & Recognition
TBD- Sign-up Teachers & Sunday School Students for Fall 2009
(Fr Rich & Meg gone 23-30 May for Mary’s graduation)
June:
21- Father’s Day
TBD- Teacher’s meet, plan 2009/10 program- order materials
(Fr Rich & Meg gone for 2 weeks)
July:
11- Mid-year Budget Review 0900
TBD Plan Ice Cream Social/Talent Show/Singing
August:
22- Ice Cream Social/Talent Show/Singing
23- Pot Luck & Rally Days (ministry sign-up) begin
September:
13- Sunday School Begins
19- Ministry Training
26- Fall Clean-up 9am
October:
Stewardship Campaign begins
3- Blessing of Animals (Feast of St Francis= 4th)
25- Elect new Bishop Committee Members for 2010
Clergy Conference (Fr Rich gone Sun PM thru Wed)
November:
11- Feast of St. Martin’s
22- Thanksgiving Pot Luck
26- Thanksgiving (10am service)
28- Decorate Church for Advent Season- 9am
29- 1st Sunday in Advent
December:
5- Budget Review for 2010 at 9am
20- Christmas Pot Luck (& 6PM Christmas caroling at nursing homes)
24- 11PM Candlelight Christmas celebration
Food
for thought with a little bit of Texas humor:
In a small Texas town, a new
bar/tavern began constructing a building to open up their business. The local
church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and
prayers. Work progressed, however, right up till the week before opening, when a
lightning strike hit the bar and burned it to the ground. The church folks were
rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on
the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his
building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. The church
vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the buildings demise
in its reply to the court. As the
case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork. At the
hearing he commented, “I don’t know how I’m going to decide this, but as
it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who believes in the power of
prayer, and an entire church congregation who doesn’t.”
Hmmm….
Have
a blessed Epiphany! J
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