February 2012
Greetings, my sisters and brothers, in the name of the risen Christ!
If April is the cruelest month, as the poet T.S. Eliot observed, then February certainly is one of the busiest months - especially at St. John United Church of Christ.
While we are installing our new Church Council on the 5th, and welcoming six new members to the congregation on the 12th, we are also coming to the end of the first of several rounds of our five prayer groups - those faithful members who are praying, listening and discerning intently about what it is that God is calling us to do in the areas of welcoming, worshipping, nurturing, serving and giving. I know I can't wait to hear what the Spirit has in store as new ministries and new ways of being await!
And on top of all this, we are coming to the end (Feb. 26) of our first round of small group study on the Gospel of Mark (we may pick back up after Easter). And more important, we are beginning preparations for another season of Lent leading up to a glorious Easter on April 8.
Ho-lee anticipation! When the Spirit gets to whirling, ‘tis a sight to behold!
In the midst of so much spiritual activity, your new council will also be hard at work looking at new models for church governance as we look at shifting our emphasis from operational needs to ministry calling. The council will also be tackling such nagging operational issues as our outdated sound system and ways to move St. John more aggressively into the digital age.
While you're catching your breath from all this activity, here's a sneak peak at our Lenten schedule:
Feb. 22 - Ash Wednesday, noon and 7 p.m. Two brief services for imposition of ashes, with the mid-day service designed for those who may have difficulty coming out at night in the winter.
Feb. 26 -- First Sunday in Lent.
Mar. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 - "Praying the Psalms," a brief mid-week Lenten devotional time at 6:45 p.m. on Thursdays. No preparation required. We may shift back and forth from the sanctuary to the parsonage, depending on attendance. A small, intimate time for prayer and reflection.
April 1 - Traditional pancake breakfast followed by Palm Sunday worship.
April 5 - 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday service with special observance of Holy Communion in L Room.
April 6 - 7 p.m. Good Friday service.
April 8 - 6:30 a.m. Easter Sunrise service at Lakeview Cemetery; I'll be preaching, as well as at the 10 a.m. worship at St. John.
There you have it -- a full and vibrant schedule for a growing and vibrant church!
Praise God!
Pastor Jim