Newsletter, Ash Wednesday, March 1
Rev. Sheelagh’s Thought For The Week
Eve of Ash Wednesday.
In the darkness, the fire catches and flares. Little faces are lit up by the orange glow of the flames; they cough as the acrid black smoke rises. Clutched in their hands are the palms saved from last year. Dry, crispy, coiled into weird snake like shapes. As the flames die away, the embers glow in the bottom of the can, and the children see how church traditions fold over year over year. These, they understand, are the ashes that will be smudged on their velvety smooth foreheads; mortality the last thing on anyone’s mind.
“From the dust you were created, and to dust you shall return.”
Every year, etching the ashy cross onto lined and unlined brows, I catch a glimpse, forever etched on my retina it seems, of a loved one covered from head to toe in ashes, fleeing an ashy reminder of our mortality on a bright, blue, sunny September morning. And I understand the urgency of life once more.
Reminders
Date | Time | Event |
March 1, Wednesday | 12pm-1pm & 7pm-8pm | Ash Wednesday Services |
March 4, Saturday | 9am-1:30pm | Invitation To Listening to God St. Elizabeth’s Church 169 Fairmount Road, Ridgewood, NJ |
March 8, 15 & 22, Wednesday | 7pm | Lenten Pilgrim Program |
March 12, 19, 26 & April 2, Sunday | 11:15am | Cake & Conversation Parish Hall |
March 14, Tuesday | 7:30pm-10pm | Finance Committee Meeting |
March 19, Sunday | 11:30am-5pm | Vestry Meeting & Retreat St. Stephen’s Rectory |
March 23, Saturday | 9am-3:15pm | Vestry University St. Elizabeth’s Church 169 Fairmount Road, Ridgewood, NJ |
Serving at the Altar 3/5 & 3/12
Mar 5, 2017 8am Reader: C. Francis | Mar 12, 2017 8am Reader: M. Ellingham |
10am Readers: 1. K. Hanson 2. M. Barakat 3. F. Young | 10am Readers: 1. T. Scharff 2. S. Polanco 3. B. Riedel |
| Chalicist: S. Clarke | Chalicist: J. Scharff |
Ushers: M.A. Chech & B. Riedel | Ushers: S. & S. Polanco |
| Altar Guild: C. Francis & J. James | Altar Guild: M. Nazareth, T. & J. Scharff |
Coffee Hour: M. Greenfield | Coffee Hour: E. Foley |
Altar Flowers: No Flowers During Lent | Altar Flowers: No Flowers During Lent |
NOTICES
Volunteers needed for Sunday school!
We are changing the format of our Sunday school and need your help. Instead of one person leading the children in the lesson each week, we’d like a group of volunteers to take turns on a rotating basis. Reverend Sheelagh will provide a children’s message at the 10am service on the first Sunday of each month (THIS SUNDAY), so that just leaves three Sundays a month to cover. Many hands make light work! Please contact Sarah Jeter if you’re interested in volunteering (917-673-4679) or scktrestrail@yahoo.com).
Two IHN Volunteer Activities.
1. Next Week. When IHN is unable to find a congregation to host their homeless families, It puts them up in a hotel and asks long time supporters to provide meals. The Network is seeking dinners for 12 next week March 6- 11 to be delivered to their Montclair day site. If you can help, contact Volunteer Manager, Angie Benedict at 973 746 1400.
2. Coming Soon. St Stephens will be hosting during Holy Week, Saturday April 8 to Friday. April 14. Sign ups for meals, child care and overnight hosting will be announced shortly.
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 1, 2017We will have a noonday service and a 7pm service in the Church. Imposition of ashes is available on request all day.
Lenten Pilgrim Program, March 8, 15 & 22, at 7pm
Join us for our spring spiritual study group “Pilgrim.” A study guide aimed at introducing our faith to newcomers and going deeper for those already on the journey. Wednesdays every week in the Rectory, except today (ASH WEDNESDAY).
Cake & Conversation!
March 12, March 19, March 26 & April 2.
It’s Lent – so no cake, except that every Sunday in Lent is a feast day. So we will celebrate it by having cake and conversation at coffee hour, where we listen for what God has been up to; is up to; and is calling us to become as St Stephen’s. The children’s table will do this too – in their way.
The questions and the emerging thoughts will be shared each week – so don’t worry if you miss a Sunday. Join us on March 12, March 19, March 26 and April 2. Where? After church in the Parish Hall.
Vestry University, Saturday, March 25, 2017
To Register Click on the link below:
Save The Date For A Wonderful Evening Of Song And Dance!
Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir
7:00pm, Sunday 23 April 2017
Tickets will go on sale in April, $20 adult, $15 senior, $10 child
Please contact Susan Dinan with questions.
Dates & Deadlines
If you have any dates or events that need adding to the St. Stephen’s Calendar please send them to Claire, and all articles and e-mails for the newsletter by NOON on Tuesday to church@ststephensmillburn.org.
Thank You.