The EPISTLE
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Anglican – The Episcopal Diocese of
LENT 2011
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil...Then the devil left him, and behold,
angels came and ministered to him.”
–
Matthew 4:1,11
Dear Faithful of St. Paul’s Church,
Lent is a penitential season of forty days set aside by the
Church before the great feast of Easter.
Following the example of our Lord, we are called by God into the
wilderness, into a solemn and reflective place, where with Him we are able to
face the temptation of Satan.
We are called in the wilderness of Lent to examine “ourselves, our
souls and bodies” so that we may lament our sins, acknowledge our fallen state,
and truly seek the forgiveness that Jesus Christ obtained for the whole world on
the hard wood of the cross.
Like our Lord in the wilderness, the season of Lent is a
time for Christians to purposefully go about daily life in a different way.
A great tool to help in this undertaking is to make a special rule of
life for Lent.
Enclosed in this issue is a
Rule for Lent.
Please take time to pray over
your commitment for this Lent, then fill it out, and strive through this season
to stay dedicated to it.
As our Lord
reflected on his mission in the wilderness, we too this Lent will meditate on
ours through a Wednesday Night Lenten Series entitled,
Via Dolorosa.
After walking with our Lord through the Stations of the Cross we will
step with him through his passion, through the way of the cross, which is the
calling of all Christian lives.
Allow this wilderness experience to be a time for you to
recommit yourself to our Lord.
Allow him to minister to you as he allowed the angels to minister to
him. Take
time, as the psalmist prays, to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
We are a society of outward activity.
Allow this season to be an opportunity for inward reflection.
Thus, “I invite you, therefore, in
the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self examination
and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and
meditating on God’s holy Word.”
(BCP, pg. 265)
Faithfully in Christ,
The Rev. Charles A. Hough, IV, SSC
Rector of
Around St. Paul's Church
What is Shrove Tuesday?
Next week is the beginning of the penitential season of Lent,
the first day of which is Ash Wednesday.
For centuries Christians have prepared for this penitential season by
being shriven of their sins. Thus,
the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday became known as Shrove Tuesday, a day to
confess your sins in preparation for Lent.
Forming around these traditions, many of the faithful began to
look through their cupboards to see what needed to be eaten before entering into
this time of abstinence and fasting ending on Easter Sunday.
At one point in history the Church called on the faithful to abstain from
eggs, milk, butter, and meat.
So what do you do with all of these ingredients?
You make pancakes and share them with your neighbors.
Upholding
this tradition,
Why ashes?
On Ash Wednesday many
priests dip a finger or thumb in black ashes and make the form of a cross on the
foreheads of worshipers. Many Christians keep the symbol on their head for the
entire day. It is a reminder of
one’s sorrow for one’s sins. It is a sign of humility and the need for
forgiveness. Also, the
Lenten Series & Holy Week Schedule
Ash Wednesday, March 9th – Holy
Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes 12:00 noon & 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Night Lenten Series:
“Via Dolorosa”
+The Way of Suffering +
A five week
Lenten study looking at Christian life
as the way
of the Cross.
March 16
Agony and Betrayal in a Garden
March 23
Denial by Man: The Trial of God
March 30
39 Lashes…One from Death
April 6
The Weight of the World
April 13
“It Is Finished.”
Wednesday
Evening Schedule
6:00 p.m. Mass
6:40 p.m. Stations of the
Cross
7:00 p.m. Soup & Salad
Supper
7:30 p.m. Meditation and
Discussion
8:00 p.m. End
Confession:
Please schedule an appointment for Confession
by calling Fr. Hough @
(940) 284-4144
Holy Week
(April 17th
– April 24th)
Palm Sunday- Liturgy of Palms
and Mass: 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.
Maundy Thursday – 7:00 p.m.
Mass followed by Vigil at Altar of Repose
(End of Mass – 10:00 p.m. & Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 12 noon)
Good Friday – 12:00 noon
Good Friday Liturgy – Mass of the Pre-Sanctified
Easter Sunday – 8:00 a.m.
(said) & 10:30 a.m. (Choral)
A
REMINDER:
The cost is $6:00 per person.
Come join in the celebration of Shrove Tuesday.
From your Church Secretary
received a note from Summer
SPECIAL DATES:
SPECIAL
DATES:
March 8
Shrove Tuesday
March 9
Ash Wednesday
March 13
DST Begins
March 17,
St. Patrick’s Day
March 19,
St. Joseph’s Day
March 20,
Visto Potluck and Vestry
March 20
First Day of Spring
April 17
Palm Sunday
April 21 Maundy Thursday
April 22 Good Friday
April 23 Holy Saturday
April 24 Easter Sunday
According to Ephesians 6:10-18 the Sword of the Spirit
PRAYER GROUP
Marilyn Robinson
reminds us that
VISTO BASKET
Please remember when
doing your weekly shopping for your family
If you have not had the
chance, go and view our new up-to-date website:
All the thanks goes to
Bonnie Smith for her continued dedication to our parish.
Do note that you can view all of our upcoming events on the calendar
link.
BIBLE FACTS
Bible
Quiz
Just before the Last Supper (John 13), Jesus took off his outer robe, poured
water into a basin and began washing his disciples’ feet. One disciple, however,
protested having the Lord wash his feet. Jesus told the reluctant man that
unless he allowed Jesus to wash his feet, he really had no share in Christ’s
leadership. The disciple then relented. He said Jesus could wash not only his
feet but his hands and head, as well.
Choose the name of this disciple from the list below:
A.
Peter
B.
John
C.
Andrew
D.
Judas
Answer: A (See John 13:1-9.)
CALENDAR
|
Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
1 |
2
6:30 pm Rosary
7:00 pm Mass |
3
9:30 – 11:00 am
Mass & Bible Study
Women of St.
Paul's - 6:15 p.m.
|
4 |
5 |
|
6 Last Sunday after
Epiphany
8:00 a.m.Mass(said)
9:15 Christian Ed.
10:30 Choral Mass |
7
Fr. Hough's
Day Off |
8 Shrove Tuesday
Pancake Supper
5-7:00 pm |
9 ASH WEDNESDAY
Choir Rehearsal
10:00-11:30 am
Imposition of Ashes
12:00 noon &
7:00 p.m.
|
10
9:30 – 11:00 am
Mass & Bible Study
|
11 |
12 |
|
13 First Sunday in
Lent
8:00 a.m.Mass(said)
9:15 Christian Ed.
10:30 Choral Mass
DOK Installation |
14
Fr. Hough's
Day Off |
15 |
16 Choir
Rehearsal
10:00-11:30 am
LENTEN SERIES #1
6:00 p.m. Mass
6:40 Stations
7:00 Soup/Sal. Sup.
7:30 Meditation
7:00 p.m. - Mass
|
17 ST. PATRICK
9:30 – 11:00 am
Mass & Bible Study
|
18 |
19 ST. JOSEPH |
|
20
Second Sunday In
Lent
8:00 a.m.Mass(said)
9:15 Christian Ed.
10:30 Choral Mass
Visto Potluck/Vestry |
21
Fr. Hough's
Day Off |
22 |
23
Choir Rehearsal
10:00-11:30 am
LENTEN SERIES #2
6:00 p.m. Mass
6:40 Stations
7:00 Soup/Sal. Sup.
7:30 Meditation
|
24
9:30 – 11:00 am
Mass & Bible Study |
25
THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD |
26 |
|
27 Third Sunday
In Lent
8:00 a.m.Mass(said)
9:15 Christian Ed.
10:30 Choral Mass |
28
Fr. Hough's
Day Off |
29 |
30 Choir
Rehearsal
10:00-11:30 am
LENTEN SERIES #3
6:00 p.m. Mass
6:40 Stations
7:00 Soup/Sal. Sup.
7:30 Meditation
|
31
9:30 – 11:00 am
Mass & Bible Study
|
|
|
.
|
Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
|
|
1
|
2 |
||||
|
3 Fourth Sunday
In Lent
8:00 am Mass(said)
9:15 Christian Ed.
10:30 Choral Mass |
4 FR. HOUGH'S DAY OFF
|
5
|
6
10-11:30 Choir Reh.
12:00
Lent Program& Lunch@WhaleyMethodist LENTEN
SERIES #4 6:00
p.m. Mass 6:40
Stations 7:00
Soup/Sal. Sup. 7:30
Meditation
|
7
9:30 – 11:00 am
Mass & Bible Study
Women of St.
Paul’s -6:15 PM
|
8
|
9 |
|
10 Fifth Sunday
In Lent
8:00 am Mass(said)
9:15 Christian Ed.
10:30 Choral Mass |
11 FR. HOUGH'S DAY OFF |
12 |
13
Choir Rehearsal
10:00-11:30 am LENTEN
SERIES #5 6:00
p.m. Mass 6:40
Stations 7:00
Soup/Sal. Sup. 7:30
Meditation
|
14
9:30 – 11:00 am
Mass & Bible Study
|
15
|
16
|
|
17
PALM SUNDAY
8:00 am Mass(said)
9:15 Christian Ed.
10:30 Liturgy of the
Palms &Choral Mass
VISTO/VESTRY |
18 DAY OFF
______
|
19
__Holy
Chrism Mass @ |
20
Week_ |
21
MAUNDAY
THURSDAY
Mass 7:00 p.m.
Vigil- End of Mass to 10:00 p.m.
|
22
GOOD FRIDAY
Vigil
– 11:00 a.m. – 12:00
Liturgy – 12:00 noon |
23
HOLY SATURDAY
EASTER VIGIL |
|
24 EASTER DAY
8:00 am Mass(said)
9:30 E. Egg Hunt
10:30 Choral Mass
|
25 Fr.Hough’s
Day off
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30 |
|
2nd EASTER
8:00 am Mass(said)
10:30 Choral Mass
|
May 2 |
May 3 |
May 4
6:30 pm Rosary
7:00 pm Mass
|
May 5
9:30 – 11:00 am
Mass & Bible Study
Women of St.
Paul’s -6:15 PM
|
May 6 |
May 7 |
.
The Internet Address is:
http://www.stpaulsgainesville.com. That's where you can pick up the latest
parish news, thanks to our dedicated webmaster, Bonnie Smith. Add it to your
"favorites."
PAST NEWSLETTERS
Third Sunday Luncheon
Join us for worship and our Third Sunday Luncheon every month in the Parish Hall following the 10:30 a.m. worship service.
NOTE: Every third Sunday is our VISTO food drive. Bring a canned food, boxed goods and/or paper products to drop in the basket for VISTO to help feed the hungry.
FYI--Important
Info
Fr. Hough's phone 940-284-4144
St. Paul's NEW e-mail address: stpaulgtx@att.net
St. Paul's web site: http://www.stpaulsgainesville.com
WHEN TO CALL THE RECTOR
If you are going into the hospital – Call the Rector!
If someone in your family is being admitted to hospital – Call the Rector!
If you are scheduled for surgery – Call the Rector!
If you have an illness in your family – Call the Rector!
If there is a death in your family – Call the Rector!
If you hear of a death in your family – Call the Rector!
If you feel lonely or depressed – Call the Rector!
If you know someone that needs support or guidance – Call the Rector!
If you need sick Communion – Call the Rector!
If you feel the need to be anointed – Call the Rector!
If you have doubts about the Faith – Call the Rector!
If you just need someone to talk to – Call the Rector!
If you are in doubt about whether or not to call the Rector – Call the Rector!
