The supper will be followed by a night prayer and palm burning service. Palms that were blessed the previous Palm Sunday are burned to be used on Ash Wednesday. The service marks the transition between the community pancake supper celebration and the penitential season of Lent. "Alleluias" are said for the final time before Easter, and the focus is on the need for God's grace, in preparation for the celebration of God's marvelous redemption at Easter.
 
Ash Wednesday Services
St. Philip's offers four services on Ash Wednesday, February 17. Holy Eucharist Rite I and Imposition of Ashes is at 7:30 a.m. and Holy Eucharist Rite II with Hymns and Imposition of Ashes will be at noon. At 5:30 p.m. there will be a family Ash Wednesday service with Imposition of Ashes, and at 7 p.m. the Canterbury Choir will lead a Sung Eucharist Rite II with Imposition of Ashes. All services are held in the Church.

Lenten Recitals Begin This Week
Friends of Music presents 30-minute noontime recitals on Thursdays during Lent from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in the Music Center. On Thursday, February 18, "Duets to Die For" will be presented by sopranos Elena Todd and Sue Thibodeaux, with Jeffrey Campbell on piano. Their selections span Baroque to Broadway. Admission by donation. Refreshments follow.

On subsequent Thursdays, Ron Clayton, bass, accompanied by Betty Douglas, performs "Spirituals and Show Stoppers" on February 28, including "Deep River" and other spirituals as well as the mellifluous "Danny Boy" and "Caro Mio Ben." Tenor Harlan Hokin and friends will entertain with "Medieval Melodies" on March 4. On March 11, join Arizeder Urreiztieta, bass, and Mary Lonsdale Baker, piano, to hear songs of Agustin Lara and other Mexican composers. Prometheus Unbound! tenors L.H. Brown, Matthew Holter, and Wayne "Sandy" Glass, will present music for equal (and not so equal) voices on March 18. The series concludes on March 25, when former Tucsonan Maureen Papovich, soprano, returns to perform ethereal melodies with Bonnie Bird on piano.

Praying the Way of the Cross
Join in praying the Stations of the Cross during the Fridays of Lent. Praying the Way of the Cross at St. Philip's is a unique opportunity to walk with Jesus through the compelling work of artist Kurt Anderson (Station I is shown at left) and the Stations of the Cross for Global Justice and Reconciliation, prepared by the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations. Fridays at 5:30 p.m. in the Church.

Lenten Retreat
You are invited to a special Lenten Retreat, entitled "From Death to Life-Living the Journey of Faith," on Saturday, February 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Music Center. During Lent we are encouraged to reflect on the great sufferings of Christ and of His ultimate death on the cross. How can the understanding and appreciation of death bring us closer to each other and God? What can the acceptance of death teach us about living? Explore the many dimensions of life having to do with small and large transitions, temporary and final ones. Fr. Rick Zamorano, JCL, is a Roman Catholic priest who teaches at Salpointe Catholic High School. $20.00 retreat fee includes materials and lunch (scholarships available). To register, contact Greg Foraker or Rosalind Garcia (299-6421).