THE SEASON OF NEW BEGINNINGS
 

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

READINGS    

REFLECTION

Your way of acting should be different form the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else. You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge. Rid your heart of all deceit. Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away when someone needs your love. Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false, but speak the truth with heart and tongue. -The Rule of St. Benedict
 

The end of Benedictine spirituality is to develop a transparent personality. Dissimulation, half answers, vindictive attitudes, a false presentation of self are all barbs in the soul of the monastic. Holiness, this ancient rule says to a culture that has made crafty packaging high art, has something to do with being who we say we are, claiming our truths, opening our hearts, giving ourselves to the other pure and unglossed. Shakespeare's Hamlet noted once: "A man can smile and smile and be a villain."  Benedict is intent on developing people who are what they seem to be.

From The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages by Joan Chittister (Crossroad, 1996).

TALK BACK

SAVE THE DATES

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS IN LENT
ADULT SPIRITUAL FORMATION PRESENTS 2011 LENTEN PROGRAM:
 

God Whispers to You, God Shouts to Me: Matching Your Personality and Spiritual Path

Wednesdays, March 16, 23, 30 and April 6  

6:15 - 7:00   Light Supper

7:-00- 8:00   Program and Discussion

8:00 - 8:30   Music, Prayer and Meditation

(Children are welcome.  A concurrent children's activity will be provided.)

Using the ever popular Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator, we'll venture to discover our individual personality types and explore how our personality affects our relationships with God and our community.  In addition to taking the type indicator assessment, psychotherapist Dr. Laurie Ferguson, former pastor of Palisades Presbyterian Church, will help us determine what the results mean, and we'll find out how being in touch with our personality can help guide each of us to spiritual activities that are most fulfilling.  In later sessions, we'll explore how prayer, music, journaling,communion with nature and other exercises might help us - and those who are different than us - expand and deepen spiritual and religious practice, both internally and externally.

Claudia Uccellani & Jennifer Hausler

Co Chairs, Adult Spiritual Formation Commission

FROM THE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL MINISTRIES

Carpenter's Kids at Grace

There are more than 2.5 million AIDS orphans in Tanzania - children who are missing at least one parent struck down by the disease and who live without visible means of support. The Diocese of Central Tanganyika is a leader in public health and education, sponsoring health clinics, schools, and AIDS prevention programs. It simply needs the resources to extend its work.

The Carpenter's Kids Program is a partnership between the Anglican Diocese of Central Tanganyika and the Episcopal Diocese of New York. "Carpenter's Kids" are Tanzanian HIV/AIDs orphans and other vulnerable children who are selected after screening by their parishes. The aim of the program is to ensure that each child receives a school uniform, a pair of shoes, breakfast every morning, and adequate school supplies to enable them to attend primary school.

The partnership between The Episcopal Diocese of New York and The Diocese of Central Tanganyika links parishes in a mutual relationship of prayer, communication, and support. Grace Church has been linked to Mnase Parish, supporting 50 children, for five years with between 50 and 60 members of the parish donating most of the $60 per year cost of providing for each child. The ChurchSchool has also collected, and Carpenter's Kids was the beneficiary of donations in honor of the marriage of Fr. Richard and Amy Lehman.

Though we are at the end of our original five year commitment, Social Ministry would like to continue the parish's connection to Carpenter's Kids. Our initial fund is spent and we will have to raise new money each year to keep our connection to the children of Mnase Parish. The goal is to broaden the support within the parish for this ministry without asking for a large or long-term financial commitment. We have some suggestions how you and your family can be a part of this with some simple Lenten disciplines that, we hope, can become an annual part of parish life.

Look for suggestions in the next Messenger and the Sunday Bulletins during Lent.

Charlie Cross, Chair, Commission on Social Ministries

ADULT SPIRITUAL FORMATION BOOK GROUP

ANNOUNCES MARCH SELECTION

The ASF Book Group will be reading two  short stories by J.F. Powers for our next meeting, which will take place on March 2 at 7:30pm at the church.  The stories are "Lions, Harts, Leaping Does" and "Zeal" and they're available in this collection, The Stories of J.F. Powers.  The book will be available at Barnes & Noble in the Palisades Mall, and several copies of the stories are available in the church narthex. As always, we're glad to have new members join!

Also, watch for details on our Lenten Program - Wednesday evenings March 16 - to April 13 -- to be announced soon. 

Claudia Uccellani & Jennifer Hausler

Co Chairs, Adult Spiritual Formation Commission

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE

Please remember to bring a non-perishable food item to church every Sunday for People to People.   121 West Nyack Rd. Nanuet NY 10954 845.623.4900.

KEEP IN TOUCH

PARTING THOUGHT