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Good Thoughts
Faith in oneself is the best and safest course. Michelangelo
VESTRY OF ST. LUKE'S Jerry Hodge, Sr. Warden Ed Seward, Jr. Warden Matt Muller, Treasurer Class of 2009 Debi Fricks Gary Dunwoody Dan Dennis Class of 2010 Sherry Furr Gay Hensley Carmen Quinn Jerry Hodge Class of 2011 Jason Reynolds Pat Loomis James Terry Ed Seward Class of 2012 Vera Chenault Valerie Smith John Rhodes Matt Muller Tom Simmons ---------- + ---------- CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday thru Friday 9 to 5 Friday, closed for lunch 12-1 ---------- + ---------- Click on Links Below for More Information February Happenings in North Little Rock February Ministry Schedule Printable Calendar for Lent
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CAREY'S CONVERSATIONS
"The sin is putting the ego at the center of the personality instead of God."
-Gertrud Mueller Nelson, from To Dance with God
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We begin the season of Lent with a peculiar ritual that goes back for centuries. Last night we took the palms left over from the Palm Sunday service from last year and burned them in a ritual fire. On Ash Wednesday morning I will take these ashes and pulverize them into a fine powder and at the service will place them on our foreheads in the shape of the cross. As the ashes are imposed we will hear these words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Gertrude Mueller Nelson in her wonderfully insightful book, To Dance With God places the symbols and rituals of the Lenten season in proper perspective. "The Church offers us the scriptural readings, the symbols, and the disciplinary forms necessary to surround ourselves as consciously and as creatively as we can with the business of transformation. Through our ritual acts of mortification (death to self), we are given the courage to enter into and experience sacramentally and creatively the 'ordinary' experiences in our lives that call for little deaths, the mysteries that return meaning to our daily interactions. Every day, if we live passionately and risk, we are asked to give ourselves up, to break out of our old patterns of behavior, our impersonal laziness, our habits to control, criticize or put-down, our selfishness, our fears and reticence - to give up our egos for the sake of someone else. For the Church's offerings send us back to our human experience and lend us the courage to know ourselves more deeply and to fully engage ourselves in the human events, the relationships, the struggles that make up our days. Our suffering, in and with Jesus is never separate from our daily struggles...On Ash Wednesday we are signed with the outward sign of our humble beginnings and common end. The priest puts ashes on our foreheads and we take responsibility for this living flesh, notice everything around us - the possessions we hold valuable, the persons we love - and know that all will one day turn to dust."
Thus our prayer book liturgy invites us into this dance of mortification that leads to fuller, richer spiritual life. "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 p.265
As a result of our active participation in this Holy season may we come to the joys of Easter a little more humble, a little more like Christ and a little more joyful in this most wonderful news that nothing can ever finally separate us from the love of God in Christ!
Yours in Christ,
Carey+
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Today on Ash Wednesday we begin our Holy Lent together. If you would like to receive a daily mediation from St. Luke's, join us on our Facebook page (St. Luke's Episcopal Church North Little Rock) where we are posting a short prayer or meditation each day for us to ponder and connect to God and each other as we start our day. Below is information about our Celtic Quiet Day on Saturday, March 10. This is a great way to introduce a friend to St. Luke's by inviting them to the Quiet Day. Sunday we will have brochures for you to give or mail to friends about coming with you to the Quiet Day.
Quiet Day with Centering Prayer, A Simple Celtic Meal
Walking the Labyrinth, Celtic Music/ harp and voice
Closing with a Celtic Eucharist
Sponsored by St. Luke's ECW $10 donation
Call St. Luke's for reservations 753.4281
For the Celts there was no separation between praying and living; praying and working flow into one another, so that life is punctuated by prayer, and life becomes prayer. For these four hours on the week prior to St. Patrick's Day, we will model this life of prayer and living together. In the morning we will be practicing Centering Prayer. Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. Centering Prayer is offered each week at St. Luke's at 9:30 on Mondays.
We will have a quiet lunch of soup, bread, and dessert.
In the afternoon we will be walking St. Luke's outdoor labyrinth. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools. A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The Labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world.
Our quiet time together will conclude with a Celtic Eucharist. The Celtic Eucharist is well known to speak simultaneously to the heart and mind, not just solely to the mind.
Throughout the day we will hear Celtic music in harp and voice at our meal, as we walk the labyrinth, and as we worship together.
For more information contact Joanna Seibert joannaseibert@me.com
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 FROM THE ORGAN BENCH | |
Congratulations to everyone that made Sunday such a great day at St. Luke's. I do not remember such a big number of baptisms, confirmation, re-affirmations and receptions. It was a grand and glorious morning.
This week we start the penitential season of Lent. During the season of Lent, at the 10:30 services we will be singing plainsong settings of the psalms where the choir starts the chant and the congregation will be invited to join in on the second part of each verse.
We will also be singing a setting of the Kyrie that is based on the hymntune Herzliebster Jesu or Ah, Holy Jesus...#158 in your hymnals. It is very beautiful setting to start off our liturgies in Lent.
I was talking with some people over the weekend at church, and I was told as a young boy that I needed to give up something for Lent. I never made it. As an adult, I have re-thought this discipline, I try to do things for Lent that I would not usually do during the rest of the year. Something to prepare myself for a glorious Easter season. This year I am reading a biography on the great 20th century theologian Dietrich Boenhoffer. I hope are able to avail yourself of the many opportunities at St. Luke's this Lent.
God bless you! Michael ---------- + ----------
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PRAYER LIST
Carolyn Ford, Jim Howell, Katherine Herring, Rhonda Herring, Annette Gerace, Martinka Family, Cory Moses, Kendall, Diane Faust, Laura Dues, Pete Caro, Lawson Anderson, Anne Gontermann, Sheila Crim, Tim Woods, Mike Roh, Vince Roh, Bobbi West, Jamie Poole, Kate Toepfer, Valerie Baker, Nicholas, Martha Stroope, Mary Jo Ring, Kathy Rose, Thalia, Parker, Kathy, Lisa Williams, George Cline, Jim Ellwanger, Hannah Brown, the Acord Family, the Gontermann Family, Bill Spradlin, Mary Paal, Susan Ware, Forest Pollard, Pat Loomis, Rick Parks, Shirley Miles, the Clawson Family, the Gentry family, Stephan Mays, Clarence Davis, Jayson Phillips, David Porterfield, Virgil Wiedner.
Special Concerns: All of the men and women of our Armed Forces, especially Jake, Justin, Bret, Joshua, Mark, Tim, Matt, Doug and Lance.
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CONDOLENCES TO FR. KEITH GENTRY
We regretfully inform you that former Rector Keith Gentry's mother Lois Lance died Tuesday, February 21. Please keep Fr. Keith and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
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ASH WEDNESDAY
There will be two services on Ash Wednesday; one at noon and another at 7 pm. They will be Eucharist services.
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ECW CENTRAL CONVOCATION
St. Patricks Day Brunch for Central Convocation Episcopal Church Women
Saturday, March 17th at 9:30am
St Michael's Episcopal Church
Mimosas, Brunch food
Introductions
ECW Board member and Comedian,
Dawn Mulkern
performing "Ladies Laugh at Life"
Party Favors, Door Prizes and more
Cost $5.00
Please RSVP to danadownes@yahoo.com
by March 10th
Thank you and look forward to seeing you.
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ECW SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TIME FOR J.O.Y
St. Luke's ECW announces two scholarships available for Time for J.O.Y.
The next Time for J.O.Y. retreat will be April 27-29, 2012, at Camp Mitchell on Petit Jean Mountain, Morrilton, Arkansas.
Time for J.O.Y. is a ministry for and with women 19 to 40-something.
Time for J.O.Y. is a weekend retreat designed for young women living stressful lives, be they single, married, divorced, working in the home or outside the home. The purpose of the retreat is to provide experiences which affirm and encourage young women on their spiritual journey. Through the introduction of simple soul-tending skills, the retreatant is reconnected with her spirituality.
The retreat is sponsored and staffed by the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Arkansas (ECW). The staff of volunteers provide the workshops, the music, the speaker, the gifts, the fellowship, and many spiritual opportunities for the young women, to help them connect with their own spiritual paths. Qualified women offer spiritual direction, and a priest presides at Holy Eucharist.
If you are interested, please submit your name by March 20, 2012, to Wanda Dunwoody, Martha Mayland or Annie Shuster.
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EXTENDING YOUR LENTEN DEVOTIONALS
What will you be giving up for Lent? Could it be candy, desserts, alcohol or beer? Although some might say giving these up might be considered a form of fasting or nourishment to our bodies, it doesn't satisfy the devotional nourishment and commitment we should make to God. In addition, Sunday's Eucharist shouldn't be the only day we give reverence to God. There are several other services and forms of worship in the Book of Common Prayer that we should be familiar with and use. One of those services is Daily Evening Prayer.
When I first came to St Luke's I, along with all the Lay Readers at the time, participated in offering Evening Prayer every weekday night during Lent. This helped to enrich our spiritual journey during that church season. By leading Evening Prayer Services also extended and shared this devotional to those who would also like to enrich their commitment to God during this time.
We have several activities going on during Lent, so I thought it to be appropriate that we add Evening Prayer along with those activities as another way of giving reverence to God. Therefore, I asked Father Carey if we could again add this service during Lent for all to participate in if they wished. As a result I will be leading Evening Prayer and invite all to come each Friday night at 5:30 PM during the Lenten Season.
In addition, we will also offer "Stations of the Cross" directly after Evening Prayer. Evening Prayer takes about 30 minutes. I invite you to come to either or both. What better way to give up something during Lent than a short period of your time on Friday nights!
Also remember, we have Morning and Evening Prayer Services at other times during the week on a regular basis if your schedule conflicts with Friday nights:
- Monday's and Friday's Morning Prayer at 7:00 AM.
- Wednesday's and Thursday's Morning Prayer at 8:30 AM.
- Evening Prayer on Monday at 5:30 PM.
Lastly, there are other ways we can pray when one or more are gathered together daily during Lent and beyond:
- "Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families" on Page 136 of the Book of Common Payer.
- "Prayers and Thanksgivings" on Pages 810 - 841 of the Book of Common Prayer.
- "What is Prayer?" Our prayers should be made up of this outline on page 856 of the Book of Common Prayer.
- For daily reading of the Bible one may want to refer to the readings outlined in the Daily Office Year Two starting on page 953 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Prayers be with you during this Lenten Season,
Mark Holst
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LENT HAPPENINGS
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Lord, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139 Lenten Season 2012 Ash Wednesday, February 22 to Easter Sunday, April 8. Special Dates in Lent February 22: 12 noon & 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Services March 10: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Celtic Quiet Day- a spiritual pilgrimage of contemplative prayer, walking the labyrinth, harp music, a luncheon with an Irish Flair, ending with a Celtic Eucharist. Call church office by March 2 for your reservation April 1: 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Services April 4: 6:00 p.m. Traditional Seder Family Supper for adults & children. Call church office by March 28 for your reservation Weekday Lenten Services Morning Prayer -7:00 a.m. Monday & Friday 8:30 a.m. Wed. & Thursday Evening Prayer -5:30 p.m. Monday & Friday Centering Prayer - 9:30 a.m. Monday Healing Eucharist - 12:00 p.m. Wednesday Stations of the Cross- 5:30 on Wed. and following the Evening Prayer service on Friday Wednesday Mornings in Lent Wednesday Book Group - 10:00 a.m.Deacon Joanna's home The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis will be discussed. Wednesday Evenings in Lent February 29, March 7, 14, 21 and 28 5:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross 6:00 p.m. Light supper with Lenten Adult Study on Prayer and Your Personality Feb. 29 What type of Prayer Fits Your Personality Type - Fr. Carey March 7 Ignatian Prayer - Dn. Joanna March 14 Augustinian Prayer - Fr. Carey March 21 Benedictine & Franciscan Prayer - Dn. Joanna March 28 Thomistic Prayer - Fr. Carey Lenten Studies Sundays Mornings in Lent Adult Formation Classes: Feb. 26, March 4, 11, 18, 25 & April 1, in the Parish Hall. The 5 Languages of Love presented by Father Carey. "People experience love most strongly through one of five love languages" In the Adult Classroom Archeology of the Bible : Professor Jodi Magness on "What Archeology Reveals about the Holy Land". Children's Classes February 19: Children in Catechesis classes 1,2,and 3 for ages 4-12 will be making Alleluia banners February 26: Burying their Alleluia banners to be unearthed on Easter morning and process in with their banners Other Sundays in Lent, Level 2 and 3 Catechesis children will be studying meditations about reconciliation Wednesday nights Children will be studying about the Seder meal they will be eating with their family on Wednesday of Holy Week, April 4 Holy Week Palm Sunday - April 1 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 p.m. services Wednesday Seder Family Supper -April 4 6:00 p.m. for adults & children - Call church office by March 28 for your reservation Maundy Thursday - April 5 7:00 p.m. service with Foot Washing and Garden of Repose followed by Vigil Good Friday - April 6 12 noon & 7:00 p.m. services Saturday Easter Vigil -April 7 8:00 p.m. service with Baptism Easter Easter Vigil - Saturday, April 7 8:00 p.m. with Baptism Easter Day - Sunday, April 8:00 a.m. & 10:30a. m. with flowering of the cross and offering of mite boxes Between Services there will be an Easter Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt. (no formation classes today.) Lenten Materials Available at St. Luke's starting Sunday, February 19 "From Fear To Love" By Henri Nouwen Lenten Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Lenten Devotional 2012 This Devotional will inspire readers to reflect on their own lives and their relationships with a hurting world. Texting through Lent A calendar/poster for teens and young adults to follow the days of lent individually or with their family including spiritual reflections for each day. Text more, biblical texting that is! Lenten calendar/Poster for children Each is full of prayers, thought starters, and suggestions for Bible reading. Lenten Supper Schedule February 29 - ECW/DOK March 7 - Monday Night Community Group March 14 - Thursday Night Community Group March 21 - Altar Guild March 28 - Choir ---------- + ---------- |
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH
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St. Luke's Lenten Outreach
Episcopal Relief and Development:
Mite Boxes, Bookmarks and Prayer Cards are available on St. Luke's book table. These offer support and prayers for those facing hunger and poverty worldwide.
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CHRISTIAN FORMATION
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Classes are Sunday mornings at 9:15 am.
2012-2013 Christian Education Classes
3 year olds: Brouke Reynolds, Guide
Paula Benson, Assistant
Catechesis I: Beth Maze, Guide
(4-6 year olds) Paula Volpe, Guide
Martha Cross, Assistant
Catechesis II: Ginna Simmons, Guide
(7-9 year olds) Ellen Moses, Assistant
Catechesis III: Kimber Barber-Fendley, Guide
(10-12 year olds) Laura Woford, Assistant
Teenager: Wanda Dunwoody, Co-teacher
(13-18 year olds) Suzzette Patterson, Co-teacher
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Nursery Care is provided for all activities on Sunday mornings.
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| EPISCOPAL CURSILLO LEADERS WORKSHOP | Cursillo of Arkansas is holding a workshop for anyone who wants to be a Cursillo leader. Goals of the workshop are:
- Deepen commitment to Christ
- Clarify the purpose and method of Cursillo
- Help grow new Cursillo leaders
- Plan to do what we do better
For more information on the workshop, click on this link: Episcopal Cursillo Leaders Workshop
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| SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS | The Junior League of North Little Rock is accepting applications for their Risa Ratcliff Volunteer Scholarship. For more information on requirements and how to apply, please click on the following link:JLNLR Scholarship
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