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Weekly Event Calendar
Wednesday, March 9
12:15, 7 p.m.
Ash Wednesday services
Thursday, March 10
9:30 a.m. Eucharist
2 p.m. St. Pat's Meal Program Saturday, March 12 8 a.m. Men's Group
11 a.m. Stampin' Up Sunday, March 13
9 a.m. Eucharist
10 a.m. Sunday School Upcoming Events Mark your calendar
TODAY!
March 8
6-8:30 p.m.
Super Tuesday!
Wednesday, March 9
Ash Wednesday |
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Who's on for Sunday?
7:30 a.m. Server: TJ Ross Lay Reader: Rose Bratton Lector: Bob Kelley
9 a.m.
Servers:Lindsey Siefert, Cody Denneau
Crucifer: Brenda Torres
Torch Bearers:Roger Cornelius, Dave Siefert
Eucharistic Minister:Cathy Kortendick
Lector: Derek Boom |
Do you have a special occasion coming up? Would you be willing to donate flowers to beautify our church for that occasion? The cost is only $40. If so, please follow the PayPal link below or you can drop a check in the collection plate on Sunday. Thank you.
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 Rector's Ramblings
Come Wednesday we should all have dirty foreheads. That's right Ash Wednesday is a day away and Lent is fast approaching. I remember as a kid I loved Ash Wednesday because you got to wear ashes on your forehead like a badge of honor. I recall getting up as a family and heading off to church before school and getting our smudges. I couldn't wait to walk into school and show everyone my dirty forehead. Usually there was a somewhat large contingent of "smudges". As I got older I would rub my ashes off because I didn't want to be different. As an adult, I often forget they are even there. A couple years ago the check out girl at the Pig pointed out I had something on my forehead. I said "Oh my ashes" she looked at me like I was from another planet. And perhaps we are. Think about it.
Each year we gather to have ashes rubbed on our foreheads to remind us of our mortality. "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return". Talk about counter cultural. In a culture which idolizes youth, beauty, brains and Benjamins (that's slang for money, how cool am I?). To be reminded that "You are dust and to dust you shall return" is an affront to the world we live in. Those ashes which will be smeared on your forehead are a reminder that everything in this world is fleeting and passing away including us. If that is true then we have three choices. One we can ignore it and just go on in a state of denial. Two, we seize the day, "Carpe Diem" for tomorrow we die. Or third it is an opportunity for us to examine our lives and discern where we have invested our time, our love, our skills and talents. Have we invested our lives in things which are eternal or temporal? And once we have contemplated that question, the next question is; "What am I going to do with the rest of my life".
Lent is a time of self examination which leads to change. The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. Each year the Church slows down so we can slow down and really examine our lives. Such examination often leads to standing before our God and Savior and repenting. " I am so sorry that I have made this life all about me". "I am sorry that I have used people and most importantly I have used you, God"." Lord I surrender once again to you. Help me to see a different world, a different way, a different life, one which consistently glorifies you not me, one which builds up you church not my ego, one that ushers in your Kingdom not mine own.
Lord let the smudge of ashes on our foreheads be a reminder that we are dust and to dust we shall return and therefore you are all that matters. You are the one who is the center of the universe and we surrender all to you.
Welcome to a holy Lent. |
Wedding Pictures Tell the Whole Story
How long ago were you married? If you are Jack and Mary Lou Mannali, it was over 60 years ago. I would love to see their wedding pictures. How about you? Wedding pictures are great fun because they give us a glimpse of Grace. Faces filled with promise, hope, excitement and love.
The problem is most people never see other people's wedding pictures. It usually only happens when you visit their home and it is on display or at their funeral. I know that's kind of dark but it is true. What if there was an opportunity to share your most prized wedding and marriage pictures with other folks? What if they could be scanned into a computer and then arranged into a video collage. How fun would that be if we could gather together wedding and marriage photos from all the members of the parish and put together a video collage celebrating marriage. How much fun would that be? Would you want to see something like that and try to guess who 's who? Well we thought it would be fun too. So that's what we are doing it.
Submit your favorite wedding and marriage photo to St. Michaels and we will put it all together for a video collage celebrating marriage, which will début at our 50th Anniversary "Celebrating Marriage" Event Mar 26-27. The video will be running Saturday night during the dinner and dancing Gala. We will also have it running during the cake and punch reception on Sunday morning following the 9:00am service. But we need you to submit your wedding and marriage photos. So here is how you do it.
1. If you have digital photos send them to info@stmichaelsracine.org
2. If you have them in frames of albums, you can bring them on Sunday morning March 13 or 20 to the secretary's office and Brandon Prudhom will scan them in.
3. You can drop them off at the church and we will scan them and you can pick them up at your convenience.
4. Finally if you feel safe leaving them at the church, we would love to display them on Saturday and Sunday for everyone to see.
We look forward to seeing you on your wedding day!
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Campaign Corner
In last week's newsletter this new "Campaign Corner" feature was introduced as a place where, over the next several weeks, you will find information about the various aspects of our 50th Anniversary Campaign. This week we discuss one of the projects for which campaign resources will be used-- the replacement of our current boiler with a new, more energy efficient model.
Our current boiler is original to the church. Yes, you've done the math right....that means it's 50 years old. It has served us well, but we live each winter with the possibility that the boiler might breathe its last puff of warm air.
Howard Minkley, our former Junior Warden, completed an extensive analysis of the costs and related savings of upgrading the boiler. And, I do mean extensive! Howard analyzed boilers with various levels of efficiency; he reviewed whether we should have one big boiler, or two smaller boilers; he looked at the size of the boiler, and at how much water would be heated at any given time. Additionally, Howard consulted with some heating experts inside and outside of our congregation. He even commissioned a study by the power company. I'm tired just thinking about all of his work! In the end, we found that the appropriate-sized boiler system will cost between $25,000 and $30,000, and will yield significant savings in the form of rebates and lower heating bills. In fact, we estimate that the church will save $3,054 annually with a new boiler, recouping our cost in less than 10 years.
Although we all tend to delay major updates in our homes (I don't know about you, but I don't get very excited about a shiny new furnace in the basement!), we know that eventually it is wise to make the purchase, ultimately insuring our safety and avoiding costly repairs. We have reached just such a time at St. Michael's with our boiler, and it is prudent to come together to support this upgrade to our church home. |
"Living Compass" Begins Tuesday, March 22
Scott Stoner who is an Episcopal Priest, Psychotherapist and founder and Director of "Samaritan Family Wellness" will be conducting his organizations signature program "Living Compass". Scott is a gifted teacher, facilitator and pastor. After decades of counseling and leadership he has developed this course to assist people to bring their lives into balance and facilitate the changes need and desired to live well.
Visit the "Samaritan Family Wellness" web site http://www.samaritanfamilywellness.org as see for yourself. You can also take a "Living Compass" inventory. I am sure you will be inspired to attend the course starting March 22nd and ending 6 weeks later on May 3rd. You can register today by following this link. See you there! Live well.
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Missionary to Kansas?
Several years ago, a wild series of coincidences brought Wayne Pike from Kansas, to Minnesota, and finally to St. Michael's Church. He came to be near his two sons, Jacob and Joshua, who were active in youth group.
In his years here, Wayne helped (and then led) Youth Group, was elected to Vestry, served as Acolyte Director, and coordinated Happening for the Diocese. Now, having been fully trained,
Wayne is ready to go back to Kansas to enrich the lives of people there.
His last day as a regular attendee will be March 13, 2011. Please join us for a special brunch after service to wish him well in his new endeavor after the 9:00 service. Please bring any special memories to share.
There is no cost for the brunch. Please RSVP to Mike Prudhom at mrprudhom@wi.rr.com or 262-632-4394 so he has a number to plan for.
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Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday services will be at 12:15 and 7 p.m. this Wednesday. Please join us as we begin a holy Lent with prayer and imposition of ashes.
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Hello!
You may have noticed that a new secretary has joined St. Michael's Church. My name is Kathy Pfaffle, and I feel blessed to be here!
A little bit about me - my husband Patrick and I live in Pleasant Prairie with our two daughters, Oksana, 16, and Nadya, 13. Pat is a biology professor at Carthage College. I am originally from Brookfield and Pat is from Waukesha, although his career has taken us to Dallas and Terre Haute, Ind., before returning to Wisconsin in 1997.
I spent many years in health care and insurance management, and also worked at the Kenosha News for seven years.
In my free time I enjoy reading, listening to jazz music, puzzles, walking and spending time with family and friends.
I look forward to getting to know you and helping to support St. Michael's Church.
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Join Terry and I This Sunday Instead of giving up something for lent this year- why not add something and learn how to do the daily office. Dietrich Bonheoffer was a German theologian who died in a concentration camp in 1945. He was a model prisoner and ministered to his fellow prisoners and the guards who held them captive. We remember him today as a model of grace, service to others and Christian devotion. Here's what Pastor Bonheoffer said about Morning Prayer: "The entire day receives order and discipline when it acquires unity. It is confirmed in work. The Morning Prayer determines the day. Squandered time of which we are ashamed, temptations to which we succumb, weakness and lack of courage in work, disorganization and lack of discipline in our thoughts and in our conversation with other men, all have their origin most often in the neglect of Morning Prayer." While the text sounds a little stiff and dated today, the truth remains- doing Morning Prayer can change your life. I know from personal experience - daily prayer changed my relationship with my Lord and savior. I can't imagine a day starting without my time with scripture and prayer. I am a different person because of this discipline. Join Terry and me after mass this Sunday and start a journey that enriches and centers your life. Join us and learn more about the Daily Office practiced by Anglicans around the world. Join us and learn how to begin to change your life. Bob Bagley |
Daylight Saving Time Reminder daylight-saving time (dā'līt-sā'vĭng tahym)
Time during which clocks are set one hour or more ahead of standard time to provide more daylight at the end of the working day during late spring, summer, and early fall. First proposed by Benjamin Franklin, daylight saving time was instituted in various countries during both world wars in the 20th century and was made permanent in most of the United States beginning in 1973. Arizona, Hawaii, most of eastern Indiana, and certain US territories and possessions do not observe daylight saving time.
Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour this weekend! |
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