In Luke's gospel, the story of Jesus' temptation comes immediately after his baptism and a lengthy listing of his ancestors. Both help confirm the identity of Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. Now Jesus is led into the wilderness, where his identity is put to the test by the devil. The specific temptations are in some ways secondary to the question that introduces two of them. Twice the devil asks, "If you are the Son of God . . ." (Luke 4:3, 9), perhaps implying that the devil believes he knows better than Jesus what it means to be God's Son. But Jesus, "full of the Holy Spirit," is able to stand firm in his identity and deny the devil's attempts to redefine who he is.

In our baptisms, we too are given the identity of God's child, and we are given the presence of the Holy Spirit. Our baptisms do not protect us from temptation, even as Jesus himself endured temptation. However, in our baptisms we are given an identity that can help us endure the temptations and the challenges that our lives are bound to include. Baptism gives us the confidence to trust that our identity is defined by our relationship to God, and not by anything else. In this confidence, we can accept our failures and shortcomings and live boldly in a manner that seeks to emulate Christ's own life. [Sundays and Seasons 2016]

This Sunday we continue the theme of veils, as we explore the veils temptation Jesus, you and I experience in our lives. Our worship space and liturgy will be transfigured for the season of Lent to provide an environment to reflect and realign our life story with God's. While the traditional veil of Lent is somber, the good news is that our veils are pulled back by readings that assure us of the profound joy that accompanies our "fasting from" the world's empty promises in order to "feast on" the trustworthy promises of our faithful, loving, and merciful God.

Blessings as we journey to the Cross this Lent+

Bill

Annual Valentine Tea photos by Phil Wasmuth

Marge Morris with daughter-in-law and grandchildren

Betty Brown with daughters and granddaughters

Chris Christensen with granddaughter

The Liturgy in Lent

The liturgy in Lent has as its central concern the preparation of the church for the main event of Easter: Christian initiation. Lent itself came into being as the time of final preparation for those chosen for Holy Baptism, at a time when all Baptisms were done at Easter. For the baptized, Lent is a time for us to renew our commitment to Christ as we anticipate the great feast at Easter.

In the past fifty years the liturgical churches have been reforming their rites for Lent, seeking particularly to recover the baptismal emphasis of the season and of Easter. The Book of Common Prayer as revised in 1979 embodies much of that, as do the revised rites in the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Churches, and others. This includes the restoring of the Great Vigil of Easter as the primary liturgy of the year which with our liturgy in Lent aids us in deepening our experience of the saving acts of God in the past and thereby strengthen our faith, enabling us to recognize the actions of God in our world, our culture, and our lives.

At All saints' the change of church season is reflected in seasonal changes in our worship life together. This Lent we will use the more traditional Rite I liturgy and begin worship with the Penitential Order (BCP p. 319). We will sing the Lord's Prayer at 10:00 am worship and receive communion in silence without any musical accompaniment. There will be prayers stations as an option for those who would like to pause, pray and light a candle after receiving Communion. Purple paraments will adorn our worship space and the shutters will be closed to help us reflect, focus on God's Word and Sacraments to renew-and have renewed in us-what God accomplished in us when we were baptized.

Help Needed Saturday

Caryl Parker's Memorial service is Saturday at 1:00 pm. If you can help usher or greet the many community members who will attend, please call, text or e-mail Donna in the church office, or Pastor Bill. Thank you.

Ashes to Go in Wolfeboro

This year Pastor Bill and Pastor Gina from First Congregational Church Wolfeboro bore a public witness by distributing ashes and praying with people around town on Ash Wednesday, February 10th. "Ashes to Go" is about bringing spirit, belief, and belonging out from behind church doors, and into the places where we go every day. It was a simple event with deep meaning, drawing on centuries of tradition and worship to provide a contemporary moment of grace for dozens of people who encountered Bill and Gina downtown as people shopped and went to the post office, and in the afternoon as people picked up their kids from Carpenter School or stopped as they drove by.

Pancake Supper a Success

This year four of our youth and our preschool teachers and two of their daughters worked under the coordination of Linda Siracusa for our annual Pancake Supper to benefit youth ministry and the preschool of All Saints'. Delicious homemade pancakes, real maple syrup, bacon and other treats were enjoyed by those who attended or did take-out. Following dinner "Ashes To Go" and the Eucharist were available as a reminder of God's gracious and abundant faith, hope and love for us.

Outreach Luncheon

All Saints is hosting and providing lunch for this month's lunch on Thursday, February 25th. We will need cooks and servers as well as setup and cleanup volunteers. Signup sheets along with recipes are posted on the bulletin board downstairs in the parish hall. Any questions should be directed to Marge Morris or Sandi Johnson.

Saints in the News

As you may know, we have a section of the main bulletin board in the parish hall that features newspaper clippings of the people of All Saints' in the news. We are in need of a steward to keep the board up to date by clipping articles and pictures and post them to the bulletin board. Please let our Parish Administrator Donna or Rector Bill know if you would like to serve in this way.

Summer Fair

We would like to thank the vestry for selecting us to be co-chairs for the fair. We will do our best to perform as successfully as our predecessors. It is never too early to start planning and with this in mind we hope all previous chair persons will volunteer to serve again. Please let us know. Also, if there is anyone who might be considering making a major donation for bidding, please let us know so that it might be effectively publicized.

Thanks,

Lynne Moughty & Charlie Kellogg

Safe Church Training

The Episcopal Church of New Hampshire Lakes Region Convocation is holding a Safe Church at 5:30-8:30 pm on Monday, April 18th at St. Andrew's in the Valley in Tamworth. Please contact our Safe Church Minister Sandi Johnson or Parish Administrator Donna if you are interested in attending or have any questions.

Mission Ministry Team

All Saints is looking to establish a Mission Ministry team. This committee would meet to review and recommend where our Mission monies are donated. Gerry DeGeorge (569-1089 gerrydg18@gmail.com) and Beth Smith (289-8804 bethsmith967@outlook.com) from our vestry would like to hear from anyone interested in joining this group.

Help Wanted

Looking for Vacation Coverage for Parish Office

Looking for Vacation Coverage for Parish Office. Donna is going on vacation and the office will need to be staffed from 9 am until Noon. There is just one day left needed for coverage - Friday 2/19/16. Responsibilities will be answering phone, retrieving voice mail and greeting visitors. Please contact the church office at 569-3453 or allsaints@metrocast.net. Thank you.

Flower Guild

The Flower Guild is looking for some additional members. If you want to learn about flower arranging, please contact Louise Graham at 569-2876. You will be fully trained and this ministry is very rewarding. Thank you.

Vases Wanted

Attention All Vase Keepers: our Flower Delivery Team is in need vases, preferably about 10 inches tall with a neck of 2 � to 3 inches diameter. Thanks so much! Lynne Slocum

Be a Friend to All Saints' Preschool

All Saints Preschool is selling all purpose bags for $5.00 each. BUY A BAG. Please call the church office if you wish to purchase a bag.

Caregivers of Southern Carroll County

Drivers needed. This group is a non profit in town that provides rides for medical appointments to hospitals and doctors. You can choose how much or how little you wish to participate. You can also choose if you wish to stay local or drive longer distances. If you are interested, please contact Shirley Bentley at 569-3714.

Save the Date: Lay Leadership Institute May 6-7, 2016

The Lay Leadership Institute is our annual opportunity to learn the basics of vestry life, how the Episcopal Church works in New Hampshire, or to explore our call to Lay Ministry in other and more advanced content. Past seminars have included a Wardens' Roundtable and seminars on Leadership in the Church; Expanding Communication; and Listening Skills.

The Institute will again offer the threshold Basics Course, which is essential to lay leadership in the congregation. The Basic Course especially welcomes new and continuing vestry members. Those who have already taken the Basics Course will have a choice of four day-long seminars:

Bishop Hirschfeld will lead an exploration of liturgy in a seminar of interest to all persons who worship in church but especially to those who participate in defined roles as eucharistic ministers, altar guild members, lectors, ushers, choristers, acolytes, crucifers.
A seminar on learning the art of narrative will train participants in storytelling, a skill that helps us made sense of the life we live and offer that life to others. The seminar will be led by Laura Simoes, Missioner of Communication, and Judith Esmay, Canon for Lay Leadership.
Presenters from Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light will illuminate issues of sustainability and assist church leaders in the greening of church properties and practices. Their presentation will include information about calculating energy costs and sources of funding assistance.
Our annual Wardens' Roundtable will focus this year on the conduct and potential of mutual minister reviews, in exercises led by Hannah Anderson, Canon to the Ordinary and seasoned guide to critically important mutual ministry reviews in many grateful congregations.

More information and registration for these events will be forthcoming shortly.

Life Ministries

All Saints is going to be featuring an item monthly that is in need for the Life Ministries Food Pantry. We welcome any and all donations of non-perishable items. February's item is diapers (any size other than newborn). Please place donations in the basket in the narthex. Thank you for all donations!

Activity Schedule for the Week

Sunday

2:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

6:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

Mon/Wed/Fri

10 am - 2 pm Wolfeboro Senior Center and Meals - Parish Hall

Monday

1:00 p.m. Adult Bridge - Library

3:00 p.m. All Saints Strength Training Group - Stevens Room

5:30 p.m. Youth Group - Parish Hall

7:00 p.m. Photo Club - Parish Hall

Tuesday

6:30 a.m. Women's Worship - Sanctuary

10:00 a.m. Garden Club - Library & Parish Hall

1:30 p.m. Scrabble Club - Library

4:00 p.m. Animate Faith - Parish Hall

5:30 p.m. Children's Center Meeting - Library

Wednesday

Noon Ash Wednesday Worship

1:30 p.m. Knitting Club

5:30 p.m. Table Tennis - Parish Hall

6:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal - Stevens Room

Thursday

7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Study

10-3 Lord & Tailor Shop

1:30 p.m. End 68 Hours Hunger - Library

3:00 p.m. ASSTG - Stevens Room

5:00 p.m. Dinner Bell

6:30 p.m. AMTP - Chapel

Friday

10-3 Lord & Tailor Shop

8:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

Saturday

10-1 Lord & Tailor Shop

10:00 a.m. AA Meeting - Library

8:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

All Saints e-News

We hope you have enjoyed reading our e-News and we encourage your feedback to help us make it even better. We publish an issue weekly on Friday afternoon, to help keep you up to date and in touch with our current news and activities. We think this may be especially helpful to those that are unable to attend our Sunday worship services, are out of town and away for the season. Please let us know if you have some information you would like us to share in future issues of this newsletter.

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Rev. Bill Petersen

Rector, All Saints Church

Phoebe VanScoy-Giessler

Editor, All Saints E-News

603-569-3453