by Cecile Torbergsen

On Ash Wednesday, March 5, Christ Episcopal Church, Slidell offered "Ashes to Go," a new approach to a centuries-old Christian tradition, outside the church at 1534 Seventh Street.

Christ Church is part of a new nationwide movement that has clergy and lay people visiting transit stops, street corners, coffee shops, and college campuses to mark the foreheads of interested passers-by with ashes and invite them to repent of past wrongdoing and seek forgiveness and renewal. 

In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday marks the start of the holy season of Lent, a time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. For centuries, Christians have received a cross of ashes on the face at the beginning of that season as a reminder of mortal failings and an invitation to receive God's forgiveness. Ashes to Go provides the opportunity to participate in that tradition for people who have lost their connection to a church, or have never participated before.

Ashes to Go is about bringing the important traditions of our faith out from behind church walls and into the world.   As people get busier and busier, we need the church in new and non-traditional ways. We especially need reminders of forgiveness. The people who accept ashes on the street are often people longing to make a connection between their faith and the forces of daily life, and Ashes to Go helps them feel that connection.

This is the second year that Father Harry Jenkins, Rector at Christ Episcopal Church in Slidell participated in Ashes to Go. Father Jenkins said that over 75 cars stopped to get ashes.  

Christ Church Cathedral Offered Ashes to Go in Three Location in New Orleans

Christ Church Cathedral brought Ash Wednesday to over 300 people in three locations around New Orleans- Audubon Park, Lafayette Square, and in front of the Cathedral along the streetcar line.  

by Deacon Charles deGravelles  

"Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace: An Episcopal Gathering to Challenge the Epidemic of Violence," will be held April 9 - 11, 2014 in Oklahoma City. Episcopalians are invited to  come together to renew their commitment to the Gospel call to make peace in a world of violence. Through deep conversation, prayer, and skill-building, the event aims to empower the Church to address violence and reclaim our role in society as workers for nonviolence and peace.

The event will feature major speakers and workshops covering a wide range of topics related to violence and strategies for peace. Among those many topics are: 

•          Orphans of Justice: The Generational Cycle of Crime and Incarceration: Lindsay Fry-Geier, MHR, Executive Director of New Hope and Judy Gann, Executive Director Emeritus of New Hope
•          Respecting the Dignity of Those Impacted by Intimate Partner Violence:  Robin Hammeal-Urban, Canon for Mission Integrity and Training, Diocese of Connecticut, and the Rev. Sarah Shofstall, St. Barnabas Church, Bay Village, OH, Diocese of Ohio.
•          The Contemplative Life and Non-violence: Brother James Michael Dowd
•          Welcoming Communities: Preventative Medicine and Antidote to the Epidemic of Violence: Allison Duvall, Program Manager for Church Relations and Co- Sponsorship, Episcopal Migration Ministries
•          Liturgy after Christendom: the Rev. Paul Fromberg, St. Gregory of Nyssa, San Francisco, CA; Charles Rotramel, Chief Executive Officer of Houston revision; the Rev. Matthew Russell, Duke Divinity School
•          Laws Save Lives: How the faith community can make them happen: Vincent DeMarco, National Coordinator, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence
•          Becoming Radical: How to Teach Non-Violence to the Church: the Rev. Carissa Baldwin-McGinnis, faith-based organizational consultant

Also scheduled is a panel discussion, Episcopal Responses to Violence, highlighting the unique and varied ways that the Episcopal Church is responding to violence and working to change the culture of violence. Panelists include: Alex Baumgarten, Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations; Brother James Dowd; Matthew Ellis, National Episcopal Health Ministries; Kay Collier McLaughlin, author, Diocese of Lexington; Julia McMahaon, B-PEACE for Jorge from the Diocese of Massachusetts.

Events will include  a service at the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial and a Eucharist with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori preaching.

According to even planners, Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace will focus on four pillars: advocacy, education, liturgy, and pastoral care. These four areas are key avenues that our Church can use to address the culture of violence within and outside of the Church and will be woven throughout all aspects of the event including plenary time, workshops, small group conversations, and worship.

For more information and to register for the event, go to http://epiok.org/reclaiming-the-gospel-info.html, email gospelofpeace@epiok.org or call Deacon Charles deGravelles at 225-223-0607.

Hank Casserleigh, accepting the First Prize Golden Spoon (for his "Beer Basted Ribs") from ECS pres. Rosemary Willis, with Father Harry Jenkins in the middle.

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of Christ Episcopal Church Slidell held their "Second Annual Double Dog Dare You Crock Pot Cook-off" on Friday, February 21.  Scores of tasters enjoyed sampling from dozens of Crock Pots, and there were no duplicate recipes.  Bluegrass and Country music provided by the "The North Shore Ramblers" added to the festive atmosphere.  People could taste, sing and dance, taste some good food, vote for their favorite dish, and even buy more votes for their favorite!

3rd Prize Copper Spoon- Mary Slazer's "Slow Cooker Hot Fudge Cherry Chocolate Cake" 

The mission of the Social Outreach Committee of St. James is to dedicate those funds that represent our tithe to the community-at-large to assist those in great physical or spiritual need.

As an integral part of its outreach mission to the local and diocesan community, St. James annually awards small grants to Baton Rouge area and diocesan charitable organizations.

Read more about the St. James Outreach Committee here, and previous grant recipients, here.

I'm writing to offer you the opportunity to sponsor the printing of our Summer Camp T-shirts! For a tax-deductible donation of $50, we will feature your business' Logo and/or Name on the back of 150 T-shirts. Our kids come from low-income families that can barely afford the meager fees, much less the cost of the shirts. That is why we are asking for your support.

The mission of All Souls Community Center is to build and sustain the renaissance of the Historic Lower Ninth Ward. We focus on our most precious resource: the children of this beloved neighborhood. To support their myriad needs, we offer a comprehensive after-school program during Fall, Winter and Spring of the school year. Confronting the direct correlation between literacy and incarceration, our purpose is to break the cycles of poverty and violence by helping children achieve personal and professional development goals. Further, we aim to create the conditions necessary to raise healthy, successful children through parent education, community-building, and strategic partnerships.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (504-320-4857) or my staff - Happy Johnson and Carolina Gallop.  Our telephone number is 504-218-8995. Please make your check payable to: All Souls Episcopal Church.  Our address is 5500 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA  70117.   

Zombies from the St. Michael's Episcopal Church Youth Group participated in the Push Mow Parade on February 22 in Abita Springs. The parade theme was Reality Shows of the Future and the group went as "walkers" for their show: "Zombie/Jersey/Northshore."