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Rector's Report for February
One of the beauties of the Anglican Tradition is that we celebrate the many liturgical seasons of the year. We are just finishing up the season of the Epiphany, ending with the gospel story of Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain. In less than a week, we will begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday on March 10th.
"We don't know much about how the first-century Christians treated the forty days before Resurrection Sunday. The Bible itself mentions nothing about it. But by the second century, the church was starting to use that season as a time for training new believers about how to rightly think, live, and believe as Christians. (The churchly word for this training is 'the catechumenate'.) This was done, in part, by a collective reliving of the Scriptural accounts of Christ's final days before He was killed. It was done with the whole church community as they, too, relived it, and fasted together. The end of the training period was Holy Week, and Easter would be the day that the new believers would be baptized into the Church. As the Roman world became mostly Christian and more people had already been baptized as children, the season began to shift meaning in a way which would be of great value for new and long-time Christians alike. Lent would become a time for looking at the depth of one's own sin, and turning away from them. A time for learning what it means to follow Christ, and to listen to the Spirit. A time for actually going about changing one's ways to be more as Christ would have them be."
Today, we continue the ancient traditions of Lent by engaging in reflection and spiritual practices such as fasting, praying, and offering service to others which is known as "alms-giving." We do these things not because we have to, but because it helps us to become the people that God wills for us to be. At the end of this article are some Lenten practices that include a modern day undertaking of Lenten practices. Please embrace some of these practices as a commitment to a holy lifestyle.
We at Trinity will also continue with our Lenten traditions. Included in this week's Sunday bulletin will be a listing of all of our 2016 Lenten Programs. Our Lenten Soup Suppers will be held for five Wednesday Evenings during lent from 6pm-8pm in Jane's Hall. This is how it will work: 4 people sign up to bring a pot of soup and a loaf of bread and help clean up at the end of the evening. Around 6:45, we will end our soup supper and begin our Lenten Program. This year we will focus on Spirituality. The five presentations will include the following: The Spirituality of Prayer, Anglican Spirituality, Mysticism, Benedictine Spirituality, & Franciscan Spirituality. All of these presentations will be informative as well as experiential. Mark your calendars for 2/17, 2/24,3/2, 3/9, 3/16.
Lent begins with the service of the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, February 10th. It is a powerful service that reminds us of our mortality and our short time on earth to become the people that God wills for us to be. This year, we will have two services: 12 noon with Ashes and Holy Eucharist; 7:00pm with Ashes and a special meditation. Both services will have music. Since Ash Wednesday is only the beginning, remember to commit to fasting, praying, and almsgiving as a means of deepening your relationship to God in Christ. Suggestions can be found below.
Fasting
*Fast from watching television one night each week so that you can spend time on a Lenten practice, such as praying, reading the Bible, serving others.
*Fast from one movie during Lent and give the money... and the time in service to others.
*Fast from using foul language and put-downs and start affirming the good in other people.
*Fast from buying new things like clothes, music, magazines, entertainment and make a donation.
*Fast from holding resentments and start practicing forgiveness.
*Fast from gossiping or being dishonest and start the practice of always being truthful and honest.
*Fast from alcohol, a favorite snack food or drink and set aside the money you would have spent to donate to a special charity.
*Fast from being angry or upset with people who have hurt or offended you, and pray for the courage to forgive them.
*Fast from feeling guilty and angry at yourself for things you have done wrong and instead remember God's great love for you.
Praying
*Read a Lenten Meditation book or pray along with the Lenten Scripture readings through Lent. Here's a list for each week of Lent:
(1) Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 (Ash Wednesday)
(2) Luke 4:1-13 (1st Sunday)
(3) Luke 13:22-35(2nd Sunday)
(4) Luke 13:1-9 (3rd Sunday)
(5) Luke 15:11-32(4th Sunday)
(6) Luke 20:9-19 (5th Sunday)
(7) Luke 19:29-40 (Passion Sunday)
(8) John 13:1-15 (Holy Thursday)
(9) John 18:1-19:42 (Good Friday)
(10) Luke 24:13-35(Easter)
*Participate in Ash Wednesday services
*Participate in our monthly bible studies on the first Sunday of the month at 9:40am
*Participate in the Lenten Sunday liturgies and Holy Week liturgies
*Participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent
*Spend fifteen minutes a day praying during Lent: give thanks to God for all your blessings, pray for a specific personal need prompted by the day's experience,
*Pray for those who are in need or suffering in your community and the world.
*Sit in silence for 5 minutes each day.
Serving/Almsgiving
*Donate personal possessions, such as clothes, books, shoes, to people in need
*Dedicate time for service during Lent, e.g., like helping out at "Breaking Bread with Friends" on Saturday morning.
*Send a card to our homebound or do some friendly visiting at their homes.
*Bring our Sunday flowers to those who are ill and unable to attend our services.
*Donate food or money to the Interfaith food bank by bringing in food each Sunday saved by fasting *Donate to and participate in making food packages for the homeless on March 13th at 9:30am.
*Make a donation to your favorite charity.
Have a blessed and spirit-filled Lent,
Pastor Karen Siegfriedt+
Photos of Activities at Trinity in January:
Annual Meeting on January 31, 2016
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| | Leaders of Trinity Church at Annual Meeting |
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Did You Know?
- Ash Wednesday is on February 10th this year. Services are at 12noon and 7PM.
- New vestry members elected at the annual meeting are: Steve Christensen, Margaret Lewis, Brian Scott, Meredith Miller.
- Vestry Officers for 2016 are: Nancy Moore (Sr. Warden), Carol Holt (Treasurer), David Hoos (Jr. Warden), Margaret Lewis (Clerk)
- Delegates elected to diocesan convention are: Mary Krauthamel-Lane, Carol Holt, Margaret Lewis, Noreen Lafferty.
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Vestry Notes
 At our first meeting following the Annual Meeting of Jan. 31, 2016, your Vestry elected Carol Holt as treasurer, David Hoos as Junior Warden, and Margaret Lewis as the clerk. The annual Vestry Retreat will take place on June 10-11. Pastor Karen will host the next Vestry meeting in her home. Following this event, your Vestry's regular meetings will take place on the 4th Thursday of the month in Jane's Hall. Do remember that you are cordially invited and welcome to attend these meetings! Nancy Moore, Senior Warden |
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Leadership Change for Host Team
Rosalie Escamilla has kindly assumed leadership of the Host Team from Steph Sherman. The Host Team is a great team of folks whose goal is to make everyone feel welcomed at Trinity. Please contact Rosalie if you'd like more information about becoming a host.
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Care Packages for the Homeless
There is great news! All our 200 bags were given out by December 2015. There is bad news! All our 200 bags have been given out! So, it is time to make more bags and since we ran out of bags before we ran out of year and those in need, we've increased our goal for this year to 250 bags. February will be our month to collect food and/or monetary donations for our Care Packages and March 13, will be the date we assemble the bags between services. This is a great project that the people of Trinity have done for the last few years and one greatly appreciated by all the recipients. Below is the list of needed food and non-food items for the bags. If you want to make a monetary donation, please note "For Care Packages" on the item line of your check. Thank you all for your continued support of this project!
ITEMS FOR THE BAGS There are two lists: food items and non-food items. Monetary donations are welcome as well - please note "For Care Packages" on the memo line of your check.
Food Items Basic Ideas: Items that are easy to carry and eat, high in calories and protein, and need no refrigeration or cooking and with the longest shelf life possible. Keep heavy items like canned goods to a minimum and remove any unnecessary packaging from foods to make them lighter. (NOTE: please mark on the item the expiration date if it is only on the larger container that is being discarded).
Foods to Include: (Priority Items) |
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Possible Variations
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Peanut butter
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Small plastic jar, peanut butter crackers - individual packs
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Nuts and seeds
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Snack packs of different varieties of nuts/seeds, light weight containers of peanuts, sunflower seeds; packs of trail mix - varieties
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Beef jerky
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Snack packs of dried meats
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Canned chicken, chicken salad, tuna or tuna salad, Spam, Vienna Sausage, other Canned meats
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Small, light weight pull-top cans or snack sets with crackers
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Granola or cereal bars
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Several varieties with higher protein
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Fruits
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Raisins, other types of dried fruits - small boxes/bags; fruit leathers; small plastic containers of fruit/applesauce
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Crush 'resistant' crackers/chips
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Pretzels, corn chips, banana chips, some varieties of 'heftier' crackers. Small sizes. Also, peanut butter and cracker or cheese and cracker snacks - individual packs
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Bottled water or water bottle
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Small sizes - easier to carry/reuse
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Powdered drink mixes
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Chewing gum, hard candy, mints, cough drops
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Don't want anything that will melt with higher temperatures
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Gift cards to fast food places
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McDonalds, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc.
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Other possibilities: Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) - military food sets often sold at camping stores and sometimes Costco or similar; Back packing dehydrated food sets.
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Non-Food Items: Again, ease of use and simple to carry around are important considerations. |
Hand wipes
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Individually wrapped and put in a non -food zip lock within the food bag. (Those without fragrance best).
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Kleenex, napkins
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Small individual packs
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Plastic utensils
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Restaurant style sets of knife, fork, spoon with napkin
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Toothbrush, toothpaste
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Small set
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Information brochure on where to find food/services in Amador County
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Interfaith Food Bank, Break Bread with Friends, etc.
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No 'preaching' but a card with some words of encouragement might be considered??
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Socks
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Unscented soap
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Lenten Soup Suppers
A highly treasured Trinity tradition of yummy soup and spiritual nourishment. This year, our focus will be on exploring different spiritualities and practices, including Anglican, Benedictine, and Franciscan spiritualities as well as mysticism and prayer.Suppers include 5 Wednesdays: February 17 & 24, March 2, 9 & 16, 6-8pm in Jane's Hall. For each supper, 4 people will bring a large pot of soup and 1 loaf of bread, set up and clean up. Check your calendar, choose a Wednesday, sign up & show up! Sign-up sheets are on shelf of welcome center in the back of the church.
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Food Bank Donations
The Food Bank's cart, in the sanctuary, yielded 225 lbs. of food in January. Total giving in 2016: 225 lbs. of food.
Thanks for your support!
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Trinity Singers Rehearsals
All are invited to join the Trinity Singers/Worship Team! Rehearsals are the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7PM. Bring your voices, your instruments, and a heart for worship and praise! For more information, please contact Carol Harper at 916-604-1872 or email carol@worshipattrinity.com. Web site: WorshipAtTrinity.com. |
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February Birthdays
 The following members of our church family are celebrating birthdays in February! 11th- Gloria Tam 17th- Jeri Miller 23rd- Jeanne Eidsmoe 26th- Barbara Wells 27th- Shannan Yount If you are celebrating a birthday in February, but you don't see your name listed here, please contact our Parish Administrative Asst. |
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Would You Like to Contribute to the Newsletter?
If you have an article of interest to the congregation that you would like included in the newsletter, please email it to the office, office@trinitysuttercreek.org by the 20th of the month. It will be included in the next month's newsletter. |
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