Dear Friends,
This Sunday is the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany - the season of light, when we see the truth of Jesus, and of God's presence with us, manifested in numerous ways. This Sunday, we see Jesus transfigured in glory on the mountaintop, and consider how God's glory shines in us as well. Be with us for worship, to shine forth God's love to the world.
Lent begins next week - the season of holy spiritual preparation for the resurrection God brings at Easter. We kick off the season of Lent with the traditional party Tuesday, Feb. 16 - known in English tradition as Shrove Tuesday, but more popularly remembered by its French name, Mardi Gras. This day of celebration was traditionally the day to use up all fat and butter before the Lent fast began. At Nativity, we mark it with a Pancake Supper, 6:00 p.m. Tuesday the 16th, presented by our youth group and men's group. Children's activities will be provided and we will conclude the evening with a children's Mardi Gras parade.
Ash Wednesday is one of the most important observances of the church, as we begin the season of Lent with personal reflection and repentance. The ashes and penitence on Ash Wednesday are a solemn, yet joyful reminder that the ultimate good news is that our sins do not stand between us and God - God forgives us and welcomes us back into the fold.
I hope you will make plans to attend our Wednesday evening Soup Suppers, Feb. 24-March 24, 6:00-7:30 p.m. The adult program will feature our Pastoral Intern, Dr. Wayne Whitney, leading us in an exploration of the resurrection of Jesus and its meaning for our lives. The children's program features the Milk and Honey Cooking School, a hands-on cooking and eating experience using the foods of the Bible. Please let Julie Cordwell know at lazychef@aol.com if your children ages 4 and up plan to participate, or if you need nursery care for children 3 and under.
Blessings to all of you this late-Epiphany season. Announcements are below..
Susan+
The Rev. Susan B. Snook
7010 E. Chauncey Lane # 100
Phoenix, AZ 85054
480-307-9216 / 602-980-4970
www.TheNativity.net
Announcements
Lent and Easter at Nativity
Lent begins Wednesday, February 17th . Make a note of upcoming worship and spiritual activities:
Tuesday, Feb 16 6:00 p.m.:
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Wed., Feb 17 Noon, 7:00 p.m.
Ash Wednesday Services
Wednesdays, Feb 24 – March 24
Lenten Soup Suppers, 6-7:30 pm
Palm Sunday, March 28
9:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Traditional Service
11:00 a.m. Picnic and Inspirations Service in Sonoran Hills Park
Thursday, April 1 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday Service
Good Friday, April 2
Noon Desert Stations of the Cross
7:00 p.m. Good Friday Service
Saturday, April 3 7:00 p.m. Youth Lent Retreat
Easter Sunday, April 4
7:30 a.m. Family Sunrise Easter Service
10:00 a.m. Festival Easter Eucharist
MARDI GRAS PARTY GRAS
February 16, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Youth Group and Men's Group this year, Nativity's Mardi Gras Celebration will be loads of fun! Delicious pancakes and sausage are being sold for a suggested donation price of $2/person or $5/family. There will also be mask-making, a children's parade, lively music and so much fun! You can buy tickets for the event at the Flamingo Table or at the door. Bring a guest and it's free for you and your guest!
HEALING MINISTRIES MEETING The ministry of healing -- body, mind, and spirit -- is one of the most important ministries of the church. A group of people is meeting to talk about our vision for healing ministries at Nativity. If you are interested in this subject, please join us on Tuesday evening at 7:30, after the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.
ASH WEDNESDAY Ash Wednesday is one of the great observances of the Church. The holy season of Lent begins with this opportunity to bring ourselves, in our full humanity, before God, and to rejoice in God’s forgiveness. Please join us for a spoken service with Ashes and Holy Communion at noon, or a choral service with Ashes and Communion at 7:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LENT SOUP SUPPERS Wednesdays, February 24th – March 24th
From 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Children’s Program: Milk and Honey Cooking School. Children 4 years and up are invited to attend our 2nd annualFoods of the Bible Lesson Series. Each week children will learn about a different time in Bible history and prepare a sampling of foods from that region and time period. Please contact Julie Cordwell to register your child(ren) at lazychef@aol.com.
Adult Program: "Jesus Christ, Superstar!" A look at the resurrection of Christ from the gospel testimony to popular media! A five week study in what our Bible says about what happened (and didn't happen) in the resurrection as well as what the realm of popular culture has done with this momentous event in the life of the church. Also, how does your take on the resurrection impact your life in your day to day living? This may not be something we as Episcopalians are conscious of, but, I assure you, every breath we take is different due to this historically altering phenomenon of our faith. This five week study starts on Wednesday February 24 and runs through March 24, led by our new Pastoral Intern,Dr. Wayne Whitney.
OUTREACH COMMITTEE MEETING The Outreach Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 23 at 7:00 pm for the purpose of establishing an agenda of objectives for 2010 and for the purpose of defining a long-range vision of outreach for The Church of The Nativity. All with an interest in our outreach mission are urged to attend. For further information, contact Bob Montheard (480-247-8861 or RJMontheard@aol.com).
COINS FOR HAITI LENT PROJECT Beginning on Shrove Tuesday the children will collect change under a program “Kids Helping Kids”. This is a nationwide coin drive to raise funds to repair and rebuild schools in Haiti. Funds collected until 3/2 will be matched dollar for dollar by a private donor. This program is being run in conjunction with the non-profit groups Chances for Children
www.chances4children.org and Haiti Renewal Fund www.haitirenewal.org. None of the money collected is spent on administrative costs – 100% goes toward rebuilding schools.
February's Book Selection "JESUS IN BLUE JEANS", by Laurie Beth Jones: "Many years ago, I dreamed that I was standing in a meadow. Suddenly I saw a man approaching me. As he got nearer I gasped to realize that it was Jesus in blue jeans. When he saw the expression on my face he said, "Why are you surprised? I came to them wearing robes because they wore robes. I come to you in blue jeans because you wear blue jeans." Imagining the Jesus of today, author Laurie Beth Jones brings to the relevance of the present the words and deeds of the historical Jesus, guided by His inherent qualities: Poise, Perspective., Passion, Power, Join uson Monday, February 22, at 7 p.m. as we gather to assess the playing out of Jones' premise and its relevance, as measured in our own lives. For details, see Bob Montheard or Kali Higgins.
PEPSI-COLA YOUTH MINISTRIES Hey Nativity, it's Flamingo February! Which means it's your big opportunity to support the Youth Group's Mission Tripand pull a fun and silly prank on your friends! To direct a flock of plastic, pink flamingos to someone's yard, stop by the Flamingo February table in the narthex to buy a flock or purchase insurance for yourself to make sure you don't get flocked yourself! Teens: the next flocking meeting is on Sunday night, February 14 @6:30 p.m. -- meet at the church!
WORLD PEACE VILLAGE for UPPER ELEMENTARY Continues Nativity’s 4 though 6th grade Sunday school class continues its study and discussion of the major world religions/faith cultures. This Sunday, we will discuss Hinduism and its similarities and differences to our own Christian faith. The Golden Rule is found in the sacred teachings of each religion/way of life that we will study. Please contact Julie Cordwell with questions or for more information at 602-670-6642. |
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