Announcements for February 22

The Observance of a Holy Lent
Materials are available to help you observe the holy season of Lent. Look for the “Lent for Dummies” handout with information and suggestions. Several booklets and guides for daily reflection and devotion are also available on the information tables.

Wednesday Evening Class for Lent (Including Reading Assignments) 
This year the Wednesday evening Lenten class will study The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Last Days in Jerusalem by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan. The class will include presentations of the material in the book along with discussion. If you wish to read the material before class, please acquire your own copy of the book. Classes begin February 25 and meet in the church from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Reading assignments for each week are: February 25 – Introduction & Chapter 1; March 4 – Chapters 2 & 3; March 11 – Chapters 4 & 5; March 18 – Chapters 6 & 7; March 25 – Chapter 8.

The Fish Fry is Coming
Mark your calendars for St. John’s annual Lenten fish fry, coming March 20.

The Great Litany
It is the custom of many parishes, including St. John’s, to pray the Great Litany on the First Sunday in Lent. A litany is a form of prayer in which the people make fixed responses to a series of short biddings or intercessions. They are an ancient liturgical tradition, often said or sung in procession. The Great Litany is the first liturgical rite published in English. Developed by Thomas Cranmer, it was published in 1544. The first English Book of Common Prayer was published in 1549.

Draft of New Parish Directory
Draft copies of updated version of the parish directory are located on the information tables. Please check to ensure your information is up-do-date. We always welcome the addition of email addresses and cell phone numbers if you are willing to share those.

Yarn Ministry
The knitting group will meet Monday, March 2, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Guild Room.

Spring is Almost Here
Well, at least musically, as the Grande Prairie Singers present a love-themed concert featuring West Side Story and Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas. It will be held at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 8, at Faith United Protestant Church in Park Forest. Pianist is our own amazing Michael Soto. See Bob or Betsy Burgwald for tickets.