Announcements for February 27

• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9. The traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake supper will be offered Tuesday evening, March 8, beginning at 5:30 p.m. This year, it will be “pay at the door,” but please sign up so we can get a headcount. Suggested donations are $5.00/adult; $3.00/child. Also, please consider bringing a donation for the food pantry. Sign up sheets are available in the church and undercroft, or you may call the parish office.
  
  
• Ash Wednesday Services
  The Holy Eucharist with the imposition of ashes will be offered on Ash Wednesday, March 9, at 6:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
  
  
• Women’s Potluck Luncheon
  The ECW will hold a potluck luncheon this Wednesday, March 2 beginning at 11:30 a.m.
  
  
• Little Hands Ministry Spring Events
  A calendar of spring events for the children’s Little Hands outreach ministry is available. Pick one up in Sunday School or the undercroft. Mark your calendars for the next event. Saturday morning, March 12, we will gather at Irons Oaks to decorate a rain barrel for use at the church.

Reflection for February 27

The Purpose of Life
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
From the Westminster Shorter Catechism (a teaching document on the faith from the reformed tradition).

Announcements for February 20

• Vestry Meeting
  The vestry meets Monday, February 21, beginning with Evening Prayer in the church at 7:00 p.m. Materials are distributed electronically and are also available in the vestry folders outside the parish office.
  
  
• Celebrate Episcopal/Lutheran Communion
  The tenth anniversary of the full communion agreement between The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, known as Called to Common Mission, will be celebrated this Sunday, February 20, at St. James Cathedral. Bishop Wayne Miller of the Chicago Metro Synod of the ELCA will preside and Bishop Jeffrey Lee of the Diocese of Chicago will preach. A reception follows the liturgy, which begins at 5 p.m. All are welcome.
  
  
• Little Hands Ministry Spring Events
  A calendar of spring events for the children’s Little Hands outreach ministry is available. Pick one up in Sunday School or the undercroft. Mark your calendars for the next event. Saturday morning, March 12, we will gather at Irons Oaks to decorate a rain barrel for use at the church.
  
  
• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9. The traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake supper will be offered Tuesday evening, March 8, beginning at 5:00 p.m. This year, it will be “pay at the door,” but please sign up so we can get a headcount. Sign up sheets are available in the church and undercroft, or you may call the parish office.

Reflection for February 20

In his book Jewish Renewal, Rabbi Michael Lerner says that anyone engaging the practice of Shabbat can expect a rough ride for a couple of years at least. This is because Sabbath involves pleasure, rest, freedom and slowness, none of which comes naturally to North Americans. Most of us are so sold on speed, so invested in productivity, so convinced that multitasking is the way of life that stopping for one whole day can feel at first like a kind of death (Barbara Brown Taylor, “Sabbath resistance,” Christian Century, May 31, 2005).

Announcements for February 13

• Absalom Jones Celebration: A Weekend of Events
  The Chicago chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians presents a weekend of events, February 12 and 13. Attend the screening of a new television pilot “The Poet, the Preacher and the Professor,” which addresses the plight of black youth in the inner city. Saturday, February 12, beginning at 12:00 noon. Lunch and panel discussion follow. The traditional Absalom Jones Day Evensong begins at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February13. Cathy J. Cohen, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, will preach on “Celebrating our next generation of disciples.” All events are free and take place at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 3801 S. Michigan Ave.
  
  
• Celebrate Episcopal/Lutheran Communion
  The tenth anniversary of the full communion agreement between The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, known as Called to Common Mission, will be celebrated Sunday, February 20, at St. James Cathedral. Bishop Wayne Miller of the Chicago Metro Synod of the ELCA will preside and Bishop Jeffrey Lee of the Diocese of Chicago will preach. A reception follows the liturgy, which begins at 5 p.m. All are welcome.

Reflection for February 13

A young rabbi was stunned by a heated debate that erupted at his new synagogue on his first Shabbat about whether one should stand or sit during the reading of the Ten Commandments. The rabbi went to visit the oldest member of the synagogue—who was in a nursing home—to find out what the synagogue’s custom had been. After hearing about the contentious debate, the old man replied, “That is our custom” (Beliefnet.com, January 6; quoted in the Christian Century, February 8, 2011).

Announcements for February 6

• Lora Walsh to Preach this Sunday
  Lora Walsh, program director for the Julian Year, will preach at both services this Sunday, February 6. The Julian Year is a new initiative of Episcopal Charities and Community Services. It is a Chicago-based, one-year service program for young adults designed to help participants work for social justice, deepen spiritual awareness and discern vocation, develop leadership skills in the paradigm of servant leadership, and live a simple, sustainable lifestyle. Lora is a postulant for ordained ministry, and she studied at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary.
  
  
• St. John’s Knitters Meet on Monday
  The St. John’s Knitters will be meeting Monday, February 7, at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room. All are welcome: knitters, crocheters, or talkers!
  
  
• Faith in Films: Marvin’s Room, Friday, February 11
  Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro star in this 1996 film about family anger and reconciliation. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasizes the need for reconciliation. Gather at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room. Scripture readings for reflection: Sirach 15:15-20, Matthew 5:17-37.
  
  
• Absalom Jones Celebration: A Weekend of Events
  The Chicago chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians presents a weekend of events, February 12 and 13. Attend the screening of a new television pilot “The Poet, the Preacher and the Professor,” which addresses the plight of black youth in the inner city. Saturday, February 12, beginning at 12:00 noon. Lunch and panel discussion follow. The traditional Absalom Jones Day Evensong begins at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February13. Cathy J. Cohen, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, will preach on “Celebrating our next generation of disciples.” All events are free and take place at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 3801 S. Michigan Ave.
  
  
• Sunday Lectionary Class on Sabbatical
  The adult education class on the Sunday lectionary is on sabbatical until further notice. During the 9:00 a.m. hour adults are invited to the Living Faithfully class, currently studying the recent documentary, God in America. Or (decent) coffee and (excellent) fellowship are offered, along with the Sunday Tribune, in the undercroft.

Reflection for February 6

Top Ten Reasons for Being an Episcopalian
10. No snake handling. 9. You can believe in dinosaurs. 8. Male and female, God created them; male and female, we ordain them. 7. You don’t have to check your brains at the door. 6. Pew aerobics. 5. Church year is color coded. 4. Free wine on Sunday. 3. All of the pageantry, none of the guilt. 2. You don’t have to know how to swim to get baptized. 1. No matter what you believe, there’s bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you. (Attributed to Robin Williams)