From
Ruth Kulkarni,
Visitation
Minister:
This year,
the season of Lent begins early, on February 6th, while it is still
officially winter in our hemisphere.
Lent might be looked upon as the “winter” of our liturgical year, ending
in the spring of the Resurrection.
Noting the resonance she finds between the natural world and the world
of the spirit, Gunilla Norris says the following about the coming of the spring:
“The plants have been resting out of sight and
deep within winter. They’ve been
gathering potential for the nest season.
Some have died when the weather and their general health have conspired
to end their lifespan. Perhaps more goes
on in the winter of the soul than any of us can imagine. No wonder we feel elated when we see the
first shy green shoot of a snowdrop.
“Now here, here is the beginning,” we may think. This is not true, of course. The beginning was long before these signs.”
As Norris views winter as a period of “gathering potential” for spring, we regard Lent as a time of preparation for the season of Easter. Sometimes we look for something to “give up”
for Lent, often some sort of food from which we fast for the
forty days. If this reminds us of the
spirit of self-examination and penitence that we seek during Lent, it is fine
to make these small personal sacrifices.
But Isaiah 58:6-7 reminds us of the individual and communal “fasting”
that is most pleasing to God:
“It is not this fast I choose to loose the
bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and
bring the homeless poor into your house, when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not hide yourself from your own kin?”
In our Wednesday Night study of Ezekiel 34, we have seen how the abuse or neglect of the less powerful people in a society is often accompanied by neglect or abuse of the earth as well. In our own time of global warming and habitat loss, we need to be concerned about our care for all of creation as well as fellow human beings. We cannot afford to neglect either concern. Perhaps our best “fasting” is the contribution we make each month to Sarah’s Hope, Bread for the World, ACTC, or to seek out community and political leaders who express and act upon similar concerns for the earth and and for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. In our time, the earth is also “afflicted”, but the promise to those who take up these concerns sounds like Resurrection (Isaiah 58:9b-10):
“If you remove the yoke from among
you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food
to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall
rise in the darkness and your gloom be like noonday.”
UPCOMING
EVENTS:
Wednesday Evening
Programs as usual.
There will be dinner, but there will not be programs on Ash Wednesday, February 6th.
During the month of February we will be making two collections
1. The Annie Armstrong Circle will be leading
us in a collection of canned goods for the
Canton
Center.
2.There will be a collection of
change and other gifts for the Morris Chair at the Thailand
Baptist Seminary. Gifts
may be brought in at any time during the month.
February 3rd
Communion
February 6th Ash Wednesday.
Dinner will be followed by Ash Wednesday Service.
SATURDAY, February 9th
Youth Skiing Trip:
v We will meet at the church at 7:00 a.m. Saturday
February 9th to go to White Tail Ski Area.
v The cost for lift tickets/skis/and lessons will be
kept to $30 per person. You will need to bring extra money for lunch,
and we will provide pizza back at
v If you are interested in going as a skier or chaperone
speak with Doug Thomas (410-825-1460), or the Church Office (410-825-3360); sign-up on the back of an attendance
card. Friends are welcome.
v If you need financial help in going, talk to the
pastor.
February 10th
Sunday:
Coffee Hour following worship service
February 11th Monday:
12 Noon –
February 13th Wednesday:
8:00
p.m. Board of Deacons meeting.
February 17th
12:30 p.m. Memorial service for Ruth Gruhn
SPECIAL BIBLE STUDY
We will meet on the 17th from 3:00-5:00, with
dinner from 5:00 -6:00.
Dr. Tom McDaniel, professor Emeritus of Hebrew Bible at
Palmer Theological Seminary has agreed to come and guide us in understanding
what Jesus said in Hebrew about himself, as instructions for his disciples, and
about holiness.
February 18th Monday: Needles and News will meet in the home of Judy Weimert,
410-825-5366.
February 25th Monday: Sarah’s Hope 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Pick up cakes for Our Daily Bread and return Saturday, March 1st.
Yoga For Everyone - Wednesday 9:30-10:45 a.m., Friday 9:45-10:45 a.m.
Taught by Melissa Morris-Hillman, RYT 410-961-8701
Fifty years ago, your minister
married two young college kids from
I am happy to say we are
celebrating our 50th wedding
anniversary on January 27th .
We thank God for His faithfulness and your minister Leland Higginbotham
for believing in us.
Sincerely,
Sonja and Joe Bates