February 11, 2021
Dear St. Timothy's Family:
This Sunday is the Last Sunday after Epiphany. Which means, it's our last Sunday to sing or say the word "Alleluia," until we celebrate the Resurrection. We are heading into this Lent with the hymn numbers still on the hymnboard from last Lent. I left those numbers up there through all the seasons of the church year as a little reminder to myself of all we are going through. Little did I know that we would come to the place where they will eventually be the appropriate hymns some Sunday, because we will have gone through the entire year without using the hymnboard.
At first, this doesn't seem very inspiring to me. But, it is a reminder that God has not abandoned us. The day is coming when I will change the numbers on the hymnboard, and I look forward to that day with great anticipation, and not a few tears.
On to the updates for this week . . .
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WORSHIP
You can find this week's bulletin insert HERE.
Sunday 2/14, Last Sunday after Epiphany, Rite I
10:00 am we will stream a Rite I service of Holy Eucharist, at our website and on our Facebook page, using Choirmaster Andrew Bolden's Third Street Mass, which can be found HERE. After this, we will set aside the Third Street Mass for Lent, along with the "Alleluia."
This week's service outline is HERE, and hymns are HERE.
Tuesday 2/16 7pm
Our weekly evening service, based on the Taize' model. You can tune in at 7pm, on Facebook and at our website. You can find an outline of the service HERE.
Wednesday 2/17 7pm, Ash Wednesday
We will stream a service for Ash Wednesday in all the usual places. You can find the service outline HERE, the hymns HERE, and instructions for making ashes HERE.
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MACCA LENTEN SERVICES
Though we cannot gather our local congregations together during Lent as usual, the area churches will gather virtually on Wednesday evenings using Facebook, for a very brief service (probably around a half hour).
You can find a list of the scheduled services HERE.
I will mostly be providing music, but I hope these opportunities to bring the community together will be a blessing to all. If you'd like to have a printable list of who is doing what each week, you can find that HERE.
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PRAYERS REQUESTED
Please continue to pray for all those affected by COVID-19, and please keep these friends and parishioners in your prayers:
✥David & Judy Wigginton ✥Anne Smith ✥Bob Meyer ✥Chris Lane
✥Priya Kurian ✥Chuck Tilley ✥Michael Flamm ✥Bob Long ✥Jeff Frank
✥John & Bobbie Muhlbach ✥Isaac Leggett ✥Patty ✥Mike Requa ✥Toni Contini
✥Anita Bowers ✥Brian Dorosch ✥Gail Moss ✥Ann Spencer ✥Beth Conley
✥Colleen Major ✥Tim Petry ✥Dave Cottrill ✥Steve Major, Sr.
Please also pray for the doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers who risk their own lives to keep us safe and healthy.
I am deeply saddened to tell you that Mike Streb passed away in Michigan on Monday morning. A private burial is planned, with a celebration of life at a later date.
Please keep Christine and the family in your prayers.
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BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES
Lots of birthdays this week: Susan Merrill (2/14), Mary Humbert (2/14), Robert Fulton (2/16), Carrie Rice (2/16), Joel Vogt (2/20), and Jonathan Schroeder (2/20).
Chuck and Cathy Tilley will celebrate their anniversary on Feb. 14.
Be sure to send happy thoughts and good wishes to all who celebrate this week!
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CARDS AND NOTES
Sunday afternoon, I dropped off a small arrangement made from the Altar flowers for our dear friend and parishioner Anne Smith. I wasn't allowed inside the building, of course, but a kindly staff member met me at the door and said she would take the arrangement to Anne's room. Which got me to thinking, it would be really wonderful if our folks would send cards and notes to Anne, to let her know we are thinking of her, and how much we appreciate all she has done for St. Tim's over the many decades. If you'd like to send something, please mail it to
Jackson Ridge, 7055 High Mill Ave NW, Canal Fulton, OH 44614
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WEEKLY PUZZLE
This week, we're back to Things You Don't Usually See. In this case, it's the Missal stand (which holds the Altar Book, on the left side of the Altar.) This stand was donated by our 9th Rector, the Rev. Edward Kemp and his wife (whose first name is not listed in our parish history--ahem). They gave this Missal stand to the congregation on July 6, 1893, which was the day the cornerstone was laid for our present building. Which means, this little book holder is older than our church building, and I am the 12th Rector to be honored to use it every week, while leading worship services for the people of St. Timothy's.
You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE. You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!
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ORGAN RECITALS
St. Joseph's Church (down the block) is hosting a series of organ concerts, featuring some musicians we know, including our very own Levi Muriuki. Unfortunately, these concerts will likely not be live streamed, but the hosts have promised they will be following COVID prevention protocols. If you feel comfortable attending, you can find more information HERE. If they do work out the online streaming of them, I will let you know.
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PLEDGES AND ENVELOPES
On behalf of the Vestry, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been able to continue to support the church financially through the past year. For many of us, finances have been unsteady and uncertain all year, and setting aside money to keep our parish going is deeply appreciated.
We do have plenty of offering envelopes left. If you'd like to stop by and pick yours up, great. If you'd like us to mail a packet out to you, also great.
Thanks again for your contributions to keep our shared ministry alive, and moving into the future.
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LENT AND HOLY WEEK
In order to plan the next couple months, I have been eager to hear from the Bishop's office about whether or not we will be able to open the doors before Easter. And the answer has come back that we should plan not to be having in-person worship services until after Easter. If this changes, and by some chance we are allowed back into the building for Holy Week, we will certainly be strictly limited in numbers, and will not be able to sing together.
And so, we are making plans to move through Holy Week much as we did last year. We will send a packet of materials to your home, and we'll stream the services on all the usual platforms (with upgraded equipment!), and do the best we can with the situation we find ourselves in.
If you have any suggestions as to how last year's materials could be improved, I would love to hear them.
Meanwhile, I hope you're keeping warm, and that you can join us online Ash Wednesday, as we begin our journey through Lent. Though we are apart, nothing can separate us.
With you in faith,
Fr. George
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