"How are you 'lenting' this year?" a social media friend wants to know. Her noun-for-verbing made me smile. Her question, though, is a serious one. One way in which Christians understand time is by parceling it out into liturgical seasons. And we live and move differently as these seasons progress. 

What’s at the theological center of the season, however, as well as at the heart of any “penitent” activity, is a sense of turning. The Greek New Testament word for this is μετάνοια or “metanoia." The idea is less one of “denial” than it is of “transformation.” 

“How are you lenting?” is really Christian shorthand, then, for “how are you growing?”

While growth sometimes asks us to “deny” some inclination (alcohol, for example) or to release some attachment (another friend donates or recycles a “bag of stuff” on each of the 40 days), more often it asks us to risk, or to take on something new. 

Since ancient times, the season for educating those who would be baptized at Easter, Lent is the best time of year to try out a new spiritual habit (such as praying the daily office, available online each day from the Mission of St. Claire HERE) or wading into one of the new small groups we will be gathering in the coming weeks. Greet a stranger every day and then pray for that person in the wake of whatever transpires. Send a note or an email to a different person each day, expressing gratitude --- for a recent or even a long-ago kindness. 

Fasting is probably the most common Lenten discipline, and Isaiah’s understanding of it (Chapter 58 HERE) – as a means or “breaking every yoke”, including those we bear ourselves is closest to the ancient understanding of metanoia. The prophet loathes showy acts of piety. He understands the point of religious life as liberation, love and shared justice. Private religious acts must somehow lead to a larger and more generous public life. 

So here at the Church of the Holy Spirit, we are lenting in part by praying and gathering more frequently each week, and you’ll find more details following here:

Our private fasting will become a public word and witness as the money we all contribute forms a single donation to Syrian earthquake relief, directed through the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.  You can read more about that relief HERE and we will have envelopes available for your personal use available in church on the Sundays in Lent. 

How are you lenting this year?

Patrick

We would like to thank everyone who attended our recent Annual Parish Meeting on February 12, 2023, in person AND on Zoom! The atmosphere in the room that Sunday just vibrated with enthusiasm! We, your wardens, are so grateful for the support the Parish continues to show for us, the Vestry, and Patrick!

We settled right down to business the following Thursday as we welcomed Dianne Fromm, Jen Marlin, and Betty Suraci to their first hybrid Vestry meeting. A few of us Vestry members joined those assembled in the Fireplace Room via Zoom! After a short social half hour with delicious homemade cookies and soft drinks, Celia called the meeting to order promptly at 7:00. Brenda led the Meditation by sharing two poems by Li-Young Lee, "The Gift" and "From Blossoms".

Minutes from the January meeting were approved, and in addition, a vote taken by email in late January was accepted into the minutes. The Vestry had recently approved the donations from First Fruit sales as recommended by their leadership to Habitat for Humanity, The Family Pantry of Cape Cod, Homeless Prevention Council, and Lower Cape Outreach Council.

Chris Crighton reported that January had been a favorable month financially, especially given that some parishioners fund their pledges at the beginning of each quarter or the entire year and the revenue received from the Holiday Bazaar and the Antiques Show and Sale. All Vestry members were treated to a review of our Financial Building Blocks as is customary this time of year.

Your Vestry** will gather for a retreat during the weekend of March 3-4. Priscilla Isner will host the group on Friday evening for dinner and devotions. We will gather in the Parish Hall on Saturday to explore Invite Welcome Connect, a ministry designed to help Episcopalians engage in the deep work of evangelism. Patrick and our Convention delegates, Celia Calhoun and Cynthia Murray, were first introduced to this ministry and the book by the same title at the Convention in October. Since then, Celia, Cynthia, and Brenda have been attending Zoom meetings with parishioners from all over the Diocese to read and discuss this book. We look forward to learning how we all can embrace Invite Welcome Connect as one way to invite our neighbors to CHS and to increase our presence in the community.

Due to Vestry "retirements", the Outreach and Education ministries will be receiving new Vestry liaisons in the coming weeks. Liaisons who are continuing in their roles include Nancy Boccia (Administration), Ann Pike-Paris (Buildings and Grounds), Michelle Puzo (Hospitality), Priscilla Isner (Pastoral Care), John Harter (Worship), and Jack Sasso (Creative Arts). In addition to overseeing the various fundraisers, the officers also attend many of these committee meetings regularly. Liaisons attend meetings in their Affinity Groups and report back to the Vestry during the regularly scheduled monthly meetings.

Speaking of liaisons, Nancy Boccia, in her role as bazaar chair and a member of the communication and marketing strategy task force, presented a document which outlined all of the steps in order to produce a successful fundraiser. The basic premise behind this document and the work of the committee is that a new event manager could pick up this document and know who to contact, how and when to assemble the teams, and how to advertise using various media to produce a successful event. The document is still in draft stages, but the committee will be sharing it with the rummage sale event managers soon.

Finally, the Vestry also heard from John Harter, chairman of the Stewardship Committee this year. He reported that follow-up calls have been made to parishioners who pledged the last few years but from whom we hadn't heard this year. We received twelve new pledges for a total of 107 pledges. The average pledge increased 9 percent. Quarterly financial updates given by our Treasurer, Chris Crighton, are planned for 2023.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

Blessings and Peace,

RECTOR Rev. Patrick C. Ward

WARDENS Celia Calhoun, Brenda Ridgeway

CLERK Priscilla Isner

TREASURER Chris Crighton

In-person worship with music

Followed by Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall

Church School starts at 9:45 in the lower level of the Parish Hall.

Visitors are always welcome! Children join the service at the Peace.

If you are unable to join us and worship in person, click

HERE to watch the services live or watch later on our YouTube channel.

(Formerly Healing Service)

Lectio Divina is a monastic mode of prayer, contemplation and bible study

and all are welcome to experience this with us.

 10:00 a.m. via ZOOM

Our next Ladies Luncheon is March 2nd. Please mark your calendar. 

Bring a friend or two, bring your own sandwiches, and join us just before 12:00 in the Parish Hall. We begin with a prayer at noon.

We need small/medium vases or Mason jars for delivering flowers. 

If you are in need of a pastoral visit, or you or a family member has been admitted to a medical facility (hospital, skilled care, etc.), or you want to request prayers for you or a family member, please call the church office at (508)-255-0433 or email [email protected].

There is also an Intercessors group that says confidential prayers. Please email your request to [email protected] 

Next month we will include details about donation drop off dates and how you can volunteer to sort and price donations and work at the actual event. In the meantime, if you have questions, contact Marcia Bechtold.

Peter Jensen continues to guide us with his knowledge of all things terraces. Much like the overhaul of all the grounds was done over a period of 3 years, the planting will follow a similar pathway.

Barnstable County Human Services:  www.bchumanservices.net (Comprehensive website with multiple resources on the Cape)                 

Cape Cod Hospital Social Services Department 508-862-5501

Cape Cod Healthcare Newsletter: Go to this link:  https://www.capecodhealth.org/

You may have noticed that we have removed the "masks required" signs from our church doorways as that message no longer reflects the level of caution we understand to be necessary for common worship.

Nonetheless, as incidence of COVID and other respiratory illnesses increases with winter coming, we encourage all to stay current with available vaccinations for flu and COVID, to stay home and "stream" if you are not feeling well, and to keep a mask with you always.

We are all at varying levels of vulnerability. We invite you also to participate in Communion as you wish; the sacrament is understood as "complete" in one form only if both bread and wine are not for you.

Currently there are five women who enjoy creating the artistry of Kimball Guild:

Georgia Schneider, Susan Owens, Jane Affleck,

Donna Tavano, and Ellen Adamson.

The CHS Gallery is open Monday - Thursday 10 - 3 and Sundays after the church service. Bring a friend - sit on the sofas - feel the joy of the art on display.

Starting on March 5th, The Book Discussion Group will be reading and discussing the first 7 chapters of God With Us: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, by Edward Sri, Emmaus Road Publishing, 2019, available from Barnes & Noble, and on Kindle. [We were not able to order it through the Brewster Bookstore.] 

We hope you will join us. If you cannot be there in person, please email Brooke Eaton-Skea, and she will send you the Zoom link.  Hope you join the group. 

ARE YOU CALLED TO THIS VITAL CHS MINISTRY?

Gallery re-opens Wednesday, May 17

If you have questions about entering a show,

contact Sue Sasso or Sharyn Laughton.

For more news about F4K, read our full February newsletter HERE. The best way to keep up with all the F4K news is to join our email list HERE

or email us at [email protected]

and let us know that you would like to receive our newsletters.

For close to 40 years now, God has given us grace to shine a light in the darkness on Good Friday, by bringing your love, kindness, and generosity to help those less fortunate than ourselves, families with children who have profound illnesses, and other forms of suffering. 

It has been an arduous journey for us all since the onset of the pandemic in 2019. We have all been moving through “the valley of the shadow of death” in a very real sense for the past three years.   And now, with the onset of Lent, I submit that we all may be viewing the journey ahead in a more sobering light than in years past.

One hundred percent of free will donations go to support families on the Cape with special needs children. My fervent prayer is that you will join me again this year in fulfilling Jesus's legacy of love and service to those in need. Rich Weeks

WHEN: Good Friday April 7. REGISTRATION AT 8:30; WALK BEGINS AT 9:00

WHERE: Register at Bible Alliance Church in on Route 6A, Brewster .

Click HERE to read more about UP for Kids and last year's Good Friday walk.

"We Are the Men" Concert - Saturday, April 15 at 3 pm in our Parish Hall. 

Youth Outreach and Hospitality (YOH), an action team of the Nauset Interfaith Association will hold a benefit concert* featuring We Are the Men, an all-male vocal group that has been delighting audiences on the Cape, nationally and internationally since 2008. Reception to follow the concert. 

The group offers an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary songs - something for everyone! A free will offering is requested.

This is a NEW FEATURE in Together - an opportunity for members to share a personal story, life celebration, a memorable photo, or a message for the parish you want to share? 

Email your items to Sue Sasso (or drop off handwritten messages or other items in Parish Office) to be included in a future edition. Please try to limit your message to 50 words.

Questions? Contact Sue Sasso

 OUR BIRD HOUSES....

We have a birdhouse just outside our kitchen doors. Every May we watch chickadees rent it. We watch them bring things to build a nest, then watch them bring in food and leave with their chicks' poop! One year we got to watch the chicks fledge.

But I've always wondered what goes on inside the bird house. Click HERE to watch an amazing video from nest building to fledging young'uns. HAPPY SPRING. Sue Sasso