March 3, 2022

Dear Friends in Christ:

As I mentioned last week, we're moving to a twice-monthly schedule of emails covering worship and upcoming events. While I realize not everyone is yet comfortable gathering in person, I feel this email schedule still allows for plenty of time to alert you to activities and worship opportunities at St. Timothy's. When prudent, I will of course send extra emails to be sure you can say informed about current happenings. And we have every intention of continuing our livestream at 10am along with other services when practical and appropriate.

That said, there's a lot to take note of in what follows.

On to the updates . . .

WORSHIP

Our current policy at St. Timothy's is that face coverings are recommended, though not currently required inside our building. This week's bulletin insert can be found HERE.

Sunday 3/6, First Sunday in Lent

8:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I. In person only.

10:00 am Rite II Holy Eucharist. In person and streamed at our website and on our Facebook page. This week's bulletin is HERE. You can find The Great Litany HERE.

Tuesday 3/8, Taize' Service

Our monthly Tuesday Taize' service--the second Tuesday of each month--will be streamed at our website and on Facebook, and your in-person attendance is welcome. You can sing along with us at home or in church. You will find the service outline and music HERE. (We will have printed copies at the door.)

Wednesday 3/9

12:10pm Our mid-week service of Holy Eucharist. In person only.

6:30pm We are hosting an ecumenical service of Evensong, in person and streamed at our website and on our Facebook page. The bulletin can be found HERE.

Sunday 3/13, Second Sunday in Lent

8:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I. In person only.

10:00 am Rite II Holy Eucharist. In person and streamed at our website and on our Facebook page. This week's bulletin is HERE.

Wednesday 3/16

12:10pm Our mid-week service of Holy Eucharist. In person only.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mar. 6  Lent begins, Great Litany at both services

Mar. 6 Hospitality Committee meets 9:30am (all are welcome)

Mar. 6 Dinner Theater, Dundee OH, 5pm

Mar. 8 Monthly Taize' 7pm

Mar. 9 Hosting MACCA Lenten service, 6:30pm (Full schedule HERE.)

Mar. 20 Choirmaster Andrew Bolden recital, 3pm (see below)

Mar. 27 Bishop Hollingsworth Visitation (10am service only)

Apr. 6 Fr. George preaching at MACCA service, 6:30pm

Apr. 10 Palm Sunday

Apr. 14 Maundy Thursday with Agape' Meal

Apr. 15 Good Friday, services at noon and 7pm.

Apr. 16 Easter Vigil, 8pm

Apr. 17 Easter Sunday, 10am

Apr. 27 Book Study starts

THE BISHOP IS COMING! THE BISHOP IS COMING!

Our Bishops have not been doing Visitations during the season(s) of COVID. But yesterday, I had a call from the Bishop's Office that Bishop Hollingsworth would like to join us for worship on Sunday March 27th at our 10am service. He will meet with those being confirmed or received at 9am, and be with us for coffee hour after the service, and will then meet with the Vestry following that. For this reason, we will have just one service that day at 10am, so that we can gather as one congregation with our Bishop.

Please note: If you would like to be Confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church on March 27th, I will need for you to let me know right away so that we can begin making plans.

Technical reminder: If you were confirmed in a church with Apostolic Succession (ELCA, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, etc.) you would be received. If you were confirmed in another body (Presbyterian, Methodist, etc.) you should be confirmed. Either way, you get your own signed prayer book!

Interesting fact: The last time we had a Bishop visit was also on Laetare Sunday, in 2019, when Bishop Williams was the first person to wear our lovely rose chasuble. So now, once again, the lovely handiwork of our Sewing Guild will be on full episcopal display!

EASTER VIGIL, Saturday April 16

This being an even-numbered year, we will have an Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 16, rather than a sunrise service on Easter morning. Some of the folks from Faith Lutheran will be joining us, along with their Pastor for this service. On Easter Sunday, we will have just one service at 10am.

ANDREW'S RECITAL, March 20th

Our talented Choirmaster, Andrew Bolden will be part of a MacDowell Club recital to be held at the Cable Recital Hall on Sunday, March 20th at 3pm. Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Come and hear our favorite Tenor do what tenors do!

HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE

This Sunday, March 6th, at 9:30am, our Hospitality Committee (formerly "To the Parish") will meet for the first time since 2020. We'd like to get some events on the calendar as we slowly begin to gather in groups again for fun and comradery. Since this committee is sort of starting from scratch, all are welcome to attend and offer input and ideas. If you're interested, please plan to stay late after 8am, or come early before 10am this Sunday.

PRAYERS REQUESTED

When you ask for someone to be added to the prayers, they will stay on our list for four weeks unless we hear from you. We will maintain a continuing prayer list for those with ongoing needs. The email list below merges both lists.

Please pray for the people of Ukraine, that they would be kept safe from violence and harm.

Please also pray for the citizens of Russia, as they suffer for what their leaders are doing.

And please also keep these friends and parishioners in your prayers:

✥Bob Meyer ✥Chris Lane ✥Priya Kurian ✥Mike Ziegelhofer ✥Chuck Tilley

✥Michael Flamm  ✥Liz Frank ✥Bobbie Muhlbach ✥John Muhlbach  ✥Isaac Leggett 

✥Mike Requa  ✥Toni Contini ✥Brian Dorosch ✥Beth Conley ✥Nancy Brooks

✥Bob Daane ✥Chuck Coleman ✥Patty Ann ✥Cary Koontz ✥Noble Carpenter

✥Roger Walters  ✥Colleen Major ✥Gail Moss ✥Linda June ✥Stephen Huba 

✥Roy Schoenfeld ✥Fred Gibbs ✥Sheila Gwatkin ✥Carolyn Flamm ✥Betsy Lloyd

✥David Braid ✥Greg Rush ✥Linda Boyer ✥Dave Miller ✥Retta Faye Edwards 

✥Vivian Louk ✥Eamonn Hunter ✥Tony Donahue ✥Chuck Scheurer ✥Fran Miller

✥Dan Farley ✥Janet Albrecht ✥Connie Hill ✥Janice Swan ✥Susan Merrill

PRAYER CHAIN RETURNS

St. Tim's used to have quite an effective Prayer Chain established, where the needs of our parishioners were constantly being lifted up in prayer outside of our worship services. That system is no longer in place, for a variety of reasons. But we now have some interest in getting it started again, possibly with a new structure and format. If you are interested in this kind of intentional prayer, please speak to Rita Haines, or call the church office.

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

Celebrating birthdays over the next two weeks are Bobbie Muhlbach (3/6), Cricket Boyd (3/7), Andrew Bomze (3/7), Macy Rohr (3/11), Paul Meek (3/11), Muffy Miller (3/13), Hayley Sunquist (3/13), Dave Renkert (3/16), Pam Dill (3/17), and Beverly Kovacevich (3/19).

No anniversaries coming up until the end of the month, as far as I know.

Be sure to send good wishes and thoughts to all who celebrate the next couple weeks!

ACOLYTES CRUCIFERS AND USHERS (oh my)

It's been slow going on getting these three important worship roles filled as we have gradually returned to in-person worship. But the time is nigh! If you're interested in serving as an usher (passing offering plates and handing out bulletins) please see Sarah Emmert or Fr. George.

If you'd like to carry the Cross in our processions, or light candles and carry torches, please speak to Fr. George. It would be wonderful if we could field a team of worship leaders in time for Easter!

IMPACT MASSILLON

I have informed the organizers of Impact Massillon that we will not be participating this year, due to lack of interest. Hopefully, we will feel up to helping with this valuable project in 2023.

PERIODIC PUZZLE

Our High Altar looked austere yet lovely last night for our Ash Wednesday service, and I thought it would make for a fine puzzle for you. Might I suggest you set it on 957 pieces as something of a Lenten discipline for yourself? ;-)

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!

We are living in unsettled times, to say the least. While we condemn acts of aggression by one country against another, our hearts go out to those who live in both countries, who did not ask for--and who do not want--any of this death and destruction on their soil or in their names.

While there are many opinions as to what our country should do to help reduce the death and destruction, as Christians we are called to pray for peace. And so I leave you with this collect from page 258 of our prayer book:

Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of

peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel

for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion

may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your

love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with

you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for

ever. Amen.

Faithfully,

Fr. George