Once again, I’ve written devotions for Lent. This year’s theme is Pilgrimage. I chose this theme because I am going on pilgrimage this summer to Iona. However, you don’t have to be preparing to leave home as pilgrimage can also be an inward journey, appropriate to the season of Lent. The stages of pilgrimage are no different if you are actually taking a journey or are journeying within yourself. I hope you’ll enjoy approaching Lent as a pilgrim with me.

-Ann

Using the book, The Lives We Actually Have by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie, women of all ages are invited to navigate together the season of Lent.  

This book of blessings makes us mindful of the world in which we live, which demands relentless perfection–happy marriages and easy friendships; bucket list-level adventures and matching family photos–but what if our actual lives don’t feel very #blessed? Might our everyday existence be worthy of a blessing too? Even an average Tuesday?

Formatted like a prayer book, The Lives We Actually Have is an oasis and a landing spot for weary souls, with blessings that focus on the full range of human moments: garbage days, lovely days, grief-stricken days, and even (especially) completely ordinary days. These heartfelt blessings are a chance to exhale when we feel everything from careworn to restless, devastated to bored. Let’s have a reminder that we don’t need to wait for perfect lives when we can bless the lives we actually have. Books can be ordered from Amazon or Cokesbury. Keep in mind this book is a newly published work scheduled to be released in mid-February. Pre-order yours today and plan to join us.

Sundays February 26 - April 2 at 5:00 pm

Teacher: Ann Smith

Lent is a season for prayer and introspection. I invite you to be part of a gentle, prayer-focused group using Pamela Hawkins’ book The Awkward Season: Prayers for Lent. The book offers a prayer path to guide you through Lent. There are daily prayers, scripture readings, and a time of silence for you to do individually. A weekly one-hour gathering on Sunday afternoons at the church allows you to pray, reflect, and worship with other group participants.

The group gathering will meet weekly for the six weeks of Lent. Books can be ordered from Upper Room Books, Cokesbury, or Amazon. For more information or questions, contact Ann.

Wednesday Nights March 1 - April 5 at 6:00 pm in the Library

Teacher: Jon Brown

On Sunday I used a bank as part of my children’s lesson. A couple of people asked me about where it came from and how to get one. The one I had is called a Moonjar. It has three parts to help children learn to give, save and not just spend. I know there are others out there and I get no commission, but this one came from Amazon. 

No matter how brilliant the teacher, no matter how gifted the singer, no matter how inspiring the prayer, if there is nobody present to hear, little, if anything, is accomplished. If the staff designs amazing experiences for children and youth, but nobody knows when and where to show up, the effort is wasted. Communication is critical. Effective, timely, winsome communication is mission-critical.

At Vineville we are searching for the lynchpin of our communication. We need a creative, detail-oriented, team player. Vineville is a great place to work despite the senior minister. This is a full-time position with salary and benefits. In the past, this position has been called different things, including publisher, administrative assistant to the staff, and publicist. In some circles, it might be identified as a print and media designer or even the director of communications. I say all of this to get you thinking outside of the box. Some might think, "Well I don’t know any 'church secretaries,' so I can’t help." Are you part of any organization that has great communication pieces? Do you know people in the communication or publication industries? There are a host of places from which our next Vineville communicator might come.

This is where we need your help. If you thought of anybody while you have been reading this, call them and tell them about the position. Share this description with people you know who do publisher newsletters for schools, non-profits, clubs, and other organizations. Maybe they have a friend. Help your church spread the word. Help us fill this vital role on the team.

If you have names and contact information to share, send it to Cass at

[email protected]. You can direct people to send inquiries and resumes to him as well. Thank you for your help.

Peace,

Our annual Father-Daughter Dance is coming up on February 16th at 6:00 p.m. Little girls and their fathers and other special friends will walk the red carpet and then dance the night away.

Tickets are $35 for a father + 1 daughter; each additional daughter is $10. Dinner and "swag bags" are included. You can register in Realm by clicking the picture.

On the morning of February 16th, I would love to have some help in decorating the CLC. We will get started at 9:30 am. The more help we have, the faster it will go! You can let me know ahead of time or just show up that day. Thank you in advance!

IN-PERSON

ATTENDANCE

9:00: 111

Lynn & Terry Pope

Phillipa & Bill Elliott

Wade Putnal

Phydan Ramsey

Mr. & Mrs. John Shoemaker

Margaret Anne & Mick Anderson

Milton & Laura Heard, Harrison & Hayden

Send prayer requests to [email protected].

We have several ways to give to the church. You can mail a check to the church or click here to give online. Thank you for your generosity.