Dear Friends in Christ,
During yesterday’s early morning Ash Wednesday service, I found myself thinking about my mother, especially during the ritual of the imposition of ashes. Thinking of her led me to my father and then to my aunts and uncles, an entire generation of elders who are now gone. After the service, I remembered parishioners at whose bedsides I’ve prayed and at whose funerals I’ve presided.
The Ash Wednesday service in the Prayer Book uses words which influence our most common understanding of the season of Lent. Lent is a “season of penitence and fasting” marked “by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial.” In Psalm 51 we ask God to “create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” We “kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer” as we plead with God to “accept our repentance.” We hear words of comfort in the promise that God “pardons and absolves all those who truly repent.”
But the Prayer Book also tells us Lent is a season in which we “mark our mortal nature.” In her 2023 daily guide for Lent, Bless the Lent We Actually Have, Kate Bowler writes, “During Lent, we ask God to show us the world as it is. We begin with the reality of our finitude rubbed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday — from dust we are made, to dust we shall return. Then, we walk through the reality in a kind of dress rehearsal. It’s the downward slope of God — the Great Descent, where the whole Church walks toward the cross.”
Lent, she continues, is “this season of grief carved out to acknowledge the reality of Christ’s sacrifice. And the reality of suffering that so many of our circumstances reflect too — our own pain and grief and despair. Easter is coming, yes. But for now, we sit in the ashes of our broken dreams and broken hearts, knowing that God sits here with us.”
We live in a society that pushes away the “reality of our finitude” as much as possible. In that sense, then, Lent is counter cultural. During this season we proclaim that it’s by accepting our mortality, not by rejecting it, that we are awakened to the gift of the life we are blessed to live for however long we have to live it. Knowing we will someday die means each day becomes its own blessing.
Whether you are beginning your Lenten journey in a time of hope or despair, of joy or sorrow, of healing or suffering, of wholeness or brokenness, remember this: God sits here — wherever “here” is right now — with you. And when your “here” changes, God will be there, too.
Whatever else you may be doing (or not doing) for Lent, how about adding this to your daily routine? Three times a day — morning, midday, evening or whenever it works for you — take a deep breath and say a short prayer. “Thank you, Jesus, for being here.” It won’t change whatever is going on in your life, but it just might awaken you to the abiding presence of the God who always chooses to sit with you.
Your Friend in Christ,
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UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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TGIF! EVENT
Friday, February 24, 6 p.m., Parish Hall
Join other adults (21+) to watch the film, Courage, Brains and Muscle: Our Environmental Champions. This documentary follows former Indiana First Lady, Judy O'Bannon, traveling the state in search of environmental champions, discovering creative individuals who are successfully improving sustainability and reducing pollution. This film is being presented to TGIF! by the St. Paul's Green Ministry. A potluck chili, chowder and/or soup dinner, with all the sides, will be enjoyed as we watch the film! Please bring your favorite dish and beverage to share. RSVP to Alan Davis below:
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COFFEE HOUR
Sunday, February 26, 10:15-11 a.m., Parish Hall
Join us for coffee, refreshments and a chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.
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GRACE UNLIMITED MINISTRY INTRODUCTION
Sunday, February 26, 10:15 a.m., CRR (second floor, Parish Center building)
The Rev. Sam Vaught, Chaplain of Grace Unlimited Campus Ministry at Butler University, invites Butler alumni, faculty, staff and interested neighbors to a conversation about the ministry. What is happening this spring? How can you be connected and get involved? These questions, and more, will be answered. If you can’t make it but would like to be part of the conversation, please email Father Sam Vaught.
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CHORAL MATTINS
Sunday, February 26, 11:15 a.m.
Featuring music by Richard Webster, Martin How, William Inglott, Jacob Handl and Charles V. Stanford.
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TUESDAY STUDY GROUP
The group is now studying Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright. Wright asserts that Christianity’s most distinctive idea is bodily resurrection and provides a magisterial defense for a literal resurrection of Jesus. All are welcome regardless of reading the book. Questions, email Larry Johnson.
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CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER CLASS
Sundays, March 5, 12, 19; April 16, 23; May 7, 14, 10:15-11 a.m., Room 207
(2nd floor, Parish Center Building)
Parishioner Jeff Wise will lead classes on Contemplative Prayer this spring. Contemplative prayer has been described by Richard Rohr as “the way we work out the experiences which words elude, how we learn from them, and bravely allow ourselves to be transformed by them, even when our normal modes of thinking cannot make sense of them.” This is a practice of being present in the moment and allowing our mind, heart, soul and senses to be open and receptive to the moment just as it is. Questions, email Jeff Wise.
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ADULT FAITH FORUM
FJA Grant Recipient, Angela Brown
Sunday, March 5, 10:15-11 a.m., Parish Hall
World-renowned soprano and Grammy Award winning artist, Angela Brown, will present her vision for the upcoming interfaith prayer service, “A Plea for Healing.” This free community service is built around prayers offered by diverse faith, civic and arts leaders, and citizens of all ages, races, traditions and perspectives. Brown’s hope is that the gathering will transform beyond one prayer service to a rallying cry for cooperative, impactful action throughout Indianapolis. “A Plea for Healing” was funded by a $25K grant from St. Paul’s Faith, Justice & the Arts initiative in Fall 2021. All are encouraged to attend the service at St. Paul’s on Tuesday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m. Click here for details.
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GREEN TEAM MEETINGS
Sundays, March 5, April 2, May 7, October 1, November 5, December 3, 12:30 p.m., Roberts Library
Sundays, June 4, July 9, August 6, September 3, 11:30 a.m., Roberts Library
St. Paul's Green Team has reorganized and will meet on the first Sunday of each month following the later service (spring/fall times above). All are working on a number of projects, including transitioning St. Paul's away from single-use plastics, recycling, Creation Care activities, an expanded garden and an energy audit — just to name a few. If you have an interest in Creation Care, please join the team! Questions, email Mark Carpenter.
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LUNCH & LEARN
Wednesday, March 8, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Parish Hall
“Twenty thousand years of history at the corner of 56th and Keystone”
All are welcome to join Parishioner Alice Roettger as she explains the long, complicated story that led to the demise of an environmental treasure near 56th Street & Keystone Avenue and the pioneer who owned the land. Alice has been a parishioner at St. Paul’s for over 40 years. She is the author of Blessings on Old St. Paul’s and enjoys speaking on the history of the northside of Indianapolis. The cost of lunch is $5. Please RSVP to Tana Hunnicutt no later than Friday, March 3 to attend.
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SACRED HARP PASSIONTIDE SERVICE
Sunday, March 12, 4 p.m., Sanctuary
The spare and haunting sound of shape-note singing is well-suited for this Lenten meditation service on the Passion. Started in New England singing schools as a way to teach music theory, shape-note singing eventually wove into the heart of Appalachia and Southern states where the tradition of singing "fa-so-la” melodies in three or four parts still endures. Sacred Harp is the name of the most popular publication in the shape-note style, and as the preface explains, King David may have played on the harp, but the instrument we were all given at birth – the human voice – is the sacred harp. St. Paul’s Choir will sing original versions of tunes from Sacred Harp and other collections, as well as anthem arrangements by American composers. Length: approx. 60 min.
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BINGO + TACOS / FUNDRAISER
Saturday, March 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Parish Hall
All ages are invited to come for Bingo, prizes and an all-you-can-eat taco bar! This community-wide event and fundraiser is hosted by youth from St. Paul's and the MLK Center, and will be emceed by parishioner Drew Tharp. Dinner and optional childcare for ages six and younger is included with your ticket. Small additional games will also be available; bring cash with you if you wish to play these. All proceeds from this event will help fund future projects at the MLK Center. Cost is $10/admit one, $20/admit two or $25/admit family. Purchase tickets below:
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NEWCOMER SCHEDULE :: EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Sundays, March 19 and April 2, 16 & 23
March 19 :: History of the Book of Common Prayer, 10:15-11 a.m.
Join us in the Parish Hall after the 9 a.m. service for this Adult Faith Forum.
March 19 :: Newcomers Luncheon, 12:30 p.m.
Please RSVP to join us in the Lilly Room for a luncheon following the 11:15 a.m. service. RSVP by emailing Tana Hunnicutt no later than March 16.
April 2 :: Tour the places and spaces we call St. Paul's, 10:15-11 a.m.
Please meet the Rev. Jeff Bower in the nave/sanctuary of the Church after the 9 a.m. service.
April 16 :: St. Paul's and the Episcopal Church 101, 10:15-11 a.m.
Join the Rev. Jeff Bower in the CRR (second floor, Parish Center) after the 9 a.m. service for an overview of all things St. Paul's and an introduction to the Episcopal Church.
April 23 :: Learn more about the Eucharist, 10:15-11 a.m.
Join the Rev. Jeff Bower in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd after the 9 a.m. service for an instructed eucharist.
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HOLY BAPTISM
Baptisms will next be administered on April 16 and May 28, 2023
The deadline to register for April 16 baptisms is Thursday, March 23. If you or your child are interested in baptism, please visit below for more info and to request to be baptized on either of these dates.
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