Photos
Photos and commentary, Ash Wednesday, Feb 14, 2024
Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
We began our observation of Jesus’ death and resurrection by preparing for Easter with a season of penitence. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. We had 17 in attendance. Sally Hartman who did her vocational discernment at St. Peter’s and now is a Deacon was the preacher.
The church changes its look encouraging you to see things differently – purple on the altar, minimal flowers, pottery communion cup, a special red processional cross.
The liturgy provides words about the purpose of Lent. “I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”
It is all about reconnecting with God with by these specific activities and others of your choosing. Examine yourself to see what divides you from others, from the earth and from God, and repent from these divisive things. As the bulletin stated “only God can take away our sins, create clean hearts in us, renew a right spirit within us, and sustain us with God’s bountiful spirit.” The sermon enouraged us not to just give up but to take on new practices to do that and see other possibilities in the world.
Shrove Tuesday, 2024
Pieter Aertszen’s The Pancake Bakery, circa 1508
Great weather and 20 in attendance on this day before Lent begins:
Photos, Feb. 13, 2024
Photos, Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Feb. 11, 2024
Two special events
This was the last Sunday in Epiphany before Lent begins Wed., Feb 14. For the children (ages 5-9), it was hiding the Alleluia banner. Sunday included finishing the box in the Parish House (see the image), transporting it to the Church, and talking about Lent this week. Last week the banner was hung on the altar. During the last hymn in the service, appropriately, “Alleluia, alleluia give thanks”, it was placed in the box the children made.
For the rest of us, Sunday included donating food for the “Souper Bowl” and hearing a sermon on the Transfiguration. In 1990, a simple prayer: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat” was delivered to a small youth group at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC led by Brad Smith, who was serving as a seminary intern at the time. It led to a movement to help those who are food insecure on this day. We made our goal of thirty cans of soup and thirty cards for those who come to the distribution on Wed. Feb 21, 3pm-5pm.
Creating and Displaying the Alleluia Banner
This is a “process” Powerpoint concerning the preparation for “Burying the Alleluia”, one of many Lent events beginning Feb. 14. Today, Feb 4, the banner is being ceated. First, a background slide introduces “Burying the Alleluia”, a practice which has been traced back to the Middle Ages. Then, “God’s Garden” Sunday School class from ages 5-9 are shown finishing the Alleluia Banner in several photos. Jan Saylor created the banner and thd class finished it.
The finishing process is included along with a video excerpt of the lesson around it provided by Jan and Elizabeth Heimbach. Then, the banner is transported to the church and pictures show it being hung on the altar. Finally, there is a video during the announcements of the church service of it presented to the congregation. Next week the box will be created for it. The Powerpoint follows:
Flashback! Photos Feb 1, 2015
Jan 28, 2024 was the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany. This was the same service in 2015 – Feb 1, 2015.