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The annual meeting for the year 2009 in now history; it was a
good meeting. The spirit in
our parish family is “positive,” and I am most thankful for those
newly-elected members who
have offered their time on the vestry:
- John Fisher (Building and Grounds)
- Clay Glenn (Membership/Fellowship)
- Jim McDowell (Fundraising)
- Jana Triplett (Christian Education).
Many thanks to Cletson Cox, who completed his three year term
with Building and Grounds. I
deeply appreciated Cletson’s openness to new ideas and trying to keep
the costs of maintaining our 50+ year-old building on the line.
Thank you, Cletson!
Although Jim McDowell’s term representing the Outreach Committee
ended at our meeting, he will continue on as chief fundraiser for one
year. I thank Jim for his
work with our Outreach group, and I look forward in working with him
(and others), in creating ways in which our parish family can raise some
extra funds that will help balance our 2010 budget!
Our new members now join with our current members: Ted Bell
(Outreach), Becca Cole (Junior Warden), Nancy Harris (Senior Warden),
Terry Rozell (Finance/Stewardship) and Linda Voran (Clerk).
I think this is going to be a fantastic vestry, working together
in using our God given gifts in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus
Christ!
***
Which St. Valentine are you celebrating on Feb. 14?
According to the encyclopedias, there are 3
“saints” who have the last name of Valentine, taken from the Latin word
valens (worthy). There is Valentine, a priest in
Rome; Valentine, a bishop of Interamna (modern Terni, Italy); Valentine,
a martyr in the Roman province of Africa.
Although nothing is really known about these three “Valentines,”
legend has it that they refused to deny Christ before the Roman emperor,
and therefore were beheaded.
Because so little is known of them, his commemoration in the Roman
Church has been removed. In
the Episcopal Church, none of the three “Valentines” have been on our
church calendar. Yet “St.
Hallmark of Cards” maintains quite a large celebration, focused on
romantic love, which along with a box of chocolates, signify one’s true
love to a parent, spouse or friend.
Yes, I will find a card that is appropriate for Susan, yet I do
hope that we place each another under the love of our Lord Jesus Christ,
as an example of God’s love for all of God’s creation.
St. Valentine’s Day is a day on the year calendar when we show
our love for one another.
Yet God challenges each day/week/year that we are to love our neighbors
as we love ourselves. Our Christian faith asks us to do this on a daily
basis, so I say to you celebrate St. Valentine’s Day we great robust,
yet remembering how we are to love and care for each one, as God so
loves and cares for each one of us.
***
Unless we have a very late Easter, Lent generally begins in
February, and Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Something is going to be a bit different this year, as the 7 p.m.
service will be at All Saints Church (9201 Wornall).
Yes, we’ll still have our traditional two services at 7 a.m. and
12:10 p.m. at St. Peter’s.
Yet I do hope you’ll join with our choir and Deacon Linda as we join our
next-door-neighbor-up-the-street Episcopal brothers and sisters for the
beginning of Lent. So please
make a large circle on your calendar, noting that our 7 p.m. service is
at All Saints for 2010.
(Please pray that nature will be good this Ash Wednesday, to make up for
the past Christmas Eve and Day!)
***
Our Lenten Academy for 2010 begins Feb. 24, and the first four
Wednesdays in March. Both
Deacon Linda and I will be presenting for this year,
LentWise: Spiritual essentials for real life.
With John’s Gospel as its base, we’ll deal with the rigors of real life.
(Extra copies of the book will be available for $9.)
We begin with a simple Eucharist, followed by a supper provided
by numerous groups and individuals, and then our short program.
We begin at 6:00 p.m. and end by 7:30 p.m.
This is always a great time for fellowship and learning as we
make our Lenten season a “holy” one, learning something new while
sharing wonderful and meaningful time together.
I hope that you’ll make an effort in making this year’s Lenten
Academy a priority in your Lenten discipline.
***
Enjoy St. Valentine’s Day; remember our three services on Ash
Wednesday (Feb. 17), and a blessed and Holy Lent to each one of you!
God’s
peace -
Fr. Russ+ |
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