Shrove Tuesday--2/21/12

There are a number of names in the West for the last day before the long fast of Lent.

The French call it MARDI GRAS (meaning "Fat Tuesday"), because it was traditionally a time

to use up all the milk, butter, and eggs left in the kitchen.  These ingredients often went into pancakes, which is why the English call it PANCAKE DAY and still celebrate it with games

and races that involve tossing pancakes in the air.

Shrove Tuesday takes its name from "shriving"--the pre-Lenten confession

and absolution of the faithful as a preparation for Lent that was common

in the European Middle Ages.

St. Martin's holds an annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Fellowship Supper

AND YOU ARE INVITED 

Tickets are being sold by our 8th & 9th grade youth on the

Sundays preceding 2/21/12. 

The dinner is from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in Miles Hall

Tickets are $6/adults & $3/children under 12

Ash Wednesday--2/22/12

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and begins the seventh Wednesday before Easter.

According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent forty days

fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry,

during which he endured temptation by Sata.  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning

of this forty day liturgical period of prayer and fasting.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads

of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God.

The ashes used are typically gathered after the palms from the

previous year's Palm Sunday are burned.

Ash Wednesday Services on 2/22/12

7:30 am -- 12:00 noon -- 7:30 pm

Sundays during Lent

Our Sunday worship Schedule during Lent is as follows:

8:00 am - Comtemplative Holy Eucharist using Rite I (no music)

9:15 am - Family Oriented Holy Eucharist using Rite III

Sunday Forum Series during Lent

THE 7 LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS

The series is based on sermons by The Reverend Peter J. Gomes,

an American preacher & theologian, the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at

Harvard divinity School and Pusey Minister at Harvard's Memorial Church.

Rev. Gomes insightful and passionately moving series of sermons on the

last seven words of Jesus from the cross will inspire and move you into a place

of thanksgiving for all God has done for us through Christ's death and resurrection.

The sermon readings will be followed by Joseph Haydn's "The Seven Last Words"

played by various musicians, quartets and orchestras.

You will experience many interpretations of Jesus' last words from the cross: one from Rev. gomes,
one from Haydn, and some from you and other St. Martin's attendees.

Sundays at 10:00 am in Miles Hall

Monday Book Study during Lent

LOVE WINS by Rob Bell

Author, pastor, and innovative teacher Rob Bell presents a deeply biblical vision

for rediscovering a richer, grander, truer, and more spiritually satisfying way

of understanding heaven, hell, God, Jesus, salvation, and repentance.

Books are available from Amazon.com.  Please read the first two chapters

before the first session on Monday, March 5th

Mondays from 7:00 to 8:30pm in Zigzag #7

Tuesday Evenings during Lent

POT LUCK SUPPER & DISCUSSION OF

M. SMITH'S BOOK  "A SEASON FOR THE SPIRIT"

The Rev'd Shirley Smith Graham is your facilitator for this series

Bring any kind of dish that serves 12 to share with fellow attendees

If you want to follow along with the readings, books may be purchased at Amazon.com

•         February 28 -- The Grief that makes for Joy (pp. 25-28)
•         March 6 -- Everyone Enters the Kingdom of God Violently (pp. 64-68)
•         March 13 -- Body (pp. 68-72)
•         March 20 -- The Wounded Child (pp. 83-87)
•         March 27 -- The Burden Bearer (pp. 125-128)

Holy Week Schedule of Services

Tuesday in Holy Week, April 3 @ 7:30 pm -- Tenebrae Service

Maundy Thursday, April 5 @ 7:30 pm -- Holy Eucharist and Foot Washing

Good Friday, April 6 @ 12:00 noon -- Stations of the Cross

                                                                                           7:30 pm -- Prayer Service

Holy Saturday, April 7 @ 10:00 am -- Prayer Service

Easter Day Services and Activities

8:00 am -- Contemplative Holy Eucharist Rite I

9:15 am --Family Oriented Holy Eucharist Rite III

10:00 am -- Easter Egg Hunt for Children (outside)

10:30 am -- Butterfly Release for All (outside)