St. Patrick Episcopal Church 232 East Main Street Lebanon, Ohio 45036

February 1st is the feast day of Brigid of Kildare. Having just spent a week living with Brigid for an online retreat I’m doing, I’ve decided to honor her day with a liturgy, Friday evening, February 1st at 7pm. The liturgy will be designed around her life and ministry, so it will have a Celtic flavor. Here’s some history and thoughts on Brigid to whet your appetite.

Brigid is one of the three patron saints of Ireland along with Patrick and Columba. What we know of her life comes from Life of Brigid, written by the monk Cogiatois in the second half of the seventh century. Many of the stories of the saints from those days are not factual, but spiritual, mythical, archetypal and psychological. For example, Patrick, most likely did not drive all the snakes out of Ireland! Read the article tucked in the back of the picture of Brigid in Brigid House and decide for yourself what’s historical! Nonetheless myths and archetypes speak to deep truths of men and women. The delight in studying them is in probing the meanings that speak to our souls. Sunday Worship Services 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Brigid is considered the patron saint of a number of things including midwives, beer making, and The Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal milkmaids. She is known for her hospitality and generosity. We named our addition Brigid House Bishop of Southern Ohio partly because she was a peer of St. Patrick and partly because Brigid House is a place of hospitality, The Rev. Jacqueline Matisse, Rector Nancy Smith, Vestry, Senior Warden hosting groups of all ages and purposes through the weeks. It is said she was born on a threshold; her Todd Rockstroh, Vestry, Junior Warden mother straddling a doorway when she was born. So, she is called the midwife of a threshold place, one who helps us move from one space to another. The Life of Brigid talks about her healing, her Damian Stout, Choir Director kinship with animals and her concern for those oppressed. Damian Stout, Organist Her feast day was chosen to coincide with the threshold into springtime. Maybe spring comes earlier Marjorie Donovan, Music Director Emeritus Vestry in Ireland? Snowdrops, the first flowers of spring, are one of her symbols. Jeff Lane, Financial Secretary Trischa Goodwin Kellie Snigar

Wayne Spary, Treasurer Steve Belknap Jill Lane There are so many connections we can make between Brigid and our life and ministry in this Bill Lasher, Stewardship Matt Lang Linda Powers congregation. Join in the celebration on February 1st if you can. Gretchen Hautzinger, Office Manager Harry Pritchard Jill Lane, Children’s Education (Much of this information was taken from Christine Paintner’s book The Soul’s Slow Ripening. The online retreat I’m participating in is sponsored by Abbey of the Arts.)

Our Mission: To take the love of Christ into the World Jackie Just Around the Corner by Bill Lasher

ANNUAL MEETING News from Cape Horn: in an earlier article I mentioned Two Years Before the Mast, which is about sailing around Cape Horn—the southern tip of South America. We did just that a few weeks ago, and Annual meeting will be held following the 10:30 service on Sunday, February 10. Please bring the Cape is magnificent, rich with history of many ships and sailors that perished there. It is the point something to contribute to a potluck meal before we begin the meeting. at which the Atlantic, Pacific, and Antarctic streams converge, and can still be impassable on a bad day. We swung around the tip, looking right at the marker at center of it all—and all was calm. The captain announced that he’d been navigating Cape Horn for thirty years, and he’d never seen it like this: perfectly calm. No icebergs, no squalls! LOOKING AHEAD TO LENT I think we expect squalls more often than they come into our lives. For me, learning to ride a bike, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 6th this year. I hope to have prepared a presentation on especially on a gravel road, was very difficult. One day it suddenly turned into a walk in the park: it my sabbatical time by then and will use it for our Lenten classes the four Wednesday evenings after just happened. We live our lives somewhere between fear and thanksgiving. There is a way to stand Ash Wednesday. This will not be a travelogue. It will be a presentation designed to encourage us to between these two options: it is called “grace.” think about peacemaking in general, using Israel as a springboard. I am excited to share this experience with you in more detail and encourage your attendance. As always, please let me know as Any good dictionary will tell you that grace comes in two types: everyday grace among people, and soon as possible if having child care available will make your attendance possible. If so, we’ll make the grace of God to us. This kind of grace is well-known to all of us: if you’re reading the Shamrock, those arrangements. you know about grace given by God and accepted by the people. This version of the word comes directly from Latin “gratias,” which describes the grace freely given to us by God. The other word we know is from the same root, but is used for us, the people, in “grateful” as well as “graceful.” The first example is the grace of God, the second is the grace of mankind. SNOW POLICY AT ST. PATRICKS There’s a good reason for describing both grace given and grace received. I just finished a book by Because I can walk to church, I won’t cancel services. If you have a specific responsibility don’t William Kent Kruger called Ordinary Grace. It’s a very good book, but finally leaves you to decide worry about being here if the driving conditions are not safe. Attendance is sparse on those days and which kinds of grace are involved in the story. Although the central character is a minister, we find those of us who are here can cover. Yet, please know how much I appreciate those of you who made out what he is really like from interactions with his family, his war buddy, and even the police. The it here to fulfill those responsibilities! I was truly impressed and enjoyed the company. You grace you see here is not really ordinary—it is extraordinary, and freely given. answered a call beyond duty. Here is an example of ordinary grace. Ten years after my grandfather taught me to ride the bike he had given me, I went to visit him the summer I turned 16. I was thinking about learning to drive, but I didn’t mention it. He greeted me with some good news: “I bought a new Jeep pickup last week. Jackie Would you like to go out and learn to drive on these gravel roads? I’ll show you how it’s done.”

ALTAR SERVERS & PEOPLE OF THE WEEK LAY READER TEXT – FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 3 FEBRUARY 24 The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany – February 3 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. – Pat George 10:30 a.m. – Becca McLaughlin C Brady C Brady Stuart Bale BB Maria BB Christiana Jeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm 71:1-6 US Brian Sandlin & Larry Benning US Skip Scruby & Carlotta Owens 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Luke 4:21-30 P Bob & Caroline Wallman & Family P Matthew & Cheryl Zotter T Lane & Wolford T Simonton & Johnson

G Carol G Linda The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany – February 10 A Kathy & Janet A June & Trischa 8:00 a.m. – Dan Berger 10:30 a.m. – Brian Gluntz Nancy Smith Isaiah 6:1-8,(9-13) Psalm 138 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11

FEBRUARY 10 MARCH 3 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany – February 17 C Dana C Dana 8:00 a.m. – Trischa Goodwin 10:30 a.m. – Jean Benning BB Adam BB Maria Bill Ubbes US David Johnson & Norman Bucher US Trish Simonton & Brian Sandlin Jeremiah 17:5-10 Psalm 1 P Danielle & Anna Weaver P Michael & Nancy Andrews 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Luke 6:17-26 T Smith & Morris T Lane & Morris

G Ruth G Gloria A Marie, Leo, & Molly A Caroline, Leo, & Jill The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany – February 24 8:00 a.m. – Earl Edmonds 10:30 a.m. – Steve Belknap Dana Davis Genesis 45:3-11,15 Psalm 37:1-12,41-42

1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50 Luke 6:27-38 FEBRUARY 17

10:30 a.m. A = Altar Guild

C Danielle BB = Book Bearer BB Kacee C = Crucifer The Last Sunday after the Epiphany – March 3 US Kevin O’Brien & Brian Gluntz G = Greeter 8:00 a.m. – Pat George 10:30 a.m. – Stuart Bale P Dick & Molly Wolford P = Persons of the Week Becca McLaughlin T Lane & Summers T = Tellers Exodus 34:29-35 Psalm 99 G Trish US = Ushers 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2 Luke 9:28-36,(37-43a) A Molly, Ginny, & Kellie February 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 9:30 a.m. – Silent Saturday

Brigid (Bride) The Presentation of our Lord 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8:00 a.m. – Eucharist 6:30 p.m. – Al-Anon 9:15 a.m. – Good Shepherd 7:15 p.m. – Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. – Classes 4:00 p.m. – Homework Club 10:30 a.m. – Eucharist The Dorchester Chaplains, Lt. George Fox, Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Lt Clark V. Poling, Lt. Roger Williams and Anne John P. Washington Anskar Hutchinson The Martyrs of Japan Cornelius the Centurion 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 8:00 a.m. – Eucharist 6:30 p.m. – Al-Anon 9:15 a.m. – Good Shepherd 7:15 p.m. – Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. – Classes 4:00 p.m. – Homework Club 10:30 a.m. – Eucharist

Frances Jane (Fanny) Van Alstyne Crosby Charles Freer Andrews Absalom Jones Cyril and Methodius Thomas Bray Charles Todd Quintard 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 8:00 a.m. – Eucharist 6:30 p.m. – Al-Anon 9:15 a.m. – Good Shepherd 7:15 p.m. – Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. – Classes 4:00 p.m. – Homework Club 10:30 a.m. – Eucharist

Janani Luwum Martin Luther Frederick Douglass John Henry Newman Eric Liddell Polycarp 24 25 26 27 28 8:00 a.m. – Eucharist 6:30 p.m. – Al-Anon 9:15 a.m. – Good Shepherd 7:15 p.m. – Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. – Classes 4:00 p.m. – Homework Club 10:30 a.m. – Eucharist

Anna Julia Haywood Cooper Saint Matthias the Apostle John Roberts Emily Malbone Morgan George Herbert and Elizabeth Evelyn Wright Anskar MARDI GRAS DINNER MARCH 5TH Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary to Denmark and Sweden, 865

Anskar (Latinized as Ansgarius) was one of those valiant Christians of whom it might be said, “These shall Our Rite 13 and J2A Youth Group will be hosting the annual Mardi Gras Dinner on Tuesday, March plant the seed, but others shall reap the harvest.” As Archbishop of Hamburg, he was papal legate for 5th. Bill Ubbes will once again provide a wonderful traditional Mardi Gras meal, and we will have missionary work among the Scandinavians. The immediate result of his devoted and perilous labors was slight: delicious pancakes as well for those who would prefer that instead. All the proceeds from the meal two churches established on the border of Denmark and one priest settled in Sweden. He also participated in will go to our 2019 youth mission trip. The dinner will begin at 6:00 and go on until 8:00. The the consecration of Gotbert, first bishop in Sweden. suggested donation is $7 per person or $25.00 per family. We are looking forward to a fun evening for everyone. Anskar was born in Corbie, France, in 801, and educated in the outstanding monastic school there. His teaching skill led him to be chosen master of a new monastery school, sent out by Cordie, in Saxon Germany. His Earl Edmonds strongest call, however, was to be a missionary.

He was stirred, his biographer Rimbert says, by a prolonged vision, in which a voice said, “Go and return to me crowned with martyrdom.” When King Harald of Denmark sought missionaries for that country in 826, Anskar was one of those selected. Rimbert notes that Anskar’s missionary purpose caused astonishment. Why should he wish to leave his brothers to deal with “unknown and barbarous folk?” Some of the brethren tried to deter MEN’S DINNER him; others considered him a freak.

The Men's Group will get together again at Reid's Sports Bar, which is located on the south side of Steadfast in his resolve, Anskar established a school and mission in Denmark, working conscientiously but unsuccessfully to convert and evangelize. He was not totally discouraged. Another vision appeared, with a Main Street across from Lebanon Electric. As usual we will gather at 6:00, Thursday, February 7, voice saying, “Go and declare the work of God to the nations.” Shortly afterward (about 829), he was called to 2019. Sweden and eagerly accepted. Meager aid both from the monastery and the emperor frustrated his efforts.

We meet on each first Thursday of the month. There is no planned program but just sharing a time While still a young man, Anskar was consecrated Archbishop of Hamburg in 831, and continued his work together, eat and chat. We generally have between 8-12 men, but we have no limit. If you are late among the Scandinavians until 848, when he retired to the See of Bremen. The seeds of his efforts were not to come on in anyway. We will slide chairs around and make room for you. All men are welcome at any bear fruit until over one hundred years later, when Viking devastation, weakness in the Frankish Church, and time; plan to join us Thursday, February 7at 6:00. the lowest ebb of missionary enthusiasm, came to an end. The rich harvest of conversion was three generations away. Nevertheless, Anskar is looked upon by Scandinavians as their apostle.

Tom Campbell

Almighty and everlasting God, you sent your servant Anskar as an apostle to the people of Scandinavia, and enabled him to lay a firm foundation for their conversion, though he did not see the results of his labors: Keep

your Church from discouragement in the day of small things, knowing that when you have begun a good work IN-REACH MINISTRY you will bring it to a fruitful conclusion; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Do you need help or know of other church members who need temporary assistance with transportation, meals, child care, yard work, household chores, etc? If so, please contact Theresa

Norris, February “In-Reach Ministry” coordinator. Her contact information can be found in the Church Directory or by calling St. Patrick’s. (Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints)