The Red Door
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The Red Door FEBRUARY 2016 News of the people and ministries of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Sanibel, FL MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR Dear Friends in Christ, Between the forceful winds and the torrential rains these past few weeks, there‟s no way to maintain a neat driveway nor cleaned up yard. Branches, palm fronds, leaves, and seed pods are everywhere - all the time. I did make the effort twice but when it happened twice more, I left the remnants of nature where they were. After all, it was just my need to tidy things up. If we were deep in the forest where no one lived, it would be natural for nature‟s broken bits to stay where they were, build up, and perhaps even be the beginnings of new growth as seeds fall into old logs or wet earth and wait for the sun. Speaking of beginnings - next week begins our season of Lent - as we usher it in with ashes on our foreheads on February 10 and remind ourselves that they are a sign of penitence and of our own mortality. It is the beginning of the forty days we set aside to begin again - to search our souls, acknowledge our sins, vow to make amends, and turn back toward God. When I remember that the forty days is not just a number out of the hat but rather a serious remembrance of Christ‟s forty days in the wilderness - where he dealt with the temptations of life and was tempted to pull away from God‟s call to him - that helps me greatly. It significantly deepens the whole Lenten process knowing that Jesus, both divine and human, also struggled with the calls of the material world and needed to stay in a wilderness of body, mind and spirit for forty days to see the light and to begin again. How life-saving and hopeful for all of us that he did choose to begin again and respond to God‟s call to him. Vision Even the word “Lent” implies hope and new beginnings - not gloom and Transforming lives through Christ doom as some feel the word conveys. The word “Lent” has its roots in Mission the Old English word meaning “spring” - “the time of lengthening Our Mission is to demonstrate the days!” Talk about hope! Talk about beginnings! It‟s right there in front love of Jesus Christ so that all may of us - just as the lengthening days bring more and more minutes of light come to know God. to the broken and blown away seedlings resting in broken logs, and to the seeds of hope germinating in our souls. Just as we deal with broken bits Guiding Principles of life, unanswered questions, and search for light when the world‟s Faith: We value our Christian faith; brokenness clouds our vision. therefore, we will endeavor to conduct ourselves according to Christ’s teachings. Yes, we were born in the Spirit in our Baptisms, and I believe we can be Compassion: We value compassion; born again and again in the Spirit. We need that. We need to REjuvenate, therefore, we will care for others in the name REenergize and REgroup our hearts and souls. Even as Lent begins again of Christ. and we are offered another forty days in our lives to turn back to God, Service: We value service; therefore, we will our human brokenness needs to be mended again and again by God‟s share the gifts God has given us. Inclusivity: We value inclusivity; therefore, healing grace. And each time we are born again, each time that we will strive to include everyone. powerful ruach (wind) of God tosses us around, our roots become Integrity: We value integrity; therefore, we stronger and deeper, and in our new strength in Christ, we begin again. will treat each other with respect and honesty. Blessings for a holy Lent, + Ellen Bishop Dabney and Mary Smith Visit Us on Valentine's Day February 9th – Pancake Supper (5-7p) Welcome to our Bishop and th his wife who will be with us February 24 - The Cottage (6-7:15p) on Sunday, February 14 at the Meghan Warner, Youth Leader 10:30 worship service. We are thrilled to have them back and so happy with the Bishop's continuing good healing. 2015 Reports for Annual Meeting Booklet Don't forget that we need a 2015 report from the Exciting music is coming to our church ministry you chair! The Annual Meeting is this month. February 7th brings us the February 28 and we'll need your report no later Laudate Dominum by Wolfgang Amadeus than Feb. 9 to put the booklet together. If you Mozart. Mary Ann Boorn will sing the solo would like to see the report from last year, please part, the Parish Choir will sing, and Janet give Susan a call and she'll send it. If you'd like Davis will play the violin accompaniment. help writing it, give Ellen a call. Ash Wednesday, at the 6:00 p.m. service, will bring us God So Loved the world by John Stainer. Taizé – Third Wednesdays The Bishop's visit on February 14th will Join us on February 17 at 6 p.m. for a feature The Spirit of the Lord is upon peace-filled service of candlelight, music, Me. This new anthem, written by prayer and silence. Taizé is a small town Englishman Philip Stopford, will be the on a hill in southern France where a first performance in our area. The piece is community of brothers first opened its doors to the a setting of the famous Isaiah text. On public to welcome them to pray, sing, and be silent - February 21st, Maria Zoltek will be most importantly to invite them into a place of peace singing several solos at the 8:00 a.m. from a hectic world. This 25 minute service on the service. We certainly wish to welcome third Wednesday of the month will offer you a holy Maria to this morning service. and melodic rhythm - one you may want to take back As you will read in another portion of the into your busy lives. Mostly, it is a time for all of us Red Door, the concert on Friday, March to create a space to hear where God is speaking. It 4th will feature Teresa Procter from will be followed by refreshments and light snacks. Houston, TX. On Sunday, March 6th, Teresa will sing for our 10:30 a.m. service, and she will include the traditional Ave Morning Prayer on Tuesdays Maria. She will be accompanied by violin and cello. Again we welcome any new Why not try this simple and beautiful way to singers to join us for rehearsals on Friday begin your day – in prayer circled around a afternoons. We have planned some single candle. We hope you can join us this year wonderful Easter music. in the Angel Chapel for these 20 minutes of peace and prayer with the Lord. (9:00 a.m.) ~ Hank Glass, Minister of Music 2 Ash Wednesday Services “Loves Lost” February 10th Labyrinth 9:00 a.m. Workshop We hope you can join us 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 13 for a unique morning with nationally-known labyrinth leader Zara Renander. Because it's Valentine's Day weekend, she has designed a special theme of "Loves Lost." Not only will we discover the mysteries and beauties of the Walk the Way of the Cross ancient labyrinth, but we'll also discover ways of On Fridays during Lent, beginning hope and understanding for the loves we have lost th on February 12 , we invite you to in our lives - whether through death, divorce, or walk the Stations of the Cross. some other loss. The workshop will be from 9:00- This is just one more way to 12:00 in the Parish Hall with breakfast served. reflect upon the life of Christ, Please sign up if you plan to come so we have discover again why you are adequate seating and refreshments. called a Christian, and deepen your spiritual journey. As we walk and pray and reflect upon the struggles of Christ's last days, and reflect upon the pain of the world, this spiritual exercise can bring us closer to the God who walks A Workshop on the Healing of the struggle with us. Body, Mind and Spirit Dr. Hal Wiley will be with us once again on Saturday, Feb. 6 (8:30-2:00) to share with us his experiences with First Wednesday at Six healing, and the long and powerful Service at 6 p.m. & Potluck at 6:30 journey he has had with this. Dr. Wiley was with us two years ago The service, “Remembering Friends,” is a and we look forward to having him meditation on the value of friends in our lives and at St. Michael's again. Coffee/refreshments will be of angels in the helping professions who use their available from 8:30-9:00 and lunch will be at 11:30. talents to advise and sustain us. It features a reading Please sign up if you plan to attend! of the Luke story of a paralyzed man who met Jesus with the help of friends who lowered him into a room through a roof. Accompanied by pianist Jan Holly, the service also A Note of Thanks features a solo performance by soprano Debi Almeida, who will sing “The Covenant.” The To the St. Michael & All Angels‟ family – Being congregation will join together for prayers and the reluctant star of a several months-long hymn singing.