John Henry Ducachet Wingfield (September 24, 1833 – July 27, 1898) was the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, serving in that capacity from 1874 to 1898. He was consecrated as missionary bishop of Northern California on December 2, 1874, but remained in charge of his parish in Petersburg, Virginia until April, 1875. His See was at St. Paul’s, Benicia. WINGFIELD DEANERY St. Paul’s. Benicia St. Luke’s, Calistoga St Brigid of Kildaire, Rio Vista St. Luke’s, Woodland St. Martin’s, Davis St. Mary’s, Napa Church of the Epiphany, Vacaville Grace, Fairfield Church of the Ascension, Vallejo Grace, St. Helena The Belfry, Davis Ash Wednesday Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven whose sins are covered. Psalm 32:1 Growing up I was younger than my classmates, an awkward, shy, uncoordinated girl lacking in confidence. Always and forever the last one chosen for any team, I felt rejected and as if I didn't belong. I carry the stigma of these painful experiences deep inside me still. Imagine my joy when I learned that God chose me as His very own child, beloved, worthy, valuable just as I am. In His eyes I am perfectly made, coordinated, confident and first on His team. Ash Wednesday, the first of forty days of Lent, commemorates our place in the family of God. It's a day of penitence, grieving our sins and recognition of our mortality. As Christians we wear the cross in blessed ashes on our foreheads memorializing Jesus's death on the cross, telling the world that we are God's own. We belong to Him. Lent is our preparation for Easter, a time to reflect on the meaning of Christ's life and His death. No amount of fasting or castigating ourselves during Lent will remove the stain of past injustices or ward off future ones. Only Christ's love frees us from our frailties and actions that 'miss the mark.' As the cross is outlined on my forehead I vow to treat others more kindly, to invite the shy stranger on the sidelines to join, to encourage the awkward child to step forward. I ask for forgiveness for all the times I've been exclusive rather than inclusive, cruel rather than lovingly kind and evasive instead of honest. Of course, Christ Jesus knows these faults and loves me anyway. I pray I can love myself well enough to wear the ashes of His love proudly and with confidence on Ash Wednesday. And when I look in the mirror on Thursday I will see the cross lovingly drawn on my forehead, remembering I still belong to God and that my purpose on earth is to love others as I have been loved. Pat Morgan St. Paul’s, Benicia 2 Thursday, March 2 Deuteronomy 7:6-11 It was because the Lord loved you… The writer of Deuteronomy understands that the relationship between Israel and God is a covenant relationship. God does not keep his word to Israel because it is a great nation, but because he had set his heart on Israel – because he loves the people of Israel. In a similar way, as Christians we understand that God’s love for us flows from grace – from the free and unmerited favor of God, and that this love is manifest in our salvation through Christ. This love, this salvation, is not based on our worthiness, not based on our good deeds, but on the unmerited love of God. What we may overlook from time-to-time is that God’s love flows to all humankind. The same unmerited love, the same grace that flows to you and I, flows to all our neighbors as well. As we learn to live into the reality that we are truly loved by God, and that this love is unearned, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves – called to love our neighbors as we are loved. In Lent, we prepare to greet the risen Lord who makes manifest God’s love for us. St. Mary’s, Napa 3 Friday, March 3 As I began to think about Lent, it dawned on me how little I about how this fasting season so I decided to educate myself. Surprisingly, there were conflicts in various versions on the history of the subject matter; but briefly summarizing the basics. According to The Restored Church of God (rcg.org); the word Lent stems from the Anglo-Saxon word Lencten which means “spring” and originated from an old Babylonian religion. The 40 days of abstinence came directly from worshipers of the goddess of that religion and took place from spring to early summer. The church in Rome addressed Lent under Constantine at the Council of Nicea, A.D.325 (the legalization of Christianity). In order to merge the two conflicting festivals - Pagan and Christian, Rome’s rulers took official measures to merge the two into one cohesive festival (Council of Laodicea, A. D.360). They replaced Passover with Easter and moved the pagan feast of Tammuz to early Spring thus ‘Christianizing’ it. Lent was simultaneously moved as well. Although Lent does not specifically originate from the Bible, it is embedded in our Christian faith and is not difficult to validate. 40 days relates directly to the time Jesus spent fasting in the Wilderness. As well, fasting, prayer, and meditation help us to draw closer to God even though fasting cannot and does not purify us spiritually. It is really through the conversion of our mind and heart being actively guided by the Holy Spirit that God works “in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) We employ various examples of penance such as giving up tangibles like sweets, coffee or other food stuffs or ceasing certain actions. Last year, I decided that instead of the usual, I would attempt something troubling for me that would serve as both penance and purification. I am often vexed by the meanness of people although I am not by nature one to hold grudges. But I have had violent reactions when rude drivers nearly run me over causing me to barely avoid a major accident or from out of the blue someone hurls racial slurs at me from their car window; or casts dispersions on me, a stranger unknown to them . I decided to: give up reacting in kind; give up the desire to be vindictive, and let go of my mean feelings. The companion part of that involves keeping a positive frame of mind and asking myself what Jesus might say or do in such situations; And to say a sincere prayer for those folks. It has been a challenge; but I am continuing my mission this Lent hoping to improve upon my fast to eliminate mean or evil thoughts and have a more purified heart as I observe the Stations of the Cross, Ash Wednesday, etc. and prepare for the risen Lord at Easter. Asleain Scotty Hodges Grace Church, Fairfield 4 Saturday, March 4 Lent is a penitential season-getting ready for Easter. The time of awareness of our thoughts, actions, relationships and our discipline for this season. The meaning of our faith that God has made us one in Christ. My discipline is the awareness of my sins. Penance. Psalm 32:3 When I declared not my sins, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. I acknowledged my sin to thee and I did not hide my iniquity. This can be uncomfortable, challenging and sometimes with painful insights. Psalm 32:5 I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sins. The Lord is always listening to my asking for him to hear me. My focus this Lenten season is to listen to Him in self surrender and trust. Trusting is to wait patiently in silence, to be still, to be loved, just to be. He gives me His sustaining grace to move forward in His love and forgiveness with His peace that surpasses all understanding. Psalm 30:2 I cried to the Lord for help and the Lord my God has healed me. Hope, peace and joy are the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I am looking forward to Easter! Dawn Preisler Church of St. Martin, Davis 5 First Sunday in Lent Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. St. Luke’s, Calistoga 6 Monday, March 6 Deuteronomy 8:1 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth… I watched banner headlines on several news programs this morning, eight men (mainly American) each possessed a wealth equal to that of the poorest half of the world’s population. I wondered why these men had this wealth while so many went homeless, cold, and hungry: did that make them satisfied or did they desire more, and did they even care that they had a surfeit of that which most had so little? I don’t feel outrage by this, but I don’t feel that these men accumulated this wealth by any more extraordinary skills, intellect, or acumen than others have. Instead, I feel that this benevolence was given to them by some happenstance; that fortune, as much as that of their own efforts, was responsible for them amassing this wealth.