All in St. Anne’s TIMES March 2012 From the Rector … Last Sunday, we were all asked to think about those situa- tions in our lives that might call for reconciliation. Reconciliation is a big task and one that is not so easy to engage. It is intensely person and, when entered into fully, can make us extremely vulner- able. It is also not to be done in isolation. Even the tricky notion of being reconciled to ourselves cannot be done by ourselves alone. While different stages and situations require more interpersonal involvement, one that, at least at the beginning, requires no inter- personal interaction is that of our self-exploration. At its core, reconciliation begins within. I heard a preacher say recently that, “Free people, free eople.”1 In other words, she was saying that those of us who are free—or at least well on their way — are the ones that are concerned with using our freedom to free others. By extension, reconciled people reconcile. Our recon- ciliation begins from within. At this point, you might be wondering as to the point of all this reconciliation talk is coming. One reason is that it is the sea- son of Lent. In the Ash Wednesday Liturgy, the epistle reading, taken from Second Corinthians, begins, “We entreat you, on behalf 1 Heard in a sermon preached by Bishop Yvette Flunder on Tuesday, February 28, at Wake Forest Divinity School. Bishop Flunder is the Founder and Senior Pastor of City of Refuge United Church of Christ in San Francisco. (Continued on Page 4) Inside the Times Vestry Viewpoint ……….………………………….. Page 3 Outreach Opportunities .…………………………. Page 6 Easter 2012 ……………….. ………………...………. Page 8 Inquiring Minds ………..…………………………… Page 12 and much, much more Lenten Schedule Mondays in Lent Centering Prayer, 6 p.m. Wednesday in Lent Evening Prayer and Eucharist, Palm Sunday April 1 Palm Sunday Services, 8:30 and 11 a.m. Holy Week Monday April 2, 6 p.m. The Great Litany Tuesday April 3, 6 p.m. A Service of Reconciliation Wednesday April 4, 6 p.m. Evening Prayer and Holy Eucharist Thursday April 5, 6 p.m. Maundy Thursday Service (Agape at 5:30 p.m.) Friday April 6, 6 p.m. Good Friday Service/Adoration of the Cross Easter Services Saturday April 7, 7 p.m. Easter Vigil at St. Stephens Sunday April 8, 8:30, 11 a.m. Easter! He is Risen! NOTE for Palm Sunday: In addition to palms, we will be “laying down our cloaks” on Palm Sunday. Please bring new or gently used coats to place on the altar to be given to those who need them. Lenten Tray Historically, we at St. Anne’s do not have flowers in front of the altar during Lent. Lent is a season of penitence, preparation and contemplation of Jesus’ path to the cross. It is a time to reflect on our own journeys in faith along with Jesus’ journey to crucifixion and resurrection. This year, we will have a tray in front of the altar. The contents of this tray will change and develop over the weeks reflect- ing the them of Journey. The journey we are on examin- ing ourselves and our lives from chaos to clarity in God. The Liturgy Committee hopes that the Lenten Tray will be an aid to your reflection and preparation throughout Lent. Vestry Viewpoints … Since my ambition is to be a humorist, I wanted to write something funny, of course, about being on the Vestry, but that was before I heard Lawrence’s Lenten sermon on Sunday. Since he asked us to be quiet for a long minute, I was able to become a more serious person. In that guise, I offer you my thoughts, such as they are. If you can count money, keep up with the church keep, lock the multiple doors after services, remember to come to meetings, and not fidget, you know more about serving on the Vestry that I did. However, after attending a Vestry Retreat at the Saint Francis Springs Prayer Center in nearby Stoneville, which was quiet and comforting and fun, and two monthly meetings, which were well- organized and fair and informative, I am learning to be a more thoughtful and tolerant person. People of St. Anne's are kind and generous and help one another. I am being mentored by other Vestry members in ways I don’t even know. A friend (not on the Vestry) did suggest that I might give up my relentless barrage of questions as a Lenten sacri- fice, and I am in that mode. You may have noticed? It has made me a more spiritual person (and a better friend) because I am able to hear other voices. Being on the Vestry is doing that for me. If I have had any “mountain top” experiences, as Lawrence asked us to re- member, they have been at St. Anne’s. I can’t say that serving on the Vestry will be one because I still like to ask and answer my own questions (you may have noticed) and I look to the mountain top to be surprised by joy, a phrase I borrowed from the poet Wordsworth. I have felt moments of great joy at St. Anne’s. After the last Vestry meeting I was tired but satisfied that the Vestry had done good work discussing the upcoming Revitalization Plan and other church matters. But it was on Sunday when I passed the Peace to a visitor and felt deeply connected that I thought our 40 days in the wilder- ness might be a mountain top experience. Taking my turn on the vestry has made me aware that I don’t have to have all the answers. I’m prepared to believe that God listens to me, and to each of you. That’s what being on the Vestry will do for you, with God’s help and Lawrence’s call. When we are allowed to move about the sanctuary again in happy pursuit of the Peace, I hope to hug you with all my heart. - Emily Herring Wilson 3 From the Rector … (Continued from Page 1) of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (5:20b). The Church often talks about salvation, but what is the point of our salvation if not our rec- onciliation with God? Jesus makes the way for our full reconciliation, with God and with each other and within ourselves through his life, death and resurrection. We understand our recon- ciliation, just as God’s love, to be a gift that is to be given away. Another reason is that I participated in the Institute for Dis- mantling Racism’s two-and-a-half day training last week. As we heard the history presented and were reminded of the depth of the systemic racism within our society and institutions, I couldn’t help but think dismantling racism is reconciliation work. At its core, anti- racism work, while seeking to change the way in which our society views people of different races and reduce the historic disadvantages that people of color face, is the work of reconciliation. This difficult work must begin within ourselves and then spread out to our work. I believe many of you know this already and that many of you have and will continue to work for justice, but what I don’t think any of us fully grasp is how our own, personal work of reconciliation ties in with the larger work and how significant and vital that is. I believe that this parish is uniquely positioned to do the internal work that can only strengthen our work in the world. This is the place, because of our history and our keen awareness of the social inequities that plague our society. I also believe that St. Anne’s is the place to do this work be- cause of the courage demonstrated over the years and because we are a church that believes in peacemaking. To be reconciled is to be at peace. This is not a peace that is simply the absence of war and vio- lence, but a peace that makes violence unnecessary. A reconciled and reconciling community is one that fiercely defends everyone’s right to be heard, treats everyone’s opinions as precious, dutifully and in- tentionally makes a space at the table for all who come, and does not rush to judgment in anything. A reconciled and reconciling commu- nity is one that expects to be disappointed, but works hard not to be bitter; is one where the people are honest when they are hurt and feel mistreated; is one in which there is clear and open communication; and when one of us falls short of the ideal, they are lovingly pointed back toward our purpose for being — to draw all people to Christ and live the reconciling message of the gospel. (Continued on Page 4 From the Rector … (Continued from Page 4) This article began with a reminder about the request to look for those places within our own lives that are in need of some recon- ciliation work. Reconciliation can be difficult, but it need not be grandiose. We continue our work of reconciliation in small, some- times daily, acts of reconciliation: excusing a mistake, making amends for a harsh word, repent of an oversight, acknowledging an overreaction, offering an olive branch in a conflict of wills. We cannot forget that some of the most intense and necessary work is needed within ourselves. Being reconciled to who we really are — positive and negative — put us solidly on the path that leads to a greater sense of and ability to engage in the work of own reconcilia- tion.