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The Lenten Journey According to the Bible, Christ began his ministry after 40 days and nights of praying and fasting in the wilderness, a period in which he was tempted by the devil but prevailed, fully human yet fully sinless. We Christians recall that time with the 40 days of Lent, an introspective, somber period that begins for most on Wednesday and culminated in Easter April 4th. Lent is that time of turning back to God, recognizing that there needs to be a purification of our lives. In the past, Lent was considered a period of intense prayer, fasting and charitable works, alms giving. The person really puts into practice loving one’s neighbor in a concrete way. Lent is Christianity’s principal season of penance, a time during which converts to the faith historically have prepared for baptism and those who have fallen away from the church seek reconciliation. In the early centuries, for those who had sinned grievously, this would be a time for them to perform penances, and they would be brought back into the church at the time of Easter. Through and over time, the average person realized their own sinfulness and began a journey for the 40 days of internal reflection and seeking a new awareness of Christ in their lives. Ash Wednesday was born out of this practice. History tells us that there would be a ceremony where the candidates would come in, and the bishop would give them a hair shirt and sackcloth and ashes to wear for the 40 days. Over time, the bishops and priest would give ashes to everyone. Lent is also associated with physical abstinence. For some, they will do a modified fast and abstain from certain foods during the 40 days, i.e. Meat, or some other foods. Fasting has a long, profound association with penitence and prayer, be it in the Muslim tradition of Ramadan, Judaism’s Yom Kippur or Christians Lent. The meaning of fasting lies in abstinence, in forcing oneself to do not that which is uncomfortable…a sacrifice. We discipline ourselves in that which we enjoy the most. In Lent, the church calls us to …a change of mind and heart, altering one’s mindset toward whole new ways of thinking and acting. This means to realize where we are, and looking to where we want to be. At its heart, Lent is an opportunity for renewed clarity and commitment within each believer. Lent helps us focus and refocus and get out of any ruts we’ve gotten into. Finally, it is a time to come together in a common effort to be the body of Christ. See you at the foot of the cross… Fr. Rex Passion Week Schedule Palm Sunday: March 28th, 7:30 am, 9:00am , 10:45 Wednesday March 31, Rite II Communion 8:00am Maundy Thursday: April 1, 7:00 pm Good Friday: 12:00 noon, Stations of the Cross Great Easter Vigil: April 3rd 7:00pm Easter service: 7:30 am, 9:00am, 10:45 am
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MUSICAL FELLOWSHIP COME—ALL YOU ENJOY SINGING TO OUR LORD JOIN-IN THE JOURNEY-Beginning November 4th. ALL-MUSICAL VOICES WELCOME When: Wednesday evenings 6:45 – 7:30 Where: Church Sanctuary How Long: 7 weeks WHAT MUSIC CAN Be Offered for the Seasons of Advent and Christmas. For Information contact Henrietta O’Neill
For the Beauty of the Earth
“Eucharistia” is a Greek word meaning “Gratefulness” or Thankfulness”---and Folliot Sandford Pierpoint (1835 – 1917) wrote this most beautiful hymn. He intended the hymn to be sung during the service of “Holy Eucharist” or Holy Communion” as many of us call it.
Not only are we grateful for God’s gift of His Son – whose death and resurrection we remember by the bread and wine of communion – but we are grateful for all the other gifts of God’s love by which we are surrounded every moment.
Look up the Hymn 416 – What are some of the specific gifts named in the stanzas of Mr. Pierpoint’s hymn. You may notice that the words chosen were simple, every day words for the text.
It may be that each time we partake of communion we not only think of our gratitude for Christ but of our thankfulness for All the gifts of beauty, of time, and of love with which God fills each day.
Blessings to all, Henrietta O’Neill
If you put cash into the offering plate it won’t be reflected on your pledge or giving statement unless I know it’s from you – so please put it in an envelope or let me know after church so I can mark it accordingly. Lainie is continuing to help with the Treasurer duties through the end of the year and her assistance has been invaluable. If you have any questions, please contact us at jrae@pnacpa.com and lfpeltz@comcast.net 6 families are currently paying their offering via Automatic Withdrawal from their checking or savings accounts and have given it rave reviews. Please see below for more information. . Safeway and King Soopers Gift Cards are always available for purchase. See related article. Proceeds continue to go to our Building Fund. Albertson’s Preferred Customer links are available, too. Please contact me if you would like to have Albertson’s donate to the Youth Group. Easy ways to keep your pledge to St. Alban’s on track:
Automatic Withdrawal from checking accounts. This is a free service offered by our bank. If you would like to have your regular offering automatically withdrawn from your checking account please fill out an Authorization Form that can be found on-line at our yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/st-albans/ It's easy! It can also be cancelled at any time. You can also utilize your own on-line bill paying program if you have one. Please use our mailing address: PO BOX 697, Windsor, CO 80550. Your checks will be sent automatically to our PO Box and they will get placed in the Sunday offering plate. Some bill pay programs can set up bank to bank transfers – check out if yours can do that. Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards are accepted for offerings, grocery gift cards, youth group fundraisers, etc. Please see me after church on Sundays if you want to use this form of payment. We are charged a 2.1% (2.6% for rewards cards) transaction fee plus a nominal amount per transaction but are more than happy to offer this option! TREASURY NOTES At the January meeting the Vestry approved the 2010 budget. This budget assumes that we will receive a grant of $20,000 from the Front Range Region. Father Rex is scheduled to make a presentation to them later on this month. The good news is the Front Range Region has advanced funds on the 2010 grant, so that may indicate they will renew the grant. While adopting a budget with an operating loss is somewhat scary, the Church has the next calendar year to make up the shortfall. Some of the loss can be made up with the use of King Soopers or Safeway gift cards. Also, now or during the year, Parishioners can begin a new pledge or increase a current pledge. In the meantime the Church will have to use some of its savings. Finally, the Vestry will continue to monitor the budget. A formal review will occur at the end of June. At that time the Vestry will have the ability to change (either increase or decrease) expenditures. A summary of the operating budget is below. Total Revenues $ 134,483 Total Expenses 153,404 Anticipated loss (18,921) Budgeted Plate and Pledge 110,730 At the end of the year a summary of the Churches financials were as follows: Total Assets $ 91,795 Total Liabilities 4,617 Total Equity Restricted 27,832 Unrestricted 59,346 Total Equity $ 87,178 Total Revenues $ 158,826 Total Expenses 194,604 Decrease in Net Assets $ (36,478) For the year ended December 31, 2009, the amount of plate and pledge approximated the amounts budgeted. Receipts in December made up any deficit between the budgeted and actual amounts. As we indicated in the prior month report, the loss is overstated as expenses include approximately $35,000 for roof and building repairs. The insurance check was received last year, but the roof was repaired this year. So for the year the operations the Church pretty much broke even. If you have any questions, please ask us. If you put cash into the offering plate it won’t be reflected on your pledge or giving statement unless I know it’s from you – so please put it in an envelope or let me know after church so I can mark it accordingly. . Safeway and King Soopers Gift Cards are always available for purchase. See related article. Proceeds continue to go to our Building Fund. Albertson’s Preferred Customer links are available, too. Please contact me if you would like to have Albertson’s donate to the Youth Group. Easy ways to keep your pledge to St. Alban’s on track:
Automatic Withdrawal from checking accounts. This is a free service offered by our bank. If you would like to have your regular offering automatically withdrawn from your checking account please fill out an Authorization Form that can be found on-line at our yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/st-albans/ It's easy! It can also be cancelled at any time. You can also utilize your own on-line bill paying program if you have one. Please use our mailing address: PO BOX 697, Windsor, CO 80550. Your checks will be sent automatically to our PO Box and they will get placed in the Sunday offering plate. Some bill pay programs can set up bank to bank transfers – check out if yours can do that. Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards are accepted for offerings, grocery gift cards, youth group fundraisers, etc. Please see me after church on Sundays if you want to use this form of payment. We are charged a 2.1% (2.6% for rewards cards) transaction fee plus a nominal amount per transaction but are more than happy to offer this option!
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Janice Food for Our Journey God’s Punishment? It’s been a very hard couple of weeks. I received word this week that a very good high school friend who loves the Lord so much and brought that love into the lives of my cousin and his children when she was married to him, has had a stroke and can’t speak. I also heard a good friend from college, a fellow Episcopalian who had to share the responsibility of taking Mother Neary to church on Sundays, and who has grown to really know and love the Lord, is dying from an extremely fast growing renal cell cancer. And 200,000 people have died in a massive earthquake in Haiti. Pat Robertson is quoted as saying that the earthquake is God’s judgement on the Haitians because of their voodoo pact with the devil. So is Jeanne’s stroke and Pat’s cancer God’s judgement on these two wonderful women? NO. That’s not the God I know and have experienced. So where is God when these things happen? When I struggle with my grief; When I’m trying to make sense out of what is happening,I have to turn to the Bible. In John 9:1-3, I find, “As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’...” Preparing His disciples for life after He is gone, in 14:16 -17 He tells them: “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth.” The Holy Spirit is also often referred to as the “comforter”. We have God’s Spirit in our lives giving us wisdom and comfort. No, I do NOT believe my friends sinned anymore that you and I. Or the people of Haiti.And I DO believe God has given me, and Jeanne and Pat’s friends and relatives, and the people of Haiti His Spirit, to comfort us and help us to see Him working in all these tragedies. As an aside, I understand that in the late 1700’s the native slaves turned to their nativereligion, voodooism in a rally that led to the overthrow of the French imperialists. However, what we see now in Haiti is growth in Christianity and a turning to our Lord by the people of Haiti. That is witnessed by the churches, the economic growth and the people raising their hands and praising God even within the chaos. Can I praise God for the lives of my friends? Knowing they love the Lord, the Lord lovesthem and He indeed is working in these situations? That is my comfort. That is my challenge. My head knows it. I pray that assurance will travel the long road, the 16” to my heart. Blessings, Janice
Stewardship Chair First off I wanted to Thank You for your pledges and continued support for our little Stone Church. Over the past year to me it appears we have grown some and that is great. I'll leave the accounting part up to the accountants. But it's been a tremendous blessing to have Father Rex and Dana at our church. Don't you all agree? Each of our lifes stories is like a great pilgrimage. All are unique but all have commom themes,"of Seeking. Finding and Relief from heavy burdens." All of us deal with lifes realities differently but all have a common denominator. "Our Little Stone Church, Father Rex and The Father Above. Let us all continue in our support and desire to make our experience a continual growing Spiritual One. Thanks Again, Stewardship Chair, Roy
A Message from the Outreach Committee Dear Family of St. Albans, I am writing this as a representative of the Out Reach Committee. Here at St. Albans we have, as a community of believers, always felt strongly about outreach. In lean times and times of plenty we have given a portion of our income to out each. When my husband Bruce and I came to St. Albans some thirty years ago it was definately lean times. We were a congregation of about fifteen people. Our understanding of giving was, to say the least, limited. We began giving because we were a little fearful that the doors might close if we didn’t help . We were receiving so much from the church we sure didn’t want that to happen! { I did say limited- didn’t I?} Over the course of time I learned that there are many ways of giving.. Not only money but with time and talents as well. Even in that I it took me some years to find the real reasons for giving time and talents. In the beginning I was trying to be a part of something bigger that myself. I found my new identity in service. {Still limited-right?} Whatever my intentions were over the years , they have led me to this belief. That giving, whatever form it takes, leads to Love. We give because we love! The Out Reach Committee is asking to increase our giving beyond the doors of St. Albans. I feel this is a wonderful challenge! At this time of my life I personally feel the need to be more connected to all of God's children, and as a result closer to God. You all are so loving and giving! -- Phyllis Cook Some Outreach Opportunities Meals on Wheels: County is in DESPERATE need of volunteers to deliver meals in the Windsor area. If interested, please contact Mary Margaret Cox at 353-9738 (Greeley) Deodorant Soap, Toilet paper, Flour, Juice, Saltine crackers and Sugar. Please leave items on the tables so we don’t attract “little critters”. Thank you Meals on Wheels of WeldWindsor Food Pantry: A collection basket is inthe Parish Hall. Items needed are: Shampoo,Windsor Clothing Bank:Hosted by the United Methodist Church at 5th & Walnut. Hours of operation are 9 am - 12 noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays when staffed with volunteers. A sign is out front when it’s open. Just for Fun! . . . Hymn Titles by Occupation Do you know your (specific) hymn(s)? When you go to Church this weekend be sure to smile as you go through your Hymnals! Dentist's Hymn.............................. Crown Him with Many Crowns Weatherman's Hymn..................... There Shall Be Showers of Blessings Contractor's Hymn........................ The Church's One Foundation The Tailor's Hymn......................... Holy, Holy, Holy The Golfer's Hymn......................... There's a Green Hill Far Away The Politician's Hymn.................... Standing on the Promises Optometrist's Hymn....................... Open My Eyes That I Might See The IRS Agent's Hymn.................... I Surrender All The Gossip's Hymn........................ Pass It On The Electrician's Hymn................... Send The Light The Shopper's Hymn....................... Sweet Bye and Bye The Realtor's Hymn........................ I've Got a Mansion Just over the Hilltop The Massage Therapists Hymn..... He Touched Me The Doctor's Hymn......................... The Great Physician AND for those who speed on the highway - a few hymns: 45mph................... God Will Take Care of You 65mph................... Nearer My God To Thee 85mph................... This World Is Not My Home 95mph.................... Lord, I'm Coming Home 100mph.................. Precious Memories
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Getting to Know Our St. Alban’s Family Preface First, I must explain that the following article is about my husband. My husband and I are new to your Saint Alban’s family and are not as involved as many. Nonetheless, it’s good to get to know all of the family. Remember the familiar old Girl Scout song? “Make New Friends, But Keep the Old—One is Silver and the Other Gold.” Stuart Hutchison was born in Liverpool, England (1938) while his parents were on a tour. He grew up in a middleclass, suburb of West London, where they lived on the top floor of a thatched roof, two-story apartment that had very little heat. His neighborhood was close knit like most British environs with many houses, nice parks and beautiful churches. However, his family life was not traditional. His Father, Harry Tate, Jr. was a second-generation vaudeville comedian following the footsteps of his famous Father, Harry Tate (the Britishversion of this country’s W.C. Fields). In fact, Stuart has seven names, himself, Stuart McDonald Lincoln Saltmarsh Dee Harry Tate Hutchison III. Because of his family’s business he was often added to the act as a “child star”. He appeared with his father and grandfather along with Laurel and Hardy, Julie Andrews and George Burns. Like Winston Churchill, Stuart’s father was British and his mother was American. Since his father’s work required excessive amounts of travel and because of WWII, Stuart started prep school in the country away from his family and their London home at the early age of five. Although he spent holidays and breaks with them, his childhood did not make it possible to have a family pet; this has been corrected in his married life with the addition of two dogs and a cat As a child, Stuart’s at home chores included making tea for his parents and walking to the shops three miles away for milk each day. He attended a youth program in the Royal Navy for two years hoping to be a Naval architect when he grew up. His military service was later realized in the U.S. by serving in the Army Airborne. WWII provided him with several heroic role models, R.A.F. fighter pilots, Sailor Milan, Douglas Bader, Johnny Johnson. He had much admiration for British soccer and cricket players as well as the Head Master of GreatWalstead School, R. J. Mowl, who Stuart credits as having the most spiritual impact on his life. Due to financial difficulties Stuart’s family moved to the U.S. when he was 18 where he finished High School in Kansas City and was awarded a scholarship to Princeton University about the same time as Dave Peterson attended Princeton (however they did not meet until this year at Saint Alban’s—it truly is a small world). At Princeton he majored in Architecture and minored in French Literature, his thesis: The Study of the Effects ofNatural and Artificial Light on Architectural Design. His career has centered on architecture. He started his own firm in Kansas City in 1972, Stuart Hutchison Architects, which has survived through good and bad times for 28 years. His design accomplishments are many and diverse and have included the Law School at the University of Missouri, historic renovation, commercial shopping & entertainment centers, restaurants, lodges, custom homes, churches and special education schools. He is a noted illustrator and his hobby of cartooning has been a life time dream that like most of our dreams has had to be shelved in order to provide, although it has been realizedsomewhat through an international architectural Swiss publication, The AC Review and numerous voluntary submissions. Stuart has held many professional and civic volunteer offices from the Art Editor of the Princeton Tiger and Kansas City AIA President to the Johnstown-Milliken Chamber of Commerce President. He was the Honorable Mention design recipient for the Pompidou Center competition that was exhibited at the Louvre in Paris. His work has taken him to England, China, Alaska and of course throughout the continental U.S. While doing a historic renovation at Arrow Rock, MO he met his wife, Trish Kleine, where she worked as a Naturalist for Missouri State Parks. (I would have picked a real person if I had had more time !!! joking ) But, I did this simply to get my newsletter entry submitted expeditiously due to traveling throughout the holiday season and the untimely malady that followed for a couple of weeks, an upper respiratory Christmas souvenir from my grandchildren.(wife’s note: --from sublime to chaos. Fortunately we are both animal lovers).He moved his business to Colorado in 1990. He has also taught architecture and environmental design courses at Princeton, Kansas University, and for the past eleven years has been teaching a class at CU Boulder.Wife’s note: The day we met, I was looking for a live bat do exhibit to visitors. Stuart says that he was attracted to my enthusiasm, but I was equally attracted to his confident manner. Actually I believe we were both desperate for companionship having been married before and wanting to share life’s experiences with someone. Together we have four children and four grandchildren. Back to his story… When asked what makes him proud of his children, he immediately says, “…no cliques, they are all independent thinkers.” He believes the most success he has had in life is raising his children and his proudest moment has been watching each of them receive their degrees in law, library science, statistics and pharmacy. His favorite books and movies are The Cruel Sea, Silent Spring and Reach for the Sky. The people he admires most in history are Winston Churchill, Admiral Horatio Nelson and President John F. Kennedy. The news events that have made the most impact on Stuart’s life have been: the London Blitz that took the life of a beloved Aunt, both Kennedy assassinations and 9-11. When asked what the best thing is about growing older, his response was, “…the absence of peer pressure. He was christened in Yorkshire, England and has chosen to come to Saint Alban’s because of the friendly people and size of the Church. He also happens to love old, stone buildings. He believes all people are special and his philosophy of life is to be fair to all, humble about your talents and constantly search for excellence. He would like to be remembered by his family as being honorable and fair to others. Blessed is a man who preservers under trial; for once he has been approved he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12
A Report from the Altar Guild
This church year is quickly coming to an end. I would like to pause, take a moment, and share with you what has been happening with the St. Albans Altar Guild!
The women of the Guild are Elaine Lewis, Sheri Ricker, Bobbie Manderbach, Lynn Peterson and Phyllis Cook. This summer you have noticed the beautiful flower arrangements on the altar each Sunday. Lynn has a wonderful gift of flower arranging. We call her "our flower lady". Bobbie does the washing and ironing of our linens. She has been working very hard to bring our linens and vestments "up to speed" and has improved the quality of all of our supplies. Elaine, Sheri and I make communion bread, buy the wine and take turns setting up communion for our three services each Sunday. We also dress the altar and church for weddings, funerals and baptisms.
The guild has a silent partner who is always there to help. Dennis Ricker replaces the votive candles in the grotto, fills the oil in our lectern candles and whatever else needs doing. Now that summer is over and we get back to a more normal schedule, we will be meeting more regularly. We are looking forward to the changing seasons in the church i.e. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. We feel especially blessed to be able to serve our Lord in this ministry. As we go about our duties in the church, we take the opportunity to spend some quiet time with the Lord. Our prayer is that God be glorified and that your worship be enhanced by our efforts. Love to all--Phyllis Cook Altar Guild
THE ORDER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE KING We as Daughters of the King at St. Alban’s affirm our love for Jesus and, through this love, pray for our parish and those in need. As we meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month our minds come together and look to our Lord for His guidance to fulfill our vows and sustain our commitment as “nurturing women, accepting all peoples, bridging differences, and cherishing traditions.” If you have a desire to reflect God’s love and reach out through prayer and service to spread His Kingdom, please, come join us! For His Sake, Virginia Webb, Gwen Moore, Jan Groom, Susan Grande, Sheri Ricker, and Jan Steele. We meet at 701 6th St., #4F (Virginia’s home) at 6:30 pm.
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