02.15.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:19 am by robinbiffle
On February 17, St. Mark’s offers three services of the Proper Liturgy for Ash Wednesday: the imposition of ashes and the Holy Communion at 7 a.m, 12:10 p.m., and 6 p.m. Please join us. All are welcome at God’s table.
The midday service will incorporate the Rite I (“traditional” language) Holy Communion liturgy; the other two services will be Rite II (largely in the vernacular). The evening service includes the choir, and cellist Linda Wharton. The two earlier services will include cantors on the Miserere Mei (Psalm 51) sung to a hauntingly beautiful Gregorian chant tone.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent in the Christian Calendar. A season during which Christians prepare for the celebration of the Resurrection at Easter, Lent is often observed by incorporating special disciplines into one’s spiritual life, which traditionally have been expressed in some form of fasting, giving up something, or doing without.
At St. Mark’s we’ll be considering the Lenten fast as seen through the eyes of the prophet Isaiah (58:5-7):
Is such the fast that I choose,
a day to humble oneself?
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them…
How are we oppressed? How do we oppress others? How are others oppressed in our name? And how–in this season of the probing self-look–do we respond to these oppressions? If Jesus came to set people free, how can we–as the hands and heart of Christ in the world–do the same in the lives of others?
We’re also going to embark on an exploration of Jesus’ meals and the meal imagery in the Gospel According to Luke, and see how that new understanding may help us attune our Lenten fast to one acceptable in the eyes of our Lord. The Lenten study program, on Wednesday evenings, begins on February 24th at 6 p.m. with supper (a $5 donation is suggested, but please come even if you can’t pay) followed by a presentation and conversation beginning at 6:30. We’ll be finished by 7:30. Please call the church office for more information: 882-2022.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 12:53 am by robinbiffle
That’s right–it’s that time of the year. All are welcome at our Shrove Tuesday extravaganza. The Vestry (our elected Lay Leaders) will cook up and serve the traditional pancake supper (complete with egg-bake and sausage) on Fat Tuesday, February 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. It’s a deal at $4 for adults and $1 for those 10 and under. (But come even if you can’t pay–no one will be turned away.) Come to the Parish Hall door, off the alley between First and Washington.
And what makes this an extra-special evening is that in preparation for our Lenten disciplines, we bury–literally–the “Alleluia.” The kids (and some of us…um…older kids) have made “Alleluia” banners. At the dinner we’ll roll them up and put them in a ”coffin.” Then singing as many Allelulias as we can squeeze into 5 minutes or so, we process (I use that term loosely!) into the churchyard where we’ll bury them–not to be resurrected until our “sunrise” Easter service, the Great Vigil at o’dark-thirty on the Morn of Easter Day. Until then, nary an “Alleluia” will pass our lips. This act is a physical reminder–an “outward and visible sign of an inward an spiritual grace”–the grace that is Lent.
Once the alleluias are underground, we turn to the fire pit, where–youngest to oldest–we use a candle to torch the fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday to make the ash that we’ll use to smudge foreheads the next day–Ash Wednesday. This we do in remembrance that we are made of dust and shall return to dust.
Thus, with new traditions and old, we approach the season of Lent–40 days of introspection (on the one hand) and outreach (on the other); two of the marks of Christian living. As we promise at our baptism, we continue the prayers taught by our forebears (which include those prayers that invite God into our nooks and crannies) and we strive for justice and peace right here and right now. What a good balance.
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01.21.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:18 pm by robinbiffle
Jesus, Savior in times of storm,
when the waters of the deep are broken up
and all the landmarks crumble before our eyes,
come to our aid and hold us up.
Support the people of Haiti at this time
lest they sink in hopelessness and despair.
Empower those who are responding to their need;
uphold the bereaved in their grief;
and let your light shine in the present darkness
to lead us all to the city securely built on your love;
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Courtesy of Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation)
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01.20.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:27 pm by robinbiffle
“Lord, in your mercy, send your grace beyond bounds upon our sisters and brothers in Haiti. Enable us to do your work of relieving their misery.”
Because of its many decades of presence in Haiti, The Episcopal Church and her Episcopal Relief & Development were able to respond at once after last week’s quake. TEC continues to post updates, especially at The Episcopal Life’s site: http://www.episcopal-life.org/ and on a new page at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/haiti.php.
Please consider some of the following about the Diocese of Haiti and its people as we continue in our prayers and giving for the relief and rebuilding of this land in turmoil.
The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is part of The Episcopal Church. Its website (in French, but translatable by Google) is http://www.egliseepiscopaledhaiti.org/. It was because of the presence of the Episcopal church in places outside the U.S., that in a recent General Convention, we changed our name from the “Episcopal Church in the United States of America, to “The Episcopal Church.”
With about 100,000 members Haiti is the largest and fastest-growing Diocese in The Episcopal Church. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/2008 Table of Statistics of the Episcopal Church.pdf.
According to The Episcopal Church Annual, there are about 115 congregations and communities of faith in the Diocese of Haiti. According to the Haiti’s Diocesan website, the church there is served by about 40 priests. By comparison, The Diocese of Spokane (in which we are located) has about 7,000 members in 41 congregations and is served by more than 70 priests (some parochial, some providing “supply” and other special services).
The Bishop of Haiti The Rt. Rev. Zache Duracin was left homeless in the quake. His wife was injured. He has been offered the opportunity to leave Haiti for respite in the U.S. but has chosen to stay. He is living in a “tent city” with others whose homes were destroyed.
In Haiti, the Episcopal Church operates more than 200 Episcopal schools with more than 6000 students. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/2008 Table of Statistics of the Episcopal Church.pdf.
According to a news article in Episcopal Life, TEC also operates “medical clinics; a renowned philharmonic orchestra and children’s choir based at the cathedral; agricultural, reforestation and other development projects and micro-financing efforts run in part with help from ERD; peace and reconciliation work, including the Desmond Tutu Center for Reconciliation and Peace and non-violence training provided by Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF).” (Source: http://ecusa.anglican.org/79901_118410_ENG_HTM.htm)
Donations can be made by check to St. Mark’s (Memo line: Haiti), at 111 S. Jefferson, Moscow, ID 83843. We are sending a check to ERD weekly. Last week alone we send $842.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
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01.11.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:41 pm by robinbiffle
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Miles after his baptism wearing his baptismal scarf.
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Tami and daughter Katelyn
Is there any other kind!?? We baptized Katelyn Ainsley (one month old) and Miles Brendan (four years old)! Joy! Cynthia Mika knit Katelyn’s baptismal coverlet and Teresa Uhle knit Miles’ baptismal scarf and a memento for him to keep under his pillow.
If you would like to know more about baptism–”full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church”–are interested in being baptized, or know someone else who might be, please talk with Mother Robin. In The Episcopal Church, baptisms are celebrated at any age! The next apt occasion for baptism will be during the Great Vigil of Easter–St. Mark’s Easter Day Sunrise Service–on April 4. Now is the time to start preparing!
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01.04.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:15 pm by robinbiffle
We have two celebrations of the Holy Eucharist on the Feast of the Epiphany, Wednesday January 6: a simple service at 12:10 pm (you’ll be back at work or school by 1 pm); the second at 5:30 pm. Please join us!
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01.01.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:21 am by robinbiffle
Our prayer is for 2010 to be a blessed, rich, fruitful year for all–a year marked by the passion and compassion that Jesus modeled for us.
This week at St. Mark’s we celebrate The Epiphany with Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome at this table. This feast is followed by a Parish Feast of the meat-and-potatoes kind:–cost $15 for adults, $7 for children. Call the church office SOON to make a reservation. All are welcome.
We mark the end of Christmastide with food and fellowship–and nurture of mind and spirit! After the Holy Days/holidays of Christmas, we resume our current classes: Confirmation (Monday at 6 p.m.); Celtic Spirituality (Tuesday at 7 p.m.); and the Sacred Art of Listening (in progress, Thursday at 6 p.m.).
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12.20.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:40 pm by kentonbird
St. Mark’s invites all to worship with us, especially those who don’t have a church home but have a sense that this may be the time to find a faith community. Particularly at Christmas—as we invite Christ into our lives again—we extend that welcome to each of you.
Wednesday, December 23 – Mid-week Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Thursday, December 24—Christmas Eve
4:30 p.m. —Service of music and carols
5:00 p.m. —Family service of Holy Eucharist
10:30 p.m.—Christmas Vigil with music and carols
11:00 p.m.—Festal Eucharist (Christ’s Mass)
Friday, December 25—Christmas Day — Holy Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, December 26 – The Feast of St. Stephen, Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Sunday, December 27— First Sunday after Christmas, Holy Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.
Monday, December 28— The Feast of St. John (transferred), Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Tuesday, December 29— Holy Innocents, Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Wednesday, December 30— Mid-week Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Friday, January 1 – The Feast of the Holy Name, Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Sunday, January 3 – Second Sunday after Christmas, Holy Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.
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12.18.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:42 pm by kentonbird
Blessed Advent, all,
I invite you to join with me in the Advent Conspiracy!
This international group of folks exists (thanks to the internet) for the sole (soul) purpose of under-mining the “holiday shopping season” consumerism, with reign of God compassion. There is lots of info at http://www.adventconspiracy.org/. The group is not itself an activist organization, but serves as catalyst and information exchange. Lots of good ideas and resources!
The conspiracy was organized in 2006 by five non-denominational pastors who encouraged their congregations to spend Advent this way: “Worship fully, spend less, give more and love all.” No money comes to or through Advent Conspiracy—those who wish to donate are asked to decide where and how to “give more” to those who have little.
“Conspirators” shift the Christmas gift-giving focus to gifts of relationships and service, instead of giving material items—giving “presence” instead of “presents.” The Conspiracy suggests that those who want to share their material wealth consider giving it to development of sustainable water resources for sis-ters and brothers who don’t have access to clean water. Serendipity!—considering that our Diocesan focus this year is “living water.” St. Mark’s Parish already gave almost $2000 to ERD for development of wells—what a gift!
As we consider alternative giving—giving life-sustaining gifts to those in need instead of giving more to those who have more than enough—it is prudent to consider how charitable organizations steward their own resources. By means of comparison, I researched three popular groups: Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD); Living Water International; and the Heifer Project. ERD stands up very well, indeed! You can check out these and others at Charity Navigator, http://www.charitynavigator.org/.
Our catechism defines the roles of each order of ministry. Lay people, bishops, priests and deacons all have different roles in the church and the liturgy, but first and foremost for each order is to “represent Christ and his Church” in the world (BCP 855-856). How shall we do that this Advent? As people in our community look at us individually and as a community gath-ered in Christ’s name, how will they see us behaving in a way that declares that we “are marked as Christ’s own for-ever” (BCP, 308)? How shall we demonstrate that we are those who minister to “the least” of Jesus’ sisters and brothers? How shall we show that we are servants of God, not of mammon? How shall we prepare to welcome Christ into our lives anew?
Welcome, sister and brother conspirators! “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”
Robin+
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12.10.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:28 pm by robinbiffle
And Advent is the perfect season to do it! Just as we Christians are waking up to the coming of the Christ, this page, we hope–as we yawn, stretch, and rub our eyes–is also coming to life. Stay tuned!
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