LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, March 25, 2012: Fifth Sunday In Lent

First Lesson: (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Psalm 51:1-13, Pages 656-657, BCP

Second Lesson: (Hebrews 5:5-10)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (12:20-33)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Hebrews 2:5-10; Tuesday Mark 9:42-50; Wednesday Mark 10:1-16; Thursday Mark 10:17-31; Friday Mark 10:32-45; Saturday Mark 10:46-52.

Sunday, March 18, 2012: Fourth Sunday In Lent

First Lesson: (Numbers 21:4-9)

Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22, Page 746, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Ephesians 2:1-10)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (3:14-21)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday 1:18-25; Tuesday Mark 8:1-10; Wednesday Mark 8:11-26; Thursday Mark 8:27-9:1; Friday Mark 9:2-13; Saturday Mark:14-29.

Sunday, March 11, 2012: Third Sunday In Lent

First Lesson: (Exodus 20:1-17)

Psalm 19:1-14, Pages 606-607, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To John (2:13-22)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Mark 5:21-43; Tuesday Mark 6:1-13; Wednesday Mark 6:13-29; Thursday Mark 6:30-46; Friday Mark 6:47-56; Saturday Mark 7:1-13.

Sunday, March 4, 2012: Second Sunday In Lent

First Lesson: (Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16)

Psalm 22:22-30, Pages 611-612, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Romans 4:13-25)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Mark (8:31-38)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Mark 3:7-19a; Tuesday Mark 3:19b-35; Wednesday Mark 4:1-20; Thursday Mark 4:21-34; Friday Mark 4:35-41; Saturday Mark 5:1-20.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Welcome From The Rector

Directions To Saint Monica's

From the Desk Of The Rector

The following are excerpts from the bulletin of Sunday, February 26, 2012

This year for Lent I am suggesting that we not only give up something for Lent, if that is our custom, but we give up ourselves to God. Let me explain. We believe that God is all knowing and all seeing hence we cannot fool God by pretending to be that which we are not. So let us all bare our souls, tell our stories to God and be willing to let the Holy spirit lead us to a better place. It is by the grace of God that we will be changed into His likeness and not by our works only. We must always be saying that God wants more for us than we want for ourselves. We must always be saying no to sin and yes to righteousness. Becoming and practicing what it means to be a Christian is an age old struggle for all of us. Let us make some progress this Lent.

Maureen Evans and Exercise

Do you want to exercise but think it is boring and you do not know how to start? Now is the time! Maureen Evans will work with a group of interested people in the parish hall on days and times that are convenient to all. A small fee of $5.00 per person will help cover the costs. Please contact Maureen for more information. Let us please God during 2012 by learning how respect our bodies, make healthier choices and have fun while doing it.

Food Pantry

We are again asking parishioners to donate items to the Ruth Small Food Pantry. suggested items are canned or instant potatoes, canned meats (tune, salmon, chicken), canned sweet potatoes, soup, peanut butter, jelly and individual fruit cups. This list will be updated periodically. Thank you for your continued support.

Rescheduling Meetings

Fr. Davidson needs our cooperation if we wish to reschedule a meeting on Monday or Wednesday between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Fr. Davidson schedules interviews and pastoral counseling either before or after Prayer Meetings on Monday. He may also schedule interviews and pastoral counseling on Wednesday. He schedules events when there is no Bible Study. As a courtesy, please call Fr. Davidson to verify if he has anything scheduled.

Activity Calendar

Weekly: 1) Mondays-Prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Wednesdays-Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Weekly): 1) Wednesdays and Fridays-Food Pantry opens 10:00 a.m. to noon.

2) Every other Thursday-Pro's and Con's Task Force at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Monthly): 1) First Thursday-Stewardship Committee at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Second Thursday-Vestry Meeting 6:30 p.m.; 3) Third Tuesday-Women of Valier; 4) Third and fourth Saturday opens at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.; 5) First Saturday-Episcopal Church Women (ECW) at 12:00 noon

Birthdays and Anniversaries in March

Happy Birthday to: Richard Krausz 1st; David Hickmon and Denzil Ricketts 3rd; Shannon Holder 5th; Edwina tuning 6th; Robert Rose 9th; Arlette Hurtle 11th; Cyrus Aimey 13th; Camille Lawrence 14th; Brandon Hall 15th; Dee Flowers, Eloy Toppin, Cherone Levy, Chantel Russell and Johnsie Walker 16th; Jackie Noel and Victoria Mitchell 18th; Mavis Blackwood 19th; Alton Esson and Everton Stewart 21st; Cynthia and Kaye Paddyfote 25th; gloria Burke and Philip Hanson 26th; Oswald Smith 27th; Glenda Shepherd 29th; Mary Reid 30th.

Happy Anniversary to: Marcus and Leslyn Clark 6th; Joan and Marvin Jones 17th.

In Memory For March

Cynthia Craig and Richard Ford 1st; Miles Whaley 2nd; Lucy Stewart 3rd; Dorothy Perry and Lawton Holmester 5th; Irma Lyons 6th; Dorothy Wakefield, Katherine Lyons and Mildred Jerkins 7th; Cora Williams 8th; Harold Cunningham and Kenneth Levy 9th; Winniefred McBean 10th; Vernon Campbell, Ruth Holmes, Ronald Stephenson and Lillian Wood 18th; Fellie M. Caniger, Helen Watts and Rita Littman 20th; Connie Hickmon, Marion white and Albert Maule 22nd; Edythe Gaines and Elizabeth Marvis 23rd; Alfred Lambert 23rd; Zepharia Brown, Harold Bostie, Jessie Maul, Florence Robinson and Norbert Featherstone 25th; Oswald Knight and Daniel Damiano 26th; Mary Leckey 27th; Obed Pinnock and robin Jones 28th; Vivian McCoy; Denise McCurrie 29th; Lawrence Smith 30th; Fannie Diggs 31st.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

I Wonder

This is an occasional column that answers interesting questions.

What is Ashes To Go?

On Ash Wednesday, some Episcopal priests in Connecticut and throughout the United States went outside of their churches and offered ashes to anyone who ask for them. To read more about this in Connecticut CLICK HERE

Clergy

The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members

Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Veronica Airey-Wilson, Joyce Asiedu, Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden, Nora Brown, , Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary), Patricia David, Evelyn Green, David Hickmon, Shannon Holder, Bates Lyons, Joe Noel, Peter Marsele Terrie Thomas.

Music

Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir

Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus

Canon Cyril Burke

Email

monicahartford@gmail.com

THE BOOK CORNER

Here Comes Trouble

By Michael Moore

It is unbelievable how many important events in modern history Michael Moore has either been witness to or directly involved in. I liked that each chapter was a separate vignette and Michael Moore's family history and his childhood recollections are every bit as interesting as the larger scale historical events. The opening explanation of the dark days after Bowling for Columbine's release and subsequent Academy Award win when Mr. Moore was booed for speaking the truth left me feeling guilty for my ignorance of the level of backlash Mr. Moore received for standing up for what was right. I was introduced to his movies by a high school theology teacher and have been a fan ever since. I wish I had reached out and let him know that there are people on his side. It may be too little too late, but I want him to know that the opening of his book has inspired me to let people know the difference they've made in my life, much as his inaction as a high school student/school board member inspired him to stand up for what is right (If you don't know what I'm talking about, order this book now!). I loved it so much I bought the audiobook for my father for Christmas and we listened to the entire thing on a long drive over the holidays. Hearing the stories in his own voice made it that much more interesting!

Review by E. Elliot