Friday, January 29, 2016

Newsletter from Diocese of Montana

Just a short post today, but with an important link!  The Diocese of Montana's monthly newsletter is full of information for Episcopalians in Montana  Take a look! 

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Options for Lent

Lent is coming up so much faster than anticipated this year!  Ash Wednesday is February 10th!

So, according to the Book of Common Prayer, Lent is a season in which all Christians are invited "to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word" (BCP, p. 265).  Traditionally, Lent is a time when we deny ourselves something that is good to do without (sweets, alcohol, carbs, etc.); we add something into our daily routines that is good for us (reading the Bible, exercising, keeping a journal, etc.); and focusing time that used to be spent on other things on prayer and meditation, studying and growing our spiritual lives into something we would like it to be.

There are many options out there for Episcopals.  Here are a few favorites:

Society of St. John the Evangelist - Growing a Rule of Life:


Walk the Path of Lent - the Episcopal Relief and Developments daily meditations.










The Crucified Life - from the Christian Life Trilogy.

Lent Madness - a fun way to learn about the saints, early church fathers and mothers.

I Am With You - The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent 2016 readings.

Please feel free to add your own ideas in the comments below!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

New Year Update 2016

It has been an eventful new year, even though January's only about two-thirds done.

News for the Episcopal Church at large has included suspension from the Anglican Communion for three years (suspension, Presiding Bishop Curry's response).  As the Presiding Bishop has indicated, we will continue being the American branch of the Jesus Movement and continue working with the Anglican Communion in improving the conditions in the world.

News for Holy Trinity includes scheduling announcements and changes:

Bishop Brookhart will be here this Sunday, January 24, 9:00 a.m. for his annual visit and Eucharist service.

We have our monthly movie night this Saturday, 7:00 p.m.  This month will be the final in the trilogy Revelation Road Trilogy, The Black Rider:

We provide the popcorn, tea and coffee.  If you want anything else, please feel free to bring it.

Holy Trinity's Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, January 31, immediately following the service.  We're asking that you think about projects, workshops, seminars or services that we might be able to provide or participate in to get Holy Trinity's name out into the community and hopefully make people curious enough to want to come check us out.  Each of us have talents to share and things to learn.  Think about it - when's the last time you invited someone to go to church with you?

Rev. Karen King will be here starting February 28 and will provide Eucharist services as follows:

February 28     Eucharist Service
March 6           Eucharist Service
March 20         Palm Sunday
March 27         Easter Sunday

Daylight savings begins on March 13.  Sunrise on Easter Sunday is at 7:29.  There will likely at least be a Good Friday service in Holy Week, but we're still finalizing those plans.

In case you're interested, the Society for St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) is offering a Lent program in 2016, beginning February 10.  If you'd like to take part, you just need to sign up, and they will send you a daily short video and things to contemplate.  This year's program sounds really interesting, as you develop a Rule of Life for yourself.

The prayer shawl ministry continues to be very active, and is still in drastic need of knitters/crocheters.  We've been getting gifts of yarn fairly frequently, and are doing our best to keep up.