Spirit of the Eagle – March 2017
Spiritual Tidbits for March from Father Tim
March just marched in somewhat like a lamb. The first day of spring arrives on the 20th day of March. It seems winter never really took flight in early 2017. It just sort of fizzled out on the launch pad — weather wise at least. However, winter illness is another story altogether. Winter bugs rampaged and took their toll on most all of us. Colds, flu, fever, sore throat, coughing, and so forth wreak havoc on our bodies. Without doubt we know when our bodies are sick and we do our very best to locate a remedy; but what about our souls? Can our souls become sick? Can our souls be afflicted? Absolutely. Sin affects and makes our soul ill just like the flu virus makes the body ill. Illness of the soul distorts a person’s relationship with our heavenly Father. So what about a remedy for the soul? Where do we find a cure? We find a cure in the hospital of Holy Church. This winter bodily illness kept many of our pews empty each Sunday. Sick individuals sought out remedies and a comfortable place for their bodies to recover. This Lenten Season should make us aware of our spiritual illness. Sick individuals should seek out remedies and a holy place for their souls to recover. Will you seek respite at Holy Church? Will you be at the altar on Lenten Sunday’s in deep repentance? Will you be at Holy Church on Lenten Wednesdays in self-denial of worldly ventures? Do you have a Lenten goal? And even more importantly, will you tell others who do not know Christ where to come to heal their soul? Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, awaits all who will come. I hope and pray you have a beautiful and holy Lent. ~ Father Tim
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The bodies of holy people be the temples of the Holy Ghost. And lewd men’s bodies be the sepulcher of dead corpses, that the interpretations of the grammarians to them might well be applied, Soma quasi Sima [loosley translated “the body seemingly is earth”]. It is called a body because it is the burial. The body is the burial, or grave. That is to say, the grave of the soul. The breast is the sepulcher, the mouth and the throat is the gaping of the sepulcher, and the body destitute of the soul is not so dead as is the soul when she is forsaken of Almighty God, neither any corpse stinketh in the nose of man so sore as the stench of a soul buried four days offendeth the nose of God and all saints. Therefore conclude, whensoever dead words proceed out of thy heart, it must needs be that a dead corpse lieth buried within. For when (according to the Gospel) the mouth speaketh of the abundance of the heart, no doubt he would speak the lively words of God, if there were life present, that is to wit, God. ~ Desiderius Erasmus, 1466-1536, The Manual of a Christian Knight
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Memorial Mass
Sunday, the 12th of March, we will have a small service before Holy Mass to bless the brass plaques of Don Prigge, Wilma Herklotz, and Patricia Rawlings Casterline. The intention of the Holy Mass will be in memory of these parishioners.
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Bible Study
From now, through the 9th of April, the church will once again open at 9:15 AM for Bible Study Class (9:30- 10:15 AM). The group will be led by Adam Cook. This is a wonderful opportunity to pray, learn more about the Bible, or both! Please come downstairs to the Parish Hall if you would like to attend the Bible Study. This group is learning much and having a wonderful time doing so! Please come and bring a friend!
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March Spirituality Class
Please join us after Holy Mass on the 19th of March as we discuss the Roots of Christian Mysticism. We will continue this month with St. Benedict. We will discuss an overview of St Benedict, the background he came from as a disciple of the Desert tradition, and how he transmitted that wisdom into Western Christianity. We will look at how monasticism shaped the Christian Mystical Tradition in the Middle Ages and beyond. All devout Christians must look into their own hearts and first determine who they are, and how their own identities relate to Jesus the Christ as Saviour, Messiah, Man and God. If Jesus were to ask you, “Who do you say I am?”, what would you answer? How seriously do you take this question? Your answer will bring forward how well you actually know yourself.
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These persons who are thus inclined to such pleasures have another very great imperfection, which is that they are very weak and remiss in journeying upon the hard road of the Cross; for the soul that is given to sweetness naturally has its face set against all self-denial, which is devoid of sweetness. These persons have many other imperfections which arise hence, of which in time the Lord heals them by means of temptations, aridities and other trials, all of which are part of the dark night. All these I will not treat further here, lest I become too lengthy; I will only say that spiritual temperance and sobriety lead to another and a very different temper, which is that of mortification, fear and submission in all things. It thus becomes clear that the perfection and worth of things consist not in the multitude and the pleasantness of one’s actions, but in being able to deny oneself in them; this such persons must endeavour to compass, in so far as they may, until God is pleased to purify them indeed, by bringing them52 into the dark night, to arrive at which I am hastening on with my account of these imperfections. ~ St. John of the Cross, 1542-1591, Dark Night of the Soul
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This Lenten Season I have arranged for the Archdeacon of the Diocese (Father Barry Lewis) to visit Saint John’s. He is planning a trip down on the 26th of March (Lent IV Mothering Sunday). He is tentatively scheduled to arrive Saturday afternoon on the 25th. He will be available for Confession and Absolution beginning at 1:00 PM on Saturday. I encourage each of you to plan a little time to spend with Fr. Lewis in the Rector’s office. Confession will help you complete a beautiful and Holy Lent. Fr. Lewis will also celebrate Holy Mass on Sunday morning. ~ Father Tim
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Lenten Soup & Salad
Our Wednesday evening services begin on the 8th of March. We will have Evening Prayer and 24 Hours That Changed The World (Fr. Butler) with alternating Stations of the Cross (Fr. Neuroth). At 6:30 PM we will gather in the Parish Hall for a simple Soup, Salad, and Bread. While the fellowship at the meal is important, we should not disappoint God by receiving His bountiful blessings without offering up our prayers and thanksgivings. Please do your best and attend the entire evening. ~ Father Tim
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Psalm Children Ministry Activities
The children will start the month of March with a review of First Communion questions with Father Tim and then a service project led by Heather Grothaus. March 12 we will cover Jesus Calls His Disciples, March 19 Jesus and the Children, and March 26 the sacrament of Holy Communion. In addition, at the conclusion of class on March 12, those children preparing for First Holy Communion will meet with Father Tim for further instruction as well as the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. Lastly, at the end of February the children made a “Prayer Cross”. We invite all parishioners to write prayers on a piece of paper and place then in the cross. Each week during Lent the children will read the prayers and pray for these intentions. We invite all parishioners to pray for the intentions of the Prayer Cross during lent. The Psalm Children ministry aims to provide religious education and encourage service through a combination of lessons, crafts, and activities. All children ages 2-12 are encouraged to attend, and adolescents have an open invitation to participate as assistant teachers. ~ Mary Matias Akhtar
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March Birthdays & Anniversaries
Mary Ann & Fr. Wm. Neuroth – Anniversary – March 13
Joanna Barnett – Birthday – March 16
Judy Hulsey – Birthday – March 28
Kay Matthews – Birthday – March 31
Kevin Matthews – Birthday – March 31
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Anglican Church Women News
At our recent ACW meeting on Sunday, along with the Lenten meals, we also discussed the upcoming events that will take us into the summer. There is a lot going on!
4/23: Families can start bringing in raffle donations for the Fundraiser Meal
4/30: First Communion during Mass
5/14: Mother’s Day
5/20: Church Fundraiser Meal: Grill Out
6/18: Father’s Day
6/25: Father’s Day Luncheon Sponsored by ACW
* No ACW Meetings in July and August
Fundraiser Meal: Grill Out-this year we will be having a grill out with hotdogs, brats, burgers and sides to help raise money. We will also once again have a raffle so start thinking of some gifts you could donate for the cause. We will also need those awesome Grillin’ guys to help out!
ACW Dues: It’s that time of year again! All women parishioners of the church are automatically members of the ACW; no sign up required! Our annual dues are $5 and can be given to Judy Hulsey or Sharon Dietz. This money goes towards things like coffee hour and meal supplies.