Living the life of faith series continues from March 10 to 24
Have you ever wondered how the life of faith works? What it really means to place your faith in Jesus Christ and to commit to live your life in relationship to His life? What does it mean to have faith in the first place? Join Rev. Ev from 7-8 pm on five Wednesday evenings to explore these and other provocative questions about living the life of faith in our modern world. Start with communion & dinner from 6pm to 7pm.
February 24: Living out of the center. What does this mean & how do we do it?
March 3: The Prodigal Son or "Leaving". Why do I walk away from my faith?
March 10: The Prodigal Son or "Coming Home". What do I do when my faith drifts?
March 17: Forgiveness. The hardest part of the life of Christ.
March 24: A video of an incredible example of faithful forgiveness.
Father Matthew: Haiti, Pat Robertson and the Devil
An Episcopal priest, the Rev. Matthew Moretz, tries to counter the damage done by the rhetoric of Pat Robertson in the wake of the January 2010 Haiti earthquake:
In the wake of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working closely with local partners to assist those most impacted by this disaster. It is estimated that one in three Haitians were affected by the quake, roughly three million people. The most recent numbers from the Haitian government indicate that the death toll has reached 230,000 people, and that number continues to climb.
In the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, Episcopal Relief & Development is offering technical support and funds to help secure critical supplies for those in need. In addition to supplying food and water, the agency has secured vehicles to assist the diocese in delivering supplies, fuel for those vehicles and camping supplies to provide shelter. The agency is also helping the diocese increase its human resources by hiring additional staff for logistical work, health service provision and construction. These efforts are expanding the diocese’s capacity to help the 25,000 survivors at over 60 mission sites in 8 localities: Leogane, Buto, Mathieu, L'Acul Bellevue, Darbonne, Trouin, Bainet and Grand Colline - Route de Jacmel.
Prior to the earthquake Episcopal Relief & Development was partnering with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti’s Development Office. This diverse program included fostering a network of 28 community development workers trained in disaster management. Since the quake, these development agents have completed initial needs assessments in their own communities, and they are providing their data to the diocese and Episcopal Relief & Development. The data provided by these agents is enabling the Diocese and Episcopal Relief & Development to work together, setting priorities for ongoing relief and recovery efforts.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, activities supported by Episcopal Relief & Development include:
Episcopal Diocese of Haiti
* Supplying over five tons of food to survivors living in diocesan camps. This includes both purchased and donated food.
* Delivering food by helicopter to six camps not accessible by vehicles. These camps are inhabited by more than 15,000 survivors. Each drop contains 216 pounds of rice, 204 pounds of beans, 12 gallons of oil and 36 kilograms milk powder.
* Constructing permanent latrines and clean water sites in eight camps. These new facilities will be earthquake-resistant. In addition to providing sanitation and clean water, the construction is creating jobs in affected communities.
* Conducting training on the proper installation and maintenance of at least 20 emergency water purification systems, which diocesan development agents are distributing throughout Haiti. Additional water purification needs are currently being assessed so that they can be adequately addressed.
* Working closely with the Diocesan Disaster Council, which has been charged by Bishop Duracin to coordinate the earthquake response and long-term recovery plans.
* Collaborating with the Diocese of Virginia, whose fundraising efforts will enable the purchase of 10 more trucks for use by the Diocese of Haiti
IMA World Health
* Providing 50 medicine boxes to diocesan community health workers. Each box contains enough pain relief medications, nutritional supplements, antibiotics and basic first aid supplies to assist 1,000 people in diocesan camps.
Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic
* Procuring and purchasing three trucks to transport supplies. Two of these trucks are being used by the Diocese of Haiti and the third is being used by the Diocese of the Dominican Republic.
* Gathering critical supplies such as food, medical boxes and 400 durable, family-sized tents and 710 units of insecticide-treated plastic sheeting to construct shelters. Transporting these supplies in two weekly shipments from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince.
As often as possible, Episcopal Relief & Development prefers to purchase items locally. This practice supports local economic recovery, creates local employment and ensures Haitian leadership in program design and management.
To assist those suffering in the wake of this disaster, please consider making an online donation to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Haiti fund or calling 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. Please write “Haiti fund” in the memo of all checks.
Prayer Room open Tuesday through Friday
St. Margaret's Chapel is open with meditation aides during church office hours throughout Lent. Please feel free to drop by anytime between Tuesday and Friday between 9am and 5pm for peaceful reflectons and centering.
Parish picnic Saturday, April 3 at 3:30 pm
Mark your calendar now and plan to bring your favorite side dish or dessert. There will be games for everyone, an egg hunt and we will dig up the Alleluia for Easter. We'll have the tent up and the popcorn machine popping. We'll also be playing kickball (Saints verses Angels), so get in shape. Help celebrate the new beginnings of Easter.
Youth Groups meet every Wednesday evening at St. Margaret
Midde School Youth meet every Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 pm and participate in Rite 13...a curriculum that provides a rite of passage for teenagers. Rite 13 focuses on individuality and spirituality as well as the development of friendships.School pressures are also discussed, including peer pressure and academic pressure.
High School Youth meet from 7-8 pm and participate in the Peer Ministry Program. This is a nationally-recognized program that encourages teens to minister to other teens. It focuses on leadership development while teaching active listening skills and problem-solving techniques. Real-life situations and how to handle them will also be discussed during the meetings.
All youth have dinner in the Youth Room from 6:30 to 7 pm.
We encourage our young people to be actively involved in community outreach and offer outreach opportunities for youth and children. Each month social, age-appropriate activities are planned for our young people. For more up-to-date information about our youth programs, please contact the church at 925-2525.
Wednesday program schedule from January to May 2010
Jan 20 Jeffery Trefry – Cooking with Jeff!
Jan 27Annual Parish Meeting
Feb 3 Discussion series Christianity's Family Tree - Orthodoxy
Feb 10 Christianity's Family Tree – Catholicism
Feb 17 Ash Wednesday – service at noon and 7:00 p.m.
Feb 24 Lenten Reflection by Fr. Walk
Mar 3 Lenten Reflection by Fr. Walk
Mar 10 Lenten Reflection by Fr. Walk
Mar 17 Lenten Reflection by Fr. Walk
Mar 24 Lenten Reflection by Fr. Walk
Mar. 28April 1 Holy Week
Apr 7 Christianity's Family Tree – Lutheranism
Apr 14 Christianity's Family Tree – Presbyterianism
Apr 21 Christianity's Family Tree – Anglicanism
Apr 28 Christianity's Family Tree – Baptists
May 5 Christianity's Family Tree – Pentecostalism
May 12 Christianity's Family Tree – Methodism
March worship music at 9:30 am service
March 7 - Lent 3
9:30 a.m. Hymns: #686 Come, thou font of
every blessing; Great is thy faithfulness Praise Song: Give us clean hands Sanctuary Choir: “Come to the water”
March 14 - Lent 4
9:30 a.m. Hymns: #439 What wondrous love is this;
#693 Just as I am Praise Song: Hungry Sandpiper Choir: “Best of all friends”
March 21 - Lent 5
9:30 a.m. Hymns: Beneath the cross of Jesus;
#473 Lift high the cross Praise Songs: Holy and anointed one;
How deep the Father’s love for us
March 28 - Palm Sunday
9:30 a.m.Hymns: #154 All glory, laud and honor; #474
When I survey the wondrous cross; At your great name Sanctuary Choir: “In love Christ came among
Christianity's Family Tree resumes on Wed., April 7
"Christianity's Family Tree: What other Christians Believe and Why". In this series, Adam Hamilton presents a welcoming, inspiring vision of eight Christian denominations and faith traditions. Comparing the Christian family to our own extended families, he contends that each denomination has a unique, valuable perspective to offer on the Christian faith. The traditions he examines are Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Pentecostalism, and Methodism. For each group, Hamilton gives a brief history, outlines major beliefs, and describes some things we can learn from that tradition to strengthen our own Christian faith.
