Online at www.stmaryskinston.com

February, 2016

The Bell RingerThe Bell RingerThe Bell Ringer St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Lent: What is it? Why is it?

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10th, when the faithful are marked on the forehead with ashes, as a reminder that we begin and end our earthly existence as dust and ashes. The forty days of fasting during Lent are a reminder of the forty days Jesus spent in the desert, early in his ministry. During his stay in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by the devil three times: each time Jesus, though weary with hunger, rejects the devil’s false promises.

The focus for Christians on our Lenten journey is almsgiving, prayer and fasting. We are encouraged to do acts of charity, to pray together as a family, to attend the Eucharist as often as possible, and to give to the poor. We are encouraged to “give up” something which distracts us from our relationship with God in order to draw nearer to God; smoking, T.V., texting, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, candy, caffeine, junk food, alcohol, etc.

Try to make it an individual/ family custom to attend each Sunday celebration of the Holy Eucharist during Lent.

Do some form of almsgiving. This year place a clean recycled jar on the kitchen table. Place a label on the jar. Some ideas may be for: feeding the hungry, promoting gender equality and empower women, clean water, environmental stability. At the end of Lent decide as a family or for yourself where the money will go, Mary’s Kitchen, Common Ground, Hand in Hand, Episcopal Relief and Development, the Global Goals (formerly the Millennium Development Goals), the ONE campaign of the MDG to eradicate world poverty, or for something else special to your family.

Encourage every family member to put a coin in the jar for each meal they eat, or as a family decide on an amount for each meal. If there are children in the home, help them count up the money at the end of Holy Week, put it in an envelope and either submit it to the church or mail it to an agency for whom you’ve been collecting.

Talk about fasting, especially on Fridays, since our dear Lord was crucified on a Friday. Fasting is not for the purpose of punishing or harming the body. It is a spiritual discipline, an exercise to grow closer to God. If you have children, tell them you are not going to eat meat on Friday. Ask them for some menu ideas: macaroni and cheese, scrambled eggs and toast, soup and grilled cheese. Explain how fasting means limited eating and snacking.

Gather together with the family for prayer once a day. If prayer is not a family habit, Lent is a great time to start.

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The Episcopal Church

α

In the Anglican Communion

A global community of 80 million Anglicans

in 38 member provinces/churches.

α

In the United States

A community of 1.9 million members in 118

dioceses in the Americas and abroad.

Established in 1788.

Presiding Bishop

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry

Episcopal Church Center

815 2nd Avenue

New York, N.Y. 10017 212-716-6000

www.dfms.org/

α

In the Diocese of East Carolina

A community of more than 15,000

communicants in 74 churches.

Founded in 1883.

Bishop

The Rt. Rev. Robert S. Skirving

Diocesan Office, 705 Doctors Dr.

P.O. Box 1336, Kinston, NC 28503

Tel: 252-522-0885

Fax: 252-523-5272

Website: www.diocese-eastcarolina.org

α

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

A church of 407 baptized members whose

mission is to worship and serve God joyfully,

to nurture each other in faith and wholeness,

to minister to others, and to manifest the

“good news” of Christ.

800 Rountree Street

Kinston, NC 28501-3655

Tel: 252-523-6146

Fax: 252-523-5134

Website: www.stmaryskinston.com

Rector The Rev’d A. Michael Singer Assistant The Rev’d Thomas P.H. Warren Director of Music Mr. Nick Voermans Parish Administrator Mrs. LaTonya Smith Parish Secretary Mrs. Linda Johnson Director of Children’s Ministries Mrs. Shelly L. Yarbrough Sr. Warden Mr. Scott Newton, II Jr. Warden Mr. J. Mark Herring

News at St. Mary’s

Congratulations!

Andrew Duppstadt and Laura Jackson were married and had their marriage blessed by the Church on Sunday, December 27th at a small gathering in the chapel at Betty Jackson’s farm (Laura Jackson’s mother).

Ellis Robert Wideman was born to Zachary and Lauren Wideman on December 28, 2015. Proud grandmother is Donna Wideman.

Tripp Patterson Vick was born January 12, 2016, to Tim and Kari Vick. Proud grandparents are Simon and Gretchen Vick.

A Chili Cook-Off to raise funds for our Glory Ridge Mission Team!

Wednesday, February 3; 6:00 pm Moseley Hall

$10 per person

Prizes for Best In Show, People’s Choice, &

Most Original...

Everyone gets a vote!!!!!!

Are you an adult Glory Ridge alumni or one who has considered being

a part of the Glory Ridge experience in the past or are you simply

curious to hear about this place that has meant so much to many at St.

Mary’s? If so, we’d love you to join us for a conversation with Jennifer

Reda, the Glory Ridge Director of Ministries.

Where: the Mother Earth Brewing Tap Room

When: Tuesday, February 2, 5pm until…

Reminder that our week at Glory Ridge this summer is July 3-9 and

registration for youth is due Sunday, January 31!

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From the Rector - Father Michael Singer

Live Below the Line is an annual anti-poverty campaign, which challenges participants to feed themselves on the equivalent of the extreme poverty line for five days.

The goal of Live Below the Line is to raise widespread awareness by enabling participants to gain a small insight into some of the hardships faced by those in our world that live in extreme poverty.

Live Below the Line also raises money for poverty reduction projects across the globe.

The concept of Live Below the Line was born in the back yard of a Melbourne, Australia house by two friends - Rich Fleming and Nick Allardice - over a few drinks one evening in late 2009. Both were passionate about fighting poverty, and had already been doing so for a number of years - but together they were worried at their ability to really understand at an emotional level the realities of extreme poverty.

Together they plotted the creation of a campaign that could simultaneously help tens of thousands of Australians begin to understand and connect with the issue of extreme poverty while also providing a platform for creating incredible change for the worlds' poor.

Seeing an incredible opportunity to engage huge numbers of people with the realities of extreme poverty while also achieving really substantial and

significant outcomes in anti-poverty initiatives, they came together to create Live Below the Line.

Last year, together with nearly 20,000 people across the world, Live Below the Line raised nearly $3m for anti-poverty projects across the world, money vital to ending extreme poverty, to making people healthier, more educated, and more equal.

As global citizens we have a responsibility to make sure we’re making the right choices, choices that help lift people out of extreme poverty.

A major theme of Lent is fasting. From February 22 - 26th, I plan to live on $2 a day for five days. What that means is I plan to spend $2 a day for food. I plan to take the challenge and invite you to join me. What it means is you don’t run to the refrigerator to supplement items you’re putting in a meal. Total day food cost are $2. The money I would normally spend on food during that period of time I plan to split between Mary’s Kitchen and The Global Poverty Project. To join me, send me an email.

A campaign that’s changing the way people think about poverty—and making a huge difference—by challenging everyday people to live on the equivalent of the extreme

poverty line for 5 days.

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Worship

Ash Wednesday . . . The imposition of ashes is often a central part of Ash Wednesday worship. Ashes have a long history in biblical and church traditions. In scripture, ashes or dust symbolize frailty or death (Gen. 18:27), sadness or mourning (Esther 4:3), judgment (Lam. 3:16), and repentance (Jon. 3:6). Some traditions also have considered ash a purifying or cleansing agent. All these images are caught up in the church’s use of ashes as a symbol appropriate for Lent. In Christ’s passion we see God’s judgment on evil; in our penitence we express sorrow and repentance for our sins; in our rededication we show that we are purified and renewed.

Ashes are the burnt residue of the previous year’s palms from Palm Sunday. Worshippers come forward and the priest makes a cross on each person’s forehead (the “imposition”), saying words such as “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

It is the obligation for all Episcopalians, to make a proper beginning of Lent, to attend an Ash Wednesday liturgy. St. Mary’s will offer the Imposition of Ashes and celebrate the Holy Eucharist on Wednesday, February 10th at:

7:00 a.m. - Chapel

12:00 noon - St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 707 E. Lenoir Ave., Kinston

7:00 p.m. - Church (with music)

Choral Evensong

Our Wednesday evenings in Lent at St. Mary’s will begin with Choral Evensong at 5:30pm in the church sanctuary. Choral Evensong refers to the daily office liturgy of Evening Prayer whenever most of it is set to music and sung, accompanied by a choir. Since the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549, Choral Evensong has been an evening offering in cathedrals and churches of the Anglican Communion. It is usually celebrated in the late afternoon or early evening. We hope you’ll make this weekly liturgy a part of your Lenten experience in 2016.

Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle

St. Mary’s will observe the Feast Day of St. Matthias, Apostle on Wednesday, February 24th with a celebration of Holy Eucharist in the All Saints’ Chapel at 12:10 pm. The liturgy will last 30 minutes and will include a brief meditation. We hope you will take a break during your workday to worship.

The Way of

the Cross St. Mary’s will be offering the Way of the Cross on Friday evenings at 5:30 p.m., beginning February 12th. Sometimes called the Stations of the Cross, this short devotional experience

is both tactile and meditative. As we move to each of the fourteen markers throughout the church, a different event of Jesus’ Passion is remembered.

The Way of the Cross is an especially poignant way “that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby [God] has given us life and immortality,” to quote the Prayer Book’s collect for Palm Sunday. Please walk the Way of the Cross at least once this Lent.

Mid-Week Liturgies in Lent

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Christian Formation

New IN the St. Mary’S BookStore

Perfect for kicking off the new year with a renewed devotional practice to our Lord Jesus:

The Divine Hours is the first major

literary and liturgical reworking of the sixth-

century Benedictine Rule of fixed-hour

prayer. This beautifully conceived and

thoroughly modern three-volume guide will

appeal to the theological novice as well as to

the ecclesiastical sophisticate. Making

primary use of the Book of Common Prayer

and the writings of the Church Fathers, The Divine Hours is also a companion to the New

Jerusalem Bible, from which it draws its

Scripture readings. The trilogy blends prayer and praise in a way that, while extraordinarily fresh, respects

and builds upon the ancient wisdom of Christianity. Each volume is sold separately.

Wednesday Evenings in Lent

A s w e settle into the season of Lent, our worship naturally takes on a more reflective nature. Lent is a time of reflection about our lives, a time of repentance and preparation for the remembrance of Christ’s passion -- and music meets us in these places in profound ways.

There are probably more hymns written about the cross than about any other single aspect of the Christian faith not only because it is at the core of the Christian gospel, but also because when we sit in human brokenness before the cross, our hearts cry out with particular wonder, love, and praise.

For five Wednesday evenings in Lent, from 6:35 - 7:10 p.m. we have invited five individuals from our community to talk about how music has impacted their faith. We will sing songs of particular importance to their tradition. Many of these songs you probably already know, and some will be new for us to learn. We hope that you, your family and friends will join us this year during Lent.

While this program goes on for youth and adults, children of the parish will have their own time of discovery with Shelly Yarbrough. Children are encouraged to bring friends.

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION

The Story study returns on a regular basis February 7th. The Story is an abridged, chronological Bible that reads like a novel. There are no verse references, and Scripture segments are seamlessly woven together with transition text into a single grand narrative. For those intimidated or overwhelmed by the unabridged Bible, The Story helps people understand God’s Word more fully and engage with it more easily. We will be studying The Story for the remainder of the academic year.

Free copies (one per family) may be found on a table in the Narthex.

February 7th - Chapter 7 - “The Battle Begins” February 14th - Chapter 8 - “A Few Good Men . . . and Women” February 21st - Chapter 9 - “The Faith of a Foreign Woman” February 28th - Chapter 10 - “Standing Tall, Falling Hard”

Soles 4 Souls 1.2 billion people live on less than $1.25 per day. 400 million are children. Many don’t have access to one of life’s most basic necessities: a good pair of shoes. Again this year we will be collecting new or gently used shoes for Soules for Soles, (February 14th - March 20th). Shoes may be placed in a receiving box as found in the Narthex and Office wing.

Should you have questions, please contact Rachel Singer 252-521-7997.

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Mark Your Calendars!!

Wed, Feb. 3, 5:15-7:30pm

Glory Ridge Chili Cook Off!!!

Sunday, Feb. 7, 11:15-noon

Morning EYC meets!

Wednesday, Feb 10

Ash Wednesday, No Bible Study tonight - EYC will go to

one of the liturgies (see pg. 4)

Sunday, Feb 14, 11:15-noon

Morning EYC meets!

Wednesday, Feb 17; 5:30-7

EYC Lenten Program & Supper

Sunday, Feb 21, 11:15 - 1pm

EYC Sunday Brunch

Jr. & Sr. EYC meets during Christian Formation hour to

prepare brunch for the whole

church to be served after classes.

Wed, Feb. 24, 5:30-7pm

EYC Lenten Program & Supper

Sunday, Feb 28, 11:15-noon

Morning EYC meets!

Please come and

bring a friend!!!!

Youth Community News

to Glory Ridge:

152 Days!!

DYA accepts rising high school juniors and seniors into the program. Students and staff come from all over the country, from a wide range of Christian denominations, and many different racial and cultural backgrounds. Our own Melissa Glen and Glory Ridge worship leader Wilson Greene are both DYA alums and highly commend the program to you! The 2016 DYA Residency will be held June 19-25 at Duke University. Student applications are due April 1, 2016. Visit https://duyouth.duke.edu/ for more information and to apply.

To ALL of the EYC members who helped with the Boar’s Head Festival (many more than pictured here), THANK YOU for your part in this ministry!!!

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Other news

2016 Lenten Meditations

On tables in the Narthex and on the information stand inside the office wing you will find two Lenten meditation booklets.

One booklet was created by our congregation and includes daily Scripture readings, passages from the Christian Tradition, and meditations written by members and clergy, past & present, of St. Mary’s Church.

Another booklet is entitled “2016 Lenten Meditations” and is provided by Episcopal Relief and Development.

These booklets are being provided to you without any charge. Please pick up a copy and use during the season on Lent.

St. Mary’s will host a Blood Drive on Tuesday, February 23rd, from 2-6 p.m. in Moseley

Hall. All donors will be entered in a raffle to win a great prize! To make your time go more

smoothly, make a reservation at the Red Cross website or call 1-800-733-2767.

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St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 800 Rountree Street Kinston, NC 28501-3655

SCHEDULE OF WORSHIP SERVICES

Sundays 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II

11:15 a.m. – Christian Formation

Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 a.m.—Morning Prayer

2016

Stephen B. Hill

Isaac C. Hines

Barbara A. LaRoque

Kevin M. Zoltek

2017

H. Earl Harper

J. Mark Herring

John K. John

John “Sandy” Shimer,

ST. MARY’S VESTRY

SHROVE TUESDAY Pancake Supper

Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 9th for our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake S u p p e r i n Moseley Hall from 5-7 pm.

The celebration will consist of more sausage and pancakes than you can handle!

The cost of the meal is $8, or $6 for children under 10, and no more than $28 for a family of 2 adults and children under 10. Proceeds from the dinner will be used for youth scholarships.

Shrove Tuesday is the last day before the beginning of Lent. Though “shrove” derives from the word shrive (i.e. to repent), Shrove Tuesday is actually a day for great celebrations that use up cooking ingredients which many will forgo during Lent.

Senior Warden – W. Scott Newton, II

Junior Warden – J. Mark Herring

Clerk – Cyndi Rafferty

Treasurer – D. Stuart Lindley

2018

P.C. Barwick, Jr.

Clifton W. Carey

Becky C. Darst

Milton “Dee” Warner