Dearly Beloved,
There are so few times in our lives that one particular person can be pointed to as having an outstanding impact on the world for the Gospel. In my lifetime, I can point to C.S. Lewis, Mother Theresa, and, of course, Billy Graham. While we, as Christian people, mourn the loss of such holy people, it is interesting to note that the secular world also recognizes that the death of such people is a loss to mankind. Let us pray that our Lord will raise up amongst us those who will shine forth the light of the Gospel throughout this world and make singular impacts in this world to point to the Way, the Truth, and the Life…our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And pray that we ourselves may do so too!
St. Timothy’s Church, Swannanoa
St. Timothy’s Church is celebrating the Holy Communion this coming Sunday, February 25, for the last time as a congregation. I offered to preside for them, and they accepted. And so, immediately after the 8:30 a.m. Holy Communion here, I and several of our members will head over there to support and encourage the folks there as they do the work of closing down their church. Deacon Louis will be here at All Saints for our 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion. St. Timothy’s worship time is also at 11:00 a.m. and the address is 12 Byas Ln., Swannanoa, NC 28778. Won’t you consider joining us over there? St. Timothy’s was the first mission church planted by this congregation back in 2004. While there much hope as the church formed, the anticipated growth never occurred, even though the church had its own facilities and an enthusiastic congregation. The recent death of their Vicar, Fr. Frank O’Donnell, caused the remaining members to reflect on the possibilities for the future and they determined that the inability to engage a new clergyman did not bode well for sustaining the congregation. The members of St. Timothy’s will disperse to our Anglican churches in the area as they seek a new family in Christ in which to worship the Lord and live His Gospel.
Capital Campaign Update
As you know, our Capital Campaign is well under way. Your responses in such a short time have been nothing short of amazing. I sent an update letter out this week and most of you should receive it today or tomorrow. I will let you see the letter rather than give you more info here. For those of you have not yet made your commitments, please prayerfully do so as soon as you can. Thanks to everyone who is participating in any way!
Groundbreaking Ceremony
With the amazing response we have received for the capital campaign, the vestry has set next Sunday, March 4, as our groundbreaking day. Immediately following our 11 a.m. Holy Communion, we will process out to the parking lot in front of the classroom wing for the ceremony. It should not last but 10-15 minutes. Please be here for this exciting moment in the life of our Family in Christ.
News of Note
Kathy Willis had surgery this past Monday and she went home yesterday. Kathy had been diagnosed with uterine cancer. It was discovered that the cancer has not spread throughout her abdominal cavity, which is a major “Thanks be to God!” She extends her gracious thanks to all of you for praying for her. She still has a way to go in her recovery and healing so please continue to pray for her.
News of Note #2
Betty Parkinson is still at the Life Care Center of Hendersonville at LakePointe Landing. She continues in her recovery from pneumonia and is working to regain her strength. Your continued prayers for her are coveted, as are visits from you!
News of Note #3
Edwin Blackburn is at the Lodge at Mills River for rehabilitation. He is doing remarkably well in his recovery. His stated goal is to be with us for the Groundbreaking Ceremony on March 4. Pray our Lord makes it so! I also encourage you to drop in to visit Edwin. He would certainly appreciate it.
News of Note #4
Some of you may know that Jennifer Breeden was married last week. She and her new husband Gary are very happy. Jennifer thought she would have time to say her goodbyes before moving to Gary’s home state of Kansas but that was not to be. Jennifer put her house on the market last week and it sold the same day, so she and Gary have already left. Please pray the Lord prospers them both and we will miss Jennifer very much.
No Adult Sunday School
Since I will be on my way over to St. Timothy’s on Sunday morning, we will not have our usual Adult Sunday School class.
First Friday Kids
Our young people will gather next Friday, March 2, here at the church at 5:30 PM. They will join us for Evening Prayer and then have dinner and social time with each other. Their evening will end by participating in Stations of the Cross at 7 PM.
Don’t forget all of our usual ongoing activities during Lent, such as daily prayers, Bible Study, Book Study, and, of course, the Lenten Fish Fry Fry! Read on in your announcements below.
Blessings,
Fr. Erich
Announcements
Lenten Fish Fry
· It’s that time again! On Friday, March 16, we will hold our Lenten Fish Fry. Tickets are $9.00 each in advance ($10 at the door) for breaded tilapia filets, roasted potatoes, hush puppies, coleslaw, and iced tea or lemonade. Take-out will be from 5-6 p.m. and dine-in will run from 6-8 p.m. Kids under 12 eat free. Get your tickets now before we run out!
Wednesday Bible Study
· Our Bible Study this week will continue with Chapter 10 in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Join us!
Meatless Wednesday Fellowship Meal
· Our weekly Wednesday fellowship meals will be meatless during the Lenten season as part of our fasting and abstinence.
Tuesday Book Study
· C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters is our study book. We will finish this week. Join us at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday mornings.
Annual Lenten Appeal
· Mite boxes are available in your pews to use in this year’s Lenten Appeal. Please see Bishop Grundorf’s letter about the appeal at the bottom of this post.
Lent
· Lent is that time of year in which we make special devotion to our Lord in the Christian Duties of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Morning and Evening Prayer is offered daily and we will also walk the Way of the Cross in church. It is never too late to get started on making this a holy Lent.
Food Bank
· Bread of Life in Transylvania County is this month’s recipient of our in-gathering of food stuffs.
This Week in the Parish
Saturday, February 24, St. Matthias, Apostle
8:00 AM, Morning Prayer
12:00 PM, Holy Communion
5:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, February 25, Second Sunday in Lent
8:00 AM, Morning Prayer
8:30 AM, Holy Communion
9:45 AM, Sunday School
11:00 AM, Holy Communion
12:15 PM, Fellowship Lunch
5:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Monday, February 26
8:00 AM, Morning Prayer
5:00 PM, Evening Prayer
Tuesday, February 27
8:00 AM, Morning Prayer
11:00 AM, Book Study
12:00 PM, Stations of the Cross
5:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Wednesday, February 28
8:00 AM, Morning Prayer
5:30 PM, Evening Prayer
6:00 PM, Holy Communion
6:30 PM, Meatless Dinner
7:00 PM, Bible Study
7:00 PM, Choir Practice
Thursday, March 1
8:00 AM, Morning Prayer
5:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Friday, March 2
8:00 AM, Morning Prayer
5:30 PM, Evening Prayer
5:30 PM, First Fridays Kids
7:00 PM, Stations of the Cross
Lenten Appeal for 2018
Dear APA Clergy and Lay members,
Having focused our Lenten Appeal efforts on our domestic missions during these past three years, we are once again shifting our focus to our foreign missions and their needs.
Our focus this year will be to provide funds for a second APA Good Shepherd School, for Dalit children, in India. The first school was built at Kollur in the state of Telengana using funds from the 2011 Lenten Appeal. The school was part of a larger development initiative among women and children at risk in this region and was completed in late 2015. We are happy to report, there are currently six grades being taught at the school.
This second school will be constructed in the Kadapa District of the state of Andhra Pradesh and its exact location will be determined by Bishop Jaya Rao, the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of India. Children from several of our churches in the area will be able to benefit from our new school. The search for suitable land is already underway and we anticipate that the school will begin in rented premises once an agreement on the land is reached.
This school will change the lives of numerous Dalit children, as well as provide numerous benefits to the surrounding village communities. Through the spread of the Gospel and an English-medium education, future generations of children will be able to escape the crippling poverty and oppression resulting from the Caste system and be able to lead full and productive lives in Indian society.
Our Lenten Appeal Project 2018 challenge will be to raise $150,000 for an APA Good Shepherd School near Jammalamadugu, Andhra Pradesh in partnership with OM (USA) and Good Shepherd Ministries (India).
I am asking each individual within our churches to make a sacrificial Lenten offering of $1.50 per day for the 40 days of Lent (a total of $60 per person), or more as our Lord leads you. We will need one hundred percent participation in order to achieve this goal.
Please make this a family project for Lent. Remember, your generous gifts will enable Dalit children to be liberated from the bondage of poverty and oppression.
Please pray every day during Lent that God will use our offering to show His great mercy on the Dalit children of India.
Checks should be made payable to your local church with a notation in the memo field “Lenten Appeal 2018.”
Please make your Lenten Offering by Easter Sunday, April 1.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
The Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, D.D., Presiding Bishop
