Let us turn to the Lord!
This is a season of repentance. If we remember from Lenten services passed, we know this means to orientate ourselves to God and to strive to do what we were created to do. You might ask, “What were we created to do?” We were created to love and serve the Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This entreaty that we hear in Lent is an important one and this year, it is very special and dauting.
Brothers and Sisters, we have experienced a dark night in the history of our world and events beyond our control have made our sacred rites and practices more difficult to observe. One of observances that we were not able to fully observe for the last two years was the season of Lent. Lent is special for this congregation. When I say this, I am not speaking of the trite observance of fasting that seem more like New Year’s resolutions than devotion. Lent is special because of the intentionality we display when participating in devotions, programs for education, confession, and the observance of the sacraments. This special care and devotion and the fact that we have not been able to regularly observe passed seasons is what makes this Lent an extraordinary season of our communal life.
As we recognize these facts and acknowledge the past, we will endeavor to make this Lent a Lent of love, devotion and care for our flock. We will bring the parish together in intentional ways by offering programs, services, confession, and prayer in new ways.
We will begin by clearing away the indulgences of our everyday life through the sharing of a meal on Shrove Tuesday. We will acknowledge our mortality and dependence on God during Ash Wednesday, and in addition to this we will offer a new youth Ash Wednesday service as well.
Our Wednesday Night Lenten Soup and Study programs will be multigenerational and focus on the services of Holy Week dwelling on the theology and practice of worship. These gatherings, which will include food as all good gatherings should, will teach us about all these wonderful expressions of worship that we participate in during Holy Week. We will hope to answer questions about why we wash feet, or why we chant, why we strip the altar, and what are all those palms, eggs, and lilies about?
The Ecumenical Community is also welcoming back Lenten Lunch this year. These will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran, and these will be welcome sights to behold! We need volunteers to prepare cookies, bars, sandwiches and soup for our designated date which is March 30th this year. If you can help with this project, please let us in the office know!
All of this activity will conclude with Holy Week which we will talk about at length in the future. For now let us concentrate on the turning that is Lent.
Please know of our blessings during this time and we hope that we can all travel this intentional road towards God together and with Grace.
Men’s Group - On Saturdays at 7 am the Men’s Group will be meeting at Perkins on a weekly basis. During these breakfast/ coffee gatherings, there will be no agenda, no business, no lessons. This time will be for fellowship and building relationships so spread the word!
Property Update- The Vestry and Junior Warden would like to keep everyone in the loop about the improvements planned for this summer and fall so this Property Update has been added to the newsletter.
This new addition to our newsletter will hopefully keep everyone informed about the continuing effort required to keep a place as special as ours in good and safe repair.
The following is a list of projects that we have in progress. This means that we are seeking bids or scheduling with contractors whom we have used in the past and have found their work to be of good quality and their pricing fair.
One thing to note about all these projects, and as many of you know, there is a building boom in Spearfish, and labor and materials are at a premium. This means that some of these projects will take longer than we are accustomed. Rest assured that the Vestry is adamant that we be good stewards of our spaces and we honor the gifts from God to the people of God by being good stewards to gifts in which we have been entrusted. The Vestry wants to assure you all that we will see the projects come to completion.
Prairie Hills Transit- We are incredibly happy to announce that we have set up an arrangement with Prairie Hill Transit that will allow parishioners who are unable to drive or without transportation to attend church. The cost will be taken care of through the Rector’s Discretionary fund.
If you are in need of a ride on Sunday mornings, be sure to contact the office and we will be happy to assist in signing you up for this service. The same applies if you received a post card and are unsure how to proceed or have questions, just call and we will help in any way we can.
From The Vestry-
If you have anything you would like brought before the vestry, contact the Rector, Senior Warden, or a member of the vestry and the item will be put on the agenda. Before an item is put on the agenda the vestry asks that one has a conversation with the Rector and/or Wardens before the addition to the agenda is made.
The vestry would also like to remind everyone that the minutes of the vestry are available for viewing in the office from 9 am - 2 pm on Monday through Wednesday and on Thursdays from 9 am - 11 am. The information available not only includes the minutes, but also includes the financial statements and all correspondence to the vestry. All are welcome to view these public records during the times listed above.
New Opportunities for Ministry
These are a few of the outreach and worship opportunities that provide a wonderful opportunity to serve our parish and community.
Lenten Schedule
Shrove Tuesday 4:30-6:30 pm March 1st Parish Hall
Ash Wednesday 8am, 12pm, 6:30pm March 2nd Sanctuary
Ash Wed Youth Service 5pm March 2nd Sanctuary
Lenten Soup and Study 5:30 pm March 9th- Apr 6th Parish Hall
Lenten Lunch 12 noon March 9th- Apr 6th OSLutheran
This is a season of repentance. If we remember from Lenten services passed, we know this means to orientate ourselves to God and to strive to do what we were created to do. You might ask, “What were we created to do?” We were created to love and serve the Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This entreaty that we hear in Lent is an important one and this year, it is very special and dauting.
Brothers and Sisters, we have experienced a dark night in the history of our world and events beyond our control have made our sacred rites and practices more difficult to observe. One of observances that we were not able to fully observe for the last two years was the season of Lent. Lent is special for this congregation. When I say this, I am not speaking of the trite observance of fasting that seem more like New Year’s resolutions than devotion. Lent is special because of the intentionality we display when participating in devotions, programs for education, confession, and the observance of the sacraments. This special care and devotion and the fact that we have not been able to regularly observe passed seasons is what makes this Lent an extraordinary season of our communal life.
As we recognize these facts and acknowledge the past, we will endeavor to make this Lent a Lent of love, devotion and care for our flock. We will bring the parish together in intentional ways by offering programs, services, confession, and prayer in new ways.
We will begin by clearing away the indulgences of our everyday life through the sharing of a meal on Shrove Tuesday. We will acknowledge our mortality and dependence on God during Ash Wednesday, and in addition to this we will offer a new youth Ash Wednesday service as well.
Our Wednesday Night Lenten Soup and Study programs will be multigenerational and focus on the services of Holy Week dwelling on the theology and practice of worship. These gatherings, which will include food as all good gatherings should, will teach us about all these wonderful expressions of worship that we participate in during Holy Week. We will hope to answer questions about why we wash feet, or why we chant, why we strip the altar, and what are all those palms, eggs, and lilies about?
The Ecumenical Community is also welcoming back Lenten Lunch this year. These will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran, and these will be welcome sights to behold! We need volunteers to prepare cookies, bars, sandwiches and soup for our designated date which is March 30th this year. If you can help with this project, please let us in the office know!
All of this activity will conclude with Holy Week which we will talk about at length in the future. For now let us concentrate on the turning that is Lent.
Please know of our blessings during this time and we hope that we can all travel this intentional road towards God together and with Grace.
Men’s Group - On Saturdays at 7 am the Men’s Group will be meeting at Perkins on a weekly basis. During these breakfast/ coffee gatherings, there will be no agenda, no business, no lessons. This time will be for fellowship and building relationships so spread the word!
Property Update- The Vestry and Junior Warden would like to keep everyone in the loop about the improvements planned for this summer and fall so this Property Update has been added to the newsletter.
This new addition to our newsletter will hopefully keep everyone informed about the continuing effort required to keep a place as special as ours in good and safe repair.
The following is a list of projects that we have in progress. This means that we are seeking bids or scheduling with contractors whom we have used in the past and have found their work to be of good quality and their pricing fair.
- The replacing of the carpet (or replacing with another suitable flooring) in the parish hall. Bids and options are still being explored. Due to the demand for contractors in our area due to the housing boom, this project will most likely not happen until this summer. There are samples for the congregation to look at in the Parish Hall.
- Memorial wall for the Narthex. This will be a large ornate wooden board that will allow us to attach memorial plaques in remembrance of the gifts given to the church- This is in the planning stages.
- Windows and front door to be installed on the Rectory
- Safety Railing to be replaced at the entrance of the church
One thing to note about all these projects, and as many of you know, there is a building boom in Spearfish, and labor and materials are at a premium. This means that some of these projects will take longer than we are accustomed. Rest assured that the Vestry is adamant that we be good stewards of our spaces and we honor the gifts from God to the people of God by being good stewards to gifts in which we have been entrusted. The Vestry wants to assure you all that we will see the projects come to completion.
Prairie Hills Transit- We are incredibly happy to announce that we have set up an arrangement with Prairie Hill Transit that will allow parishioners who are unable to drive or without transportation to attend church. The cost will be taken care of through the Rector’s Discretionary fund.
If you are in need of a ride on Sunday mornings, be sure to contact the office and we will be happy to assist in signing you up for this service. The same applies if you received a post card and are unsure how to proceed or have questions, just call and we will help in any way we can.
From The Vestry-
If you have anything you would like brought before the vestry, contact the Rector, Senior Warden, or a member of the vestry and the item will be put on the agenda. Before an item is put on the agenda the vestry asks that one has a conversation with the Rector and/or Wardens before the addition to the agenda is made.
The vestry would also like to remind everyone that the minutes of the vestry are available for viewing in the office from 9 am - 2 pm on Monday through Wednesday and on Thursdays from 9 am - 11 am. The information available not only includes the minutes, but also includes the financial statements and all correspondence to the vestry. All are welcome to view these public records during the times listed above.
New Opportunities for Ministry
These are a few of the outreach and worship opportunities that provide a wonderful opportunity to serve our parish and community.
- New services at Edgewood Vista and Spearfish Canyon Healthcare
- Volunteers are being sought to mentor our kids during the confirmation process
- LEM and Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Guild
- Tutoring Program (After School)
Lenten Schedule
Shrove Tuesday 4:30-6:30 pm March 1st Parish Hall
Ash Wednesday 8am, 12pm, 6:30pm March 2nd Sanctuary
Ash Wed Youth Service 5pm March 2nd Sanctuary
Lenten Soup and Study 5:30 pm March 9th- Apr 6th Parish Hall
Lenten Lunch 12 noon March 9th- Apr 6th OSLutheran