Dear Friends in Christ,

I slept through Ash Wednesday. Brought low with the flu on Tuesday afternoon, I'm back up to 50% as of Thursday morning. It was the first Ash Wednesday I've missed in a quarter century.  

Of course viewed from a different perspective, I had a completely immersive Ash Wednesday experience: a small taste of human frailty and impermanence. "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." I hate with all my heart every part of being sick. Perhaps most of all, how it's all so out-of-my-control. But I do recognize that it increases compassion for those who are undergoing much more serious illness; those in treatment, those awaiting test results. In a community this size, at any given point, many of us are walking around with an invisible smear of ash.

The liturgies in our Book of Common Prayer make reference to dust in one other place besides Ash Wednesday. As we closed the service for Sonja Pavlik this past Saturday, the Officiant read: "All we go down to the dust, yet even at the grave we make our song All****a, All****a, All****a." I love the resistance in this line: a defiant hope and joy that is grounded in something, Someone, completely different from health and wealth and all the other gods which eventually falter. 

For those of who missed Wednesday's service, this upcoming first Sunday of Lent is its own kind of gateway into this new season. If you have been away for a little while, this is the perfect time to come back home. I look forward to worshipping with you soon.

In Christ,

Seth+

P.S. The structure of our liturgy changes in the Lenten season, and the 8am service will use Rite I language, with its traditional Elizabethan language.

Please check your closet:

Men's 3/4 length grey overcoat accidentally taken at Pavlik funeral. Please contact Sandy or John Dawson if you have it. No questions asked!

Saturday, February 17, 2024 - 9am - 3pm at Holy Wisdom Monastery

in Middleton, Wisconsin

Walking with The Spirit in Lent

A Series of 4-5 short meditations, followed by 30 minute walks READ MORE

TO REGISTER: Go to https://www.livingcompass.org/ro2f

OR email Scott Stoner

Scripture, Song and Silence

Continuing through March!

THIS Friday, February 16th from 12:00-12:30 p.m.

Come to the nave at Noon on Fridays for a 30 minute contemplative time to hear a few readings from scripture, poetry by poets such as Mary Oliver and Rumi, contemplative music (Guitar, Piano, Native American Flute, Singing Bowl) and times for silence.

 Contact Mark Hilgendorf or Tom Herbstreith for details.

The First Sunday in Lent

8am service Holy Eucharist, Quiet service



9:30 service - Holy Eucharist, Music with congregational singing. This service is live-streamed on YouTube and the Christ Church website.

The FORUM this Sunday: The Rev. Dr. Mary Trainor presents "Species Relationships and Spirituality" at 10:45 a.m. Presents in the Great Hall and livestream here - See below for details.

NOTE: if you'd like to receive a Sunday morning email with just the links to the Sunday livestream service and scheduled FORUM presentations,

send your request to Julie

Serving This Sunday: February 18, 2024

8:00 am Service

Greeter & Usher: Tom Watson

Acolyte & Reader: Jill Haberman

9:30 am Service

Vestry Greeters: Margaret Cooper, Dolly Grimes-Johnson

Crucifer + Torchbearers: Maddie Tomasi, Lila Hermann, Jack McMahon

Ushers: *Rick Donner, John Hinchey, James Hinchey

Newcomer Host:  Steve Bruemmer 

Lectors: Stephen Forrest, Lee Dreyfus

Prayer Reader: Margaret Cooper

Eucharistic Ministers: Wes Dubic, John Hinchey, Jennifer Jetton

Altar Guild: Team 3 - Mary Jones, Bridget Elliott, Denton Jones, Jackie Keene

Coffee Hospitality: 8:00am: Tom Tennessen  9:30am: Lisa Obrien, Luanne Schiff

NEW Lenten Program and Simple Supper

Led by

Anna Floch Arcello PhD

Starts Wednesday February 28,

March 6,

March 13

6:00pm - 7:30pm at Christ Church

Please sign up here.

In her book The Faraway Nearby, Rebecca Solnit writes: “Stories are compasses and architecture; we navigate by them, we build our sanctuaries and our prisons out of them, and to be without a story is to be lost in the vastness of a world that spreads in all directions like arctic tundra or sea ice…” (3-4).

This belief, that narratives and stories have immense force and power in our daily lives, underscores this Lenten writing series. In this three part series Anna Floch Arcello will lead writers of all backgrounds and experiences toward engagement with a reflective, attuned, process-oriented form of writing. No prior writing experience is necessary. Each week participants will come with the curiosity and desire to compose to different prompts, to engage in the messy and unfinished work of writing, to share with others, and to practice creativity. We will open ourselves to the power that writing and articulating ourselves can have in the world and in our beloved communities. Each one of us has the capacity, and human instinct, to share stories.

All you need to join this series is a curiosity, willingness, and desire to engage with writing as a tool for exploration and connection. Suggested readings, podcasts, and writing exercises will be provided for attendees outside of the series. The series will take place on Wednesday February 28th, March 6th, and March 13th - 6-7:30 pm at Christ Church. The evening will incorporate a time for prayer and a simple supper. Sign up here.

Please find out more information about Anna’s teaching and work here

Living Well Through Lent 2024

Get your complimentary copy this Sunday. Available on the tables behnd the back pew in the nave.

THIS SUNDAY:

February 18th at 10:45 a.m. after the 9:30 service

The Rev. Dr. Mary Trainor

Species Relationships and Spirituality

“Gosh, I feel so good when I’m out in nature” – this is a commonly felt and heard emotion, yet it is not a surprise because of who we are and with whom/what we are connected. We were made for interconnectedness, with each other and with other organisms. It is “part of our DNA,” as they say. In this Forum, we will explore this interconnectedness. We’ll touch nature specimens, look at amazing photos from the micro and macrobiome to see how our spiritual lives connect with living organisms. Specifically, we will explore the interaction between and among species and the implications of these relationships for our souls and bodies. We will look at how some spiritual practices we observe as Christians can engage the natural world. 

The Rev. Dr. Mary Stoddard Trainor is an Episcopal priest and a Ph.D. Biologist who has explored the interrelationships among species in her work as an ecologist and professor, and has explored the role of nature in our spiritual lives in her work as a priest and naturalist. She is clergy in residence at Christ Church, a supply priest in various Episcopal churches in Wisconsin, a mother of three and grandmother of five, a Wisconsin Master Naturalist instructor, and a Nature Ambassador at Schlitz Audubon. Mary is married to Jim. When not at church or in the woods, you will find Mary caring for her grandchildren, camping, hiking, painting, quilting or cooking. Join us in the Great Hall or watch the livestream here

Past FORUM presentations are recorded and stored for later viewing here and here

Next Volunteer date: Monday, February 19th PREPARE or SERVE

Save Room for Dessert!

Our next day to prepare and serve a meal for the SVDP Harambee meal site in the basement of All Peoples Church is Monday February 19. If you would like to volunteer to make a dessert, help prepare the meal or serve please let me know. I can pick up your dessert at church or you can meet at APC 430-6pm. This is a family friendly opportunity for all. CONTACT Lynne Schley

News from our Haiti Partnership

"A week ago, news from Haiti was wearing me down. I was beginning to lose hope. And then conversations with our Haitian friends reminded me that, as long as there are people like them in Haiti, we have every reason to hope. We Americans have indeed been blessed to be in partnership with our friends in Jeannette for all these many years. May we be as much of a blessing to them as they are to us."         –Cathy Parrill, Haiti Partnership consultant

Please clink on this link to hear good news from the school, the agricultural project and the safety of St Marc's staff we have known for years.

2024 Pantry Wish List

• Pancake Mix

• Syrup

• Canned pasta (spaghetti-O's) 

• Tuna & Tuna helper 

• Spam 

• Baked Beans

• Spaghetti & Canned Pasta Sauce 

• Peanut Butter & Jelly

• Hamburger Helper

• Canned Greens (Collard, Mustard, Turnip, Mixed)

Thank you for keeping All Peoples Pantry stocked this COLD Winter!

The

FEASTS!

Farewell to the Feasts of 2023!

A very heartfelt thank you to all who have hosted and attended the Feasts of 2023. With your generosity and support, our goal of $10,000 has been reached! All money raised will go to the Tanzania Sewing Project. If you have not seen the photos of the Sewing Room, now complete with sewing machines, please click here:

Thank you again,

Kathy Stanford and Denise Kobussen

All Peoples Church Pantry LOVES your red Sendik's grocery bags!

Keep saving them, bring them to church and drop off in the red wagon or give to Lynne Schley. Thank you!

CCLC Happy Hour Thursdays

Every Thursday at Lyn Slater's home -

6350 N. Lake Dr. WFB at 4:30 pm

Christ Church Ladies Connections is open to all women at Christ Church. Please join us on any Thursday that works for you. No need to RSVP, just come when you can. We'd love to see you!

N/A beverages available; wine $3.

If you would like to receive the group email which is sent weekly, please contact Kathy Stanford with any questions.

Download your copy of this semester's formation calendar!

Middle School Youth Gathering

Middle school youth will meet this Sunday February 18, 2024. We will meet immediately after the 9.30AM service. Our program starts at 10.45 A.M and ends at 11.45 A.M.

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday. +Oswald

Middle School Party 

Rescheduled. Details to come

K3-1st Grade: Explorers

will meet in one of the basement classrooms. Click here for this semester's overview for Explorers.

2nd-5th Grade: Seekers

will meet in the basement youth room. Click here for this semester's overview for Seekers.

NEXT HDTF is

Sunday,

March 3rd

Handing Down the Faith Sundays

Designed to encourage deeper understanding

of and more engagement with the liturgy for children. The clergy will offer brief explanations and invite children to participate and observe in specific ways. All children of any age and ability are welcome to participate as they feel comfortable.

Download the latest Martha & Mary newsletter here