All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 12, February 14, 2010

FEBRUARY 17 IS ASH WEDNESDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF LENT

In the Ash Wednesday liturgy, just after the homily, there are words from the Prayer Book that frame the season in a really nice way.  We are invited, “in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent.”  The invitation goes on to suggest some of the ways that might be done:  “by self-examination and repentance, by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.” Faithful Christians through the ages have also found that Lent can be a good time for taking up new spiritual disciplines, such as following a Lenten devotional, attending Stations of the Cross, or adopting a mission project.

On Tuesday night, February 16, we celebrate Shrove Tuesday with the burning of last year’s palms to make ashes and with a pancake supper in the church undercroft. “Shrove” is an old English word having to do with confession.  When one has confessed one’s sins and received absolution, one is said to have been “shriven.” 

Wednesday, February 17 is the day for shriving and being shriven.  It is Ash Wednesday and we offer Low Mass at 7 a.m. and at Noon.  At 7 p.m.  the choir will join us for a High Mass.  Ashes are imposed at all three Masses.

Friday, February 19, at 7 p.m. we begin our weekly walking and praying of the Stations of the Cross.  Especially if you’ve never participated in the Stations before, this might be a good Lenten discipline to take up.  Attend once or attend every week. 

However you decide to spend this season, I hope you will give your decision some prayer and thought.  Together, may we all observe a holy Lent. John Beddingfield

Around the Parish . . . The Adult Forum resumes on Sunday, February 14 and will be led that day by Dan Davis and Laura Tomes as they lead us in an exercise on diversity training . . . Attendance on Sunday, February 7 (even in the snow and ice) at the 8:30 a.m., Mass, 12; at the 11 a.m. Mass, 39 . . . Total pledge offerings for the week are not yet available.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Bob and Louise Osborne, Ann Dixon, Lorenzo Martinez, Family of Tom Martin, Hugh Yeomans, Helen Horne, Erling Hansen, Tim Dill, Mona Bauer, Mary Backus, Sandy Jenkins Dixon, I. Kathryn McKewen, Thais Blanchard, Bruce MacDonald, Bob Colborn, Elizabeth McKee, Freddie Cameron, Robert Long, Barb Chaffee, Harriet Martin, Chris Cobb, Landis Vance, Vickie Drell, Stephanie Russell, Ruth & Fred Huber, Jim St. George, Mark Henderson, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Walter and Sally Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, , Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, and Ted Field . . Pray for members of the parish in the foreign service and others who are working overseas, especially Chuck Hunter, Steve Kerchoff, Brad Moore, and Michael Pate . . . Pray also for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Jack Severson, and Timothy Zlatich . . . If you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe at lowevg1@verizon.net.

The parish extends its sympathy and love to Joan Beilstein upon the death of her aunt Elizabeth on February 3.  Elizabeth, nicknamed “Oody,” was 90 years old. The weather has delayed services, but the latest word is that a memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 16 at 11 a.m. at Devol’s Funeral Home.  Please pray for the repose of the soul of Elizabeth, for Joan and her family, and for all who mourn. 

Liturgical Notes . . . The flowers at the high altar are given to the glory of God and in memory of in memory of Betty Publicover Mason on 91st anniversary of her birth, given by Bob Publicover.

A Mass Celebrating the Life of Steve Collins . . . will be offered at All Souls on Saturday, February 20 at 11 a.m. The High Mass will include music for congregation, choir, and harp and flute.

A new Book for Early Lent . . . Join Cameron Soulis for a discussion of Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline by Lauren F. Winner.  We’ll gather this Sunday, February 14 (and yes, there will be chocolate) for a discussion of the book. 

Dinner is Served (or will be soon) . . . It is time to sign up for our foyer dinner program. This is one the very best ways to get to know others. At the beginning of each new year, we form new foyer dinner groups of about 10 people that rotate hosting the dinners in their homes, at restaurants, in the church undercroft, or in homes of All Souls parishioners who offer their homes for the dinners. The groups meet a minimum of four times through the year. Signup forms are in the undercroft. See Butch Bradburn for more information or details. Please join us!

All Souls are Green . . . invites you to consider a “carbon fast” as part of your Lenten discipline.  All Souls are Green is the committee that is working to make All Souls Church a greener, more environmentally-friendly place.  We invite you to join us in caring for God’s creation by reducing your own carbon footprint this Lent.  We have found a Lenten calendar with suggestions for daily small changes to reduce your own energy use.  This calendar, written by the people of the Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, is available in the narthex and in the undercroft. 

Yoga in Lent . . . Join All Souls parishioner Richard McKewen, RYT, (registered yoga teacher) as he leads yoga classes every Saturday morning during Lent in the undercroft. Classes will meet from 10:00 to 11:30 on February 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, and 27, and are open to everyone, from beginners to experienced yogis. Part of learning to still the mind is learning to still the body through various physical poses. So be sure to wear loose, comfortable clothing (gym clothes are ideal) and bring a large towel. We will have a limited number of yoga mats available for people to use, so if you have your own, please bring it with you. And try not to eat for at least an hour beforehand. The classes are free, but donations will be gladly accepted, to be shared between All Souls and a charity to be decided by the class. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Richard at stoligimlet@hotmail.com or 202-309-3566.