12 Lenten Gifts Back to our Building

The 12 disciples worked to help build Gods kingdom with Jesus, let us all work as disciples within our committees or as small groups, to build and maintain his kingdom here at 16th and Central.

Some of these tasks have already been adopted, but not all, and some need more participants. What can you do? For more information, contact the person identified on the task, or contact Jim Tomlinson.


1. Parish Hall Front entry- paint, clean windows and doors, possible stair tread replacement. (adopted-by Jim T, Rose, Ginger, Tim J. and Tim B.)

2. Parish Hall back entry- stairwell cabinets and parish hall closets- general sweep, windows, dust ledges, light switches, organize shelves.

3. Upstairs in Parish Hall/Library- clean light switches, sweep, dust mini-blinds, windows, straighten books up. Spot clean marks on the walls. Need to replace the broken blind in Library. Replace dimmer switches in Library.

4. Kitchen and storage closet- good scrub all over, walls, sink, floor, fridge. shelves. and organize. (adopted- See Josh to help)

5. Bathrooms- (All 4 of them), clean touch up paint, a general good scrubbing all over. (adopted- Knitting committee)

6. Downstairs in Parish Hall- light switches, spot clean the marks on walls, class rooms, dusted, swept, blinds cleaned, windows, counter tops, shelves and cabinet fronts.

7. Sanctuary and Narthex (general clean up)- sweep under pews, dust convectors, windows, aisles, chapels, dust light globes along aisles, dust canopy over pulpit, etc.

8. Sanctuary upgrades - Touch up the floor where old font was, clean stone window ledges. (adopted-Fr. Tom, Linda, Freida and Liz)

9. Choir loft- organize, sweep, dust, floors side walls and pipes (adopted-Mason/Choir)

10. Yard and grounds- general trash clean up, rake flower beds, possible mulch on North side of sanctuary, sweep curb sidewalks, wash breezeway windows. (adopted- see John Phillips/Garden Club)

11. Scrape and paint small iron sign out front. (adopted- See Elizabeth and Michael)

12. Archival papers need taken to diocese storage (see Tanya) (adopted- Fr. Tom)

Lenten Series: The Pause that Refreshes

The season of Lent is approaching.  It is an opportunity to put normal business aside and reflect in the moment.  To that end, the education committee offers “the pause that refreshes”, four Sundays where Tanya will lead a Lenten mini retreat. We will learn how to live with the reality of the moment; dissuade fear, energize creativity and move ahead with purpose. At each session there will be a brief commentary, a time of silence, a guided meditation, and a quiet prayer.

When: An option for those who are interested after some fellowship time in the Parish during the coffee hour

Where: The Mary Chapel

How Long: 30 Minutes

What will occur: 4 approaches to focus, motivation and aiming attention to the present moment

1.       For now I see through a glass darkly but then Face to Face. 1 Corinthians 13 -February 26

My inside, listen to me, the greatest spirit ,the teacher, is near, Wake up, wake up!Run to his feet—He is standing close to your head right now.You have slept for millions and millions of years.Why not wake up this morning?

                -Kabir: translated by Robert Bly

Jesus said come and see, listen to me. We see but we are scantily aware of seeing the relationship between our capacity to see and what is available to be seen. We believe that what we see at face value is the whole truth. So we see some things but at the same time we may not see what is most important and relevant in our unfolding lives. In this first session, we will learn some ways to give ourselves the time, space, and energy to really see, to really hear the voice within and receive as much information as we need.

2.       The Role of Scaffolding with Jesus- March 4

If I have been able to see further, it was only because I sat on the shoulder of giants. -Isaac Newton

In Coming to our Senses, Jan Kabat-Zinn states “One manifestation of dis-ease, increasingly prevalent in this era, is attention deficit disorder A.D.D. for short.  A.D.D. is a serious dis-regulation in the process of attention itself. It appears to be a wide spread and growing affliction.” Meditation has everything to do with learning to center oneself and to pay attention to the moment. It would seem that we have A.D.D. not only in the obvious ways but it is transferring into our spiritual lives as well. More and more we feel isolated and longing to be a part of a community.  We want to feel valid and to be a living part of our culture.  We hunger to be perceived in this way, but mostly we are not.  Often money is not the most important issue but rather validation.  For Christians and many other spiritual seekers, Jesus provides scaffolding, a framework, to give us the strength to go within and ascertain our totality.

3.       How can we have not known better? -March 11

“Make no mistake about it, if any of you think of yourselves as wise, you must learn to be ignorant first and then you can become wise.” -1 Corinthians 3:18

This session will dedicate itself to what really is forgiveness, understanding not being able to forget, the power of taking a risk again, how to  accepting vulnerability and for applauding courage. The effect of not knowing better can lead us to guilt, depression and lack of self worth, all of which are counter to the gospel we so believe.  We will learn some ways to begin a discipline that will move us from that stance in life by accessing the power within.

4.       Awake- Be Alert- And Act -March 18

How can one understand that part of us which does the understanding?

The genius of faking it until you make it-- How long it takes to develop a love of being quiet, actively listening and where to find support in continuing your endeavors of the last four weeks. It is a life time process, and it is never too late to begin putting together contemplation and acting on it. We will fine tune this process we share with one another and form a personal mandate to move ahead.