Ash Wednesday, February 17
On Ash Wednesday we typically receive ashes, smudged on the forehead in the form of a cross. The ashes come from palms that were blessed at the last Palm Sunday. This ritual act reminds us of our mortality as we enter the holy days of Lent, culminating in Holy Week and the Resurrection of Jesus. From Ashes to Easter.
If you would like to self-imposed ashes at that service here are a few options to get them or make them:
You can pick up ashes at St. Paul’s outside the door of the parish hall beginning Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2:00 p.m. Small brown envelopes will be in a plastic tub. Please wear your mask, social distance, wash your hands before and after, and take only one envelope for a family of 1-2. Two envelopes for 3 or more.
You can use a palm you have from last year and burn it at home to create your own ashes; or,
You can create your own ashes at home using earth or materials you may have on hand.
To make ashes from dried palm, first snip the palm into smaller pieces and place the pieces in a fire pit or other fire-proof vessel. Take them outside and light them - they burn quickly so do this outdoors. Once they are burned and have cooled down use a spoon handle or pestle to break down the ash. If you wish, you can add a tiny bit of oil to them.
Our Ash Wednesday services will be at 12:00 Noon & 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
February 17, 2021. Please use the link below to join these services:
Join the Ash Wednesday services by computer via Zoom using this link:
Or by telephone using this phone number and access code:
646-558-8656, code: 857303408#
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"Bake With The Bible, A Children’s Curriculum on Bread”
This 6-week series walks families through six different Gospel stories about bread. Each week includes a family-friendly recipe, discussion questions, and picture book recommendations, helping the whole family learn together the beauty of the Bread of Life.
https://learn.edibletheology.com/bake-with-the-bible-kids (I, Sherry, believe adults without children can find sustenance in this curriculum. With a sense of creativity and playfulness, using or adapting the ideas to meet your needs is easy. I’m happy to help offer suggestions if you wish to use this curriculum.) There are two versions: one for individual use and one for institutional use. If FIVE or MORE of you wish to use this during Lent, it is financially advantageous for us to purchase the institutional version. Please let Sherry or Rebecca know if you're interested!
2021 Lent Madness! Who Will Win the Golden Halo!
If you haven’t gotten your paper booklets, they are now sold out. Fear not! The eBook is available on the Amazon Kindle and at the iTunes Store. https://www.lentmadness.org/about/
If you’d like a PDF of the 2021 Bracket, you’ll find it here. If you’d like it printed but need help we’re happy to help.
Join the Social Justice Bible Challenge During Lent
Bishop Shannon invites members of the Diocese of Vermont to join her in reading the 40-day Social Justice Bible Challenge throughout the season of Lent. The book provides a reading from scripture, a reflection, discussion questions and prayer for each day. Paperback copies are available from Forward Movement, and the Kindle version is available from Amazon. Discounts are available for orders of 10 or more copies. The group will begin reading on Ash Wednesday (February 17, 2021) and end on Palm Sunday (March 28, 2021). Bishop Shannon will host weekly hour-long Zoom discussions on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.:
February 24 at 7:00 p.m.
March 3 at 7:00 p.m.
March 10 at 7:00 p.m.
March 17 at 7:00 p.m.
March 24 at 7:00 p.m.
To join, use this link: https://zoom.us/j/93772547671?pwd=UXk0SGdqNXlzejNkWVR5a1dyOWJ2Zz09. Password: Lent. During last month's Anti-Racism Action discussion of “A Scriptural, Ecclesiastical, and Historical View of Slavery” (1864) by John Henry Hopkins, the first bishop of Vermont, the group agreed one action they will take is to immerse themselves in the Bible. "It was clear to us that not only was that text evil and wrong, it was also based in white supremacy," says Bishop Shannon. "It was painful to spend six weeks learning about this shameful part of our diocesan history. We will certainly find a truer understanding of God's intention for us by going to the source. After all, Jesus rooted his own ministry in the words of scripture."
Braiding Sweetgrass:
Join Others for Soup and Soul with Mission Farm
We invite you to join us as we read Braiding Sweetgrass and cozy up with a hot bowl of soup. This book discussion, hosted by Mission Farm, will take place Wednesday evenings in Lent, beginning on February 24, 2021. Participation is free.
About Braiding Sweetgrass
As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, her relationship with the more-than-human world transcends the analytical, and she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).
About the Program
You’re invited to bring a hot cup of soup and bread to a virtual gathering to explore and meditate with Braiding Sweetgrass, as we use this time in Lent to examine our relationship to the land and the Creator.
Group reflection and discussions will take place each Wednesday evening from 5 pm - 6:30 p.m. for the season of Lent (not including Ash Wednesday or Holy Week). You can sign up to join the group here. If you have any questions, are looking for additional information, please reach out to rachel@missionfarmvt.org.