Don’t forget that during March, we will be trying Pontus Pilate on charges of murder during Sunday school. Come be the jury!

Each Wednesday in March, we will gather at 6:00 for a Lenten supper, followed by a program and worship (alternating between Holy Communion and Stations of the Cross).

The schedule for programs is as follows:

On March 31, we will observe Tenebrae, a service that moves from light to dark and is the perfect preparation for the Easter Vigil, which moves from dark to light.

If you can help with one or more of the dinners, please sign up in Bott Hall. Whether you can help or not, come join us!

Please note in your directory and welcome:

Jason & Fernetta Terrell

985 King Road

Riverdale, GA 30296

770/997-4449 Home

404/765-1054 Work-Jason

678/462-4690 Work - Fernetta

With your help we served over 11,000 needy individuals in 2003. This included 1,447 homeless, 4,347 seniors, 3,787 children, and over 8,000 families. Your contributions work miracles for hungry and homeless people.

Ray Townsend, Volunteer

On February 8, the rector preached a sermon challenging every parishioner to become "fishers of people" by inviting someone to church by Easter. But you don’t have to wait until then! Been fishin’?

On March 14 we will have instructed Eucharists at both services. An Instructed Eucharist is a service of Holy Communion in which we "stop the action" to explain the history, theology, and rationale for why we worship the way we do. This is a great opportunity to introduce a non-Episcopalian to our church, and it’s a good refresher course for even the most seasoned of us. See you there — with a fish, uh, I mean, a friend!

Dear Rev. Pritchett,

On behalf of my family, I will like to thank you and the Parish for the welcome you gave me and my family while worshiping with the parish this past Sunday.

We thank you for the parish acceptance of us. And, we are looking forward to being members of the St. John's Episcopal Parish.

Kindest regards,

Charlie Olaiya

Dear St. John’s:

All of us here at the Cathedral Book Store thank you for your generous donation dedicated to our relocation project. We plan to begin moving early in May. All are invited for the packin’ and totin’ and we’ll let you know when we are ready to receive.

Thanks again! Fondly, Jane Baird, Manager

Bishop Alexander will make an Episcopal visit on June 6. We’ll have a parish picnic that day. After the Trial of Pilate Sunday school class, we’ll start an Adult Inquirer’s class for those who want to be confirmed, think they might want to be confirmed, or just want to learn more about the faith and the Episcopal Church. Stay tuned!

The "Invitation to a Holy Lent" in the Prayer Book (p. 265-6) invites us

in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.

Lent is a time to focus on forgiveness, whether you need it or need to give it. If you need it, keep in mind that many people make their confession during Lent. Please call us if you would like Ruth or me to hear your confession. (If you’ve never done that, you might want to read pages 446-452 in the Prayer Book).

If you need to give it, we would be happy to talk with you about that as well. Refusing to forgive is its own sin, and it can consume like a cancer.

Lent is a time of spiritual discipline. "Discipline" comes from the same root ("discipilus") as "disciple." This Lent, please remember that the purpose of your discipline (what you’ve given up or taken on) is not to beat yourself up, or to be morbid, or to start that new diet. Our discipline is intended to make us better followers, better pupils, better disciples. My prayer is that you will be able to let your discipline work as an agent to enhance your relationship with God.

My discipline will be to practice 20 minutes of "Centering Prayer" every day. Centering Prayer involves sitting still, with eyes closed, for twenty minutes while one tries to think of nothing, only be present with God. When thoughts come into one’s mind (as they invariably do), one uses a "sacred word" (love, peace, etc.) to gently escort the thoughts "down the stream of consciousness."

Centering Prayer is very contrary to my antsy nature, which is one reason I’m trying it. If you would like to know more about Centering Prayer, or if you would like to join me, please let me know.

And now, here are a few things I ran across that I thought I’d share with you. May you have a holy Lent.

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony."

Fast from criticism,

and feast on praise;

Fast from self-pity,

and feast on joy;

Fast from ill temper,

and feast on peace

Fast from resentment,

and feast on contentment;

Fast from jealousy,

and feast on humility;

Fast from pride,

and feast on love;

Fast from selfishness,

and feast on service;

Fast from fear,

and feast on faith.

The late Rt. Rev. Arthur Lichtenberger, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, 1958-1964 .