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Chimes Lent 2022

In this issue

  • Message from Rev. Lisa - The Journey of Lent
  • Adult Formation in Lent: Wednesdays & Sundays
  • Prayer Resources for Lent
  • Coming Soon - Mark Your Calendars
  • Shrove Tuesday Beignets & Bacon!
  • Holy Week & Easter Schedule
  • Easter Flowers
  • Outreach Update: Midnight Run Recap
  • Recipe of the Month: Lentils for Lent

The journey of Lent 2022

For me, Lent is often the silent, deep movement of internal churning. Letting go, and reclaiming. A journey of dying to self, in order to find new life in Christ.

Early in the morning on February 13th, there was a beautiful fluffy snow falling in Larchmont. I love the contrast of the white snow falling on our majestic gray stone church. As I stood for a moment taking in the beautiful site, I recalled the words of a woman I visited with on our recent Midnight Run as she sorted through the fleece jackets. In the ever-growing snowy and windy conditions, I told her I hoped she had a dry place to stay the night. She replied that she had a placed staked out in Penn Station. I expressed my thanksgiving that she would be out of the snow. She looked into my eyes intently for a moment and said, “Sometimes the rain and snow are not bad things: they wash away the dirt and waste of humans.” That statement has resonated within me as we move toward Lent.

Lent is an invitation to closely examine our hearts to unearth the dirt and waste that resides in the nooks and crannies of them. Those remains of the things we have done or said or not done or said that have inflicted pain or suffering on another human being. Lent is a time to ask God to wash away the things that are clogging the space in our hearts in which God wants to fully reside.

For me, Lent is a time to muddle in the messy, un-kept corners of my soul, and ask God to wash clean the muck and mire so that I can discover what needs to die on Good Friday so that God’s saving light finds new paths into my heart and points the way to God’s abundant love that was given to us that very first Easter. The love we are called to share with one another.

Join us this Lent on Wednesdays and Sundays. On Wednesdays, we will be walking the Way of Love: Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, and Rest in order to discover a renewed understanding of living God’s Love. On Sundays, we will be taking the journey of aging and preparing for the journey of dying and death to this earthly life. Details to follow.

May this Lent be for you a times of wrestling with the messiness in your life, washing out what distracts you from seeing God at work in your life and taking in what leads you to a deeper understanding of the love of God so that we might learn to love as God loves.

Prayers for a holy Lenten journey,

Lisa+

Check out these prayer and practice resources for Lent:

  • Daily Meditations from Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD). This year's Lenten Meditations focus on the sustainable, transformational change that ERD promotes for the most vulnerable around the world. You can subscribe to receive their short, daily emails or, if you prefer, download all of the meditations in a single pdf.
  • Brother, Give Us a Word from the Brothers at the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) in Cambridge, MA. The daily meditations are 2-3 sentences. During Lent, they are expanding the offering to suggest additional ways that you can bring the Word into your day with a practice, a provocation, or a prayer. Give it a try!
  • The Way of Love from the national Episcopal Church. Check out the website to learn more about The Way of Love and to supplement Rev. Lisa's Wednesday sessions.
  • Voyagers Lenten Challenge – The Life of Jesus. The Voyagers (our middle school youth group) invite all St. John's Church parishioners to join them and participate in a special Lenten project. Many people think that giving something up for Lent will make room in your heart to add something spiritual during this forty-day run up to Easter. The Voyagers are suggesting an alternative to add to our Lenten practice. The Voyagers will read about the life of Jesus and invite you to do so as well. Please consider reading a Gospel on your own or join us for 40 readings that we have selected to tell the entire life of Jesus. The Voyagers recognize that we will need to give up just a few minutes a day of TV, streaming, or social media. During Lent, we will be posting a link to each day’s story on Instagram and Facebook. In addition, we will be sending links to the week’s stories in the enews. After the conclusion of Lent on Sunday, April 24, during coffee hour after the 10:00 AM service, the Voyagers will be holding a special celebration for everyone who participated in this project.

Midnight Run Recap

On Friday, January 28, while facing a forecast of heavy snow and wind, an intrepid group of eight from St. John’s Church traveled to New York City. We sought to offer support to people currently experiencing homelessness. We brought food, clothes, toiletries (including towels and blankets), and conversation. This would not have been possible without many, many people working behind the scenes.

Last September, Hurricane Ida flooded the lower level of St. John’s Church. Amongst the damaged and/or destroyed items were the vast majority of the goods we had been compiling for our next Midnight Run. Thankfully, we were able to take advantage of a clothing drive in the late fall held by Neighbors for Refugees–taking many of their leftovers to start our restocking of clothing. And we asked Midnight Run to help restock out toiletries (more difficult for us now that traveling is so diminished).

For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, we were joyful to be able to encourage people to join us in the preparations (at separate times, properly masked, and distanced) throughout the week. The undercroft and Parish Hall being unavailable, we did our staging in the sanctuary. We tried a new system using seven different colors of painters’ tape to sort by size the clothing and shoes–adding more work but making the actual delivery more accurate and efficient.

A local Brownie troop had packed 60 bags of toiletries. Many people prepared bagged lunches; we began the Run with over 80 lunches and came home empty-handed. (A few “seconds” were given out in the final minutes before we packed up to come home. Those recipients thought they had won the lottery!)

At our scheduled stops, our group met with about 70 people. It was cold and flurries were the first sign of the snow to come. Many of those we met were appreciative that we were there despite the weather and offered many “God Bless Yous.” The weather was the topic of conversation throughout the night, closely followed by politics. One man gave a long history of weather forecasting in NYC. One man poured his hot cocoa into the water bottle he just emptied so he could have a treat for breakfast. Another man swapped stories about San Antonio, TX with Rev. Lisa (“He knew more than I did”). One woman (of the 6 or 7 we met) was thrilled to get a tan coat with fur lining (“I haven’t felt so glamorous in a long time”). This woman reminded us of the important considerations that go into a limited choice of clothing–will it fit, is it practical, do I have the ability to carry it with me, is it me? Conversations often happened while waiting for a turn to choose clothing. At times it could be difficult to know which was the most meaningful – conversation or clothing? We tried to provide both!

We cannot begin to name the many members of our community who contributed everything we requested-pants, sweatshirts, hats, coats, shoes, socks, towels, blankets, and underwear…. We don’t usually count our items, but we do know that we went in with eight large tubs of shoes, all sorted into sizes, and came home with seven empty tubs. We had an unusually good collection of boots, sneakers, and winter shoes! Also, upon leaving Larchmont, we had a full large container of towels and washcloths. We gave them all away.

We are hoping this re-cap gives you a sense of the work that goes into each Midnight Run, as well as the generosity of our community, and the many hands that are needed to have a successful Run. Only a few of us end up with the privilege of being able to hand out the food and clothes, and talk to the people we meet. But this is a Parish-wide ministry and we could not do it with your support.

St. John’s next Midnight Run will be in June. In the spring, we will be asking again for your donations. Please think of us when you see sales while doing your own shopping or while cleaning out a closet.

“Underwear and socks. I repeat… underwear and socks. A friendly reminder to donate the items ‘closest to you’ for upcoming Midnight Runs.” Words of wisdom from parishioner Matt Wrzesniewsky who manned the car with underwear and socks and ran short by the end of the night.

Mark Your Calendars!

Tuesday, March 1 at 6:30 -8:00pm - Shrove Tuesday Beignets & Bacon!

This upcoming Tuesday evening you are all invited to come to a Beignet and Bacon Party at St. John’s Church in the Parish Hall to prepare our hearts and minds for Lent. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated as a day of fasting and confession before entering the season of Lent. The popular tradition of eating pancakes recognizes the celebration of life before we turn our faces to Jerusalem and all that happens on that journey. Pancakes are a symbol of emptying your pantry of eggs and fats in preparation for the fasting and foregoing of large feasts during Lent.

The eating of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday has been a tradition at St. John’s Church for many years. This year we are without our commercial kitchen in the undercroft. In the small kitchen off the parish hall, pancakes cannot be prepared to serve many people. This year we are cooking beignets, a New Orleans’ favorite, outside in a fryer and offering you powdered sugar, jam, and syrup for toppings and yummy bacon! We will also a few other food offerings for those who do not eat beignets and/or bacon.

There will be our traditional children’s activities of burying the alleluia caterpillars and decorating an Easter banner. Burying the alleluia caterpillars represent that we “bury” the alleluias in our service to worship in a more penitential manner. On Easter we will celebrate Christ's resurrection as we “unbury” the alleluia caterpillars and unfurl our Easter Banner. The children will have some fun topping options for their beignets as well.

Hope to see you this Tuesday between 6:30 and 8:00 p.m.

Peace,

Lisa+

Wednesday, March 2 - Ash Wednesday

Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes

  • 7:00 am - Holy Eucharist Rite I
  • 12:00 pm - Holy Eucharist Rite II
  • 7:00 pm - Holy Eucharist Rite II
Rev. Lisa will again be offering Ashes to Go at the Larchmont Train Station.
Sundays in Lent, 11:30am-12:15pm - Lenten Program

The Journey of Aging and End of Life Preparations

Facilitated by the Rev. Dorothy Greene and the Rev Lisa Mason.

Note: You do not need to attend every week. Materials will be shared each session, so please feel free to drop in any Sunday as you are able.

March 6 - Conversations around aging: how to have open, honest, and thoughtful conversations regarding:

  • Proactive thinking and planning
  • Claiming and celebrating the everyday things you can do and making arrangements for the everyday things you can’t do
  • Asking for help
  • Being accepted for the age you are and the stage of life you are in

March 13 - Conversations around aging and end of life issues.

March 20 - Preparations for dying, part 1

  • Funeral arrangements, literally plan your service
  • Make your wishes around your funeral known to your family and/or trusted friend or priest
  • Make a list of the pieces from your life you want in your obituary
  • Make burial/interment plans

March 27 - Do you have all the necessary forms completed and in the proper respective places?

  • Medical forms completed and in the proper places
  • Power of attorney
  • Insurance documents
  • Housing issues
  • Lists of medications
  • DNR

April 3 - Leaving a legacy

  • Current will
  • Planned giving
  • Property wishes: conversations with family and any other recipients
  • Where are all of your documents and do the appropriate people know the location?
Wednesdays in Lent, 12:30-1:15pm on Zoom - The Way of Love

Life Transformed – The Way of Love in Lent

Wednesdays 12:30-1:15pm, Zoom only. Facilitated by the Rev. Lisa Mason

The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into his life, self-giving, and death; then, we rise in hope to life transformed. This Lent, communities are invited to walk with Jesus in his Way of Love and into the experience of transformed life. Together, we will reflect anew on the loving actions of God as recounted in the Easter Vigil readings. Together, we will walk through the depths of salvation history into the fullness of redemption.

  • March 9 - Turn
  • March 16 - Learn and Pray
  • March 23 - Worship
  • March 30 - Bless
  • April 6 - Go and Rest
April 1 - ECW Outreach Grant Application Deadline

During the month of March, we will be accepting ECW Outreach Grant applications. The grant applicants should propose small, specific programs or projects that support our mission of helping under-served women and children in our local region. If you are familiar with a local charity that you would like to recommend to receive a grant application, please contact Lila Bankston or Fiona Farrell. The applications will be sent out on March 1 with an April 1 deadline.

Click here for information on the 2021 ECW Grant recipients.

Friday, April 6 at 7:00pm: ECW Lenten Event

Meg Kaufer, President of the STEM Alliance, will present on the Digital Equity Initiative in our community and the STEM Co-Op Camp. The STEM Alliance is an ECW Outreach Grant recipient.

Sunday, April 10 - Palm Sunday
  • 8:00 am - Holy Eucharist & Palm Procession and Newcomer Covenant
  • 9:00 am - Morning Prayer (outdoors)
  • 10:00 am - Holy Eucharist & Palm Procession and Newcomer Covenant
April 11-13 - Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
  • 7:00 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II
Thursday, April 14 - Maundy Thursday
  • 6:30 pm Agape Meal, Foot Washing, and Holy Eucharist in the Parish Hall
Friday, April 15 - Good Friday
  • 12:00 noon - Stations of the Cross and (abbreviated) Good Friday liturgy
  • Silent prayer in the sanctuary between the service and the reading of the Passion (optional)
  • 2:45 pm - Passion read on the front lawn
  • 3:00 pm - Bells toll 33 times
Sunday, April 17 - Easter Sunday
  • 6:00 am - Larchmont Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service at Manor Park
  • 8:00 am - Holy Eucharist Rite I
  • 9:00 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II with Baptism and Flowering of the Cross
  • 11:00 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II

Easter Flowers For The Altar

Deadline: Thursday, April 7

The beautiful flowers which adorn St. John’s at Easter are offered to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and to glorify God. We invite you to remember your family, friends, and other loved ones with a donation towards our Easter flowers. Flowers may be given in memory of or in thanksgiving for a family member or friend. Suggested donation is $50.

Flower dedications received by Thursday, April 7 will be included in the Easter Sunday bulletin.

How to contribute to St. John’s Easter flowers:

  1. Go online and pay via PayPal. Click here to donate Easter Flowers online using PayPal, OR
  2. Click here to download the paper order form. Send the completed form and a check to the parish office. Please make your check payable to St. John’s Church and note “Easter Flower Fund” on the memo line.

Thank you!

This month's recipe is a repeat from a few years ago, since it's so delicious and perfect for Lent! Thanks again to Jmel Wilson for sharing it. Jmel says that she usually doubles or triples this recipe, because it is so delicious left over. Enjoy!

French Lentils with Goat Cheese and Walnuts

  • 1 cup/250 g du Puy lentils (Trader Joe’s small whole green lentils works great)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 fresh thyme sprig (or dried)
  • Chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large shallot, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • Splash of balsamic vinegar – use the best
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 2-4 ounces toasted walnuts
  • 4 ounces/100 g goat cheese broken into pinches – gorgonzola or bleu cheese also works

Put the lentils in a saucepan with the bay leaf and thyme. Pour over 1 1/3 cups chicken stock, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Do not overcook or they will be mushy.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan and sauté the carrots and shallots until soft. Add the garlic for 1 minute, then deglaze the pan with a generous splash of balsamic vinegar. Once the lentils are cooked, toss them with the onion mixture, season to taste with salt and pepper and put them in a serving dish. Scatter toasted walnuts and pinches of cheese.

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Have a recipe to share? Join the fun and send it to communications@stjohnslarchmont.org. Yours just might be the next Recipe of the Month!

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Likewise, your photos and news from your ministries are always welcome. Please forward your submissions to communications@stjohnslarchmont.org. Let your ministry's light shine through Chimes!