DEAR FRIENDS 

There are lots of announcements in this week’s Eblast, so I will forgo my normal lengthy missive and simply invite you to “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” all the information below.  Remember to consider prayerfully your Lenten Discipline.  See you on Sunday. 
 
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Wallace

SAD NEWS 

It is my sad duty to report to you the death of Francis Didik, the mother of Joan Bredthauer.  Francis is known to us because she attended mass at St. Paul’s many times over the years, and we consider her part of St. Paul’s extended family.  She received Holy Communion and Last Rites this past Saturday morning in hospice and passed into the next life on Monday evening.  A wake is being held this Friday, February 9,  2:00 pm to 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, at the Fox/Simpson Funeral Home, 98-07 Ascan Ave, in Forest Hills.  The funeral will take place this Saturday, February 10, 10:00 am, at the Church of the Resurrection, 85-09 118th St., (between 85th St. and Hillside Ave), in Kew Gardens/Richmond Hill.  Flowers may be sent to the Fox/Simpson Funeral Home, or, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to City Meal on Wheels at https://www.citymeals.org/support-us/donate-now.  Please keep the the Bredthauer family in your prayers.
 
✠ Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.  And let light perpetual shine upon them.
May the soul of Francis, and the souls of the all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
 
Almighty God, Father of mercies, and Giver of comfort:  Deal graciously, we pray thee, with Joan, Dave, Emma, and Caroline, and with all those who mourn, that casting every care on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

RETURN YOUR PALMS

Monday, February 12, is the last day to return your palms so that they can be burned to produce the ashes for Ash Wednesday.  Please place them with the other palms in the back table in the church or you may simply put them by the church office door.

COVENANT OF PRAYER WITH BISHOP PROVENZANO 

Bishop Provenzano has asked every parish of the Diocese to join him in a covenant of prayer in 2018.  A brochure with information about the Covenant and how you may participate is available on the table in the back of the church.
 

LENTEN CLASS BEGINNING FEBRUARY 18 (Lent I)

Anglican Identity and Spirituality 

Father Wallace will be teaching a five-session class exploring Anglican identity and spirituality, which will meet in the Library each Sunday afternoon in Lent from 1:15 PM to 2:15 PM, beginning February 18 (Lent I) and running through March 18 (Lent V).  Please let Father Wallace know if you are interested.  Each session will be relatively self-contained, so you may attend any or all of them as your schedule permits.  Taking a class makes a great Lenten Discipline (hint, hint).  The book for the class is The Anglican Way:  A Guidebook by Thomas McKenzie, hard copies of which will be available at the first class.  If you want to purchase the book for yourself, please see Fr. Wallace to make arrangements.
 

SHHH!  SPECIAL COFFEE HOUR THIS SUNDAY 

This-coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the holy season of Lent.  There is information in the back of the church about Lent itself and about choosing a Lenten Rule or you may speak to Fr. Wallace.
 

ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE BEGINNING OF LENT 

This-coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the holy season of Lent.  There is information in the back of the church about Lent itself and about choosing a Lenten Rule or you may speak to Fr. Wallace.

Ash Wednesday Service Schedule—Ashes will be imposed at all three services.

• 7:30 AM—Low Mass
• 12:00 PM (noon)—Low Mass
• 7:30 PM—Low Mass with Hymns

LENTEN FOOD DRIVE

The Sunday School invites you to bring donations for their annual Lenten food drive.  Bins will be placed in the back of the church throughout Lent to receive your donations.  As usual, the food will be donated to the food pantry at First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn Heights.  The children will deliver the food and stock the shelves on Good Friday.  Of particular need are the following foods:  peanut butter, tuna fish, Vienna sausage, canned vegetables, apple sauce, pasta, rice and canned soup.  Please make sure that the donations are unopened and have not expired.  If you have any questions, please feel free to speak with Jean Del Colliano.  As always, thank you for your generous donations!
 

THE ST. PAUL’S LIBRARY

Thanks to the good work of Fr. Garneton, our parish library is now organized by topic and open for browsing and borrowing.  The organizational map is posted to the left as you enter the library.  Using the honor system, you may record the books you check out in the loose-leaf binder on top of the shelf next to the door and return books in the deposit basket.  See or e-mail Fr. Garrenton to join the library work team.
 

MORE ON THE FLU AND THE COMMON CUP

About two hours after I sent the Eblast last week with my “Dear Friends” addressing the issue of the flu and the Common Cup, the Episcopal News Service (ENS) released an article on the same subject.  Here it is, in case you are interested: click here.
 

NOTES FROM THE HYMNAL

We are adding a fourth hymn to our worship this Sunday so that we may sing as many Alleluias as we can before the word is banned during Lent.  Our Hymn at the Offertory is “Alleluia! Song of Gladness,” which has for centuries been sung the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.  The 11th-cenury Latin text likens our pre-Lenten condition to the Israelites’ Babylonian Captivity and says our Alleluias or sweet songs must be suspended during the upcoming time when we are to repent.  We are singing the more literal translation from The Hymnal 1940, which says in Verse 3:

Alleluia we deserve not
Here to chant forevermore;
Alleluia our transgressions
Make us for a time give o’er,
For the holy time is coming
Bidding us our sins deplore.

This hymn is traditionally sung to the tune named Dulce Carmen (sweet melody), but in our Hymnal 1982 this tune is not used (though it can be found at #559).  In today’s service we restore Dulce Carmen.
 

THIS COMING SUNDAY

The Last Sunday After the Epiphany

• Sunday School:
  • 9:45 AM:  6-12 year-olds
  • 10:15 AM: 3-5 year olds
• Solemn High Mass: 11:00 AM
• Sunday's Appointed Readings
  • First Reading:  2 Kings 2:1-12
  • Psalm 50:1-6
  • Second Reading:  2 Corinthians 4:3-6
  • Gospel:  Mark 9:2-9
• Music
  • Organ Prelude:  “Nimrod,” from Enigma Variations, Op. 36—Edward Elgar
  • Entrance Hymn:  “O wondrous Type! O vision fair,” #137
  • Offertory Anthem:  “O How Glorious”—Healey Willan
  • Offertory Hymn:  “Alleluia! Song of gladness” (set to the tune Dulce Carmen), hymn insert
  • Communion Hymn:  “Songs of thankfulness and praise,” #135
  • Dismissal Hymn:  “Praise my soul, the King of Heaven,” #410
  • Organ Postlude: Paean—Kenneth Leighton