DEAR FRIENDS 

This Sunday marks the end of our liturgical experiment with the free-standing altar.  On Ash Wednesday (see schedule below), we will return to using the High Altar to celebrate mass.  I very much appreciate everyone's patience, especially from those of you in the "I'm not really sure about this" camp, but I am particularly appreciative of of Sheila Read, Brad Winters, and all the acolytes and servers.  This would not have been possible with their support and hard work.  Please take the opportunity to thank them.  Watch for the parish survey soon.  
 
Lent is upon us, as you can certainly see from all the announcements below, and I encourage you to read them over carefully and consider them prayerfully.  If you need help preparing your Lenten Rule or you would like to make your Confession, there is information available on both of these on the table in the back of church or see me.  Nick Gjeca will be on hand again at Coffee Hour this Sunday to answer all your questions about our pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  
 
There are several things below to note in particular.  The first is the call for all hands after mass this Sunday to help prepare the church for Lent.  We’ll take taking down the free-standing altar and veil all the statues and crosses. Grab a quick bit to eat at coffee hour, then return to the church for what I am calling the “Dance of the Lenten Veils” (you don’t really have to dance unless you want to, but I’ll dance if you dance!).  Second, please note the Lenten Class being offered, more of a discussion forum than a class, but I think it will prove very interesting, and I hope everyone will attend.  And third, Francis Rivera is running Lent Madness, an activity parallel to the NCAA March Madness, but based on head-to-head match  ups between Saints.  It sounds crazy, I know, but it looks like a lot of fun.  Details below.  
 
See you at Mass,
Fr. Wallace

RETURN YOUR PALMS

There is still time to bring in your palms from last year.  You may put them with the others in the back of the church, or you may simply leave them by the Rectory door or slip them through mail slot by noon on Tuesday this week.  They will be burnt on Tuesday afternoon to create the ashes for the Ash Wednesday services.

THE DANCE OF THE VEILS

After Mass this Sunday 

All hands are needed to help in preparing the church for the Holy Season of Lent, in particular veiling all the crosses and statues.  Pat Faw is coordinating the work.  Many hands make light work.  

PERCUSSION CONCERT: KEYS, SKINS, AND MALLETS

Friday, March 1, 7:30 PM 

Percussionists Alan Hankers, Sebatian Gokus, and Jose Reyes appear in concert at St. Paul’s.  Free Admission, suggested donation at the door: $20.  This concert is sponsored by Marimba One, Marimba Festival, and Vic Firth: The Perfect Pair.

ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE BEGINNING OF LENT 

Ash Wednesday, March 6, and the beginning of Lent is only 10 days away.  Now is the time to start thinking and praying about your Lenten Rule.  Information about choosing a Lenten Rule is available on the table in the back of the church or 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
• 7:00 PM—Low Mass with Hymns

LENT MADNESS!

What better way to explore the mystery of our faith than a head-to-head popularity contest? Lent Madness is an engaging way for people to learn about the men and women comprising the Church’s Calendar of Saints. Following an elimination bracket format, a group of 32 saints have been selected, and each week participants vote for their favorite saint in a one-on-one match up.  For example one week might have "St. Francis vs. St. Antony” or “St. Joseph vs. St. Benedict.”  Every week the votes are tallied and the winning saint proceeds to the next round until a single saint is left.  The “official “voting will be done on the Lent Madness Facebook page, and we will be putting up a poster in the Parish hall to track the progress over the Lent Period.  You can participate by just checking out the board as it’s updated every week, or you can really commit and buy an official Lent Madness Scorecard booklet for $5 (all proceeds go to St. Paul’s).  The scorecard booklet contains bios of the saints and a personal scorecard.  For the really enthusiastic, you can predict the outcomes of all the match ups beforehand and compare your picks with the actual results.    Lent Madness is published by Forward Movement, a publisher of books associated with the Episcopal Church.  You can visit Lentmadness.org and forwardmovement.org to learn even more. 
 

ADULT CHRSTIAN EDUCATION: LENTEN DISCUSSION FORUM—Christians and Politics 

Beginning Sunday, March 10, 1:00, in the Library  

Much energy was generated in the parish survey and at the parish summit and Annual Meeting about politics and the church, so it seems an appropriate topic for a Lenten Class. How do Christians enact their fact in a political world?  This will not be a lecture-style class, but rather moderated discussion.  Everyone and all political viewpoints are welcome and encouraged to attend.  
 

LENTEN FOOD DRIVE 

The Sunday School invites you to bring donations for their annual Lenten food drive.  Beginning Sunday, March 6.  Bins will be available 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, and please take the opportunity to thank the Sunday School kids for their dedication and hard work.
 

CONFESSION

It is traditional for Christians to make their Confessions during Lent. If you have made your Confession before, simply schedule a time with Fr. Wallace. Confession is a spiritually fulfilling Lenten Discipline, drawing you closer to God. For those who have never made their Confession, or have not done so for many years, some instruction is required in order to prepare properly. Please see Fr. Wallace.
 

ST. PATRICK DAY CELEBRATION

Sunday, March 17 

Since St. Patrick’s Day lands on a Sunday this year, we’re celebrating all things Irish at a special Coffee Hour after mass.  See JillEllyn Riley and Keith Edwards if you would like to help.  
 

PILGRIMMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND!

January 20th―29th, 2020 

St. Paul’s is off to the Holy Land!  We announced at the Auction and I spoke about it again in my sermon on Epiphany that we are planning a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, using Nick Mancino’s company Journey’s Unlimited.  Please see the poster in the Parish Hall and the flyers on the back table for details. This is an extraordinary opportunity for experience a life-changing event.  Please don’t miss it!  Ask Fr. Wallace or Nick Gjeca if you have any questions.
 

CONTACTING THE SEARCH COMMITTEE 

In the course of the Search Committee presentation on the status and process of the rector search at the parish Annual Meeting on January 27, the Committee offered interested parishioners a tool to reach out to it regarding any concerns they might wish to voice related to the search. If you want to provide your suggestions or comments, please contact us at search@stpaulscarrollst.org.
 

PRAYERS FOR ST. PAUL’S DURING THE TRANSITION AND RECTOR SEARCH 

As you read the Eblast each week, it is a good opportunity to take 30 seconds and offer a prayer for St. Paul’s during its transition and for the members of the Search Committee. Prayers to that effect will be included each week in the Eblast.

• For St. Paul’s:
  O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, we beseech thee, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light,, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 
• For the Search Committee: 
  Eternal God, the foundation of all wisdom and the source of all courage:  enlighten with your grace the Search Committee of this congregation, and so rule their minds, and guide their counsel that in all things they may seek your glory and promote the mission of your Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THIS COMING SUNDAY: March 3, 2019

The Last Sunday after the Epiphany 

• Appointed Readings and Sermon
  • The First Reading—Exodus 34:29-35
  • Psalm 99
  • Epistle—2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
  • The Gospel— Luke 9:28-43
  • Sermon:  Fr. Wallace 
• Music
  • Mass Setting:  Healy Willan—Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena
  • Organ Prelude: Elegy—Hubert Parry
  • Entrance Hymn:  “O Wondrous type! O vision fare,” Hymnal, 137
  • Offertory Anthem: “Alleluia! Song of Gladness”―plainsong
  • Hymn at Communion: “Songs of thankfulness and praise,” Hymnal, 135
  • Hymn after the Dismissal: ““Ye watchers and ye holy ones,” Hymnal, 618
  • Organ Postlude: Fanfare—Keith Chapman