Dear Friends in Faith,
I don’t know about you, but for me these cold temperatures have me longing for Spring. The green grass and flowers are buried under the snow and it doesn’t seem like anything could survive in this frigid weather. Luck for us, Spring is coming…. or rather the Season of Lent starts next Wednesday. Lent is a time of preparation for Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. During Lent all may seem dead, but there is new life at the end. Lent literally means Spring.
Below you will find a prayer reflection on Lent as we prepare to enter this Holy Season. And please scroll down further to read about the upcoming activities of our Faith family and community.
Your Friend in Faith,
Pastor Krista Beth
The season of Lent calls us to journey along the edge, to anticipate that final trip to Jerusalem. Lent call us to the cutting edge, when the wheat falls to the ground and new life comes forth. Lent not only calls us to give up something, but also invites us to participate in the mystery of God-with-us. By your grace, call us from grief into gladness, despair into hope, estrangement into right relations with each other and with earth. Amen.
~ Louise Rasmussen
Pastor Krista Beth’s Schedule
Next Monday the Church Office will be closed for Presidents’ Day. On Monday I will be in Dover, NH for our Clergy Bishop’s Day PreLenten Retreat and will not be available for my Barnes & Noble Open Hours. I will be keeping my regular Office Hours Tuesday – Thursday.
Sunday Service February 15 ~ Transfiguration
Theme: Thin Places
Scripture: March 9:2-9, 2 Kings 2:1-12
Sermon: Divine Meetings
Ash Wednesday Worship February 18 at 7:00pm
Our Ash Wednesday Worship marks the beginning of the season of Lent and will include Communion and the Imposition of Ashes for those who wish to receive.
Our Annual Lenten Breakfast will be in Brand Hall Sunday, February 22nd at 9am with worship following. Please sign up on the Kiosk if you plan to attend so we can know how much breakfast to prepare!
Sunday Evening Adult Study ~ The Book of Esther: Holy Gumption
All are welcome to our Adult Study focusing on The Book of Esther. Our meetings are in the High School Room:
Sunday, February 15 (No Class)
Sunday, February 22 at 5:30pm
Final class Sunday, March 1 at 5:30pm
Outreach Opportunity: Help Our Neighbors in Need
We are collecting items to fill “guest bags” for the new Burlington Warming Shelter. Items needed are listed on the tear off sheet on the kiosk. For those who travel frequently, we need your hotel soaps, shampoos, conditioners and lotions. There is a basket in the Gathering Space for collecting items.
Celebrate! 95 pounds of food was collected for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf during the month of January!
Outreach to Fairpoint Strikers ~ Next Tuesday at 1pm
Local clergy and churches are reaching out to the Fairpoint strikers by visiting them at the picket line on 800 Hinesburg Rd. and bringing coffee and donuts or other snacks. I signed up to visit next Tuesday at 1pm and would love to have anyone interested join me. I plan to pick up a ‘box of joe’ and a dozen donuts to share. These individuals (and their families) have experienced great hardship these past few months. A warm cup of coffee on a cold day and a smile may help to lift their spirits. The visit won’t be long, as I have to be back at church by 1:30pm. Please let me know if you are interested! ~ Pastor Krista Beth
Staff Parish Relations Team Update
It’s been a busy time for your Staff Parish Relations Team. Along with the staff we added over the last few months, we have also found an excellent handy man to become our new sexton. After only one week, Ryan Butler already has a list of spare time fixes. Keep the SPRT in your prayers as we encourage all of our staff to be the best they can be in their ministry at Faith. If you have questions or comments regarding the employees of Faith Church, contact Pastor Krista Beth or any member of the Staff Parish Relations Team:
Lois D’Arcangelo, 985-2996
Jim Cross, 655-1338
Dave McGarry, 655-3275
Michele Donahue, 862-4937
Tricia Waldron, 864-0732
Vermont Refuge Resettlement Program Needs Furniture Now!
Help us help new arrivals! If you would like to donate any of the following please contact Kapil Chapagai, kchapagai@uscrivt.org or 802-338-4628:
Sofas and Side Chairs
Dining Tables
Chairs
Bed Frames
Mattresses
*If you wish to be removed from this distribution list, please let me know by replying to this e-mail. Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Krista Beth Atwood
Faith United Methodist Church
899 Dorset St.
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 863-6764
www.faithsbvt.org
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 10:00am – 12:00pm (Off on Friday)
Open Hours: Monday 3:30pm-5:30pm Barnes and Noble Cafe on Dorset St.
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
