All Souls’ Episcopal Church
February 2016 Volume 2, Issue 2
The e-Rubric The 2016 Lent Edition From the Rector by The Rev. Joseph J. Dirbas
Observing a Holy Lent Ash Wednesday, on February 10th, begins the season of Lent. It seems early this year. And that has its pros and cons. On the down side, it feels as though we are just ge7ng up to speed in Epiphany and we’ll end up skipping four Sundays of Epiphany as we rush into Lent. On the upside, Easter is early, too, and we’ll be celebra ng the resurrec on of our Lord and savior before we reach the end of March! But there’s one constant to all of this regardless of when Easter falls, the Season of Lent is always the same: Ash Wednesday, 5 Sundays of Lent, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week. The season of Lent is, by design, intended to invite us into the wilderness with Christ. We are invited during the 40 days of Lent to pray, fast, and contemplate the tempta ons in our life which pull us away from the love and grace of our God, just as Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, fas ng, praying, and being tempted by Satan. (If you’re doing the math, the season of Lent is actually 46 days but remember, Sundays are a Feast day and we are given a pass on our Lenten observances the six Sundays of the season.) Indeed, the prayer book, in our Ash Wednesday service, calls us to observe a holy Lent by prayer, fas ng, self-denial, and by reading and medita ng on God’s holy Word. (BCP p. 265) Lent is an incredible opportunity for us to concentrate on our spiritual development and our rela onship to God. Unfortunately, the selfdenial aspect of the season seems to weigh the 40 days down like an anchor on a row boat. The ques on is, how can we balance the selfdenial with the personal spiritual development? Aren’t we simply indulging ourselves by choosing disciplines which edify and build us up?
Inside this issue From the Deacon’s Desk ................. 4 Lenten Learning Opportuni es ....... 6 Lenten Spiritual Opportuni es ........ 8 Year-End Finances .......................... 11 Music at All Souls’ .......................... 12 Lent Madness.................................. 14 Community Hour ............................ 17
Special points of interest • From the Junior Warden • 10 (+ 1) Rules of Respect • Lenten Tradi ons • Maundy Thursday Foot Washing
Observing a Holy Lent, Cont. Well, of course not. The self-denial we are called to is the desire we each have to put ourselves first. To think about our needs and our passions as more important than the needs of others and God’s expecta ons of who God created us to be. As we choose to give up passions or take on disciplines in the season, we don’t do it because we are pu7ng ourselves first, we do it because we are pu7ng God first. Now, there’s a fine line here that some mes gets a bit smudged (just like those ashes on our foreheads). I, like many others before me, have given up some food or drink item for Lent (e.g., candy - which is nearly impossible for me, caffeine, or meat). And, the truth is I have benefiFed from the observance. It was good for me. I lost weight. I ate beFer. I felt beFer. But Lenten observances are not like New Year’s Resolu ons. So, I found that each Lent I had to ask myself, was my desire to observe a Lenten discipline for me or for God. Was it just helping my body and not my soul? Was there something in my devo on that would allow me to grow spiritually? And honestly, some mes yes… some mes no. But, we must make room for the spiritual – even if it’s every me you want to reach for a piece of candy
you say a prayer or give thanks for your blessings. The purpose of the season is to turn ourselves toward God, to prac ce repentance and to begin anew, each moment, with the full inten on of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you haven’t made any plans about your Lenten devo on, there are many resources within this newsleFer that you might find appealing. As for me, I’m going to make it my prac ce that when I’m at the church in the mornings I will be in the church at 9:00am saying Morning Prayer. The door will be open, feel free to join me. And may God bless you this Lenten season and always.
Ash Wednesday Services at All Souls’ All Souls’ will offer mul ple services on Ash Wednesday in an effort to accommodate our busy lives and schedules. We will offer a 7:00am and 12:00pm Ash Wednesday Holy Eucharist with the imposi on of ashes. At 4:00pm we will offer a family service, including Holy Communion and imposi on of Ashes. This service is designed to be “kid friendly.” The readings and sermon will be age appropriate as we engage Ash Wednesday as a parish family. At 7:00pm we will offer a Sung Holy Eucharist with the imposi on of ashes. We look forward to observing Ash Wednesday with you as we begin the journey of a Holy Lent. 2
Ash Wednesday Feb 10, 2016 7:00 AM 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM
Start Lent with a bang… er… 0lip! Our Lenten Season will kick-off with our tradi onal pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday, February 9. Join us in Gooden Hall for pancakes and sausage prepared by the men’s group and for a wonderful night of fes vi es and fellowship. Our me together will include zydeco music, a pancake flipping race, and crazy hats. At the end of the evening, we will process to the Columbarium as we bury the Alleluia Banner for lent and burn Palms from last year’s Palm Sunday service to create ashes for Ash Wednesday services. If you haven’t joined us for this event in the past, make a point of it, it’s great fun and we can see which pancake flipping team will take the prize. Everyone is invited to our family-friendly Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party! All Souls’ brotherhood will be making their annual pancakes and sausages. There is a suggested dona on of $10 that will help to support the missions of All Souls’ Youth Group!
Wednesday AM Eucharist Come to “breakfast” with our Lord Christ at 7:00 a. m. on Wednesday mornings and get a special blessing for the rest of the week. We gather in the chapel with Our Lady of Guadalupe for an informal, quiet and prayerful me of worship. This prayerful “hump day” service gives me a boost for the rest of the week. Why not try it as a Lenten discipline? The service ends by 7:35 a.m. so it is not disrup ve to the rest of a busy day – indeed, the rest of the day goes beFer for me. Love, Nan Hardison
Annual Meeting Re-Cap: New Vestry and Wardens Wow! Our 2016 Annual Mee ng was great fun and we are blessed in so many ways. Thank you all who par cipated in the mee ng as we elected new vestry members, heard some commiFee reports, and reviewed our financial posi on. All Souls’ is an exci ng parish with many ministries working away in our midst. If you missed the mee ng, feel free to stop by the church office and pick up the annual report, it’s full of wonderful informa on. And, when you get a chance please say thank you to those vestry members who finished their term this year: Rosemary Barnes (Senior Warden), Neil Malmquist (Junior Warden), Donna McDonald, and Raymond Lynch. Also, please welcome to the vestry: Ms. Molly Bodeen, Ms. Heather Catron, Mr. ScoF Crispell, and Ms. Judy Kebler. And finally, don’t forget to thank your new wardens who have agreed to take on this special leadership posi on in our parish: Mr. John Brown and Mr. ScoF Crispell. This is our vestry. Feel free to speak to any one of them in you have a ques on or a concern and, as always, please know that Father Joe’s door is always open and conversa on is always welcome. Mr. John Brown, Senior Warden
Mr. ScoF Cripsell, Junior Warden
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From the Deacon’s Desk by The Rev. Pam Rieger Ah, February, the month of “LOVE”!
dreamed up a to sell more cards and giSs!”)
...or at least Madison Avenue would like us to think a lot about love, and with those thoughts of love, think about buying giSs, jewelry, cards, sweets, dinner out, etc. (I even think I saw an ad for a Valen ne’s Day giS of pajamas)....to show our love for that “someone special”, on St. Valen ne’s Day.
A few months ago, I no ced a co-worker of mine at the shop had started to behave differently at work than he had for the last year. He seemed to be calmer, happier, (not so angry or argumenta ve), he was (on his own ini a ve) helping others, and didn’t seem to have a complaint about anything...totally the opposite of what I’d observed over the last year. Curious at this change in his demeanor, I asked him one day, what had happened in his life that would bring about this radical change in his outlook each day. (Not that I was complaining!)
This year, February 10th also marks the beginning of Lent... and we, as Episcopalians, observe Holy Lent by commi7ng ourselves to 40 days of prepara on as we look toward Easter...these are typically spiritual disciplines that help us grow closer to God. (From All Souls’ Announcements Jan 31, 2016 regarding Lent.) Lent...Love...Valen ne’s Day?? In the immortal words of Tina Turner, “What’s love got to do with it?” Personally, I happen to think Lent is ALL about Love. ( ‘Not so sure about Valen ne’s Day, as my oldest says, “ It’s just another Hallmark Holiday
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He replied, “I’m in love, and she’s in love with me too...and her love makes me want to be the best person I can be, every day.” In Lent, we are preparing our hearts for the greatest gi of love from God: Jesus Christ...we are clearing out any obstacles that might stand in the way of the mutual rela onship of love between us and God- anything that might stop that love from flourishing with-
in us- and shining out through us to others. Somewhat like my co-worker, we “...want to be the best person we can be, every day.” When we love someone, we want to be as close as we can be to that person...we want to know everything about them, we want to please them...So, in Holy Lent-during the 40 days of prepara on - we prepare our hearts to receive the unfathomable love of the Risen Christand we prac ce the spiritual disciplines that help us to be the best we can be for the One who loved us first... And, THAT’S what LOVE has to do with it, Tina! Fr. Pedro Arrupe says it so beau fully in his poem, Fall in Love. Blessings! Deacon Pam
Fall in Love by Fr. Pedro Arrupe Nothing is more prac cal than finding God, than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagina on, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gra tude. Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.
Maundy Thursday Foot Washing In early March a shoe “tree” will appear in the narthex. The Outreach CommiFee will be asking members of the parish to purchase shoes for the homeless, to be given out on Maundy Thursday, March 24. Dona ons of socks, hygiene items, or $25 (for shoe purchases) will also be welcome. This event has been hugely successful for several years, and now is held at two loca ons: the Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach and the Friend to Friend Clubhouse of ECS on El Cajon Boulevard. Volunteers are welcome and needed on that day as well. We will be providing more informa on at the end of February. Many people have already signed up for shoes at the Episcopal Church Center. Living on the street means a lot of walking, so shoes are really important. But they wear out quickly when you have only one pair, so many of our homeless neighbors are grateful for this event and look forward to it. Those who have come in years past tell their friends. The shoes, haircuts, dental help, veterinarian help, job help, and other services are important. But most important is the Maundy Thursday service and foot washing that begins the event; the Bishop presides. Please consider how you can help on this day or beforehand. When we help these, our brothers and sisters, we are helping Jesus (MaFhew 25: 31-46).
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Lenten Learning Opportunities Sunday Morning Forums tament different than God today? Presented by The Reverend Brian Fidler of the Bishop’s School. Lent 3, February 28th: The Canon of Scripture: How did we end up with the books in the Old Testament, New Testament, and apocrypha? What about other wri ngs and other scriptures? Why aren’t they in our canon? Presented by Dr. David Moseley of the Bishop’s School and USD. The Spiritual Forma on CommiFee has put together some great learning opportuni es for Lent. On January 3, during the Sunday Morning Forum, Deacon Pam and Father Jim asked parishioners to share with them their big ques ons in the bible. This was an engaging hour of sharing and puzzling over some things in the bible that we all wonder about. Well, we dug through those big ques ons and have developed a Lenten Sunday Morning series that will speak to those concerns. Now, of course, an hour will not be sufficient me to fully address these big ques ons but it will begin the conversa on and may encourage us to con nue doing a liFle digging on our own. The commiFee has been working on speakers and we have a preFy amazing line up! Lent 1, February 14th: Old Testament Historicity and Accuracy. How accurate are the stories of the Old Testament? How much of what is wriFen is hyperbole? Was Methuselah really 969 years old? What about those epic baFles? And did the walls of Jericho really come tumbling down? Presented by: Dr. Norah Caudill, Affiliate Associate Professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary. Lent 2, February 21st: Violence in the Old Testament and the Psalms: Is the God of the Old Tes6
Lent 4, March 6th: The Hearing God's Word in the NT Epistles: Challenges Posed by the Personality and Iden ty of Their Authors : Why does Paul always seem so angry? Does he have a hidden agenda? What about the other leFers? Who wrote what, really? Presented by The Rev. Dr. John Koenig re red professor of New Testament and Greek Studies, The General Theological Seminary. Lent 5, March 13th: John 14:1-6: If Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life by which no one can come to the father... what does that mean for those of other faiths and those of no faith? Presented by Dr. Mark Mann of PLNU. Please note that topics, dates, and speakers may be subject to change. And remember, we will record all these sessions and have them posted on our sermon player (allsouls.sermon.net) so you can listen in if you’ve missed them or if you would just like to listen again.
Wednesday Lenten Soup Suppers, TED Talks, and Conversation Join us Wednesday Evenings in Lent for Soup and conversa on. We will gather in the Rankin Room for a light supper of soup and bread beginning at 6:00pm. We will then watch a short TED Talk. (TED is a nonprofit devoted to sharing ideas via short, powerful talks, usually 18 minutes or less. TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics in more than 100 languages.) Ted Talks selected for our Wednesday evening program will focus on Gra tude. Following the TED Talk we will engage in conversa on and sharing. If you’d like to provide soup for one or more of our suppers please sing up on the list in the Narthex or the Parish Hall and/or contact ScoF Crispell who will be coordina ng these gatherings.
Volunteer Opportunities at The Peninsula Shepherd Center The Peninsula Shepherd Center is grateful for the meaningful work that All Souls’ provides in support of Peninsula Shepherd Center seniors. All Souls’ Commitment helps fulfill PSC’s mission to provide a support system so that older adults may live independently and self-sufficiently in their own homes for as long as possible, while providing opportuni es to learn, socialize and serve. The leading program at the Peninsula Shepherd Center is the Out and About Peninsula Senior Transporta on program. The center needs help to meet the growing transporta on needs of seniors and recruit new Out and About Peninsula volunteer drivers. As you can imagine, as the popula on ages, there is an ever growing need for rides. Peninsula Shepherd Center’s Out and About Peninsula provides a daily van shuFle service and a volunteer driver program for seniors that can no longer drive. For many seniors, lack of transporta on keeps them from mee ng basic needs. PSC is greatly in need of volunteers in the volunteer driver program. Volunteers in the volunteer driver program set their own schedules and can now view volunteer opportuni es on a computer soSware program called Ridescheduler. If you or a family member or friend wants more informa on on this most needed and important volunteer opportunity please calls the PSC office at 619-223-1640 or visits sdpsc.org. 7
Lenten Spiritual Growth Opportunities: Climbing with the Psalms by Marlene Herndon Are you ready to enrich your conversa ons with God? Together we’ll explore how the psalmists prayed and how they are an example for us in our prayers. Here’s a por on from The Prayer Manual , PP III-IV by an Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher: In our worship services, the language of the prayers should be thoughXul, dignified, and upliSing, and we catch spiritual insights which become part of our own spiritual possession and soul and so enrich us unto God. But the example of the psalmists who speak to God with raw honesty gives us also, and even more through Jesus, permission to pray as they did, some mes with doubt, despera on, and rage. Shouldn’t our rela onship with God be as honest? You may already talk to God about the good, the bad, and the ugly. But you may come to experience God’s presence even more as we pray the Psalms together. If you’ve been considering how you’ll experience Lent in a personal way and maybe needing extra nourishment and fellowship, consider joining us for a me of study. Bring your Bibles or BCP and something to write in. Beginning February 11 @ 10:15 following the 9:30 Eucharist for 45 minutes to an hour. Light refreshments. Loca on TBA.
Lenten Traditions (Source: www.SSJE.org) During Lent we tradi onally take on spiritual disciplines that help us draw closer to God. We hope you might find one or more of these prac ces helpful in your journey through Lent. FASTING: This Lent let go of the inessen al to hold fast to what is essen al: If you abstain from food, ask what you hunger for. Or fast from speed to embrace slowness; fast from indifference to awaken to wonder. DISCIPLINE: You might choose not to let something go, but to take something on: Devote yourself to a discipline--exercise or prayer, reading Scripture or plan ng a garden--that will help you reconnect with God, creator and sustainer of all that is life-giving within you. PRAYER: Each Lent we pray, “Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, O Lord.” Ask for a new heart to know and love God. Pray each day that God will break your heart open--to forgiveness, to peace, to the needs of the world God loves so well. SERVICE: This Lent take the risk of asking God to work out his purpose for your life, offering yourself anew to be used in God’s service. Ask God to be God and pray, “Here am I, Lord send me!” INTENTION: Whatever prac ce you choose, be inten onal. Be truly present to the grace of this season, which allows us to rediscover what is essen al to the abundant life for which God has created us. 8
Lenten Spiritual Growth Opportunities: Embracing the Prophets by The Rev. Pam Rieger All Souls’ will begin a six-week study on the Walter Brueggemann video series en tled “Embracing the Prophets in Contemporary Culture; Confron ng Today’s Pharaohs” February 16th! “Walter Brueggemann, arguably America’s leading Old Testament scholar and theologian, takes us on a wild ride through the poe c prophecy of the Hebrew Scripture, iden fying cultural contexts, pu7ng a framework to Israel’s history, and, most significantly ...and at mes challengingly! drawing connec ons between Israel’s sociological , economic and spiritual status and that of America today.” “This study... is a perfect tool for reflec on and community building. The ever-moving and provoca ve Walter Brueggemann sets out prophe c thinking in clear and appealing terms as challenges to ancient cultures and worlds....and then turns to our contemporary western world and finds an urgent prophe c call to resist consumerism and power structures that oppress and dehumanize us all... Learn not only about the way the ancient prophets can be heard to speak to our me but about religious teaching more generally”. Each session begins with a 10-15 minute video presenta on by Brueggemann followed by a filmed interac on from a diverse small group. We will have available for $11.00 the par cipant’s workbook for each aFendee. We will be mee ng on Tuesday evenings in the Sherman Room from 7pm-8pm, star ng February 16th. Refreshments will be provided.
Other Resources Forward Movement is offering a Lenten Meditation Series: Repairing the Breach: Discipleship and Mission in a global economy. You can sign up to received daily e-mails to take part in this devotion. (repairingthebreach.forward movement.org) And, don’t forget to sign-up for Lent Madness to receive posts on the Saintly Match-up for the day. (lentmadness.org) Also, there are some wonderful blogs out there worth reading, some spiritual, some not, a couple from our very own parishioners. From Pat Ford: Observa ons by J. Patrick Ford (jpatrickford.me) From Tom Marsilje: Adventures in Living Terminally Op mis c. (adventuresinlivingterminallyop mis c.com) And Finally, a couple of other blogs you might find of interest. Seven Whole Days by the Rev. ScoF Gunn (sevenwholedays.org) The Sub-dean’s Stall by the Rev. Robert Hendrickson (thesubdeadnstall.org)
Community News Congratula ons to Jackson Melton who will be compe ng in the Winter Championship Swim Meet Feb 6 and 7! Hats off to Bill Cobb and his musical theater students who offered the na onal anthem at the Gulls game on Jan 29!
RSVP today...sea ng is limited. 9
Which Translation it Right for You? by Terry Dirbas For many Chris ans, Lenten discipline takes the form of greater engagement with Scripture. Some choose to take on a prac ce of daily Bible reading. Others prefer to learn more about a book of the Bible or a major theme of faith or theology through the lens of our holy texts. The climax of the season of Lent, the Great Vigil of Easter, is also the occasion of many bap sms, and a Bible makes a great giS for someone recently ini ated into the faith community. But with so many op ons out there, how do we choose a Bible? The Episcopal Church (www.episcopalchurch.org/page/bible) has approved a number of transla ons for public worship, but the most commonly used is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). It is the latest transla on in the King James tradi on. The NRSV aims to be readable while s ll retaining some of the familiar words and phrases of the King James Version. Many seminaries and universi es prefer this transla on for its accuracy and faithfulness to the earliest and best manuscripts. If you’re looking for something a bit easier to read than the text you encounter at church on Sunday morning, you might consider choosing a different transla on. The New Interna onal Version (NIV) is one popular version (especially among evangelicals) that tries to blend a literal transla on of the original text with a func onal reading. The Common English Version (CEV) is also a great choice for those new to reading Scripture, as it’s wriFen in contemporary style using common language. The CEV is oSen recommended for children and youth as well. At the far end of the spectrum, there is The Message, which is something between a transla on and a paraphrase that aFempts to put the Bible into ordinary language, including modern slang and idiom. Though it has been cri cized for its loose approach to the text, many people find it appealing for casual devo onal reading or just for a fresh take on verses they have read many mes over the years. For more informa on on the mul tude of transla ons of the Bible out there, check out these resources from the American Bible Society, hFp://bibleresources.americanbible.org/resource/list For children, it is oSen helpful to use a Bible actually designed for them with their developmental stage in mind. For the youngest among us, you might consider The Children of God Storybook Bible, by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. This paraphrase of over 50 stories does not shy away from uncomfortable events such as the fall or the cross, but always grounds them in the story of God’s love for us. This year in Kids’ Club (our new Sunday morning offering at 9:10), our children will be using the Spark Bible. This is basically a study bible for young people, with introduc ons to the books, key facts, trivia, ques ons, and with s ckers to use to help them interact with the text in a personal way. For older youth, we at All Souls’ have had good response to The Story, which is an abridged version of the NIV, formaFed like an ordinary novel. Without the chapter and verse markings and the recita on of genealogies, youth can dive into the main ideas of Scripture, making it much easier to get started. The Story was intended for all ages, and many adults appreciate it for the same reasons as youth. Finally, as with most things these days, “there’s an app for that.” Online, you can go to www.biblegateway.com to access hundreds of transla ons of Scripture, which you can search for specific passages or for words or topics. You can even compare versions side by side! Bible Gateway also has an app for iPhone and Android. Check out your app store to search for this and other Bible resources—you’ll be amazed how many are out there! 10
An Update on Our Finances Cynthia Fleri, our All Souls’ volunteer treasurer, made a wonderful report at our annual mee ng on January 24. We finished 2015 very strong including a contribu on to our Facili es Use Fund which will allow us to con nue to maintain and enhance our campus and facili es. Thank you all for your incredible generosity in support of our missions and ministries. INCOME
1st Quarter Total
2nd Quarter Total
3rd Quarter Total
4th Quarter 2015
Year to Date Total
Income Budget
$ 121,409
$ 124,734
$ 114,571
$ 180,200
$ 540,914
Income Actual
$131,915
$ 119,869
$ 121,841
$ 196,038
$ 569,663
Difference
$ 10,506
($ 4,865)
$ 7,270
$ 15,838
$ 28,749
1st Quarter Total
2nd Quarter Total
3rd Quarter Total
EXPENSE
4th Quarter 2015
Year to Date Total
Expense Budget
$ 122,040
$ 129,791
$ 123,207
$ 165,876
$ 540,914
Expense Actual
$111,202
$ 123,981
$ 123,822
$ 210,658
$ 569,663
($ 10,838)
($ 5,810)
$ 615
$ 44,782
$ 28,749
Difference
Cumulative to Date Narrative Budget The 2015 Annual Report contains details on our finances as well as a narra ve budget which makes it clear to iden fy sources of income and what ministries are supported by our expenses.
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Music at All Souls’ CHORAL LIBRARY UPDATE Work on the choral library con nues through February. All 300 plus tles will soon be entered into a FileMaker database where they can be accessed and sorted by composer, tle, genre, and occasion. At present, 150 tles have already been entered. The use of a database will accelerate the planning of repertoire, and most importantly, keep the choral library well organized for future use. Many thanks to volunteer Holly Teetzel, and her new assistant Liz Waddell, for con nuing this important work. MUSIC ON THE POINT CONERT SERIES with Organist: SIMON THOMAS JACOBS supported by the BeFy Gouraud Endowment Mark your calendars! The Music on the Point Series is pleased to announce an upcoming recital by notable organist Simon Thomas Jacobs on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 5pm. Mr. Jacobs will offer a diverse program of organ works well-suited to our FriFs Organ, Op. 5. Look for further details and repertoire choices in next month’s e-Rubric. Simon read music and was organ scholar at Clare College, University of Cambridge. During this me he accompanied and assisted in the direc on of the chapel choir in the weekly rou ne of chapel services and in their capacity as an interna onally-renowned vocal ensemble, performing concerts throughout the UK and Europe. In 2009, Simon moved to the USA to take up the post of Associate Director of Music at Christ Church Greenwich, CT. Since that me, Simon has made America his permanent home holding subsequent posi ons at Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis, IN, and recently as interim at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Philadelphia. Most recently, he completed an Ar st’s Diploma in Organ Performance at Oberlin College. In the summer of 2013, Simon won First Prize and the Audience Prize at the St. Albans Interna onal Organ Compe on, which celebrated its fiSieth anniversary that same year. Under the management of Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Ar sts, Simon has developed an ac ve career as a recitalist in the USA and has performed at some of the world’s most esteemed concert venues: Notre Dame de Paris; King’s College, Cambridge; St. Albans Cathedral; Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford; St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh; Ste Croix, Bordeaux. His debut CD Parthenia Nova, recorded on the new instrument by Richards, Fowkes & Co. at St. George’s Hanover Square, London was recently released.
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CHORISTER PROGRAM UPDATE White Level nears comple on! Our ten choristers con nue hard at work on their White Level workbook of the Royal School of Church Music curriculum. Soon, they will be done with this first level and be eligible to receive the white surplice and their much coveted RSCM chorister medals featuring St Nicholas (patron saint of choristers). Stay tuned in the coming months for this important event in the life of our chorister program.
CHORAL EVENSONG Third Sunday in Lent Sunday, February 28, 2016 (5pm) Responses: M.J. Gibson Introit: A Prayer of King Henry VI, Henry G. Ley Psalm 34 Benedicam Domino Tone VII.2 Can cles: Magnificat & Nunc Dimi)s in F, George Dyson Anthem: O Lord, the maker of all thing, William Mundy Including the appointed Hymns and Psalm
From the Junior Warden by Scott Crispell I was deeply honored to be chosen as Junior Warden by the Vestry at our mee ng immediately following the Annual Mee ng last Sunday. Another name for this posi on is the People’s Warden. In that context, I would like to make myself available to all parishioners (let’s say between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.!!) if you feel you would like to discuss something with me. I do need to be very clear up front that I won’t be the carrier of messages from parishioners to Fr. Joe—we all need to be responsible for conveying our ideas, joys, or concerns to the Rector—but I will most happily be a sounding board if needed.
from the Compass CommiFee and will be charged with implemen ng that living document. Fr. Joe has already shared some exci ng ideas and plans with the Senior Warden (also called the Rector’s Warden), John Brown, and me and the three of us are eager to join with the Vestry to put these ideas into ac on. Parishioners’ par cipa on will be cri cal, so please be prepared to do your part as we venture forth together. Please keep the clergy, staff and vestry in your prayers daily as we strive to discern and then implement God’s will for All Souls’ Parish.
Your Vestry is embarking on a great year ahead. We will very shortly be receiving the final draS 13
Lent Madness!
If you are looking for a light-hearted Lenten Devo on that will make you laugh and learn all at the same me, Lent Madness is for you. Modeled on the bracket system of the NCAA basketball tournament known as March Madness, Lent Madness places saints in a bracketed tournament system. The 32 saints that populate the bracket at its start are nominated by Lent Madness devotees and selected by the Lent Madness Supreme Execu ve Council (SEC), The Rev. Tim Schenk (the brainchild of Lent Madness) and the Rev. ScoF Gunn (Execu ve Director of Forward Movement.) The format is preFy straighXorward. 32 saints are placed in an elimina on bracket. Each day in Lent (with Sundays, as feast days being an excep on) there will be a showdown between two saints. The SEC has selected celebrity bloggers who will provide biographical informa on about the saints in the head to head (or halo to halo) match-up for the day. Each pairing remains open for contempla on for most of the day but followers are requested to cast their vote for the saint they’d like to see move on to the next round. As the rounds advance we learn more and more about the saints. Eventually we’ll read some quotes, learn some quirks, and explore legends. They’ll even spend some me sharing with us some saintly kitsch. The winner will be determined in the midst of Holy Week. Past winners include Francis of Assisi, Charles Wesley, Frances Perkins, and Mary Magdalene. We have a full size bracket in the office so you 14
can chart progress on a daily basis. We also have a number of “Saintly Scorecards” which include brief hagiographies and your very own Lent Madness Bracket. And, we’d love for you to fill out your “dream bracket” before the tournament begins and submit to the office. We’ll score those brackets and offer a prize to the winner… maybe some of that saintly kitsch. This really is a wonderful way to learn about the saints: some you’ve heard of and some you haven’t. And an fun-filled way to engage a devo on for the season. Now, if vo ng for saints seems kind of odd to you, you’re not the only one. Two sugges ons: as we move through the rounds, maybe the saint you select is not the “best” of the two saints but rather the saint that you wish to learn more about. As the bracket works, the saint that loses is never heard from again. (OK, that was kind of dras c… they just drop out of the compe on.) A second op on, as we select saints, judging as we choose one over the other, perhaps Lent is a good me to consider how we might judge others in our everyday life. (Hmm….. gives you something to think about, doesn’t it?) Visit www.Lentmadness.org and sign up for daily posts from celebrity bloggers and to receive hilarious videos from the SEC. Our par cipa on at All Souls’ is growing! Join us on the journey! Have some fun! Stop in and pick up your Saintly Scorecard! And together we can help decide who will be the winner of the 2016 Golden Halo!
Vacation Bible School by Jayne Ricker Welcome to the world of Vaca on Bible School! You may ask…what is a VBS!? VBS is a week of ac ve, adventurous fun during the summer months at All Souls’ for children going into Kindergarten through 5th grade. This summer at All Souls’ VBS kids will learn all about how God creates, God helps, God loves, God calms and God sends through interac ve ac vity centers. This year’s VBS theme is “Surf Shack – where kids and adults Catch the Wave of God’s Amazing love!” It is becoming one of the most popular forms of outreach for All Souls’ as we meet and invite families to par cipate in this week of fun and learning throughout the year.
yond…we want to reach moms and dad, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas. Vaca on Bible School also offers the youth and young adults an opportunity to engage. OSen young adults can lose their connec on with their local church because they may feel underu lized. We plan on giving key VBS volunteer roles to youth, young adults and college students as we call on Point Loma Nazarene University, Dana Middle School and Point Loma High school. Using young people as ‘servants’ and not just ‘consumers’ is an important way of establishing a faith that lasts.
So how about all of us? VBS allows us to laugh and be silly with children who are happy to be par cipa ng. What about helping to decorate as we transform Gooden Hall into a Surf Shack with surf boards, sand, waves, beach balls and a whole lot more! If you are not sure if there is enough volunteer opportuni es for you to par cipate in All Souls’ VBS…well thing again! How about being a With more and more working parents looking for photographer, a Snack Maker, a Bible Story or CraS meaningful experiences for their kids during the teacher, how about the Game Center assistant? summer, the poten al for VBS remains undiminHow fun would it be to lead a small group of chilished. It can clearly be the front door to the church dren as they travel from ac vity center to ac vity that even unchurched parents appear willing to center? What about leading Music at the opening open. and closing assembly? To be sure…all volunteers will VBS says loud and clear that “children maFer to have plenty of resources God” and they maFer to us as a church. It’s imand support before and portant to show others, especially children, that during VBS so that everyone loving God is fun and the message of Christ is not has a fun-filled week. all about an adult’s world but it is about being a community where loving God and faith includes children. The goal of our Vaca on Bible School is to minister to children in our church and those children who may not aFend church on a regular basis. This also gives our families of the church the opportunity to bring guests as we are hoping to reach en re families within the Point Loma community and be15
10 ( +1 ) Rules of Respect by Fr. Joe Every year around our annual mee ng I like to share the 10 Rules of Respect +1. The Body of Christ depends on healthy communica on. Healthy communica on helps build a healthy community and can produce powerful ministry. Unhealthy communica on can unravel us and keep us from being effec ve in our ministry to share Christ’s healing love with the world. These rules have been shared in many parishes and vestries. I offer them to you in the spirit of maintaining healthy communica on in our parish—a commitment to do our best to communicate in healthy, respecXul ways, in order to strengthen our community as children of God for whom Christ died, and in so doing, strengthen us to do God’s work in the world. I ask that we engage these rules with an inten on to incorporate them into our lives (both in and out of the parish). As we do, I trust God will work through us and in us and together we will grow into the individuals, and the parish, God hopes we will be. 1. If you have a problem with me, come to me (privately). 2. If I have a problem with you, I will come to you (privately). 3. If someone has a problem with me and comes to you, send them to me. (I’ll do the same for you.) 4. If someone consistently will not come to me, say, “Let’s go to Joe together. I am sure he will see us about this.” (I will do the same for you.) 5. Be careful how you interpret me—I’d rather do that. On maFers that are unclear, do not feel pressured to interpret my feelings or thoughts. It is easy to misinterpret inten ons. Assume the best of me and ask if you have ques ons about my inten ons. 6. I will be careful how I interpret you. I will assume the best of you and ask if I have ques ons about your inten ons. 16
7. If it’s confidenAal, don’t tell. If you or anyone comes to me in confidence, I won’t tell unless a) the person is going to harm himself/herself, b) the person is going to physically harm someone else, c) a child has been physically or sexually abused. I expect the same from you. A caveat on this: the confiden-ality in prayer and support groups is meant to build up the Body of Christ by strengthening one’s spiritual life. It is not intended to provide cover for breaking these rules of respec0ul communica-on. It is not wise to assume that speaking ill of someone, or behaving destruc-vely in a confiden-al group, will somehow not get out. These things have a way of doing so. 8. I do not read unsigned leBers or notes. 9. I do not manipulate; I will not be manipulated; do not let others manipulate you. Do not let others try to manipulate me through you. I will not preach “at you.” I will leave convic on to the Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit does it beFer anyway!) 10. When in doubt, just say it. The only dumb ques ons are those that don’t get asked. Our rela onships with one another, at the end of the day, are the most important things so if you have a concern, pray, and then (if led) speak up. If I can answer it without misrepresen ng something, someone, or breaking a confidence, I will. … and the 11th Rule 11. Pray for one another. That’s not just a throwaway line. LiSing one another to God in prayer is how we learn, slowly and some mes painfully, but ul mately joyfully, to see each other with God’s eyes, hear each other with God’s ears and love each other with God’s heart. My holding you in prayer will always include me asking God to love you through me. Pray that for me and for one another.
Community Hour—Coffee, Conversation and Kids’ Club! Sunday mornings are about community. Yes, we gather at 8:00 and 10:15 for worship but we also gather as a church family, as a parish who love and support each other as we live into our discipleship following Jesus Christ. So, we want Sunday Mornings to offer a life-giving experience to all in our community. And we’re accomplishing that by crea ng what we call Community Hour from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on Sunday Mornings! Community Hour is a chance for us to be together as a family as we share in different offerings on our campus. For families with young children, there is a nursery staffed by Ms. Vanessa and Ms. BeFy and a Godly Play class for children from 2 years old to the second grade. Our Godly Play instructors are well trained and love spending me with the liFlest of our church family. For kids in 3rd/4th and 5th/6th grade Mr. David McColl and the Rev. Pam Rieger will be teaching the Bible using the SPARK Ac vate Faith Curriculum. This curriculum includes a bible for each student in the class that they can make their own as they “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” both the Old and the New Testaments. Age appropriate workbook material will also be provided for each age group. Middle School and High School students are invited to spend some me in the youth room being in fellowship with each other and catching up. Terry Dirbas, Heather Catron, and Jack Northam stand at the ready to provide leadership in forma on when that group seeks some deeper guidance and development. Community hour is not just about our kids, though. It’s about caring for the whole church family. For the adults (and even you high schoolers) we’ve created a Coffee Corner in Gooden Hall where you can take a load off, sit and relax and have a cup of GOOD coffee, read the paper, read a magazine, talk with others, or simply just take a break. This is your personal liFle coffee shop. Come and enjoy and get a rest before or aSer worship. And please share your ideas about how the Coffee Corner can be made beFer. And, of course, if you are inclined, you can always join the Sunday Morning Forums as we gather in the Sherman Room to learn about scripture, tradi on, history, science, and how we are meant to live as Chris ans in the world today. Community Hour provides something for everyone. If you see something missing, please let us know by e-mailing the church office at office@allsoulspointloma.org. Let’s come together for worship, let’s come together in fellowship, let’s claim Sunday as a me for building community, growing spiritually, and preparing us for the week to come. See you at Community Hour! 17
Looking Ahead at All Souls’ February 5 and 6: Vestry Retreat Please keep your vestry in your prayers as we gather to prepare for our work together in 2016
February 9, 6:00pm: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Join us for the fes vi es, pancakes, sausage, and races! We’ll bury the Alleluia banner and make ashes from last years palms.
February 10: Ash Wednesday Services at 7:00am, 12:00pm, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm. The 4:00pm service will be a family-friendly child -oriented service. Bring the liFle ones!
February 11, 11:00am: Peninsula Shepherd Center Lunch Bunch The Peninsula Shepherd center will offer lunch in Gooden Hall with a wonderful music presenta on!
February 17, 6:00pm: Lent Soup Supper and TED Talks! Join us! The first of five. All are welcome. Soup, TED talk, and conversa on.
February 20, 8:30am—3:30pm: Leadership Academy at St. Bart’s, Poway Everyone in the diocese is invited to come to leadership academy. This gathering is held every year and provides a variety of workshops regarding ministry, mission, and church business. The day costs $15 per person with lunch and material provided. This year’s guest speaker is the Rt. Rev. Mary Gray -Reeves, bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real.
February 28, 12:00pm: Monthly Mi-X Brunch We’ll meet at Sessions Public for fellowship, conversa on, and ac vity planning.
Upcoming Worship at All Souls’ WEDNESDAY EUCHARIST: February 3, 10, 17, and 24 at 7:00am Join us, Wednesday mornings at 7:00am in the chapel for Eucharist. Stop by on your way to work or before that first cup of morning coffee and worship with us!
THURSDAY EUCHARIST: February 4, 11, 18, 25 at 9:30am Join us in the chapel for a quiet service of Holy Eucharist.
CANDLELIGHT COMPLINE: Thursday, February 11 at 9:00pm Come join us in this unique service steeped in tradi onal spirituality while completely updated with modern language and imagery. Live piano music, candlelight and group medita on creates a healing, peaceful environment. Approximately 30 minutes. 9:00pm the 2nd Thursday of each month.
EVENSONG: February 28 at 5:00pm Come and close your day with the Divine Office as the All Souls’ Choir offers their giSs to God in a beau ful choral evensong. 18
Annual Meeting 2016
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All Souls’ Episcopal Church All Souls’ is a vibrant Episcopal congrega on in the heart of Point Loma. All ages are welcome; infants and children enliven our worship. To learn more about membership, please contact the church office or visit us on-line. Visit our website at www.allsoulspointloma.org Listen to our sermons on-line at allsouls.sermon.net Reach us by e-mail at office@allsoulspointloma.org Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/allsoulspointloma Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/allsoulspointloma
All Souls’ Episcopal Church
Sunday Services
1475 Catalina Blvd. San Diego, CA 92107 619-223-6394
Holy Eucharist: 8:00 am and 10:15 am Nursery Care from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm (infants - 3 years old) Kids’ Club and Godly Play: 9:10 am Small Souls Worship: 10:15 am except 4th Sunday of each month Family Eucharist – 4th Sunday @ 10:15 am Choral Evensong – 4th Sunday @ 5:00 pm
In the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes, Bishop
Staff The Rev. Joseph J. Dirbas, Rector The Very Rev. James E. Carroll, Associate The Rev. Pamela Rieger, Deacon Ruben Valenzuela, Director of the Music Jayne Ricker, Facili es and Office Manager BeFy Nork, Nursery Assistant Vanessa Hiday, Nursery Assistant
Weekday Services: Wednesday Holy Eucharist: 7:00 am Thursday Holy Eucharist: 9:30 am Saturday Cel c Eucharist: 5:00 pm Compline Service – 2nd Thursday @ 9:00 pm