Announcements for 3/3/2019
Worship
† Today is World Mission Sunday in the Episcopal Church.
† March 6th is Ash Wednesday. The following services are offered:
7:30AM—Imposition of Ashes; no Eucharist
9:15AM—Imposition of Ashes; no Eucharist
12:15PM—Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes
6:30PM—Holy Eucharist with music and the Imposition of Ashes
† There are many opportunities to participate in a holy Lent this year. Please pick up a Lenten booklet this morning, or look for the online version on our website soon. Feel free to take a booklet for a friend or neighbor, it would be an easy way to invite them to church!
† Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30AM on Sunday mornings and at 9:15AM Tuesdays through Fridays. Anyone can pray the service privately using the Book of Common Prayer or one of a number of smart phone apps! See the last section of the digital edition of the “Acts of the Apostles” for details.
Outreach
† We will be hosting our next Darby Mission meal on Tuesday, March 19th. We will be cooking chili and need food preparers (main dish, cornbread, mac & cheese, salad, dessert) and people to join in and serve the meal. We will meet at the church at 5PM to driver together, or 5:30 at the Darby Community Center (1021 Ridge Ave., Darby PA). A sign-up sheet is posted in the parish hall, find the online sign-up sheet here.
Children and Youth
† Nursery Childcare is available during the 10:00AM Sunday service for children ages 3 and younger in the Godly Play Room.
† Sunday School: Children Preschool – 2nd grade and 3rd – 8th grade attend Sunday classes at 10:00AM, the same time as the church service starts; children join their parents in the church in time for communion. Classes are held on the 1st, 3rd, & 4th Sundays of the month. On 2nd Sundays children attend church with their parents, either the 10:00PM Holy Eucharist service or the 5:30PM Family Worship Service. When there is a 5th Sunday, children attend church with their parents, with some of the children taking part in leading the service.
† The Holy Apostles Choir School begins its pilot program in late February. If you have a potential student, apply today. Applications are available on-line or on the “connect” table. The Choir School will accept only 20 students for the pilot semester. Placement preference will be given to members of the Church of the Holy Apostles. More information is available at holyapostlespa.org/choir-school/. Please forward this information to friends and neighbors who may be interested. Contact Deb Stambaugh if you have any questions.
Parish Life
† March 5 we will celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a pancake dinner at 6:30PM in the parish hall. Children in the parish are encouraged to come help James lock up the “Alleluias” until Easter morning. Todd Delevan is providing some of his legendary homebrewed beer for the adults.
† If you enter the church building when the Little Friends Day Care is in session (7:00AM – 6:00PM Mon-Fri), and are anywhere other than in the church itself, please obtain a “Church Member” name tag from the Parish Office and wear it while you are here. This will show the teachers and children at the day care that you are a person who belongs here. Any workers/maintenance people or visitors who come into the buildings are required to wear a “Visitor” name tag to identify themselves to our own staff as well as to the day care staff and children.
† The Cash for Causes Program at Giant Supermarket:
-Purchase through JT Wertz
-5% of card value is given to Holy Apostles operating fund.
-Can be used in store or when ordering Giant groceries through peapod online delivery service.
Education
† You are invited to join our Lenten “soup group” which meet Wednesday nights in lent, beginning on March 13. Come for the soup and stay for a lively discussion about faith and life (or come for the discussion and stay for the soup!) This year’s topic is:
“Good News & God’s Mission”
† Bible Study is held on Thursdays at 11AM.
Diocesan Events
† Next Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 2:00 PM: Bowling with the Bishop at Wynnewood Lanes. Youth across the Diocese are invited for a day of pizza and bowling.
Announcements for 2/24/19
Today
The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany—
Holy Eucharist, Rite II, 10AM
Celebrant & preacher, The Rev. James Stambaugh, Rector
Holy Apostles supports Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) with loose plate offerings collected on the fourth Sunday of each month. Thank you for your contributions.
Upcoming Events
March 3 -World Mission Sunday
March 5 -Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner
March 6 -Ash Wednesday
March 13 – “Soup Group” begins
Announcements
Worship
† Next week is World Mission Sunday (see this week’s edition of A Note from the Bishop).
† March 6th is Ash Wednesday. The following services are offered:
7:30AM—Imposition of Ashes; no Eucharist
9:15AM—Imposition of Ashes; no Eucharist
12:15PM—Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes
6:30PM—Holy Eucharist with music and the Imposition of Ashes
† There are many opportunities to participate in a holy Lent this year. Please pick up a Lenten booklet this morning, or look for the online version on our website soon. Feel free to take a booklet for a friend or neighbor, it would be an easy way to invite them to church!
† There will be no morning prayer February 26-28. Morning Prayer will resume March 1.
† Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30AM on Sunday mornings and at 9:15AM Tuesdays through Fridays. Anyone can pray the service privately using the Book of Common Prayer or one of a number of smart phone apps! See the last section of the digital edition of the “Acts of the Apostles” for details.
Children and Youth
† Nursery Childcare is available during the 10:00AM Sunday service for children ages 3 and younger in the Godly Play Room.
† Sunday School: Children Preschool – 2nd grade and 3rd – 8th grade attend Sunday classes at 10:00AM, the same time as the church service starts; children join their parents in the church in time for communion. Classes are held on the 1st, 3rd, & 4th Sundays of the month. On 2nd Sundays children attend church with their parents, either the 10:00PM Holy Eucharist service or the 5:30PM Family Worship Service. When there is a 5th Sunday, children attend church with their parents, with some of the children taking part in leading the service.
† The Holy Apostles Choir School begins its pilot program in late February. If you have a potential student, apply today. Applications are available on-line or on the “connect” table. The Choir School will accept only 20 students for the pilot semester. Placement preference will be given to members of the Church of the Holy Apostles. More information is available at holyapostlespa.org/choir-school/. Please forward this information to friends and neighbors who may be interested. Contact Deb Stambaugh if you have any questions.
Parish Life
† March 5 we will celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a pancake dinner at 6:30PM in the parish hall. Children in the parish are encouraged to come help James lock up the “Alleluias” until Easter morning. Todd Delevan is providing some of his legendary homebrewed beer for the adults.
† If you enter the church building when the Little Friends Day Care is in session (7:00AM – 6:00PM Mon-Fri), and are anywhere other than in the church itself, please obtain a “Church Member” name tag from the Parish Office and wear it while you are here. This will show the teachers and children at the day care that you are a person who belongs here. Any workers/maintenance people or visitors who come into the buildings are required to wear a “Visitor” name tag to identify themselves to our own staff as well as to the day care staff and children.
† The Cash for Causes Program at Giant Supermarket:
-Purchase through JT Wertz
-5% of card value is given to Holy Apostles operating fund.
-Can be used in store or when ordering Giant groceries through peapod online delivery service.
Education
† You are invited to join our Lenten “soup group” which meet Wednesday nights in lent, beginning on March 13. Come for the soup and stay for a lively discussion about faith and life (or come for the discussion and stay for the soup!) This year’s topic is:
“Good News & God’s Mission”
† There will be no Bible Study this week. Bible Study is normally held on Thursdays at 11AM.
Diocesan Events
† Save the Date! March 9, 2019 at 2:00 PM: Bowling with the Bishop at Wynnewood Lanes. Youth across the Diocese are invited for a day of pizza and bowling.
Lenten Offerings 2018
Dear Friends,
Lent is a season of preparation and repentance leading up to Easter. This year Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 14, and continues until the Easter Vigil on the night of Saturday, March 30.
As your priest, it is my sacred obligation to call you to a holy Lent during this time. Lent is an opportunity, perhaps, to fast from something or give something up. It is also a time, perhaps, to take up something new—some new spiritual practice, study, scriptural or devotional reading. Below you will find information about the Lenten services, and practices that are available at and through Church of the Holy Apostles. You may choose to do one or more of these activities, or they may simply serve to spark your imagination. Whatever the case, I implore you to make Lent something special. Make it personal to you and your spiritual journey.
As in many things in life so it is for Lent, you get out what you put in. In this case, if you spend time this February and March making for yourself a holy Lent, spending the extra time on your spiritual journey, you will be abundantly rewarded with a joyous and festive Easter season. The more intentional the Lent, the more meaningful and joyful your Easter will be. Remember, Lent may be 40 days, but Easter—the season in which we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus—is a 50 day party!
Ash Wednesday – February 14
6:20AM-8:46AM – “Ashes to Go” – Imposition of Ashes w/out a service at the Penfield station of the Norristown High Speed Line
9:15AM – Liturgy with Imposition of Ashes, no Eucharist
12:15PM – Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes
6:30PM – Holy Eucharist with music and the Imposition of Ashes
Wednesday Night Study Group
Our Lenten Study Group each Wednesday of Lent (except Feb. 14 & March 28). We will gather, eat a simple dinner, and discuss the inexhaustibly fascinating subject of prayer. Youth and adults welcome.
6:30PM in the Memorial Room
February 21 – Varieties of Prayer
February 28 – Confession
March 7 – Intercessory prayer
March 14 – Contemplative prayer
March 21 – Prayer with implements (icons, rosaries, etc.)
Lenten Reading
Featured Book: The Practice of Prayer by Margaret Guenther
As a compliment to the Wednesday night study, and as a way to deepen one’s understanding on one’s own, I am recommending the book, The Practice of Prayer, written by the venerable Episcopal priest and spiritual director, Margaret Guenther. I am buying several copies for the church’s library, personal copies can be purchased from amazon.com for between $10-$15.
Other books on various spiritual themes chosen from the parish library and from Fr. James’ library will be available to borrow and read. Look for the book table display outside the parish hall.
Seeing the World Aright
The poet, Mary Oliver says, “To pay attention; that is our endless and proper work.” This Lent you are invited to practice the spiritual discipline of paying attention. The idea is that you use your camera phone (or other camera) to take one picture for every day of Lent looking for some little beautiful, or sacred, or holy thing that is breaking into your ordinary life:
the first green shoots of spring, the smile of a child or grandchild, a lovingly prepared meal, a candle lit against the darkness, anything that reminds you that you are God’s and that God is present in the smallest ways, and most ordinary circumstances. There is no need to be a professional photographer, it is about training ourselves to see the divine everywhere. You
will also be invited to share your pictures on facebook and other social media platforms, if you wish.
Daily Devotional
Clergy of the Merion deanery (Episcopal churches in Lower and Upper Merion and surrounding area) are collaborating on a collection of short daily devotional readings. The devotional will be distributed as a printed booklet to all the congregations in the deanery, as well as posted online in a daily blog format. This will be a nice way to “be on the same page” with many of our Episcopal neighbors during Lent.
Stations of the Cross
February 23 – Friday, 6:30PM – Multi-media Stations of the Cross
March 11 – Sunday, 5:30PM – Children & Youth Stations of the Cross for Family Evening Worship
March 16 – Friday, 6:30PM – Multi-media Stations of the Cross
March 30 – Good Friday, 7:30AM – Traditional Stations of the Cross
Holy Week & Easter
Palm Sunday –
Holy Eucharist with Blessing of the Palms, Procession, and Passion Reading – 10AM
Tuesday –
Morning Prayer – 9AM
Tenebrae – 6:30PM
Wednesday
Holy Eucharist – 7:30AM
Maundy Thursday –
Holy Eucharist with Foot-washing & the stripping of the altar – 6:30PM
Good Friday
Stations of the Cross – 7:30AM
Potential Ecumenical Good Friday Service
Good Friday Liturgy – 6:30PM
Holy Saturday
Easter Vigil followed by Champagne Reception – 8PM
Easter Morning
Festival Eucharist with Baptism – 10AM
The Church office will be closed both Monday & Tuesday following Easter day.
