Hello Friends,

The Holy Season of Lent begins this Wednesday, February 10, 2016. Our church calendar originally listed a 4:30 p.m. Mass time for Wednesday but we needed to cancel it as the space at Lutheran Campus Center on Wednesdays, at this time, is routinely used. As you saw from a previous announcement via email; I administered ashes this past Sunday and will again on this coming Sunday, the first Sunday of Lent.

I will include Wednesday’s readings below in this message for your pondering and reflection. We are told by the prophet Joel to return to our loving God with our whole hearts, a God who is gracious and merciful. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians reminds us that now is the acceptable time to be reconciled to God, who came into our existence as our brother, Jesus–one who knew all that we go through. Finally, in Matthew’s gospel, we are instructed to do whatever we do during this holy season of Lent to better ourselves, in secret–let it be between God and us. May this season be a rich one for each of you–peace and love, Pastor Kathy

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Readings:

• Joel 2: 12-18
• 2 Corinthians 5: 20–6:2
• Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18

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The Feast, is held each Wednesday evening at Central Lutheran church, just up the street from us, 259 W. Wabasha Street.  This community meal is offered at no charge to area residents–a free will offering is suggested but not required. The food is prepared and served each Wednesday by a group at Central Lutheran parish at 5 p.m.  (The time has be moved ahead during Lent to 4:45 p.m. due to Lenten Services) On the 3rd Wednesday of each month, this meal is hosted by Pastor Corrine Denis and the Lutheran Campus Center students.

I would like to suggest that All Are One Church parishioners might like to assist the students as we are able on this 3rd Wednesday of the month.  Being that we are symbiotic friends in ministry with the LCC, it would seem a natural move to assist them when we can. The students meet at the church at 4:45 p.m. to help set-up and begin serving at 5 p.m. (During Lent, they will meet at 4:30 p.m.) Volunteers are needed through 7:30 p.m. to assist with clean-up.

A way for us to get started would be with this month as Pastors Corrine and Kathy will be presenting a short prayer service during the February 17 event on gun violence, asking our God to help us find the way to stop the madness that has plagued our country of late. Everyone is welcome to attend, check out The Feast if you haven’t been there before and help with the chores if you would like.

We can be informal about helping out, but keep it on your radar as a way that we can be Jesus’ hands and heart for our community. At the least, you can share a meal with friends from the area.

Friends, for those of you who haven’t yet heard–Brad Swanson, Eric Bartleson’s  son-in-law passed from this life on Tuesday evening. We know that he is now at complete peace with our loving God. Eric returned from his trip to Puerto Rico on Monday as Brad’s condition was changing. I know that all our prayers sent their way were of help in supporting Jennifer, his wife and Eric’s daughter and their family.  Do continue to remember them all in this transition.

If you wish to attend the wake and/or funeral service, the following information will be of help:

Wake service: Friday, January 29, 2016, 4-7 P.M. at the Mahn Family Funeral Home in Lake City

Funeral Service: Saturday, January 30, 2016, 11 A.M. at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic church in Lake City–visitation one hour before service at the church

Contact information for Jennifer if you wish to send a card:

Jennifer Swanson, 1158 Valley View Drive, Lake City, MN 55041

Let us all pray for strength and peace for them and that they will know how much they are loved as they move through this difficult time.  Thank you–Pastor Kathy

All Are One Catholic church supported Diversity Foundation’s Christmas toy collection in 2015 in conjunction with the Marines’ Toys for Tots drive by gifting the Foundation with $200.00 toward transportation of the toys to the Crow Creek reservation in South Dakota. Fuel for transporting the toys is the biggest expenditure in this annual gifting project, but as you can see from the pictures sent to us by Lyle Rustad of Diversity Foundation; there is great appreciation for all that is given.

 

 

Lilia Civettini attended Mass recently to pick up the school supplies that All Are One Catholic church collected to assist her in her backpack project for children in Nicaragua. She was really pleased to receive our donations. Later on we added some small stuffed toys so that each child would receive a toy along with their school supplies. Our parish wanted to help Lilia because we were so impressed that a nine-year old would be concerned enough to reach out to others in this generous way.