Weekly for February 7, 2024
St. Michael’s Weekly News – February 7, 2024
Dear People of St. Michaels,
This Sunday, we will celebrate the shining light of Christ with the reading of Jesus’ Transfiguration from the Gospel of Mark. That will be a last burst of light in this season after the Epiphany before we enter into Lent with Ash Wednesday, only one week from now.
It has happened before that Ash Wednesday and St. Valentines day both happen on the same date: February 14th. I was working on tidying up some records and noted that the last time was February 14, 2018; not too long ago.
It seems a bit of a clash of cultures, when a date on the civic calendar, St. Valentines, which is about love, flowers, cards and candy comes on the same day we enter into the season of Lent. But they are not so far apart as you might think.
Ash Wednesday is about acknowledging our mortality and our need for God’s Love to come to us, to save and help us. We enter in the season of Lent to prepare our hearts and minds, in a devotional way, to celebrate God’s victory over death on our celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Day (this year, March 31st). We begin the process with accepting Ashes on our foreheads and stopping our lives for a hour to worship God, receive those ashes, hear the scriptures and then receive Holy Communion (another sign of God’s victory and love). Life IS centered around love; love of others, love of the earth and our surroundings and also the love of God. It is easy for us to forget our own mortality and the way we are dependent on God’s Grace everyday for our own lives and existence. It is fitting that we should stop and recognize this.
I most recently had a graveside service for a long term member: Daryl Galli and there, at Rose Memorial, with family and friends around, again read out those familiar words: “Ashes to ashes; dust to dust.” They still hold a ring of truth and mortality to us all and Ash Wednesday is probably the only other day in our lives when we acknowledge so solidly this truth of our mortality.
So I commend BOTH to you, your schedule and your life next Wednesday: Love of others, Love of God and celebrating BOTH while we can in this mortal life: Ashes and Hearts, God’s presence in everything around us.
In Christ,
Pastor Randy Knutson
February 2024
Sunday, February 11:(Last Sunday after the Epiphany) Liturgy at 10:45 a.m.
Wednesday, February 14: Ash Wednesday - Service at Noon
Sunday, February 18: First Sunday of Lent (Great Litany) at 10:45 a.m.
The Fearless Faith Revival: April 26-27 is coming up, but our Diocese has released Presiding Bishop Michael Curry from being the preacher at the final worship service; instead, our Bishop has asked Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutierrez to preach. She writes:
I am excited to share that the Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutiérrez, Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, will preach at our worship on Saturday. He is not only a friend but a leader whose roots lie in the West, who himself practices a fearless faith in following God. Since his consecration as Bishop in 2016, he has transformed the ministry of his diocese. You can read more about Bishop Gutiérrez here. I am confident that Bishop Gutiérrez will inspire, challenge, and preach fearlessly. We are indeed blessed to welcome him to our Revival.
There is also, highlighted for us living on the North Coast, a chance to go to a simulcasted version of events up at Christ Church in Eureka, to our north. We will get more information about that option as well, soon.
Our Weekly Shared Bible Study is held at 10:30 AM on Thursdays at St. Veronica’s Hall at St. Michael’s (also on Zoom by request). On Thursday, February 15th, we will begin using our Lenten Devotional books “Living Well Through Lent 2024: Practicing Forgiveness with all Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind” as the center of our discussion together.
February Birthdays: Sandi Smith, Jonas Knutson, Sarah Fogg
Online Worship Information
This Sunday we will offer in-person worship and at the same time offer the online broadcast of our service at 10:45 am in the ways posted below:
Our Sunday Service will be on St. Michael’s Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg
https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg/videos
It will also stay there on the Facebook Pages and you can watch it later.
You can also watch it on this YouTube Channel later that day as well.
This is a NEW St. Michaels YouTube Channel and also on our website!
https://www.youtube.com/@st.michaelsepiscopalfortbragg
Website: When you can, check our new website: https://www.stmichaelfb.com/