Holy Week Calendar 2008

March 17th— Monday in Holy Week
5:30 PM: Low Mass (for nuclear disarmament)

March 18th— Tuesday in Holy Week
7:00 PM: Evening Prayer

March 19th — Wednesday in Holy Week
10:00 AM: ECW Meeting ~ Parish Center
11:45 AM: Confessions
12:10 PM: Healing Mass
7:00 PM: Tenebrae Service - Church

March 20th— Maundy Thursday
7:00 PM: Parish Center ~- Liturgy of the Word - Institution of the Lord’s Supper with Sermon, Procession to the Altar of Repose, Stripping of Altars and the Beginning of the Watch at 9 PM
with Bishop Smith a special guest

March 21st— Good Friday ~ Strict Fast and Abstinence
11:00 AM: Confessions
12:00 Noon: Way of the Cross and Homily
7:00 PM: Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday
Fast until after the Vigil

March 22nd— Holy Saturday~ Special Devotion & Self-Denial
8:30 AM: Liturgy of the Day
9:00 to 10:00 AM: Confessions
7:00 PM: The Great Vigil of Easter, the Service of Light, Holy Baptism and the First High Mass of Easter
Lenten Fast Ends
We will break the fast and celebrate with the newly baptized following the Mass.

March 23rd— The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day
7:30 AM: Morning Prayer
8:00 AM: Mass with Homily
9:00 AM: Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
9:45 AM: Child Care
10:00 AM: High Mass with Sermon

Announcements

We ~ the parishioners, vestry and the rector ~ congratulate St. Michael’s Parish Day School community, students, teachers, staff and head on this special occasion of their 50^th anniversary.

Deo Gratias

Casa Maria ~ Parish Center. Casa Maria Volunteers will meet THIS FRIDAY at 6:00 pm, in the Parish Center to prepare sack lunches. Your help is needed – the volunteers can always use a few extra hands and SHELLED hard boiled eggs. Join them for fellowship and to help with this good work.

NAME CHANGE – Social Concerns Committee is changing its name to St. Michael’s SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God,” as well as our Baptismal covenant to “strive for justice and peace among all peoples, and respect the dignity of every human being.” Next meeting is March 9, following 10 AM Mass. EVERYONE is always welcome. Come join us – new name, new faces, new input.

The Barnabas Group of encouragement for those who have experienced a loss at sometime meets monthly. Next meeting Monday March 10 at 11:30 am, at the Old Pueblo Grill located at 60 North Alvernon Way. Please call Peggy Speese for reservations at least three days prior to the meeting.

MASS FOR HEALING AND LAYING ON OF HANDS CONTINUES EVERY WEDNESDAY at 12:10 PM with celebrant the Rev.John Smith. All are welcome. If you know of someone who would like Annointing of the sick and is not able to attend Mass, please contact the Parish office or Fr. Smith and he will come to their home.

MASS FOR CHURCH UNITY CONTINUES EVERY FRIDAY at 12:10 PM with celebrant the Rev. Carey Womble. All are encouraged to attend as we pray for Church Unity.

Upcoming Events
Parish Life is Growing!! When will we see YOU?!

Hopefully we will be able to attend a spring training baseball game the last week in March ~ after Easter.

In early April, join us for dinner at Zeman’s (Ethiopian food). We are also planning a hike in Sabino Canyon. Stay Tuned!

Opportunities for Giving

Stewardship By The Numbers:
It takes $6730 in stewardship tithes per week to fund St. Michael and All Angels presence and ministry. For the five weeks in December with Christmas our stewardship tithing was $8720 per week and in January it was $5200 per week. Where to begin? Figure out how much you live on per month: for example $2000. If you start at 8 percent, then a tithe of $40 per week would be the amount. Adjust accordingly by how much you receive each month. “Give and it will be given to you, pressed down, overflowing.” (Luke 6:38) Thank you for living out your baptism at St. Michaels and for striving to be a good steward of God’s blessing!

IS THIS THE FAST THAT I CHOOSE? ~ Some people don’t get to choose their fast.
We will be assembling food packs for migrants in distress in the desert on April 6. During the remaining days of Lent we will be collecting the supplies (bargains only!! We will supplement later with bulk purchases). Look for the trunk in the back of church. Best items (all in original small packs, individual servings) ~ applesauce or fruit cups, chewy breakfast bars or nutrition bars, small packs of peanut butter/cheese crackers, small packs nut or dried fruits, hard candies, pouch meat or Vienna sausages, or anything else durable, nutritious and familiar.
Recently “No More Deaths” volunteers found the body of 14-year old Josseline of El Salvador, who died abandoned and alone, in remote desert around Arivaca while attempting to reach her mother in California. Please keep her and her family, and those who found her remains, in your prayers.

ST. MICHAEL’S GUATEMALA PROJECT ~ CALL FOR SUMMER TEAMS.
Preliminary meeting Saturday, March 8, 10 am – Noon - U of A Arizona Poetry Center - Room 207 – 1508 E. Helen St. Tucson. People interested in joining small teams to visit rural Maya of the CPR –Sierra for 2 ½ to 9 weeks are invited to bring their questions to the March 8 meeting and contact R.N. Sarah Roberts or Coordinator Ila Abernathy. Spanish speakers and health professionals are especially welcome, but the vigorous requirements are for flexibility, reasonably good mental and physical health and respect for indigenous cultures. For more Project/Team detail and photos, please visit www.cprguatemalaproject.org.

PROJECT STARFISH ~ St. Michael’s Church and School are participating in Food For The Poor’s Project Starfish. We are asking you to give up some indulgence during Lent and contribute the cost of that indulgence. There are envelopes at the end of the pew for your use. These donations will be used for aid to the poor in Central America and the Caribbean. Our goal is to raise $2400.00 to build a house for a family in Haiti. In turn this would be utilizing one of the Millennium Development Goals embraced by our Episcopal Church by helping in a small way to “Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger”.

THERE ARE ENVELOPES AT THE END OF THE PEW FOR YOU TO USE FOR OUR STARFISH PROJECT! YOU TOO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR SOMEONE!

New Sermons Posted

The Rev. Angela Emerson
"God always calls us home"
One of Angela's last sermons before leaving for Vermont and her new job.

MP3 File

The Rev. John Smith, Rector
"A Boring Parable"

MP3 File

After months of delay due to technical difficulties, many of the sermons recorded between September 2007 and February 2008 are now available as podcasts on the Sermons page. There's a block in the middle of that date range yet to be uploaded, but we'll get there. Old sermons from 2006 (mostly in text form) have been moved to a 2006 sermons archive page, and can be reached from the bottom of the current page.

Also: I've revived the long-neglected St. Michael's arts blog, and posted a few recent entries of my own, along with selected repostings from my personal blog from 2007. But it's the partish's blog, not mine, and I'd love to get someone else's contributions in there as well! If you have photos, art, a story, a prayer, a reminiscence, or an opinion piece that might be appropriate to a church's blog, please submit them to me at mavarin @ aol.com, or catch me after the 10 AM mass. Thanks!

Karen

Announcements for Week Ending March 9th

Announcements

NAME CHANGE – Social Concerns Committee is changing its name to St. Michael’s SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God,” as well as our Baptismal covenant to “strive for justice and peace among all peoples, and respect the dignity of every human being.” Next meeting is March 9, following 10 AM Mass. EVERYONE is always welcome. Come join us – new name, new faces, new input.

The Barnabas Group of encouragement for those who have experienced a loss at sometime meets monthly. Next meeting Monday March 10 at 11:30 am, at the Old Pueblo Grill located at 60 North Alvernon Way. Please call Peggy Speese for reservations at least three days prior to the meeting.

Novel Theology will meet on Thursday, March 6th at 6:30 pm at the home of Wyndy Pyre. The selection this month The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin will be discussed.

Fr. Ireland’s Lenten Bible Study - Join us each Monday evening during Lent for a lively discussion on selections from the Old Testament. The Bible Study will take place in the Parish Center from 6:00 until 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome and urged to attend.

MASS FOR HEALING AND LAYING ON OF HANDS CONTINUES EVERY WEDNESDAY at 12:10 PM with celebrant the Rev.John Smith. All are welcome. If you know of someone who would like Annointing of the sick and is not able to attend Mass, please contact the Parish office or Fr. Smith and he will come to their home.

MASS FOR CHURCH UNITY CONTINUES EVERY FRIDAY at 12:10 PM with celebrant the Rev. Carey Womble. All are encouraged to attend as we pray for Church Unity.

Upcoming Events
Parish Life is Growing!! When will we see YOU?!

Hopefully we will be able to attend a spring training baseball game the last week in March ~ after Easter.

In early April, join us for dinner at Zeman’s (Ethiopian food). We are also planning a hike in Sabino Canyon. Stay Tuned!

Opportunities for Giving

Stewardship By The Numbers:
It takes $6730 in stewardship tithes per week to fund St. Michael and All Angels presence and ministry. For the five weeks in December with Christmas our stewardship tithing was $8720 per week and in January it was $5200 per week. Where to begin? Figure out how much you live on per month: for example $2000. If you start at 8 percent, then a tithe of $40 per week would be the amount. Adjust accordingly by how much you receive each month. “Give and it will be given to you, pressed down, overflowing.” (Luke 6:38) Thank you for living out your baptism at St. Michaels and for striving to be a good steward of God’s blessing!

IS THIS THE FAST THAT I CHOOSE? ~ Some people don’t get to choose their fast.
We will be assembling food packs for migrants in distress in the desert on April 6. During the remaining days of Lent we will be collecting the supplies (bargains only!! We will supplement later with bulk purchases). Look for the trunk in the back of church. Best items (all in original small packs, individual servings) ~ applesauce or fruit cups, chewy breakfast bars or nutrition bars, small packs of peanut butter/cheese crackers, small packs nut or dried fruits, hard candies, pouch meat or Vienna sausages, or anything else durable, nutritious and familiar.
Recently “No More Deaths” volunteers found the body of 14-year old Josseline of El Salvador, who died abandoned and alone, in remote desert around Arivaca while attempting to reach her mother in California. Please keep her and her family, and those who found her remains, in your prayers.

ST. MICHAEL’S GUATEMALA PROJECT ~ CALL FOR SUMMER TEAMS.
Preliminary meeting Saturday, March 8, 10 am – Noon - U of A Arizona Poetry Center - Room 207 – 1508 E. Helen St. Tucson. People interested in joining small teams to visit rural Maya of the CPR –Sierra for 2 ½ to 9 weeks are invited to bring their questions to the March 8 meeting and contact R.N. Sarah Roberts or Coordinator Ila Abernathy. Spanish speakers and health professionals are especially welcome, but the vigorous requirements are for flexibility, reasonably good mental and physical health and respect for indigenous cultures. For more Project/Team detail and photos, please visit www.cprguatemalaproject.org.

PROJECT STARFISH ~ St. Michael’s Church and School are participating in Food For The Poor’s Project Starfish. We are asking you to give up some indulgence during Lent and contribute the cost of that indulgence. There are envelopes at the end of the pew for your use. These donations will be used for aid to the poor in Central America and the Caribbean. Our goal is to raise $2400.00 to build a house for a family in Haiti. In turn this would be utilizing one of the Millennium Development Goals embraced by our Episcopal Church by helping in a small way to “Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger”.

THERE ARE ENVELOPES AT THE END OF THE PEW FOR YOU TO USE FOR OUR STARFISH PROJECT! YOU TOO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR SOMEONE!

Story of the Starfish

Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore, as he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?”

The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.”

“ I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?”

“The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in they will die.”

“But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.”

Starfish photo from http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/.
Story adapted from the writing of Loren Eiseley.

Announcements for Week Ending February 17th

Announcements

The First Annual Tucson International Festival will be held at St. Michael's on Saturday, February 16th, from 11 AM to 8 PM. Please click here for details, and watch this page for further announcements!

Fr. Ireland’s Lenten Bible Study - Join us each Monday evening during Lent for a lively discussion on selections from the Old Testament. The Bible Study will take place in the Parish Center from 6:00 until 7:00 pm. The first meeting is February 18, 2008. Everyone is welcome and urged to attend.

LENTEN PILGRIMAGE TO NACO, SONORA ~ Saturday February 16 leaving from the Church following 8:30 am Mass. We’ve been invited to help celebrate the Grand Opening of the Centro de Recursos para Migrantes (Migrant Resource Center) in Naco beginning at 10 am. The Center serves as an aid station for migrants apprehended in the U.S. and returned to Mexico - - many injured, ill or with nothing. There will be music, dance, food and, of course, some speeches. We’ll arrive a bit late but won’t miss more than some speeches. This is a good way to learn about the experience of migrants “repatriated” following detention in the U.S. You don’t have to have made up your mind about migration to begin to learn. The Center began operating January 5. In the first 4 weeks they served 785 people returned to Mexico. The Center reports some children in the Border Patrol detention overnight received NO food. We will car pool from St. Michael’s leaving after the morning Mass. Call Ila Abernathy if you would like to help drive.

Social Concerns will meet Sunday February 17 after the 10 AM Mass. Meeting begins 10 minutes after Mass ends. Everyone is welcome as we continue our Lenten Journey. We’ll cover agenda items and look at ONE of the Millennium Development Goals Supported by the Episcopal Church. Call agenda items to Peggy Van Norman.

Ladies Mark Your Calendar ~ St. Alban’s ECW has been invited to join St. Michael’s ECW for a luncheon on Thursday February 20 at the Lotus Garden. Please join us at 11:30 am for delicious food and engaging fellowship! Look for sign up sheets in back of church!

JUST COFFEE ~ a new shipment has arrived. Look for it at the morning coffee hours. Your purchase supports the Millennium Development Goals of global partnership for development and of environmental sustainability. This organic, fair-traded coffee is produced by cooperatives in Chiapas, the poorest state in Mexico.

SOCIETY OF MARY will meet for the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and will recite the Rosary on Saturday, February 9 at 7:45 am. All are invited!

MASS FOR HEALING AND LAYING ON OF HANDS CONTINUES EVERY WEDNESDAY at 12:10 PM with celebrant the Rev.John Smith. All are welcome. If you know of someone who would like Annointing of the sick and is not able to attend Mass, please contact the Parish office or Fr. Smith and he will come to their home.

MASS FOR CHURCH UNITY CONTINUES EVERY FRIDAY at 12:10 PM with celebrant the Rev. Carey Womble. All are encouraged to attend as we pray for Church Unity.

Upcoming Events
Parish Life is Growing!! When will we see YOU?!

BEFORE LENT BEGINS: BOWLING ~ Camino Seco Lanes ~ Friday February 1 at 6:30 pm.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER ~ February 5 ~ 5:30 – 7pm. Cooking and clean-up help gladly accepted. Donations of syrup and sausage etc. also will be gratefully received. Sign up sheets available in back of church.

Hopefully we will be able to attend a spring training baseball game the last week in March ~ after Easter.

In early April, join us for dinner at Zeman’s (Ethiopian food). We are also planning a hike in Sabino Canyon. Stay Tuned!

Opportunities for Giving

LENTEN OPPORTUNITY: LENTEN HOUSE MASSES
We are looking for volunteers to host a “Lenten House Mass” during one of the Wednesdays in Lent February 13, 20, 27 or March 5 or 12. This would be a Mass and a “Pot Luck’ dinner in which the guests would provide the food. You would provide the hospitality of your home.
For more information call Joyce Tracy or the Parish Office – 886-7292

CASA MARIA VOLUNTEERS WILL MEET THIS FRIDAY, at 6:00 PM, in the Parish Center to prepare sack lunches. Your help is needed - the volunteers can always use a few extra hands and a dozen or two SHELLED hard-boiled eggs. Be a GOOD EGG and join them for fellowship and to help with this good work.

EPIPHANY OUTREACH: We are collecting warm clothing, socks, underwear and personal toiletry items for our brothers and sisters in need. The collection site is at the back of church. Please be generous. Collection will continue until February 17, 2008

PROJECT STARFISH ~ St. Michael’s Church and School are participating in Food For The Poor’s Project Starfish. We are asking you to give up some indulgence during Lent and contribute the cost of that indulgence. There is a marked basket in the back of church to receive your donations. These donations will be used for aid to the poor in Central America and the Caribbean.

Announcements for Week Ending February 10th

Announcements

The First Annual Tucson International Festival will be held at St. Michael's on Saturday, February 16th, from 11 AM to 8 PM. Please click here for details, and watch this page for further announcements!

Fr. Ireland’s Lenten Bible Study - Join us each Monday evening during Lent for a lively discussion on selections from the Old Testament. The Bible Study will take place in the Parish Center from 6:00 until 7:00 pm. The first meeting is February 11, 2008. Everyone is welcome and urged to attend.

THE BARNABAS GROUP of encouragement for those who have experienced a loss at sometime meets monthly. Next meeting is Monday, February 11 at 11:30 AM at the Old Pueblo Grill located at 60 North Alvernon Way. Please call Peggy Speece at 325-0708 with your reservation at least three days prior to the meeting.

Novel Theology’s next meeting is Thursday February 7 at 6:30 pm. The book discussed: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.

Ladies Mark Your Calendar ~ St. Alban’s ECW has been invited to join St. Michael’s ECW for a luncheon on Thursday February 20 at the Lotus Garden. Please join us at 11:30 am for delicious food and engaging fellowship! Look for sign up sheets in back of church!

JUST COFFEE ~ a new shipment has arrived. Look for it at the morning coffee hours. Your purchase supports the Millennium Development Goals of global partnership for development and of environmental sustainability. This organic, fair-traded coffee is produced by cooperatives in Chiapas, the poorest state in Mexico.

SOCIETY OF MARY will meet for the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and will recite the Rosary on Saturday, February 9 at 7:45 am. All are invited!

MASS FOR HEALING AND LAYING ON OF HANDS CONTINUES EVERY WEDNESDAY at 12:10 PM with celebrant the Rev.John Smith. All are welcome. If you know of someone who would like Annointing of the sick and is not able to attend Mass, please contact the Parish office or Fr. Smith and he will come to their home.

MASS FOR CHURCH UNITY CONTINUES EVERY FRIDAY at 12:10 PM with celebrant the Rev. Carey Womble. All are encouraged to attend as we pray for Church Unity.

Upcoming Events
Parish Life is Growing!! When will we see YOU?!

BEFORE LENT BEGINS: BOWLING ~ Camino Seco Lanes ~ Friday February 1 at 6:30 pm.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER ~ February 5 ~ 5:30 – 7pm. Cooking and clean-up help gladly accepted. Donations of syrup and sausage etc. also will be gratefully received. Sign up sheets available in back of church.

Hopefully we will be able to attend a spring training baseball game the last week in March ~ after Easter.

In early April, join us for dinner at Zeman’s (Ethiopian food). We are also planning a hike in Sabino Canyon. Stay Tuned!

Opportunities for Giving

LENTEN OPPORTUNITY: LENTEN HOUSE MASSES

We are looking for volunteers to host a “Lenten House Mass” during one of the Wednesdays in Lent February 13, 20, 27 or March 5 or 12. This would be a Mass and a “Pot Luck’ dinner in which the guests would provide the food. You would provide the hospitality of your home.

For more information call Joyce Tracy or the Parish Office – 886-7292

Announcements for Week Ending Feburary 3, 2008

Announcements

The First Annual Tucson International Festival will be held at St. Michael's on Saturday, February 16th, from 11 AM to 8 PM. Please click here for details, and watch this page for further announcements!

St. Margaret’s Altar Society will hold a Lenten Planning Meeting on Saturday February 2nd following the 8:30 am Mass at the Mary Altar.

St. Michael’s School presents the musical play: HOW TO EAT LIKE A CHILD and other lessons in not being a grown-up. Friday February 1st and Saturday 2nd, 2008 at 7 pm in the Student Center. Tickets on sale at the Church Office.

Novel Theology’s next meeting is Thursday February 7 at 6:30 pm. The book discussed: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.

Upcoming Events
Parish Life is Growing!! When will we see YOU?!

BEFORE LENT BEGINS: BOWLING ~ Camino Seco Lanes ~ Friday February 1 at 6:30 pm.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER ~ February 5 ~ 5:30 – 7pm. Cooking and clean-up help gladly accepted. Donations of syrup and sausage etc. also will be gratefully received. Sign up sheets available in back of church.

Hopefully we will be able to attend a spring training baseball game the last week in March ~ after Easter.

In early April, join us for dinner at Zeman’s (Ethiopian food). We are also planning a hike in Sabino Canyon. Stay Tuned!

Opportunities for Giving

EPIPHANY OUTREACH: We are collecting warm clothing, socks, underwear and personal toiletry items for our brothers and sisters in need. The collection site is at the back of church. Please be generous.

A Letter from Priest Angela

Greetings!

The last few weeks have been a complete blur of either driving long days or unpacking boxes. I’ve survived driving through my first snowstorm (a mild one!) and temperatures in the single digits! The earrings you gave me traveled with me and were proudly displayed in New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey and Washington DC – YES I have been through all those places and the earrings accompanied me!

The most fun part of this adventure so far was opening the moving boxes that contained the many gifts of jewelry, throws and scarves, books and all the other wonderful items from friends at St. Michael’s. I have yet to be able to slow down enough to enjoy them all but that will happen soon.

Thank you all for your generosity. Your gift certificate for warm clothes is greatly appreciated! You remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Angela