upcoming events from the rector taizé service: candlelight...

Volume Issue March 2017

Upcoming Events

Mar. 11 – Finance

Committee

Mar. 14 – Prayer Shawl

Mar. 18 – Daughters of

The King

Mar. 18 – St. Patrick’s

Dinner

Mar. 20 – Vestry Meeting

Mar. 26 – Thanksgiving

Service

Mar. 26 – Paws & Prayers

Mar. 28 – Restaurant

Night

Mission Statement

Our mission is to be a

beacon of faith

known for engaging

all persons in the

love and truth

of Jesus Christ

Shepherd o f t he Hi l l s Episcopal Church (352) 527 -0052 F ax (352) 7 46 -63 36

e -mai l : o f f i ce .so thec@tamp abay.r r .com

From the Rector

Taizé Service: Candlelight, Peace,

and Silence with God By The Rev. George Conger, SOTH Rector

On April 2, at 7:30 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills will celebrate a Taizé prayer service. Dr. Earle Pratt, assisted by the leaders of the Saturday music ministry team, will lead us in prayer and contemplation of our Lord. What is a Taizé (pronounced: tay-zay) prayer service? Imagine if you will this scene at Shepherd of the Hills that night. All is quiet. All is calm. The church lights are set

low. On the altar and around the sanctuary are flickering candles. In the congregation ─ silent, save for the occasional cough ─ sit

worshippers holding their own candles. The first is lit and the flame is passed from candle to candle until the church is alive with candle light. The worshippers chant together, slowly repeating a single prayer over and over as they rise and carry candles to the altar, adding their own flames to the ones already burning.

Returning to their seats, worshippers then sit in silence before the altar, lit like a starburst against the shadowy darkness. There is no other light. There is no other sound. Nothing moves, save for the flickering light from the candles.

This is a Taizé prayer service. “It is a time to rest in God, to let the words listened to and sung

penetrate one’s being,” explains Brother John, one of the leaders of the ecumenical prayer movement. There is no preaching, no teaching, no service of Holy Communion in a Taizé prayer service. There is just this elegantly simple service: short chants repeated over and over in the dark. Music, plus some short Scripture readings or psalms. And silence, at least 8 or 10 minutes, sometimes more. In 45 minutes, it’s over.

Taizé prayer is the creation of a monastic community in

Continued on Page 2

Inside this issue:

Poet’s Corner .……..…. 2

Birthdays/Anniv. …….... 7

Monthly Calendar …… 9

Visit Our Web Site

sothec.org

Taise Service was created by a monastic community in Taise, France..

VOLUME 53 ISSUE 37 SHEPHERD’S STAFF PAGE 2

Marching

Through Lent Since Easter comes early in April this year We spend the entire previous month Marching carefully on through Lent. Ashes imposed the very first Wednesday Special Bible studies and music Marching carefully on through Lent. Deciding what pleasure each will give up Expressing gratitude for Bread and Cup Marching carefully on through Lent. Our Lord foretold His coming death And we, his modern disciples, prepare Marching carefully on toward Holy Week.

─ Joan Bonnell Clark

To submit an article, send an e-mail to Karen Kennedy-Hall, Editor, at [email protected]. Articles are due the 25th of each month.

Serving our Savior

Food Pantry

Contribution for March

Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Rice

From the Rector: Taisé

Service

Taizé, France, founded in the 1940s by a Swiss man known as Brother Roger. The brothers there are celibates who emphasize service and ecumenicalism, particularly reconciliation between divided peoples and divided Christians. Brother Roger was especially interested in bringing Catholics and Protestants together. Every year over

100,000 pilgrims visit the community to join the brothers in worship and work.

“The simplicity of life seems to offer a refreshing change to young people who come from societies that are drowning in excess, where nothing ever stops, where there is no time to just be, and be together,” says Brother John.

I participated in a Taizé service when I was in seminary. I found it to be a calming, quieting, welcome respite from the craziness of the world. On a spiritual level, it was transporting, almost mystical.

“One passes through Taizé as one passes close to a spring of water,” Pope John Paul II said in 1986 after he worshipped at the community. “The traveler stops, quenches his thirst, and continues on his way. The brothers of the community, you know, do not want to keep you. They want, in prayer and silence, to enable you to drink the living water promised by Christ, to know his joy, to discern his presence, to respond to his call, then to set out again to witness to his love and to serve your brothers and sisters,” he told young pilgrims gathered at the service.

In a letter to Anglican pilgrims traveling to Taizé, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams wrote in 2005: “I think one of the toughest and one of the most exciting aspects of being at Taizé is learning to slow down, learning to let that glow surround you ─ the glow of words and pictures and candles; the glow in other people’s faces. Learning to be quiet with God, learning to let God say to you what he wants to say to you. Learning that you don't have to be busy all the time to make an impression ─ it’s all right to be where you are, to take your time with God. I hope and pray that your experience of Taizé will be one that you'll remember all your lives, as I’ve remembered that first visit all my life. I hope it’ll be a time for friends, for new experiences of God. A time to slow down. A time to be yourself. A time to bask in the glow of prayer and of love.”

Continued from Page 1

SHEPHERD’S STAFF VOLUME 53 ISSUE 37

Lenten Study Series

Discover ‘A History of Heaven’ by The Rev.

George A. Conger

Beginning Sunday, March 12, we will be starting a new study class at 9:30 on Sunday mornings entitled: “A History of Heaven.” The purpose of the class is to explore a few aspects of the development of the idea of heaven in Western culture and the inspiration it has brought to Western literature and personal faith. It is a subject that has long fascinated me, intellectually and spiritually, and I hope those of you joining me in this venture will find themselves sharing something of my excitement in the topic.

There have been some wonderful scholarly studies published in recent years, from which I will draw much of my material, but unlike those works, I will not be attempting to offer a

chronological overview of the development of the idea of heaven, but look at ways in which Western literature ─ both Christian and secular ─ understands this notion and the difference it makes to human life and thought. My approach will be thematic ─ not historical. The six sessions will take up these themes: 1) The city: The new Jerusalem 2) The garden: Heaven as paradise 3) The gates of heaven: The atonement and paradise 4)The signposts of Heaven:

Experience as a foretaste of heaven

5) The consolation of Heaven 6)The goal: Heaven as journey’s end.

Do join me at 9:30 over the next six weeks as

we explore Scripture, literature and art in pursuit of our understanding of what God has prepared for us.

‘Everyone Stands under his own Dome of Heaven’ by German artist Anselm Kiefer on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Call for Children’s Books

Have you any children’s books at home that you no longer want or need?

Episcopal Children’s Services runs two Head Start preschool programs in Citrus County. They are in need of children’s books for reading time, as well as for a lending library for parents of preschoolers. If you have any books you can donate, bring them to the SOTH office and we will package them for delivery to the preschools.

Thank you.

SOTH Says ‘Thank You’

to Parishioners The Shepherd of the Hills Vestry will say

“Thank You” to all who have contributed to the growth and spiritual success of our church through dedication, hard work and financial support over the years at a SOTH Day of Thanksgiving special service.

The celebration will be at the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, March 26 and vestry members will host a special coffee hour following the service.

SHEPHERD’S STAFF VOLUME 53 ISSUE 37 PAGE 4

Annual Parish Picnic

Saturday, April 22

1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Whispering Pines Park

Inverness

Main Entrée ~ Drinks

Provided

Sign Up to Bring

Sides ~ Salads

Desserts Look for Sign up Sheet in April

Looking for

LAWN GAMES Badmitton ~ Bocce Ball

Lawn Bowling ~ Corn Hole

Toss

BOARD GAMES Checkers ~ Chess

Scrabble and more

SHEPHERD’S STAFF VOLUME 53 ISSUE 37 PAGE 5

Ministry of the Month

Prayer Shawl Ministry

The Hand-Made, Beautifully-Colored Shawls

Offer Comfort and Encouragement

By Lurayn Haines Ministry Leader

As we know,

shawls have been made for centuries around the world in homes for the family and friends. These women grew into groups to socialize, to share the town’s news, to have fun and to learn from each other. Jumping ahead to the mid-1990s, (and there is much in between) members of a Hartford, Conn. Religious group started a more organized effort in order to spread their conception regarding the giving of shawls to those enduring specific needs at certain times in their lives. Word was spread using local newspapers as well as worldwide publications such as The Journal of Spiritual Directors International in 2000. As a result, people all over the world began creating and receiving these gifts of love and comfort using a more organized source. Of course, this includes our ministry in 2008.

When each shawl is begun, a prayer is said asking God to bless the hands making the shawl and to be with the recipient who needs comfort or encouragement, or needs to be remembered at this time. Such a prayer may be one like this:

May God’s grace be upon this shawl … warming, comforting,

enfolding and embracing. May it be a safe haven of security and well-being, which sustains in good times as well as difficult ones. May the person receiving this shawl be cradled in hope, kept in joy, graced

with peace and wrapped in love.

After the shawls are complete and before they are given, Father George blesses them as they lay on the altar railing.

Our shawls are not always given for warmth, rather more often to comfort members after surgery or a long illness and for those grieving for close friends or family members who have died. We also provide shawls to those church members who are providing care to those who are ill at home. These people are our primary concern, however, we often give shawls for young ones being baptized or older ones being married.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry has 15 members and is always open to all who knit and/or crochet. We meet from September through June on the second Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in various homes of our members. Call Lurayn Haines at (352) 270-8152.

SHEPHERD’S STAFF PAGE 6 VOLUME 53 SSUE 37


Birthdays

1 Lupe New 3 Leslie Palmer 4 Shirley Hebestreit 5 Paul Thomas 6 Juan Carvajal, Lurayn Haines 8 Bert Hombergen, Leroy Wilson 9 John Husowitz, Ron Sorensen, Derrick Blake 11 Sharyn Foster 13 Sylvia Myer 16 Kim Jones 20 Glen Myer 24 Edward Herbert, John Rowan 25 Bob Ford 26 Shirley Anderson 30 Alice Zimmermann

Anniversaries 2 Kevin & Marge Harjes 9 Richard & Mari Guarneri 17 Paul & Virgilee Thomas

PAGE 7

Lectors Saturday 5 p.m. Mar. 1: Carvajal/J. DeMerchant Mar. 4: Issy O’bday Mar. 11: L. Williams Mar. 18: Kathy Jones Mar. 25. L. Graybiel

Sunday 8 a.m.

Mar. 5: D. Goss Mar. 12: C. Lent Mar. 19: G. Towell Mar. 26: J. Fontaine

Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Mar. 5: S. Torres/N. Warrick Mar. 12: M. Johnson/N. Miller Mar. 19: R. Harlow/A. Harlow Mar. 26: S. Muntz/B. Billingham

Servers Saturday 5 p.m.

Mar. 4: Kathy Jones Mar. 11: D. Spence Mar. 18: R Corrdry Mar. 25: Kathy Jones

Sunday 8 a.m.

Mar. 5: G. Towell Mar. 12: J. Bourdeaux Mar. 19: R. Kosty Mar. 26: G. Krueger

Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Mar. 5: K. Kennedy-Hall/B. Huntsberry Mar. 12: B. Patz/J. Hombergen Mar. 19: B. Huntsberry/B. Radcliffe Mar. 26: K. Eddy/M. Herman-Smith Paws & Prayers 5 p.m. Mar. 26:: G. Towell

Crucifer Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Mar. 5: M. Payne Mar. 12: K. Eddy Mar. 19: H. Huntsberry Mar. 26: M. Payne

Greeters Saturday 5 p.m. March 4: I & T O'Bday March 11: B Harnig & J DeMerchant March 18: J & B Horn March 25: S & J Carvajal

Sunday 8 a.m. March 5: M Harrison & L Mullen March 12: J Campbell & R Fontaine March 19: MA Johnson & F Panza March 26: K Rosselette & B Matarese

Sunday 10:30 a.m. March 5: R & A Harlow March 12: B & H Huntsberry March 19: S & J Anderson March 26: K & M Black

NOTE: If you cannot come as scheduled, please, call for a replacement and notify the office at 527-0052 to be sure the master list is corrected.

Directory

Update

New Members

Martha Bowman 1711 N.W. 20th Ave. Crystal River, FL 34428 (352) 794-3957 Bowmania48@ yahoo.com

Cathleen Walsh Cedar Creek at Kings Bay, Rm 232 231 N.W. Hwy. 19 Crystal River, FL 34428

Anne Patz 1150 N. Fresno Ave. Hernando, FL 34442 E-mail: [email protected]

Raymond and Sharyn Foster 81 S. Tyler St. Beverly Hills, FL 34465 Home (401) 788-7918 Sharyn (401) 788-4384

E-mail: [email protected]

Tamara Rivera 1831 W. Angelica Loop Lecanto, FL 34461 (352) 513-3245 [email protected]

Richard & Joy Nardone 2757 N. Forest Ridge Blvd. B204 Hernando, FL 34442 (352) 812-0798 Joy Cell (352) 419-2430 R. cell (352)419-2430 yannnardone@ yahoo.com Judy Lawry 1 Arizona St. Beverly Hills, FL 34465 (352) 513-2140 Cell (561) 385-3149 [email protected] Elaine Waddington 715 Balboa Ave. Inverness, FL 34452 Cell (352) 586-4472 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

VOLUME 53 ISSUE 37 PAGE 8 SHEPHERD’S STAFF

Newcomers Get to Meet Others

At a Just-For-Them Gathering

Photos by Marco Velazquez

SOTH Activities Calendar

PAGE 9 SHEPHERD’S STAFF VOLUME 53 ISSUE 37

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

10:00 AM 1 HEALING EUCHARIST

1:00 PM - DOK 2:00PM - TAI CHI

3:00PM CMUG

BOARD MEETING

5:00PM ASH WEDNESDAY

ALPHA PROGRAM

6 PM

2

8:30AM – 11:00AM SOS

WORK CREW AT CHURCH

7:00PM - CHOIR

3

2:00PM

PRAYER SHAWL – PH

5;30PM STATIONS OF THE

CROSS

8AM CURSILLO 4

5:00 PM HOLY EUCHARIST II

Lent I 5

8:00 AM HE I

9:30AM BIBLE STUDY

10:30 AM HE II

9:15 AM 6

FEEDING OUR FLOCK

7:30 PM AA MEETING

7

1:00PM CMUG MAC

WORKSHOP

2PM DISCERNMENT -

CHAPEL

7PM CURSILLO

GROUPING

10:00 AM 8

HEALING EUCHARIST

1:00 PM - DOK

2:00PM - TAI CHI

ALPHA PROGRAM 6 PM

9

8:30 AM – 11:00AM SOS

WORK CREW AT CHURCH

1:00 PM CMUG I-DEVICE

6:30PM FRIENDS IN SERVICE

7:00PM – CHOIR

10

2:00PM PRAYER SHAWL - PH


CROSS

8AM CURSILLO 11

9:00AM FINANCE COMMITTEE


Lent II 12 8:00 AM HE I

9:30AM BIBLE STUDY

10:30 AM HE II

9:15 AM 13 FEEDING OUR FLOCK

4:00PM

ORDER OF ST. LUKE

6:00PM LADIES GATHERING

7:30 PM AA MEETING

14

1:30PM PRAYER

SHAWL @

1:00 PM CMUG CLASS

7PM CURSILLO

GROUPING

10:00 AM 15

HEALING EUCHARIST

1:00 PM - DOK

2:00PM - TAI CHI

ALPHA PROGRAM 6 PM

16

8:30 AM – 11:00AM SOS

WORK CREW AT CHURCH

1:00PM CMUG MAC LAB

7:00PM - CHOIR

17

2:00PM PRAYER SHAWL - PH

3pm – till

FIS prep for dinner


CROSS

8AM CURSILLO 18

10:30 DAUGHTERS OF THE

KING - CHAPEL


4PM – 6:30PM

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CORNED BEEF DINNER

Lent III 19 8:00 AM HE I

9:30AM BIBLE STUDY

10:30 AM HE II

9:15 AM 20

FEEDING OUR FLOCK

5:30PM VESTRY

MEETING – OFFICE

7:30 PM AA MEETING

21

7PM CURSILLO

GROUPING

10:00 AM 22

HEALING EUCHARIST 1:00 PM - DOK

2:00PM - TAI CHI

ALPHA PROGRAM 6 PM

23 8:30 AM – 11:00AM

SOS WORK CREW AT CHURCH

1PM CMUG I DEVICE

6PM CMUG CLASS

7:00PM - CHOIR

24

2:00PM

PRAYER SHAWL - PH


CROSS

8AM CURSILLO 25

8:00AM - 3:00PM

NW DEANERY- PARISH

HALL

5:00 PM - HE II

Lent IV 26 A DAY OF

THANKSGIVING SERVICE

8:00 AM HE I

10:30 AM HE II

5PM PAWS & PRAYERS

9:15 AM 27

FEEDING OUR FLOCK

6:00PM LADIES GATHERING

7:30 PM

AA MEETING

28

5:30 RESTAURANT NITE CITRUS HILLS CC GARDEN ROOM

7PM CURSILLO

GROUPING

10:00 AM 29 HEALING EUCHARIST

1:00 PM - DOK

2:00PM - TAI CHI

ALPHA PROGRAM 6 PM

30 8:30 AM – 11:00AM

SOS WORK CREW AT CHURCH

7:00PM - CHOIR

31

2:00PM

PRAYER SHAWL - PH

5;30PM

STATIONS OF THE

CROSS

6:30PM CMUG

MEETING

March 2017

SHEPHERD’S STAFF PAGE 10 VOLUME 53 ISSUE 37

F R I D A Y S 5:30 p.m.

Hosted by The Order of the Daughters of the King

Esther Chapter


On Sunday, May 21 Shepherd of the Hills will be holding a special service honoring the nurses in our congregation and in our wider community in Citrus County. We will have a guest preacher that Sunday and then honor each of the nurses present with a gift recognizing their service and special vocation.

To prepare for this Sunday, we need

to get the names of all nurses ─ active and retired ─ who are part of our church family so that they may be recognized in the bulletin that day and honored individ-ually.

Please let Mary Kay in the SOTH office know if you, your spouse or a friend in the congregation is a nurse.

PO Box 1375

Lecanto, Florida, 34460-1375

SHEPHERD OF THE HILL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

(352) 527 -0052 FAX (352) 746 -6336

E -MAIL: [email protected]

We are a Parish Church of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida

It is the mission of Shepherd of the Hills Church to be a beacon of faith

known for engaging all persons in the love and truth of Jesus Christ.

Our Ministers are the People of our Congregation

The Rev. George A. M. Conger, Rector

The Revs. Mike Hall and Linda Liebert-Hall, Deacons

(Phone 352-527-0052) E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.sothec.org

Vestry Committee

Michael Herman-Smith, Senior Warden

Dennis Hall, Junior Warden

Roberta Graybiel, Mari Guarneri,

Sue Hovis, Jeremy Moyes, Leslie Palmer,

Natalie Warrick, Kim Velazquez,

Robert Kosty, Treasurer; Jan Fontaine, Vestry Clerk

We’re on the Web!! www.sothec.org

upcoming events from the rector taizé service: candlelight...

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