Transfiguration Sunday
Have you ever wondered about “those who, because of their notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful,” who, during the season of Lent, were reconciled and restored to the fellowship of the Church? It makes you ask—how did anyone know? And, on the National Inquirer level, what were their sins? And again, how did anyone know? When did Lent become a self-help season for self-improvement?
Now, as a staff, we are entering into "Lenten Madness" this year. We all just received our cards with the brackets. The game comes with a booklet explaining the lives of the saints pitted against one another; and so, yes, there is some edifying element to the thing. What, however, if we focused on the “notorious sinners” that we could seek to forgive and reconcile? It is hard to get ourselves there. Yet, their presence was as important to this time in the life of the Church as any other. For the goal of Lent is not self-improvement. It is about drawing closer to God—or at least finding the ways to do that: and several practices are offered: self-examination and repentance, prayer, fasting and self-denial, and reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word. And we begin by kneeling before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.
I remember seeing a scene from the Crown—the episode where a “commoner” breaks into the Palace and visits the queen in her bedroom, not once but twice, to make an appeal to her for help. The Queen is preparing for bed, and kneels by the side of her bed offering her prayers. That child-like image was striking, even though it was a representation for a movie. I believed that it could be true; and I realized that it had been a long time since I knelt privately to pray. Most of the time, I sit.
There’s a difference in that practice; and one we do well to recover. The Book of Common Prayer calls God, "the Lord, our maker and redeemer." Lent is not about us or probably our practices; just as our faith is not about us, not really. We are invited to prepare to witness and enter into the most profound moments of human history—the passion of our Lord, and His resurrection. What flows from that participation brings us back to the notorious sinners and the importance of their reconciliation, and ours. And the centrality of our being one as a people following Jesus Christ.
Jesus once said a strange thing about dying and rising. In John’s Gospel chapter 12, Jesus says that unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it cannot bear fruit. The unspoken and the unknown is that a change takes place whilst in the ground. The hard shell of the seed breaks open, and is cast aside, as a new plant from sprouts.
So what best prepares you to be able as fully as possible to observe with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection? Make that choice this year of years; for there is a meaningful overlap in the COVID year and the liturgical season of Lent. We headed into a year of isolation in 2020, and now we will head out of such a year in 2021, God willing. There’s a huge difference. In one moment, we were placed into the ground like a hard seed; we have been cracked open with all we have experienced this year; and the shoots of new growth are appearing for fruit to be born moving forward. This is not any old Lenten season, not for our generation anyway. It’s time to learn to kneel again; to find room for the notorious in fellowship; and to know ourselves as restored by our Maker and Redeemer.
In the peace and love of Christ,
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa
Diocesan Online Worship
Join us this Sunday, Feb 7 as we highlight the Holy Eucharist offered by St. Martin's, Perry at 10:15 am.
Remembering Bishop Ellinah
Sunday, February 14, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. (Iowa) / 7:00 p.m. (Scotland)
Hosted by Companion Bishops Alan Scarfe and Andrew Swift
Many of us were blessed to know Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya—through her time with us here in Iowa, through holy encounters on pilgrimage and stays in our companion dioceses of Swaziland and Brechin, and through her teaching and commitment to Care of Creation.
Join us by Zoom for a time as companion dioceses, to share reflections on the impressions she has made on our lives of faith, to share stories about our time with her, and how we have been changed by knowing her.
Support the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Swaziland.
World Mission Sunday, February 14
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has issued a video urging observance of World Mission Sunday on Feb. 14. Noting that this year World Mission Sunday coincides with Valentine’s Day, Curry relates the love of God shown forth in the ministry of Jesus and his invitation to love one another to Jesus’ charge, “You will be my witnesses, in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
Healing the Planet: Climate Action as a Religious and Moral Imperative
February 17 at 1:00 pm
Join this virtual, intergenerational, interfaith conversation on faith & climate change work. All are welcome!
A panel discussion and Q&A on climate activism in communities of faith, featuring:
- Tori Goebel, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action
- Raihan Rashidi, Iowa Environmental Council
- Matt Russell, Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
- Gunpreet Singh, MD, EcoSikh USA
Moderator: Jon Kara Shields, Simpson College Religion Dept.
Lenten Offerings
Journey with us during Lent as we explore and practice kindness as a spiritual discipline.
The season of Lent is a time for penitence and reconciliation, an invitation to take steps toward a right relationship with ourselves, each other, creation, and God. What might it look like to turn toward relationship this Lent using kindness intentionally, during this time of pandemic and seemingly increasing division and conflict? What small steps might we take, both alone and together?
Living Kindness
Wednesdays from 7-8:00pm
February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24
Join us Wednesday evenings for an intergenerational conversation where we'll practice and learn more about nurturing kindness as a spiritual discipline. You're welcome to join for as many conversations as you're able, but you must register to receive the Zoom information. We also invite you to follow along with a daily Lenten Kindness Calendar.
Lenten Kindness Calendar
A daily Lenten Kindness Calendar is available now on the Youth Ministry page of the diocesan website. Each day offers a simple prompt towards an act of kindness for someone in your life, each tied to the Gospel reading from the Sunday before. You will be able to follow along from the webpage, Facebook, and Instagram.
Listening at Lunch
Thursday, February 18, Noon - 12:45pm
Come and see, or send someone from your congregation to check out this congregational development practice. All are welcome to join in these "Listening at Lunch" sessions, held on the 3rd Thursday of the month.
Email Traci Ruhland Petty: tpetty@iowaepiscopal.org for the Zoom login information or if you have questions.
A Year of Renewal: Illuminate with Solar in 2021
It's a new year and a new opportunity to tap into the sun's power for your congregation's energy needs! Whether you are a clergy leader, facilities manager, or an active congregant, join Interfaith Power & Light on February 23 at 12pm for a webinar to learn how to make solar power possible for your house of worship.
Houses of worship provide hope, healing and moral leadership for their communities. Installing renewable energy is a way to put our values into practice, and offer a visible sign of our commitment to protect our climate, while providing financial savings that can be used for vital ministries.
On the February 23rd webinar, you will hear about solar financing options, project management "best practices", and ways to make your solar journey go smoothly. CIPL and its member congregations have been on the forefront of solar energy adoption for two decades and we can learn from their experience.
Joint Chapter Meeting & Leadership Gathering
oin us on Saturday, February 27 from 10am-12pm for a Joint Chapter Meeting (with breakouts by individual chapters) followed by Leadership Gatherings from 1-2:30pm offering breakout rooms in the following areas:
• Vestry member orientation
• Treasurers and bookkeepers
• GILEAD grant information session
• Technology forum (live-streaming and communication)
• Safeguarding administrators
• Licensed Ministries: Pastoral Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Catechist
Parochial Reports
The due date for the 2020 Parochial Report is fast approaching, March 1, 2021. The report has been revised to also capture the statistics during the pandemic. Tina Austin is more than happy to assist you with questions in filling out the report. Please feel free to reach out to Tina by email at taustin@iowaepiscopal.org or phone 515-277-6165 ext. 201.
Mini Retreats: H.O.P.E.
The Small Church Core Team in the Diocese of Iowa invites you to a series of four mini-retreats focused on HOPE during these changing times.
Join us on Saturday, March 6.
From 9:00 am to 10:00 am. We will gather using Zoom technology.
Topics for each session include:
Healing and Hope in December
Opportunity for Community and Hope in January
Patience and Hope on February
Expectation and Hope on March 6
Dismantling Racism Training
Register for online training
Grounded in The Episcopal Church's commitment to dismantling racism as essential to our formation as Christians, this ONLINE training is open to all persons who would like to deepen their understanding of racism, prejudice, and privilege.
The training will consist of 2 sessions from 10:00am-12:00pm and 12:30pm-2:30pm, with a break for lunch.
GILEAD Grant Spotlight: St. John's, Mason City
"Our mission is to give the dignity of being clean to those in need of assistance with no questions asked."
St. John's received a "Strengthening an Existing Ministry" GILEAD Grant to support their Hygiene Pantry ministry. The Hygiene Pantry started about 10 years ago in response to a community need: St. John's was helping folks get assistance from the food bank, and as they met with them, discovered that hygiene items were needed but could not be purchased using food stamps. A bag from the Hygiene Pantry usually includes: toothpaste, toothbrush, dish soap, laundry soap, shampoo, soap/body wash, deodorant, and toilet tissue; feminine hygiene products, disposable diapers, wipes, and children's products are also available upon request.
Grant funds are being used to purchase hygiene supplies in large quantities, and fabric for face masks (as the need continues).
You can support this ministry by donating online (choose "Hygiene Pantry" from the dropdown) or calling the church office at 641-424-1300
Podcast Corner
‘1619,’ a Podcast From The New York Times
An audio series on how slavery has transformed America, connecting past and present through the oldest form of storytelling.
“1619” is a New York Times audio series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, that examines the long shadow of American slavery. Listen to the episodes, or read the transcripts by clicking the link below. For more information about the series, visit nytimes.com/1619podcast.
