I am writing this on Ash Wednesday, and as we prepare to observe this special season, the words from the Invitation to a Holy Lent seem so timely. We who are part of the new alignment of biblically faithful Anglicanism need to take to heart this exhortation:
“I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a Holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditation on God’s holy Word.”
My prayer for us is that we will use this season of Lent in a more intentional way than ever before to draw closer in our relationship with the Lord, to experience more fully His love and saving power.
I am especially heartened by the rich and varied Lenten offerings in our convocation churches, which are highlighted in this newsletter. I pray that you will share them with your congregation and that they will be a blessing to many.
Yours in Christ,
John Guersney, Dean
Anglican Communion Network Newsletter
If you are not yet receiving by email the ACN bi-weekly newsletter, be sure to sign up for it at:
THE SEASON OF LENT
This newsletter focuses on special ministries and programs offered by affiliate congregations during the season of Lent.
“Evil and the Justice of God” by N.T. Wright
Truro Church
Fairfax, VA
The Rev. Richard Crocker
Tel: 703-273-1300
http://www.trurochurch.org/
Truro Church will be using the book "Evil and the Justice of God" by N.T. Wright for home groups, personal reading, and a Sunday School class. The Rev. Richard Crocker will lead the Sunday School class. “The simultaneous existence of God and evil can be difficult for even the most erudite to fathom. In his book, Wright examines this troubling puzzle---and proposes a Christian response. Fresh, creative, and deeply biblical, Wright's answer focuses on the centrality of the cross and the responsibility of believers to bring Christ's healing and forgiveness into the world. 192 pages, hardcover from InterVarsity.” (Christianbook.com)
The Falls Church is providing a music series each Wednesday in Lent, 12:15-1 p.m. in the Main Sanctuary. This will be a time to reflect as their own musicians offer their gifts and talents. A reception will follow each concert. A Lenten study sponsored by the Women's Ministry will begin February 22 at 9:15 am in Fellowship Hall with Betsey Mulloy teaching from Renovare's, A Spiritual Formation Workbook.
Homebuilding and Purpose
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Richmond, VA
Mario Gonzalez del Solar
Tel: (804) 288-1911
St. Matthew's parishioners are joining together to participate in two series: one on our purpose as human beings, and one on building stronger marriages and families. These sessions will help Christians connect more deeply with Jesus Christ and build genuine relationships with Christian friends. The Rev. Chuck Alley will be teaching a Lenten series titled "Created on Purpose". This exciting 5-week series will center on the importance of knowing where we came from in the understanding of our purpose as human beings and the Church. The series is offered during Lent at 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall (following the Lenten Suppers, February 28 - March 28, 2007). Also after each Lenten supper, and continuing throughout the year, St. Matthew's parishioners can choose to participate in a new Homebuilders group focusing on improving families and marriages through Christian education, fellowship, and prayer group support.
Connecting with God’s Family
St. Bartholomew’s parishioners are joining together to participate in a series on fellowship, titled: Connecting with God's Family: Six Sessions on Fellowship. God longs for His people to have rich, genuine connections with him and a handful of other people. These six sessions will help Christians connect more deeply with Jesus Christ and build genuine relationships with Christian friends.
“We Care” Campaign
Church of the Holy Spirit
Many Bible-believing Loudoun County Churches, including Church of the Holy Spirit and South Riding Church, are planning in March as a joint outreach to reach the lost of the County with the gospel of grace and love through Jesus. The campaign asks, “Who Cares?” And then answers, “God Cares” and “We Care.” The churches are using the same graphic ads and the same messages on Sunday morning as a demonstration of their unity. Churches will also be doing joint service projects and a pulpit exchange
What Time is it Now?
Christ Church and Grace Church
Emporia, VA and Purdy, VA
christandgrace@cs.com
The Rev. Colin Cooper
Tel: 434-348-3863
Christ Church, Emporia and Grace Church, Purdy is offering a series of Thursday evening Lent Soup and Sandwich Suppers with Devotionals. Each will have a short devotional service followed by a series of guest speakers. "The series is entitled "What time is it now". It was inspired by Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven". The devotional tiles are "A time for Prayer", "A Time to know what you believe", "A Time to know why you believe”, "A time to stand firm in the Lord" and "A Time to rejoice and rest in the Lord".
The Weight of Glory: 5 Staggering Rewards
The Church of the Epiphany is offering a Lenten Series titled “The Weight of Glory: 5 Staggering Rewards” exploring what it means to “get glory.” In his sermon, “The Weight of Glory,” C.S. Lewis points to five rewards that are promised to all who surrender their lives to Jesus Christ and live under His influence. Each evening’s program begins with a one-act drama to ‘set the stage’ for the teaching that follows.
Christ Church is offering a special sermon series on the Ten Commandments throughout Lent.
Good Samaritan’s website offers a Lenten devotional made up of 47 submissions from people all over the world, one for each day of Lent, including Easter Sunday.
Over the course of the year, we will be contacting all parishes requesting information about any ministry you would like highlighted in the MAC newsletter. However, if you have a time-sensitive ministry you would like for us to include in an upcoming newsletter, please contact Heather Adams at hadams@acn-mac.org .
Did You Know?
A Brief History of Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the onset of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and abstinence before Easter Sunday. Until the 600s, Lent began on 
Quadragesima (Fortieth) Sunday, but Gregory the Great (c.540-604) moved it to a Wednesday, now called Ash Wednesday, to secure the exact number of 40 days in Lent—not counting Sundays, which were feast days. Gregory, who is regarded as the father of the medieval papacy, is also credited with the ceremony that gives the day its name. As Christians came to the church for forgiveness, Gregory marked their foreheads with ashes reminding them of the biblical symbol of repentance (sackcloth and ashes) and mortality: "You are dust, and to dust you will return" (Gen 3:19). Receiving ashes on the head was made universal throughout the Western church at the Synod of Benevento in 1091.
The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations and mixing them with olive oil as a fixative. This year, Ash Wednesday falls on February 21.
It has been claimed that the word “carnival” comes from the Latin words caro (meat) and vale (farewell), hence "farewell to meat" or "farewell to the flesh", letting go of the earthly or bodily self.
Resources:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/easter/lent.html
http://www.orlutheran.com/html/lenthist.html
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/holidays/ash_wednesday.htm
Finally, a movie that is fun, entertaining and gives all the glory to God! Facing the Giants, quoted as being a movie about “football and Jesus,” combines drama, laughter, and even a little suspense as it depicts a discouraged high school football coach daring to trust God to do the impossible, on the field and at home.
Facing the Giants is an ideal movie to use to reach out into the community. Churches are encouraged to offer the movie as a ministry to the local neighborhood and friends and family of the congregation. Provident Films has put together an “Event Program” that can be purchased at: www.providentfilms.org. The kit not only includes a DVD of the movie with licensing provision, but also bible study ideas and discussions and promotional materials. Recently, MAC-affiliate All Saints’ Church in Dale City, Virginia hosted a tailgate party before showing the movie on a large screen in the church sanctuary. Child care was provided for the littlest ones, but even 3 year olds enjoyed watching the modern-day David and Goliath story! www.facingthegiants.com
Visit Trinity Conference
Trinity School for Ministry
March 8-10, 2007
Ambridge, PA
Come to the Visit Trinity Conference that begins with dinner on the evening of Thursday the 8th of March and concludes after dinner on Saturday the 10th. You’ll have a chance to converse with Dean Paul Zahl as well as other Trinity faculty and students. The weekend will feature workshops on the call to ministry, panel discussions on life at Trinity, classroom experience with members of our faculty, community worship, and just plain fun.
New Wineskins for Global Missions Conference
April 11-15, 2007
Ridgecrest, NC
Sponsored by the New Wineskins Missionary Network
“The 5th New Wineskins for Global Missions conference is an incomparable opportunity to equip you and your parish for engagement in the work of mission at home and abroad. At every conference, I’ve been powerfully touched by the amazing speakers that New Wineskins always offers—many are not well-known in the U.S., but they are all “world-class!” The array of workshops will leave you wishing you could choose them all. Every speaker will uphold the authority of Holy Scripture and the truth of the historic faith. It is an event that you and your congregation can joyfully and confidently plunge into! I look forward to seeing you there.”
-John Guernsey, Dean
If your church is having an event, we would be happy to publish it, not only so that interested people might attend, but so that we can be praying for you. Send information to newsletter@acn-mac.org .
Feel free to forward this newsletter to members of your congregation.
The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.
He fears nothing from prayerless studies,
prayerless work, and prayerless religion.
He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom,
but trembles when we pray.
-Samuel Chadwick
John Guernsey, Dean | George Beaven, Church Planting Director | Heather Adams, Executive Assistant | Heidi Reichert, Administrative Assistant
Mid-Atlantic Convocation | Anglican Network Communion
c/o All Saints' Church | 5290 Saratoga Lane
Woodbridge, Virginia 22193-3455
Tel: 703-670-0093www.acn-mac.org