All are welcome to various Lenten events at Holy Spirit!

Apr 6 @ 11:30 am - Intergenerational Women’s Bible Journaling
Apr 12 @ 10:00 am - Palm Cross Making
Apr 12 @ 11:30 am - Daughters of the King offer Stations of the Cross featuring readings from “Women of the Passion”

Sundays @ 9:15 am - Adult Christian Formation will read and discuss the Lent Devotional.

Evensong for Lent

Sunday, Mar 23 @ 6:00 pm
Nave

Evensong, sometimes called Evening Prayer, is one of the most ancient services of the Anglican Church, dating back to the very first Book of Common Prayer produced by Thomas Cranmer in 1547. It can be entirely spoken, partially sung by the congregation (called "Sung Evensong") or completely sung by the choir with participation of the congregation (called "Choral Evensong"). It is that service we will celebrate on this evening. You will experience congregational hymns; psalms, canticles, and anthems sung by the choir; prayers sung by the clergy, choir, and congregation; and music from the organ.

Childcare available.

“if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.”
- Isaiah 58:10 NRSVUE

“[The Lord] gives food to the hungry”
- Psalm 146:7 NRSVUE

“for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me”
- Matthew 25:35 NRSVUE

It seems that the last thing many of us in the United States of America has a problem with is too little food. Although, as a member of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and School you may be aware of the Bayou City Blessings ministry. This ministry gives meals to children that are on free lunch programs so that they might have food over the weekends and holidays.

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.” - Luke 1:26-38 NRSVUE

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18a NRSV

In his first letter to the Thessalonians Paul speaks these words in the knowledge that those in the church of Thessalonica have been faithful to God since Paul first preached and taught them about the Good News of Jesus the Christ. In fact, Paul laments that he had to leave and had not been able to return for a visit and even sent Timothy to be with them for a while. The letter laments that Paul is not with them and yet is full of loving encouragement for the church to continue in the manner they follow the way of Jesus. A letter of encouragement and thanksgiving.

The very word Eucharist comes from the Greek eukharistia which means thanksgiving. While during the service of Eucharist we are not celebrating the meal shared by the early colonists and the indigenous people of the America’s we are offering thanksgiving to God. And while we are thankful for the many blessings of this life health, housing, food, employment, and the like, do you wonder how can we also be thankful in all circumstances including sickness, homelessness, hunger, and unemployment for example?