Hello to my friends at Holy Spirit

I am Pat Groves and newly appointed Director of Volunteer Ministries. Father Bob asked me to write this week's column in his absence, so here goes.

My husband, Mark, and I are part of the Emmanuel Episcopal transplants to Holy Spirit following Hurricane Harvey. We were members there for 27 years and our daughter was born and raised in that parish.

While we all attend church for our spiritual development, I have always loved the sense of community and belonging. Walking into church on Sundays and seeing people you know and have served with in one capacity or another, always gives me such a warm and welcoming feeling. Having said that, I want to add that that does not happen overnight and the easiest was to make connections is to volunteer in one or several of the different ministries at Holy Spirit.

The Church has framed for us a wonderful Lent this year with its readings from scripture and prayers at our Liturgical Celebrations on Sundays. We here at Holy Spirit have increased that invitation into the spirit of Lent through our many offerings into thoughtful and prayerful gatherings like our Recollection Day, Reconciliation Celebration, varied forms of the Stations of the Cross, themed and lay led Sunday School for adults and Children’s Church for the little ones and our guided meditation books for each day of Lent, and even structured Lenten family practices. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be present with so many of you for these services and practices.

My Dear Friends,

As we continue in this holy season of Lent I would invite you to consider some of the Lenten themed offerings of this week.

On Wednesday evening at 7PM in the side Chapel of our Church, I will be offering a short reflection and a celebration of The Reconciliation of a Penitent, found in the Book of Common Prayer. The formulation will be for all of us gathered and individual reconciliation will take place only as desired. I invite you all to join us in our side chapel for this celebration of the love and forgiveness of God that we remember each Sunday when we pray, during Lent: "Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins."

BCB Lenten Challenge & Parish Lunch

Sunday, Mar 3 @ 11:45 am
Palmer Parish Hall

Join us in Palmer Parish Hall for a Lenten meal together of soup & salad, with dessert. You are invited to pick up a pack of cards to decorate and write positive messages for Bayou City Blessings Bags. The cards can be returned by Easter Sunday.

Help Stock the BCB Pantry!

Bring Mott’s Fruit Snacks or Cheese Sandwich Crackers to our Parish Lunch for the Bayou City Blessings Pantry.

I just wanted to send a little note to everyone with a gentle reminder that we have begun the Lenten Season here at Holy Spirit. It has been wonderful so far. I want to thank the folks who have volunteered to assist with the many and various spiritual offerings during the season. We look forward to, and need, parishioners to volunteer services during the rest of the season, Holy Week and Easter.

Next Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, we will begin together here, and with the whole Church, the holy Season of Lent.  It is, as the Scriptures tell us and the Prayer Book reminds us, a special time of prayer, fasting (moderation) and the giving of alms (time and resources).  We are being called into reflection and renewal!  This year our theme for focus will be one of Forgiveness and Reconciliation.  Our Sunday Scriptures as well as our Sunday School sessions and other Lenten opportunities will help pry that open for us. I invite you to take Lent 2024 seriously and to engage where you feel called, with others of our parish family, in the time we have together during this holy season..