Peter Bourey and Steve Sholtis have been elected Senior Warden and Junior Warden, respectively. They, along with the Vestry members elected at the Annual Meeting, will be commissioned with a blessing on Sunday, March 7th at the 11 AM Service. Please keep these leaders of our parish in your prayers as they give themselves in service on the Vestry.

Beginning next Sunday, March 7th, and for the next four Sundays, we will have a food drive for North Raleigh Ministries. We held a food drive last Lent, and our turn has come around again. The food pantry at North Raleigh Ministries could use tomato products, soups, canned meats and desserts. Please remember – NO FROZEN FOODS OR ITEMS THAT NEED REFRIGERATION. If you have any questions, please call Keith Bandy at 782-0315.

From Maundy Thursday evening through Good Friday morning, we keep watch before the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose. This commemorates for us the disciples being asked to watch and pray with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemine the night before He was crucified. And Jesus said to Peter, “So you could not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Mt. 26: 40-41. So that we can make certain there are at least two people keeping watch for each hour of the Vigil, please print your name on the poster by the main door in the narthex. This way we can be certain that there is always someone before the Blessed Sacrament, and we can ensure people’s safety.

The Ushers will meet during Coffee Hour on Sunday, March 14th at 12:15 PM in the Parlor. Ushers from both the 9 AM and 11 AM services should attend this meeting, as well as men who would like to begin serving as ushers. We will hear from our new Head Usher, Ed Doolittle, update the Ushers’ Manual, and create a schedule that will be helpful for the parish. Please come and hear about this very helpful and special ministry in the parish.

The Adult Bible Study Class will not meet on Wednesday, February 24th or on Wednesday, March 3rd. The class will resume on Tuesday (new day), March 9th, at which time they will watch the movie, “Is America a Christian Nation?” by David Barton. Following the “movie night”, Adult Bible Study will continue to meet on Tuesday evenings in March (16th, 23rd and 30th) so people can attend the Wednesday evening Lenten Soup Suppers.

Each Wednesday in Lent (February 24th, March 3rd, March 10th, March 17th, and March 24th) we will gather in the Parish Hall at 6:30 PM to enjoy a light dinner of soup provided by various groups in the parish. Immediately following the Soup Supper will be a Lenten program entitled “Jesus Christ: Lord, Savior, Redeemer”. Father Martin and Father James will present a series of talks followed by discussion on these questions: Who is Jesus Christ? What do we tell others about Him? What does Jesus mean to you?

The Christian faith is all about Jesus, incarnate Son of the Living God and of the Virgin Mary. To know Him, love Him and serve Him is Christian discipleship. Using the great I AM sayings  in the Gospel according to St. John, we will rediscover who He is: I AM the Light of the world; I AM the Bread of Life; I AM the Good Shepherd; I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life; I AM the Resurrection and the Life. Through these talks, may we be better able to express the faith that is in us, in word and in action, and continue to grow in the fullness of the stature of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The schedule for the groups supplying the soup is:

• February 24th: St. Anne’s Chapter
• March 3rd: Vestry
• March 10th: Men’s Fellowship
• March 17th: Altar Guild
• March 24th: Bible Study

Stations of the Cross and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will be offered each Sunday in Lent (February 21st, February 28th, March 7th, March 14th and March 21st) at 6 PM. Please join us to meditate and pray on the events leading up to and including Our Lord’s Crucifixion and stay with us as we adore and are blessed by Our Lord as He is present in the Sacrament of the Altar.

The Youth Group would like to thank the Men’s Group for their generous donation of more than $200 from their wine sales during the Italian Dinner. We had a wonderful evening, and we are grateful to those who came despite the inclement weather. This was our most successful Italian Night, and we are thankful for the great support of our parishioners.

Each year people have the opportunity to give one or more lilies to decorate our Altar for Easter Day. The lilies are given in memory of departed loved ones, in thanksgiving for people or events or simply in thanksgiving for particular blessings. The names will appear in the bulletin for Easter Day. Please take the time to complete the form and return it to the Parish Office.

For one last “hurrah” before the rigors of Lent, the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, hosted by the Men’s Fellowship, on will be held on Tuesday, February 16th beginning at 6:30 PM. Come and have your fill of pancakes, sausages, and anything else you will miss during the Lenten fasts and abstinences.