From the Rector

Dear Friends,

One of the things that drew me to the Episcopal Church was a sense of feeling part of something much bigger and more ancient than I ever had before. If you look just below the surface, you will find many diverse customs and traditions that come down to us through the ages and which do not receive much attention from the average person. One of these traditions is the observance of ember days, which, unless you have been a seminarian, you may never have heard of.

Ember Days are four sets of three days (Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday) in the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, traditionally observed with prayer, fasting, and abstinence to thank God for nature’s gifts and pray for vocations. They align with the changing seasons: spring (after Ash Wednesday), summer (after Pentecost), autumn (after Sept. 14), and winter (after Dec. 13). These are also times when traditionally seminarians write to their bishops to keep them informed of their studies and general progress. It is an old-fashioned custom, and I wonder how they do it now. My bishop expected a formally written letter in the mail and on time.

But turning back to thanking God for nature's gifts (and our part in them), I will remind you that our lenten book group has started up on Wednesday nights at 6pm at the rectory. We are reading "The Garden Against TIme — In search of a Common Paradise" by Olivia Laing. The author weaves a rich tapestry of her own experience in gardens with other theological, philosophical, and historical threads. Much more than just a book about gardening, it explores our place in creation and our longing for paradise in a rich and painterly way. I invite you to join us — it's not too late!

Blessings,
Father Rick

Lenten Learning

Sunday School Position Open

The Sunday School Teacher is a part-time role (4 hours per week) that reports to the Rector and is accountable for delivering engaging, age-appropriate, Bible-based lessons, fostering a safe and welcoming spiritual environment, managing the classroom, building relationships with children and parents, and supporting church activities, all while embodying Christian principles and ensuring Christian formation through teaching God's Word. Key duties include lesson planning, leading interactive activities (crafts, music, skits), maintaining discipline, managing childcare assistants, and communicating with parents.

Here is the link to the full position description. Please apply and/or send any questions to info@stmtux.org.

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