SHROVE TUESDAY SUPPER AND SILENT AUCTION
FEBRUARY 5
6:00 p.m.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
February 6
The Penitential Office, the Imposition of Ashes,
And Holy Communion
7:15 AM
12:15 PM
5:30 PM
                                                

HARD TO SWALLOW
The gourmet's ongoing failure to think in moral terms

The above is the title of a piece by B.R. Myers published in a recent issue of The Atlantic.  Mr. Myers had reviewed two offerings:  The Best Food Writing of 2006 and The Omnivore's Dilemma.  Much of his article centered on how over the last few centuries, our culture's understanding of "gourmands" and "gluttons" has undergone a metamorphosis.  "For centuries, civilized society took a dim view of food lovers...placing them on a moral par with lechers...Those who have since applied the word [gourmet or gourmand] to themselves have done a fine job of converting the world's scorn to respect." As he asserts, society no longer has a pejorative term for those who live to eat.  Whereas one formerly might be more concerned about the evils of gluttony, we now seem more vexed over the evils of gluten.

Throughout the review, Mr. Myers rails against the moral indifference of today's gourmets' delight in the force-feeding of ducks to make fois gras, or the callousness of steaming or boiling alive lobsters and crabs.  One portion of The Omnivore's Dilemma made yours truly more than a little uncomfortable -- just substitute "crabs" for "lobsters":  "People say lobsters make a terrible racket in the pot, trying -- reasonably enough -- to claw their way out of the water.  I wouldn't know.  I spent the next twenty minutes watching a golf game on the TV with the volume turned up...When I ventured back into the kitchen, the lobsters were very red, and not making any racket at all...Poor little beasties."

With the New Year just behind us and "Team Lean" in high gear, gluttony in any one of its innumerable forms thankfully continues to weigh on the minds of many, if not always for the right reasons.  As Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday approach, it might be helpful to recall that gluttony is not simply over-eating.  The side of the sin to which many if not most of us succumb is eating in the most refined manner possible.  We might have a wonderfully fabulous meal on the table, and be disgusted that we lack the perfect wine.  Regarding "disgust" (a word with a more than relevant background), a brilliant Mad Magazine movie satire from the mid-sixties had James Bond ordering a bottle of Chateau Something or Other "with the grapes stomped by Nellie May Smith".  Indeed in his Purgatorio, one of the penitents Dante encounters is a former Pope, who died by dining on a surfeit of eels from the Lake of Bolsena, stewed in Vernacci wine. According to Dorothy Sayers, "contemporary wit designed this epitaph for him:  There was joy among the eels / When death laid him by the heels / For he skinned 'em and sorted 'em / As though death had county-courted 'em."

In terms of the Seven Deadly or "capital" sins, gluttony ranks just below lust.  It is a more "beastly" sin than lust, because it is more personal.  In the words of John Sinclair, "The soul yields more to the flesh with solely fleshly motives."  It's one thing to love lobster stew.  It's something else entirely to begin to salivate at the thought of it -- and Dante uses all his considerable powers to portray its beastliness, as no sin can disfigure a soul as gluttony.

In the Inferno, the author pictures the gluttonous as lying in the muddy stinking ground on which they perpetually gorge themselves while being flayed by Cerberus, a giant dog with three throats.  In order to silence momentarily this beast (itself symbolic of the gluttonous), Virgil picks up as much mud and muck as he can, hurling it at the dog's gullets, which eagerly slop it up.  In this circle of hell, "the stinking rain makes the profane wretches howl like dogs".  The word "profane" would bring to mind Esau, described in Genesis as "profane" for selling his birthright for a mess of potage.  It’s interesting to note that in Dante's Hell, the spirits perpetually stuff themselves, while the souls in Purgatory fast and starve.

In one of our Lenten collects we pray, Give us grace to use such abstinence, that our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness and true holiness."  The more we can say "No" to our appetite, the easier we can say "Yes to God's will for us.  Further, whenever we say "O Lord open thou our lips, and our mouth shall show forth thy praise", we assert that the most important use of our mouth has to do not with eating, but with praising God.  Obviously we could not have the strength to open our mouth to praise Him if we never opened it to eat.  Nevertheless the point regarding gluttony is that one ought to eat to live rather than live to eat -- or as one other sage attempted to describe this sin:  too much, too soon, too expensively, too eagerly, and with too much fuss.  

The following is not meant to condemn or censor or turn anyone into the proverbial puritanical "snob-in-reverse", but simply to restate the length society goes to palliate some of its masticatory needs.  Mr. Myers' quotes a passage from Best Food Writing of 2006:  "I detect a backlash...among fed up gourmands, [the editor notes with approval] who refuse to renounce foie gras and caviar just because they are produced by less-than-noble methods."  As Myers comments, "That just because says it all."   Again, with the intention of never completely foregoing foie gras, this writer resolves at least to kill his crabs humanely (it is possible with a little preparation and time) before subjecting them to the steam.  Quite simply, Mr. Myers articulates quite clearly in his subtitle something we need seriously to contemplate as we approach the Forty Days of Lent:  the fact that there always has been and always will remain a moral dimension to what, and with, and how, and how often we decide to pamper our sophisticated palates.  FAB

FROM THE VESTRY

At its January meeting, the Vestry elected respectively as Senior and Junior Warden, Mr. Clay Sewell and Dr. Chip Bragg.  The congregation gratefully appreciates the time and energy of outgoing wardens Mr. David Grooms and Mr. Clay Sewell.

Mr. Brad Jackson and Mrs. Michael Singletary continue as Treasurer and Clerk, for which we also remain thankful.
FAB

MANY, MANY THANKS!

 -to Jinanne Parrish for organizing another splendid Bazaar, and to the all the ladies (and gentlemen) who helped sort literally tons of stuff.  Also a tremendous "hats off" to the ECW for making five of the warehouse garage doors workable, as well as providing proper lighting in the facility.


CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUNDAYS

In addition to the children's classes, remember that Fr. McQueen's class continues on St. Matthew, and Fr. Buechner leads the Jr. High group on an overview of the Bible.

Also, Fr. McQueen's Bible class continues to meet Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. and again at 4:00 p.m.

ALL SAINTS TO TRY SUNDAY 8:00 AM SERVICE  DURING LENT

Throughout the Sundays of Lent, excepting Easter Day, we will have a Sunday morning Holy Eucharist (without sermon) in the church at 8:00 AM.  The schedule for the other two services on Sunday will remain the same.

While we recognize the potential danger of "splitting" the 10:30 AM congregation, we hope that this offering might appeal to some who might otherwise not be coming regularly on Sundays.
 
The other reason is that most priests appreciate the opportunity to celebrate the Holy Eucharist at least once each Sunday.  With two priests at All Saints now, the extra service would fulfill that desire which Fr. McQueen and I share.

And yet we want everyone to know that however this works out, the Vestry, Will, and I will evaluate the situation after Lent -- with the input of the congregation of course.    FAB

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER --  AND SILENT AUCTION

Having received several requests, and with falling attendance the last few years, for Shrove Tuesday (February 5) this year we will have a pancake supper.  The evening will begin at 6:00 PM. 

This year will feature a "Treasure Table" with items culled from the White Elephant section of the annual Bazaar.  They will be available to purchase in “silent auction” format.  Proceeds of course will go to All Saints ECW.

PS:  Remember to bring your palms from last Palm Sunday.  We will burn them and then use the ashes at the Ash Wednesday services.                           


LENTEN WEEKDAY SERVICES

Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30:  Evening Prayer and Holy Communion
Tuesday at 10:00AM:  Morning Prayer and Holy Communion
Thursday at 12:15 PM:  Morning Prayer and Holy Communion
Fridays at 8:30 AM:  The Great Litany and Holy Communion

All services in the Chapel
No services February 7-8, February 26

LENTEN SUPPERS WITH PROGRAM

In conjunction with the ECW, we have two Lenten Suppers planned:  February 13 and March 12.  The guest speaker on February 13 is a young mother named Shannon Bassi.  Fr. Buechner and Russell Chubb heard her speak recently at Rotary.  She is a former Navy Helicopter pilot, and at Rotary she spoke of what family and faith meant to her growing up.  Rick and Russell found her to be one of the best speakers they’ve heard at Rotary in some time.

On March 12, we have a guest, Robin Thompson, whose subject will be the "Illegal Trafficking of Women", which has been a very serious problem for centuries.

We are in the process of scheduling a speaker for February 27.

Supper will begin at 6:00, followed by the program at about 6:45.  We should be finished no later than 7:45. 

The nursery will be staffed, and a special meal will be available for the younger children.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS MEETING

There will be a meeting of all Sunday school teachers on Tuesday, February 12, at 4:00 p.m.  There are a number of items to discuss, so please make plans to be there.  Thank you for all that you have done this year.

WNM 
 

METROPOLITAN OPERA CHORUS MASTER TO CONDUCT CHOIR WORKSHOP FOR ALL SAINTS DURING LENT
 
Thomasvillle native son Raymond Hughes (Chorus Master at the MET from 1991-2007), has graciously agreed to conduct a three-week workshop for All Saints' Choir.  The workshop will consist of three Wednesday evening sessions followed by the respective three Sundays.

Since leaving the MET last year, Mr. Hughes has conducted choral and opera concerts in Rome, Venice, and in New York at Carnegie Hall.

Wednesday sessions are February 13, 20, and 27 from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Sunday morning sessions will begin February 17, 24, and March 2 at 9:00 a.m.

We hope this might also be a stimulus for new members, a hope shared by Organist / Choir Director Margit Miller as well as by our present choir members.

We cannot emphasize what a wonderful opportunity this is for our music program, so please put these dates on your calendar now.   FAB & MM

LENTEN CLASS ON DANTE'S DIVINE COMEDY

On Monday's in Lent (beginning February 11) Fr. Buechner will lead a class on Dante's Divine Comedy.  Its three sections:  The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso portray the author's spiritual journey through Hell, up Mount Purgatory and then into Heaven itself.  One of, if not the greatest spiritual classics, we will read and study selected "cantos" from each section.

The class will meet in the Parish Hall Library from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m., and will be repeated on Tuesday afternoon from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

ATTENTION VESTRYMEN

The Vestry will have its regular monthly meeting in the Parish Hall Library at 8:00 A.M. on Sunday, February 17. 

OFFICE CLOSING
The office will be closed Monday, February 18 in observance of President’s Day

CHRISTMAS DINNERS

A belated thank you to everyone who made this year's Christmas Dinner Outreach Program our most successful.  Over 140 of Thomasville's senior and homeless citizens, as well as the residents of Halcyon Home enjoyed a real Christmas Dinner.  We hope the gift of preparing and delivering these meals was as rewarding for you and your families as it has always been for ours.  Thank you!

Rozzie and Eddie Davis
Elaine Kavouklis

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

For the months of February and March the ECW will sponsor a Lenten supper and guest speaker program.  We will meet for an abbreviated meeting at 5:30 p.m. immediately followed by the supper.  (Please see Fr. Buechner’s article regarding Lenten Suppers with Program.)

The Lenten supper on February 13 (featuring guest speaker, Shannon Bassi) will be a covered dish, with the church providing the chicken, bread and dessert.  Please bring your favorite salad or vegetable for ten.  The Lenten supper on March 12 (featuring guest speaker, Robin Thompson) will be provided by the ECW, details to be announced.

We encourage all parishioners to attend the Lenten supper and program.
Lee Chubb
Lee Mitchell

SAINT CECILIA AND SAINT DAVID CHOIR NEWS

Both choirs will sing Sunday, February 3. There will be no rehearsals on Ash Wednesday, February 6.  The choirs will sing again on March 9.

Congratulations to the following choristers past and present for their performances in Brookwood School's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: DJ Grooms, Neel Gurley, Catie Hancock, Reid Myers, Ella and Audrey Simmons, Parker Watt and Preston Young.

Kathy Buechner

EPISCOPAL YOUNG CHURCHMEN

February is going to be a busy month for the EYC, so please make sure to put these events on your calendar.

Sunday, February 3 --  Super Bowl XLII on the big screen.  The game starts at 6:00 so bring your favorite game watching snacks, and join us in the movie room for the game.

Tuesday, February 5 -- Shrove Tuesday pancake supper.  Please meet at the church at 5:30 to help serve.

Sunday, February 10 -- No meeting

Friday, February 15-17 -- Trip to Highlands, NC.  More details to follow

Sunday, February 24 -- Game night at Granddaddys.  Meet at church for evening service, and then off to restaurant.

One heads up for March, we will be making palm crosses for our Palm Sunday service on Saturday, March 15.  Specifics will be coming later.

I have also created a Facebook group for All Saints’ EYC.  If you have a Facebook account, please be sure to check it out and add it to your groups.  If you don’t have a Facebook account, get one so that you can get all the news about the EYC.

WNM

ECW BOOK CLUB

**NOTE NEW DAY JUST FOR FEBRUARY:  THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21**

The ECW Book Club will meet on Thursday, February 21 at 11:50 a.m.  Infidel  by Ayaan Hirsi Ali will be the featured book.  Alston Watt will lead the discussion.  Please contact Alston or the office to let them know that you will be attending.

MEN'S GROUP

Don't forget that the men's group continues to meet Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m. in the parish hall library.  WNM

PRAYER AND LENT

One of the treasures of our Anglican heritage is the collection of sermons and homilies known as The Homilies.  Article XXXV of the Articles of Religion addresses these homilies as "contain[ing] a godly and wholesome Doctrine" and that they should be "read in Churches by the Ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded [sic] by the people" (BCP, 610).  The two volumes of homilies cover a wide array of topics ranging from sermons on seasons of the Church Year to issues of Church cleanliness, and excesses of personal apparel.  There are two homilies dedicated to the topic of prayer.  The title of the first is "Concerning Prayer" and the second "Of the Place and Time of Prayer."  
 
The Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday, February 6, and we are to use the forty days as a time of preparation, self-examination, fasting, and prayer.  One's hope is that Lent should not be a time of dreading what we are going to give up, but rather, it should be time to embrace the opportunity to take time out of our busy schedules for reading, study, and contemplation.  The task of taking time to study and pray gives depth and meaning to this season, and allows us to put Easter in its proper perspective.

When Lent comes around each year, there are always the questions pertaining to how one might take on a spiritual discipline, and what shape should it take?  'How' and 'what' are certainly the right questions to ask once we have answered in the affirmative the question 'Am I going to take on something this Lent?' 

In "A homily or sermon concerning prayer" we find a framework within which one can begin to answer the 'how' and 'what' questions of a Lenten devotional.  We also receive our answer to the question of 'why' we might endeavor to embark upon this spiritual journey.

 There is nothing in all man's life, well beloved in our Saviour
 Christ, so needful to be spoken of, and daily to be called upon, as
 hearty, zealous, and devout prayer; and the necessity whereof is so
 great, that without it nothing may be well obtained at God's hand. 
 For as the Apostle James saith, every good and perfect gift cometh
 from above, and proceedeth from the Father of lights: who is also
 said to be rich and liberal towards all them that call upon him,
 not because he either will not or cannot give without asking, but
 because he hath appointed prayer, as an ordinary means between
 him and us.   The Homilies, p. 230

The meaning of the word ordinary here does not connote inferior, plain, or undistinguished, but rather available to all.  One does not need to be extraordinary to avail himself of this gift.  We have a vehicle in which we can reciprocally express and share with our Creator all that lies within us and Him.  There is great freedom as well as joy that comes in knowing that this path to the Father remains open and unrestricted.  May each one of us endeavor to experience the riches of beginning or expanding our life of prayer this Lent. 
 
WNM

USHERS FOR FEBRUARY
February 3    
Clayton Penhallegon    
Raleigh Rollins

February 10
Charles Sanders
Mike Shea

February 17     
Tom Simmons  
Charlie Whitney 

February 24
Geoffrey Young
Robert Balfour

TRANSITIONS:
 Happy Birthday in February to:
  Maryam Norajean Sibley  2-11-02
  Neel Gurley   2-12-98
  Will Ladson   2-13-99
  Virginia E. Jackson  2-19-99
  Jonathan Douglas Harper  2-19-96
  Rob Stubley   2-22-90
  Cecile Shea   2-22-91
  Catie Hancock   2-23-90
  John B. Brinson, V (Jack)  2-24-97
  Colleen Elizabeth Nudd  2-24-06
  John Penhallegon  2-29-93

 Happy Birthday in March to:
  Raleigh Rollins   3-2-01
  Stephen Stubley   3-16-92
  Lauren Hancock   3-23-89

IN THE PARISH REGISTER

Baptism

Andrew Raney McMullian received the sacrament of
Holy Baptism on January 20, 2008

Deo Gratias

Mr. and Mrs. Walker Davis announce the safe delivery of a son,
Wyatt Jackson Davis on January 8, 2008


TO KEEP A TRUE LENT

Is this a Fast, to keep
The larder lean?
And clean
From fat of veals and sheep?
Is it to quit the dish
Of flesh, yet still
To fill
The platter high with fish?
Is it to fast an hour,
Or ragg'd to go,
Or show
A down-cast look and sour?
No: 'tis a Fast to dole
Thy sheaf of wheat
And meat
Unto the hungry soul,
It is to fast from strife
And old debate,
And hate;
To circumcise thy life.
To show a heart grief-rent;
To starve thy sin,
Not bin;
And that's to keep thy Lent.
      Robert Herrick
      (1591-1674)

-----------------------------------------

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

O God our Father, help us to nail to the Cross of thy dear Son the whole body of our death, the wrong desires of the heart, the sinful devisings of the mind, the corrupt apprehensions of the eyes, the cruel words of the tongue, the ill employment of hands and feet; that the old man being crucified and done away, the new man may live and grow into the glorious likeness of the same thy Son Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.  Amen
                     from A Procession of Passion Prayers
                     ordered by Eric Milner-White
 

MEMORY ALMOST FULL

From a February 26 sentencing memorandum by Judge Gregory R. Todd, in the case of Montana v. Andrew McCormack.  In 2006, McCormack was arrested for stealing beer.  After entering a guilty plea, he received a sentence of probation, community service and a fine.

Mr. McCormack, to the question of "Give your recommendation as to what you think the Court should do in this case," you said, "Like the Beatles say, 'Let it be.'"  If I were to overlook your actions and let it be, I would have to ignore that day in the life on April 21, 2006.  Evidently you said to yourself, "I feel fine," while drinking beer.  Later whether you wanted money or were just trying to act naturally, you became the fool on the hill.  As Mr. Moonlight at 1:30 a.m., you did not think for yourself, but just focused on I, me, mine.  Because you didn't ask for help, wait for something else, or listen to your conscience saying, "Honey, don't," the victim later that day was fixing a hole in the glass door you broke.  After you stole the eighteen-pack of Old Milwaukee, you decided it was time to run for your life and carry that weight.  But when the witness said, "Baby, It's you," the police responded, "I'll get you," and you had to admit, "You really got a hold on me."  You were not able to get back home because of the chains they put on you.  Although you hoped the police would say, "I don't want to spoil the party" and "We can work it out," you were in misery when they said you were a bad boy.  When the police took you to jail, they said, "Hello, goodbye," and you became a nowhere man.  Later, when you thought about what you did, you may have said "I'll cry instead."   Now you're saying, "Let it be," instead of, "I'm a loser."  As a result of your hard day's night, you are looking at a ticket to ride that long and winding road.  Hopefully you can say when I'm sixty-four, "I should have known better."

         from Harper's Magazine, August, 2007