Here’s What’s Happening at ACC

Sunday morning worship during Lent will begin at 9:45am,

providing fifteen minutes for meditative walking

before the formal service begins at 10:00am.

After church on March 4 there will be a Spectrum on Child Shelter International (CSI), a non-profit organization that helps children in the developing world.  CSI and ACC and the young musicians of Prospect Sierra School are co-sponsoring a fabulous St. Patrick’s Day bazaar and concert.  Come learn all about it.

Beginning on March 4th, there will be an evening service at 6:00 pm.  The service will allow people to sit quietly or walk reflectively in a labyrinth-style space while enjoying the meditative compositions of pianist Carolyn Margrete.  Short readings, time for prayer, and silence will be incorporated into the services.

The Women’s Fellowship and Potluck meets on Thursday, March 8 beginning at 6:30pm.  Come and meet Suzy Grossman, co-founder of the organization Child Shelter International, which provides shelter, clothing medical and educational supplies, and other support to needy children in developing countries.  On March 17, Arlington Church will host a benefit concert and bazaar on behalf of Child Shelter International.   

The next Mini Concert is scheduled for Friday, March 9 beginning at 8:00pm.  The concert features Trillium presenting Celtic, World, and Classical Music on Harp, Recorder and Violin.

Souper Bible Study meets at noon on Wednesdays during Lent.  The Bible Study begins with a simple soup lunch followed by study of the Psalms.  Please call the church office to reserve a space. 

     During Lent, Allan Essex will lead a book study at 8:45am on Sunday mornings.  Edie Rodman, using the same book will lead another book study on Tuesday evenings at 7:00pm. The focus of both studies is the book,   THE CHALLENGE OF JESUS, by N. T. Wright, which poses a double-edged challenge: to grow in our understanding of the historical Jesus within the Palestinian world of the first century, and to follow Jesus more faithfully into the post-modern world of the twenty-first century.  N. T. Wright is Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey and, for twenty years, has taught New Testament Studies at Cambridge, McGill, and Oxford Universities.  

Scripture for Sunday, March 4th

John 12:1-8

Looking Ahead

Save the Date for “Irish Night Out”!   Thursday March 15th is our next ACC Men’s Fellowship evening, but this time we’re inviting everyone (i.e. all the women also!) to come to our “Pre-St. Patrick’s Day” Irish dinner and program.  We will have a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, and the program will feature slides and a video of touring Ireland on foot.  Our own Charlie Fender trekked across much of Ireland’s beautiful countryside last summer with Kensington resident Egon Hoyer and three other walking buddies, and he/they will be leading our program and telling stories from their adventures.   So come enjoy the whole evening with us for "Irish Night Out" on Thursday, March 15th starting with happy hour at 6:30, dinner at 7:00, and the program at 8:00.  And please invite your friends and neighbors as well—just call the church office by March 13th to get your names on the list so we can be sure we prepare enough food.  Cost for the dinner will be approximately $6.

On Saturday,  March 17, Arlington Church will host a benefit concert and bazaar on behalf of Child Shelter International.  This family event will feature performances by students from Prospect Sierra School, as well as the Arlington Children’s Choir.  The concert is at 1:00 p.m.  The bazaar, with traditional Irish food and a variety of crafts for sale, will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  We want to encourage lots of families from our community to attend this event!  For more information about Child Shelter International, see www.childshelterinternational.org

Daylight Saving Time Alert:

This year, Daylight Saving time begins on March 11 – the second Sunday in March, not the first Sunday in April as in previous years.

HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK

Special activities are in italics; ongoing activities that happen weekly are in regular font.

Meditation

Let Wonder Have Its Way with Me

By Ted Loder

O God, your gracious Spirit

moves over the mysteries of living and dying

and is strangely present to me

in the falling leaves,

the call of the wild geese,

a child’s birth,

the light in a friend’s eyes

the sudden lifting of the heart,

and the deep longing which brings me to you now.

Make me aware of your presence

that wonder may have its way with me,

my passion be released,

my confidence renewed in the depths of your holiness

until, for a moment,

my longing for you be fulfilled

and I know I am really free

to share bread and intimacy,

to laugh and exchange mercy,

to be at ease in my struggles,

bold in my loving,

brave in facing down my terror,

hopeful in the rising music of your kingdom,

joyful in my living,

and graceful in my life becoming

a song of praise ever sung to you.