NEWS & EVENTS

WORSHIP SERVICES AT ST. TIMOTHY'S

+ Holy Eucharist is celebrated each Sunday at 8 AM (said service) and 10 AM (sung service). The 10 AM service is also shared via Zoom for those who are physically unable to attend in person.

+ Wednesdays there is an in-person Holy Eucharist at 10AM, using the traditional-language rite. This service is followed by tea and conversation in the parish library.

+ Current masking policy: All persons may wear a face mask as a health tool. Some persons (especially those in higher-risk groups) should wear a mask. However, no one must wear a mask. The parish provides good quality face masks for those desiring them.

+ We have an upgraded HVAC air handling system to maximize the safety of our indoor environment.

+ We encourage vaccination for all eligible persons to prevent communicable disease at church or elsewhere.

+ Please contact the parish office for more information, and to be added to our Zoom invitation lists.

Lent at St. Timothy's

Ash Wednesday | March 18th

+ 10 AM: Holy Eucharist (said)

+ 7 PM: Holy Eucharist (sung)
with Bishop Akiyama preaching and presiding

Thursdays during Lent

6:30 AM: Holy Eucharist (said)
In a revival of classic Lenten practice, this simple Holy Eucharist service is an opportunity for those seeking a heightened observance during Lent or an additional time for quiet, contemplative, yet communal, worship. Following the service, those who wish can join together for a simple breakfast nearby.

Fridays during Lent

7 PM: Stations of the Cross
We will once again be using the form of the Way of the Cross and employing short readings from Blessed Julian of Norwich. Parishioners are encouraged to attend at least one of these services in Lent. It is one of the best ways to come to a deeper understanding of the Love of God found in the Passion

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From the Rector...

Lent and the Forces of Evil

With the 4th anniversary of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine falling on Tuesday of this week, I am struck by the sheer amount of violence, destruction, and waste over these four years. The malice and cruelty of this war, fueled by nationalism and greed, knows no bounds. It is utterly evil--especially as the attacking country sees itself as upholding 'Christian' values and thinks of itself as the Third Rome (after Rome of old and Byzantine Constantinople) and the harbinger of a new world order. Such is the perversion of truth by evil men.

Evil, as we heard in last Sunday's Gospel lesson, is personified in Satan. His character is marked by lies, malice, and deception. The devil's mission is to trick humans so as to obscure our birthright and worship the idols which enslave us in ignorance, delusion, passions, and fear. War is perhaps the most extreme manifestation of this.

Yet, the forces of evil outside of us must rely on activating evil inside of us to succeed completely. It is when the evil without links up with the evil within that we surrender our self to participation in, service of, or acquiescence to evil.

Sometime Lent is portrayed as a purely personal matter involving our own sin alone. This is an insufficient understanding of the season. By taking seriously our need to identify the sins we harbor and to repent of them, we are doing our part in breaking the cycle of evil in the world. The forces of evil we see so blatantly around us thrive when they can connect with the sin in our own heart, thereby multiplying in and through us like a virus. Fighting against this with the tools of repentance and humility contributes not only to our own wellbeing, but to the wellbeing of our community and society. A holy Lent is an act of resistance and subversion against the evil forces of our day.

So, as we make our way through Lent, remember that what each of us is laboring on is not simply for our own benefit. It is for the benefit of all. When evil can be defeated at the gates of our heart, it will have less ability to race through our community and world. We are each the bulwark standing between malice and mercy, war and peace.

Lector Ministry Reboot

Carol Hutchinson, in addition to being a superb teacher and preacher as well as writer, is also now our Lector Coordinator. She is gathering lectors in the parish to meet over the coming weeks to discuss this ministry and receive updated copies of the lector certificate in recognition of the importance of their ministry. This certificate underscores the sacred trust involved in sharing God's word.

The skilled and prayerful proclamation of Holy Scripture is one of the key parts of pubic worship. Our lectors are prepared and prayerful, showing how informed reading alone can exegete the holy writings wonderfully. I personally rely on our lectors to open the scriptures through their reading so that I may follow on and select key themes in preaching.

I want to thank the lectors of this parish for their excellent service, and to thank Merryn Grae and Sue Bergquist for their fine work in this area. Finally, please thank Carol Hutchinson for taking it on. It is gift to us all.

Towers of Tuna, Pyramids of Peanut Butter

Our Lenten corporal work of mercy--providing particularly desired foods to Marion-Polk Food Share--is off to a great start. Brother Matthew suggested to the young persons in the parish that these offerings should be arranged in attractive ways so as to show the constructive possibilities of generosity. So, the cans of tuna and the jars of peanut butter are starting to take shape. I hope that by the end of this effort we can have some constructions worthy of Joseph's time in Egypt. Keep the 'building blocks' coming--and thank you for being generous to our needy neighbors.

In Christ, and with prayers for a Holy Lent,

Brandon+

The Week Ahead...

+ All days in Lent outside of Sundays are fast days

Thursday, February 26: Photini, the Samaritan Woman, "Equal to the Apostles" & Martyr; c. 67

6:30 AM: Holy Eucharist, in the chapel

Friday, February 27: George Herbert, priest and poet; 1633. Ember Day

7 PM: Stations of the Cross

Saturday, February 28: Anna J. Cooper, educator; 1964. Ember Day

+ Sunday, March 1: The Second Sunday in Lent

+ 8 AM: Holy Eucharist (Said). In-person.

+ 9:50 AM: Godly Play & nursery open

+ 10 AM: Holy Eucharist (Sung). In-person & online

The Sundays in Lent, while being feasts of the resurrection of Christ, remain days marked by the Lenten character of reserve and repentance.

Monday, March 2: Chad of Lichfield, Bishop; 672

The parish office is closed on Mondays.
Lenten Retreat at Mt Angel Abbey begins

Tuesday, March 3: John and Charles Wesley, Priests, 1791, 1788

10 AM: Crafts and Conversation

Wednesday, March 4: Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs; 202

10 AM: Morning Prayer Service in the Chapel
7 PM: Catechumenate on Zoom

Prayer Requests from this Parish: Margaret McMurren+, Dale and Jeanné Cannon, Alexandra Foote, Liz McClure, Howard & Pat Klopfenstein, Juanita Rivera, Scott Kohl, the Teeters family, Rorey DeWitt, Br. Matthew Tenney, nOGS, Rich Zorko, Julie Pannell, John Hanson, Julia Smith, Kerrie Harwood, Fr. Gary Zerr, Family Promise, Salem for Refugees, Mending Wings Youth Ministries. For peace amongst the nations and the end of the war in Ukraine. For the maintenance of our civil liberties and for all who labor to protect them. For the upcoming Lenten retreat.

For the repose of the soul of: Fr. James (Jim) Boston, sometime guest celebrant / preacher and longtime friend of this parish. Pray for his widow, Pamela.

Thursdays in Lent

Fridays in Lent
7 PM: Stations of the Cross
We will once again be using the form of the Way of the Cross and employing short readings from Blessed Julian of Norwich. Parishioners are encouraged to attend at least one of these services in Lent. It is one of the best ways to come to a deeper understanding of the Love of God found in the Passion

Lenten Rule:
There is still time to make one!

Though Lent has begun it is not too late to begin your own observance of the season; in fact, the Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom, referring to the Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard, suggests that it is never too late to begin. In that spirit, you are encouraged to make a Lenten Rule (or resume it if during the season you let it slip).

A Lenten Rule is a means to plan out your Lenten practices as a spiritual offering (not merely self-improvement). The Lenten Rule card is filled out and kept; a detachable commitment card is signed and put in the offering plate, brought to the altar and blessed, and placed in a hanging basket as a reminder of our shared journey through the season. There is a printable version of the Lenten Rule card here. We pray for each other as we make this holy pilgrimage together.

The Lenten table in the narthex features other resources for all ages and will be up for a little while longer. Please check it out.

Lent Outreach Project

With government restrictions and reduction in food aid to the needy, this year seems like a good time to focus our corporate lenten almsgiving on increasing our donations to Marion-Polk Food Share.

We will be collecting jars of peanut butter (any kind) and cans of tuna (again, any kind) during Lent. These are two of the "Top 5“ foods that the Food Bank deems most useful. Our gifts will be blessed on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 12, and transported to the Food Bank.

Look for collection containers (one for peanut butter, one for tuna) in the narthex beginning on Ash Wednesday.

Lenten Meditations from Episcopal Relief and Development

You’re invited to subscribe to Episcopal Relief & Development Lenten Meditations! Visit our website to sign up for daily meditation emails, written by Jerusalem Jackson Greer, on the divine gifts we find in community.

Want to learn more? In this video, Jerusalem reflects on what it means to travel through Lent in the context of community.

The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian
Widely regarded as one of the greatest Lenten prayers written

O Lord and master of my life! Take away from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love to your servant.
Yes, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge others.
For you are blessed unto ages and ages. Amen.

Mission Statement of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church
We gather to experience the Holy Trinity through Scripture, worship, study, and fellowship. Receiving and reflecting God’s love and grace, we are sent out to love and serve our neighbor, see the Christ in others, and share the Gospel by the example of our everyday lives.

St. Timothy's Website

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Father Brandon's Blog

St. Timothy's Parish Office Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday, 9 AM - 3 PM
Wednesday, 9:30 AM - 3 PM
Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM via telephone/email/text
The Parish Office is closed on Mondays

Parish Office Contact Info
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7416; Salem, OR 97303
Email: mail@sainttimothys.org
Phone: 503-363-0601

Rector's Days Off:
Fridays and on Saturday mornings
Please contact Fr. Brandon on his days off if you have an emergency.

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LENT AND HOLY WEEK AT ST. TIMOTHY'S

+ Stations of the Cross are held every Friday evening at 7 PM during Lent. Join us for the Litany of Penitence from Ash Wednesday and short readings from Blessed Julian of Norwich.

HOLY WEEK

+ Palm Sunday: March 24
8 AM: Blessing of Palms & Holy Eucharist (spoken)
10 AM: Palm Procession & Holy Eucharist (sung).

+ Monday, March 25 & Tuesday, March 26
7 PM: Evening Prayer

+ Wednesday, March 27
7 PM: Tenebrae Service

THE HOLY TRIDUUM

One Liturgy Spread over Three Days (Main services in bold text)

+ Maundy Thursday: March 28

7 PM: The Maundy Thursday Liturgy

Prayer Watch following until Noon on Good Friday

+ Good Friday: March 29

Noon: Stations of the Cross

7 PM: Good Friday Liturgy

+ Holy Saturday; Easter Eve: March 30

10 AM: Little Tomb Service of the Burial of Christ

9 PM: The Great Vigil of Easter, followed by the Agape Feast

Easter Day: March 31

11 AM: Holy Eucharist (said, with hymns)

HOLY WEEK AT ST. TIMOTHY'S

Palm Sunday
8 AM: Blessing of Palms & Holy Eucharist (spoken)
10 AM: Palm Procession & Holy Eucharist (sung)

The 10 AM service begins with the Liturgy of the Palms in the Parish Hall, with Palm Procession to the Nave, followed by the Dramatic Reading of the Passion Gospel of St. Matthew and Holy Eucharist. This is a “hybrid” liturgy: both in-person and online.

Monday & Tuesday in Holy Week
7 PM: Ante-communion, followed by confessions

We will not celebrate the Holy Eucharist during the period from Palm Sunday until Maundy Thursday. On these two days the evening service will be the first part of the Eucharist, including the readings for these days, but ending after the Lord’s Prayer.

Wednesday in Holy Week
7 PM: Tenebrae

Tenebrae, a service of shadows and darkness expressive of the gradual desertion of Christ by those around him, marks a decisive turn in Holy Week and serves as a contemplative portal into the mystery of our redemption which will be our focus in the coming days. This is a service unlike any other in the Church Year and forms the entrance into the heart of Holy Week.

THE HOLY TRIDUUM
One Liturgy Spread over Three Days

All Episcopalians are to join together for worship if physically able to do so. (Main services in underlined bold text)

Maundy Thursday

7 PM: The Maundy Thursday Liturgy
Prayer Watch following until Noon Good Friday

The first part of the service, which does not conclude until the end of the Great Vigil of Easter, this service commemorates Christ’s command to love each other as he has loved us, and his commandment to “do this in remembrance of me” by sharing in the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Sacrament is then removed to the Chapel and the altar is stripped in recollection of Christ’s arrest and being mocked. We then leave in silence as the lights are lowered.

The Prayer Watch at the Altar of Repose in the Chapel now begins, lasting until noon Friday, in remembrance of Jesus’s words in the garden of Gethsemane, when he asked his disciples to spend an hour in prayer with him. Parishioners sign up to take an hour in prayer in the chapel before Christ in the Holy Sacrament. A member of the parish will be at the church all night to let people in and walk them to their cars.

Good Friday

Noon: Stations of the Cross
7 PM: Good Friday Liturgy

The Good Friday Liturgy is the most solemn service in the Church Year. Its starkness points to the truth of both human brokenness and God’s complete identification with us in our need. The highlights are the Great Silence at the start, then the reading of the Passion Gospel according to St. John, the Solemn Collects (intercessions for all humanity), the bringing out and veneration of the Good Friday Cross, and the Communion from the Reserved Sacrament, brought from the Altar of Repose in the Chapel. Once more, we leave in silence.

Good Friday is marked by as complete a fast as health allows, from sunrise until at least 3 PM, the traditional hour of Christ’s death upon the cross.

Holy Saturday

10 AM: Little Tomb Service of the Burial of Christ

The morning service is a short, spare gathering at the now-denuded altar where we hear of Christ’s hasty burial and contemplate his lying in the tomb, even as God the Son has descended to Hades, there to liberate those long held by the Evil One. A glorious sermon from the very early Christian period is read and prayers for those who have died are offered.

Easter Eve

Saturday, 9 PM: The Great Vigil of Easter,
followed by the Agape Feast

The Easter Vigil is the heart of our life as a parish and as a people. It is our main Easter service. It must be experienced, not explained, but it consists of the lighting, blessing, and sharing of the New Fire, the great song before the Paschal Candle (The “Exsultet”), the readings of the Old Testament prophesies, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, the Proclamation of the Resurrection, the great Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom, and the First Eucharist of Easter. This is the high point of the entire Church Year. The Vigil is followed by a grand feast in the Parish Hall, to which all are invited. Come and see!

Easter Day

11 AM: Holy Eucharist (said, with hymns)
A “hybrid” liturgy: both in-person and online.

The Easter Day Eucharist at St. Timothy’s is quite a bit simpler than the Vigil. However, it is a joyous celebration and includes the beautiful, ever-new account of Mary Magdalene meeting the Risen Christ in the garden. With this Eucharist, our celebration of Easter Day concludes…but the Great 50 Days of Eastertide has just begun.