Saint Catherine of Alexandria Episcopal Church

Holy Week Services:

April 13 Maundy Thursday service:  5 PM
April 14 Good Friday service:  Noon

April 15 Saturday:  Church cleanup for Easter Sunday
April 16 EASTER:  No 8 AM service, principal service at 9:30

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Labyrinth Committee Update

Following the Labyrinth presentation of 2/26, the committee reflected on feedback, ideas and suggestions. Here are some highlights:

• The original vision for an outdoor Labyrinth continues to appeal because a space that is always open and available helps our grounds be a place of welcome as it supports spiritual experience for all people.
• There also seem to be significant benefits to an indoor Labyrinth, including availability when weather is bad, and use during special services.
• A canvas Labyrinth can also be taken to other locations, which would allow the Labyrinth to develop as form of outreach and mission.

 With these (and other) possibilities in mind, the committee is supporting purchasing a canvas Labyrinth, thanks to a generous gift from a member of St Catherine’s, while also moving forward with researching and design of an outdoor Labyrinth.

Finally, in order to create more stakeholders from the local community, the committee is exploring the option of building the outdoor Labyrinth with simpler technique and more readily available materials. This would allow for a transitional Labyrinth to be built relatively quickly, with a concrete-based option delayed until further funding can be procured. As one of the committee members shared, “this would allow us to start using it soon, and listen to what the Labyrinth tells us about the final form in which it wants to be built.”

Molly Oliver
Labyrinth Committee

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Lenten Reflections from St Catherine’s

A weekly reflection on the meaning of Lent by members of St. Catherine’s. This week: Vicki Melton, Senior Warden for the Bishop’s Committee. Read them all here.

Lent is a time for reflection, study and discipline.  Over the years I taken on many different practices for Lent.  I have worked to develop better habits (the only one that stuck was fastening my seat belt). I’ve attended book studies, bible studies, discussion groups, and classes on a variety of topics. I’ve eaten a lot of delicious soup. Each of these has, in its own way, fed my need for growth and reflection, both as an individual and as part of the body of Christ. What does Lent mean to me? I guess it is a time to take stock of where I am, and why, and where I need to be.

This year Lent started during our camping trip through the southwest. We made no plan for study, reflection or self-improvement.  We’ve heard Lenten sermons in three different churches.  We’ve spent time with a friend struggling with the effects of debilitating illness, with a couple learning to live with memory loss after many years together. We’ve seen amazing sunrises over the desert, rock formations that seem impossible, laughed and shared meals with friends and family, heard a traditional story told by a Lakota Sioux elder as we gathered wood for her campfire.  Now we’re in Mexico, an unplanned visit, sitting with our friend Maria Elena and her family as they pray the novena after the death of her husband Juan Manuel.  It’s where we need to be.