The 2008 Parish Profile is now available on line! To view it, simply click this link. To save it right-click the link and save the file to a location on your disk.

Last Sunday we heard the wonderful words of Psalm 63, “O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.” Psalm 63 is a song of adoration to God, with an understanding of how we are dependent on God for our welfare. This psalm expresses the sentiments of St. Augustine who said, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” During this Lenten season, let us focus on our dependence, love and adoration for God, who is the source of our strength and being. One way we focus our hearts and minds on God is through prayer, so let us turn now to our corporate prayers …

Happy Birthday This Week to Christine Haughton and Ryan Patrick Patterson on March 8, Sophie Scott today, March 10, Mitchell Noland on March 11, Rose Hosein and Richard Noland on March 12.

Your prayers are requested for our sick, shut-in or troubled parishioners: Charles Nweke, Joanne Sutton, Stan Marshall, Theresa Derenberger; Anne Holland; Joecille Morris; Pauline Grant; Olga Allen; Dorothy Rittenhouse; Bob Osborne; and Maryalice Thomas.

We pray for our friends and loved ones who are ill or in need: Charlie Walthall; Carl Obecny, husband of Joan Obecny; Daniela Bals Roland, daughter of the late Marge & John Bals; Nancy Sandy and Patty Cutright, friends of Mahadeo & Shanty Ramkissoon; Victor Revron, son-in-law of Bob & Joan Osborne; Darlene, Malou, Cristina, Nelda and Folen, friends of Stan & Jacinta Marshall; Roland Beard, father of Leslie Roper, and Linda Beard, sister-in-law of Leslie Roper; Cameron, friend of Deb Stefany; Juan, friend of Stan & Jacinta Marshall; Grace & George Albrittain, parents of Barbara Neitzey; Barbara Shank, aunt of Pam Piper-Yeung; Benjamin Blume, friend of Paula Green; Willie Clark, father of Paula Green; Phyllis Davy, mother of Errol Archer; Kevin Wells, relative of Rex and Jan Wells; Mary Downs, friend of Lori Allen; Lynn Griffin; Frances Humphrey, participant in the Transitional Housing program; Marybelle Small, friend of Eleanor Clark; Andy Britton, son of Paulette Colburn; Scott Wetzel, friend of the Abe family; Cubby LaHood, friend of Karen Patterson; Carole Garel, cousin of Yvonne Brooks; Mary “T” Tschabrunn, friend of Peggy Hall & Nancy Ward; Marj Gross, friend of Pat O’Bryhim; Ryan Diviney (who remains in a coma in Atlanta), great-nephew of Doris Roberts; Kareen Dixon, co-worker of Ismay Hutson; Judy Brock, cousin of Liz Campbell; Midge Olsen, mother-in-law of Pastor Kermit Medeberg; Laird White, son of Ira and Clara White; Chau, friend of Emily Romani; Bill Lawser, father and father-in-law of Matt & Julie Lawser; McCormick & Oler families, friends of Liz Campbell; Steve Thaxton, friend of the Ziepolt family; Ken Jordan, father of Theresa Romani; Mildred Knights, grandmother of Lola Knights; Amen Igbonosun, friend of Micha Green, John Clarke, father of Mae Mgbaja, and Carol Johnson, friend of Mae Mgbaja; and Nema & Nia Manuel, friends of Kafi Lewis.

We ask your prayers for the people of Haiti: “Eternal God, our Rock and our Refuge, we turn to you aching and tender as we offer our prayers for the people of Haiti. We pray for the dying and those who have died, may death have dignity, may mercy be abundant. We pray for those who lost family, friends, and possessions, for those whose lives are blighted with suffering. Do not be far from those who cry out to you: We pray for all rescue workers, caregivers, and peacekeepers; may their hands be steady and their resolve be sure. Fill them with your grace and courage. Guide us in all that we undertake on behalf of the people of Haiti. May we respond with generosity and compassion as we work to alleviate suffering and rebuild lives. You O God; shall be our faithfulness, for You are the Rock of our salvation. We ask all this in the name of your Son, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God forever and ever. Amen.” (Collect from the Washington National Cathedral prayed at the request of the Bishop of Washington.)

Prayer for Chile: In Time of Calamity – “O God, merciful and compassionate, you are ever ready to hear the prayers of those who put their trust in you: Graciously hear us who call upon you for the relief of suffering in Chile, and grant your help in this their need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Taken from http://www.dailyoffice.org/wed310mpep.html)

We ask your prayers for those serving in our armed forces, especially: Sandy Myers, friend of Karen Patterson who is serving in Afghanistan.

We ask your prayers for the parents and children who use the Transfer Center here at St. John’s every other Friday and Sunday, as well as participants in the Transitional Housing program.

March 14 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS! 8 am Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Nave, followed by Contemplative Prayer Class in the Church Parlor. 10 am Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Nave, followed by the Seminarian Committee Meeting.

March 17 Vestry Meeting, Church Parlor, 7 pm

Eucharistic Ministers: 8 am Ben Allen, 10 am Laurie-Anne Lee and Nancy Ward

Acolytes: 8 am Deb Stefany, 10 am Obiora Igbo & Lynn Patterson

Greeters: 8 am Tevin Bascom, 10 am Annie Zimmerman & Victoria Williams

Altar Guild: Jan Well, Barbara Shearin, and Lana Krawczel

Visiting Minister: Deb Stefany

Daylight Savings Time Begins this Sunday, March 14. Please remember to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday evening before retiring for the night so that you will be on time for worship service this Sunday.

Lenten Contemplative Prayer Class Led By Our Seminarian Continues This Sunday: Seminarian Robin Taylor is leading a class on contemplative prayer during Lent which is focusing on the Lord’s Prayer. The class is using the following book for study, The Lord and His Prayer, by N.T. Wright. The class meets 9:15-9:50 on Sunday mornings during Lent. Please come and join this spiritually enriching class.

Holy Week & Easter Schedule:

Palm Sunday Services, March 28: 8 am Holy Eucharist with the Blessing & Distribution of Palms, 10 am Holy Eucharist with the Blessing & Distribution of Palms, and Sung Procession.

Seder/Maundy Thursday Celebration, April 1: 7 pm, in the Parish Hall, with light supper and the Stripping of the Altar, Nave.

Good Friday, April 2: Intergenerational Stations of the Cross service at noon, Traditional Good Friday Liturgy, 7:30 pm

Easter Day, April 4, Sunrise Service: 6:30 am, in the St. John’s Cemetery, Easter Eucharist at 8 (Adult Service) and 10 am (Family Service.) Music at both the 8 and 10 am services.

Easter Brunch, April 4: Parish Hall, following all three services

Easter Egg Hunt, April 4: Church grounds, following the 10 am service.

Holy Week and Easter Volunteers are Needed: We are at the halfway mark today in Lent, and we are now gearing up for Holy Week observances. Volunteers are need as Acolytes, Eucharistic Ministers, and Greeters for our 7:30 pm Good Friday Service on April 2, and our Easter services at 8 am and 10 am, Sunday, April 4. If you are able to serve in any of these ministries for our Good Friday and Easter Services, please let the Church Office know by reply email, or by calling (301) 937-4292.

We will have our Maundy Thursday/ Seder Supper and the Stripping of the Altar Service Thursday, April 1, beginning at 7:00 pm (We have moved the time back one hour from last year for convenience.) The cost of the Seder Supper is $10.00 for adults (18 years and older) and children are free.

Children and Adults are Needed for the Stations of the Cross Service, Friday April 2: There will be a “Stations of the Cross Service” on Good Friday, April 2, 2010, at 12:00 noon. We will need both adult and children participants to read/enact each station. If you or your child would like to participate in the noon Good Friday service, please let Mary Abe know by Sunday, March 21.

Easter Flowers: If you would like to donate toward the cost of our Easter flowers, look for the form in the Sunday bulletins for the next few weeks - fill it out and put it and your check in the collection plate clearly marked “Easter Flowers” or put it in Marie's box in the upstairs hallway. Please be clear about who you want remembered or honored and who is making the donation. We suggest a donation of $25. The spring flowers that decorate our window sills on Easter Sunday, after being cared for by a faithful parishioner until after the threat of frost, will be planted in the flower beds around the church having them do double duty.

Easter Items for Transition Housing Participants: St. John’s will be putting together “Easter Bags” for the children at Transitional Housing. The following items are needed to help make Easter a joyous time for the children: Small wrapped Easter Candy; Easter Stickers; Easter Grass; Easter trinkets; and Cash Donations. (Please make checks out to St. John’s and indicate for Easter Bags.) These items may be dropped off in the container in the Narthex no later than Sunday, March 28th. If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to call Karen Patterson at (301) 937-0322. Thank you again for your generous donations.

Do You Have A Favorite Hymn You’d Like For Us To Sing At St. John’s? The Worship Committee is working hard to ensure that our worship experience reflects the rich diversity of the St. John’s Episcopal Church family. If you have a favorite hymn that you would like to have included in our cycle of hymns at the 10:00 am worship service, please contact the Church Office at (301) 937-4292 or you may reply to this email.

Prayer Cards in the Narthex: Prayer Cards have been placed on the glass table in the Narthex for you to make prayer requests to the Intercessors Prayer Group or directly to the rector. If you would like the Intercessors Group to pray for you, one you love, or a particular issue, please complete the card and place it in the wooden box next to the cards. The rector and leaders of the Intercessors Group will check the box for your prayers. Prayers can be made in name, or anonymously.

Shepherding Forms: The rector maintains “Shepherding Forms” which provide for contact information on all members of the church, as well as ministry and pastoral requests. Many members of St. John’s have not completed “Shepherding Forms.” Forms can be found on the Narthex bulletin board. Please complete a Shepherding Form for you and your family members if you have not already done so, and put them in the rector’s box so accurate contact and spiritual information can be maintained for pastoral purposes.

The Christian Choir of Howard County will be presenting their Lenten Concerts on the following dates: Friday March 19, 2010, 8:00 P.M. Liberty Baptist Church 1200 Madison St., Lisbon, MD 21765; Sunday, March 21, 2010, 6:00 P.M., Bethany United Methodist Church; 2875 Bethany Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21042; Sunday, March 28, 2010, 3:00 P.M., Bon Secours Spiritual Center, 1505 Marriottsville Rd., Marriottsville, MD 21104.

St. John’s T-Shirts: There are still T-Shirts available is in Extra Large for adults and Medium and Large sizes for children. Jacinta Marshall will be place another order if people would like to order sizes we don’t currently have. If you would like to make a special order, please call Jacinta at 410-218-0964.

Please be mindful and modest when putting on cologne, perfume and/or after shave. It has been brought to my attention that excessive use of these scented products can cause physical discomfort to some parishioners at worship services, especially when used generously. Please spray mindfully and modestly. Thanks!

DO YOU HAVE NEWS to share with the St. John’s community? E-mail the Church Office at stjohnsbeltsville@verizon.net.

Lenten Peace & Blessings,

Paula+

Regular church office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. In case of emergencies after regular office hours, please call our Rector, The Reverend Paula Clark Green, at (202) 722-2298.