Reflections on ‘Love Written on our Heart’ from Jeremiah plus St Patrick
Eagle Poem — Joy Harjo (excerpt)
… Circles of motion.
Like eagle that Sunday morning … Circled in blue sky
In wind, swept our hearts clean
With sacred wings.
We see you, see ourselves and know
That we must take the utmost care
And kindness in all things.
Breathe in, knowing we are made of
All this, and breathe, knowing
We are truly blessed because we
Were born, and die soon within a
True circle of motion,
Like eagle rounding out the morning
Inside us.
We pray that it will be done
In beauty.
In beauty.
Of Love Written On (and In) Our Hearts
I looked in temples, churches, and mosques. But I found the Divine within my heart. — attributed to Rumi
In this here place, we flesh; flesh that weeps, laughs; flesh that dances on bare feet in grass. Love it. Love it hard. Yonder they do not love your flesh … You got to love it, you! … love it, love it and the beat and beating heart, love that too. More than eyes or feet. More than lungs that have yet to draw free air … hear me now, love your heart. For this is the prize.— Toni Morrison, Beloved
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Holy Week Events: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Holy Friday, Easter
SUN, MAR 25: Palm Sunday
- PALM PROCESSION
9:45am • Walk from church, singing and waving palms, and return to church for 10:30am worship service. - PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP
10:30am • Jackson Community Church
THURS, Mar 29: MAUNDY THURSDAY
- SOUP SUPPER & TABLE WORSHIP
5pm • Parish Hall of Jackson Community Church
Gather with members and friends for soup supper and worship at the table.
THURS, Mar 29 – FRI, MAR 30: HOLY FRIDAY VIGIL
- VIGIL
6pm Thursday until 3pm Friday • Shifts held at home.
Individuals and families can sign up in one-hour shifts from 6pm Thursday until 3pm Friday, to pray, meditate and stay awake during the hours of Christ’s arrest, trial and crucifixion. This vigil will be held ‘by trust’ in people’s homes, or at church if they so choose, so that each person who takes a one-hour shift to keep vigil may do so in their own environs. To be organized in cooperation with friends and members of the Bartlett Congregational Church.
FRI, MAR 30: HOLY FRIDAY
- WAY of the CROSS
1pm • Jackson Community Church
Come for journey through ‘stations of the cross.’ Walk the stations, or meditate with Stations coloring pages - HOLY FRIDAY SERVICE
6:30pm • Bartlett Congregational Church.
Worship services organized by Clergy of the Eastern Slope and hosted at Bartlett Congregational Church.
SUN, APR 1: EASTER
- SUNRISE SERVICE
6:30am • Gazebo.
Gather outside at gazebo by Jackson Historical Society for worship & song, Return to Jackson Community Church for hot beverages and breakfast. - EASTER SERVICE
10:30am • Jackson Community Church.
Easter worship with “flowering of the cross.” - EGG HUNT
Follows worship service • Jackson Community Church.
Hunt for eggs on grounds of church. Hunt will take place outdoors if weather permits, inside if weather is inclement.
Reflections for Lent 3: Themes of Ten Commandments, holy anger, body as spiritual temple
Blessing the Body (excerpt) — Jan Richardson
This blessing takes
one look at you
and all it can say is
holy.
Holy hands.
Holy face.
Holy feet.
Holy everything
in between.
Holy even in pain.
Holy even when weary.
In brokenness, holy.
In shame, holy still.
Holy in delight.
Holy in distress.
Holy when being born.
Holy when we lay it down
at the hour of our death …
Being a body is a spiritual discipline … living fully and gratefully as a body. — Rowan Williams
Know then that the body is merely a garment. Go seek the wearer, not the cloak. — Rumi
February 25 Sermon: Who Do You Call Me?
THIS WEEK at Jackson Community Church Mon, Feb 19- Mon, Feb 26
Note: School Break this week!
TUE, FEB 20
- SMALL GROUP STUDY & REFLECTION
3:30-4:30pm • Pastor’s Office. Group gathers to study selections from Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant. Themes of adversity, resilience and joy. Meet in pastor’s office on second floor. Books available to borrow through local libraries as hard copies or downloads (reserved as Jackson Community Church reading group in Jackson library) or for purchase from White Birch Books or as audio books through sites such as Amazon. This group will meet Feb 20, Feb 27, Mar 6. Drop-in participation is welcomed.
WED, FEB 21
- PASTOR’s DROP-IN
7-9am • JTown Deli. Come by for caffeine, cuisine, and conversation. - PASTOR’s HOURS
10am-Noon • Jackson Community Church
Stop by or make an appointment! Rev Gail available to meet.
THURS, FEB 22
- CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES
3:30pm • Yoga with Charlotte Doucette • Parish Hall. $10/pp fee. (Scholarships available) - AA
6-7pm • Church Library - SOUP & SKI with FAMILY & FRIENDS
5pm • Parish Hall of Jackson Community Church
Gather with members and friends of a few of the valley’s faith communities for soup supper. Menu this week: clam chowder, salad, bread. Please RSVP to church if you can bring loaf of bread, salad, or second crock pot full of soup!
5:30/6pm • Meet at church parking lot for evening XC ski. Optimal starting point to be determined. For those who able and interested, if weather permits, come on a ‘night ski’ on Jackson XC Center’s trails. With permission of Jackson Ski Touring Foundation: donations will be collected for Jackson Ski Touring Foundation, but trail passes not required. Bring your own head lamps, ski equipment, layers, and be prepared for outdoor conditions. Ski at your own risk. Bring friends! Open to everyone. All ages welcome.
Note: We will continue this practice from Feb 22-Mar 22, and will end the Lenten soup series with a Maundy Thursday meal on March 29.
SAT, FEB 24
- PREPARED to SERVE
6am (promptly) • Leave from Jackson Community Church.
8am-4pm • Pembroke Academy, Pembroke, NH. Includes all-day experience with worship, workshops, exhibits, food and fellowship with folks from all over NH. Over 50 different workshops offered on a variety of topics. Jackson Community Church will cover the cost of registration, if you wish to attend. Rev Gail will be going for the day, so car-pooling is possible. Youth are also encouraged to consider attending.
Topics range from stewardship and youth engagement to social and environmental justice issues and pragmatic ways that the church can address such issues. You can register on the “Day Of” for a fee of $50/person. Please RSVP to the church if you want to attend and have a ride with Rev Gail!
SUN, FEB 25: Lent 2
- INTERFAITH GATHERING
8am • Madeline’s Deli, Jackson, NH
Starts indoors. Reflection & prayer using literature, sacred texts, personal sharing. Continuation of ‘outdoor gathering’ that was affectionately called ‘gazebo church.’ - BLESSINGS of BODIES, BOOTS n BINDINGS
9am • Jackson XC Ski Center. On-site blessings for skiers. - ADULT CHOIR PRACTICE
9am • Jackson Community Church - WORSHIP: Lent 2
10:30am • Jackson Community Church
Theme: Lent 2
MON, FEB 26
- PROTESTANT CHAPEL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING
4pm • Church Library (2nd Floor)
See outline of meeting agenda below. All members encouraged to attend. - COMMUNITY FORUM on HEALTHCARE
6pm • Whitney Community Center - SCOUTING BLUE & GOLD CEREMONY
6pm • Parish Hall, Jackson Community Church (closed to public)