FEBRUARY 20-27, 2011

God Provides for Everyone, Jagdish Shanmugam

Next Sunday, the lectionary offers one final Gospel passage from the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you– you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, `What will we eat?’ or `What will we drink?’ or `What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

THIS WEEK AT INCARNATION

Monday, February 21

Church and Parish House closed for Presidents’ Day.

Tuesday, February 22

8:00 am.  Morning Prayer in the Chapel of the Nativity. All are welcome. Coffee and pastries are served after the prayer service.  Enter at 25 East 35 Street.

7:00 pm. Vestry meeting.

Wednesday, February 23

12:15 pm. Holy Eucharist.

Friday, February 25

12:15 pm. Holy Eucharist and Prayers for Healing.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27

EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

8:30 am:  Holy Eucharist Homily: the Rector.

10:00 am: Adult Forum meets in the Parish House Dining Room. Coffee and tea are provided.

11:00 am: Morning Prayer Sermon: the Rector, “Default Position: Worry.” Music of Bernstein. Nursery Care and our Sunday School program, Godly Play, are available for children during the 11 o’clock service.

Godly Play, a Montessori-based method of Biblical Storytelling, invites children to respond to the stories of the people of God and express themselves through art and imaginative play. For children ages 3 to 9. Contact the Associate Rector, amanda@churchoftheincarnation.org, for more information and/or to register your child.

12:00 noon: A short service of Holy Eucharist follows Morning Prayer.

5:00 pm: Candlelight Communion Meditation: the Rector.

The Scripture Readings for Sunday: Isaiah 49:8-16a; Psalm 131; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; and Matthew 6:24-34.

COMING UP AT INCARNATION

Tuesday, March 1

6:00 pm. Incarnation Camp Board meets in the Parish House.

Wednesday, March 2

7:00 pm. Confirmation/Inquirer’s class begins in the Parish House. These clergy-led sessions can serve as either an introductory or a refresher course on the Bible, church history, theology, liturgy, ethics, and prayer in the Anglican tradition.  Speak to the clergy for more information.  Confirmation will be held on Sunday, April 10.

Monday, March 7

7:00 pm. Men’s Group meets in the Parish House to discuss “The Church of England v. The Episcopal Church: What are the differences? Which is doing better?” Refreshments served.

Tuesday, March 8

6:30-8:30 pm. Mardi Gras Party in Assembly Hall. $10/Adults; $5/Children.  Sign up to help, amanda@churchoftheincarnation.org or 212-689-6350.  We need volunteers to set up, flip pancakes, sell tickets, clean up, etc.

Wednesday, March 9

Ash Wednesday. Imposition of ashes all day in the church. Services at 8:15 am, 12:15 pm, and 6:15 pm.

Sunday, March 13

12:30 pm. First of Lenten lecture series on “Coping” held in the Assembly Hall. Simple lunch served for a free-will offering.  Topics will include coping with “Minor Hassles of Everyday Life,” “Grief and Loss,” “Loneliness,” and “Suffering in Others.”  The final lecture will be given by Bishop Donovan, who will be visiting for Confirmation.

Tuesday, March 15

7:30 pm. Twenties and Thirties’ Drinks & Discussion. Meet at the Parish House and we will walk to a local bar for conversation.  First drink—be it a Coke or a beer—is on the church. RSVP: amanda@churchoftheincarnation.org

Tuesday, March 22

7:00 pm. Women’s Group meets in the Parish House.  A simple supper will be served, and we will discuss issues of poverty with a Lenten Study, “Where there is Despair, Hope,” issued by the Diocese of Southern Ohio. All women are welcome to attend.

Saturday, March 26

10:00 am-4:00 pm. Vestry Quiet Day at the House of the Redeemer.

Be well.

~the Rev. Amanda Kucik: amanda@churchoftheincarnation.org

More details available online: www.churchoftheincarnation.org

The featured image can be found online at

http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/god-provides-for-everyone-jagdish-shanmugam.jpg