Always We Begin Again Lenten Series Helps Us Begin Anew Each Week

Named for a former rector, The Alfred St. John Matthews Lenten Series is one of our Christian formation highlights for the entire program year. The 2012 five-week series called Always We Begin Again and named for the book of the same title written by our kick-off speaker John McQuiston, is based on the Ash Wednesday invitation to the observance to a Holy Lent. During this special series invited guest speakers will offer reflections during the Sunday Adult Forums, which will be followed weekly with complementary midday and evening programs on Wednesdays.

Lenten Sundays in Shears Hall
Sunday mornings are designed to introduce adults to a new beginning at each of the five forums. On February 26, the first Sunday of Lent, Memphis attorney John McQuiston II presented Beginning the Lenten Season. In addition to Always We Begin Again-The Benedictine Way of Living; A Prayer Book for the 21st Century, John has written three more meditative books and is currently working on a fourth. On March 4 Beginning to Deepen Lent will be presented by the Reverend Louise Lusignan, one of our own and always a favorite in forums with her keen wit and poignant wisdom. The following week on March 11, the Right Reverend Robert Ihloff, Retired Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland will present Beginning to Discern in Lent. Bishop Ihloff is currently working with Listening Hearts Ministries that for 20 years has offered tools, programs, and publications to help groups and individuals enter into faithful discernment. On 4 Lent, March 18, David M. Abshire, PhD, President and CEO, Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, will be with us. Building on his work to foster the grace and power of civility, he will present Beginning to Live into Lent. David and his wife Carolyn are active members of St. Paul’s Church in Alexandria. Like the McQuistons, the Abshires also have a child who is an Episcopal priest. On March 25, our final presenter, the Reverend Allison St. Louis, PhD, who is the Director of Field Education at Virginia Theological Seminary, will present Beginning Again Beyond Lent. Allison, who works consistently to place seminarians in new parishes, wishes to focus on how we build on our Lenten discipline and begin anew ourselves following this rich season.

Lenten Wednesdays at Noon in the Smoot Conference Room
For five weeks participants will be led by the Reverend Sean Rousseau, Priest-in-Charge of St. Peter’s Church, Oak Grove in Oak Grove, Virginia. If you have never come to bible study at St. John’s, this is a perfect time to begin. As is the current format for study, Sean will help to deepen participants’ Lenten journey as they focus on the upcoming Sunday lectionary with our special Episcopal seasonal prayers and liturgy. No preparation is necessary and all are welcome and encouraged to come. Bring a brown bag lunch. (Please see details on the opposite page.)

Lenten Wednesdays in the Evening
For five Wednesday evenings, everyone of all ages will share a simple Lenten supper together in Shears Hall, followed by the Lenten programs, one for children and their parents and one for adults. Our Associate for Youth and Children’s Ministries Lisa Fikes has organized a wonderful program for young families to learn together this year. At the same time lay facilitators will lead the adult program on chapters from Practicing Our Faith by Dorothy Bass; children and their parents will discuss these same themes in a complementary intergenerational program. (Please see details on the themes and book chapters on the opposite page.) If you wish to help with the Lenten suppers, please see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Shears Hall.