The Presbyterian Church in Burlington, Massachusetts --- 01803

Ash Wednesday -- for the start of Lent
February 9, 7:30 p.m.

A service will take place in our sanctuary on Wednesday, February 9, in keeping with the traditional start of Lent. It marks the beginning of the 40-day period (not counting Sundays) leading up to Easter. It is historically the time when new Christians prepared for baptism, but has become a season for the whole church to emphasize self-examination, prayer, fasting, and increased "almsgiving," or service to others.

This service will seek to set a tone for this season. There will be scripture, a brief message, prayer, and in keeping with custom, ashes for those who wish to have them "imposed" or placed with a smudge on the forehead as a sign of our mortality and humility before God. The ashes are made from the burning of plam fronds from last year's Plam Sunday.

All are welcome to this beginning of the Lenten journey.

Wednesday evenings
beginning February 23
It will be this year's version of the popular series over the years. It will be an adult fellowship opportunity, beginning with a simple supper at 6:30 -- the fare will be "take out" or prepared by group members, depending upon the wishes and convenience of the participants.

Then, the group will enjoy time for discussion and prayer. Topics under consideration include a couple of the Kerygma series: One is called "Sowing Tears, Reaping Joy: The Bible and Brahms Requeim" (which includes listening to this inspiring music and reflecting on Biblical connections to it). Another is "Job and the Life of Faith", which would be an appropriate theme as we consider Lent and the passion of Jesus himself.

Other topics may be considered. What's most important is to let Rod know that you want to be part of this fellowship! Call or email today! The Adult Class invites you to join us for the Lenten Season. We meet on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am. We'll be studying the Book of James. For more information, please feel free to contact Mary Anne McDonald. February 23 at 7:30 P.M.
These services of evening prayer are offered on a once-a-month basis. The emphasis will be on quiet reflection and prayer, with opportunity for individual prayers for healing and peace. Plenty of music will be included, in the same spirit. If you would like to be part of leading, or providing music for, these services, please contact Brenda Flynn, Joan Ross, or Rod MacDonald. Do consider bringing a friend who might be searching for the peace that God can give. The Presbyterian Church form of government incorporates several levels of administration. Locally we have our Session. Directly above us is the Presbytery of Boston. Above them is the Synod of the Northeast, adn finally, above all the Synods is the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We provide for the costs of our Session via our annual operating budget. The administrative costs of the higher governmnetal agencies is provided by the per capita assessment levied based on our membership. For 2005 the per capita assessment amounts to $38.11. This provides the following per capita amounts: $28.78 to Presbytery, $3.76 to Synod, and $5.57 to General Assembly.

In order to increase the amount of our operating budget that can be applied to mission projects we hope that our members will contribute separately to the per capita expense. For those of you that use offering envelopes, there is a per capita envelope at the front of your box. In other instances, you may notate your check if a portion of it is for per capita. If you have questions, please speak to our treasurer, Jim Brunner.

March 6, 3:00 pm

The Spring Gathering of Presbyterian Women in Boston Presbytery will be a celebration of the ordination of women in teh Presbyterian Church (USA) as Deacons (1906), Elders (1930), and clergy (1956). The event will be held at Good Shepherd Church in Easton on March 6, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. Clergy and Church Officers will be honored guests, but all are welcome.

The church family was deeply grateful that members and relatives were spared in teh earthquake and tsunami -- including Sheila D., a member who was visiting friends in Madras, India and staying quite near the shore; and Niloo H.'s parents in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Several projects enabled our congregation to respond. Niloo's own family project was a vital personal connection. Niloo's note to the church family:

Dear Members of BPC,
I am writing this note with such thankfulness in my heart. You contributed $2478 towards victims in Sri Lanka affected by the recent tsunami, with some monies still trickling in as I write this. A student and my sons' school started a collection in his neighborhood and in his letter to his neighbors he wrote, "It is our duty to stay loyal to everyone all over the world." I couldn't have said it better and I thank you for helping me help a few people at a time. The hard work begins for my sisters as they view the loss at close range and as they find the best way to use the resources that you have so generously provided. My sister June has a website (http://junesblog.typepad.com/not_knox/) that you could use to followe her progress and post your own comments and questions. Along with the monetary donation the loving spirit of our church community will be travelling many thousands of miles to give hope in a very hopeless situation. Thank you,
Sincerely, Niloo H.

The amoutn of $232 was designated for Cabanlutan Village through the Christmas Family Offering. Translated in Philippine currency, that is the equivalent of over 12,000 pesos -- very much like multiplying loaves and fishes among the needy halfway across the world. Priscilla Kelso of Cambridge Presbyterian Church, whose home country is the Philippines, wishes to thank the Burlington congregation for this partnership, which has faithfully continued for several years. The funds will be sent directly to rural Filipino Christians for food, medicine, and books for the village school. In the face of the tsunami's recent devastation in Southeast Asia (the Philippines was spared by geography), this offering is a small toekn of hope in the midst of disaster. Many thanks from Cabanlutan Village to the Burlington Church family! Since 1949 the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has joined with many ecumenical partners in sharing God's love with people in need through One Great Hour of Sharing. Presbyterians' gifts help God's children know hope in their time of need and despair. These gifts help people to find safe refuge in order to start their lives anew, to learn new trades and skills to feed and support themselves and their families, and to obtain better health care. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one antoher, we respond with gifts that help our brothers and sisters around the world find the hope for a brighter future.

Presbyterians' gifts enable Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, The Presbyterian Committee for the Self-Development of People, and the Presbyterian Hunger Program to respond to the immediate and long-term needs of God's people. Disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community devleopment are all part of the ministries of One Great Hour of Sharing across the United States and around the world.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance receives 36% of undesignated One Great Hour of Sharing gifts, while Self-Development of People and the Presbyterian Hunger Program each receive 32%.

This year our One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received on Palm Sunday, March 20.