Deacon’s Den March 2025
March ’25 Deacon’s Den
A friendly reminder in the newsletter about emergency contact info for those of us who have relatives out of state. I'm making up a form to hand out to those willing to share that info with the church. It will be kept confidential and only used in an emergency situation. Heaven forbid we don't know who to contact should one of us have a stroke or heart attack or die unexpectedly. I'll be handing out the form either this coming Sunday or the Sunday after.
I also want to thank Ginny and Kenny for their work on our newsletter. We really need their energy and help.
Bishop Hunn was with us the last weekend of February. It was a joyous occasion! We had one Confirmation, and Mary Harrell presented three women who will start their studies to become Daughters of the King, a renewed Episcopal order of women at St Luke’s. Way back when, St. Luke’s had a charter of the Daughters of the King. Now, we will have one again. Thank you, Mary!
Lent is almost upon us as I write this column. Wednesday, March 5th, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. There will be a special service in the church at 10 am that morning.
I always think of Lent as my time, our time, to walk in the desert with Jesus. Here in the desert, that can be literally true since we live in the NM desert. How cool is that! This year, as is my tradition in years past, I ordered Living Compass’ Lenten meditation booklets. This year’s theme is Cultivating the Fruits of the Spirit. Do you know what those fruits are? Faithfulness, gentleness, peace, goodness, joy, self-control, love, patience (boy, could I use more of that!), and kindness. This booklet starts with Ash Wednesday and continues through Easter Sunday (even though that glorious day isn’t part of Lent). The booklet includes scripture quotes as well as quotes from other known people and helpful prayer practices.
When I was in a Catholic high school as a boarding student, we were told no meat during Lent (and it had always been fish on Fridays anyway) plus we were expected to give up something for Lent. These days I think about the season of Lent differently. Giving up watching TV news wouldn’t be a bad idea during these troubling times. It sure helps one’s serenity. However, Lent can also be about adding something helpful to our prayer life.
When my deacon friend, Susan, came at Christmas with her friend, Christie, I learned that there is a labyrinth not far from my house on East Solano Rd., near Columbus Rd. One day, we walked the labyrinth. If you’re unfamiliar with labyrinths, let me give you a bit of history about them. Labyrinths, circle paths created using stones or plants or whatever is available, have been around for millennia. During the Middle Ages, when only the rich who had the resources and guards to protect them could make the dangerous long pilgrimage to Jerusalem, many of the cathedrals of Europe began to build labyrinths so the poor could make a symbolic pilgrimage using a labyrinth. Labyrinths are still used today as a meditative “tool”. The winding paths that lead to the center of the circle symbolize our journey as we travel life’s winding paths that bring us to God, the center of our being. If you would like to learn more about labyrinths and walk the labyrinth on Solano Rd, let me know. I would be happy to join you.
And guess what!? Daylight Savings Time starts this month, too. Sunday, March 9th, to be exact. Oh joy! More daytime into the evening. I love it. Don’t forget to set your clocks 1 hour forward Saturday night…Spring forward, Fall back is what I was taught.
— Deacon Sandy
