The St. Ann Lay Preaching team have been giving reflections during our Zoom services, and some Masses, during Lent. Here is Dianne’s reflection for the 4th Sunday of Lent:
4th Sunday of Lent Reflection
This morning I want to share with you the greatest story ever told. God’s love story. A story of extravagant, tenacious unrelenting love. We will find it all in just one verse with 25 words.
When I was growing up in the baptist church, about this time of the year our youth group would start talking about summer bible camp. One of the ways we could earn our way to camp was to memorize bible verses. Over the years I probably memorized and recited 100’s verses most of which I can’t remember but I can recite the first one I ever memorized. Most of you can recite it with me.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God’s love story begins with loving the world.
I believe God loves what God has made. God loves the universe; the cosmos and plants and animals, mountains and fishing streams and oceans and deserts and prairies and forests.
God loves art and music, poetry and drama, great cities and little villages. God loves technology and science and medicine. God loves civilization and culture and society. It is not always good. It is not always what it should be, but it is still loved by God. And God loves the process by which it becomes something new and better, the progress of the ages. God loves culture in the same way that he loves us. We are loved as we are, but we are supposed to change and grow.
Again and again we go to God to learn grow in love
I believe God sent his only son, Jesus to show us what God is like, and to teach us what God expects from us, to show us grace and mercy and how to love. This is the gift of God’s presence among us. Jesus died because his perfect faithfulness collided with our human sin. He was faithful, even unto death. He gave up his life rather than deny who he was or to whom he belonged.
Again and again we go to God to show us unconditional love.
I believe God does not want us to perish but want us to have eternal life.
Eternal life is the gift which Jesus offers to us. We can choose to live the abundant life which God offers us and live, from now on, in the unending presence of God.
The alternative is to continue to live our old lives. The offer holds within it an element of self-judgment. We have to decide where we stand. In our choosing, we determine our own experience with God. Ether way God loves us.
God is saving the world. The whole world because God loves the world. Nowhere do we see this more vividly than in today’s gospel. God’s love will not stop pursuing his people. It’s the kind of love we all long for and desperately need. It has the power to conquer our wayward hearts and cause us to fall more deeply in love with God where our hands hold back.
Together in Spirit – 2021 St Ann Parish Staff Report
The St. Ann Pastoral Team would like to tell you about what our new roles are, what we’ve been doing for the community of St. Ann this year – and what our plans are for the coming year. We hope you’ll take a few moments to watch this video. Thank you!
Raise the Roof – New Wines for March
There are four new wines available in the St. Ann wine shop for the month of March. Fyou can order wine at the online wine shop, and pay using paypal or pay in person when you pick up your order. See the flyer below for more information about these new wines. Here is the link to the St. Ann Wine Shop! https://www.rimacrafts.com/Thank you for supporting St. Ann’s Raise the Roof fundraiser!
Lenten Reflections
The St. Ann Lay Preaching team will be giving reflections during our Zoom services during Lent. We will post copies of these reflections on our website each week. A few of the lay reflections will also be given at Mass, but when they are not we will provide printed copies to parishioners. Here is Andy’s reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Lent.https://wp.me/p91S6R-13y
Readers for Palm Sunday & Holy Week
As we look ahead to Palm Sunday and Holy Week, we are looking for readers for all of these services. If you plan to attend any of the in person services in the church during Holy Week and are willing to be a reader – please contact the parish office to let us know!
Lenten Virtual Discussion Group – Tuesdays at 1:30 PM
Craig’s Lenten discussion group will be meeting on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM. The group will be using the Again & Again daily devotional for Lent, which is available to download on our website. (download link below) A few print copies are available and can be picked up at Mass or from the parish office.
An email with the Zoom link will be sent out to the group each week.
You can download the daily devotional the parish is using for Lent here: https://wp.me/p91S6R-119
Craig’s Corner – Reflections
Craig will continue writing a weekly reflection during Lent, which will be posted on our website and emailed to the parish email list each week. Here is a link to “Craig’s Corner” reflection post for this week. https://wp.me/p91S6R-13E
Stations of the Cross for Lent
The Social Justice Ministry is planning Virtual Stations of the Cross services for Lent. The services will be on Zoom at 7:00 PM each Friday during Lent, starting on February 26. There will be a different social justice theme each week. The Zoom link will be emailed out to the parish email list. All are welcome!
Upcoming Important Dates
Friday, March 12 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Sunday, March 14 – Time change – Daylight Savings Time Begins
Sunday, March 14 – Zoom prayer service at 11:00 AM
Tuesday, March 16 – Craig’s Lenten discussion group at 1:30 PM on Zoom
Friday, March 19 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Saturday, March 20 – Mass Time for Saturdays changes to 4:00 PM
Sunday, March 21 – Reconciliation service at 10:30, after the 9:00 AM Mass
Sunday, March 21 – Zoom Prayer service at 11:00 AM (Reconciliation theme)
Tuesday, March 23 – Craig’s Lenten discussion group at 1:30 PM on Zoom
Friday, March 26 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Zoom links for meetings and discussion groups will be emailed to the group only; Zoom links for prayer services are emailed to the parish email list.
Taize Prayer – Thursdays at 4:15
St. Ann parishioners are invited to join a Taize prayer service, held every Thursday on Zoom at 4:15 PM. If you are interested in joining this prayer service, contact Shonna at bartletts@gonzaga.edu.
Time Change!
On Sunday, March 14, we will make the switch to Daylight Savings Time. This means the following week, on Saturday, March 20, our Saturday Mass time will change to 4:00 PM, and will continue at this time for Spring and Summer. Please make a note of this on your calendars!
Reconciliation Service
There will be a Reconciliation service on Sunday, March 21st at 10:30 AM, after the 9:00 AM Mass. Sign up is available online for this service on the March sign up link. All are welcome. (Due to restrictions, Father Patrick is unable to hear individual confession.) For those unable to attend the in person service, there will be a reconciliation element to the Sunday Zoom Prayer service on the 21st.
Sign up Link for Saturday & Sunday Masses in March
Please use the link below to sign up to attend Saturday & Sunday Masses at St. Ann for the month of March. Please be sure to check the date of the Mass you are signing up for so you sign up for the Mass you want to attend! We also ask that you sign up at least an hour before the Mass. If you are willing to be a reader at Mass, please write “reader” in the comments when you sign up. Thank you!
The link is also available on the home page of the parish website!
**Important ** Information about Mass during Covid
Reminder: We require everyone – including children over 2 – to wear a mask during Mass, and maintain social distancing. (One household per pew!) We ask that parishioners enter by the front doors only so that staff can check you in and keep an accurate count. Hand sanitizer is also provided for use upon entry and before communion. If you need assistance signing up, please call or email the parish office.
Also – because we have a beautiful old church, we do not have a state of the art ventilation system. After consulting with experts, we have determined that in order to keep parishioners safe, we must keep the doors open during Mass for ventilation. When the weather is cold outside, it can get quite chilly in the church, so please dress appropriately if you chose to attend Mass. Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe!
Prayer Service on Zoom – Sunday at 11:00 AM
We will continue to offer the Prayer service on Zoom for those members of our community who are unable to attend Mass, so that we can continue to gather together in prayer. The link for the Zoom prayer service is emailed out through the parish email list on Saturday.
During Lent, our theme will be Again & Again, and a daily devotional with the theme will be available to all parishioners. We will have Lay reflections during the Lenten Zoom services. These reflections will also be read at Mass and posted on our website so that our whole community can share in these reflections, together in spirit.
Readers & Reflectors for Zoom Prayer Services in Lent:
Date
Reader 1
Reader 2
Lay Reflection by…
3/14/21
John B.
Michelle M.
Dianne F.
3/21/21
Pierrette W.
Sean H.
Pat M.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for these community members in need of our support or healing:
Nancy J.
Crystal M.
Dianne F. & family
Erin L.
Margaret B.
Pat S.
Janet S.
Sunny B.
Susan L.
Estella L.
Andy T.
Darren S.
Roberta B.’s family
Jake S.’s family
Bob & Shonna B.’s family
Craig B.’s family
Michelle M.
Georgie W.
Kerry M. & family
Please remember our recently departed and pray for their grieving families and friends:
Paul B.
Fr. Jim D.
Miguel R.
Claudia K.
Nancy R.
Fr. Robert F.
J. Kenneth K.
Ron P.
Hal T.
Sr. Linda H’s nephew
Roberta (Bobby) B.
Kalvin
Betty B.
Walter B.
Judy M.
Franciscan Corner
Pope Francis said “My desire is that the seed that Saint Francis planted may grow in the hearts of many”.(Fratelli Tutti 48) What is that seed that Pope Francis is talking about? The ability to listen, to understand what is being said, to engage the message, to live into the message and to spread the message you hear. What message do you hear? Is it one of inclusion? Is it one of compassion? Is it one of love? This week, during moments of silence, moments of prayer, moments when the stillness brings a message, let you heart listen to what is being said, listen to what you feel, and let the seed that is planted there grow in your heart.
(Thank you to Sr. Joanne for sharing these Franciscan reflections with us.)
Office Hours
The Pastoral Team is primarily working from home at this time, but are checking messages and emails remotely, and will work limited office hours.
and works from home Monday – Thursday. If you need to come in to the office, call first, or email Elizabeth at info@stannsspokane.org
JOLIE, our Director of Religious Education, can be contacted at Jolie@stannsspokane.org (or by text) if you have any questions about liturgies or the Youth & Family Ministries Program.
FATHER PATRICK is available by appointment. He can be contacted by email at barazap@gonzaga.edu Please contact the parish office if you would like to schedule an appointment, to ensure it is on his calendar.
Please note that during Mass is not always the best time to contact the staff about parish office issues. If you have more than a quick question, please schedule another time to talk with someone on the pastoral team so that we can give you our full attention. Thank you!
Mass Times
Saturday Mass is at 3:00 PM, until March 20 when it changes to 4:00 PM
Sunday Mass is at 9:00 AM
Please sign up to attend Mass online, using the link on the homepage of our website.
Due to restrictions, Father Patrick is unable to hear Confession at this time.
Zoom Prayer Service is at 11:00 AM on Sunday
(Link is sent out to our parish email list on Saturday.)
If you would like to register as a parishioner of St. Ann, or would like to be added to our parish email list, please contact Elizabeth in the parish office.
Thank You For Your Support! Thank you for your generous support! If you would like to send in a donation, our mailing address is: 2116 E 1st Ave Spokane WA 99202 Or you can donate online with Tithe.ly (see link above)
Have you ever heard something or read something so many times you can’t remember when you first heard it? and yet something suddenly jumps out at you that you hadn’t noticed before. During the Stations of the Cross over the last two Friday evenings, I suddenly heard that standing with Mary at the foot of the cross was not only Mary Magdalene but also Mary’s sister Mary the wife of Clopas. I was startled, Mary had a sister? For some reason I had always thought that Mary was an only child. Who was this Mary, why had I never noticed her before? Why would parents give two siblings the same name?
I assumed that I was alone in my ignorance so I went to Wikipedia to see what I could learn about this Mary. Startling there were quite a few things to be said about a woman who is only mentioned once in all of scripture. Seems the early church recognized them as the three Mary’s and there were devotions and churches dedicated to them. Saint Jerome thought that Mary of Clopas was the sister-in-law of Mary the mother of Jesus. And as the church began to assert the perpetual virginity of Jesus’s mother, Mary of Clopas was thought to be the mother of the so-called brothers of Jesus. Clopas was therefore thought to be Joseph’s brother. But there was some confusion, some scholars thought that the translation should read daughter not wife of Clopas. One early fragment even thought that Mary the wife of Clopas was the same person as Mary the mother of Jesus. In this theory Mary married the brother of Joseph after she was widowed according to Jewish tradition. Which of course doesn’t explain how she could be standing next to herself at the foot of the cross. Quite a bit of tradition about an almost anonymous woman, But I think that’s the point of my reflection.
Throughout history back before even recorded history women have stood in the silence bearing witness to Injustice, inequity, the harm and violence done to the most vulnerable. They do this not just because they are mothers, although that is part of the reason. But because they themselves are very much part of the most vulnerable population. Women, whether they are mothers or not have been at the mercy of others. Men, who have power and control over their lives. Not just just wives and daughters but also nieces and sister-in-laws, etc.; the so-called weak and unprotected female. Not all men are bad, far from it. And I imagine that these structures were originally put in place as a way to somehow protect those who were perceived as being weak and vulnerable. I am sure the custom of brothers marrying their brothers widows was started for that very reason. Put someone in charge of them who’s strong then they can’t be taken advantage of, right? A lot of damage has been done through good but not well thought out intentions. And a lot of men have used these structures with no good intentions to start with.
The fundamental flaw in the theory is that women are not weak and they can protect themselves. They are also strong in a way men are not. The ability to endure the pains of childbirth is only one example of the strength of women. The nurturing and protection of offspring and even of children unrelated to them is another example. Another thing, women are just as smart and in some ways smarter than men. They appear to be better able on average to think (both and) patterns. men on the other hand seem to have analytical brains that think in (either or) patterns. Both ways of thinking have their advantages and neither way is superior to the other. And neither way is limited to one gender or the other. Women don’t need someone strong are smart to protect them they just need an even playing field..
March is the month of the women. It’s a time to examine our own prejudices and misconceptions. It is a time to recognize the strength, beauty and gift that half the world’s population brings to the rest of us. It is a time to recognize all the silent and anonymous women who have stood in the crowd or stood alone as beacons of hope for our future
Do not weep for me, but for yourself and your children.
The St. Ann Lay Preaching team will be giving reflections during our Zoom services, and some Masses, during Lent. Here is Andy’s reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Lent:
3rd Sunday of Lent Reflection
Turning the tables…
Again and again, we are shown the way…
I want to talk about furniture. More specifically, I want to talk about tables…
Disclaimer- I am NOT a furniture historian; I have no academic background in the sociological and anthropological significance of furnishings…
But I understand tables. I GET them,…The readings this week make it clear what a table is for:
A table is the only piece of furniture designed around the concept of community– of coming together–
Tables were never meant to hold things or possessions, but rather people. When Jesus looks around in the temple, he sees tables piled with money, and goods for sale or barter- no room for community, only commodity. This was NEVER the table’s intended function. By dumping those tables and driving out those who would use them for the wrong purpose, He reclaims the space of the temple for a community.
Tables are built to then build a community. Boxes can hold stuff… only tables can gather people…
In the poem by Sarah Are, we see people seated at a table who have become disconnected with how everything at the table got there. They had nothing to do with the building of the table, the furnishings or the meal laid out for them. Nor do they care about the people who worked for everything at and on the table, who aren’t even allowed a seat.
The poem states the diners “seemed happy, but the food was awful”– there’s a profound difference here between seeming happy, and truly BEING happy; they’ve forgotten the joy possible in a simple meal shared with community, at a table built for people, not for things. They’ve been captured, just as those in the temple, by the trappings of the table, the appearance of what’s in front of them, rather than the significance of where they are, why they’re there, and who they’re with.
Because this is what we’ve been led to believe, that to be happy later, to enjoy the milk and honey at the end, we must endure the ash and dust now, at a now purposeless table. This couldn’t be further from the truth- when you’re at the table with others, it’s ALL “milk and honey”- because the community makes it so. THIS is what Jesus recognizes when he enters the temple, and what the poet reinterprets for us as well. When we set our table with others in mind, we fulfill what Jesus intends for us- to be a community gathered in HIS name.
Again and again, in the readings this week, we are shown the way…
Flip the tables… Instead of looking down at what may be on the table, look UP– look up at who sits across from you, with you at the table; or who SHOULD be there and isn’t. Reflect on why you’re here at the table, and why that table is so important as a centerpiece for and of community. This is how the tables are truly turned
(The poem referenced – Flipping Tables, by Rev Sarah Are – can be found on page 19 of the “Again & Again” daily devotional that the Parish is using this Lent.)
Together in Spirit – 2021 St Ann Parish Staff Report
The St. Ann Pastoral Team would like to tell you about what our new roles are, what we’ve been doing for the community of St. Ann this year – and what our plans are for the coming year. We hope you’ll take a few moments to watch this video. Thank you!
Lenten Reflections
The St. Ann Lay Preaching team will be giving reflections during our Zoom services during Lent. We will post copies of these reflections on our website each week. A few of the lay reflections will also be given at Mass, but when they are not we will provide printed copies to parishioners. Here is Shonna’s reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Lent.https://wp.me/p91S6R-12Q
Readers for Palm Sunday & Holy Week
As we look ahead to Palm Sunday and Holy Week, we are looking for readers for all of these services. If you plan to attend any of the in person services in the church during Holy Week and are willing to be a reader – please contact the parish office to let us know!
Liturgy Committee Meeting – March 7
There will be a Liturgy Committee Meeting on Sunday, March 7, right after the 11 AM Zoom prayer service. (Just stay on the Zoom after the service.) All are welcome!
Lenten Virtual Discussion Group – Tuesdays at 1:30 PM
Craig’s Lenten discussion group will be meeting on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM. The group will be using the Again & Again daily devotional for Lent, which is available to download on our website. (download link below) A few print copies are available and can be picked up at Mass or from the parish office.
An email with the Zoom link will be sent out to the group each week.
You can download the daily devotional the parish is using for Lent here: https://wp.me/p91S6R-119
Craig’s Corner – Reflections
Craig will continue writing a weekly reflection during Lent, which will be posted on our website and emailed to the parish email list each week. Here is the link to “Craig’s Corner” reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Lent: https://wp.me/p91S6R-13o
Stations of the Cross for Lent
The Social Justice Ministry is planning Virtual Stations of the Cross services for Lent. The services will be on Zoom at 7:00 PM each Friday during Lent, starting on February 26. There will be a different social justice theme each week. The Zoom link will be emailed out to the parish email list. All are welcome!
Upcoming Important Dates & Parish Events
Friday, March 5 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Saturday March 6 – Reconciliation available at 2:00 PM before the 3:00 PM Mass
Sunday, March 7 – Liturgy Committee Meeting, right after Zoom prayer service
Tuesday, March 9 – Craig’s Lenten discussion group at 1:30 PM (Zoom)
Friday, March 12 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Sunday, March 14 – Time change – Daylight Savings Time Begins
Tuesday, March 16 – Craig’s Lenten discussion group at 1:30 PM (Zoom)
Friday, March 19 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Saturday, March 20 – Mass Time for Saturdays changes to 4:00 PM
Saturday, March 20 – Reconciliation available at 3:00 PM before the 4:00 PM Mass
Zoom links for meetings and discussion groups will be emailed to the group only; Zoom links for prayer services are emailed to the parish email list.
Mid- Lent Retreat – Saturday March 13
A virtual Mid-Lent retreat – “In your Mercy, Hear My Prayer, O God” – will be offered by Sr. Patricia on Zoom on Saturday, March 13, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. RSVP by March 9 if you are interested in participating. See the flyer below for more information about how to register.
Taize Prayer – Thursdays at 4:15
St. Ann parishioners are invited to join a Taize prayer service, held every Thursday on Zoom at 4:15 PM. If you are interested in joining this prayer service, contact Shonna at bartletts@gonzaga.edu.
Time Change!
On Sunday, March 14, we will make the switch to Daylight Savings Time. This means the following week, on Saturday, March 20, our Saturday Mass time will change to 4:00 PM, and will continue at this time for Spring and Summer. Please make a note of this on your calendars!
Sign up Link for Saturday & Sunday Masses in March
Please use the link below to sign up to attend Saturday & Sunday Masses at St. Ann for the month of March. Please be sure to check the date of the Mass you are signing up for so you sign up for the Mass you want to attend! We also ask that you sign up at least an hour before the Mass. If you are willing to be a reader at Mass, please write “reader” in the comments when you sign up. Thank you!
The link is also available on the home page of the parish website!
**Important ** Information about Mass during Covid
Reminder: We require everyone – including children over 2 – to wear a mask during Mass, and maintain social distancing. (One household per pew!) We ask that parishioners enter by the front doors only so that staff can check you in and keep an accurate count. Hand sanitizer is also provided for use upon entry and before communion. If you need assistance signing up, please call or email the parish office.
Also – because we have a beautiful old church, we do not have a state of the art ventilation system. After consulting with experts, we have determined that in order to keep parishioners safe, we must keep the doors open during Mass for ventilation. When the weather is cold outside, it can get quite chilly in the church, so please dress appropriately if you chose to attend Mass. Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe!
Prayer Service on Zoom – Sunday at 11:00 AM
We will continue to offer the Prayer service on Zoom for those members of our community who are unable to attend Mass, so that we can continue to gather together in prayer. The link for the Zoom prayer service is emailed out through the parish email list on Saturday.
During Lent, our theme will be Again & Again, and a daily devotional with the theme will be available to all parishioners. We will have Lay reflections during the Lenten Zoom services. These reflections will also be read at Mass and posted on our website so that our whole community can share in these reflections, together in spirit.
Readers & Reflectors for Zoom Prayer Services in Lent:
Date
Reader 1
Reader 2
Lay Reflection by…
3/7/21
Val C.
Anne B.
Andy L.
3/14/21
John B.
Michelle M.
Dianne F.
3/21/21
Pierrette W.
Sean H.
Pat M.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for these community members in need of our support or healing:
Nancy J.
Crystal M.
Dianne F. & family
Erin L.
Margaret B.
Pat S.
Janet S.
Sunny B.
Susan L.
Estella L.
Andy T.
Darren S.
Roberta B.’s family
Jake S.’s family
Bob & Shonna B.’s family
Craig B.’s family
Michelle M.
Georgie W.
Please remember our recently departed and pray for their grieving families and friends:
Paul B.
Fr. Jim D.
Miguel R.
Claudia K.
Nancy R.
Fr. Robert F.
J. Kenneth K.
Ron P.
Hal T.
Sr. Linda H’s nephew
Roberta (Bobby) B.
Kalvin
Betty B.
Walter B.
Franciscan Corner
St. Francis heard the voice of God: “Francis, go rebuild my church” when he was kneeling in front of the crucifix in the little chapel of San Damiano. This phrase is repeated over and over through Franciscan spirituality. It’s in every movie about Francis. But this is not the only time Francis heard the voice of God. He heard the same voice, the same message, when he encountered the leper on the hillside path; he heard the same message when he ministered to the sick, when he nursed the wounds of those at the leprosarium in Assisi. He heard the voice and the same message when he contemplated nature and wrote the Canticle of the Sun. This week, listen for that small still voice, hear the quiet voice of God whisper a message for you. What is God telling you to go and do this week?
(Thank you to Sr. Joanne for sharing these Franciscan reflections with us.)
Parish Communication
As you may have noticed, the parish office is now sending out emails with parish news and the weekly Virtual Bulletin to those who have registered or are in the parish directory. Mark W. – who has been our go-to for parish emails for many years – will continue to send out the prayer requests, Craig’s reflections, and Zoom links to prayer services. If you would like to be added to either or both of these lists, let Elizabeth know and she will coordinate with Mark to make sure you are on our email lists. Thank you to Mark who has done such a wonderful job of keeping our parish informed for so many years – hopefully this small change will help to make his life less hectic and help us to better communicate with the parish.
Office Hours
The Pastoral Team is primarily working from home at this time, but are checking messages and emails remotely, and will work limited office hours.
and works from home Monday – Thursday. If you need to come in to the office, call first, or email Elizabeth at info@stannsspokane.org
JOLIE, our Director of Religious Education, can be contacted at Jolie@stannsspokane.org (or by text) if you have any questions about liturgies or the Youth & Family Ministries Program.
FATHER PATRICK is available by appointment. He can be contacted by email at barazap@gonzaga.edu Please contact the parish office if you would like to schedule an appointment, to ensure it is on his calendar.
Please note that during Mass is not always the best time to contact the staff about parish office issues. If you have more than a quick question, please schedule another time to talk with someone on the pastoral team so that we can give you our full attention. Thank you!
Mass Times
Saturday Mass is at 3:00 PM until March 20, when it will change to 4:00 PM
Sunday Mass is at 9:00 AM
Please sign up to attend Mass online, using the link on the homepage of our website.
Father Patrick will be available for Confession on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month an hour before the 3:00 PM Mass. (Mass time will change to 4:00 PM on March 20th.)
Zoom Prayer Service is at 11:00 AM on Sunday (Link is sent out to our parish email list on Saturday.)
Percentage of goal: 46.8% — Percentage of participation: 55.6%
Thank You For Your Support! Thank you for your generous support! If you would like to send in a donation, our mailing address is: 2116 E 1st Ave Spokane WA 99202 Or you can donate online with Tithe.ly (see link above)
This coming Sunday we have the option of choosing between two different sets of readings for Mass. There is a normal set of readings, which are the ones we will be using this year, where the gospel is from John and it speaks about Jesus in the temple, how he cleanses the temple of the money changers, upsetting their tables and driving out the animals that are being sold for sacrifice. The other set of readings is used in parishes where there are adult converts who are going to be baptized at the Easter vigil. The gospel for that set of readings is the story of the Samaritan woman. Now both of these Gospels are about how Jesus deals with an inequity or a system of Injustice that Jesus is confronted by. A situation that is considered normal by those around him. In other words, what he deals with is the status quo. Just how everything always has been, no big deal, that’s how we always deal with these things. And yet Jesus, when he is confronted with these situations, sees the Injustice that is taking place and responds to it. How he responds to these Injustices is very different in these two stories from the same gospel. In the story of the Samaritan woman we have a situation where he sees a woman drawing water at a well. He asked for a drink of water. That’s unusual just on the face of it. Jews don’t deal with Samaritans. Jews don’t deal with women. Jews especially don’t deal with fallen or immoral women. Or at least women who are considered to be fallen or immoral. From the context of the reading we understand that this woman has had several husbands and that she’s now cohabitating with someone else’s husband. Tsk, tsk, tsk. A short history of Western Civilization will show that women have been treated with Injustice and inequality for centuries and that this is not something new or unique to Western civilization. Women are judged by a harsher standard than men. They are often considered to be no better than chattel or children. Even in our own culture as short a time as 100 to 200 years ago women weren’t supposed to own property or make decisions about their own lives. This attitude is common even today in many cultures and civilizations. So Jesus is breaking a social taboo just by talking to this woman. She’s drawing water at the well alone obviously because no one else will talk to her. Not only does he talk to her, he shares God’s word with her, a real no no. A word of compassion and healing. He speaks to her like she can understand him. He treats her with respect and dignity and in the end he sends her to her village to be his spokesperson (apostle). This is a unique and effective way of dealing with Injustice and inequity. Personal and loving. Preaching/teaching not so much by words but by actions.
How often when we are confronted by situations of Injustice and inequity do we throw up our hands and fail to act because our actions seem so small compared to the magnitude of the injustice. And yet here is an example from Jesus that seems to indicate that the most effective actions we can take are often the small and personal.
On the other hand, we have the gospel of the cleansing of the Temple. Here Jesus acts in a very different way. This is also a situation of Injustice and inequity. These money changes and sellers of sacrificial animals are running a scam and it’s a scam on the poor and the Foreigner. Only a certain kind of money can be used to buy animals in the temple. So if you’re a foreigner and you have Roman versus Jewish coinage (pounds instead of dollars) for example, someone has to exchange the money. And the rate of exchange is outlandish. If you’re poor and you can only afford a turtle dove or a small animal as sacrifice and you bring your own from your own farm or one that you captured, it will be examined and found have a blemish or some other flaw that makes it unacceptable and you have to buy your animal from the temple at an outlandish rate. A scam, like so many that we see even today. A scam to make the poor poorer and the rich richer.
Jesus’s reaction to the scam is anger and action. He sees the Injustice and he confronts it. He knows that his Father’s house is supposed to be a place of equality, of openness to God’s grace and compassion and forgiveness. Not a place where the poor are taken advantage of, where the foreigner (the alien) is swindled because they don’t know the way things are done. He sees this Injustice and he confronts it.
Again and again we are confronted in our lives by situations where we see Injustice, where we see those who are vulnerable taken advantage of by those with power. These two stories tell us that there are no simple and easy ways to deal with these situations. Each is a unique opportunity for us to look at what God’s compassion and love is calling us to do.
In last week’s devotional there was the wonderful line, “the Spirit slows her dance” amid the times when Grace is being revealed. These are some of those times. Times when we see the brokenness of our world and we need to slow our own dance, so that we can be in tune with her’s, so that our response might be the most appropriate and effective.
If you knew who you were speaking to, you would ask me to give you living water.
The St. Ann Pastoral Team would like to tell you about what our new roles are, what we’ve been doing for the community of St. Ann this year – and what our plans are for the coming year. We hope you’ll take a few moments to watch this video.
The St. Ann Lay Preaching team will be giving reflections during our Zoom services during Lent. Here is Shonna’s reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Lent.
2nd Sunday of Lent Reflection
I love the transfiguration – a moment when the face of Jesus was so clear and God’s love for him was so resounding. Even Peter “gets it” – for a minute!! Then he falls into one of the dangers of an epiphany, an encounter with God that changes our hearts. He wants to stay in that moment, never leaving – “Let’s build a memorial – here and forever!” Another danger is to try to re-create those times when we meet God by trying to go to the same place and do the same things in exactly the same way, hoping that we will again know the presence of God. And the final danger is that we will think our way of knowing God is the only valid way, the only legitimate way to be faithful or holy.
Poet Sarah Are reminds us what happens when we try to impose our way on others and we stop listening to their experiences of God – or life.
TRUTH THAT RICOCHETS by Sarah Are I went to a lecture once— An interfaith conversation with interfaith leaders. Whispers bounced off the church’s tile floors As people shuffled into place, Carrying hope alongside assumptions— Mixed into pockets like loose change. About halfway through the evening, A young woman in a blue hijab began speaking. She was the youngest person on the panel, Seated far to the left. You might almost miss her If you weren’t paying attention; But not here, not when she spoke. In quiet determination she told us of fear and persecution. She told us of hatred and racial slurs, Thrown at her people from car windows like bombs. It was a truth I did not know, And that truth ricocheted like sunlight through the cathedral windows, Touching almost everyone that day. Then a man in the back, who could have been me— Who has been me— Approached the microphone and said, “Your people are persecuted. You live in fear. You are battered by hate. If that is true, then why am I just now hearing about it? Why is your story not on the news? Why have you not spoken up about it?”
And the air was still, partly because we held our breath in anticipation, And partly because the Spirit slows her dance when we stand at the edge of truth. The woman in the blue hijab leaned into the microphone And whispered with a quiet strength that can only come from years of practice: “We are screaming.” If there is one truth in my life That unfolds again and again, It is the need to listen. For again and again, I will try, with good intentions, To act and walk with love. But again and again, I will make mistakes. Again and again, I will say the wrong thing. Again and again, they will call me Peter, And again and again, they will be right. So again and again, I will pray for a truth that ricochets, For ears that will listen, And for space to hold truth. If people are screaming, And to be clear— people are screaming— I do not want to miss it.
In your family, who is screaming for love and attention?
In our community, who is crying out for justice and understanding?
In our world, who is screaming about their persecution and oppression?
Again and Again, Again and Again, Again and Again. Are you already getting tired of hearing this? We are just at the second week of Lent, and for some of you this repeated refrain (theme) may be getting old. We hear and say to ourselves, ok I got it let’s move on to something new.
We are used to getting our truth from sound bites. Ten to Forty Five second blasts of so-called truth. When we are done we move on to the next story, always something new. For Americans, truth is an extremely flexible commodity. We might equate ourselves with Pilate asking what is truth. We might identify with Peter who in Sunday’s Gospel, when Jesus’s version of the truth differs from his own wants to stop listening. Wants to argue with the Lord of Truth for his own version of reality and to talk Jesus out of any inconvenient ramifications inherent in the truth he has just proclaimed. Or with the disciples standing on the mountaintop wanting to stop there forever. Let’s not go down into those dreaded valleys with their pain, loss and abandonment.
For us truth is very clearly black and white. Either Or truth, either it’s this way Or its the opposite. This is the way we’ve been trained to think. You might believe that is how religion works. Many religious leaders like to portray it that way. They know the answers and they have the ultimate truth. Peter and his successors were always tempted to a kind of personal infallibility (the kind of infallibility we as Roman Catholics believe in is something different and a discussion for another day). Yet religious truth, at least the truth that Jesus adheres to, is complex, seldom black or white, almost always both and instead of either or. In theology we talk about the paradoxical nature of truth. Jesus is a man, Jesus is God he can’t possibly be both and yet the doctrine of the incarnation says he is. At Sunday mass Father Patrick holds up a piece of bread and declares that it is the body of Christ. It can’t be both and yet somehow it is. God is three and yet one, that can’t be true in an either or universe and yet it is. God creates us good and loves us and wants nothing but the best for us and yet there is evil in the world and we are born broken and in need of reconciliation. How can both of these realities exist alongside each other? And yet they do. Religious truth is almost always paradoxical and always just beyond our grasp. If it weren’t it would be a form of idolatry.
Peter wants Jesus to be the Messiah, for him this fact means that Jesus is the king of glory, that he will soon come in triumph to throw out the Romans and establish truth and justice and the Israelite way as the standard for God’s kindom. Yet for Jesus this truth means something very different, that he will soon die the shameful death of a criminal. What is true. Both and so much more.
Right now in our country there are all kinds of people that believe they know the truth. And they’re not willing to listen to any truth but their own, they are right and everyone else is wrong. And yet truth is paradoxical quite often it is both and more. The time has come to listen, to listen very hard to those whose truth differs from our own. To know that we seldom if ever grasp the truth in all its complexity and all its ramifications, in all its nuances.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about time being a spiral, how it is ever repeating, ever moving forward. Truth is also a spiral circling round and round impacting and reverberating within itself; one truth illuminating and highlighting and altering another truth in an ongoing dance.
Our devotional book speaks of the dance of the spirit and how it slows at certain moments when truth needs to be more fully revealed. But no matter how slow the spirit moves we will not see we will not hear until we shut up and learn to listen.
Who do you say I am? …The Messiah … Get behind me Satan.
The St. Ann Lay Preaching team will be giving reflections during our Zoom services during Lent. We will post copies of these reflections on our website each week, and provide printed copies to parishioners at Mass when the lay reflection is not given at Mass. Here is Craig’s reflection for the 1st Sunday of Lent.https://wp.me/p91S6R-12m
“Again & Again” Daily Devotional for Lent
The pdf version of the daily devotional the parish is using for Lent can be downloaded on our website at the link below. A few printed copies are available for those who prefer a physical copy of the devotional, and will be available at Mass or can be picked up during office hours. (Elizabeth’s office hours can be found at the bottom of the virtual bulletin!)
Lenten Virtual Discussion Group – Tuesdays at 1:30 PM
Craig’s Lenten discussion group will be meeting on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM. The group will be using the Again & Again daily devotional for Lent, which is available to download on our website. (download link below) A few print copies are available and can be picked up at Mass or from the parish office. An email with the Zoom link will be sent out to those who were in the Advent discussion group or who filled out the survey – if you would like to be added or removed from this email list, or if you would like to lead and/or host another discussion group on a different day, please contact the parish office at info@stannsspokane.org
Craig’s Corner – Reflections
Craig will continue writing a weekly reflection during Lent, which will be posted on our website and emailed to the parish email list each week. Here is the link to “Craig’s Corner” reflection post for this week: https://wp.me/p91S6R-12L
Stations of the Cross for Lent
The Social Justice Ministry is planning Virtual Stations of the Cross services for Lent. The services will be on Zoom at 7:00 PM each Friday during Lent, starting on February 26. There will be a different social justice theme each week. The Zoom link will be emailed out to the parish email list. All are welcome!
Social Justice Ministry – Letter to Temple Beth Shalom
The members of the St. Ann Social Justice Ministry have written and sent a letter of support to the Jewish faith community of Temple Beth Shalom after the anti-Semitic vandalism to their temple that occurred this past week. The link to the post on our website about this letter is here: https://wp.me/p91S6R-11F
Upcoming Important Dates
Tuesday, February 23 – Craig’s Lenten discussion group at 1:30 PM (Zoom)
Friday, February 26 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Saturday, February 27 – Parish Council Meeting. (Zoom)
Tuesday, March 2 – Craig’s Lenten discussion group at 1:30 PM (Zoom)
Friday, March 5 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Saturday March 6 – Reconciliation available at 2:00 PM before the 3:00 PM Mass
Sunday, March 7 – Liturgy Committee Meeting, right after Zoom prayer service
Tuesday, March 9 – Craig’s Lenten discussion group at 1:30 PM (Zoom)
Friday, March 12 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Tuesday, March 16 – Craig’s Lenten discussion group at 1:30 PM (Zoom)
Friday, March 19 – Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM on Zoom
Saturday, March 20 – Reconciliation available at 3:00 PM before the 4:00 PM Mass
Zoom links for meetings and discussion groups will be emailed to the group only; Zoom links for prayer services are emailed to the parish email list.
Readers for Palm Sunday & Holy Week
As we look ahead to Palm Sunday and Holy Week, we are looking readers for all of these services. If you plan to attend any of the in person services in the church during Holy Week and are willing to be a reader – please contact the parish office to let us know!
Sign up Link for Saturday & Sunday Masses in February
Please use the link below to sign up to attend Saturday & Sunday Masses at St. Ann for the month of February. Please be sure to check the date of the Mass you are signing up for so you sign up for the Mass you want to attend! We also ask that you sign up at least an hour before the Mass. If you are willing to be a reader at Mass, please write “reader” in the comments when you sign up. Thank you!
The link is also available on the home page of the parish website!
**Important ** Information about Mass during Covid
Reminder: We require everyone – including children over 2 – to wear a mask during Mass, and maintain social distancing. (One household per pew!) We ask that parishioners enter by the front doors only so that staff can check you in and keep an accurate count. Hand sanitizer is also provided for use upon entry and before communion. If you need assistance signing up, please call or email the parish office.
Also – because we have a beautiful old church, we do not have a state of the art ventilation system. After consulting with experts, we have determined that in order to keep parishioners safe, we must keep the doors open during Mass for ventilation. When the weather is cold outside, it can get quite chilly in the church, so please dress appropriately if you chose to attend Mass. Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe!
Prayer Service on Zoom – Sunday at 11:00 AM
We will continue to offer the Prayer service on Zoom for those members of our community who are unable to attend Mass, so that we can continue to gather together in prayer. The link for the Zoom prayer service is emailed out through the parish email list on Saturday.
During Lent, our theme will be Again & Again, and a daily devotional with the theme will be available to all parishioners. We will have Lay reflections during the Lenten Zoom services. These reflections will also be read at Mass and posted on our website so that our whole community can share in these reflections, together in spirit.
Readers & Reflectors for Zoom Prayer Services in Lent:
Date
Reader 1
Reader 2
Lay Reflection
02/28/21
Mark W.
Pierrette W.
Shonna B.
03/07/21
Val C.
Anne B.
Andy L.
03/14/21
John B.
Michelle M.
Dianne F.
03/21/21
Pierrette W.
Sean H.
Pat M.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for these community members in need of our support or healing:
Nancy J.
Crystal M.
Dianne F. & family
Erin L.
Margaret B.
Pat S.
Janet S.
Sunny B.
Susan L.
Estella L.
Andy T.
Darren S.
Roberta B.’s family
Jake S.’s family
Bob & Shonna B.’s family
Craig B.’s family
Michelle M.
Georgie W.
Please remember our recently departed and pray for their grieving families and friends:
Paul B.
Fr. Jim D.
Miguel R.
Claudia K.
Nancy R.
Fr. Robert F.
J. Kenneth K.
Ron P.
Hal T.
Sr. Linda H’s nephew
Roberta (Bobby) B.
Kalvin
Betty B.
Walter B.
Franciscan Corner
Pope Francis in his encyclical discusses the people who passed by the injured man. They are on their way to do business, their religion does not allow them to touch a Samaritan, the laws cannot be broken. St Francis, while riding his fancy horse, came upon an unclean person, a leper! There were laws then, the leper should have moved aside, Francis should have gone a different way. He should NOT have gotten off his horse and kissed the person. It was unthinkable! What would his father say if he found out! But Francis saw this person as a brother, as a sister. He saw that person as family. To the question: “ where is your brother/sister who is ill? “ Francis would have replied: “right here in front of me” and maybe even: “O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be loved, as to love”. Let us pray for ourselves, intentionally, 7 times this week: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace…” and then find a way to be an instrument of peace to someone in the family.
(Thank you to Sr. Joanne for sharing these Franciscan reflections with us.)
Parish Communication
As you may have noticed, the parish office is now sending out emails with parish news and the weekly Virtual Bulletin to those who have registered or are in the parish directory. Mark W. – who has been our go-to for parish emails for many years – will continue to send out the prayer requests, Craig’s reflections, and Zoom links to prayer services. If you would like to be added to either or both of these lists, let Elizabeth know and she will coordinate with Mark to make sure you are on our email lists. Thank you to Mark who has done such a wonderful job of keeping our parish informed for so many years – hopefully this small change will help to make his life less hectic and help us to better communicate with the parish.
Office Hours
The Pastoral Team is primarily working from home at this time, but are checking messages and emails remotely, and will work limited office hours.
and works from home Monday – Thursday. If you need to come in to the office, call first, or email Elizabeth at info@stannsspokane.org
JOLIE, our Director of Religious Education, can be contacted at Jolie@stannsspokane.org (or by text) if you have any questions about liturgies or the Youth & Family Ministries Program.
FATHER PATRICK is available by appointment. He can be contacted by email at barazap@gonzaga.edu Please contact the parish office if you would like to schedule an appointment, to ensure it is on his calendar.
Please note that during Mass is not always the best time to contact the staff about parish office issues. If you have more than a quick question, please schedule another time to talk with someone on the pastoral team so that we can give you our full attention. Thank you!
Mass Times
Saturday Mass is at 3:00 PM until March 20, when it will change to 4:00 PM
Sunday Mass is at 9:00 AM
Please sign up to attend Mass online, using the link on the homepage of our website.
Father Patrick will be available for Confession on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month an hour before the 3:00 PM Mass. (Mass time will change to 4:00 PM on March 20th.)
Zoom Prayer Service is at 11:00 AM on Sunday
(Link is sent out to our parish email list on Saturday.)
Percentage of goal: 46.8% — Percentage of participation: 55.6%
Thank You For Your Support! Thank you for your generous support! If you would like to send in a donation, our mailing address is: 2116 E 1st Ave Spokane WA 99202 Or you can donate online with Tithe.ly (see link above)
