Greetings! Welcome
to the March issue of Reach. Thank you for all of your support and for sharing the messages of this publication with
your congregations, families and friends. To reach is an action that requires us to extend ourselves to
one another. In our living, we are called to reach out to others and from time to time we are blessed to be reached
by the signs and messages of hope, peace and abundance that are all around us. During this season of Lent, as we endeavor
to stand still, listen, hear and feel the presence of the divine, it is my prayer that we are inspired, transformed and revived
as we journey together. |
| March
2009 Spiritual Wellness Month - Spiritual Wellness is living life in harmony while maintaining
balance within our body, mind and spirit. It's an understanding that we are spiritual beings - having a human experience,
rather than a human being having occasional spiritual feelings.
Spiritual Wellness is a realization, within our consciousness,
that all of us are connected to one another and to a single source of all that we need - which we give many names.
www.wordsofwellness.com/Spiritual_Wellness.htm |
Significant Holidays,
Holy Days and Observances for March 2009 1
March
St David's Day (Christian)
This
holy day of the Patron Saint of Wales celebrates Welsh  culture and history. The Welsh flag is often seen during celebrations on the day, as well as daffodils or leeks pinned
to clothing. To learn more, click here. |
2 March Clean Monday
is the Monday that begins the season of Great Lent in Eastern Orthodox Churches. This corresponds to the season of Lent found
in Western Christendom, but the periods of these two seasons are calculated differently. Both have 40 days between the beginning
and end of Lent because of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting the desert. Western Christendom doesn't count Sundays because
Jesus is recorded as having resurrected on a Sunday while Eastern Orthodox churches do count Sundays.
Why is it Called Clean Monday?
This first day of Great Lent is called "Clean Monday" because
Christians are called upon to begin the holy season with "clean hearts and good intentions." It is also because
the season of Lent is regarded as a time for when Christians should clean up their spiritual house, coming to terms with their
lives and rededicating themselves to a more holy and righteous way of living. .
What Do Eastern Orthodox
Christians Do on Clean Monday? Clean Monday is a day of strict fasting - Christians are permitted to take
no food from midnight to noon and no meat all day. Christians are expected to spend extra time during the day in prayer and
Bible reading, just as they should throughout Lent. http://www.orthodox.net/greatlent/index.html
During the Season of Lent ("cuaresma" in Spanish or "carême"
in French), Christians prepare for the "Holy Week" or "Passion Week", of which Easter is the culmination.
It lasts forty days (not counting Sundays), beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday, the last day before Easter.
The observance differs among Christian churches.
Colors and Symbols of Lent
 The color used in the sanctuary for most of Lent is purple, red violet, or dark violet (see Colors of the Church Year). These
colors symbolize both the pain and suffering leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus as well as the suffering of humanity and
the world under sin. But purple is also the color of royalty, and so anticipates through the suffering and death of
Jesus the coming resurrection and hope of newness that will be celebrated in the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Some
churches use grey for Ash Wednesday or for the entire season of Lent, or for special days of fasting and prayer. Gray is the
color of ashes, and therefore a biblical symbol of mourning and repentance. The decorations for the sanctuary during Lent
should reflect this mood of penitence and reflection. Some Anglican churches use unbleached muslin, which can range
from white to beige, with accents in red or black for Lent to symbolize this same spirit of penitance.
Some
churches avoid the use of any flowers in the sanctuary during Lent, using various dried arrangements. This can be especially
effective if a flowering cross is used for Easter. Other churches use arrangements of rocks or symbols associated with the
Gospel readings for the six Sundays in Lent.
Some church traditions change the sanctuary colors to red for
Maundy Thursday, a symbol of the disciples and through them the community of the church. Since Eucharist or communion
is often observed on Maundy Thursday in the context of Passover, the emphasis is on the gathered community in the presence
of Jesus the Christ.
Traditionally, the sanctuary colors of Good Friday and Holy Saturday are black, the only
days of the Church Year that black is used. It symbolizes the darkness brought into the world by sin. It also symbolizes death,
not only the death of Jesus but the death of the whole world under the burden of sin. In this sense, it also represents
the hopelessness and the endings that come as human beings try to make their own way in the world without God. Black
is always replaced by white before sunrise of Easter Sunday. |
3
March Liberation Day in Bulgaria, Malawi, Morocco and Sudan
Bulgaria's Liberation day from Ottoman rule - Following the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78 and the Treaty of
San Stefano of March 3, 1878, an autonomous Bulgarian principality was proclaimed. |
4
March Discovery Day in Guam - commemorates the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.
Ram Navami in Nepal - (Hindu)
Rama or Ramachandra was a king of Ayodhya in ancient India. In Hinduism,
he is considered to be the seventh Avatar of Vishnu and a lila-avatara described in Bhagavata Purana. Rama is one of
the most popular figures and deities in Vaisnavism and its religious scriptures in South and Southeast  Asia.The majority of details concerning Rama come from the Ramayana, one of the two great epics of India. Born as the eldest
son of Kaushalya and Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya, Rama is referred to within Hinduism as Maryada Purushottama,literally the
Perfect Man of Lord of Restrictions. Rama is the husband of Sita, who Hindus consider to be an Avatar of Lakshmi and the embodiment
of perfect womanhood.
The Ram Navami Festival honors the birthday of Lord Rama (on the 9th day of bright fortnight of
chaitra (March) and is celebrated in great style throughout Nepal. The Janaki mandir of Janakpur Temple is alive from 4am
until late at night. |
St Piran's
Day (Christian)
St. Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall, the southern most corner of Great Britain.
The modern observance of St Piran's day as a national symbol of the people of Cornwall started in the late 19th and early
20th century when Celtic revivalists sought to provide the people of Cornwall with a national day not unlike those observed
in other nations. Since the 1950s, the celebration has become increasingly observed and since the start of the 21st century
almost every Cornish community holds some sort of celebration to mark the event. ( Click here) |
8
March Orthodox Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent. Restoration
of icons to the church is celebrated. International Women's Day - is a global day celebrating the economic, political
and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some countries like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD
is a national holiday. The first IWD was run in 1911. http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp |
9 March
Mawlid-al-Nabi
(Milad un Nabi) - (Muslim)
Mawlid al-Nabi is a celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, founder
of Islam. The day is fixed at the 12th day of the month of Rabi al-Awwal in the Muslim calendar. Muhammad was born
about A. D. 570 and died in A. D. 632. During his life, he established Islam as a religion and, in doing so, replaced tribal
loyalty with equality among all Muslims.
At a critical point in his life, Muhammad received a vision of the
angel Gabriel who called him into service as a prophet. He later received a second vision of Gabriel who told him to "magnify
thy Lord." Muhammad then began to preach publicly in Mecca where he had lived for many years. Many people were receptive
to his message but others ridiculed him. Because of the opposition of many citizens of Mecca and threats against him, Muhammad
fled to Yathrib in A. D. 622. This journey of nearly 200 miles is known as the Hegira and is so important that the Muslim
calendar begins with the year of the Hegira.
The Mawlid al-Nabi was first observed around the thirteenth century
and was preceded by a month of celebration. The actual day of Muhammad's birthday included a sermon, recitation of litanies,
honoring of religious dignitaries, gift giving, and a feast. The festival spread throughout the Muslim world and is celebrated
in many countries today. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/islamicholidays.html |
10 March Purim (Jewish)
Purim
celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the wicked Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia. They remember
Queen Esther who saved the life of the Jewish people, as told in The Book of Esther. This is read twice in the synagogue.
The name of Haman is drowned out with rattles and noises by congregation whenever it is read. Many people come in fancy
dress. Hamantashen (cakes filled with poppy seeds, literally "Haman's pockets") are made and eaten
at this time. |
11 March
Magha Puja (Buddhist)
Magha Puja is the second most important Buddhist festival. This day commemorates the occasion when the Buddha predicted
his death and recited a summary of his teachings and a code of discipline (which monks are expected to recite every fortnight)
to 1,250 enlightened followers on the full moon of Magha.
Holi (Hindu)
One of the most colorful Hindu festivals, Holi begins with a bonfire to celebrate the death of Holika,
the demon of winter. On the second day, people throw colored water over one another to remind themselves of the mischievous
young Krishna.
Hola Mahalla (Sikh)
Festival of
martial arts. It takes place on the day after the end of Holi. |
14 March Nanakshahi - Sikh New Year (Sikh)
The Sikh calendar is called the Nanakshahi Calendar and takes its name from Guru Nanak, who founded Sikhism. The
year 2009 is the year 540 in the Sikh Nanakshahi Calendar. It is the first day of Chet, the first month of the Sikh calendar.
The Sikh New Year always falls on March 14. |
17 March
St. Patrick's Day (Christian)
This holy day of the Patron Saint of Ireland celebrates Irish culture and history. Saint Patrick was
the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Most of what is known
about him comes from his two works, the Confession, a spiritual autobiography, and his Epistola, a denunciation of British
mistreatment of Irish Christians. Saint Patrick described himself as a "most humble-minded man, pouring forth a continuous
paean of thanks to his Maker for having chosen him as the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped idols and unclean
things had become the people of God."
http://www.history.com/minisites/stpatricksday/
http://www.st-patricks-day.com/ |
20 March Spring Equinox - The first day
of spring. Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara, occurs in the middle of March. It marks
the beginning of Spring and the time when days and nights are of equal length. The Goddess manifests as Ostara or Eostre
with her basket of eggs. She is accompanied by the Hare or Rabbit, a manifestation of the God. Green has been sacred to this
Sabbat since ancient times, because it represents the greening of the land with vegetation. This is a festival of new growth.
Celebrations are marked by the preparation of egg dishes and the sharing of them with friends. Organize
egg games, such as egg hunts. Decorate your home with spring flowers and sprouting greens. Wear green clothing as an affirmation
of new growth within yourself and Nature. Bless any seeds you plan to plant in your garden. Begin a new project. Make a growth
charm out of a hard-boiled egg -- decorate it with symbols, write on it the quality you would like to manifest more fully
within yourself, energize it, and then eat it. http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/spring.html |
21 March Naw Ruz - Baha'i observance
of the vernal equinox symbolizing spiritual growth and renewal.
International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination - The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually
on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South
Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international
community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. This day is the beginning of the Week of
Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination. |
22 March Mothering Sunday (Simnel Sunday) (Christian)
Mothering Sunday and Mother's Day are days on which it is traditional for people to shower their mothers
with cards and gifts, in order to show them how much they are valued and appreciated. However, although both of these days
share the sentiment of celebrating and honouring motherhood, Mothering Sunday is a British tradition, and like many traditions,
has its roots in religion. The Mother's Day holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada, is about one woman's
crusade.
The History of Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday falls on the fourth Sunday
of the Christian festival of Lent, known as Laetare Sunday. The exact origin of Mothering Sunday is unclear, but the general
consensus among historians is that it stems from sixteenth century churchgoers visiting their "mother church" on
this day. The mother church was the largest church or cathedral in their area.
It was considered important
for Christian churchgoers to visit their mother church on Laetare Sunday, instead of the local "daughter" church
they would usually attend for regular Sunday service. This was referred to as to go "a mothering". It is believed
that on this day, because of the importance of visiting the mother church, young household servants, who worked away from
home, were released from their duties and allowed to visit their mothers. They were reunited temporarily with their families,
and would take their mothers gifts such as wild flowers they had picked.
|
25 March Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Christian) Liturgical Color(s): White
Type of Holiday: Solemnity
Time of Year:
25 March
Duration: One Day
Celebrates/Symbolizes: Announcement of the incarnation by the Angel Gabriel
to the Virgin Mary, and the conception of Christ in her womb
Alternate Names: Lady Day
Scriptural References:
Luke 1:26-38
The feast of the Annunciation marks the visit of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, during
which he told her that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is celebrated on 25 March each year. The
story of the Annunciation, meaning the announcing, from the Latin annuntiare, is told in Luke's gospel. At the Annunciation,
the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive a Son, and his name will be Jesus. His greeting, "Hail Mary,
full of grace, the Lord is with you" has echoed down through the ages in many prayers, and is known as the "Hail
Mary." Mary was confused as to how she would bear God's Son, seeing as she was a virgin. The angel then explains
that the Holy Spirit will come upon on her. This is why when we recite the Nicene creed we say "by the power of the Holy
Spirit [Jesus] was born of the Virgin Mary and became man." The Apostle's Creed likewise affirms that Jesus was "conceived
by the power of the Holy Spirit." Thus, the Feast of the Annunciation is the beginning of Jesus' miraculous life,
and it begins with the theotokos conceiving Jesus by the Holy Spirit's power.
Mary's response to the
angel, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word," (Latin: ecce ancilla
Domini; fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum) is a statement of humble faith, and a model for how we are to respond when God calls
us to do what seems impossible. This response is called Mary's fiat, from the Latin word meaning "let it be done."
The Catechism addresses the significance of Mary's faith in relation to her role as Christ's mother. |
27 March Varsha-Pratipada
(Hindu)
Varsha Pratipada is the Hindu Spring New Year and it means Birth of the Year. It marks
the first day of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu lunar year. Although the Indian National Calendar is the official calendar
for the Hindus, regional variants still prevail. As a result, we have a host of new year festivities that are unique to the
particular regions on this vast country. Characteristic of the Indian cultural mélange, Hindus in various states of
India celebrate the new year in their own ways. And not all of these fall on the same day!
The Hindus of
Nepal begin their new year Nava Varsha in the third week of March, and the people of Kashmir start the Kashmiri Lunar year
- Navreh - in the second week of March. The southern Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh begin their new year -
Ugadi - in late March or early April. The Maharashtrians celebrate their new year Gudi Padwa, during the same time.
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| Thoughts
for Consideration and Contemplation for the first week of March 2009 | 
| Living in this Moment Adapted from Helen Mellicost
as quoted in One Hundred Graces
I was regretting the past and
fearing the future. Suddenly God was speaking. "My name is 'I Am.'" I waited... God continued.
"When you endeavor to dwell in the past, lamenting over all of its mistakes, missteps and regrets, it is hard to feel
empowered and encouraged. I am not there. My name is not 'I was.'
"When you exhaust yourself
by worry about the future, with all of its
unknowns, problems and fears, it is hard to feel at ease and calm.
I am not there. My name is not 'I will be.'
"When you live in this very moment, embracing all that
is and breathing in the newness of life, it is not hard at all because I am here. My name is 'I Am.'"
+++ Thought for consideration and contemplation - Do something completely on the spur of the moment today,
without giving pause to past experiences or future consequences. |
Thoughts for Consideration and Contemplation for the second week of
March 2009 | |
Paying Attention
Adapted from Lawrence Kushner
in God was in This Place and I Did not Know
The "burning bush" was not a miracle; it was more
of a test. It was as if God was checking to see if Moses could pay attention to something for more than just a few moments.
When Moses did, God spoke. The trick is to pay attention to what is going on around us, just long enough to behold and
de affected by the miracle.
+++
Thought
for consideration and contemplation - Stop what you are doing and quietly observe your surroundings. Keep watching until
you notice a miracle. |
Thoughts for Consideration and Contemplation for the third week of March 2009 | | Seeking the Sacred in the Ordinary
Adapted from Abraham H. Maslow in Religions,
Values and Peak Experiences
One of the great lessons from the true mystics... is the acknowledgement
of the Sacred within the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in our neighbors, friends, family and in
one's back yard...
+++ Thought for consideration and contemplation -It is amazing
the evidence of the Sacred that stands waiting for us to discover it; in the garden, in the sunrise and sunset, amidst the
falling snow and rain. When you find it, ask your self; what about this ordinary place is extraordinary?
|
Thoughts
for Consideration and Contemplation for the fourth week of March 2009 | | Fan the Light
Adapted from Alice O. Howell in The Dove in
the Stone Invite the Sacred to participate with you in your joy in the little things as well as in your agony over
the great things. Did you know that there are as many miracles witnessed both through the lens of a microscope and a
telescope? Start with the little things seen through the magnifying glass of wonder, and just as a magnifying glass
can focus the sunlight into a burning beam that can set a leaf aflame, so can your focused wonder set you ablaze with insight.
Find the light in each other and just fan it.
+++ Thought for consideration and contemplation - Identify one little thing in another person that simply amazes
you and encourage it. |
Frequently Asked Questions | | What is the Church Year?
The
Church Year is an ancient way of telling time. Rather than measuring time exclusively according to the natural seasons, Christians
have traditionally measured time in their worship with a calendar built around the life of Christ. Some of the seasons of
the Church Year date back to our earliest written records of Christian worship. The current form of the Christian calendar,
including its colors, dates, and feasts, was firmly in place by the medieval period.
Worship that is centered on the
Church Year allows Christians to step into the life of Jesus. Seasons of hope and grief, mercy and penitence assure that all
aspects of the human condition are given an appropriate place in the worship practices of the Church. The repetition of these
seasons is also an educational tool, gently inculcating the heritage of the faith.
The specific season is reflected
in the colors used for the paraments in the sanctuary and the clergy's vestments and the texts read. When certain
feast days fall during the week it is not unusual to celebrate them on the nearest Sunday. This generally does not apply to
Ash Wednesday or Christmas Day.
What are the seasons of the Church Year?
Advent - The Season of Expectation - Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas
Day, the season of Advent is a time when the Church looks toward the second coming of Jesus and the eternal hope of Christians
in the end of time. The color for this season is either Purple (for royalty) or Blue (for the Virgin Mary). Christmas - The Season of Incarnation - For 12 days, from Christmas Day (December
25) through Epiphany (January 6) (inclusive) the Church celebrates the miraculous incarnation of God in the person of Jesus.
The color for this season is White. Lent - The Season of Reflection-
For forty days (not including Sundays) prior to Easter Sunday we reflect on the suffering of Jesus. Together, we approach
the cross. Worship during this period is traditionally more subdued and penitential. Many people also fast during the season
of Lent. The color for this season is Purple. Holy Week - The final
week of Lent is called "Holy Week." Often churches that do not typically meet for worship will meet
every day of Holy Week. At the minimum, there will be worship on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. The color
for Holy Week remains Purple, although some churches use Red on Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday. Some churches also use Black
on Good Friday. Easter - The Season of Resurrection - For
fifty days beginning on Easter Sunday Christians celebrate the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus and the certain hope of
our own resurrection. The color for Easter is White. This season ends on the Sunday of Pentecost, for which the color is Red.
Ordinary Time - The Season of Nurture and Growth
- The periods of time following Epiphany and Pentecost are referred to as "Ordinary" because their Sundays are numbered
in ordinal fashion. The focus of Ordinary Time is on developing a deeper understanding of Christian discipleship. The color
for this season is Green (for growth). http://www.churchyear.net/ |
This
publication is compiled and distributed by the MCC Office of Constituent Communications Kathy Beasley, Editor & Publication Designer |
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