The great penitential season of Lent begins with special services of the imposition of ashes and Holy Eucharist at 10 o'clock in the Chapel and 7:30 p.m. in the Church. Ashes in Biblical times have long been the sign of penitence and remorse. Those wishing to receive ashes have them placed on their forehead with these words from the Prayer Book: "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." This season of forty days is a time for self-examination, and repentance; a time for prayer, fasting, self-denial and the reading and meditating on God's holy Word.

One of the most powerful sections of the Ash Wednesday service is the Litany of Penance (Prayer Book pg. 267) which asks the congregation to consider the ministry of proclaiming God's love and forgiveness. Like the 22nd Psalm which is part of the Good Friday Liturgy, the Litany begins with confession and concludes with our request for God to restore us. The Lenten season provides an opportunity for the message of pardon and absolution and the need for the faithful to renew their repentance and faith in preparation for the Good News of the Easter message.

FROM THE RECTOR

Dear Parishioners,

During this Lenten season let us be people of prayer for healing, peace and unity in the church. The forty day penitential season remembers the forty days our Lord spent in the wilderness after his baptism by John.

Prayers of healing are needed for an increasing number of friends and members of Ware Church who are ill. Their names are included in our Sunday worship. They face everything from reduced mobility to life threatening illnesses.

Prayers of peace are needed the young men and women of our armed forces, the nations they are stationed in and the countries that need the gift of peace and freedom from violence.

Prayers are needed for the Episcopal Church as we seek understanding in these difficult times since the 74th General Convention.

Prayers are needed for each other for blessings, happiness and the presence of our Lord in our lives.

Let us be people of prayer during Lent!

Faithfully yours,
Peter Worthington

Thanks from Dee

Thank you to everyone for pitching in while I was ill. Special music during Christmas and the Epiphany Pageant made this a busy season. These things could not have been done without a lot of help from everyone.

Junior Choir and Ware Ringers practice the first three Wednesdays in February with no practice on Ash Wednesday. Junior Choir members receive Ware dollars during the year for attending choir practice and singing on the second Sunday of the month. They will be able to spend their Ware dollars at the WareMart on Wednesday, February 4th during rehearsal.

Senior Choir practices Sunday mornings at 9:00 except for February 8th.

All choirs are preparing Lenten, Palm Sunday and Easter music. It is the perfect time for new members to join us as we work on music for these liturgical seasons. Come and make a joyful noise with us while we are serving the Lord.

Please notify the office of any address and telephone number changes so the next directory is as up to date as possible.

VESTRY NEWS

The Vestry will meet Tuesday, February 10th at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Library. Vestry packets will be available on the church porch on Sunday, February 8th.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

The Episcopal Church Women will meet on Tuesday, February 17h at 6:00 p.m. for a fellowship supper. Dee Johnston and Molly Hoffman will provide a program of music. Guests are most welcome.

CHANCEL GUILD

The members of the Chancel Guild will meet on Saturday, February 7th at 10:30 a.m. Susan Jenkins is the Chancel Guild Chair this year and asks that al ladies of the Chancel Guild attend this very important meeting.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

PRAYER GROUP MEETS

The Ware Church Prayer Group gathers for fellowship, prayer and the Holy Eucharist. After the service, they pray for parishioners and friends of Ware. The Prayer Group will meet Wednesday, February 11th at 10 a.m. For prayer requests, please call Jane Van Leeuwen at 693-3500.

ANGEL TREE A SUCCESS

The Mission Committee extends a big THANK YOU to all the friends and members of Ware Church and the Family Room parents who helped make a wonderful Christmas for the twelve families we sponsored at Christmas. Parents, grandparents and children in these households were remembered with gifts from their personal wish lists and a Christmas ham with all the fixin's.

Thank you to those who contributed mittens, scarves, hats and gloves to the Jesse Tree. Thank you to the ECW and the money raised through their Chinese Auction. It was used by the Salvation Army to help make Christmas brighter for those in need.

FIRST SUNDAY FOOD OFFERING

On the first Sunday of every month Ware Church receives gifts of food and other personal items to restock the shelves at the Salvation Army Food Closet. Items always in demand include canned meat items, tuna fish, peanut butter and paper products. Gifts for the Pantry can be left in the office or taken directly to the Salvation Army. Thank you for your contributions.

ALTAR FLOWERS

Wish to give flowers for the Altar in Ware Church? There are flowers every Sunday except Lent and Advent. After the 10:30 services they are sent to friends and members who are ill. You may give flowers in honor or in memory of someone. Please call Barbara Roane, Flower Chairperson at 725-9250 to select an open Sunday.

GRAPEVINE DEADLINE

Articles and news items for the March Grapevine are needed by Monday, February 9th

A LENTEN GIFT

The Mite Box - Lenten Mite Boxes have their origin in our Lord's observation of the widow who placed her mite, the smallest coin of the realm, in the Temple treasury. He noted that she had given more than anyone because she gave all she had.

On February 29th, the first Sunday in Lent, offering containers will be given to the congregation seeking gifts of nickels, dimes, pennies, quarters and folding money for the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund. Last September the Fund sent Abingdon and Ware Churches $10,000.00 for use in helping Gloucester residents who had th greatest need following Hurricane Isabel.

Gifts from Ware Church will help keep this assistance available for other communities both at home and around the world.

LAITY SERVERS

Each month the Grapevine devotes a page solely to the lay people who help on Sundays and throughout the month. Volunteers are always welcome and needed. Please call the office if you want to help in any area. Training is provided in areas where needed.

YOUTH GROUP STUFF

The Youth Group thanks all who supported their Lasagna Lunch on Sunday, January 18th and our wreath sales during Advent. These fund raisers help us with our projects and fun trips.

The monthly Episcopal Youth Committee meeting, which is open to all 7th - 12th graders, will be on Sunday, February 8th at 9:30 a.m. We will also go ice skating that day - a Christian Skate outing at 5:30 p.m.

Our annual ski trip is March 6th and 7th. For more information about these activities or the Youth Group, please call Judy Doyel-Fulk at 693-6135.

SHRINEMONT

A special place for kids and adults!

The Diocese of Virginia offers wonderful summer camp programs at Shrinemont - the diocesan conference center in Orkney Springs just east of West Virginia and north of Harrisonburg. There are camp sessions for soccer, the arts, music and drama, and regular summer camp sessions.

Stop by the Church Office and get your application. Many of these camps fill up very quickly; so, please come by as soon as you can. There are already four young people from Ware who are planning on attending.

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER

Paul Crook, Nick Hanson and Tristan O'Neil wrote a Prayer for Love in their Sunday School Class and their teachers Peter Hanson and Louisa Jones have asked that it be included in the Grapevine.

Dear God, Father of Jesus,
Help us to be nice, even when we don't want to be.
Take from us hatred meanness and other sins.
Help us to love others and bring friendship for the kingdom of God.
Amen.

A SERVICE FOR PEACE

On Saturday, February 28th at 11 o'clock there will be a service for peace in Ware Church. Ware is most fortunate to have The Rev'd Dr. Edward Long, retired Professor of Theology from Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, New Jersey as the preacher. Over the years, Dr. Long has devoted considerable time to writing and developing materials about Peace for the Presbyterian Church. Join us for worship on the 28th!

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN MINUTE BOOK RETURNS HOME

Bits and pieces of Ware's history continue to turn up. Most recently the group closing Vasti Hess's home discovered an old ledger which contained the Woman's Auxiliary of Ware Church minute book. It begins in January 1938 and concludes in September 1945.

At the December 1941 meeting Miss Williams and Miss Skiles were the speakers and noted: "having lived in Japan for 18-25 years were terribly shocked by the dastardly act of the Japanese forces attacking our country as they did last Sunday. Yet they, as Christian women, could only think of the Christian people in Japan who were their friends, with the warmest feeling of love and sympathy as they knew so well how they too were suffering."

Please bring by the Church any bits and pieces of Ware's history you might have. Picturers, minutes, letters and odds bits continue to help us learn of our past.

ADDRESS CHANGE - Please note

HURRICANE REPAIRS CONTINUE AT WARE

During the last week of January, Mid-County Land Contractors cleared the downed trees east of Ware Church's parking area. Salvageable materials were removed by truck and most of the remaining storm debris was burned. Still to be burned is a large pile of branches behind Ware Cottage. Four of the copper outdoor lighting fixtures that were damaged are to be reinstalled this month.

Repair of the East Gate continues with brick work to be completed in the Spring.

VESTRY RETREAT

The Vestry spent Saturday, January 24th at Westminster-Canterbury in Irvington, VA looking at a planning process for the for the next three to five years. To be effective the process needs to include at least 20% of the active congregation.

The Vestry agreed to visit other Episcopal Churches, read Twelve Steps to an Effective Congregation, and develop the idea of transformational leadership with the goal of including more people in the leadership and life of the congregation.

COFFEE HOUR

Thank you to all past Coffee Hour host and hostess volunteers. There is now a sign-up sheet on the church porch for March - May hosts and hostesses. Sign up early so that you may choose the Sunday that best suits your schedule.

SHROVE TUESDAY SUPPER

Shrove Tuesday is February 24th. At 6:00 p.m., the men of Ware Church are serving their famous Pancakes, Sausage and Baked Apples. Members of Boy Scout Troop 111 will be on hand to assist with your every need-perhaps it's a cup of coffee or the removal of your plate. All proceeds from the dinner will assist with camp scholarships and troop equipment.