February 2015

The Jacksboro Parish

Sweetheart Dinner Sponsored by the Nurture Committee

and the Men of the Parish

You are invited to a very special Valentine dinner

in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, February 7th at

6:30PM. You will not want to miss this event.

Please RSVP to Bob or Roxanna Maddox.

Bob Maddox Roxanna Maddox

(940) 507-0068 (940) 507-0102

bob@maddoxrealty.com roxanna@maddoxrealty.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Calendar..................................... 2

Brite Divinity ............................. 3

Transfiguration ......................... 4

New Year, New Name! .............. 5

Bake Sale.................................... 6

Greystone Help.......................... 7

Food Pantry ............................... 8

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST

February 18th, Ash

Wednesday

February 15th ,

Transfiguration of the

Lord Sunday

February 18th to April

2nd, Lent

March 29th, Palm

Sunday

April 2nd, Maundy

Thursday

April 5th, Easter

You are

cordially

invited

2

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

MDO 9AM-3PM

4

Youth @ 6PM

CR @ 7PM

5

MDO

9AM-3PM

6 7 Sweetheart

Dinner @

6:30 PM

8 MDO

Bake Sale

after

Church

9 10

MDO 9AM-3PM

Youth Advisory

MTG @ 6:30PM

11

Youth @ 6PM

CR @ 7PM

12

MDO

9AM-3PM

13 14 Happy

Valentines

Day

15

Parish

Council @

6:00PM

16 17

MDO 9AM-3PM

18 Soul Support @

Noon

Youth @ 6PM

CR @ 7PM

Ash Wednesday

Beginning of

Lent

19

MDO

9AM-3PM

20

Newsletter

Articles Due

21

22 23 24 MDO 9AM-3PM

25 Youth @ 6PM

CR @ 7PM

26 MDO

9AM-3PM

27 28

February 2015

NEWS FROM BRITE DIVINITY SCHOOL

Submitted by Martha Salmon

This year students at Brite Divinty School at TCU offered the invocation at ten performances of

the Forth Worth Rodeo. Below is a prayer offered one night by a first-year Master of Divinity

student Stephanie Kendall.

I thought you might want to know what one of our students prayed for in a very distinctive

public arena!

Sincerely ,

Newell Williams

President

Brite Divinity School

God of the dirt and sky…. The one who blesses the cinch, saddle and spur…

Inspired Creator of the horse and the rider…

We are from many different backgrounds, families, and organizations, but we are all

gathered here, in your great arena, reminded of your incredible power and abundant grace.

We are thankful for all that you have made in this world and understand that even in the

passion of competition, we are obligated to respect and love all that is yours.

As your grateful children we ask that you be with each competitor, animal and human alike,

and see them safely through each competition.

Help us to know that in 3 seconds or 8, we are never alone on the ride.

We are thankful tonight for the men and women whose job is to keep us safe. From the armed

services abroad, to the police in our cities, to the bullfighters in our arena, both paid and

volunteer. Help us to be mindful of their willingness to be servants of civility, and return them

home safely, when their job is done.

Loving Creator, you know our stories and see our passions. Help us to understand that our

individual journeys are a gift from you, and all you ask in return is that we love each other as

you love us, unconditionally.

For each day, and each ride, we are infinitely grateful and eternally yours. Amen. 3

TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD SUNDAY, ASH WEDNESDAY, AND LENT

By Anne Dyer

In 2015 February 15 is when we celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord during our liturgical

journey, and we use white as the liturgical color. The Transfiguration of Christ occurs soon after His

Baptism by John the Baptist. One may find the description of the event in Matthew 17:1-9,

Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36. Jesus took his inner circle of disciples (Peter, James, and John) up on a

high mountain where Jesus was transformed before them—his face shining like the sun and his

clothing became a dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared before them and began to speak with

Jesus. Then, a bright cloud appeared above them, and a voice said: This is my Son, the Beloved; with

Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!! The disciples fell on the ground and were very afraid. Jesus

told them to rise up and not be aftraid, but he ordered them not to tell anyone about this vision.

It is believed that the Transfiguration occurred to reveal Christ’s future glory, and it is also likened to

God’s appearance to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The appearance of Moses and Elijah could be representative

of the law and the prophets, or, perhaps, two prophets. The bright cloud represents the presence of

God. It is often thought that the Transfiguration was one of Jesus’ miracles, but what makes the

Transfiguration unique is that the miracle happens to Jesus himself. In Christianity, it is believed

that the Transfiguration is a pivotal point where human nature meets God. The mountain serves as a

point when the mortal meets the eternal with Jesus Christ being the bridge between heaven and

earth.

Ash Wednesday is February 18, 2015, and it marks the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday is the time

of public confession and contrition signified by the impostition of the ashes (the ashes are the burned

palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm/Passion Sunday). It is the time when we all stand in

solidarity as we acknowledge our sins and realize that we all fall short of the glory of God. We are

keenly aware of our own mortality, and we pledge to begin once again to live by God’s Word.

Lent is a time of inner reflection, prayer, fasting and preparation for the great three days which

culminate on Easter. Our Lenten journey begins from the ashes of death to the resurrection of life.

Lent is a period of 40 days (like the flood in Genesis; Moses on Mt. Sinai; Elijah’s journey to

Mt. Horeb; Jonah’s call to Ninevah to repent; and Jesus’ own testing in the wilderness). The Sundays

during Lent are not counted as we believe every Sunday is the Lord’s Day which is a witness to and

celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Lenten period is represented by the color purple. Lent will last from February 18 to April 2 which

is Maundy Thursday. Holy Week begins with Passion/Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015, and

continues through Holy Saturday, April 4, 2015.

4

NEW YEAR, NEW

NAME!

By Margaret Johnson

“Soul Support” will be the

new name for Bible Babes.

This name was chosen

because the members of

this group desired a name

that more accurately

reflected the purpose of our

group. The members share

in a desire to grow in faith

and to support others on

the journey toward living a

life more centered on the

teachings of Christ. This

group is for all ages and will

continue to be held the

third Wednesday of each

month at 12:00 noon at the

student activity center. A

light lunch is served, and

there is always a lively

discussion about various

topics concerning women in

today’s church. Please

consider joining the group

for an hour of worship, fun,

and fellowship. Our next

meeting will be February

18th. We hope to see you

there!

5

Volunteers Needed

The Food Pantry is always looking

for someone willing to carry, pack

and load groceries.

Help is needed on the third Monday

of every month starting at 2:00 Pm.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that

someone lay down his life for his friends.

Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to

whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

“To do more for the world than the world does for

you—that is success.” Henry Ford

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single

moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne

Frank

6

7

JACKSBORO COMMUNITY FOOD

PANTRY PROGRESS REPORT Written by Sheri Kettely—Submitted by Mitchell Davenport

January 2015 begins the third year of distributing non-perishable food to those in need

in Jack County. Jacksboro continues to dominate those seeking food with 99% of those

assisted living with the city limits. In 2013, we provided 26,715 meals at a cost of .27

cents per meal. In 2014, we provided 58,755 meals at a cost of .22 cents per meal.

The feeding America data shows that Texas’ average cost per meal of $2.28 is

below the national average of $2.67 per meal. The state’s food insecurity rate of 18.7

present is 3.8 percent higher than the national average of 14.9 percent.

The key in minimizing cost has been the food drives from local churches,

businesses and individual donation of food. Additionally, this is accomplished by stra-

tegic meal planning, purchasing in bulk from the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank as well

as taking advantage of weekly sales at our local grocery store. These cost effective

measures, combined with the donation of space from the First Assembly of God and

food transportation provided by Christian Missions, enable us to keep our average cost

per meal significantly lower than both the state and national

average.

Additionally, we were blessed to have Produce Express from Wichita Falls Area Food

Bank bring a sack of fresh produce each month to supplement our

non-perishable food. The Produce Express truck has distributed 70,365 pounds of pro-

duce in Jack County since inception March 2014.

At this time, we continue to provide a five-day supply of breakfast, lunch and

dinner to each family member. We distribute the third Monday of every month from

2:30-6 p.m. @ God’s House/First Assembly of God Fellowship Hall.

JCFP is committed in the name of Christ to feed the hungry in Jack County and

establish a permanent sanctuary to nourish God’s children.

If you have any questions about the Food Pantry, or would like to see how our

facility organizes and distributes, please do not hesitate to call Sheri @ 580-369-0889.