February 16^th, 2026

Gesima  Edition

The News in a Nutshell

• Upcoming Events– Mark Your Calendar
  • Shrove Tuesday Dinner – Tuesday, February 17^th 6PM
  • Ash Wednesday Service– February 17^th, at 7PM
  • Bishop’s Annual Visit– March 1^st
• The Gesima Sundays– What and Why
• Ideas– For Ways to Observe Lent
• First Quarter Mission– The Julie Valentine Center
• Diocesan Bible Study– Wednesday at Noon
• Weekly Web Feature– Check It Out
• Sunday School For All Ages– 9:30 Sunday Mornings
• Online Sermon Notes and Audio– LINK
• Live Streaming Service– FYI
• Online Giving Options– Now Available

For more information see the full announcements below

Upcoming Events

• Shrove Tuesday Dinner- Tuesday, February 17^th 6:00pm

Our Shrove Tuesday dinner will be held in the parish hall. The dinner will begin at 6:00pm and continue as people arrive. The killingers will be doing the cooking this year. However, there is a signup sheet for toppings and sides for folks to bring (e.g. bacon, sausage, syrup, butter, fruit toppings, drinks, and etc).

• Ash Wednesday Service- February 18^th, at 7PM

Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18^th with our Ash Wednesday Service. The Service will begin at 7PM. Servers please arrive at 6:15

• Bishop’s Episcopal Visit- March 1^st

Bishop Hill will be with us on Sunday, March 1^st for his annual episcopal visit. During this service Mei-li will be set apart for the lay order of Deaconess and Deborah Dix will be confirmed. In addition, we will have a pot-luck dinner in honor of Bishop and Mrs. Hill. This promises to be a very exciting, encouraging, and action-packed Sunday! Be sure to mark it on your calendar and plan to attend.

Pre Lent: Gesima Sundays- What and Why

If Easter is our celebration and Lent is the time we prepare ourselves for that celebration, then the pre-Lent gesima Sundays (Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesima) are a time of planning and gathering. It is during this time that we plan out our Lenten preparations and gather together all that these preparations will require. In short, these Sundays remind us to ask, how am I going to prepare during Lent for the celebration of Easter? What will I need?

Ideas- For Ways to Observe Lent

In keeping with the purpose of the gesima Sundays, let me suggest 7 basic ways that Christians have traditionally used Lent to prepare for Holy week and the Easter celebration.

• Abstinence– giving up something that you enjoy during Lent. The idea here is that Lent is a time of sober examination and repentance. Therefore, we do not enter this season rewarding or treating ourselves. Instead, our laying aside of something special helps us set the proper attitude during Lent. Likewise, our denial provides a very stark reminder that it is sin, which robs life of its sweetness, joy, and beauty.

• Give something out– The idea here is to do something during Lent (service, ministry, charity) that you normally do not do. Thus, if you have given up going to the movies during Lent, take the money you would have spent and donate it. You may have an older neighbor who needs their yard raked or flowerbed weeded. Regardless, the point is that as God’s grace changes you, God intends you to be a blessing to others. Finally, this is a great way for younger children (who might not understand fasting or abstinence) to take part in Lent. It is also a great way for families and individuals to move past mere abstinence to the real intent of Lenten devotion (Isa 58:5-8).

• Fasting– the traditional Lenten fast is one full meal and two light snacks on fast days (Wednesday and Friday). However, please note: fasting is not an effort to pay for our sins or to punish our bodies for our wrong doings (remember, we are healed by His wounds not our own). Rather, biblical fasting is always a turning our undivided attention to God. The idea or picture behind fasting is that we are faced with such a great concern that we are too preoccupied to even eat. We have put everything else aside in order to turn to God first.

• Evening Fast– An alternate form of the traditional fast that may be more conducive to today’s schedules is the Lenten Evening Fast. Here is how it works: on fast days (Wednesday and Friday) eat a light supper, with these two restrictions- no alcohol and no gorging. After dinner, forgo all snacking, shopping, and all media (i.e. no T.V., DVDs, video games, newspapers, magazines, web surfing, texting, etc…). Instead, enjoy time together as a family (plan an activity the whole family will enjoy, take a walk together, or work on a fun project together). Conclude this time with a family devotion.

• Online: The Daily Offices of Prayer (AKA the Divine Hours). From Old Testament times on God’s people have turned to God at set hours within the day to offer God their prayers, their work, and to renew their focus. We see this practice in both the Old and New Testaments (Psalm 119:164 /Acts 3:1) as well as down through Church History. A great way to observe lent is to incorporate these hours into your daily devotions. You will find the Lenten Offices on the page linked here; LINK

If you are not familiar with the Daily Offices or would like more information, You can download a brief “Introduction to the Offices” which you will find under the “Faith” column of our Resources page: LINK.

• Online: Morning or Evening prayer– I encourage you to make use of our online prayer services (especially on fast days). These provide a great way to begin or end the day or spend a quiet lunch break. I recommend that you use the short forms of the services found at the top, right hand side of the page. You may find the services by clicking on the following link: LINK.

• Attend the special services provided throughout Lent- So far this year we have the following services planned (these are in addition to our regular worship services)

– February 17^th Shrove Tuesday

– February 18^th Ash Wednesday

– February 25, 27, 28 (Ember Days)- traditionally the spring

  Ember Days (AKA Vernal Ember Days) are the first  

  Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in Lent. They are a

  time of fasting, prayer, and spiritual rededication at the

  beginning of the Lenten Season.

– TBA – Stations of the Cross

– April 2^nd Maundy Thursday Passover Meal

– April 3^rd Good Friday Service

First Quarter Mission- The Julie Valentine Center

Our mission project for the first Quarter of the Church year is the Julie Valentine Center. The Center helps women and children who have been victims of abuse. The items most used and need by the center are:

Bottled Water

Juice Boxes

Kid Friendly individually wrapped snacks

Gas Cards

Check Donation (made to the church with “1^st Quarter mission” on the “for” line

If you would like more ideas for needed items, there is an extensive list on the missions table in the parish hall. Also, please place all donated items on the mission table in the parish hall. We will collect these items and then give them to the center in order to help their ministry. If you have any questions or would like more ideas or suggestions, please see Christine

Diocesan Bible Study- Wednesday at Noon

Bishop Hill will be leading a diocese wide Bible study on Wednesday, at noon. If you have any questions contact Mei-li. Here is the information you need:

• Time: Wednesday, at noon.
• Place: Conference Call.

By Phone: 267-807-9495   Code: 900791161#

On computer: LINK

On Mobile App: Meeting ID: 900791161

• Material (optional): Standard Lesson Commentary 2025-2026

NIV or KJV (Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle)

Weekly Web Feature – Check It Out (www.allsaintsgreenville.com)

Each week, the newsletter will feature a different aspect of our web site for you to try out. It is our hope that this will bring to your attention features that you may not have noticed before and, at the same time, will help familiarize you with the site as a whole. So be sure to check out our Web Feature section in each edition of the newsletter.

In light of the Gesima Sundays (see announcement above) and our planning for Lent, this week’s web feature is the All Saints’ Devotion Page. Here you will find a variety of resources intended to nurture you in your daily walk. For example, there is an on line copy of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, an on line version of Morning, Evening, and Night prayer (each service includes all the reading and prayers in the text and is updated daily). There is also the Complete Writings of the Early Church Fathers as well as the Lives of the Saints. The lives of the Saints are arranged according to their appearance on the church calendar (so you can read about the saint or saints being remembered during the current week). And there is much more. I encourage you to explore these devotional resources and consider incorporating one or two of them into you Lenten observance.

To find the Devotion Page, go to the All Saints’ Home page (www.allsaintsgreenville.com), locate the tool bar at the top right of the screen and click on the Resources tab. On the ensuing page, the Devotional section will be on the Lefthand side of the page. Enjoy!!!

Sunday School For All Ages- 9:30 Sunday Mornings

Our Sunday School classes for all ages are underway. We invite you to jump in to these exciting studies. Class begins at 9:30 Sunday Morning

Online Sermon Notes and Audio- LINK

Our weekly sermon notes and audio are now available on our new All Saints website. You can find this week’s sermon here: LINK

Live Streaming Service- FYI

Our live streaming services will begin at 10:25 with prelude music. This will give folks time to tune in, get settled, and prepare their hearts for worship

The service itself will begin at 10:30

The Service can be viewed:

1)   On a smart TV, streaming device, computer, or phone- by going to our church’s new YouTube channel. You can find the channel here: LINK

~or

From within the YouTube app, you can search “All Saints Anglican Church Greenville SC”

Remember to “subscribe” to the channel in order to save it and thus avoid having to use links and searches each time

2)   You can also view the live service on our All Saints Webpage. Here is the LINK:

3)   To easily view a recording of this week’s service at a later time, go to our YouTube channel and you will find all our past services listed there. The most recent service will be the first one on the list.

Online Giving- Now Available

We have integrated a secure online giving option so that you can securely tithe online. You can even set a recurring gift so that you don’t have to go through the process each time you give. There are three ways you can make use of this option:

1. You can give by clicking on the following “Link”. Click and then follow the easy instruction. Here is the LINK
2. You can download the free App from either the Iphone App Store (LINK) or from the Android Google Play Store (LINK). Download the app and then follow the simple set up instructions.  

How can we pray for you?
If you have any special prayer needs or praise reports that you would like to share with the group, feel free to email them to me (or you can call me if you prefer) and I will be glad to include them in our weekly newsletter.

Prayer Requests

For Mei-li’s quick recovery from her thumb surgery.

For Rick and Sharon’s Aunt, Rosemary who is recovering from a stroke and all who are caring for her.

Gayl Wright- for eye health

Sue Weingartner (a friend of Gayl’s)- who has a rare form of throat cancer

For Melody Charping, Dorothy’s cousin who has undergone chemo and radiation for stage 3 lung cancer.

Baker (Cheryl’s husband, Glenn’s brother-in-law) has had several serious medical issues. Please pray for God’s healing and strength

Tom and Judy Hartzell- Tom is under care for dementia

Jack Childers who has been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s

Blythe’s mom- for healing and relief from cancer

For Art’s Niece Cathy who has been diagnosed with MS

Lois Killinger- for health and strength

Greg Shorey- for health and strength

Ursula Dawson- for health and strength

Betty Froman- for health and strength

Pat and Jack Childers- for continued strength and health

All those serving in our armed forces- especially Alex Logan, that you would protect them in body, mind, and spirit and bring them safely home to their loved ones

Praise: for Mei-li’s successful surgery this past week. Please keep her in your prayers for a quick and full recovery.

~Dates to Remember

Please, email your events to Fr. Charlie with a brief description. Your description should include: date, time, location, cost, as well as the name of the parishioner participating in the event (when applicable).

Next Vestry Meeting

2^nd Tuesday, (TBA)          

@7:00 in the Parish Hall

Diocesan Synod                                            

Sept 18^th-19^th 2026

Christ the King, Marietta GA 

Annual Episcopal Visit

March 1^st, 2026