“Act enthusiastic and you’ll be enthusiastic,” Dale Carnegie insisted.

St. Bede’s Episcopalians have taken this advice to heart for despite the downturn in private and public areas, members remain upbeat for the year ahead, with many projects in the making and members eager to get at them.

The new church lay officers elected at a meeting conducted recently by outgoing senior warden Doug Laird. Succeeding him in that office is Libbye Brooks. Continuing as junior warden is Alan Oliver. Sharing duties as clerk with Diane Montgomery will be Margaret Speegle, recording clerk. Diane will continue as corresponding clerk. Bill Brookman, long time treasurer, will share duties with Doug Laird. Continuing vestry members are Rose Brookman, Tony Brown and Sandy Charlson. Dean Coonrod will continue as organist and Susan Rollins as pianist. Susan also will continue to make schedules, Dorothy Elliott to bake Eucharist bread and Dickey Hollis as groundskeeper.

Two special days will be observed this month; Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, Feb. 23 and 24. A Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast will be served on Sunday, Feb. 22 in Parish Hall. Shrove Tuesday is called Pancake Day in the United Kingdom because pancakes are served on this day. Ash Wednesday service will be held in the evening. This observance is a moveable feast day occurring 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays). Ashes were collected from the burning of palm crosses and are placed on the foreheads of the faithful, in the shape of a cross, as a sign of repentance.

Attendance was above average despite cold weather on Jan. 25, but it is expected to be even better on Feb. 1 when baptismal services are conducted by the Rev. Canon John C. Powers for Piper Pearce of Cleveland. At least 10 of her out of town relatives are expected to be present for the occasion.

Linda El-Dash was a special guest on Jan. 25, who comes from Campinas, Brazil. Originally from Kansas, Linda has lived the past 34 years in Brazil and teaches applied linguists at State University of Campinas. While in Oklahoma she will work with Dr. Diane Montgomery through May on a research project at OSU- Tulsa.

By Margaret Speegle
Recording Secretary