News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Lenten series, Francee Sherman award, minigolf tournament

From left are Sister Hannah, Sister Monica Claire, Sister Felicity, Sister Elizabeth Grace and Sister Madeleine Mary.

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 21, 2022

Community of St. Mary sisters lead Lenten services

FLAT ROCK — The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness welcomes a group of Benedictine nuns to lead a series of six Thursday evening Lenten programs at the church Parish Hall, 1895 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock.
The Lenten Series features interactive presentations and discussion by Sisters from the Sewanee, Tennessee-based Community of St. Mary, a monastic movement started in New York in 1865. Sister Madeleine Mary leads off the series at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, preceded by dinner and Evening Prayer.
The Sisters, who live at their convent on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, will share the richness of their Benedictine way of living, including prayers, work, radical hospitality, rich community, accountability and more. While many may think of monks and nuns only in conjunction with the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church has a long history of monastic life that continues to influence churches today.
The six-week series takes place each Thursday evening in Lent (March 3, March 10, March 17, March 24, March 31 and April 7) at the Parish Hall. Each 7 p.m. presentation is preceded by an optional light meal and Evening Prayer service. Masks are required except when eating. The schedule is:

• 6-6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer in the Parish Hall Arium Chapel
• 7- 8 p.m. Lenten Presentation and Discussion
• 6:30-7 p.m. Dinner - RSVPs for the light meal are required by Tuesday of each week. To sign up and pay visit stjohnflatrock.org/lenten-series. Call the church office at 828-693-9783 for more information.
On March 3, the Prioress of the Community of St. Mary will travel from Sewanee to lead the gathering. Sister Madeleine Mary entered the cloister after teaching middle school in New York and spending time advocating for environmental justice issues; she has been living in religious life for more than 50 years. .
The other sessions on March 10, March 17, March 24, March 31 and April 7 will feature Sisters from the Order through a virtual visit. Included will be Sister Hannah Winkler, who joined the Community of Saint Mary in January 2021, and Sister Elizabeth Grace, who will reflect on the Rule of St. Benedict’s emphasis on humility. Sister Madeleine Mary will also be preaching at St. John in the Wilderness at the 8:45 and 11 a.m. services on Sunday, March 6.
Adults and youth are invited to share in this Lenten journey together. While in-person attendance is encouraged, participants may also join any of the sessions virtually.

Wood updates teachers on education history room

Rick Wood, the longtime prep basketball coach and retired Henderson County School Board member, and Anne Whitmire recently presented a program on the Henderson County Education History Initiative preservation room with the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a women teachers organization whose purpose is to promote professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. Wood is president and a founder of the education history initiative. Whitmire is a member of Alpha Lambda.
The preservation room is a repository of education archives, artifacts and materials collected by the history initiative since July 2012. Located in Room 201 on the second floor at the Henderson County school system’s central office, it is open to the public 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays. No appointment is needed. Examples of what may be found in the preservation room are school annuals, news articles, memorabilia and books authored by former educators.

Applications are available for Francee Sherman award

The Henderson County League of Women Voters is now accepting applications for the Francee Sherman Student Award, a $500 award given annually in honor of Francee Sherman, Henderson County’s first League president. The award will be given to a senior enrolled in a Henderson County school, domiciled in Henderson County and on track to graduate this school year. As part of the application, students must submit a 500-word essay on the topic “What is the role of public schools in supporting our democracy?” For the applications and instructions visit www.lwvhcnc.org. Deadline for applications is March 31.

Smart Start announces Mini Golf Tournament

The Henderson County Smart Start Partnership for Children will hold its inaugural Mini Golf Tournament. on April 7 at Lakeview Putt and Play in Arden.
In celebration of the Week of the Young Child, the nonprofit agency will host the tournament that will include prizes in several categories including worst score, best team name, best team costume and youngest player. Families and teams will have the option of three different tee times to start their round of golf – 5, 6 or 7 p.m.
Lakeview Putt and Play, owned by early childhood advocate Leslie Blaylock, is a beautiful 18-hole minigolf course on the shores of Lake Julian.
Event sponsors include Laura Cargo with Edward Jones, AmeriHealth Caritas and Worthy Association Management.
The ticket also includes light refreshments provided by Smart Start. Tickets are $25 each or $100 for a team of five. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.smartstartpfc.org or calling 828-693-1580.

Vendor deadline nears for Saluda Arts Festival

The March 15 deadline for artists to apply for the 2022 Saluda Arts Festival is fast approaching.
The Saluda Arts Festival, to be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 21, draws thousands of tourists to the city’s historic downtown. The event includes paintings, pottery, metal work, jewelry, sculptures, fiber and more. The festival is limited to approximately 85 artists. Early entrants are given consideration in the final acceptance process. The exhibit fee is $100. For more information about the Saluda Arts Festival, visit www.saluda.com. Online applications can be found here.