THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
JULY 18, 2021
TODAY AT ST. MARY’S
10.30 A.M.
HOLY COMMUNION Henry preaching
GOSPEL IN THE GARDEN for children
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
PARISH LIFE NOTES
GUEST MUSICIAN. We rejoice and gave thanks for Allison Luff who is our guest musician at the piano today.
ST. MARY’S OUTDOOR YARD SALE will take place on July 24th. We will start accepting items starting July 18th from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Household items, clothing, treasures, jewelry, toys, tools, books (no Encyclopedias or Reader’s Digest). Volunteers of all ages welcome! Please call Clara.
MESSAGE FROM THE VESTRY. On Tuesday, July 13 the St. Mary’s Vestry had its first in-person meeting since the beginning of the pandemic last year. All vestry members were present: Canon Claude Schroeder, Beth (Warden), Mary (Warden), Katherine, Alanna, Tom, Bob, Ben, Revd. Nathaniel Deng Mayen, and Andrew. At our meeting the Vestry discerned that we are in a time of renewal and change.
- Valerie has resigned as St. Mary’s Organist and Director of Music. Rev. Claude is finding people to fill in for music during the summer. Decisions on Music Ministry will be formulated in the fall.
- Funeral Ministry – We need to review how this ministry will be conducted and find new volunteers.
- Kate has resigned as FaithQuest Coordinator, after many years of excellent service to the parish. Planning is needed regarding the future of FaithQuest.
The involvement and participation of the congregation will be important in all of the above ministries. A congregational meeting will be planned in September.
Church Finances as of June 30:
- Year to date income is $98,894.59; (49% of Budget)
- Year to date expense are at $114,701.22; (54% of budget)
- Net income is $-15,806.63.
- We have paid our fair share to the Diocese and our insurance and taxes for the year. We are all reminded to be vigilant and help to ensure that income levels remain where they should be.
During this time of transition back to ‘normal’ after the restrictions of COVID, we are reminded that people have differing levels of comfort regarding attending services, wearing of masks etc. We need to remember those who do not feel comfortable attending at this time and be accepting of each other regarding our journeys back to ‘normal’ interactions
Bishop Rob Hardwick has begun his farewell bike tour through the Diocese, and will making a final visit to St. Mary’s for prayer and blessing at 11:15 AM on Saturday July 31.
SHORT TERM MISSION TRIP! On Thursday, July 15 Clara led a group of St. Mary’s youth through the neighborhood to deliver flyers for our upcoming yard sale. Pictured left to right are: Zachary, Anya, Eli, Clara, Eva, Georgia, Myka, Liam, Emma, and Luci.
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what isoffered to you. The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10. 1,3-4, 8, 17-20)
NEXT SUNDAY: 10.30 a.m. Celebration of Holy Baptism of Gunnar.
SPIRITUAL NOTES
How can we have the Holy Spirit?
The answer is, for each of us to love his wife: you who are married your wife, and I who am a monk, my monastic life.
I must love my solitude, and not get depressed, not get tired, I must stand vigil, and not think that God sent me here in order to save the whole world, not to think that it is my duty to joke with this or that person, but to look after my job: I must have my eye on Christ.
When you leave your house and get married, you leave behind your father, mother, brothers, relatives, and, instead of your parents, your brothers and relatives, you find a new family. And having left, don’t look behind you, as the Psalm of…the Virgin Mary says, “Do not think of anything from your former family*” For now you have a whole new world before you, which you must rejoice in, to partake of, to taste, to give life to. Therefore, all of us must give life to our family, to our love, to the divinity that we have wedded, as St. Hesychios says. “Then our flesh we will be filled with divinity and we become Christ.”
-Abbot Aimilianos of Simonopetra
*Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; forget your people and your father’s house; and the king will desire your beauty. (Psalm 45:10-11)