SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
June 29 , 2025
THE FATHER IS MY HOPE; THE SON IS MY REFUGE;
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY PROTECTION.
ALL HOLY TRINITY, GLORY TO THEE!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY: PREVIEW OF THE READINGS
What is the essential message which the Church proclaims in and through her liturgical worship? The essense of the message is contained in today’s Epistle lesson where St. John writes, “ And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” ( 1 John 3.23). The belief, the recognition concerning Jesus Christ as the revelation of the love of God is the starting point of the Christian life. That we should catch a glimpse of that revelation and be refreshed and elevated by it, is the first point of our liturgical celebrations, wherein we are invited to “eat the bread” of the kingdom of God. But as we hear in today’s Gospel lesson, many of those invited to the dinner banquet, couldn’t be bothered or were otherwise occupied, as a consequence of which the owner of the house instructed his servants to invite poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame to come and “taste of his dinner.” In this season of Trinity we are invited to “taste and see how good the Lord is,” to be nourished in our faith, and to find ourselves transformed into lovers of God and our brother. This love doesn’t just happen, and is not simply a matter of feeling. It is a commandment, which is fulfilled in the laying down our lives for each other in the Church. In this way God lives in us and we in Him.
THE LESSON: 1 John 3:13-24
Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But if any one has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.
THE GOSPEL: Luke 14:15-24
When one of those who sat at table with him heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for all is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
PARISH LIFE NOTES
Sunday July 6 Let us join together for a Farewell Luncheon for Claude and Hilary after church. Please bring your favorite salad to send them off with a special St Mary’s salad lunch. Buns and cake provided. If you care to bring your recipe, they can take it to share with their new community. We are collecting a purse to bless them as they go. Donations maybe by e-transfer, with a note “Purse Collection” or by cash or cheque made out to Claude Schroeder and placed in the offertory plate
Berry Festival – Saturday, July 19th. Our much-loved Saskatoon Berry Festival is coming up on Saturday, July 19th, and we need your help to make it a success!
Volunteers are needed. If you’d like to lend a hand, please talk to me, call or email, or look out for sign-up sheets at the back of the church.
– Starr
There will also be a short meeting for anyone interested in helping this Sunday after church in the lower hall. All are welcome!
Berry Festival Bake Sale – Bakers Needed!
We’re still looking for more bakers for the Berry Festival on July 19. If you’re able to contribute, please sign up at the back of the church or let Sharon or Starr know. Thank you for helping make this event a sweet success!
Summer Help Needed – Children’s Ministry. Do you have a heart for kids and a few hours to spare this summer? We’re looking for volunteers to help with our Children’s Ministry during the summer months. If you’re interested, please contact me directly.
– Starr
St. Mary’s Prayer Chain consists of a group of participants who are dedicated to prayer. The prayer chain is available to us who need prayer for “trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity”. Requests may be sent to Ann. The request will then be directed to the other participants for prayer. Confidentiality will be maintained.