|
|
|
|
<<First Name>>
I wanted to extend a big thank you to all those who helped make Pentecost in the Park a wonderful time of worship and fellowship despite the threat of inclement weather this year. It was good to take the time and enjoy one another's company in a beautiful setting and give thanks for God's many blessings.
It is especially important to remember God's blessings and provision in the midst of tragedy, so that we might be motivated to give aid as we can. I'm sure most if not all of you have been following the news related to the tornados that went through parts of Texas and Oklahoma in the past few days. I hope you'll consider a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development, the American Red Cross or another charity of your choice that is providing aid and assistance to people in need. One of the ways we can give thanks and honor God for the good things in our lives is to help others when tragic events occur, because we will all face difficult times and find ourselves in need of our neighbors and brothers and sisters in the faith.
I would also ask that you all keep Joanne Layton in your prayers as she mourns the loss of her brother David.
This Sunday, the first after Pentecost, is Trinity Sunday. This is a traditional time for rectors to find hapless seminarians or eager deacons to give the sermon. Something about preaching about such a simple (yeah right!) doctrine makes them seek out other options. I've never done so, and I hope I never want to. I may, however, take the advice of this internet meme:
To find out, you'll have to show up on Sunday morning (I'm not above certain gimmicks :-p).
In Christ,
|
|
|
Episcopal Relief & Development has been in contact with local partners in the episcopal dioceses of fort Worth and oklahoma following tornadoes on May 16 and May 20 that caused severe damage and loss of life. These devastating events were caused by a large storm system that set off tornado alerts from Texas to Minnesota.
Local responders and authorities are currently assessing the situation in Moore, Oklahoma, just outside Oklahoma City, where a two-mile-wide tornado leveled neighborhoods and destroyed two elementary schools on the evening of May 20. Katie Mears, Episcopal Relief & Development’s Director of US Disaster Preparedness and Response, has been in contact with the Rev. Canon José A. McLoughlin, Canon to the Ordinary, and anticipates partnering with the diocese to assist those most vulnerable following this disaster.
On May 16, an EF-4 tornado hit the town of Granbury, Texas, killing six people and destroying 97 of the town’s 110 homes. Other tornadoes touched down in Cleburn and Millsap, south and west of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., Provisional Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, posted a message on the diocesan website asking for prayers and noting that the diocese will work with the local Episcopal congregation in Granbury to determine how best to use collected funds.
As inclement weather continues battering the country, please pray for people at risk, those who have lost loved ones and homes, and responders working to save lives and address needs. To support these efforts, please visit www.episcopalrelief.org
Thank you for your compassion and prayers. With your help, we are healing a hurting world.
(For those with questions about the efficiency of ERD, you can visit Charity Navigator and Compare it with other organizations. Episcopal Relief & Development spends over 80% of donations on their actual programs, and only 5% on administration. Their efforts have had an impact here in the Diocese of Tennessee as their aid was directed by the Bishop and clergy of the diocese, to members of parishes who were negatively impacted by the floods of several years ago.)
|
|
|
Wednesday Bible Study & Eucharist
|
|
Remember our weekly Bible Study and Eucharist.
The study begins at 10:00 AM, followed by Communion at 11:15.
This Wednesday (May 21st) we will continue our study of Acts, focussing on Acts 8:26-40
Please call (615-440-6492) or email Fr. Jody if you have any questions.
Acts 8:26-40
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the southr to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.†(This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.†30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?†31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?†And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.â€
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?†35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?â€s 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philipt baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
|
|
|
|
Trinity Sunday
Sunday, May 26th
This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. If you're interested in thinking about "What difference does the doctrine of the Trinity really make?" consider watching the video below.
Bishop Kallistos Ware, an Eastern Orthodox Bishop and scholar from the UK has a few presentations posted online about it.
In this one he shares a wonderful Russian folk tale as an entree to reflect upon the Trinity.
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you to those who made the time to come out to the young life interest meeting. We are very excited about the prospect that this new ministry to High School students presents in our community.
|
|
|
|
Mark your calendars for August 4, 2013 which will be the Feast of St. Joseph of Arimathea and our first big celebration of St. Joseph's 50th anniversary year.
The Feast of St. Joseph of Arimathea
Celebration & Homecoming
Invite someone to Church Day
Cookout following the 10:30 Service.
August 4, 2013
You can email the church office at office@mysja.org or Fr. Jody at frjody@mysja.org with ideas or thoughts on ways to celebrate this milestone in the life of our congregation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
