| a weekly e-newsletter from Saint Martin's Church |
January 25, 2018
|
|
This Week
at
St. Martin's
Rite I Quiet Worship
8:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
9 a.m.
Sunday School
9:30 a.m.
Rite II Worship with Music
10 a.m.
Children & Youth Soup Jar Assembly
11:15 a.m.
Annual Parish Meeting
11:15 a.m.
Holy Eucharist service
12:15 p.m.
Bible Study at CCI
7 p.m.
|
|
Greeting
On January 26, 1930, 20 years before India became a republic, Mahatma Gandhi issued the Purna Swaraj - declaring complete freedom from the British empire. Gandhi's subsequent non-violent tactics to break free from colonial rule, including a 240 mile march to the sea challenging the British monopoly on salt, set the stage for MLK Jr.'s civil rights movement in the US 30 years later. Gandhi, and King after him, were willing to be harassed, arrested- and each was eventually assassinated- for the stand they took on human freedom. No less than they in theirs, we in our time are called to speak, march and fight for the freedom of others. Whether it's people being trafficked for the profit of others, or being persecuted for their gender, race, sexuality or religion, or those being politically silenced anywhere in the world under the boot of misused power, let ours be the voices raised, and the feet in motion, insisting on justice and liberty for all.
Peace & blessings,
Chris+
|
THIS SUNDAY!
The Annual Parish Meeting will be
this Sunday, January 28th, following the 10 a.m. service. Please plan on attending to hear church news, the year in review and projections for 2018. It's also a great time to have your voice heard, so bring your comments, questions, and suggestions! Voting will take place for new Vestry members. Coffee hour goodies will be available.
|
Congratulations Confirmands!
Congratulations to our confirmands - Julia, Josh, and Elizabeth! Bishop Daniel Guttierez confirmed each individual with prayer and laying on of hands this past Sunday. Be sure to support these youth on their recent commitment to Christ and the Church!
|
|
 This Sunday, January 28th, is St. Martin's annual meeting. Children and youth will meet at the regular time of 9:30am to begin new Lego creations based on the New Testament stories of Jesus and his ministry. After the service, during the annual meeting, all children and youth are invited down to the large Sunday School for refreshments and to fill the "Souper Bowl" jars. Those jars will be sold on Super Bowl Sunday
(February 4th) between services, after the 10am worship service, and at the Chili Cook off. Benefits will go to the Great Valley and Ardmore Food Cupboards. This year Christ Church and St. Martin's are collaborating, so Souper Bowl jars will be sold at both churches.
|
|
New Location: The weekly Bible study group will be meeting at Christ Church, Ithan, each Wednesday from now through February 7th at 7pm. Newcomers are welcome to join the discussion around the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John this Wednesday at 7 p.m. Copies of the book we are using are available for purchase or to borrow from St. Martin's. The conversation is just beginning and we'd love to have you join our spirited and spiritual conversation. This Bible Study is a shared ministry with Christ Church and St. Martin's. The evenings will offer an enlightening approach to Bible Study that's being conducted in other Diocesan churches.
Address for Christ Church, Ithan:
536 Conestoga Rd, Villanova, PA 19085
|
|
The 20th Annual Chili Cook-off will happen this year as always after the 10 AM service at Bolingbroke on February 4, 2018. The event provides the perfect prelude to the Super Bowl later that day between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots!
Contestants and attendees can sign-up in the Gurley Room. In addition to a list of the entrants, the sign-up sheet will provide space for donations of beverages, salads, bread, desserts, etc.
First, second, and third place winners will be determined by vote of the Cook-Off attendees by secret ballot, and incredible prizes will be awarded!
|
The Super/Souper Bowl is quickly approaching! It's not only a day to enjoy a football championship game, but it's also a day when anyone can be a "hunger-fighting" champion.
The youth will once again be assembling and selling soup mixes to benefit
the Great Valley and Ardmore Food Cupboards. Purchases may be made on
February 4th before or after
the St. Martin's services, during
the Chili Cook-Off event in Bolingbroke, or at Christ Church, Ithan.
|
Ashes will be distributed during the mid-day and 7pm Holy Eucharist services on Wednesday, February 14th (yes, Valentine's Day).
|
|
 The brothers of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE) warmly invite you to their new preaching series on following God's call. Together they will help us all to pray and think more deeply about gifts for the journey. Go to
https://www.ssje.org/2018/01/16/the-gift-of-detours-br-jim-woodrum/ to hear the podcasts or read the sermon on "The gift of Detours."
January 23: The gift of Guides - Br. Lucas Hall
January 30: The gift of Disillusionment - Br. Keith Nelson
February 6: The gift of Community - Br. Luke Ditewig
|
|
| |
| |
|
Upcoming Events
Annual Meeting
THIS Sunday, 1/28, 11:15 a.m.
Children & Youth Soup Jar Assembly
THIS Sunday, 1/28, 11:15 a.m. (during the Annual Meeting) in the large Sunday School room
Souper Bowl Sunday and Chili Cook-Off
Sunday, 2/4
Ash Wednesday
February 14th, 12:15 p.m. and 7 p.m.
|
Read and Ponder
this Week's Scriptures
The scripture readings for this Sunday are:
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28
The Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Old Testament
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: "If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die." Then the Lord replied to me: "They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak-that prophet shall die."
The Response
Psalm 111
1 Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the deeds of the Lord! they are studied by all who delight in them.
3 His work is full of majesty and splendor, and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He gives food to those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works in giving them the lands of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, because they are done in truth and equity.
9 He sent redemption to his people; he commanded his covenant for ever; holy and awesome is his Name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; those who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise endures for ever.
The Epistle
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one." Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-as in fact there are many gods and many lords- yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. "Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
The Gospel
Mark 1:21-28
Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.
back to top
|
 Participate in The Cloak
We invite your input into The Cloak. If you would like to contribute your voice to "From the Congregation," or if you would like to share a prayer, an idea, an essay, a photo, or something else, please let us know!
Contribute to The Cloak.
back to top
|
| Saint Martin's Episcopal Church of Radnor
400 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087 (610) 688-4830 |
|
| |
|
