St. Michael's E-Messenger

Submissions for the E-Messenger should be emailed to the Church Administrator by Tuesday at 5 pm for that week's edition. The E-Messenger is distributed every Thursday.

stmichaelschurch.com

(407) 843-8448

2499 N. Westmoreland Drive

(Corner of Bryn Mawr)

Your Church Home

in College Park

Thoughts on Serving From Rev. Diane Souder: "Love One Another as I Have Loved You"

Another way of saying the above is, take up your cross and follow Him. Sometimes "it makes me tremble" when I consider what this means, that for which I am called.

Then I remember what a priest wrote years ago. Robert Horine said God will only ask us to do a loving thing. "God cares for every one of His creatures and He wills that we care for each other. What He wants us to do may hurt or be unpleasant or embarrassing or scary, but it will not be hateful or fearful or destructive."

Sometimes, what He wills for us is what Thomas Merton, author and monk, calls, "the most complete revolution ... because it means the death of the person I want me to be in order to be reborn as the person God wants me to be." And who might that be we ask ourselves.

The prophet Jeremiah gives us a strong clue as to how he knew. After God called him, he explained his experiences with these words, "If I say, 'I will not mention the Lord, or speak any more in the Lord's name' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." The call was irresistible and the power of God for him to be who he was meant to be could not be subdued.

We can see this fire igniting within St. Michael's. I think that we are being led to cultivate an ethos such that we can discover our serving ministry by what nourishes us individually and as a church; what it is that fills us with joy and delights our hearts; and, what causes to us know and say that we feel we have received more of the benefit than those to whom we served. Thanks be to God there is joy and who we are meant to be found in taking up our cross, loving one another, and serving the world.

In Christ's Love,

Parish Office Closed

The Parish office will be closed on Friday, September 1 and Monday, September 4 for the Labor Day Weekend. The office will reopen on Tuesday, September 5 at 9 am.

A PRAYER FOR TEXAS

Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come to you.

Gracious God, please send your blessing upon all people devastated by Hurricane Harvey. We commend to your loving care the souls of those who have died. We pray for the countless others who are injured, displaced, and traumatized. We hold in our hearts those profoundly changed by grief and loss, that you may bring them strength, consolation, courage and comfort to face the difficult days ahead. And we pray in gratitude for the skilled and courageous first responders who labor amidst the danger and chaos to protect and serve.

Finally, O God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us. Help us all to respond to this natural disaster with generosity in prayer, assistance, and comfort to the best of our abilities. And strengthen us that we may never tire of weaving our prayers together, and never give up the will, with God's help, to "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves."

We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Reprinted with permission from St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Breckenridge, CO

RELIEF EFFORTS - Pray, And Give As You Are Able

A Message from the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida

Flood waters rise without respect to persons or property. They ruin everything, sweep away what we've labored to build and deposit muck and filth everywhere. Their greatest dangers often lie in what we cannot see below the surface, currents, jagged hazards, chemicals and germs.

Jesus loves without respect to persons or property. He cares for the lost and the broken, redeems the suffering and builds from the rubble. His greatest gifts often lie below the surface, where his love heals, refreshes and restores the mind and the soul.

There are many ways to exercise God's love for those in crisis, including the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Episcopal Relief and Development is able to work nimbly with and through our Episcopal Churches and their local knowledge to effectively direct aid where it is most needed and best administered. Please pray for the victims and respond to their need as God directs you.

There are several ways to give:

Give directly to the Diocese of West Texas (which includes Rockport and Victoria)

West Texas Diocese

Give directly to the Diocese of Texas (which includes Galveston and Houston)

Diocese of Texas

Give directly to Episcopal Relief and Development

Episcopal Relief Fund

To read a recent message from the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas (August 27), click HERE.

Additional opportunities for direct relief assistance will be sent to the SMC family in the coming weeks.

PRAYERS for the Immediate Needs of Loved Ones in the Houston Area

Penny Kraus (Ann Krohn's mother)

Jim & Diane Alm

Pat & George Jumonville

Amy McKenzie

Mary Jane Gray

Candy Orr

The Roberts Family

To add a name to the Prayer List for loved ones in harms way from Hurricane Harvey, email the name(s) to Rev. Diane Souder [email protected]

Ann Krohn's childhood home in Houston. Her mother lives nearby and is safe.

Love God. Love Others. Serve the World.

What's Your Identity in Jesus?

Deacon Carter Smith, a longtime airline pilot, addressed the SMC children on Sunday about their identity in Christ. Past sermons can be found on the church website through a link on the Home Page.

www.stmichaelschurch.com

48 Feed My Lambs Bags Will Fill Food Pantry

Thank you, St. Michael's! The Lake Silver Elementary Food Pantry will be filled to the brim by the 48 Feed My Lambs bags returned to the church last week and blessed at the altar on Sunday. Watch for the next monthly opportunity to stock the food pantry through our Feed My Lambs outreach missions project!

Love God. Love Others. Serve the World.

St. Michael's Wants You!

Are you looking for a new, easy ministry at church?

Are you a busy person but looking for a way to connect and engage with the St. Michael's community on Sunday mornings?

Do you want to meet new people?

Do you enjoy something new?

We are starting an Usher Ministry at the 10:15 service!

An informational Meeting will take place on October 8th, immediately following the 10:15 service.

Ushers give out bulletins and welcome people to church.

Ushers meet new people.

Ushers distribute collection plates and help each pew know when to go up for communion.

Requirements? Everyone from 20 to 90!! Your children are welcome to serve with you. We need 2-3 people to serve each Sunday. We plan to have each person serve no more frequently than once a month!

If you are interested, You may text or call Kathy Cox at 407-797-6903 with any questions and for more information. There will be a light lunch served at the meeting on October 8th.

If you wish to serve as an Usher before the meeting please call Kathy!

St. Michael's Day Brunch on the Grounds

Please join us for a Brunch on the Grounds immediately following the 10:15 service on September 24th. A donation of $5 per person, $10 per couple, and $20 per family is requested to help cover the cost of the meal. RSVP here by September 19th.

We are in need of those who can serve by setting up or

cleaning up. If you have any questions, or to find out how you can help, please contact our Hospitality Team Coordinator, Edythe McNickle, at [email protected] or 407-234-2167.

We look forward to a wonderful day of celebration!

St. Michael's Invites You to Greg Favazza Ordination

We are delighted to announce that our Assistant Church Administrator and newly appointed Youth Minister, Greg Favazza, will be ordained in a beautiful, spiritual ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 9th. All of St. Michael's is invited to attend the ordination and the reception that follows. See the official invitation below for details! God bless you, Greg!

Your Prayers and Presence are Requested!

Women's Monday Night Bible Study

Beginning Monday, September 18th

6:45- 8:45 pm

Fordham Hall

For more information or questions, please email the Monday Night Bible Study Team at [email protected]

BACK BY POPULAR REQUEST

Time and Date: 7 pm on Friday, Sept. 22

Location:

Chazz and Kathy Cox's Home

1506 Williams Drive

Winter Park

St. Michaels is re-establishing Supper Club on Friday, Sept. 22, at the home of Kathy and Chazz Cox, who have graciously offered their hospitality as we begin a series of quarterly Supper Club events.

Please come and bring your favorite dish and drinks.

RSVP! Please email [email protected] or
by phone at 407-234-2167 to let us know you are coming. You may also sign up in Quigley Hall after services on Sundays. In the RSVP also please let us know what food dish you are bringing.

Children's Family Service Debuts Sept. 17!

The exciting new Children's Family Service begins at St. Michael's on SUNDAY, SEPT. 17! Designed for College Park area families looking for a church service that is friendly and targeted for children and their parents, the service will last from 9-9:30 a.m. and will be held every Sunday.

Look for upcoming ads and publicity in the College Park Community Newspaper about this family-focused new program at your church!

Youth & Young Adult News

EYC Every Sunday Night...Except 9/3 and 9/10!

There will be no EYC on Sunday, September 3 (Labor Day weekend) & September 10 (Rock the Universe weekend).

The youth of St. Michael's, AND their friends, are invited to

join the weekly EYC activities on Sundays starting at 5:30 pm at the church. Contact Greg Favazza in the church office for information!

Do You Pray? Pray for our Youth!

If you would like to become a Prayer Warrior for one of St. Michael's youth members, please contact Greg Favazza in the church office. Prayer Warriors hold our teens up in prayer throughout their journey to high school graduation. Please consider joining this important and life-changing mission!

To get more information on our events, check out our Facebook page at either "St. Michael's EYC" or "St. Michael's Young Adults" or on Twitter at @StMichaelsYYA.

Youth Ministry Director Greg Favazza

[email protected]

NOTE: There will be NO Church School on Sunday, Sept. 3 for the Labor Day Weekend. The Nursery WILL be open.

WE'RE BACK! September 10th!

Back to Sunday School Breakfast @ 9:30 am

Join us in Quigley Hall for breakfast, crafts and a chance to meet our Sunday School teachers and friends in your class.

First Day of Sunday School @ 10 am

Club 412's first event of the year from 5 - 7 pm

Our 4th and 5th graders will go to Lil' 500. Cost is $12 and includes rides and pizza. Meet at St. Michael's @ 5 pm and pick up @ 7 pm. We will need one or two parents to help chaperone this event. RSVP by 9/8 by emailing Tiffany (link below). As with all events, if cost is an issue, please talk to Tiffany.

Hold Our Babies

Do you love to hold and nurture babies? Come hold ours! The Nursery needs a few extra loving arms in the Crib Room that opens soon. We'll work around your schedule!

Come bless our children! Contact Tiffany for more information. Thanks!

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

Children's Ministry Director Tiffany Stieger

[email protected]

"Monks/Nuns" at SMC - Check it Out on Sunday!

A new venture for our Chamber Singers crew begins today.

Several of the choir members have mentioned how much they would like to sing some of the very earliest forms of Christian Music ever written: Gregorian Chant (we use this mostly bi-weekly singing Psalm Tones that are derived from "Gregorian Chant;" it is also the style of singing most commonly used at Monasteries and Convents. You may recall that CD many years ago that was SO popular "CHANT"). What you will hear, mostly sung before the service begins, are English translations of Latin Hymns that can already be found in our hymnal.

YES - Music/Scripture Updates Have Returned!

For those of you who enjoy taking the time to sit in a comfy chair, put on the ear-buds or headphones, or fire up the Bluetooth Speaker, head on over to the "Sunday's Scripture and Music" link! If there is a YouTube or other link to ANY of the congregation songs, the choir music, and the organ music - it is there. Likewise, you can click on a link that will take you to the scripture readings for the coming Sunday. There are also two links going to Daily Meditations: one to "Day by Day" and the other to the John Eldredge daily commentary.

Soli Deo Gloria -- To God be the Glory!

Listen to or read the Music & Scriptures for this coming Sunday by clicking this link: Sunday's Scripture & Music

PRAYERS

Allen, Ann R., Arel, Audrey , Barbara, Bill B. , Bill M ., Britt, Burke, Dale, David, Dinorah, Don, Elbert, Gary, Jack, Jacob, Jenny, Joann, Judy, Kelly, Leigh, Lisa, Mary, Marci, Marcy, Martin, Naomi, Rob, Robert, Roger, +Russell, Scott, Walter

BIRTHDAYS

1: Karen Conrad, Luke Jaberg 2: James Hamil, Amy Hutyra, Za Za Bosko 4: Tom Harbert, Stephanie Higgins, Laurie Carpenter, Michael Conrad, Jason Searl,
5: Dottie Harris 6: Katrena Luoni, Tom Cook,
Donna Paulette, Shannon Henke 7: Rachel Eichelberger

ANNIVERSARIES

2: Tom & Kathy Gillman 4: Rick & Katie Gierok,
Kenneth & Hazel Walker 5: Jim & Janina Garner

Reminder:

Prayer list names will rotate off after a three month period unless we are made aware that an individual needs to remain on the list.

To place someone on the prayer list, please contact Deacon Carter at [email protected] or Rev. Diane at [email protected].