WEEKLY MESSAGE
from the Rev. Lucy Strandlund
|
|
|
Becoming Beloved Community
Beginning this Sunday, August 2, Father Ripp and I will facilitate a Sunday morning Adult Education class on a resource called “Becoming Beloved Community.” The Episcopal Church offers it with the following introduction:
“As the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, we dream and work to foster Beloved Communities where all people may experience dignity and abundant life and see themselves and others as beloved children of God. The Becoming Beloved Community Vision Document and accompanying resources help us to understand and take up the long-term commitments necessary to form loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with each other. Together, we are growing as reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers in the name of Christ.”
This resource will help us see current conversations around race through the lens of our Baptismal Covenant: to persevere in resisting evil, to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ, to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves, and to strive for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being (BCP p. 305). In short, we will explore what it looks like for us to live into this covenant today, both individually and communally.
The “Becoming Beloved Community” materials also remind us that our work striving for justice and peace among all people is a lifelong commitment rather than something that is achieved overnight. Father Ripp and I see this Sunday morning series as the beginning of a longer conversation around how we respond faithfully to injustice in the world around us and in our communities. We hope to learn together as a group how we might grow in awareness of inequality and in love for our neighbors.
I hope you will join us via Zoom on Sundays at 10:15 a.m. as we begin this important and timely work together.
Faithfully,
Rev. Lucy Strandlund
|
|
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN'S
Updates and Announcements
|
|
|
St. John’s is saddened to announce the passing of Cathy Taylor
|
A memorial tribute will be held at
Gruene Estates
on Saturday, August 1 at 7:30 p.m.
If attending in person, we ask that everyone wear a mask or facial covering and practice social distancing. Subsequently, at a time to be determined, a private, family burial will be held in Victoria, Texas.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be made to the international ministry in Central Asia (
give.cru.org/1053148
).
|
|
|
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Live Streaming on Facebook
9th Sunday After Pentecost
|
|
|
 |
Holy Eucharist Rite II led by
Fr. Ripp & Rev. Lucy
Sunday, August 2 at 8:45 a.m.
Devotions for Families with Ms. Cheryl
Sunday, August 2 at 10:00 a.m.
Children's Chapel with Ms. Cheryl
Sunday, August 2 at 2:00 p.m.
Noonday Prayers
Monday-Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
|
|
|
|
Flowers on the Altar
The flowers on altar last week were designed and created by
Nolan Hagy
. The flowers are given in thanks and gratitude for Carol Lenker, Janet Moody, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry.
|
|
|
|
Holy Eucharist Rite II led by Fr. Ripp & Rev. Lucy on Sunday, July 26, 2020
(Paul Anthony, Lay Reader)
|
|
OUTREACH
Volunteer and Serve the Community
|
|
|
Requesting Humanitarian Aid for Migrants in Texas | DWTX
Click here
to read Bishop David Reed's recent blog post regarding this ministry from July 17, 2020.
The diocesan Immigration Ministries Coordinator, Flor Saldivar, has received an urgent request from the network of immigration agencies in South Texas regarding the imminent release of Haitian women and their children from detention centers by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These are families who have entered the legal immigration process and who will eventually join sponsors or family members in the United States.
The immediate need is for temporary housing for up to two weeks.
Accommodations do not need to be in a private home, but can be a reservation in a motel or Airbnb as well, funded by donations from individuals, non-profits, and faith communities. From past experiences with migration and refugee ministry, we know that the release of detainees by ICE can happen somewhat unexpectedly, without much information ahead of time about the location or date for their release. Often, local officers don’t know how much notice they will get.
Lifting up our hands in prayer is another.
On Friday, August 6th at 7:00 p.m. our diocesan Immigrations Ministry is organizing a prayer vigil to begin an ongoing Migrant Cycle of Prayer for those impacted by the crisis at our border and invites all churches and individual parishioners to join in prayer for immigrants and refugees; for Customs and Border Patrol agents; for the 40 or so stations and detention centers within our Diocese; for people held in detention centers and the people who work within them; and for everyone who serves in ministries to care for all involved.
After the initial prayer vigil, the Immigrations Ministries will host weekly online gatherings for fifteen minutes of prayer, led by a rotation of diocesan clergy and inspired by a Cycle of Prayer laid out by Episcopal Migration Ministries.
If you would like to assist in providing this basic human need directly, please contact Flor Saldivar at
immigration@dwtx.org
for more information.
|
|
CHILDREN, FAMILY, & YOUTH MINISTRIES
Updates & Resources
|
|
|
Camp Outreach Angel Projects
|
|
Youth Compline on Monday!
Next Monday, August 3, we will have Zoom Compline at 4:00 p.m. This will take the place of a Sunday evening gathering.
Email emma@stjohnsnb.com for Zoom info. I will send out an invite before Monday.
The videos from last week's Youth assignment are included for all to enjoy.
Last week the Youth learned and talked about covenants and the wilderness!
Emma Kypuros | Youth Coordinator
live in grace, walk in love
|
|
|
|
NURTURE MINISTRIES
Christian Education & Fellowship
|
|
|
EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND DWTX
Announcements & Updates
|
|
|
2020 Vestry Members
Linda Lund,
Sr. Warden
; Don Greer,
Jr. Warden
; Jim Whitcomb,
Treasurer
Paul Anthony, Janet Guillen, Bruce Howard,
Carol Lenker, Adrian Quintanilla, and Tori Smith
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
