Saturday E-news September 5, 2020
View from the top of Mt. Tabor next to the Church of the Transfiguration,
looking south over the Jezreel Valley.
Photo by Reverend Tom
Clergy Reflections
Quarrels!

The Bible is a well-established library of writings that record times and places where people have experienced God. In this week’s readings we see a great deal of attention paid to conflict. In his letter to the Church in Rome, the Apostle Paul calls us to live in the light, warning us to avoid such shadowy situations like quarrels. The Prophet Ezekiel, witness to the turmoil of war with Babylon and subsequent captivity of Israelites taken away into exile and servitude. Even our Psalmist longs for the ability to keep God’s commandments perfectly and for God to fulfill the promise of justification and protection accordingly--a longing to avoid conflict and all its consequences at all costs. Truly, as we examine the Bible this week, we have to confront the fact that our experience of God has an awful lot to do with quarrels!

We could easily come up with a list of all the things we’re afraid to talk about couldn’t we? Despite evidence that wearing your mask below your nose is just as dangerous as not wearing it at all, we still avoid correcting strangers in the grocery store who don’t take the health and safety of others seriously because we fear confrontation. Despite the fact that consequences of our national economic policy fall hardest upon the poor, we are still reticent to bring up important questions about political policy when we sit down for family dinners because we’d hate to ruin the evening--we often don’t feel like we have a toolkit for that kind of talk. What if we’re rejected, humiliated, threatened, or just ignored completely as if we don’t matter? We know we’re supposed to live out our faith with boldness, but we also just heard Paul tell us last week to live at peace with everyone, so what’s a faithful Christian to do?

I encourage you to sit with this question today: What does discipleship look like as we’re called to live into both pastoral peace and prophetic boldness?

We’ll talk more after we hear the Gospel reading tomorrow!

Reverend Tom
Town Hall with Reverend Tom Gartin
Tomorrow
Sunday, Sept. 6th at 11 a.m.


Meeting ID: 821 5231 6374
Passcode: faithec

One tap for mobile phone:
+16699006833,,82152316374#,,,,,,0#,,5257898#

To Connect by Phone:
Dial:  669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 821 5231 6374
Passcode: 5257898

Sunday Worship Links
With Facebook, if you have an account, you can add comments and prayers while watching the service.

This will look similar to Facebook Live except that you will not be able to comment or add prayers. Unlike a Zoom meeting, your personal video does not show, it is more like watching TV. The passcode is Faithec.
Registration Now Open for
Compline Service
Wednesday, September 23rd at 6:30 p.m.
Patio
Please register to attend our first in-person, outdoor, worship service. Wednesday, September 23rd at 6:30 p.m. on the patio.


Save the Date!
Blessing of the Animals

 Outdoor Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, October 4th at 1 p.m.

Outdoor Compline Service, Wednesday, October 21st at 6 p.m.

Outdoor Trunk-R-Treat and Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, October 31st 3 to 5 p.m.

Small Group & Ministry Opportunities
  • Spiritual Yoga Mondays at 5 p.m. (except Labor Day!) on Facebook Live
  • Women's Lectionary Wednesdays at 10 a.m. via Zoom
  • Young Adult Group 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at 7 p.m. via Zoom
  • Spiritual Companions Thursdays at 7 p.m.
  • Music Ministry Meeting Thursdays at 7 p.m. via Zoom
  • Landscape Ministry second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Need more information? Email Faithec@Faithec.org
pray_lettering.jpg
You Are Invited to be a Part of a Prayer Ministry

One of the most loving and effective things we can do for Faith Episcopal Church is to pray. We have a Prayer Chain that focuses prayers on the specific requests of individuals for healing of bodily ailments, various life concerns, and thanksgivings. Some of our small groups include a prayer component.

This is an invitation to participate in a Prayer Ministry that focuses on our church’s mission – activities occurring in our building (and now through Zoom), and outreach to our community and beyond. We pray for the church services, meetings, classes, small groups, youth programs, and the people who make them happen – the clergy, staff, vestry, and all the volunteers who give of their time and talent. We pray for special occasions like the Blessing of the Animals, Christmas pageants, and sending our youth off to SSP.

Participation in this Prayer Ministry has averaged about forty people since it began about ten years ago during the transition period prior to Father Kent McNair’s retirement. 

This is how it works:

Who: Open to all.  You are welcome to join this ministry which works quietly, behind the scenes to bring the joys and challenges of our church before God.

When: Every Sunday or Monday the week’s prayers are emailed to those participating in this ministry. 

How: Participants in the prayer ministry pray for the things mentioned in the week’s email in any way that fits their schedule and prayer life.

A Personal Testimony: To remember our spiritual community in prayer connects me to my church and its members and inspires me to pay attention to the newsletter, sermons, and announcements. For me, praying the weekly prayers encourages a sense of gratitude and appreciation for all the work of so many individuals and the opportunities provided to grow in knowledge and faith.

RSVP:    Would you like to sample a prayer email to see if being a part of this ministry is for you? Please email your interest to Mary Higbee at maryhigbee14@gmail.com

Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health
Promoting Hope, Healing & Health to
Our Congregations & Communities We Serve

A Perfect Storm:
Mental Health in the Collision of Pandemics
Join in the last Noon-time 50 minute Brown Bag Zoom Webinar Series

#4 Storm of Loss: Grief in the Collision of Pandemics— September 16, 2020
The Ven. Margaret M. Grayden, CT, Archdeacon, Retired Hospice Bereavement Specialist

For more information contact Susan Wahlstrom at
wahlstrom@volcano.net or (209) 304-8321
To REGISTER - email Ann Stoltz at ann.stoltz@tu.edu

“I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10-10  
Treasurer Update
Click here to read a full financial update from our Treasurer, Lynne Thomas.

Mailing Address for Donations:
Faith Episcopal Church
PO Box 966
Shingle Springs, CA 95682

Resources and Other Information
You can view a Liturgical Calendar for Upcoming Weeks with Links to the Lessons for Sundays and Major Holy Days from the Revised Common Lectionary (as adapted for use in Episcopal worship) at the following link:

OFFICE HOURS
There are no established office hours during this time when the church is closed due to COVID-19 precautions. If you have any questions, please email the church at faithec@faithec.org.

PRAYER REQUESTS
If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, please email prayer requests to faithec@faithec.org.


PASTORAL SUPPORT
Reverend Tom Gartin

Reverend Sonya Reichel

CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES
Please email and contact information changes to the office at faithec@faithec.org.
Resources for Recovery
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are still taking place, both in-person and via Zoom, see the details below and visit the links for other resources.

Cameron Park: 5:30 p.m. every evening, 3077 Alhambra Drive, Suite D
Diamond Springs: Noon, four days per week, 677 Pleasant Valley Rd. (see link for details)