June 2, Seventh Sunday of Easter

The Holy Eucharist, 8 a.m., Rite I
The Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m., Rite II
Fr. Joel officiating

Rector's Class, 9 a.m. | Child Care 9:45 a.m.
Church School and Choir in summer recess

Note: 5th or 6th century mosaic cross from basilica altar in Sbeïtla, Tunisia museum.
The Collect:

O God, King of glory, you have exalted your only Son, Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. A men

This week’s lessons:  Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 97:1-6; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26 

Revelation 22:13
“I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end”
The Gospel | John 17:20-26

Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Schedule for the week of June 2

Monday, 6:30 p.m., Girl Scout Troop 816
Tuesday, 11:00 a.m., Julian of Norwich Prayer Group
Tuesday, 12:00 p.m., Holy Eucharist with anointing for healing
Tuesday, 1:00 p.m., Bible Study
Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., Bible Study

Rector’s office hours Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.

Summer Newsletter schedule change: Week-End Update will continue to be published every Friday this summer but alternate issues will be limited to the service information and week's schedule. The newsletter will return to its normal format as of Friday, August, 23.
A Letter from the Hoffmans: Life in Sebring, Florida

Hi all, we know that we have been very delinquent in getting a note off to you. However, as you can imagine, it has been a hectic five weeks since arriving. 

First of all, our furniture did not arrive for two weeks after pick-up date. Then, we had to replace some furniture, because we left several pieces in Glen Carbon for an estate sale. So, we are now settled inside our home and working on plantings on the outside. One of the delights of this area is the constant breeze. It really does not feel oppressive at 90 degrees, because of this breeze.

We have a two-bedroom, two full baths home with a Florida Room and large patio. We have a storage room with our washer and dryer and a storage shed outside. Our car is kept cool because it is under the covered driveway.

We had a surprise about 2 weeks after arriving. Flying insects called Lovebugs arrived in swarms. They come every year during the months of April and September. They love white and light-colored objects. Our car would be totally covered every time we went out. And, every morning, I would sweep up hundreds of them on the patio. We have a large patio so it would take me about 20-30 minutes. Luckily for us, the April ones only lasted about 3 weeks. They are called “Lovebugs” because two of them join up and mate in the air. We are now able to enjoy our patio again.

We have sort of fallen into a daily pattern of life. We walk first thing in the morning around the community (1 ½ miles), then come home, clean up and head for Starbucks and any other running around we have to do. We come home and have lunch, Arnold takes a nap and 2-3 times a week, I head for the pool. Then, around 3:30-4 pm, we go to our chairs facing the canal on our property behind our home, and enjoy the shade and breeze. There are turtles, who come up to the bank and look at us – expecting food I suspect. There are also lots of fish in the canal, and our neighbors all tell us that there is an alligator in the canal. We have a big brown egret who comes around also. We have tons of rabbits and squirrels, along with an Otter Mother and babies on the grounds of this community. Lots of fun to watch all the animals.

We feel very blessed to have found St. Agnes here in Sebring. It is about 5-7 minutes from us – depending on the traffic. Fr. Scott Walker, the Rector, and Deacon Karen are great. Fr. Scott’s sermons are really wonderful – he preaches nothing but Jesus. He is an evangelical type person. He is really a happy person. His wife is Japanese, Akima. They have a 9-year-old little girl, Rafiella. (More)
Those Red Doors

One of our parishioners asked me recently why the doors of our church (and the doors of other Episcopal churches) are red. I didn’t know the answer (I’m colorblind, and hadn’t realized they were red), but we agreed that the color likely symbolizes the Blood of Christ. As it happens, that’s only one of multiple notions in circulation.

In our archives is a clipping from the September 2, 1977 edition of The Edwardsville Intelligencer in which St. Andrew’s then rector, Fr. Stephen Weissman, explains that the red doors recall Yahweh’s instructions to the Hebrews who were captives in Egypt to smear lamb’s blood on the lintels and doorposts of their houses as protection against his destroying wrath. Others have argued that red doors have their origins in the Middle Ages, when they indicated a place of sanctuary from secular authority. To still others, they symbolize, not only Christ’s blood which was shed for us, but the blood of the martyrs spilled for the faith. Some see in red doors the fire of the Holy Spirit.

The least plausible explanation is that red doors proclaim a paid-off mortgage (red paint not having the same symbolism as red ink, I suppose). Fortunately, due to a recent decision of our vestry, we won’t need to repaint our doors if we prefer that interpretation.
-Jim Weingartner
Announcements

June Book Club Meeting Brings Changes
The next meeting of the St. Andrew’s Book Club is Monday, June 10th, 1 - 2 p.m., at Marilyn Sieber’s home, 705 Vassar, Edwardsville. Our selection is a novella, Death in Venice, by Thomas Mann. The week of the month (2nd instead of 3rd), the location and the usual book selection (novella instead of a novel) are changed for June. Please let Pat Rudloff - silverlining6@charter.net - know if you plan to attend.

Ushers Needed
With three ushers no longer able to serve, new volunteers are needed to fill the vacancies. If you are willing to help out please contact Sandy Cooper at scoop1028@sbcglobal.net . Information on what’s involved in serving as an usher can be found on St. Andrew’s website .

Sign Up Sheet Posted for Coffee Hour
The Coffee Hour sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board by the ladies restroom. Please consider volunteering in July, August or later.