Preparing for Sunday

" Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. "

Matthew 10:39

REFLECT: Who would you be if you ever became fully yourself?

Do you remember what it was like growing up: the questions, the struggles, the fears, the hopes, the dreams, the failures and doubts, the relationships? Growing up isn’t about only kids. It’s a lifelong process and growing up at any age, at every age, is just hard work. Today’s gospel is one of Jesus’ hard sayings … take it seriously, listen deeply, and open ourselves to the work it sets before us. That work is the work of separation. The sword Jesus brings is the sword of separation. It is neither a rejection of family and relationships nor is it destructive of life. Rather, Jesus’ sword of separation is generative of life and relationships. It unbinds, frees, and brings about the separateness necessary for growing up and finding life. Separation is necessary for the creation of life and for that life to grow; whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual. It is at the heart of our growing up and becoming more fully ourselves. Separateness is the freedom to think our own thoughts, hear our own voices, discern our own concerns, establish our own values, and chart our own life’s path. As Christians we have chosen to do that in relationship with Christ. It means discovering for ourselves our “lacks and limitations,” our strengths and gifts, our hopes and dreams, our questions and our answers.

From whom or what do you need to separate, not as a rejection of them but as a reclaiming of yourself?

https://interruptingthesilence.com/2017/06/25/who-would-you-be-if-you-ever-became-fully-yourself-a-sermon-on-matthew-1024-39/

 

PRAY: God of power, you uphold us in times of persecution and strengthen us to meet the trials of faithful witness. As you delivered us from death through our baptism in Christ and the victory of his resurrection send us forth to proclaim that glorious redemption, so that the world may claim the freedom of forgiveness and new life in you. Amen.

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/prayers.php?id=147

This Week's Schedule

Thursday, June 18

2:00pm Bible Discussion- Zoom

7:00pm Joint Vestry Meeting-Zoom

Sunday, June 21

8:00am* Holy Eucharist- YouTube

Rev. Dr. Karl Krueger, Celebrant @ CCI

10:00am Summer Sunday School-ZOOM ( email Deb Parker for details)

Tuesday, June 23

6:30pm Yoga Class- ZOOM

Thursday, June 25

2:00pm Bible Study- ZOOM

Friday, June 26

8:30am Bible Study-ZOOM ( email Deb Parker for details)

 

Sunday, June 28

8:00am* Holy Eucharist- YouTube

Rev. David Laquintano, Celebrant @ SMC

10:00am Summer Sunday School-ZOOM ( email Deb Parker for details)

*After 8:00am, the YouTube service is available for "anytime" viewing.

Joint Leadership

The Joint Vestry met on Thursday evening June 11th via Zoom and approved the Christ Church Ithan and St. Martin’s Church Reentry Plans. We will communicate the opening date and the associated procedures soon. Another meeting is planned for tonight, Thursday, June 18th at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The discussion topics will be the shared rector search updates and a review of our new rector by-laws. The Rev. Bob Tate will be in attendance to facilitate the by-laws discussion.

Minutes from St. Martin's June 11th Vestry meeting can be found on our website - https://www.stmartinsradnor.org/smcs-vestry/

Topics discussed include the following: Financials, Radnor Township, Worship, Church By-Laws, and the Rector Search.

Committee Report

With our area now in the Yellow phase, we are finally able to move forward in our efforts to name a new shared Rector. As you may recall, the next step in the process was to arrange a visit to our parishes for each of the final two candidates. We are pleased to report that those visits have been scheduled and the Search Committee is expecting to submit our final choice to our Vestries by the middle of July. We will keep you posted on our progress and ask you to keep us in your prayers.

Summer Sundays-Bridge Building

On Sunday, June 14 we gathered for Summer Sunday VBS and we will continue to use ZOOM for the rest of June, July, and August. This is a new format, to distinguish it from the regular Sunday School year. Each Sunday morning at 10 AM we use the Zoom link below to join others and continue to explore what it means to be a bridge, build a bridge, and be bridge builders between ourselves and others.

For this coming Sunday, we have another science experiment. This time it will be led by Megan and Elizabeth. We ask your family to collect the following items and have them sitting nearby on the floor or on a table.

•  2 books or blocks that are about 2 inches high (each child may want his or her own)

•  about 20 straws per child (they can be plastic or paper)

•  tape

•  a lot of pennies, marbles, or baggies filled with beans or rice. The weight is what is important so having something that weighs a pound would be good.

Adults and children are all invited. Let the Summer Sunday Zooming begin!!

Here are the Zoom details:

https://zoom.us/j/919360689

or Call: 646-558-8656

Meeting ID: 919 360 689

Out of the Office

Please note that the Main Office will be closed June 22nd-June 25 due to a scheduled vacation. Any issues of urgent nature may be directed to Sandy Reinhardt, our Rector's Warden, at sandyreinhardt@msn.com or 610-644-4190. The office will reopen at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 26.

Thursday's Bible Discussion

We are moved by the Spirit, and each Thursday invite adults to join members of St. Martin's and Christ Church as we talk about Bible passages, what they mean to us, and their connect to the world. Some weeks we will begin with a brief video to get the conversation started. This is a Zoom meeting and if anyone would like to test the Zoom connection or talk more about this discussion group, please contact Deb Parker.

Here are the Zoom details:

https://zoom.us/j/93842826315

or Call: 646-558-8656

Meeting ID: 938 4282 6315

Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies

For people in need with limited resources, one of the things which is often overlooked by others is the need for personal hygiene and cleaning supplies. To help with this, we will begin collecting bags containing these items. Bags should include: body soap (3 bars), shampoo (1 bottle), toothpaste (1 tube), sponges (2), paper towels (1 roll), all purpose cleaner (1 bottle), dish soap (1 bottle) and windex/glass cleaner (1 bottle). Other "extras" could include laundry detergent, toothbrushes, handiwipes/cleaning cloths, hand sanitizer and wipes. Bags can be delivered to church on Monday, Wednesday or Friday mornings or arrangements can be made for pickup by contacting Pam Faber. All items will be delivered to the residents at Highland Homes. Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.

Socialize Virtually in The Cloak

Do you have news to share? Are you missing the fellowship of coffee hour? If yes, then send your joys, concerns, stories, recipes, etc. to Maggie at admin@stmartinsradnor.org. The info will be shared here for a "virtual" coffee hour.

Baccalaureate Service

The Diocese of Pennsylvania (DioPA) is celebrating the milestones of Middle and High School Graduations in 2020 with a Baccalaureate Service on Thursday, June 25th at 7:00 PM. More details can be found on the DioPA website by clicking here.

The New Norm

From social distancing, sanitizing, hand-washing, and staying-at-home, new "norms" are in full effect. Here is a St. Martin's summary:

Helping Others-

Weekly Giving-

Office Hours:

Sundays' Activities:

Weekday Activities:

Sunday's Readings can be found on the Worship page at St. Martin's website .

Genesis 21:8-21

Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17

Romans 6:1b-11

Matthew 10:24-39