October 7, 2018 | 20th Sunday after Pentecost
|
|
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
|
|
Lord Jesus Christ,
who hast built thy Church
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets:
mercifully grant that building upon thee, the chief
cornerstone, with beauty and substance,
we may raise here at St Timothy's a
faithful people and a holy temple to thy glory.
May we and generations yet to come learn to praise thee
more and more in spirit and in truth.
Amen.
|
|
Of Which Our Conscience is Afraid| Fr Steve Rice
|
|
Last week as my Apple Watch vibrated notifying me of an email, I looked down to see an email that began: "You are Steve Rice and your password is (insert one of my internet passwords)." The email went on to say that the sender had video evidence of me engaged in inappropriate activity and unless I sent them (insert monetary amount), they would release the video to eight of my email contacts. I ignored the email because a) it was clearly a scam and b) there is no evidence to be recorded. But it was clever as the password was an old one and probably still active on some websites. I wonder how much money the scammers have made. My guess is quite a bit. The last thing we want is something embarrassing to be released to those we love and respect. Hiding this shame is a power, and lucrative, motivator.
If our lives were contained in an internet search history, we would all have websites we'd want erased. And like the internet, we know we can't take back words or actions and they stay with us. We bury them deep down and hope the shame of our brokenness will not surface to extreme embarrassment.
The collect for this week asks God to pour down the abundance of his mercy and to forgive us those things of which our conscience is afraid. That's a powerful and challenging line - forgive us the things of which our conscience is afraid. Forgive us, O Lord, of those things we don't want to tell the closest to us. Forgive us, O Lord, even want to tell you, even though we know you already know.
Since God already knows our sins and God knew them before we even committed them, He longs to show us mercy. He longs to restore us to state of grace where we are able to receive the outpouring of his love. Our brokenness tells us that he is waiting to punish us, but that is the brokenness talking. God shows in power chiefly in showing mercy and pity (from last week's collect). He wants us to bring our sins to him so He may take them from us.
It doesn't matter what's in your history. What matters is your future. God's forgiveness doesn't take away the responsibility we must take of our sins. But His forgiveness does remove the guilt. No more shame. Rebirth.
Come and unload all the shame in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
|
|
|
|
Don't Forget: Earlier Announcements
|
Starting this Sunday, all masses will begin
right on time! Therefore, announcements will be made approximately 6-7 minutes before the liturgy begins. Come a bit early, find your pew, say a prayer of preparation, and listen to the important work of this parish.
|
|
|
Adoration: Liturgy, Prayer, & Devotion
|
|
Looking to Sunday October 7, 2018
The 20th Sunday after Pentecost
|
Preacher: Fr Steve Rice
Celebrant: Fr Steve Rice
|
|
From the Choir Loft |Christin Barnhardt
|
|
I love First-Sundays-of-the-Month when the children and youth choirs help lead worship! And how appropriate that Sunday's Gospel reading includes the passage “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs." St Timothy's is certainly blessed to have many children in our midst and to have such enriching children's formation opportunities!
This Sunday we will sing familiar hymns that many of the children know well. Are you able to sing any of the hymn stanzas without looking at your hymnal? Did you learn any of these hymns when you were a child? Do you ever find yourselves singing or humming them when you are not at church?
If thou but trust in God to guide thee, No. 635
Humbly I adore thee, No. 314
All things bright and beautiful, No. 405
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, No. 376
Likely Sunday's least-familiar hymn is the opening hymn, "Only-begotten, Word of God eternal," No. 360, but sing it as best you can anyway. Stanza 1 asks God to hear us when our joyful voices rise to his presence. Stanza 2 names our church building God's "temple" and "presence-chamber." Stanza 5 asks God to "favor thy children" (all of us!) and to "hear our petitions."
At the 9am mass, the Cherub Choir (grades K-2) will sing "Jesus Loves Me," set to a Swedish Folk tune, and the children, youth, and adults will sing "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy."
Voluntaries:
Meditation, from Album for the Young, Op. 68, Robert Schumann
Prelude in G major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II, BWV 884, J. S. Bach
See you Sunday,
Christin
|
|
Formation: Sunday Morning
|
|
Please note that our first parish breakfast of the Fall is this Sunday. The parish breakfast begins at 10:15 and takes the place of regular formation.
|
|
Every single day we pray for those on our parish prayer list. You are welcome to add names each Sunday to the list in the narthex or you may do so online by clicking
here. Please note this list is not a request for pastoral care. To speak to a member of the clergy and/or request counseling, visits, and/or a sacrament, please call or email Fr Steve Rice or Fr DJ Griffin directly.
|
|
The
altar arrangements
are given to the Glory of Almighty God,
in memory of Marion & Philip Wesson
by Dave & Anita Wesson, and
in memory of Linda Miller, Susie Campbell, & Margaret Weston
by Claudette Weston.
The
Our Lady of Walsingham Lamp
is given to the Glory of God
and for the victims of Hurricane Florence
by Jonathan Williams.
The
Sanctuary Lamp
is given to the Glory of God
and in honor of Claudette Weston and all survivors of breast cancer
by Bill & Barbara Pitt.
The
St. Timothy Shrine Lamp
is given to the Glory of God
and for intercession for Dale Reed
by Father Steve Rice.
The
St. Michael the Archangel Lamp
is given to the Glory of God
and in honor of Tom Lauersdorf and in memory of David Smith
on their shared birthday for their dedicated service to the Army, Navy,
Houston Fire Department, and Fairfax County Police
by Catherine Craig.
|
|
Our altars in the Church and Chapel are adorned weekly with flowers beautifully arranged by St. Timothy’s Flower Guild. Frequently the flowers are given in honor and/or memory of loved ones. The suggested donation to sponsor the flowers is $60. Is there a date coming up when you would like to honor someone or remember someone with a flower dedication? If so, please contact Ellen Turner at ellen@sttimothys.ws.
Also, are you interested in assisting the Flower Guild in arranging the flowers? If so, please contact Lea Thullbery at lea@sttimothys.ws.
|
|
Hospitality for Officers on Sunday Mornings
|
|
Please help welcome our Winston Salem police officer to services on Sunday mornings. Follow the link below to sign up to provide a snack. The officers enjoy homemade baked goods or breakfast items such as bagels, muffins, or pastries. If items contain nuts please label them. Snacks should be delivered to the basket at the welcome counter in the narthex on Sunday mornings. If you have questions please contact Megan Farrell at mrfarrell@triad.rr.com or 336.408.7779. Thank you for extending a warm welcome to our officers!
|
|
Why do we report giving and attendance?
Following Jesus Christ is about faith and not figures. However, figures do shed some light on how we are living out our faith. There are many places in the Gospel where Jesus makes the connection between one's spiritual health and their relationship with monetary wealth. Generosity is a gift of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5.22). By reporting the giving, we shed light on the practicalities of supporting ministry and mission and these numbers remind us of our responsibility in generously giving to the spread of God's kingdom. The same is true with attendance. We have to be present to receive the Sacraments. Our priorities are best demonstrated by our bodies. If we want to see what matters the most to a person - we look at where their spend and where they stand.
|
|
|
|
This new portal is easier to use and, once you create an account, you can keep up with your giving history. You can also give via check online.
|
|
Give by Text -
336-697-6543
|
|
This is amazing. I never have cash or a check, but I always have my phone. You can now give to the work of St Timothy's just by texting. Here's how it works:
1. Text an amount to
336-697-6543
2. You will be sent a link to set up your debit/credit card (take a few seconds)
3. Once complete, your transaction will go through and you number will always be associated with the card.
Plus, you can text "Funds" to see a specific fund. If you want to sponsor a lamp, you can text "25 st timothys" and it will go the St Timothy's Lamp, etc. If the fund isn't recognized, you'll get a list of all the funds and you text back the number of the fund you wish to give to
PS: This is not connected to your phone bill. It it connected to a card of your choice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
