Good Morning
from the Church Mouse
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6 Pentecost, Proper 10, Year A
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Join us at 10:30 a.m. this Sunday for our zoom Sunday Service. Log into the zoom session
on our webpage.
The Service bulletin is posted on the website and available by
clicking here.
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Stillwater residents will be required to wear face coverings in public spaces beginning Saturday, July 11, due to COVID-19 concerns.
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Please click here to view a video from Bishop Poulson concerning upcoming Diocesan events.
He discusses plans for the
Ceremony of Seating, the
Diocesan Convention which will now be held virtually on November 7th, and the
Clergy Conference on October 7-8th.
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How many can you guess?
This was posted on Facebook without the answers....so below are the answers myself and others provided. I am missing a couple...if you figure them out....we can share them Sunday morning before zoom church.
- Sandbox
- Man overboard
- I understand
- Reading between the lines
- Long underwear
- Road crossings
- Downtown
- Tricycle
- Unlevel
- ?
- Neon lights
- Circles under the eyes
- Highchair
- ?
- Touchdown
- ?
- Mind over matter
- He's beside himself
- Backwards glance
- ?
- ?
- ?
- See through blouse
- Just between you and me
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The Living Compass
Weekly Words of Wellness
July 10, 2020
by Scott Stoner
Practice the Pause
“Practice the pause. Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you’re about to react harshly, and you’ll avoid doing and saying things you’ll later regret.” Lori Deschene
I was reminded of the power of pausing while riding my road bike earlier today as I was climbing some very steep hills. (Yes, I am aware that I write a lot about what I experience and learn while on my bike. It is where I spend a lot of time these days and do some of my best thinking.) As I neared the top of an exceptionally long and steep hill, I looked down at my bike computer and saw that my heart rate monitor was reading 156 beats per minute.
My elevated heart rate, along with the high temperature and humidity, gave me reason to pause - literally. I found some cool shade, drank some water, and in a few minutes by heart rate was under 90. I resumed my ride and gratefully didn’t encounter any more steep hills.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was such a thing as an irritability or stress monitor? A person could wear it, and it would register when their irritability or stress levels had risen to potentially unsafe levels. Learning to pause before our irritability and stress levels get too high is a foundation of emotional, spiritual, and relational wellness. Knowing when to pause and rest when we are emotionally flooded is just as crucial as pausing when we are physically stressed.
Lori Deschene, in the quote at the top of the column, provides a helpful list of when it is vital to pause. The list is a good start and helps me to think of a few other additions.
Pause before sending emotionally charged emails.
Pause before posting heated comments on social media.
Pause to examine our own biases.
Pause to listen more before being too quick to speak.
Pause before talking badly or gossiping about someone.
Pause when feeling impatient.
Pause when feeling stressed or exhausted.
Pause before becoming overwhelmed.
Pause before being so quick to defend yourself.
What else might you add to your personal list of when to pause? How do you monitor when you are becoming overwhelmed? In what specific ways do you “practice the pause?” What are the differences in your life and your relationships when you pause more often, and when you don't?
We are indeed living through stressful times, filled with what seems like one excessively steep hill to climb after another. Knowing when to take time to pause is perhaps more crucial than ever.
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A Seed A Day
Seed of Encouragement
The Bible says that we can have what we say. So, why is that we are quick to speak in agreement with the problems... but slow, hesitant and sometimes even resistant to speak in agreement with the promises God has made to us in His Word? If we are always speaking only what we see, we will never see what we truly desire. God says when we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts. We have to speak what we desire... Speak what we seek. Speak what God says!!! Lord, help us to be mindful to SPEAK it even though we don’t see it... to BELIEVE it in spite of the doubts that rise up... and to have FAITH according to Your Word that we will SEE it come to pass!!!
I assure you that whoever tells this hill to get up and throw itself in the sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Mark 11:23
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Brother, Give Us A Word
A daily meditation to start your day.
July 10, 2020
Community
It is precisely the individuals we find difficult who can well be the agents of our conversion. Just like rocks pounded by the sea on the seashore slowly lose their rough edges and get smoothed – so living in community can mold us and form us and help us grow up in Christ. Perhaps above all, community life draws out of us compassion, forgiveness, and love for the other.
-Br. Geoffrey Tristram, SSJE
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The
Forward Day by Day
Meditation for July 10, 2020
Psalm 16:7, 9 I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after night. My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also shall rest in hope.
Every day requires a bit of sabbath. How often do we stop and marvel at the wonder of sleep, a true gift from God? Without sleep, we don't function as we were designed. We lose the ability to make sound decisions, which also means we lose the ability to hear God.
Some people won't get a good night's rest because they sleep on the street or under the glare of lights in a hospital room or must work through the night. Remember them as you take your own rest to be restored for service.
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen. —The Book of Common Prayer
MOVING FORWARD: Pray Compline tonight. You can find it online or in The Book of Common Prayer on page 127.
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I would like to honor a few of the people who deserve our acknowledgment and admiration during these days of Covid-19: (1) the parents who have somehow managed with their kids at home from school, (2) the medical teams that have fought the virus each day, (3) the small business owners who have struggled to survive, (4) the teachers and staff who will start school with their students, (5) the workers who have been laid off and are still looking for employment, (6) the public health leaders who have offered the facts and made recommendations, (7) the average person who carries his or her own burdens along with worries about the virus, (8) the nursing home and senior living facility workers who protect the elders each day, (9) the survivors of the virus and the families who mourn a loved one, (10) all the people behind the masks. You can help me name more, but to each and every one I share our blessings and respect. We are truly living in a time of heroes.
The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston
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Unpack the Science!
May 26 - August 7
Monday - Friday
For ages 6 years and up
You’ve enjoyed our Stay at Home STEM Digital Programs – now we’re going to the next level with these dynamic hands-on virtual camps.
And not to worry, your child won’t be glued to a device screen all day! We’ve taken the best of both worlds – digital and IRL to develop these sessions!
In fact, you’ll get an exciting kit bursting with a multitude of hands-on activities that will keep your child immersed in all things STEM, all day long.
Choose from two themed sessions per week, which include the fun camp kit, virtual social time with other campers, and a special lunchtime guest who will share expertise about the camp topic.
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"Let us pray. Let us pray every day. Let us pray every day for the wisdom, courage, and strength to be bearers of Jesus Christ’s hope, mercy, and grace in the world."
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An updated
note from St. Andrew's Financial Committee and Rev. Mary:
“Thanks for your financial and moral support for the Church during this difficult time for everyone. Although our contributions are down in May, the Federal funds provided to the Dioceses for our benefit to offset Personnel cost have allowed us to stay “in the black”. We will continue to need your support as the Federal funds will be depleted in June. In addition, we will be facing some added expense in preparing the Church to reopen."
You can make your offerings or contributions through
Tithely
, make arrangements through your bank to have a check mailed to the church, or just drop a check in the mail (P.O. Box 938, Stillwater, OK 74076).
Stay safe and God be with you.”
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...just download
Zoom
and off you go.
Sounds easy.....but if you have questions or need some help with Zoom so you can join in on Sunday Services, meetings, etc. contact Amy or Dalton Parsons and they will be happy to help you. You can text or call Amy at 405 714 0882. You can text or call Dalton at 405 612 2077
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(Each of the titles below are clickable links
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Digital Ministry Resources
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Book of Occasional Services
2018 - Click
here .
An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church
-
Click here
Co-Vid-19 Worship Updates and Resources -
Click here
Technology Hacks
Christian Formation & Discussions on Race
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Birthdays
July 13 - Wade Campbell
July 15 - Jim Heley
July 20 - Betty Mize
July 24 - Ellen Ross
Anniversaries
July 06 Tracy & Jay Boyington
July 16 - Lynn Schwartz & Jim Cox
July 19 - Susan Chinburg & Steve Locy
July 23 - Amy & John Polonchek
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