This Week at St Timothy's
Episcopal Church
August 9, 2018
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Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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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.
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Bread of Heaven, Cup of Salvation
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For the past two weeks the sermons have been based on the Bread of Life discourse in John 6 and will continue until the end of the month. The theme of the text, and thereby the preaching, is the Holy Eucharist. I cannot stress how central the Holy Eucharist is to our life in Christ and I cannot promise enough how life changing and faith altering a deeper understanding of and devotion to Our Lord’s Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist is. No one should doubt that Our Lord’s Sacramental Presence in the bread and wine is a mystery. This truth humbles our arrogant minds at the altar. A mystery does not mean something is unknowable, it just means parts will always be beyond our grasp, at least this side of heaven. A mystery is a cavern that always goes deeper and a maze designed to confuse and led one to a dead end. We are not given permission to give up on always striving to understand with our minds what we profess with our lips. We are indeed called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
As a recap of the theological ground covered the past two weeks, the Holy Eucharist is Sacrament, traditionally defined as an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. A Sacrament is not a natural event. It is not confined to the laws of nature and physics. That would, of course, make it a natural event like a thunderstorm or the blowing of wind. A Sacrament, as one theologian described it, has a physics all its own. Jesus began the Bread of Life discourse with the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. The feeding of over 5,000 people was a demonstration of God’s supernatural gift. Supernatural meaning above, outside, the courses of nature. As we approach the Holy Eucharist we must remember that we are not approach a natural event. This is exactly why we do approach the Eucharist because it is of God. If God can create the universe (and what a universe it is!) out of nothing then why cannot God use natural things such as bread and wine to convey supernatural realities like the crucified Body and Blood of His Son?
Last week the satiated crowds followed Jesus across the Sea of Galilee and Jesus told them they were looking for him because he filled their bellies and not because they saw signs. Again, the traditional definition of a Sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Signs and distinct from symbols in that signs indicate the presence of something else. Symbols have within themselves numerous meanings, denotations and connotations and evoke an emotional response. Signs, generally speaking, have one meaning. A road sign indicating a sinkhole ahead isn’t meant to convey multiple meanings, it is meant to indicate the presence of something else. The Holy Eucharist isn’t a mere symbol. Like all Sacraments, it is a sign. It is something - bread and wine - that indicates the presence of something else - the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
To restate in one sentence what has been covered the past two weeks: The Holy Eucharist is a supernatural gift of God that signifies (is a sign of) Christ’s Body and Blood under the forms of bread and wine.
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Adoration: Liturgy, Prayer, & Devotion
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Looking to Sunday August 12, 2018
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
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Preacher: Fr Steve Rice
Celebrant: Fr DJ Griffin
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Summer is here and travel plans are ready! We all deserve time away and rest to heal body and mind. If you are in town, however, let's make a commitment this summer to be in church. Let's set a goal to average 300 in worship this summer.
Summer average beginning June 3: 269
Average Attendance for the year: 308
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Please note the change in time. Most evening masses will now be at 6pm and not 6:30pm. A reception following the mass will be in the ECW Hall, sponsored by the Mary, Undoer of Knots Ward of the
Society of Mary.
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From the Choir Loft | Christin Barnhardt
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This Sunday as we continue to hear about Jesus as the bread of life, we will also hear Psalm 34, which the choir will sing in its entirety over the next 3 Sundays. Psalm 34:1-8 is a response to God's deliverance, and the action verbs are plentiful.
The psalmist's personal response to God's love and deliverance is:
"I
will bless
the Lord" ...
"I
will glory
in the Lord" ...
"I
sought
the Lord" ...
"I
called
in my affliction"
The psalmist proclaims that the Lord:
"
answered
me and
delivered
me out of all my terror." ...
"
heard
me and
saved
me from all my troubles." ...
"
will deliver
"
And the psalmist calls God's people to:
"
hear
and
rejoice
"
"
proclaim
with me the greatness of the Lord"
"
exalt
his Name together"
"
look
upon him and be radiant"
"
taste
and
see
that the Lord is good"
Voluntary:
Intermezzo in E-flat major, Op. 117, No. 1, Johannes Brahms
Robert Matthews, piano
Hymns:
God is love, and where true love is, No. 577
Lord, be thy word my rule, No. 626
Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor (stanzas 1, 4, 5), No. 307
Choral Anthem:
The Call, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Communion Solo:
It is enough, O Lord now take away my life, from
Elijah
, Felix Mendelssohn
Chris Ervin, baritone
Voluntary:
Voluntary VIII, Allegro, John Stanley
See you Sunday,
Christin
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Slight Change to Morning Prayer Time
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Beginning today, August 1, Morning Prayer will begin at 8:15 instead of 8:00am. Likewise, mass will begin at approximately 8:30am instead of 8:15am.
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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.
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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.
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Hospitality for Officers on Sunday Mornings
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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!
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Formation: Study, Learning, & Knowledge
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Discernment | Fr DJ Griffin
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At the risk of stating the extremely obvious, as a priest, people often come to me for advice. People often ask me for help with decisions. They may have a finite set of choices in a particular circumstance, and they need help choosing one. Or, instead of a few paths, they may find themselves in a wide open range, or even a fog, so that they are unsure where to even take a step forward. Sometimes, people may feel a tug in a particular direction, but they’re unsure if it’s really the right way to go.
This is part of the process we call discernment. Many of us have been in one or more of the places I mentioned above. The key question is, how do we know what the right way to go is? Or, to put it in more Christian terms, how do we know what God is calling us to do?
There are many ways we can receive confirmation of God’s will. Sometimes things will fall into place. For example, the perfect house goes on the market in a city where you have a job prospect.
Very often, the best way to discern God’s will in our lives is through other people. For me, I felt a strong call to the priesthood from a young age, but I needed confirmation and guidance from others to see if it was the real deal, or if it was just me. I went through a process where I talked with many people who were experienced and trustworthy, from my priest to the bishop to various committees. I needed the community in order to confirm that God really was calling me to be a priest. We need those wise and trusted voices in our lives to help us along the way. The Christian way is not meant to be walked alone.
Above all, though, we need prayer. We need to pray, and we need others to pray for us and with us. May God help us to know where he is leading us and give us the courage to follow.
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Requiem Receptions - A Sincere Thank You
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Whenever a member of this parish dies and I meet with the family, they often desire a reception to follow the burial. It is a good and holy thing and I am very pleased this has been the custom of this church. When this request is made, I send a text message to Fran Boyd and Christine Richards. Within hours, the troops have been rallied and this wonderful ministry of hospitality is in full motion. There are many faces I see consistently at funerals. I wish to thank them as well. I’m know I am ignorant of all that goes on in carrying out this ministry, and I am very grateful that these details are carried out with devotion and duty. Thank you to you all. ~ Fr Steve
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Welcome Ministry | Becky Johnston
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The Welcome Ministry would love your help! We are looking to recruit new volunteers to help us on Sunday mornings. Specifically, we need new Ushers and Greeters.
Ushers: distribute worship bulletins, help collect the offering, assist with the flow of communion, get an attendance count, and help identify visitors.
Greeters: help newcomers in any way needed, direct guests with children to the appropriate classrooms, make sure welcome desk is stocked with guest bags and distribute those as needed, introduce visitors to staff, assist ushers as needed.
We would love to hear from you if these are areas where you’d like to serve! Find us in the narthex after the service- or email becky@sttimothys.ws if you are interested.
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Parish-wide Pool Party & Potluck
Parish Pool Party at Peace Haven Pool. Say that three times fast! All are invited Sunday, August 19 from 4-6pm to swim and enjoy a summer afternoon by the pool. We've reserved the shelter and will have a potluck dinner--bring food to share(but no glass or breakables allowed at pool!).
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Grace Dinners | Richard & Debbie Graves
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Sustenance. Spiritual Devotion. Caring and sharing with one another. The bible is full of stories about people breaking bread together with glad and sincere hearts. This is what our grace dinner groups are all about.
Grace Dinner groups meet regularly from September-May. Groups are organized with approximately 10 adults (singles, couples and families). These fellowship groups provide an informal setting for members to get to know one another outside of church, sharing our backgrounds and experiences and developing enduring relationships nurtured by a shared meal, devotional readings and open conversations that lead to spiritual growth. It is a fun way to engage with one another outside the church walls.
Families with young children will be matched with other such families. Everyone generally hosts a meal. This could be at your home, in a restaurant, or a community event, like a play or sporting event.
Registration is now open and will remain open through
August 19, 2018. If you are already a registered member and all of your info is current, send an email to Richard and Debbie Graves (rdsgraves@triad.rr.com) letting us know that you wish to participate this year. If your schedule no longer permits you to participate let us know this as well. If you do not wish to commit to the full schedule, but would like to be on the fill in list, let us know this as well and groups that have vacancies will call and check your availability.
Mark your calendar of the kick-off scheduled for
Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 6 p.m. in Drake Hall. The kick-off is a covered dish dinner, please bring on or two of your favorite dishes to the dinner. Tea, water and coffee as well as dinnerware will be provided.
For further information contact Richard and Debbie Graves (828-310-6626, 336-602-1470 or rdsgraves@triad.rr.com)
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Anthony's Plot Block Party
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Anthony’s Plot Community loves its neighborhood! We have worked hard this past year to provide “Freedom School” to our neighborhood students, a community garden, weekly meals, and many special gatherings. Now, it’s time to celebrate the good things that make our community special at our 8th annual Neighborhood Block Party! On Saturday, August 18th, we’ll enjoy a day of music, food, crafts, & games. Most importantly to the kids, we will hand out school supplies to each student... as well as $20 vouchers for new shoes! Each year, we are blessed by the support of friends like yourself who help us gather needed school supplies. Will you help us collect school supplies by Wednesday, August 15th? Donations from St Tim’s can be dropped off at Katie Bryant’s office. Financial donations for shoe vouchers can be made out to “Anthony’s Plot Community” and mailed to 2323 Sunnyside Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27127. Volunteers are needed to help with the Block Party from 4-7pm on Saturday, August 18. Email katie@sttimothys.ws if you can help.
Anthony’s Plot is a community of folks who live and work together in the southside of W-S. We are a not-for-profit with no salaried staff. 100% of your donation goes to the designated program. Thanks for your support!
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Robert Matthews Piano Concert
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Robert Matthews and Lauren Willard will perform a piano, organ, and voice recital on Sunday, August 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Clemmons Moravian Church. The concert will be free, but a love offering will be collected to support a local community ministry.
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Starting this summer and continuing all summer long, you can join us for Lemonade on the Lawn between the 9am and 11am masses. Stop by the lemonade stand outside Gribbin Hall and enjoy fellowship with our parish family. If you'd like to help host, sign-up at
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0F4BA9A92BA3FB6-lemonade or contact Kristen Machado at kpmachado@gmail.com
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Write to Graham Green
Our own Graham Green is a Lt Col in the Army National Guard and is currently deployed in Iraq. We are proud of Graham, his wife, Shannon, and children Garrison and Julia. We will continue to surround them with prayer. He is able to receive letters at the address below. Please use the address exactly as it is printed.
LTC Graham Green
HHC 449th CAB
Camp Taji
APO, AE
09378
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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.
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Giving for the Week of August 5, 2018
Offering: $
19,797.25
Weekly Need: $18,099.81
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See below for more information regarding online giving.
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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.
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Give by Text -
336-697-6543
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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.
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Holiness of Beauty | Capital Campaign
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The Church was constructed in 2000 at a cost of $1,200,000. Adjusted for inflation, that number is $1,791,391.00, $93,459 less than what we’ve raised so far. Well done! We still have a relatively low number of pledges and gifts. Imagine what we can do.
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Attendance and Stewardship
August 5, 2018
Morning Prayer: 5
7:30 Low Mass: 51
9:00 Low Mass: 145
11:00 Solemn Mass: 67
Sunday Mass Total: 263
Offering: $
19,797.25
Weekly Need: $18,099.81
Average Sunday Mass Attendance: 308
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The
altar arrangements are given to the Glory of Almighty God and in honor of our 53rd wedding anniversary by Sandra & Tony Hamby and in memory of Mary & Carl Larson and Genevieve P. Webb and in honor of Clark Webb by Skip & Jean Larson.
The
Our Lady of Walsingham Lamp is given in memory of Ann & Casey Baker, Joseph Gerrity and Lucille Gerrity by Ken & Gini Gerrity.
The
Sanctuary Lamp is given in thanksgiving for the marriage of Kelly Gerrity to Kevin Steussy and our daughter Erin Gerrity by Ken & Gini Gerrity.
The
St. Timothy Shrine Lamp is given in thanksgiving for being a part of St. Timothy’s Church by Ken & Gini Gerrity.
The
St. Michael the Archangel Lamp is given to the Glory of God and with prayers for the protection of LTC Graham Green and all those in our armed forces by the women of St. Timothy’s.
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