Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
August 16, 2020
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COLLECT
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The readings may be found here.
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Processional Hymn
Gospel Hymn
Offertory Hymns
H# 564
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Communion Hymns
Recessional Hymn
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Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams is greedy for immediate action, rapidly performed and in sight of all. People will give their lives if only the ordeal does not last long but is soon over, with all looking on and applauding as if on the stage. But active love is labor and fortitude.
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Our Diocese has alerted us that Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has proclaimed a Day of Prayer and Fasting to eradicate Coronavirus on August 19th.
He has asked that a special time of prayer will be set aside from noon to one.
Our Bishop recommended, and I just finished reading, a short book by N. T. Wright, God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and Its Aftermath. It's a worthwhile 76-page practical read ($10 on Amazon and $19 on Audible). If you use Amazon, please select “St Pauls Episcopal Church Greenville TX” as the Amazon Smile recipient. N. T. Wright is a retired bishop, scholar, and one who can put theology in understandable terms. He doesn’t offer marshmallow theology.
“I was talking to a senior church leader a few weeks ago about this, and he remarked: ‘You know, Tom, we don’t do lament very well. We’re not used to it. But nor do we do celebration terribly well either. What we mostly seem to do is complacency.’ And I think he’s right.” Wright sees ways for us to respond in this time that will not be comfortable but will build for the Kingdom of God. In the chapter “Where Do We Go from Here,” he says, “Part of the answer to the question, ‘Where is God in the pandemic?’ must be, ‘Out there on the front line, suffering and dying to bring healing and hope.’” Expect this book to give solid theological underpinning that challenge you to take action!
To repeat last week’s announcement about Alpha: If you’re looking for ways to grow in faith and fellowship, the Diocese has given us the opportunity to participate in a completely online version of the Alpha program. The Alpha program started at an Anglican church in London, and has spread all over the world. It teaches the basics of Christianity in an environment that fosters conversations and relationships. If you’d like to research Alpha more, go to https://www.alpha.org. If you’re interested in being one of the leaders or participants, please contact me. The course begins on September 10, 2020 (Thursday evenings) via Zoom.
Peace,
Fr. Nick
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Here’s some St. Paul’s news for the week:
- Since we’re doing so much online our Google, YouTube, Facebook reviews are particularly important. Please take the time to give us a 5-star review!
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Our Sunday services are available live at 10:25 am (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCmlrRFxbQF7CSAnFS8H9FA) and Facebook (https://facebook.com/stpaulsepiscopalgreenville). Our recorded Sunday service is broadcast on the GEUS community Channel (Channel 34) on Wednesdays at 8 am and 6 pm. Previously recorded services may be accessed anytime on our Facebook and YouTube pages. The recorded sermons may be found on our website as MP3s.
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Remote Eucharist continues, and a couple parishioners are helping me to distribute the Eucharist to parishioners’ homes on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please let me know by email if you’d like to receive the Holy Sacrament remotely. The best way to contact me is fathernickfunk@gmail.com.
- The Parish office remains closed; however we continue to check voicemails and emails regularly.
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The St. Paul’s Zoom Meeting may be found at https://zoom.us/j/9037772020. Our Meeting ID is: 903 777 2020. To call in, use one tap mobile: +13462487799,,9037772020# or to dial: +1 346 248 7799.
- We offer Noonday Prayer on Wednesdays at noon via a Zoom meeting, and upload it live if Zoom and Facebook work together (about 75% success rate).
- Our Friday morning Bible Study continues at 8:00 am via Zoom. We’re studying 1 Corinthians.
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Stewardship Today
Frank E. McKee - Stewardship Chairman
The only way we can confront money's power of possessiveness is by giving it away freely and cheerfully, from the wonderful blessings we have received from God. One Minute Stewardship Sermons by the Rev Charles Cloughen Jr
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You can make your checks payable to "St. Paul's Episcopal Church" and mail them to:
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
8320 Jack Finney Blvd.
Greenville, TX 75402
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The Rev. David Stangebye Houk
Rector of St. John's in Dallas
August 10, 2016
We all begin as children by believing that the world is about us. As we grow, our parents help us understand that we are not the center of the universe, but that we exist for relationship with God and others.
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But we still assume our experiences of childhood, our struggles and values, are common to all humanity. Even our faith in God, at first, is self-centered; our initial interest in God is usually about our own “personal salvation project” as Thomas Merton once said, not really about loving him or loving our neighbor.
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Pray for the Church, the Body of Christ
Please pray for those on our prayer list this week:
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Hospitalized, Rehab, or Recovering at home:
Paula Reeves, Evelyn Rovell
CJ Cathey, Peggy Cole,
Dana Medford, Judy Shaddox,
Dolores & Father Gordon,
Jorn Jamieson, Chris Bynum,
Lily Stipe, Chris Wiltz,
Allen Clegg Sr., The Clegg Family, Jo Dodson, Elaine Hodge,
Beverly Gish, Mike Lavigne,
Faye Hamann, Bob Lanier,
Alice Cooney, Cyndi Sehr,
Wayne and Lillian McHenry,
Eileen Jenkins, Dru Ann Jamison,
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We also pray for our Daughters of the King Ministry as they bring their strength and service together by praying for friends and for the people.
You may add people to the list by filling out a DOK confidential prayer card and putting them in the blue box located in the Narthex.
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Contact our church office to add a name to our prayer list: 903-455-5030. Names remain for one month unless renewed or canceled.
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DOK PRAYER REQUESTS & BOX
The Daughters of the King support your prayer needs and wishes. Each Sunday a prayer team will be available to pray with you after the Worship Service in the choir area after the 10:30 service. If you would like additional information, please see a DOK member.
They also have a intercessory prayer box on the table in the Narthex to deposit prayer requests. Prayer request cards may be found in the pews and beside the box in the Narthex. Daughters pray daily. All prayers are confidential. Each person is prayed for one month. If you wish for continued prayers, please complete another request card or contact a Daughter.
You may call the church office (903-455-5030) and specify it is for the DOK intercessory prayer list. You can hand the card to a Daughter (she is always wearing her cross).
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SUPPORT ST. PAUL'S WITH YOUR SHOPPING
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates.
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