Saturday E-news September 19, 2020 |
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Greatness
Who is the greatest? is a common question among the disciples. Following Jesus across the countryside, they often occupy themselves in the back row with conversations on greatness. Surely, since they have been following Jesus from the beginning--hand selected, called by name, not just latecomers tagging on from here and there. The disciples are certain they deserve a greater reward, and accordingly skew their view of faithfulness. They lost the ability to relate to their neighbors, to love their fellow followers of Jesus, so he gives them a parable to give them something else to talk about.
Today, we might talk about the disciples having a blind spot. They are unable to properly recognize something because it’s not right in front of them the way it is for others or for Jesus. They have a completely different perspective that makes it hard to understand what they’ve been unable to see. And just as Jesus works on people’s physical conditions like literal blindness and having enough to survive, he also works on their spiritual conditions like compassion-blindness and having the humility to love greatly. The greatness Jesus is concerned with is the expansive love that calls us to have compassion on those we think of as less, even those we would call our enemies.
As we prepare ourselves to join together for worship tomorrow morning, I invite you to take a little meditation break today. Set a timer for 10 minutes--and if an uninterrupted 10 minutes sounds too much like fantasy, maybe introduce the members of your household to the game Sardines. However you can manage it, I hope you find a way to sit with this, either by asking it as a question or repeating it as a meditation:
Okay Jesus, what more do I need to learn about the greatness of your love?
Reverend Tom Gartin
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With Facebook, if you have an account, you can add comments and prayers while watching the service.
This will look similar to Facebook Live except that you will not be able to comment or add prayers. Unlike a Zoom meeting, your personal video does not show, it is more like watching TV. The passcode is Faithec.
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Zoom Coffee Hour
11 a.m. Sunday, September 20th
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Please join us for Coffee Hour via Zoom! Reverend Tom will host this week.
Join with your PC or tablet:
Meeting ID: 860 0669 2414
Passcode: faithec
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,86006692414#,,,,,,0#,,0765500# US
Join by phone:
1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 860 0669 2414
Passcode: 0765500
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Mailing Address for Donations:
Faith Episcopal Church
PO Box 966
Shingle Springs, CA 95682
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Mission Team
Honduran Scholarship Fund
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We are writing to ask you to prayerfully consider making a donation to the Honduran Scholarship Fund. Although we are living in the midst of great challenges, we are also a community of great faith with a steadfast desire to help others. Last year with God’s help, our congregation’s faith and generosity allowed us to raise the $15,000 needed to give 50 of the poorest Honduran youth an education and the opportunity to achieve their dreams and the means to escape the crushing cycle of poverty that traps their families. Without our financial support, these students would not have been able to attend school, because their families struggle to provide adequate food and shelter and cannot afford the additional costs of obtaining education. Sadly, the struggle to survive has become even more desperate in the wake of the pandemic and the widespread unemployment problems created by the resulting lockdown. As 14-year-old Axel writes,
“Each moment of your support is the best gift that I have received! Without my scholarship, I would have no hope of being able to continue my studies. My mom isn’t able to work, and she has no one to help her take care of my grandmother and my brothers. Because of you, I still have a chance to be someone in life and earn enough to help my family someday.”
We hope to be able to continue our support of students like Axel in the upcoming school year. To do so, we need to raise another $15,000, approximately $300 per student. These funds are used to purchase the books, uniforms, and other supplies required to enroll in Honduran public schools.
The students receiving scholarships are identified by Padre Francisco, an Episcopal priest, who serves the impoverished region of Danli. Padre Francisco has partnered with our congregation for many years, and he is a diligent steward of our gifts and always provides receipts for the supplies purchased on the students’ behalf. Padre also works extremely hard to ensure the highest level of accountability from the students. All of the youth receiving Faith scholarships are active in the church, perform community service, and maintain good grades. They also send their report cards and regular thank you letters to our congregation. These letters demonstrate the enormity of the students’ gratitude and their incredible faith and determination. As 12-year-old Karla wrote in her last letter,
“I want to thank you for your enormous support, and more than anything, I want to make you proud of me. I want to earn good grades so that I can show you the results of the help you are giving me. Now more than ever we need your support, and I pray that God will bless each moment of your love and blessing to us.”
It is inspiring to know that we are part of these students’ lives and that we can help them improve their futures! Please pray and reflect on your ability to contribute to the Scholarship Fund that has done so much to help these Honduran youth.
Contributions can be made online at the Faith Church website or mailed to the church office. If you have questions or you would like additional information, please contact Sara Eldridge at
We hope to receive your scholarship contribution (or pledge) by November 15th.
With gratitude for your generosity and consideration,
The Faith Church Mission Team
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Outdoor Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, October 4th, 1-2 p.m.
Outdoor Compline Service, Wednesday, October 21st at 6 p.m.
Outdoor Trunk-R-Treat and Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, October 31st from 3 to 5 p.m.
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Resources and Other Information |
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You can view a Liturgical Calendar for Upcoming Weeks with Links to the Lessons for Sundays and Major Holy Days from the Revised Common Lectionary (as adapted for use in Episcopal worship) at the following link:
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OFFICE HOURS
There are no established office hours during this time. The message machine is being checked once per week. The best way to reach the Admin team is to email the church at faithec@faithec.org.
PRAYER REQUESTS
If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, please email prayer requests to faithec@faithec.org.
PASTORAL SUPPORT
Reverend Tom Gartin
Reverend Sonya Reichel
CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES
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Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are still taking place, both in-person and via Zoom, see the details below and visit the links for other resources.
Cameron Park: 5:30 p.m. every evening, 3077 Alhambra Drive, Suite D
Diamond Springs: Noon, four days per week, 677 Pleasant Valley Rd. (see link for details)
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