August 26, 2021

Dear Friends in Christ:

At their meeting on Tuesday, the committee in charge of the annual Community Candlelight Walk made the difficult and necessary decision to cancel the event again this year. Planning to invite 1,500 people to walk through our buildings and then gather together for the closing service is fraught with uncertainty, especially given that Ohio's COVID numbers in the current surge have not yet plateaued.

Nobody wants to have to make these kinds of decisions; nobody wants to see the metrics we're seeing; nobody wants any more unnecessary hospitalizations and preventable deaths. I'm afraid we will all be making many more hard decisions over the next year. Regardless of how we got here (again), it is certainly still true that we are all still in this together.

I have spoken with parishioners who have said they are uncomfortable coming back into the building until they feel this pandemic is securely behind us. And I have heard from other parishioners who say they will not come back to church until every single restriction has been removed. The people of St. Timothy's cover a broad range on the spectrum on most things, and I am the priest for all of them. So, for now . . . we wait.

Your Vestry and I will continue to monitor the situation in Ohio and Stark County, and we pledge to you that we will always hold the safety of our parishioners and guests first and foremost in all decisions regarding protocols. As of this writing, we have not yet decided to cancel anything proactively, but we may reach that point soon. I am preemptively asking for your patience and understanding if we need to make changes in the interest of health and safety. We will continue to act from a position of love, first and foremost and always.

On to the updates . . .

WORSHIP

Sunday 8/29, Pentecost 14

8:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I. In person only. Face coverings are recommended per CDC guidelines, though not required at this service.

10:00 am Rite II Holy Eucharist. In person and streamed at our website and on our Facebook page.

All COVID protocols including social distancing and face coverings are in place. We ask that you please comply with this requirement for the sake of families with children, who cannot yet be vaccinated. Masks are available inside the parking lot doors.

This week's bulletin is HERE, and the hymns are HERE.

Wednesday 9/1 12:10pm

Our mid-week in-person service of Holy Eucharist. Face coverings are recommended per CDC guidelines, though not required at this service.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

Sept. 5 -- Blessing of Hands Litany after both services

Sept. 9 -- Choir Rehearsals start (7pm Thursdays)

Sept. 12 -- Choir returns to 10am service

Sept. 14 -- Tuesday Taize' returns (online and in person 7pm)

Sept. 23 -- Spaghetti Dinner (5:30-7pm)

Sept. 25 -- Breakfast and Tiffanys (8-10:30am) MassMu fundraiser

Oct. 3 -- Blessing of the Animals (1pm)

Oct. 8-9 -- ECW Rummage Sale (Fr 9-2, Sa 9-12)

Oct. 23 -- Rivalry Game (and Prayer Service)

Nov. 12-13 -- Diocesan Convention (need delegates)

Dec. 5 -- Candlelight Walk cancelled

PRAYERS REQUESTED

Please continue to pray for all those affected by COVID-19, and please keep these friends and parishioners in your prayers:

✥Bob Meyer ✥Judy Wigginton  ✥David Wigginton  ✥Chris Lane ✥Priya Kurian

✥Chuck Tilley ✥Michael Flamm  ✥Liz Frank ✥Bobbie Muhlbach ✥John Muhlbach  

✥Isaac Leggett ✥Mike Requa  ✥Toni Contini ✥Brian Dorosch ✥Beth Conley

✥Bob Daane ✥Chuck Coleman ✥Patty Ann ✥Paul Kaboth ✥Steve Deuble

✥Noble Carpenter ✥Roger Walters ✥Tim & Sharon Gerber ✥Colleen Major 

✥Brian & Jay Moock ✥Chuck Scheurer ✥Pete Welch ✥Linda June ✥Gail Moss

✥Marilyn Williams ✥Mike and April Henry ✥Sue and Gary Bolden

✥Brian and Amy Pudloski ✥Wendy Woods

And for the repose of the soul of Greg Page

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

As far as I know, none of our parishioners are celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week.

Nonetheless, be sure to send good wishes and thoughts to all those who celebrate this week!

TWO ARMS! -- I HOPE

So, as some of you know, I have been having an issue with my left arm and shoulder for a couple weeks now. (The numbness in my hand was the cause of dropping those consecrated wafers.) Doctors have ruled out heart trouble (thankfully), but this morning I am going in for a nerve conduction study, since steroids have not seemed to help, and the condition is getting worse. The doctor is concerned about the rapid loss of strength in my hand, so time is of the essence. I covet any prayers you might want to offer.

WEEKLY PUZZLE

This past Sunday, our Altar flowers came from Fran, friend of the Schroeders. These flowers looked so lovely that I thought we'd all want to see them again, in puzzle form this time.

You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE. You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

WE PRESS ON

I was sore tempted last Sunday to preach on the reading from Ephesians, but I went with the final Bread of Life gospel instead. What I considered focusing on was Paul's list of the armor of God. What interests me most about that reading (which you can find HERE), is that it is all defensive. The only part of the armor of God that is intended to be used for offense is "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Which means our sword is God's, not ours.

Crucially: Paul never tells us to fight; he tells us to stand.

I feel like this is a message we could all use right now.

Faithfully,

Fr. George