Good Morning
from the Church Mouse
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Facebook Event Page:
St. Luke’s webpage that will house the live stream:
The service will also stream live on St. Luke’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
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Social Justice Resources
Do you want to talk to your young child about issues of social justice, but don’t know how? You’re not alone—most adults find topics like race, gender, and class difficult to talk about with children. But if we don’t find ways to talk about it, children will learn whatever they can glean from unspoken messages, and that doesn’t often work out very well. The staff at Children's Community School is always available to help you find strategies.
“They’re Not Too Young to Talk about Race”
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Need some activities to help your small people explore the big questions of science and faith?
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After 100,000 COVID-19 Deaths in U.S., Interfaith Leaders, Mayors Call for Day of Mourning and Lament
Monday, June 1st
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As we mark the death of 100,000 people in the U.S. from COVID-19, an unprecedented group of
100+ national faith leaders—from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions representing major denominations, national faith-based organizations, local congregations, and millions of people of faith across the country—call for a National Day of Mourning and Lament. Together, they look to federal, state, and local elected officials to observe Monday, June 1 as National Day of Mourning and Lament, a day marked by moments of silence, lowering of flags, interfaith vigils, ringing of bells, and civic memorials.
This call is being supported by the
U.S. Conference of Mayors who represent over 1,400 mayors across the country. Mayors lead on the frontline of the COVID-19 response effort and continue to model critical local leadership amid this difficult time.
Together, interfaith leaders and mayors across the nation will call us to mourn, lament, and honor the dead, acknowledge the unequal nature of our suffering, pray together for the healing of the nation, and recommit to the difficult work ahead.
“I encourage Episcopalians to join with other people of faith this weekend to grieve and honor those who have died from COVID-19,” said Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. “Let this tragic moment not pass without us honoring the many among us who have lost their lives or lost their loved ones and commending them and ourselves to God’s love and peace.”
The National Day of Mourning and Lament will follow a weekend of diverse services--Friday Muslim, Saturday Jewish, and Sunday Christian (including Protestant, Catholic, Evangelical, African American, Hispanic, Asian American, and Native American) all united in times of lament and mourning for the dead. The vocation of remembering will unite across lines of religion and traditions and transcend our politics.
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by Rob Voyle
From the Saints at Holy Comforter, Charlotte.
A reading from 1 Covidians 12:1-11
Now concerning the wearing of masks, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that in the time before Covid, we were enticed and led astray thinking that we were not responsible for one another's health. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the spirit of love ever says 'masks be cursed!'; and no one can say 'masks are a really good idea for everybody!’ except through a spirit of love.
Now there are varieties of masks, but the same spirit of wearing them; and there are varieties of mask wearers, but the same virus; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same precautions that must be shown to everyone.
To each is given a manifestation of a mask for the common good. To one a mask is given through our mask makers, and to another a purchased one online, or in a store according to the same spirit of protection. Some fashion one after watching a video on YouTube, to another... they already had some. The knowledge of needing to wear one according to the same spirit, to another faith that the same spirit will improve health and save lives.
Another receives the gifts of healing by this generous spirit, to another this seems no less than the working of a miracle, another prophecies that we'll get through all of this sooner by observing these loving precautions, to another the discernment of figuring out how all can get one, to another the knowledge that a mask hides all kinds of mouths and tongues, to another the understanding that those mouths and tongues are still there, behind those masks.
All these are activated by one and the same spirit, and we hope to allot to each one individually just as they choose.
In other words, wear a mask!...
Because loving our neighbor as ourselves is the crux of it. When we wear a mask we are saying that we love and care for ourselves, and that we love and care for our neighbors. If our neighbor is sick (and perhaps doesn't even know it yet) our masks help protect US. If WE are sick (and perhaps don't even know it yet) our masks help protect OUR NEIGHBOR...
... it is a tangible and visible manifestation and practice of our LOVE.
Thanks to the Rev. Greg and the Rev. Gene, Deacon of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Charlotte, NC
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Ever since I first read MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail, where he speaks to the white moderate pastors of his day (who say they support the movement but never live up to it), I've been challenged to confront my privileged and challenged to use my voice for justice in the world. I struggle with the depth of America's sin of racism and what I could possibly do to change things... Most days it is only small things that are in my control. This sin bubbles up again and again in our society and I'm shielded from it most days because of my skin color and where I live - that in and of itself is part of my privileged. If you don't like the word privilege, maybe ask yourself why, or substitute the word advantage. I think it works too and it is less polarized in our toxic culture of extremes. Not all are equal in America, it's just the truth.
Sunday, May 31st is the anniversary of the Greenwood Massacre in Tulsa - where hundreds of people died (there is no accurate count) and an entire black neighborhood of businesses and homes and churches were burned to the ground. This was the wealthiest black neighborhood in America at the time... and it all burned.
Sunday, Black Lives Matter OKC is having a rally at NE 36th and Kelly at 2:30 to remember this massacre, to honor the recently murdered, and to stand for justice. I've been to events before, and if you are wondering what it was like - it was full of emotion, yes, and also peaceful and well organized. Many local pastors are involved and I've seen MLK's ethos of non-violence at work. I want to stand with them Sunday as a small sign of my commitment to peace and justice in this nation and our city. We have so much work left to do! Racism is America's original sin... and it manifests too often in police brutality and vigilante shootings.
This morning as I tune into the news, I hate to see a police station burning in Minneapolis - and I'm so glad no one was harmed in the station. This action does not progress anything... Without defending it, I can also say that I see the anger... and if I, as a white person, am as grieved and angry as I am at George Floyd's death, I can't pretend to know what it is like to be black in America in 2020.
But we need real avenues of change in this country and healthy ways to express our mourning and sadness at the deaths of George Floyd and so many others. I pray that this is what Sunday's rally provides here in OKC and that we can work together to make our communities safe for all people. MLK's dream is still my dream and inspiration. And we need to wake up and have honest conversations if anything is going to get better.
Every single person matters to God. Every single person is imprinted with God's goodness. I pray for a world that lives up to our Baptismal Covenant to "Seek and serve Christ in all people... and to strive for justice among all people." Lord help us.
Rev. Tim Baer
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Click on the image for a printable Activity Sheet.
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Click on the image for a printable Activity Sheet.
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Volunteers needed
to lead Evening Prayer
using Facebook or Zoom
Once a week on Wednesday evenings in June, July and August. Please contact Rev. Mary for more information and to let her know you would like to help.
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The
Forward Day by Day
Meditation for June 1, 2020
The Visitation (tr)
Luke 1:45
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.
I’ve always been amazed by Mary’s faith in saying yes to God. Though anxiety and fear and self-doubt must surely have reared their heads, she holds the greatest truth in her heart, even when others can’t see it. But this is the miracle of faith: When we hold onto the truth, God never leaves us in our doubts.
Elizabeth’s words encourage Mary, a gift from God to help her stay strong in her faith. These women help each other through the strange season they share together. You and I receive these gifts of faith and friendship when we open our eyes to see them. Too often we let these miraculous gifts from God slip through our fingers.
MOVING FORWARD: Each day this week, ask yourself the following questions: Who encourages you in your faith? When have you seen the Holy Spirit speaking through these relationships?
PRAY for the Dioceses of Liverpool (England), St. Asaph (Wales), and Grafton (Australia)
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Presiding Bishop Curry’s Word to the Church: When the Cameras are Gone, We Will Still Be Here
May 30, 2020
A word to the Church from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry:
“Our long-term commitment to racial justice and reconciliation is embedded in our identity as baptized followers of Jesus. We will still be doing it when the news cameras are long gone.”
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Presiding Bishop Curry's Sermon for Pentecost
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Do you believe something good can come from something bad? Most of us do because our own life experience verifies that it can happen. Disaster, loss, grief, conflict: they are all frightening and painful, but each one can also be a catalyst for deep change in our lives, positive change, healing change. I can tell a story about that in my life history and I bet you can too. And there, in our own experience, is the common thread of hope that can unite us in this historic moment. We can see something good arise from the ashes if we are open to the lessons it teaches and if we are willing to change. We know that is true. We have seen it ourselves. In the midst of chaos the Spirit offers us the way forward: transformation.
The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston
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The Oklahoma Nature Conservancy
From east to west our state has incredible diversity. Some plants are best suited for central area than the east. Find the best plants for your backyard with these handy Regional Plant Guides from Okies for Monarchs Oh and, #SaveTheMonarchs too.
🦋
http://www.okiesformonarchs.org/what-to-plant-where-to-buy/
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The Farmer's Almanac ....
While fresh herbs are best to cook with, they’re not always available. To preserve herbs for year-round use,
try these ideas.
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A note from Rev Mary:
After the weekly clergy Zoom meeting with the Bishop and Bishop-elect, where we reviewed the Bishop's guidelines and discussed the guidelines from the CDC, physicians and others I want to share some information on where we are currently. This was discussed with the Vestry at our May Vestry meeting and we decided to plan on our in-church gathering after Labor Day, tentatively September 13. There are a number of logistical issues to plan and address. We want to continue to track the data to include from if and when the students return to OSU in August. Again, none of this is "set in stone" but it is our plan at this time.
Be safe and be well.
Rev. Mary
You can find Bishop Ed's video message on returning to in-person worship and the full guidelines at the link below.
Good health and peace be with you all.
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When mailing anything to St. Andrew's (including donations), please us our new post office box address.......
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 938
Stillwater, Ok 74076
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To make Safeguarding Training more accessible to all individual in the diocese, we are now allowing Safeguarding Training to be taken on-line. This could be your first training or renewal. This opportunity allows church members to do the training at home, on their schedule.
Administrators will be responsible for entering the individuals into the computer system of Praesidium, for St. Andrew's this is Debi Hodson. Please send Debi your name, month and day of birth, and email address so she can add you to the system in order to complete the courses online.
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A note from St. Andrew's Financial Committee and Rev. Mary:
“As the quarantine lingers on, the Church thanks it’s members for all you have done and are doing.
We also thank you for your continued giving and contributions during this difficult time. We have received 87% of the budgeted pledges and regular contributions for April. You have been generous at a time when it was much needed.
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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[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will offer a brief sermon for a virtual memorial service for the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic hosted by the National Council of Churches on May 24 at 6 p.m. Eastern time.
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is offering
Habits of Grace
, a
weekly
meditation to help Episcopalians cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we learn how to adjust our lives given the reality of the coronavirus and the request to do our part to slow its spread by practicing physical distancing, I invite you to join me each week to take a moment to cultivate a ‘habit of grace.’
May 19, 2020:
Finding gladness
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from The Book of Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018
June 1:
JUSTIN, Martyr, 167
Toward the middle of the second century, there came into the young Christian community a seeker for the truth, whose wide interests, noble spirit, and able mind greatly enriched it.
Justin was born into a Greek-speaking pagan family about the year 110 in Samaria, near Shechem. He was educated in Greek philosophy. Like Augustine after him, he was left restless by all this knowledge. During a walk along the beach at Ephesus, he began speaking with a stranger, who told him about Christ. “Straightway a flame was kindled in my soul,” he writes, “and a love of the prophets and those who are friends of Christ possessed me.” He became a Christian as a result of this encounter, and thereafter regarded Christianity as the only “safe and profitable philosophy.”
About 150, Justin moved to Rome. As philosophers did in those days, he started a school—in this case, a school of Christian philosophy— and accepted students. He also wrote. Three of his works survive: a dialogue in Platonic style with a Jew named Trypho, and two apologies in defense of the Christian faith. Justin’s First and Second Apologies defend Christianity against the Greek charge of irrationality and the Roman charge of disloyalty to the empire. These two works provide us with important insights into developing theological ideas and liturgical practices of early Christianity.
While teaching in Rome, he engaged in a public debate with a philosopher of the Cynic school named Crescens, accusing him of ignorance and immorality. Angered, Crescens brought legal charges against him. Justin and six of his students were arrested and brought before the prefect Rusticus. As the custom was, Rusticus gave them an opportunity to renounce their faith. All steadfastly refused to do so. Justin and his students were all put to death around the year 167.
O God, who has given your church wisdom and revealed deep and secret things: Grant that we, like your servant Justin and in union with his prayers, may find your Word an abiding refuge all the days of our lives; through Jesus Christ, who with the Holy Spirit lives and reigns with you, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Lessons and Psalm
1 Corinthians 1:18–25
Psalm 116:1–28
John 12:44–50
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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
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Birthdays
June 06 - Brendon Bond
June 08 - Alec Wilber
June 10 - Ian Jackson
June 13 - Gary Wilse
June 14 - Joe Mize
Anniversaries
June 03 - Cindi & Tommy Kiser
June 11 - Rena & Brendon Bond
June 13 - Anne & Billy Bowen
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