Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
August 9, 2020
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COLLECT
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The readings may be found here.
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Processional Hymn
Gospel Hymn
Offertory Hymns
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Communion Hymns
Recessional Hymn
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The Altar flowers for August are given
to the glory of God
by Jennifer Faunce to her family and friends.
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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.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky: The Brothers Karamazov
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Last week I took my annual spiritual retreat, and found refreshment alone at All Saints’ Camp on Lake Texoma. Since the camp is not active this year, it was easy to avoid distractions, and the lack of Wi-Fi helped too! There was phone/data coverage, so I could call out, check urgent emails, etc.
Spiritual retreats give the opportunity to hear Jesus in a special way, and I appreciate our Bishop reminding his clergy of the expectation of us to go on a retreat. To be fair, I would have probably not taken a retreat this year due to the ongoing coronavirus mess, but the Bishop’s reminder came at a time when a continuing education conference at Baylor had been reschedule to 2021. Since I already had arranged with Fr. Getz for clergy coverage, I knew that if I didn’t take the opportunity it would be St. Paul’s loss.
A retreat is not a vacation, or continuing education. A retreat is a time away from the normal push and pull of life when a Christian intentionally re-centers their vision on Jesus and His call. Reading and relaxing may be a part of the time, but most importantly a retreat involves prayer and meditation. When possible, I prefer going to a monastery as it’s easier to plug into their cycle of prayer and worship and remain focused on Christ.
Our spiritual health, like our physical health, needs regular attention, and the only person who can attend to your spiritual health is the person that you see in the mirror. No one can go to the gym for you, and no one can seek the face of Jesus for you. I highly encourage all of us to make space in our life for an occasional retreat. If taking a retreat is something that you’ve done a few times, then All Saints’ Camp would be a good place to consider. If you’ve never been on a retreat, then probably a monastery would be a better option, as most monasteries offer guided retreats.
One of the questions that I get asked the most is ‘when will we open the church back up?’ I don’t have a full answer, but I do have an answer. Our Bishop seeks to proceed with caution, and also to allow for variance in a Diocese with different situations. Therefore, “individual congregations will be operating under will be determined by the *most restrictive* regulatory demands of the nation, state, county, public school district, or priest's prudence.” The Bishop has chosen to tie the opening of parishes to the action of the local ISD. When our local ISD holds classes, we will be allowed to open our church. Currently GISD intends to hold in person classes on September 8, and God willing, we will begin onsite worship at 10:30 on September 13th. We will continue to have a cleaning before the service, masks, and physical distancing, etc.
If you’re looking for ways to grow in faith and fellowship, the Diocese has given us the opportunity to participate in an online 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. It’s my understanding that St. Paul’s did an Alpha program a number of years ago, and this one will be similar – though it will be completely online. 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
Paul tells us to walk in love with Jesus, as Jesus loves us. Jesus died on the cross, because he loves us that much. Our offerings this morning are given in love, in response to the love of Jesus for us. Thank You for your offerings - a living, tangible way of saying, “Jesus, we love you.”
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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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Pray for the Church, the Body of Christ
Please pray for those on our prayer list this week:
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CJ Cathey, Peggy Cole,
Paula Reeves, 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, Dana Medford,
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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