Stained glass at St. John the Baptist's Anglican Church, Ashfield, New South Wales

May 8 - The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Rite I 8 a.m. | Rite II 10 a.m. (Sung)

9:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal

9:15 - Children's Church School in Lower Level

9:15 - Adults - Morning Prayer & conversation in Pearson Hall

10 a.m. service in person & streamed via Facebook Live.

Coffee hour after the 10 a.m. service.

Virtual coffee hour chat available at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81076773055

On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks to God for the divine gift of motherhood in all its diverse forms. Let us pray for all the mothers among us today; for our own mothers, those living and those who have passed away; for the mothers who loved us and for those who fell short of loving us fully; for all who hope to be mothers some day and for those whose hope to have children has been frustrated; for all mothers who have lost children; for all women and men who have mothered others in any way—those who have been our substitute mothers and we who have done so for those in need; for the earth that bore us and provides our sustenance. We pray this all in the name of God, our great and loving Mother. Amen.

Today is the second day of the spring book sale and Cindy Reinhardt reports that Friday sales totaled $1863.30. Many thanks to Cindy and Mike Reinhardt and these volunteers (below) for supporting St. Andrew's this weekend!

Hello team and supporters! I’m delighted to tell you that this year, Relay for Life is back, and we will be walking!

First: Please go sign up on our team website. From there you can use the site for fundraising, or just keep up with our announcements, but it’s important everyone gets registered on the site so they know how many team members we have. Click the link below and scroll down to where it says “Join our team.” If you don’t want to walk with the team but do want to support us, you can donate on the team site: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/standrewsedwardsville 

Our first fundraiser is rolling: Cardinals tickets! The game is August 14, and I am taking orders. Tickets are $20 each and include a hot dog and soda, as well as access to the special activities, autograph sessions, etc. My understanding is that the dugout tours and outfield parade are back this year! Please let me know if you’d like to reserve tickets, and encourage others to join the St. Andrew’s Cheering Section!

The Relay will be Saturday, June 11 at East Alton-Wood River High School. As you might remember, the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Relay fizzled out during COVID, so we opted to join the Riverbend Relay for Life group, and they have been very kind and welcoming. They’ve been doing a traditional Relay for 26 years, save for two years of “alternative celebrations” during COVID. 

The event will begin with activities, games, vendors, etc. at 3 p.m., with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. Closing ceremonies will be at 11 p.m. - they do not go all night, but my understanding is most Relays have stopped doing that. The theme for this year is “There’s No Place Like Hope,” which is Wizard of Oz! So we’ll be looking for ideas to decorate our campsite along with the theme (and costumes are always nifty!) 

Finally, on a serious note: I have been absolutely floored and uncharacteristically speechless that we have managed to meet our fundraising goal of $3,000 each year during COVID, even when we had to cancel every one of our fundraisers. That speaks so well of St. Andrews’ commitment to this cause, to fighting cancer and supporting the efforts of our community. I am happy to share that we have raised a grand total of $47,905 over the 15-odd years that we have had a Relay for Life team, and we already have more than $1,000 raised for 2022 thanks to the October book sale and some early donations. This is going to be the year we break $50,000, and I am forever humbled and grateful for your tireless support in making that possible. 

- Elizabeth Donald

[Episcopal News Service] General Convention’s committees on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music heard testimony May 3 on a diverse selection of resolutions, from proposals to add the late Bishop Barbara Harris to the church’s calendar of feasts to a measure “addressing antisemitic, anti-Jewish and/or supersessionist interpretations of our lectionaries.”

The resolution that generated the most discussion, and some of the strongest opinions, was a measure proposed by the Diocese of Northern California that would repeal the Episcopal canon that requires worshipers to be baptized before receiving Communion in Episcopal churches.

Heatlie was one of eight people who testified on Resolution C028 at the online hearing held by the bishops’ and deputies’ committees on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music. (The two committees, though distinct, typically meet together to consider resolutions.)

Continued at this Link.