REFLECT: In these few, powerful words, Jesus revealed the whole purpose of His earthly ministry, the Father’s divine plan for the salvation of all humankind and the good news (Gospel) that He, the Christ, had come to suffer, die and be raised again for the forgiveness of our sins and the sins of the whole world!

Just as He did for us, so He calls us to “take up our cross” and follow Him. So often, however, it seems that we misunderstand what a cross is. Our “cross” is not something common to all people – Christian and non-Christian alike. Difficulties at work, illnesses and disease, struggles in relationships are not necessarily “crosses” because they are common to all human beings. Rather, our cross is something He places before us to willingly endure (suffer) because we are His followers, because we are believers, because we are His disciples. Loving the unlovable; caring for the lonely and forgotten; sharing a hug with the “untouchable;” volunteering to help those in need; providing a ride to worship for a newcomer in our community; giving over-and-above to meet ministerial challenges; and many other ways in which God is calling you to “take up your cross and follow Christ.”

What cross is Jesus placing before you today? How will you respond in joyful service to your Savior? How will you “Take Up Your Cross” to follow Jesus?

Adapted from: https://holycrosslutheran.net/take-cross-matthew-1621-28/

PRAY: Today, Lord, I once again take up my cross and follow you. Shake me of my complacency; I want to live daily with an urgency to radically be the change you call me to be. Strip me of my comforts; may my love for you be a driving force to live with joyful surrender. Scratch out my schedule so my circumstances or timeline don’t influence my dedication and obedience to take up my cross and follow you. May your word pour out of me like water to the thirsty, and may my life be full of the fruit of the Spirit. All I am and have I give back to you with open hands knowing that all my needs you will meet as I go with you. Today I take up my cross and FOLLOW YOU. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Adapted from: https://cmbs.mennonitebrethren.ca/worship_resources/take-up-your-cross/

2:00pm Bible Discussion-Zoom

8:00am* Holy Eucharist—YOUTUBE

10:00am Summer Sunday School-ZOOM (email Deb Parker for details)

10:00am Staff Meeting

12:00pm Noonday Prayer-ZOOM

2:00pm Bible Study-ZOOM

**Registration is necessary. To sign-up, please email Nancy McLaughlin at GuardianAngel720@hotmail.com or call CCI's main office at 610-688-1110 by noon on Fridays.

The final two weeks of the summer Bible discussions will focus on the ways prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures share hope both for those in their times, and for those of us today. Walter Brueggemann continues to be our guide as we explore the Bible and relate passages to our own experiences.

You are invited to join members of Christ Church and St. Martin's any week for this Zoom discussion at 2 pm on Thursday. Each discussion stands alone so newcomers are welcome. We continue to use art to give us a visual image of how artists in the past created an understanding of a Bible passage. If anyone would like to test the Zoom connection or talk more about this discussion group, please contact Deb Parker.

Here are the Zoom details:

or Call: 646-558-8656

Meeting ID: 938 4282 6315

This Sunday is Fr Karl’s last Sunday with us. He and Fr. David were engaged in January to cover the pastoral duties at St. Martin’s and Christ Church after the departures of Fr. Chris and Fr. John in December. Karl’s last Sunday was originally to be February 23rd, but then the pandemic changed his plans and ours. The sabbatical leave he was to cover in the Spring for the Associate Pastor at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Devon and our search for a new Rector were both put on hold. Beginning September 1st, he will begin a 10-month contract assisting the staff at St. Luke's Church while their Pastor recovers from serious non-COVID related health issues. For the immediate future, Fr. David has agreed to return to assist our new Rector, Rev. Veronika Travis as she begins her ministry at St. Martin’s and Christ Church. We are grateful to Fr. Karl for his ministry to us, and we wish him well!

This coming Sunday will be the last one for the summer VBS with a focus on “Building Bridges.” All children are encouraged to make a bridge out of Legos, clay, books and rulers, design bridges on paper, or use any other method that sparks creativity! We will share our favorite bridges and once again consider ways we build bridges to stay connected to God.

Each Summer Sunday begins at 10 am and each discussion stands alone. So you are invited to join us even if this is your first time. Guests of all ages are always welcome. If you have any questions please contact Ms. Deb.

Here are the meeting details:

or Call: 646-558-8656

Meeting ID: 919 360 689

September 2 is the first Wednesday of the month and we will have noonday prayer (repeated each first and third Wednesday of the month) using Zoom at 12 pm. Join us for the Zoom call then. If you have any questions or would like to test using your phone, tablet, or computer to call into a Zoom meeting, please contact Deb Parker. 

There will be a Blessing of Backpacks on Sunday, September 6th. Students of all ages, teachers, office-employees, and other tote-carrying workers are encouraged to tune into the first video service with our new rector, Rev. Veronika Travis. Have your school bags, briefcases, laptop cases, diaper bags, tablets, laptops or any other school related devices ready for a remote blessing. After the blessing Ms. Deb will follow up and deliver blessed items to school aged-children. This is a great evangelizing opportunity, so please extend invites to friends and neighbors!

Sunday, September 13th will be a momentous day in the life of St. Martin's Church! At 10:00 AM, we will resume in-person worship with a Welcome Back service that will also be a "Welcome To" event for Rev. Veronika. The COVID-19 safety protocols will be in effect so space will be limited. Registration is required. To sign-up, please email Admin@StMartinsRadnor.org or call the main office at 610-688-4830 by 5:00 PM on Thursday, September 10th.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel. It's EASY! Go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtoBfZBQIhKyCmFjxY-hRyg. Click on the SUBSCRIBE button. If not signed in, click on SIGN IN. Use a Google account to log in or create an account. It's FREE! Get notifications of new content. Find newly published videos in your Subscriptions feed. This week's additions include:

St. Barnabas Mission: Speak with the director of St. Barnabas Mission to learn how services are coordinated and offered on site by ECS and partner organizations to help families gain stability.

Seeing Youth Succeed: Find out how this program for teens enables them to discern and build confidence in their futures with an empowering curriculum and a cohort of peers.

For more information or to register for these FREE events, please visit https://ecsphilly.org/news-events/events/behind-the-scenes-at-episcopal-community-services/

From social distancing, sanitizing, hand-washing, and staying-at-home, new "norms" are in full effect. Here is a St. Martin's summary:

Sunday's Readings can be found on the Worship page at St. Martin's website.