A few years ago I had the opportunity to ask the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, what advice he would offer to clergy who were trying to navigate a tricky political landscape and the razor thin line preachers often have to walk as they bring the faith of the church to bear on a broken world. His answer was quick and offered a simple proscription: "Preach the Gospel." It is a simple concept, and yet even that has become more difficult in the years since. Preachers across the Christian spectrum report increasing pushback from congregants who wrongly attribute classic Christian theology to thinly veiled political criticism. That is nothing new, though. From the very first days, as the Gospel was formed through what our Lord expressed in word and deed, his teachings and actions were deemed to be political in nature. Indeed, they were in some cases. The political realms of this world impact the spiritual realities of God's people and become the subject of prayer and action by the faithful. Fortunately for us, the opposite is also true. Both realities area as old as our faith and continue to this day.

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If you enjoy hearing Evening Prayer read, please look for it at 5:00 pm on the Christ Church Facebook page here. The Rite I bulletin for evening prayer can be found here. The Rite II bulletin for evening prayer can be found here.

Start your day and lift your spirits each morning by reading Morning Prayer. If you're at home and have your prayer book handy, find a quiet spot, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and select Morning Prayer I (BCP page 37) or Morning Prayer II (BCP page 75) and begin. If you're away from home, you can find the Book of Common Prayer at https://www.bcponline.org and the Scripture and Collects of the Day at http://lectionarypage.net.

 

Father's Day is two weeks from this Sunday and as we did on Mother's Day, we would like to honor our fathers and those who have mentored and cared for us like fathers, with a photo tribute during our Sunday morning worship service, on June 21, 2020. If you would like to honor or remember your loved one during this service, please send your photos to Julie at [email protected], along with the gentlemen's names and we will include them in the tribute that week. Please have your photos in by 12:00 NOON, on Thursday, June 18. Thank you!

If you are a regular reader of the Forward Day by Day devotionals that are typically available in the Christ Church office and would like to continue to have access to them, please contact Glenn Queener at [email protected]. Glenn would like to have your name and street address, so he can send you copies of the booklets. You can also find the devotionals online here.

 

The Men's Study Group that meets on Wednesdays, at 10:30 am, is continuing its exploration of contemporary spirituality , using Reading the Bible again for the First Time, by the provacative twenty-first century theologian, Dr. Marcus Borg.  

Borg was among the most widely known and influential voices in progressive Christianity. As a fellow of the Jesus Seminar, a group of about fifty scholars, they set about to revise popular, mostly 19th century views, of the historicity of the sayings of Jesus of Nazareth. Borg was a major figure in their historical Jesus challenge. Before his untimely death in 2015, he retired as Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University in 2007.

If you'd like to join the group for this book study , please contact Te Turner at [email protected]  or Fr. David Somerville at  [email protected]  for the Zoom access information.

 

If you would like to help the Backpack Buddies ministry with a monetary donation, it would be greatly appreciated. You can donate by check (just mail it to Christ Church, at 6329 Frederica Road St. Simons Island, GA 31522 - check memo, Backpack Buddies) or give online here (choose Backpack Program). We are now feeding nearly 300 additional children per week, so every cent will be put to good use!

For more information about the Backpack Buddies program, please contact Susan Shipman at [email protected]. 

After Sunday Worship, why don't you drop by the Christ Church Virtual Coffee Hour at 10:30 am and see who's there. Stay and chat for a bit with some of the other friendly folks you haven't seen in a while!  It's easy enough to do from your laptop, tablet or phone. Just go to  Zoom Meetings at: 

https://zoom.us/j/792428337?pwd=WGtXRFd0THNNMWZmSzROelcxQXBiUT09

 See you on Sunday!