ALL ANGELS BY THE SEA
WEEKLY TIDINGS
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To live-stream - go to AllAngelsLBK.org, click on the "All Angels Enter Here" picture and you will be routed to our YouTube channel.
Zoom - go to https://zoom.us/j/5955701807 and watch and listen live. Be sure to stick around after the service for our coffee hour chat-with-your-neighbor time.
The service will begin with the lighting of the altar candles. If you are participating at home, you are invited to light a candle with us to create a sacred space of worship at home.
The bulletin can be found on the All Angels Website:
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Bishop Smith has decided that masks once again should be worn by all individuals for all indoor gatherings. |
Altar Flowers for Sunday, August 22
are given by Don and Judy Lewin
in celebration of their 59th wedding anniversary.
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Scripture Readings, August 22
Isaiah 59:1, 14-17, 21
Psalm 84
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69
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Dear Fellow Angels by the Sea,
We have suddenly re-entered into another wave of illness and confusion that jeopardizes the well-being of families that are dependent on hourly wages. Both children and adults risk illness and loss of work or housing just as school is preparing to startup up. Money for food, clothes and school supplies is increasingly scarce.
The Outreach Committee is aware of their rapidly increasing need and
that Family Promise of Sarasota, an organization we know well, already responds effectively to some of that need through their Gift Card Outreach program. In the words of their director, Tara L. Maffei:,
Being able to offer families a respite by providing a small amount,
say $50 biweekly, while we work with them, helps them address other needs like utility bills or mortgage payments. Stores like Walmart,
Target or any local drug store help a family meet needs for food,
clothing, or hygiene items.
The Outreach Commission is challenging us during the next four Sundays of August and the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
How much help can we, as individual families and us as a
congregation, provide to local families during this time of
ongoing confusion and job loss by putting a gift card into the
collection plate on each of the next four Sundays in August?
Might we include Labor Day weekend as a bonus?
We propose delivering as many cards as possible to Family Promise of Sarasota on Monday August 16th and again on Monday, August 29th. Any that are contributed on Labor Day would be a special bonus. Your gift in the collection plate will be anonymous, To get contribution credit as an Outreach gift from All Angels you put your name on it somewhere (in pencil, so that the recipients don't receive it). But our goal is to report each week on how much assistance we are offering as a community. In order to do that, please indicate the value of the card, if it is not otherwise visible.
Signed,
Elaine Smith, Maggie Gat, Katzy Nager, Ginger Shipp, Graham Toft.
*If you receive an email asking you to send pictures of the gift card pin numbers, this is a fraud. Please make sure to bring the gift cards to the church in person or send them in the mail.
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Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer invites you to pray with them, every day, at 8 am, wherever you are. When you enter into prayer at 8 am (Eastern), you will know that others are praying at the same time.
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We Pray for our People
I ask your prayers for Downs IV, Holden and Brian. Grant healing and recovery for Beverly. Give peace and strength for those going through cancer treatments, especially Jane, Downs III, Victoria, Andres, Alex, Colleen, and Douglas. Visit and comfort all who are under the care of skilled nursing, especially Bob, Timothy and Barbara. Be near to all who are in hospice care especially John.
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With Sympathy
Claire Cooper passed away peacefully earlier this week. Claire was one of the original members of All Angels and participated in the "upper room" at the bank on Bay Isles. She faithfully attended until her back problems made it too difficult. Her wishes were for her remains to be interred at the family grave in Grand Rapids.
The proud Michigander will be remembered by many folks on Longboat Key and especially All Angels.
We pray for the repose of her soul.
May light perpetual shine upon her.
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A Prayer for the People of Afghanistan
Eternal God, hear our prayer for the peoples of Afghanistan and the profound humanitarian crisis where countless people, mostly women and children, are now fleeing and vulnerable. The lives of many are now endangered; the hopes of many are forgone. Send your Spirit, Lord, to rally the resolve of the nations of the earth to find pathways to save human lives, protect human rights, and to resolve the hardships of those seeking refuge, asylum, and safety. Hear our prayer for the peoples of Afghanistan. This we pray as followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
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A Prayer for Haiti
Eternal God, send forth your Spirit to encourage and strengthen the people of Haiti in these difficult times. We pray especially for those impacted by the recent earthquake. Encourage and strengthen those who help and support others. In your mercy, receive the souls of those who have died; comfort their families and loved ones. Surround with your presence the sick and suffering. Aid the work of those who still search and rescue. Empower the medical and aid workers and all who labor to heal.
Likewise, inspire and empower the resolve of the nations and peoples of the world to be your instruments of help and healing. Stir up the might of your love and compassion among the nations to rally resources and stay the course until the humanitarian job is accomplished.
Lastly, enfold and uphold the people of Haiti—from the youngest newly born to the oldest among us—in the arms of your love and the strength of your might. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
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Right now, Episcopal Relief and Development is working with the Diocese of Haiti and other partners to deliver services and financial assistance to those affected by the earthquake. In particular, we're providing financial assistance to families located in remote areas who aren't being served by other organizations.
Please hold the people of Haiti in your prayers and thoughts as they face these latest disasters. And if you can, please donate today!
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ECW News
(Episcopal Church Women)
Time to renew, reorganize, refresh, redirect, regenerate.
How and when do we move forward? What are your thoughts?
Come to a meeting to discuss the future of ECW at All Angels on
August 26 at 1pm in the parish hall (covid precautions apply).
Can't come to a meeting ? Share your ideas and thoughts by phone, email, or text. Even an old-fashioned letter with a stamp!
The deadline to hear from you will be September 15, so don't put it off.
Gail Clay, past president
248-909-8596
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Summer Choir
Are you looking for a a new experience this summer? I recommend The Summer Choir. No audition, rehearse at 9:20 each Sunday morning. No long term commitment. Can't attend every Sunday? No problem. Come when you can. More information? Call me at 941 896 5541, or email dhooey@verizon.net or see me after church. You will receive a very warm welcome!
Dale
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Art Gallery
Our "New to You" art sale continues online. To see what is available for sale, please visit our website: www.allangelslbk.org
Our gallery artist for the month of August is Chris Collins. Please stop by and enjoy the work of this talented artist and church member. 100% of the sale of his artwork goes to the mission and ministry of All Angels. Checks should be written to All Angels by the Sea.
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Men's Discussion Groups
There are two readings this week - the primary discussion reading for Tuesday is an article from the Atlantic stressing the importance of living a life of gratefulness. It makes a distinction between "gratitude" - which the author asserts is a momentary emotion - and "gratefulness" which the author says is a way of life. Nevertheless, under the category of successful ageing, this is an important discussion to have.
The secondary reading is from the WSJ and it provides a good overview of Afghanistan and the rise of the Taliban's swift victory. This is not required for Tuesday but I included it because we probably will talk about it so I'd like us to have at least one source article on it which is the same. Also, there may be a link between one and the other.
Also, I have been working on a way for us to have an in-person meeting in the Parish Hall. If you are interested in joining me on Tuesday, I'll have the coffee made.
Blessings to you and may God watch over the people of Afghanistan and Haiti and may the Wisdom of God be upon all who watch over and bring relief to those in need.
-Fr. Dave
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Online Giving
If you would like to give to the offering plate electronically, you can find the online giving link on our All Angels website by clicking the link below:
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Wisdom
The message this past Sunday was about Wisdom – the characteristic of God that gives insight, direction and peace. The character of Wisdom in the Bible is one who is as comforting as a mother’s arms, as playful as a child, as direct as a prophet and as strict as a Middle School teacher. For many at All Angels, God-as-Wisdom was intriguing and has brought up some interesting conversations. Here is one comment I received – the difference between education and wisdom is this: education tells us that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom tells us not to put a tomato in a fruit salad.
Let’s climb out on a theological limb and ask what if Wisdom/God is the primary identify of our lived God-experience. In other words, what if God’s primary power in our life was to give wisdom. How would that image of God change the way we pray, the way we interact with one another, and who to blame when things don’t go our way.
Atheists and agnostics are drawn to me. Maybe it is because of my personality or maybe it is a spiritual gift; regardless, I get into conversations with non-believers, or self-described “barely-believers” on a fairly regular basis. The main argument against their idea of “God” is this (feel free to recite it with me): how can an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God allow for X – Haiti, Afghanistan, poverty, etc. – to happen. The theology of Sunday’s message about Wisdom was born out of these discussions. What if the Bible is based on an argument between Wisdom and Folly. What if God’s primary power is wisdom – and Wisdom gives of herself freely to anyone who is willing to seek, ask, or knock on the door of understanding. The second part of that theology has to be that we have the freewill to make mistakes, the chief mistake is to listen to Folly and not Wisdom.
We humans can close our eyes and our mouths; but we cannot easily close our noses, ears or our sense of touch. Those senses seem to be always on. What if that is how Wisdom speaks – not through sight but through sound, smell and touch. The ocular cavity and related brain modules are quite large compared to the other senses and compared to other mammals. In fact, scientists believe that 80% of our sense of the world comes through sight whereas mammals receive a majority of their sense through smell. What if Wisdom, who speaks through nature, regularly communicates through the other senses and not sight? What if Wisdom prefers sound, touch, smell and taste over sight? The psalmist declares, “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (34:8) The prophet Isaiah declares this of the messiah, “He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear.” (11:3)
If you were to eat a fruit salad that had tomato in it, you might notice first by how it tastes and perhaps smells. I think there is a lot of fruit salad being offered up in our society right now; some of it has tomatoes in it. Wednesday evening, Dale Hooey received a fraudulent email that had my name on it that asked him to immediately go out and buy $500 worth of gift cards. Something didn’t feel right about it so he called me. Likewise, Gail Clay received a similar notification. She too called me. Gail and Dale didn’t respond to what their eyes saw, they went with a different feeling, which, I have to say is Wisdom working in our presence. The thief, perhaps listening to Folly, was trying to steal from these two wonderful, faithful and compassionate people. Thankfully, they were listening to Wisdom.
-Fr. Dave
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