Mamaw’s Feast

“Give us each day our daily bread.”

In this Sunday’s Gospel we will hear Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer and it is very spare and succinct, it covers the basics. After praising God and praying for God’s justice and mercy to happen on earth as in heaven, the prayer petitions God for what the human creature needs the most. We need food, clothing, shelter, the ability to give and receive forgiveness and a hope that the larger temptations of life will not overshadow God’s hope for us.

The language is spare, but its meaning is steeped in a certain kind of just abundance. As I think about “our daily bread” in the context of God’s justice, I see an image of sitting down at my grandmother’s table for Sunday dinner. The feast she would spread on her table on Sunday afternoons was a sight to behold. The whole family would gather every Sunday, making our way to her house from near and far, because we always knew that she would be expecting us. Hers was a standing invitation to feast.

It was never a sometimes thing of when or if she felt like having company and we came because her love for us was so sweet and so deep that to refuse her open invitation would be like rejecting her very self. A stranger who might come upon this feast could enter and be filled and even catch a glimpse of who she was by the generosity so easily found at her table. But, to know her, to really know her in the feast she spread every Sunday was to have known her story. By knowing her in full, by hearing her loving self-revelation in the stories she would tell of her life, then and only then did you find the truest and deepest meaning revealed in the feast she would spread. 

She had only known emotional and financial scarcity for much of her life. Born into poverty she later married a man who was himself dirt poor. But together they were happy and for several years their lives blossomed in the light of mutual love. Too soon he was lost to her in death, and she was left with the stark reality of trying to feed their ten children, in the heart of the depression, with the money she could scrape together from cleaning other people’s houses. Fiercely proud, she would not allow the welfare system to distribute her children out among the members of the community as she was advised to do on many occasions. She would often walk five miles to the government office in town for a free sack of flour and feed her children for two weeks on the water gravy and biscuits she would harvest from that one bag. Time passed, the depression loosened its grip on the poor, and as her children grew into lives of their own, the deep poverty of their childhoods receded into the past.

 As her children had their children, she began to gather them all back together every Sunday with the incredible feast she would prepare with her two hands and out of the deep love that had saved her family from being scattered those many years before. 

 It was only in knowing her through her sharing her story, in sitting at her feet on Saturday nights and hearing her retell it year after year until it became your story too, that the truest, deepest meaning of that Sunday feast became clear. Then and only then could you really experience who she really was in that meal and what it meant to at long last have “daily bread.” 

Without knowing the story of her constant love and the willing sacrifices she made for her family, the banquet she spread was simply food. By coming to know her, to really, really know her as opposed to just knowing of her, the food became more than a meal you simply shared with her and instead became a life you shared with her.

That, my friends, is also how we experience the real presence and person of Christ in the Eucharist. Throughout human history God continues to speak to us. By coming to us in Jesus Christ, in the flesh, God not only tells us our common story, but God is also revealed to us in a way we can truly comprehend. Through word and testimony in our Scripture God invites us to a deep and abiding relationship. Through faith and belief in Jesus as the Christ, we respond to God’s invitation for greater intimacy by sharing the totality of our lives with God.

 When we come to know God through our shared stories and respond to God’s love for us as revealed by Jesus Christ, we come to find that we are absolutely drawn to the feast God has given us to celebrate every Sunday. We come to the table not simply to remember what Christ did for us, but to celebrate his presence among us, his real presence in the fabric and meaning of our lives. Through the power of the Holy Spirit Christ’s presence is made manifest in our lives. At this meal we are transformed in a way that urges us to leave this table and go out into the world to share the phenomenal abundance that has been given to us.

When we come to worship, we come as the beloved children of God who are drawn to the table by a feast prepared by the two hands that out of immeasurable love, continually reaches out to save us from being scattered and lost. To find the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and in our lives, we simply accept his invitation to know him and become part of his story as we join him in the feast.

Grace and Peace,

Mother Stephanie

The Assisting Bishop is Coming!

August 28, 2022

A Brief Guide to Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation

Assisting Bishop, Jay Magness is coming for a visit on Sunday, August 28th. This is a wonderful opportunity for you and/or your family to receive Confirmation, Reception, or to Reaffirm your faith in an intentional way. These acts are reserved strictly for the Bishop and it is always a day of joy when we gather and celebrate these wonderful Rites.

On that day we will have our One Service, One Body Celebration and I hope that we will turn out in great numbers to show our hope and excitement for our future.

REMINDER!  This is a brief outline of what each of these acts entails so that you might begin to discern your participation! Please notify Becky in the next week at office@stpaulwilkesboro.org and sign up to participate!

Confirmation

Confirmation in the Episcopal Church is a sacramental rite in which a baptized person makes a mature and public affirmation of the promises that are usually made at baptism by parents and godparents. After making these affirmations, a bishop lays hands on the candidate and prays a prayer of confirmation. (See the Book of Common Prayer for the promises made at Holy Baptism, pp. 299-308, and for the proceedings at the service of Confirmation, pp. 413-419.)

Adults and Young people can be Confirmed, and it is simply that moment, when you publicly say once again, “I still want to belong to God” and live my life accordingly!

Reception

In some dioceses, reception is reserved for those who have already been confirmed in another denomination by a bishop in apostolic succession. Apostolic succession means our bishop’s follow in a direct, unbroken line with the first Apostles whom Jesus chose to lead his Church (such as Roman Catholics or Orthodox). A more widely accepted understanding of reception is that it is a way of honoring anyone who has made a mature confession of faith in any other denomination by saying, in effect, we recognize and honor your spiritual journey in another fellowship, and we welcome you into the fellowship of the Episcopal Church, as you continue that journey. The bishop lays hands on the person being received and says, “We recognize you as a member of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, and we receive you into the fellowship of this Communion” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 418). So, if you have not been confirmed or received by a bishop in apostolic succession, you may choose either confirmation or reception.

Reaffirmation

It is my hope that many of you will explore Reaffirmation! Reaffirmation is for people who have already been confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Some people presented to the bishop during the service of Confirmation are there to “reaffirm” their Christian vows. These might be people who have been away from the church for a period of time and want to make a new beginning. Others might be people who sense that they are at a new stage in their spiritual life and want to affirm this in ritual. Periodically, a spouse, fiancé or parent who is already a confirmed Episcopalian will go through reaffirmation as a way of honoring his or her family member's decision to become a confirmed Episcopalian, saying in effect, “We are in this together.” We all go through many changes in our life’s journey, and reaffirmation provides a rite for those who want to take stock of their religious and spiritual life anew. It is my hope that among those who will be Confirmed and Received that many of you will also seek Reaffirmation.

If you are interested in exploring any of these sacramental paths, please contact me and I would love to speak with you about it. It is my hope, in preparation for the bishop's visit, that we will have a number of you who seek to celebrate these wonderful rites. 

After I hear from those who might want to pursue this path, I want to offer a multi-generational exploration and study before and after in preparation for the bishop's visit. 

This will be a wonderful event for our community and an excellent way to share fellowship! For those interested please be prepared to stay after the 10:30 service on August 14^th and 21^st.

 It will be a fun and informative experience even for those who will not be participating in any of the Rites.

Grace and Peace,

Mother Stephanie

Upon entering from the exterior downstairs entrance, Mother Stephanie's office will be on the left. The wall has been re-located to allow for a larger (wider) entry way. Also, note the large opening which will be glassed in to provide safety for staff and visitors. Another glassed opening will be installed directly across on the other wall which will be the administrative office. Having both glassed openings will allow for a direct line of vision between the two offices.

Beginning demo of NEW All Purpose Meeting Room/Youth Room

New All Purpose Meeting Room/Youth Room after new wall installed.

Stay tuned for more photos as the construction progresses!

Commemorative Bricks!

Did you know?

• The first order for bricks has been placed with

  Tri-County Monuments

• 58 Bricks have been purchased and approximately $18.720.00 collected

All Brick Orders Must Be Processed by

JULY 31st!

Some of you have asked, "where are the bricks going to go?"

The Commemorative bricks will be placed on the first level of the Gathering Plaza replacing the ones that are currently there

(See above photo)

Summer Sundays

One Body

One Service

9:30 AM

July 24, 2022

August 28, 2022

With Confirmations, Receptions and Reaffirmations with the Assisting Bishop!

Scripture for the upcoming Sunday Service

First Reading                             Genesis 18:20-32 

The Lord said to Abraham, "How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know."

So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham came near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" And the Lord said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake." Abraham answered, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." Again he spoke to him, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." Then he said, "Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." He said, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." Then he said, "Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."

The Response                      Psalm 138                            

Confitebor tibi 

 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; *

before the gods I will sing your praise.

 I will bow down toward your holy temple

and praise your Name, *

because of your love and faithfulness.

 For you have glorified your Name *

and your word above all things.

When I called, you answered me; *

you increased my strength within me.

All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, *

when they have heard the words of your mouth.

They will sing of the ways of the Lord, *

that great is the glory of the Lord.

 Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *

he perceives the haughty from afar.

 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *

you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;

your right hand shall save me.

 The Lord will make good his purpose for me; *

O Lord, your love endures forever;

do not abandon the works of your hands.

Second Reading    Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)              

As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.

Therefore, do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

The Gospel                                   Luke 11:1-13              

   Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.

And do not bring us to the time of trial."

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

***Outside These Walls***

THE DICK UNDERWOOD BOOKCLUB: New Book 

After two years of covid it is time to resurrect the Dick Underwood book club, dedicated to discovering the history of Christianity in general and anything else we decide on as a group. We've read everything from a third century pagan novel to C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" to Gary Wills' "Lincoln at Gettysburg." 

To start again we will read "The Bible with and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently." I hope it will lead to an exploration of both our Christian faith and its Jewish background.

We will meet at Dot Beamon's house on alternate Tuesdays starting in August at 5:30 or 6:00, (exact time and first meeting to be determined.) 

You are cordially invited to join us. For details, please contact Scott Jessee at jessees1949@gmail.com. All are welcome. 

Scott Jessee

MASKS ARE OPTIONAL IN WORSHIP



Masks are optional for inside worship and other inside activities for the foreseeable future.

Please help us put an end to this Pandemic by getting vaccinated.

Love yourself, love your neighbor, get vaccinated!

Please remember in your prayers: All who are ill or unemployed and those who are on our prayer list.

Short-term

Kenneth Canter, Julian Family, Jackie Foster, Estelle Gille, Juanita Phillips, Rebecca Carroll, Althea Johnson

Long-term

Lisa Wingler, Dot Beamon, Joyce Wheeling, David Temple, Ken Asel, Doug Merritt, Julius Parks & Family, Esther Eller

Armed Forces

Let us pray for the safety of all our troops, especially Micha Duerk, Faith Lankford, Cole Griffith, Zach Necessary, Walker Pardue, Philip Southwell, Mark Stone, Jason Westmeyer, and all others who serve throughout the world.

Please send to the church office the addresses of troops with connections to

office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, especially those abroad.

Prayer Requests

Prayer requests can be made by using the app under "contact us" and then the "prayer request" tab, by emailing the office at office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, or calling the office during regular office hours.

Bulletins are printed on Thursday mornings and requests submitted after that time will not be in the printed bulletin for that week, but may still be spoken. Prayer requests received by noon on Wednesday will be included in the weekly e-newsletter.

Serving in July

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

AND

YOURSELF!

GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED!!!

PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY!