April 25, 2024

SUNDAY SERVICES

8:00 and 10:00 am

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Last Sunday's Service

Sunday Sermons

If you would like to read Rev. Dave's recent sermon,

please click the link below

Sermon: The Purpose of an icon in the World, 4.21.24

PRAYERS

A Prayer for Peace Among the Nations (BCP 816)

Let us pray in this time of conflict for peace in Israel, Palestine and Ukraine.

Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world

into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them

that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become

the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

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. 

We Pray for our People

Breathe your healing and peace on all those who suffer, especially Downs IV, Holden, Anne, Victoria, Kim, Michael, Barbara, Lorraine, Maria Christine, Caitlin, Amelia, Dennis, and Alice. Guide them and us along the right pathways for your Name’s sake. Help those recovering from injury, especially Agie. We pray for Turning Points, Manatee Food Bank, and all those who feed others. Give comfort to all who receive the care of skilled nursing, especially Timothy, Barbara, Kim, Lou and Ann. Give peace to those going through cancer treatments, and those in remission, especially, Margaret, Downs III, Victoria, Alex, Connie, Douglas, Frank, Gerta, Lauren, Jennifer, TJ, Jim, Stephanie, Cara, Todd and Nancy. We pray for those in Hospice that they will have comfort in you, especially Mary Jo.

A BRIDGE BETWEEN ALEX AND DAVE

Podcast: A Bridge Between



Episode 73: Abiding in Jesus



Also available on Spotify:

Spotify: A Bridge Between

PARISH ACTIVITIES

Choir News

• Choir meets every Thursday (October – May) at 10:00 am – ALL are WELCOME!
• Bell Choir meets every Thursday (October – May) at 11:15 am – ALL are WELCOME!

All Angels New Icon

Last Sunday, we blessed the icon below,

which was commissioned especially for All Angels. 

Gallery Artist

Our featured artist for April is iconographer Christine Hales. Please stop by and enjoy the work of this talented local artist. Checks should be written to All Angels by the Sea. 

Men's and Women's Discussion Group

Many thanks to the Women's Group who took Christi and me out to a birthday lunch on Wednesday. Afterwards I visited Ann Roberts at Freedom Village. She is not yet ready to attend our discussion group but I believe she is getting good care and I have hope for her. 

Are you familiar with Carl Jung? If not, this two page article by Arthur Brooks will introduce you to his five pillars of happy living. Brooks also includes his seven-point summary. I'd like to know what you think. For me, the discussion group is a source of happiness. 

For those in person, I'll have the coffee ready. For those on Zoom, here's the link: https://zoom.us/j/5955701807

To read the article, click the link below:

Jungs Five Pillars of Happiness

Coffee Hour Hosts Needed

One of the most important things we do is gather after the service for coffee hour. If you are interested in hosting, the sign up sheet is on the Gallery table. If you would like help, sign up and we will find someone to show you how it is done. 

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:

AllAngelsLBK.org

REFLECTION

Thanks to Karen

I met Karen Hensel in the parking lot of All Angels in April 2020. She was in the driver’s seat of her silver Honda SUV and her husband was next to her. They were driving around on Sunday morning to see what the pandemic lockdown had done to the island. When they drove by the church, they saw people outside sitting in lawn chairs participating in the service that was being broadcast on loudspeakers. They pulled up and listened. The next week, she was greeted by Debi, one of our ushers, who passed them a bulletin through their open window using our pool sweep basket (to keep distant). As the year went on, we became more sophisticated – eventually live-streaming on YouTube. Each week, Karen and her husband faithfully attended, remotely.

Two years ago, she asked if I could meet her at the hospital. Her husband was on a breathing machine (non-Covid related) and it was time to say goodbye. We participated in Last Rites, and then they disconnected the machine. A few months later, she attended All Angels in person, via her walker (some of you may remember Karen), but she found it was better for her to participate at home.

Some of you know that I attend a weekly business networking group called BNI. There are many reasons why a priest would participate in a networking group, but the main one for me is thanks to Karen. At one point, she needed computer help. There was a local guy who had been by the church a couple times to market his in-person IT business for seniors, so I passed his card to Karen. Unfortunately, it was not a good fit for her. That showed me I need to have a strong network of business professionals to be able to make good referrals. Shortly after that, my friend, and parishioner, Tryla, invited me to BNI and the rest is history – thanks to Karen.

Six months later, Karen passed away. I was contacted by her estate attorney because All Angels was named as a beneficiary in her will. This week, we deposited a large check from her estate. Our finance committee will review our capital needs and make recommendations to the Vestry. My gut feeling, however, is that we are going to use a portion of it to improve the campus; perhaps resurfacing the parking lot and upgrading our live-streaming system; and the rest will go into the endowment for growth and future use. I feel that way because the parking lot and our A/V system is what Karen depended on to receive the good news about the living Christ. I think she’d approve.

The early Church (before the Gospels were written down) went through persecution. As a result, they met in the homes of wealthy widows. Without these faithful and brave women, the Church today would be dramatically smaller. If you have ever wondered why we use a silver plate and chalice for communion, it is to remind us of the widows who opened their home to the Church and used their finest serving ware for the Holy Eucharist. The Church went through a hard time in the pandemic lockdown. Yet, just like in the early Church, faithful and brave people stepped forward and continued the tradition of offering peace and community in the name of Jesus.

I don’t think Karen would consider herself a wealthy widow, but she certainly opened her heart to the mission and ministry of All Angels which is to bring the living Christ to those inside and outside the church. She has left a substantial sum for us to invest for the future and to improve our campus today. She has joined a long tradition of people who have given to the Church of the future by remembering All Angels today in their will. I look forward to the improvements that are coming, and I will be sure to give thanks to God, and thanks to Karen too.



- Rev. Dave