WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – July 5th – Fr. Thomas

Now that we’re at the beginning of the fifth month of the pandemic, (I’m measuring the weeks from the last Sunday in which we were able to worship together in person, which was March 8th) it feels in a strange way like Lent is still upon us.  Lent is a time when we traditionally “give up” something; but for only forty days, not four months! It’s when we’re afraid of what we might have to give up that we hear Jesus words in the Gospel reading from St. Matthew for this Sunday, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

A guy fell off a cliff and, on the way, down, he grabs a branch. It’s foggy, and he has difficulty seeing. He’s hanging on for dear life. He looks up and cries, “Somebody help!  He hears God’s voice, “This is the Lord, trust Me, let go and I’ll catch you.” He thinks he’s hearing things, so he asks, “Is anybody else there?” Again, he hears God’s voice, “This is the Lord, trust Me, let go and I’ll catch you.”  The man finally decides to trust God and let go, and when he does, the fog disappears to reveal that he is only two feet off the ground.

Maybe it seems sometimes that things are worse off than they really are.  Perhaps for most of us, but sadly there are folks who are a lot worse off than we are. Those who have lost their jobs, their health, and their lives.  So, what have we given up thus far during the “lock down?”  Visiting relatives or friends, dining at our favorite restaurants, traveling to places we we’re looking forward to seeing, resources no longer at our disposal. Put your so called “disasters” in perspective and ask yourself, “In five years will this matter?” Because worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow troubles, it takes away today’s peace.  May that peace, which passes all understanding, abide in our hearts and minds this day, this month, and forevermore.  AMEN!

 

NOTICES:

Happy Blessed & Safe Independence Day Weekend

The Diocese of Southeast Florida – has extended the ban on Church-wide in-person services, events and meetings and other activity until further notice, until at least July 31st. Live-streaming and recording of worship will continue, but no other in-person activity is permitted. We will move into Season 2 only when we are clear that it is safe to do so.

Cyber-Security Threats – are real and can happen to any of us. Knowing that most of you did receive last week’s newsletter but not the Sunday mass video, please look in your junk/spam/trash folders, mark our emails as ‘not junk’ and re-type the church’s email address back into your contacts. Hopefully, none of you replied to the hacker’s scam to purchase gift cards or send money to an unknow party; be sure to delete that scam email out of your inbox, trash, and delete files. Make sure our original email address is the only one you have. If in doubt, call the parish office.

Video Viewing Options – there are four different ways to view our videos and receive our newsletters: 1) an email link within a newsletter; 2) our church website listed below; 3) our YouTube channel;  4) Facebook snippets.

 

Village of Wellington – the food distribution in Wellington is at the Wellington Mall by Nordstrom’s at 8:30-10:30 a.m. on TUESDAYS. You will be given a voucher when you are in line. Let the person know if you are getting food for more than one family. View the link to learn more information…https://www.wellingtonfl.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=164

Flowers for the Altar – Thank you to our donor for their contributions from March through June. If you wish to designate someone to be honored August and September, or in any month, please contact the parish office. July designees are:

  • Birthdays of Michel & Theresa Guillaume, by Michel Guillaume
  • Wedding Anniversary of Michel & Theresa Guillaume, by Michel Guillaume
  • In loving Memory of Robert Gardinier, by Jan Swearingen & Henriette Gardinier
  • Wedding Anniversary of Mike & Sue Riddle, by the Riddles

Sandwiches for St. George’s Outreach Project Extended through July – Please continue to prepare sandwiches for St. George’s and bring them to St. David’s parking lot each Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 am. Thank you for your continued support!

 

Please Pray – For the sick: Zoe. Jacob, Rita, Sarah, Alicia, William, Richard, Carole, Sandy, Kim, Joe, Steve, Bob, Linda, Francine, Donna, Ashlyn. For birthday celebrations: Rudy Bernard, Lynda Rozzi, Laurie Solomon. For our expectant mother: Andrea.

 

https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp9_RCL.html

 

https://www.facebook.com/SaintDavidsInThePines/