WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – May 16th – Fr. Thomas.

A group of teenagers were working on a Habitat project. By the end of a long week, they were pretty scruffy looking sitting on their duffels waiting for their parents to come and collect them. “What is this?” a passerby asked. They were exhausted, worn out, looked terrible and smelled worse. Then one of the “passersby” said to the boys: “Are you tired?” to which one of the teens replied, “Whew! Am I tired!” Then he added: “But this is the best tired I have ever been.” In the Bible it’s called joy.

On this Sunday after the Ascension, and one week before we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we do well to remember that salvation came with a price. Even though the “Admission Fee” into heaven has been paid by Our Lord, we need to take steps in the right direction to claim our inheritance with the saints and angels who inhabit that Kingdom where there is no death, nor crying, but the fullness of joy which comes by getting off our “duffel bags” and traveling along that road that leads to everlasting life. Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending; because even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

NOTICES:

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass – there are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

Please note that our Vestry voted at its most recent meeting to lift the requirement on wearing masks inside the church and parish hall, leaving it up to the discretion of each individual.

Shop with Scrip: Gift card fundraising is the best way to raise money. Start giving back to St. David’s the moment you buy a gift card with the RaiseRight mobile app today! You can join the program by downloading the app on your phone or go to https://www.ShopWithScrip.com on your computer. The enrollment code to set up your free family account is BB6656B177722. For more information, please pick up a flyer in the narthex, or email Kimberly Joy Castellotti-Ward at choiceplusrealestate@gmail.com

ECW Raffle is ongoing. Please return completed ticket stubs with your check by May 30 for drawing. Tickets stubs can be placed in offering plates or mailed to the office. Prizes are $100, $200 and $300. Thanks for your support. Thanks. Linda

Help Needed: Pay is low but result is top of the scale. We need help on Saturday, May 22 at 8:30 to finish the trimming of the palmettos. With some more help, we could be finished in 2-2 1/2 hours so please try to come even for one hour. Water provided and a snack. Bring a chain saw or other electric or battery operated cutting devices.

Altar Flowers and Candles: We have a bag on the credenza to collect all flower and candle donations for upcoming Sundays. If you would like to donate for altar flowers for memorials and celebrations, please put your check for $40 with a request showing the date you want altar flowers and the reason for your donation into the bag. If you want to donate candles, please put your check for $20 and request showing date and reason for donation. Do not put flower and candle requests in offering plates.

Sunday School is still in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

Forward Day by Day brochures for the next quarter are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 am.
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30 pm.

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Ampy, Barbara, Beth, Danny, Donna, Jeanne, Joaquin, Kip, Max, Miguel, Mike. For birthday celebrations: James Belden Sr., Andrew Elmore, Denise Wilson, Virginia Barley, Angelica Cortez-Bennett. For anniversary celebrations: Wally and Cindy Hernandez, Debbie and Joseph Piconcelli, James and Erika Belden, Laurie and Irwin Cohen.