WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – July 4th – Fr. Thomas.

A father asks his Boy Scout son if he’d done his “Good Deed” for the day. The boy replies, “Sure, I helped an old lady cross the street. It took twelve of us.” “Why so many?” the father asks. “Because she didn’t want to cross!”

Every act of kindness done solely for the sake of helping others is a sign of God’s love. However, if the act is done expecting something in return, or to get our ticket to heaven “stamped,” or out of guilt, or to help only those we like, or those who are “like” us, what reward have you? Jesus reminds us that we should love, respect, and even forgive, when necessary, those who differ from us.

So, maybe you don’t know what to do about epidemics, or starvation in Africa, or terrorism and violence in the Middle East, and even in our own country. Yet, even our acts of prayer and manner of life can have a transformative effect when they inspire people to act like Christians in word and in deed. As for this holiday weekend, as our nation and our world become more polarized, God asks us, “Who is my neighbor?” I’ll give John Wesley the last word: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

NOTICES:

Sunday’s Worship – We are open for live worship on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. We also “live-stream” our 10 a.m. service.

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.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 pm.

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

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 protocol 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.

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Angel, Ampy, Beth, Danny, Diana, Donna, Doug, Jeanne, Joaquin, Kip, Max, Miguel, Mike, Walter. For birthday celebrations: Rudolph Bernard, Laurie Solomon, Lynda Rozzi. For our expectant mother: Meghan.