WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – January 30th – Fr. Thomas

In his book Overcoming Life’s Disappointments, Rabbi Harold Kushner writes about a man whose wife suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Every day she slipped further and further away in the fog of dementia – but every day he would come to spend time with her. The couple’s heartbroken friends would ask him, “Why do you keep going when she doesn’t even know who you are?” And he would always reply, “Because I know who I am.”

The husband’s faithfulness is the perfect answer to the question Jesus posed to St. Peter and others: “Who do you say that I am?” In realizing exactly who Jesus is and the meaning of His life, death, and resurrection, we come to realize who we are and what our lives are all about. As Christians, we have been baptized into his death and resurrection. Our love and compassion for family and friends, our dedication to following the principles of the Gospel, our simple acts of love and kindness are all visible signs of our faith in Jesus as our Messiah and Lord.

Next Wednesday, February 2, is the Feast of the Presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple. If there was any doubt amongst the attendees at that customary Jewish event, the prophet Simeon and Anna put it to rest by proclaiming that they had seen the Messiah who had at last come into the world. When people see us, do they see Jesus at work in the world today? When we show kindness to those who can repay us, it’s called networking. When we show kindness with no thought of repayment, it’s called love. May the love of God be visible in our lives because we know who our Savior is, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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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. See the links listed below.

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: Beginning this week, please note we will be collecting sandwiches on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Wednesday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. We will also be collecting soup and other nonperishable items for St. Georges with our annual “Souper Bowl” through February 13th. Once we know the teams we will label the boxes but for now we just want to collect as much as we can.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by Maria Scher.

Bunco continues on Saturday, January 29th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Loads of fun and super easy for newcomers! The more the merrier, so please bring a friend, a bite to share, and your favorite beverage! Cash prizes awarded – even if you lose! $10 per person.

Plant Trimming: We will have a trimming session on Saturday, February 5th starting at 9:00 a.m. We need many hands to trim the shrubs and plants on the property. Please join us and bring tools that you have so we can get the property spruced up before Lent. Thank you. Linda McKeown.

Altar Flowers and Candles: We will 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 back in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

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

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday: Eucharistic Adoration 6:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30 p.m.

PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Baldwin, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doug, Edna, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Mike, Parker, Patricia, Sharon, Susan, Violet, William. For birthday celebrations: Michelle Blodgett, David Blazek, William Blodgett, Tom Parker, Pat Lorde, Laurel Westerholt, Jenifer Elmore. For our expectant mothers: Ana and Ryan.

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzWRA9VxChBQd5l6rf3kF3A