WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – Sept. 25th – Fr. Thomas

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Watching Queen Elizabeth’s funeral last Monday brought back many wonderful memories of my three years of study in England. Appropriately, the ceremony was held in Westminster Abbey, which is not the “cathedral” of London, but a Royal church of medieval origins. In recognition of the wide variety of people within the commonwealth, a truly ecumenical list of leaders were present and participants in the funeral. But lest we forget – the monarch is not the “head” of the church, but the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, even though the role is mostly symbolic. (Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church!) The General Synod of clergy and lay representatives makes the decisions which affect the Church at a higher level. Incidentally, King Charles is, and has been, a longtime faithful member of the Church of England and regular church attendee in London and in his country estate in western England. Some may remember when he attended mass here at St. David’s on Easter Sunday in 1980, while visiting Wellington for a polo match.

So what does all this have to do with us? Coincidentally, tomorrow, September 24th, is the feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, commemorating the appearance of the Lord’s Mother to an English noblewoman in 1061 in the town of Walsingham in the English midlands. The Blessed Virgin told the woman to build a house which was to be a replica of the home of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. It is one of the oldest and the most ecumenical shrines in the world, with both Orthodox and Roman Catholic chapels.

So who is our “queen,” if not The Blessed Mother of Our Lord? Folks ask me for their prayers, and rightly so; but who else is closer to Our Lord than His own mother? So let us continue to pray for all the departed, and those in special need of our prayers, and ask for the Blessed Mother’s intercession. And, as always, pray like it’s all up to God, then work like it’s all up to you, because “Duty makes us do things well; love makes us do things beautifully” — Phillips Brooks.

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.

Sunday school is open and available for children starting at age 3 years old. We are looking for volunteer Sunday school teachers, anyone interested can contact Erin Thomas to learn more details, or contact the church office.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the ECW. Next Sunday will be hosted by the Vestry.

Women’s Bible Study will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.

Caribbean Sunday Service: Please join us for our Caribbean Sunday service on October 23rd at 10:00 a.m. We will have steel pan music with a Caribbean reception following the mass.

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.

Vases needed for flower delivery. If you are able to donate vases, please put them under counter in the ladies room. Thank you. Linda

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

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.

PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Baldwin, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jean, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Pearl, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Timothy, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Windell. For birthday celebrations: Jack Erickson, Tanya Lee, Gabrielle Kiminyo, Lucy Smith, Dana Neumeyer, Roxan Carty, Jeanne Champagne, Ray Walter, Erika Belden. For anniversary celebrations: Howard and Jem Barrett, Lincoln and Yvonne Elliott, Kenneth and Dorrett Barnett. For our expectant mothers: Sarah and Rebecca.

Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL