WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – November 18th – Fr. Thomas
There’s an old story about two men walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bear. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bear followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it. Terrified, one of the men shouted, “O Lord, please make this a Christian bear.” And with that, the bear stopped in its tracks, knelt down, looked up and said, “O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.”
We have much to be thankful for, even the many blessings we often take for granted. The happiest people are not necessarily those who have the best of everything, but those who make the best of everything they have. Thanksgiving is not merely one day, but a way of life. So, on the upcoming holiday next week, yes, Lord, make us truly thankful!
ECW will not hold a regular meeting in November, but will hold a regular meeting on Saturday, December 3rd, at 11:15 a.m. in the parish hall, followed by lunch at Los Agaves in Royal Palm Beach.
Christmas Outreach: I am excited to announce that, based on the pledges collected this past Sunday, we will be able to provide $75 Walmart gift cards to the 35 youngsters and their families at the Fortin Center in South Bay (just outside Belle Glade city limits)!!! Thank you for your ongoing generosity. I am again amazed, but no longer surprised, at your outpouring of care and concern for our neighbors in the Glades. I will be collecting for the next two Sundays before and after each service. Please bring cash, checks payable to St. David’s, or your credit cards. If you will not be at church either Sunday you can mail your check to me at 104 Locust Ln, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411. Joyce Parker 561-312-2719
ECW is hosting a Christmas-themed decorative craft workshop at Board & Brush in Wellington on Saturday, December 10th, from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost is $35 per person and includes all supplies to make a lovely and durable Christmas craft to decorate your home or give as a gift. Contact Linda McKeown at llmckeown51@comcast.net for more information or to reserve a space for the Board & Brush event. All women of the parish are invited to all ECW events.
St. David’s Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 p.m. Please join us for our joyous holiday concert! Enjoy musical performances. We hope to see you there. A reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Suggested donation of $20.00
The Live Nativity, one of our oldest traditions at St. David’s, will be held on Wednesday, December 21st, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and see the display that evening, but we also need volunteers of all ages to be in the display. To volunteer or get more information, call or text Jenifer Elmore at 561-601-3346 at your earliest opportunity.
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.
Sandwiches for St. George’s: 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.
Hospitality Hour next Sunday will be hosted by the Hosted by the Daughters of the King. Next Sunday will be hosted by the ECW.
Women’s Bible Study weekly meeting will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.
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.
Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00.
Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
PLEASE PRAY. For the sick: Alice, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Diana, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Ezra, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Woody. For birthday celebrations: Gloria Legister, Carole Sneade, Michael Neumeyer, Wally Hernandez, Sara Webber, Joy Noe, Matthew Hogan, Beatrice Sauerbier. For our expectant mother: Rebecca.
Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL
WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – November 9th – Fr. Thomas
Friday, November 11th, is of course, Veteran’s Day, marking the end of World War 1, in 1918. We owe a debt of gratitude to all veterans for their willingness to serve and defend the peace and liberty of our own country and others around the world, which we often take for granted. Coincidentally, in the liturgical calendar it is also the commemoration of St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers. Martin served in the Roman army in the 4th c. then settled in France and became a monk. The story is told that while early on in his Christian faith, Martin was approached by a beggar. Moved with compassion for the man, Martin removed his cloak, cut it in two pieces, and gave half to the poor man. The following night, Jesus appeared to Martin in a vision wearing the same torn piece of cloth. Later on he reluctantly accepted the position of Bishop of Tours in 372 A.D. and went on to become a popular and respected leader of the Church.
Jesus said, “What you did for the least of these my brothers, you did it unto me.” Martin’s immense faith and humility are an example to all of us of our responsibility to help those in time of need, and recognize Jesus in the lives of others. 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.
BUNKO IS BACK!! Come join us for serious fun and great camaraderie! Saturday, November 12th, at 6:00 p.m., in the Parish Hall. A super easy game to learn if you’ve never played and loads of fun! Bring a dish to share and a friend or two – the more the merrier! Cash prizes will be awarded, and you win even if you lose!! Seriously, where are you going to find that?! Come out to see what the excitement is all about! $10 per person – total bargain for a night full of fun!
The ECW is hosting a food collection for St. George’s Center, Riviera Beach on Sundays, November 6th and 13th. Boxes of cereal, cans of meat or fish, chicken and spam can be dropped off in the west parking lot on those two Sundays. Look for the signs!
ECW will not hold a regular meeting in November, but will hold a regular meeting on Saturday, December 3rd, at 11:15 a.m. in the parish hall, followed by lunch at Los Agaves in Royal Palm Beach.
ECW is hosting a Christmas-themed decorative craft workshop at Board & Brush in Wellington on Saturday, December 10th, from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost is $35 per person and includes all supplies to make a lovely and durable Christmas craft to decorate your home or give as a gift. Contact Linda McKeown at llmckeown51@comcast.net for more information or to reserve a space for the Board & Brush event. All women of the parish are invited to all ECW events.
St. David’s Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 p.m. Please join us for our joyous holiday concert! Enjoy musical performances. We hope to see you there. A reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Suggested donation of $20.00
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.
Sandwiches for St. George’s: 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.
Hospitality Hour next Sunday will be hosted by the Hosted by the Congregation. Please bring a dish to share. Next week will be hosted by the Daughters of the King.
Women’s Bible Study weekly meeting will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.
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.
Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00.
Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
PLEASE PRAY. For the sick: Alice, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Ezra, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Timothy, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Woody. For birthday celebrations: Pearl Saunders, Cynthia Thompson, Yashieka Blount, Elizabeth Philistin, Kimberly Gardner, Claudette Wray, Predrag Maksimovic, Yvonne Elliott, Jerry Frenz. For our expectant mother: Rebecca.
Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL
WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – November 4th – Fr. Thomas
Hero worship is a popular element of our culture. Heroes in sports, music, entertainment are often the subjects of our admiration. As I observe our day school parents dropping off or collecting children every day, I can’t help but acknowledge who the real heroes are in everyday life. For some parents, just getting multiple children washed, dressed, fed, and buckled up in the car or van and off to school can be a “colossal victory.” I remember a mother of two sets of twin boys, with another son still in diapers who attended our school years ago: you should have watched her trying to corral her four children and get them into the vehicle at the end of the day! Whew!
When asked about Church affiliation, most people would say: “Episcopalian, or Catholic, or . . .” but few would simply say, “Disciple.” I think that description belongs to the great heroes of the Faith – apostles, martyrs, holy women and men, who made a noticeable and lasting impact on the spiritual life of many in their day. But folks like parents with multiple children, children of disabled parents or spouses also qualify for special recognition.
Denise Roy is the author of My Monastery is a Minivan: Where the Daily is Divine and the Routine Becomes Prayer. She writes, “For two decades as a parent, I have broken bread, poured grape juice, preached, prayed, told stories, bestowed blessings, taken care of the sick, heard confessions. These have been the sacraments of my daily life. These are how we mediate love as we minister to our own small congregation of children, spouse and friends. If we pay attention, any moment, person, or place may be a potential source of wisdom, a dwelling place for divinity.”
Maybe we don’t have the luxury or time to go on retreat at a monastery, or return to college and study theology, but God gives us ample opportunities to witness to our faith and expects nothing less of all Christians – lay and clergy alike. Jesus invites us, like He invited the apostles, the fishermen, the farmers, the tax collectors, the woman at the well, and the peasants long ago to walk with Him, and bring others with us, in The Way that leads to eternal life.
Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 6th at 2 a.m. Please remember to set your clock back one hour on Saturday night, November 5th.
Welcome Back Breakfast hosted by the Vestry this Sunday, November 6th after the 10:00 a.m. mass. Please join us in the Parish Hall.
The ECW is hosting a food collection for St. George’s Center, Riviera Beach on Sundays, November 6th and 13th. Boxes of cereal, cans of meat or fish, chicken and spam can be dropped off in the west parking lot on those two Sundays. Look for the signs!
BUNKO IS BACK!! Come join us for serious fun and great camaraderie! Saturday, November 12th, at 6:00 p.m., in the Parish Hall. A super easy game to learn if you’ve never played and loads of fun! Bring a dish to share and a friend or two – the more the merrier! Cash prizes will be awarded, and you win even if you lose!! Seriously, where are you going to find that?! Come out to see what the excitement is all about! $10 per person – total bargain for a night full of fun!
ECW will not hold a regular meeting in November, but will hold a regular meeting on Saturday, December 3rd, at 11:15 a.m. in the parish hall, followed by lunch at Los Agaves in Royal Palm Beach.
ECW is hosting a Christmas-themed decorative craft workshop at Board & Brush in Wellington on Saturday, December 10th, from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost is $35 per person and includes all supplies to make a lovely and durable Christmas craft to decorate your home or give as a gift. Contact Linda McKeown at llmckeown51@comcast.net for more information or to reserve a space for the Board & Brush event. All women of the parish are invited to all ECW events.
St. David’s Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 p.m. Please join us for our joyous holiday concert! Enjoy musical performances. We hope to see you there. A reception to follow in the Parish Hall.
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.
Sandwiches for St. George’s: 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.
Hospitality Hour next Sunday will be hosted by the Congregation. Please bring a dish to share.
Women’s Bible Study weekly meeting will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.
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.
Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00.
Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
PLEASE PRAY. For the sick: Alice, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Ezra, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Timothy, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William. For birthday celebrations: Dennis South, Judy Devonish, Desmond Chambers, Cecil Wray. For our expectant mother: Rebecca.
Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL