WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – March 24th – Fr. Thomas
Do you watch so called “Reality Shows?” Like the actors who portray “real people” on television, do we act differently when the camera is not running, when no one appears to be watching? Lent is a time when we try to emulate, albeit to a much lesser degree, Jesus’ wilderness experience of fasting, trial and temptation. However, let’s be clear: Jesus did not escape from reality by going into the wilderness. In fact, He told us He was truly moving into a place that was quite real, not to mention challenging.
Whatever we might think of as an “escape clause” in Christianity, the “wilderness” is not one of them. The wilderness is hardly a place of escape, it’s a place to which we go and encounter that which is most real: our feelings, convictions, hopes, and concerns that might not be able to find a home in any other area of society. Far from a “retreat” from the real world, Lent is the time when we address those parts of the “real world” which we often try to avoid.
Death is real, but so is the resurrected life promised to those who follow Jesus’ path. As we approach the end of this Lenten season, I hope you’ll take advantage of the many liturgical services to share in the journey and events of Jesus’ Passion, Death, and glorious Resurrection. Let’s not take these moments and opportunities of grace for granted, but rather work to make this Easter like none other.
NOTICES:
Weekly Offering for Week Ending 3/81/2023. Total $6,413.00. Average Weekly Budget $4,646.00. The difference +$1,767.00.
Stations of the Cross. Fridays at 6:30 p.m. during Lent.
Holy Week
• Maundy Thursday April 6th 7:00 p.m. (Followed by an all-night Vigil)
• Good Friday April 7th 12 noon – 3:00 p.m.
• Stations of the Cross April 7th 7:00 p.m. led by the Youth
• Tomb Service April 8th 10:00 a.m.
• Holy Saturday Vigil April 8th 7:00 p.m.
• Easter April 9th 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.
• Easter Egg Hunt April 9th after 10am mass 11:15 a.m.
There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex for the Maundy Thursday Prayer Vigil April 6th, which starts after the Mass Thursday night until noon on Good Friday. Sign up to pray for one hour and keep company with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
The Easter Vigil Champagne Reception will be after celebration of the Easter Vigil Mass, Saturday night, April 8th. Sign up after Mass this Sunday to bring an hors d’oeuvre, sweet or beverage and to volunteer to help set up or clean up after the reception!
The Great Easter Egg Hunt will be after the 10AM Mass on Easter Sunday, April 9th. We are collecting plastic eggs in the decorated box in the narthex for the next few weeks. Eggs can be empty or filled, but if they are filled, please no chocolate or gum. Thank you for your support!
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 is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the ECW. Next Sunday is Congregation Sunday in honor of our parish administrators – Yvonne Elliott and Father Thomas. Please bring a dish to share.
Beginning April 2nd, Coffee hour is scheduled the first Sunday of each month immediately after the 8:00 a.m. service.
Easter Flowers: We are collecting donations for Easter Lilies. Cost of flowers is $25. Please fill in a form and place it in the bag on the credenza or mail it to the office. Please return completed form by Tuesday, March 28th.
ECW will meet at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, in the parish hall. After the business meeting, we will have lunch at a nearby restaurant. All women of St. David’s are encouraged to attend. Contact Irene Oknewski at ireneok1940@outlook.com or Jenifer Elmore at Jenifer_Elmore@pba.edu for more information.
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.
Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
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 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 PRAY. For the sick: Adrian, Alice, Amanda, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, David, Diana, Donna, Dorothy, Doris, Doug, Dudley, Ezra, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Predrag, Rachel, Robin, Ron, Rosie, Scott, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Theresa, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Woody. For birthday celebrations: Inara Elmquist, Ann Chambers, Eric Cohen, Laurette Bagley, Samuel Kalphat, Joe Mee. For our expectant mothers: Rebecca, Alexandra, Taylor, Abby and Bethany. In Thanksgiving for the healthy birth of Bria Luna Fernandez to Rebecca & Christopher.
Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL
