WEEKLY MESSAGE – January 12, 2024

I’m not much of a poet, but every once in a while something pops up in me that I find helpful.  Now that we have gotten through the bustle of the holidays it is a good time to catch up with ourselves and ask how we are doing.  How would you go about answering that question?

Let me sit still, and ponder just a bit.  I had the remote, with a button under my finger, but I set it down.  My eye then snatched by the titles of books long neglected.  I’ve been wanting to get to them, but nope. Not now.  I have another string to follow, a voice that wants a minute.  The voice of God, through Spirit slight and quiet?  Maybe.  Memories of the past, dangling for attention?  Perhaps.  Or just a voice in me, a friend deep inside.  It whispers.  Timid.  Easy to overlook.  Easy to bumble past, moving on to something else “pressing”.   So I pour a cup of earl grey, and settle into an easy chair by a window that brings light.  And I hold the cup with both hands, feeling its warmth and breathing its steam.  And then, finally, I say, “Speak, Friend.”

Debt Reduction:  Total debt $94,000.00.  Total collected:  $39,460.00.

Sandwiches for St. George’s:  Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by parishioners 50 years and under.  Please come and bring a dish and help serve and clean up.  We will have a cake to thank the Altar Guild for their service to the church.  Next week will be hosted by the Daughters of the King.

Vestry Meeting with Canon Montgomery will be held on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. in the Sunday school classroom.

DOK Meet and Greet scheduled on Saturday, January 20^th at 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

Bunco is scheduled on Saturday, January 27^th at 6:00 p.m.  Bring a dish to share – and we will have someone to watch the little ones.  $10 per person, with 3 separate cash prizes – even if you lose!  Honestly, where are you going to find that?!  Hope to see you there!

Church Grounds Clean-Up is scheduled on Saturday, January 27^th at 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Volunteers are needed to help with the clean-up.  Lunch will be provided.

Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled on Sunday, January 28^th after the 10:00 a.m. service.  Reports of parish ministries and programs, and presentation of 2023 financial statements.

Bible Study at 9:00 a.m. is scheduled on Sunday in the Sunday school classroom.

Women’s Bible Study is scheduled on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.

Blood Drive:  OneBlood will be at St. David’s on Sunday, February 4th. Please eat a good breakfast and drink lots of water and plan to donate. There is a nationwide blood shortage emergency. Your donation is critically important.  I can guarantee that you will save or gratefully improve someone’s life. Thank you. Joyce Parker 561-312-2719.

A Memorial Service for Laurie Cohen’s father Samuel James “Jim” Stilwell, will be held on Saturday, February 17^th at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church located at 3395 Burns Road, Palm Beach Gardens.

Sunday school is open and available for children starting at age 3 years old.  If you are interested in helping, please contact Katie Waters at katiewaters@hotmail.com.

Tuesdays:  Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m.

Forward Day by Day Brochures for the next quarter are in the narthex.  Donation S3.00

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.

PLEASE PRAY.  For the sick:  Audley, Carol, Dennis, Diana, Donna, Dorothy, Dudley, Emily, Heather, Jameson, Jim, Lloyd, Marjorie, Megan, Michael, Pearl, Phyllis, Predrag, Robin, Ronald, Shelley, Shirley, Tanner, Violet.  For birthday celebrations: Margie Sandell, David Michaels, Barbara Hastings-Griffin.  For our expectant mother:Shay.