WEEKLY MESSAGE – January 26, 2024

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WEEKLY MESSAGE – January 26th – Fr. Cederberg

USA Today this week carried the story of a young college student who boarded a 3:00am train in Carbondale, Illinois, bound for Chicago; a 330 mile trip.  As might be imagined, she was so tired she fell asleep.  While she slept the train reached its destination, all of the other passengers disembarked, and she slept on as the train made its way to the train yard for maintenance.  When she finally awoke it was four hours later finding herself alone and locked in a dark and ominously quiet train.  Fortunately, she had a cell phone and was able to contact her mother who reached out to the authorities who finally were able to find and release her.
What a harrowing experience!  I can’t imagine how she felt.  Two lessons emerge from it for me.  First, how important it is to stay awake.  Life moves on, and it is important to stay attentive to what is happening around us.  God is on the move, and we have to be prepared to get on and off at the right stop.
But it also raises another question for leaders.  Are there times when some of the people God has given us have “fallen asleep”?  Maybe they are exhausted from the journey.  Maybe their bodies are sick or weak.  Maybe they are preoccupied with other challenges or distractions.  Are we attentive to them?  The steward on the train certainly didn’t do his or her duty to make sure that the train was empty at the final stop.  Someone easily could have had a health crisis and the steward would not even have noticed.  They clearly missed someone who needed them.
How attentive am I to the people in my life?  Are they somehow in need and I am too distracted to notice?  Not everyone is able or willing to ask for help.  They may not even know they could ask.  Am I aware enough to notice them?  When is the last time I checked on them?  Good questions for our prayers.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled this Sunday, January 28th immediately after the 10:00 a.m. service in the Parish Hall.  Reports of parish ministries and programs, and presentation of 2023 financial statements.  Refreshments will be served.

Debt Reduction:  Total debt $94,000.00.  Balance due $25,551.00.

Search Committee Members.  Please pray for the search committee members Howard Barrett, Jenifer Elmore, Janice Jacques, Kristi Lee, Sera Peat, Yvonne Wolliston, Cecil Wray during the process of selecting a new rector.

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.

New Members.   Marie Hogan will be taking photos on Sunday, January 28th of people who are new to the parish since October, 2023.    Please see her on the sidewalk for a quick photo for our bulletin board before the 10:00 a.m. service.

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

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

No Women’s Bible Study meeting this Sunday.

Youth Group Bible Study is scheduled at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 4th.

ECW Trip on Saturday, February 3rd to the Morakami Museum & Gardens orchid workshop and lunch.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is on February 13th at 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.  Please join us for pancakes, sausages and beverages. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for 10 years and under.  Tickets will be on sale starting this Sunday after the 8:00 a.m. service and before the 10:00 a.m. service.  Please wear your costume mask.

Bunco is scheduled on Saturday, January 27th 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!

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.

St. Jude’s Trikeathon is scheduled on February 9th sponsored by St. David’s Day School.  We will be collecting cash or check donations starting Sunday, February 4th at both services.

“Souper Bowl” is on Sunday, February 11th.  We are collecting cans of soup this Sunday, January 28th.  Support your favorite team by donating cans or packages of soup or other non-perishable food for the team of your choice.  Thanks for your support.  Linda McKeown.

Ash Wednesday Services:  February 14th at 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

A Memorial Service for Laurie Cohen’s Father Samuel James “Jim” Stilwell will be held on Saturday, February 17th at 2:00 p.m. 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 is available in the narthex.  Large print is also available.  Donation $3.00.

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, Grace, Heather, Jameson, Lloyd, Marjorie, Megan, Michael, Pearl, Phyllis, Predrag, Robin, Ronald, Shelley, Shirley, Tanner, Violet.  For birthday celebrations: Millicent Thompson, Shelley Blodgett, William Blodgett, Tom Parker, Pat Lorde.  For anniversary celebration:  Tom and Joyce Parker.    For our expectant mother:  Shay.

Vestry Members:  Howard Barrett – Senior Warden, Laurette Bagley, Kenneth Barnett, John Webber – Junior Warden, Jenifer Elmore, Matthew Hogan, Karlene Kiminyo, Chris LaBorde – Secretary, Linda McKeown, Irene Oknewski, Joyce Parker, Dennis Wright – Treasurer.