WEEKLY MESSAGE – March 1, 2024

/in /by

 

WEEKLY MESSAGE – March 3rd – Fr. Cederberg

The balance between law and grace is one of those constant struggles of the spiritual life.  At any given time, which do I emphasize?  The answer, according to Jesus, is both.  You can’t have one without the other.
On the one hand, the law is a gift from God.  It teaches us right from wrong.  It is a guide by which to lead our lives, so we should obey it.  Yet, it poses a quandary.  How do I really obey it?  The law says don’t murder.  That’s great.  I haven’t killed anyone today, so I’m good.  Check that one off the list, and I am free to condemn those who do in fact murder.
Jesus, however, grabs us and tells us to look again.  He says that even to be angry with someone is to be guilty of murder.  Uh oh.  Suddenly the demands of the law come home.  Am I innocent of murder, then, even though I haven’t spoken to my neighbor in a year because we had an argument over trimming trees in our back yard?  Obeying the law is about more than external observance.  It is about the condition of the heart.  The law is a hard teacher, and it forces us to cry out for grace, looking at others not through the eyes of self-righteousness, but of humility.  And humility is always a bitter pill to swallow.
As you work your way through Lent you might want to grab your prayer book and flip to page 350 which we have been using to recite the Ten Commandments (Decalogue) each Sunday.  How do you feel about it as you read? How do you think about others? With the example of Jesus in mind, the end result can be humility, gratitude and empathy for others.  Those are pretty wonderful gifts for the season of Lent.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Debt Reduction:  Total Debt:  $94,000.00.  Total Balance:  $2,086.00.

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 Vestry.  Next week will be hosted by the Congregation.

Choral Evensong – Feast of Saint David’s of Wales is scheduled on Sunday, March 3rd at 4:00 p.m.  A reception will follow in the parish hall.

St. David’s Annual Picnic is scheduled on Sunday, March 17th immediately after the 10:00 a.m. service.

First Communion will be held on Sunday, March 24th at the 10am service.  To confirm your spot, please email Katiewaters@hotmail.com by Sunday, February 25th.

Stations of the Cross:  Fridays in Lent at 6:30 p.m. March 1, 8, 15, 22.

Church Grounds Clean Up on Saturday, March 16th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.  We are looking for volunteers to help clean up the church grounds.  Please bring a rake if you have one.  Lunch will be provided.   Thanks. Linda.

Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 10th.  Please remember to move your clocks one hour ahead.

Daughters of the King discernment and preparation for admission is scheduled on the 3rd and 4th Sundays at 9:00 a.m. for study guide starting February through May in the Mark Room.

Easter Egg Donations: Our Sunday School Director, Katie Waters will be collecting plastic eggs (prefilled or not) every Sunday leading up to Easter when we will have our Children’s Egg Hunt. (Please no chocolate prizes as they melt quickly).

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.

Tuesdays:  Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.

Forward Day by Day Brochures is available in the narthex.  Donation $3.00.  Large print is also available.

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, Bishop Curry, Carol, Dennis, Diana, Dorothy, Dudley, Emily, Grace, Heather, Jameson, Jim, Kerrie, Lloyd, Marjorie, Megan, Michael, Pearl, Phyllis, Predrag, Robin, Ronald, Shelley, Shirley, Tanner, Violet.  For birthday celebrations: Jacki Whiting, Helena Bresnahan, Pat Bernard.  For our expectant mother:  Shay.  For our search committee Howard Barrett, Jenifer Elmore, Janice Jacques, Kristi Lee, Sera Peat, Yvonne Wolliston, Cecil Wray.

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.