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
WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – October 28th – Fr. Thomas
In my last sermon at my first parish in Rhode Island, where I happily served as the assistant priest for three years, I told the story about a rector who appeared to spend an inordinate amount of time maintaining the memorial garden of the church rather than out amongst the people in the parish. When asked why he spent so much time there he replied, “Because I feel it’s important to spend more time with the people who are paying my salary.” Nobody laughed, but you get the point. The parish had a sizeable endowment, the income of which allowed the parish to afford an assistant, as well as a small cemetery on the church grounds.
Tuesday, November 1st, is the Solemnity of All Saints Day, but what often gets “lost” in the shadows is the Commemoration of All Souls, on November 2nd, which recognizes those who perhaps didn’t live recognizably “saintly” lives, but who are still on the road to heaven, although they need a little longer to be “cleansed” and prepared for the final “wedding banquet” in heaven. It’s sort of like driving your vehicle through the car wash: for some people, one needs to drive through more than a few times to get thoroughly cleansed!
As we remember those who have departed this life, I encourage you to seriously consider St. David’s Church in your estate planning; the rewards of which will ensure the continuation of the ministries we support. If you need advice on how to arrange for a part of your estate to be left to St. David’s, either in a life insurance policy, annuity, appreciated property or real estate; a representative from the parish will be willing to help you. Without a “will,” you leave the decision of how your assets are distributed to the State of Florida or the IRS.
Anybody can start the race, but they don’t give out the awards until you finish; but in the end, all of us go down to the dust, where even at the grave we make our song, “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!”
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!
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.
Daughters of the King social event for members only this Saturday, Oct. 29th at 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Contact Diana Myrie, Beatrice Deshommes or Marianne Davidson for more information.
Blessing of the Animals is scheduled for this Sunday, October 30th immediately following the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. masses.
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.
ECW invites all women of the parish to a Fall Painting Workshop by Jan’s Finest in the Parish Hall, Saturday, Nov. 5, 1-4 p.m. All materials and hands-on instruction will be provided, light seasonal refreshments will be served, and NO ARTISTIC TRAINING OR TALENT IS REQUIRED! Cost is $25 per person, and reservations are available until Oct. 28 or until all spaces are filled. To reserve a space, contact Georgette Dzubiak at Zubie01@hotmail.com or sign up on the sheet in the church narthex.
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!
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.
Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by Maria Scher. Next Sunday will be hosted by the Vestry.
Women’s Bible Study will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.
Caribbean Sunday Service: Please join us for our Caribbean Sunday service on October 23rd at 10:00 a.m. We will have steel pan music with a Caribbean reception following the mass.
Forward Day by Day brochures for next quarter 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, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jean, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Timothy, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William. For ther departed Baldwin Henry. For birthday celebrations: Gregory Gingery, Zoe Chung, Jean-Rene Guillaume, The Rev. W. Steven Thomas, Trevor Carter. For anniversary celebrations: Jim and Sherry Richardson. For our expectant mother: Rebecca.
Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL
WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – October 21st – Fr. Thomas
The baseball season is nearing its end with the playoffs going on at present. Leith Anderson, a pastor, shares an experience growing up as a boy outside of New York City. He was an avid fan of the old Brooklyn Dodgers. One day his father took him to a World Series game between the Dodgers and the Yankees. He was so excited, and he just knew that the Dodgers would trounce the Yankees. Unfortunately, the Dodgers never got on base, and his excitement was shattered. Years later he was engrossed in a conversation with a man who was a “walking sports almanac.” Leith told him about the first major league game he ever attended and added, “It was such a disappointment. I was a Dodgers fan and the Dodgers never got on base.” The man replied, “You were there? You were at the game when Don Larsen pitched the first perfect game in World Series history?” Leith replied, “Yeah, but uh, we lost.”
Sometimes it’s difficult to see the good news within the apparent and overwhelming bad news. The Good News, the Gospel we proclaim, shines through the darkest moments of our life, our nation, and the world. Yes, you “can’t win them all.” Remember that Babe Ruth held the record for the most career home runs, and at the same time the most strikeouts! Brett Farve, likewise, held the record for some time for throwing the most touchdown passes, and the most interceptions. Man O War, lost only one race to a horse named “Upset,” hence the origin of the word in our vocabulary.
Remember, the Old Testament character Job- he was not really patient; but he was persistent! Anybody can start the race in the real world, but they don’t give out the awards until you finish. We take the good with the bad, knowing that in the end, God wins: because “Love is stronger than death.”
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.
Daughters of the King social event on Saturday, Oct. 29th at 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Contact Diana Myrie, Beatrice Deshommes or Marianne Davidson for more information.
Blessing of the Animals has been scheduled for Sunday, October 30th immediately following the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. masses.
ECW invites all women of the parish to a Fall Painting Workshop by Jan’s Finest in the Parish Hall, Saturday, Nov. 5, 1-4 p.m. All materials and hands-on instruction will be provided, light seasonal refreshments will be served, and NO ARTISTIC TRAINING OR TALENT IS REQUIRED! Cost is $25 per person, and reservations are available until Oct. 28 or until all spaces are filled. To reserve a space, contact Georgette Dzubiak at Zubie01@hotmail.com or sign up on the sheet in the church narthex.
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!
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.
Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the Caribbean Congregation. Next Sunday will be hosted by Maria Scher.
Women’s Bible Study will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.
Caribbean Sunday Service: Please join us for our Caribbean Sunday service on October 23rd at 10:00 a.m. We will have steel pan music with a Caribbean reception following the mass.
Forward Day by Day brochures for next quarter are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00.
Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Baldwin, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jean, 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: Violet Henry, Fay Ishmael. For anniversary celebrations: Everald and Phyllis Thomas. For our expectant mother: Rebecca.
Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL
Vestry Welcome Back Breakfast – Sunday, November 6th
Please join us on Sunday, November 6th for the
Vestry Welcome Back Breakfast following the 10am Mass
WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – October 14th – Fr. Thomas
As a child, I remember spending many Saturday evenings with my grandparents and watching the Ed Sullivan Show on television. Among the memories was watching the guys who would come out on the stage and spin china plates on vertical poles; first one, then another, and then more at the same time. After half a dozen or so, you’d hold your breath waiting for the plates to come crashing down.
How often in life do we feel like we’re juggling too many things at once? If you have three calendars, two computer screens, and two phones, you’re probably too busy. The paradox, however, is that many people are busy and yet bored at the same time. While running from one meeting or event to the next, we wonder if anything important is really happening. While trying to keep up with the many tasks and commitments, we are not sure that it would make any difference if we did nothing at all. While pushing ourselves in all directions, we doubt if anyone really cares. In short, our lives are full, but unfulfilled. Boredom can be linked to resentment. When we are busy, yet wondering if our busyness means anything to anyone, we feel manipulated and exploited. Of course, anyone with multiple children, several jobs, a spouse, and aging parents, will inevitably feel overworked and stressed out. All of which can lead to anger, depression, or related health issues.
Jesus has an answer. He wants to bring us to a place where we belong. But His call to live a spiritual life can only be heard when we are willing to recognize our “spiritual homelessness.” Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who know their need of God.” Recognizing that our true home is in heaven will keep us focused on the primary things in this life; and “All the other things shall be yours as well.”
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.
Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the Congregation. Next Sunday will be hosted by the Daughters of the King.
Women’s Bible Study will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.
Vestry Meeting will be held this Sunday at 11:10 a.m.
Caribbean Sunday Service: Please join us for our Caribbean Sunday service on October 23rd at 10:00 a.m. We will have steel pan music with a Caribbean reception following the mass.
Altar Flowers and Candles: We will 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.
Vases needed for flower delivery. If you are able to donate vases, please put them under counter in the ladies room. Thank you. Linda
Forward Day by Day brochures for next quarter are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00.
Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Baldwin, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jean, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Pearl, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Shelly, Steve, Sue, Susan, Timothy, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Windell. For birthday celebrations: Laurel Coore, Carolyn Schmiedl, Jean DeLeon, Joanna Morlu, Judy Bennett. For our expectant mothers: Sarah and Rebecca.
Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL
