WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – October 6th – 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

Video Mass – October 2nd, 2022

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – Sept. 30th – Fr. Thomas

Next Tuesday is the beginning of the most holy day in the year for Jews, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. As people of God, we live with the expectation that God will fulfill the promises He’s made. The hope which springs from a relationship with Him is sustained by the constant prayer within the community He has founded, first to the people of Abraham, and to us Christians through Jesus Christ and His Church. Faith is an ongoing process. We can’t go it alone; we need God’s sacramental grace.

Elie Wiesel, author, Holocaust survivor and Nobel peace prize winner, says, “To love and praise God – this is Jewish. To be angry and confront God – this too is Jewish. To be apathetic toward God – this is not Jewish.” Even when God appeared to be silent and distant, the community of Israel remained faithful throughout history. When the Allied forced liberated Cologne, Germany at the end of WWII, they found etched in the cellar wall of a bombed out house, these words written by a refugee, “I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining. I believe in love, even when I don’t feel it. I believe in God, even when He is silent.” So, if God seems distant, who moved?


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 Vestry. Next Sunday will be hosted by the Congregation. Please bring a dish to share.

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.

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: Bonnie Mershon, Gavin Elmquist, Diana Myrie, Julian Belden, Evelyn Bartley, Tim Sauerbier, Douglas Richardson. For our expectant mothers: Sarah and Rebecca.

Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL

Video Mass – September 25th, 2022

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – Sept. 25th – Fr. Thomas

Watching Queen Elizabeth’s funeral last Monday brought back many wonderful memories of my three years of study in England. Appropriately, the ceremony was held in Westminster Abbey, which is not the “cathedral” of London, but a Royal church of medieval origins. In recognition of the wide variety of people within the commonwealth, a truly ecumenical list of leaders were present and participants in the funeral. But lest we forget – the monarch is not the “head” of the church, but the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, even though the role is mostly symbolic. (Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church!) The General Synod of clergy and lay representatives makes the decisions which affect the Church at a higher level. Incidentally, King Charles is, and has been, a longtime faithful member of the Church of England and regular church attendee in London and in his country estate in western England. Some may remember when he attended mass here at St. David’s on Easter Sunday in 1980, while visiting Wellington for a polo match.

So what does all this have to do with us? Coincidentally, tomorrow, September 24th, is the feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, commemorating the appearance of the Lord’s Mother to an English noblewoman in 1061 in the town of Walsingham in the English midlands. The Blessed Virgin told the woman to build a house which was to be a replica of the home of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. It is one of the oldest and the most ecumenical shrines in the world, with both Orthodox and Roman Catholic chapels.

So who is our “queen,” if not The Blessed Mother of Our Lord? Folks ask me for their prayers, and rightly so; but who else is closer to Our Lord than His own mother? So let us continue to pray for all the departed, and those in special need of our prayers, and ask for the Blessed Mother’s intercession. And, as always, pray like it’s all up to God, then work like it’s all up to you, because “Duty makes us do things well; love makes us do things beautifully” — Phillips Brooks.


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 ECW. 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.

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: Jack Erickson, Tanya Lee, Gabrielle Kiminyo, Lucy Smith, Dana Neumeyer, Roxan Carty, Jeanne Champagne, Ray Walter, Erika Belden. For anniversary celebrations: Howard and Jem Barrett, Lincoln and Yvonne Elliott, Kenneth and Dorrett Barnett. For our expectant mothers: Sarah and Rebecca.

Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL

Video Mass – September 18th, 2022

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – Sept. 18th – Fr. Thomas

Who says we don’t have a change of seasons in South Florida? We have Baseball Season, Soccer Season, Hockey Season, and now Football Season is upon us. Some of you “old timers” will remember Ray Wersching, the place kicker for the San Francisco 49ers. Ray is tied for the most field goals in a Super Bowl game with four in 1982, and tied for the most career points after a touchdown. One oddity about Wersching was that he never looked up at the goal posts when he came on to the field, normally alongside of his holder – Joe Montana. Raiders Head Coach John Madden once asked him why he didn’t look at the goal posts, to which Ray replied, “I look at the hash marks on the field.” (The hash marks in those days were the exact width of the goal posts.)

So what can we learn from Ray Wersching? If we keep our eyes on the ball, and stay within the lines, the prize will be within our reach. We can’t always change our circumstances or other people, so if you don’t like the view in front of you, or the way your life looks, try changing the way you look at life, and pray like it’s all up to God, then work like it’s all up to you.


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 after Mass this Sunday to learn more details, or contact the church office.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the Daughters of the King. Next Sunday will be hosted by the ECW.

Women’s Bible Study will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.

Vestry meeting will be held this Sunday, September 18th 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, Ezra, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Pearl, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Steve, Sue, Susan, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Windell. For birthday celebrations: Isabelle Carter, Alex Morales, Georgette Dzubiak, Mia Eubanks, Irene Oknewski, Kimberly Castellotti-Ward, Emma Gardner. For our expectant mothers: Sarah and Rebecca.

Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL

Video Mass – September 11th, 2022

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – Sept. 9th – Fr. Thomas

No one will ever forget what happened on September 11, 2001: but memories have both positive and negative consequences. In some cases, we should not forget; but we should forgive. When we are able to forgive (though not approve) we are released from what evil has been inflicted upon us and cease to be its victims.

Incredible stories came out of that tragic experience. Our former sexton, John Smith’s niece was an employee at the time at the Merrill Lynch office in one of the Twin Towers. It so happened that she had a plumber coming to her house that same morning to do a repair job so she decided to go into work late that day. For whatever reason her life was spared. Why, who knows? People of faith do not have all the answers. They can live with a certain amount of ambiguity without needing everything explained to them in great detail.

The final vision of the Kingdom is not only when men and women recognize that they are brothers and sisters called to unity, but members of God’s creation, not just made in His image, but made to live into His image. We don’t live “alone;” we are members of One Body. Yes, we are indeed our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. The prophet Isaiah foretells a time when “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child shall lead them, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

The apostle John expands this vision of the last days in Revelation, ch. 7: “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude which no one could number, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and the Lamb. Never again will they hunger or thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

This is the vision we as disciples of Christ must always keep alive.


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 after Mass this Sunday to learn more details, or contact the church office.

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.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the Congregation. Please bring a dish to share. Next Sunday will be hosted by the Daughters of the King.

St. David’s ECW meeting has been rescheduled to meet on Saturday, September 10th at 11:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Please bring a brown bag lunch with a beverage of your choice. If you are interested in the group but are unable to attend this meeting, please contact Irene Oknewski at ireneok1940@outlook.com or Jenifer Elmore at jenifer_elmore@pba.edu

St. David’s annual raffle drawing will be held on Sunday, Sept. 11 at the coffee hour after the 10:00 a.m. service. Prizes are $100, $200 and $300. You do not need to be present to win. Letter and tickets will be handed out at 8 and 10 o’clock services on 8/21 for those who attend, and remainder will be mailed on 8/22. Cost is $5 per ticket or $25 for book of 5 tickets. Please return filled in ticket stubs with check in envelope marked raffle by Sept. 11. You can mail to the church office or place in offering plate any Sunday before the drawing. Thank you for participating. Call Linda McKeown at 561-254-3902 or email her at llmckeown51@comcast.net with any questions. Good luck. Money will go to support the church.

Women’s Bible Study will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in the Mark Room.

Vestry meeting will be held on Sunday, September 18th at 11:10 a.m.

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: No service this week.

PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Baldwin, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Ed, Edna, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Jory, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Pearl, Predrag, Rachel, Rosie, Sharon, Steve, Sue, Susan, Tracy, Vernetta, Violet, William, Windell. For birthday celebrations: Charles Elmore, Doreen Garrett, Anthony Ward, John Webber, Joseph Brabham. For our expectant mothers: Sarah and Rebecca.

Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL

Video Mass – September 4th, 2022