You might remember the comedian Yakov Smirnoff. When he first came to the United States from Russia, he was not prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He says, “On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk – you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice – you just add water, and you get orange juice; and then I saw baby powder, and I thought to myself, What a country!”

We make these assumptions about Christian Transformation – that people change instantly at salvation. Some traditions call it repentance and renewal. Some call it Sanctification of the believer. Whatever you call it most traditions expect some quick fix to sin. Maybe some conversions come at a precise recognizable moment: miraculous change in habits, attitudes, and character. For most of us, however, conversion is a process – years in the making, and we know that it’s not that easy. We sometimes go to church as if we are going to the grocery store: Powdered Christian. Just add water and disciples are born instantly – not made.

Unfortunately, there is no such powder and disciples of Jesus Christ are not instantly born. Disciples are slowly raised through many trials, suffering, and temptations. St. Gregory of Nazianzen, the 4th c. Archbishop of Constantinople, speaks of the Christian as an “instrument played by the Holy Spirit.” The aim of Christian discipline, not just in Lent, but throughout the entire year, is to keep the instrument in tune. Mortifying the flesh is not simply a way of controlling instincts or appetites, rather it’s like tightening a violin string. We don’t just go on twisting and tightening until the string breaks. We slowly bring the strings to the exact pitch so that the instrument produces a melody of love – like the divine love we were created for.

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Quiet Day with Meditations. The theme will be the gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love. Saturday, March 12, 2022, 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, sponsored by the Daughters of the King. But open to everyone, male and female.

Daylight Savings is Sunday, March 13th. Don’t forget to turn your clocks forward one hour.

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.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. During Lent we will collect nonperishable food products for delivery at St. George’s. Publix have the weekly BOGO specials so why not donate your free item to the church during Lent. Bring your items to church with you or drop them off with your sandwiches to help others in need. Thank you.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by the Congregation. Next Sunday, March 20th will be hosted by the Daughters of the King.

St. David’s Community Yard Sale. Saturday, May 21st from 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon. Want to help? You can donate your gently used, clean, functioning items: Clothes, electronics, toys, furniture, and kitchen wares. Bring your items to St. David’s on Saturday May 7th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 14th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Candles: We will have a bag on the credenza to collect all candle donations for the Altar and Mary Shrine for upcoming Sundays in Lent. If you would like to donate candles, please put your check for $20 and request showing date and reason for donation. Do not put candle requests in offering plates.

Sunday School is back in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30 p.m.

PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Anthony, Austin, Baldwin, Barbara, Bert, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Edna, Eric, Gina, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Kenzie, Lauren, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Parker, Patricia, Rachel, Sharon, Susan, Tracy, Violet, William. For birthday celebrations: Mark Veckman, Lincoln Elliott, Leroy Williams, Evelyn Medcalf, Brenda Barreca, Daniel Melton, Stuart Cohen. For anniversary celebrations: Jerry and Sally Frenz, David and Jackie Whiting. For our expectant mothers: Aubrey and Ryan. Congratulations on the birth of baby Emilio to Ana and Juan.

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

We have a new trash collection company in Wellington at present. Is it just me, or does it seems like the garbage and recyclable trucks are twice the size they were when I was a child? Reclamation facilities are now the size of football stadiums! God isn’t stingy, but I don’t think God wants us to stretch the earth’s resources to the max either. When do we reach the point when “Enough really is Enough!” Are we like the Hebrews in the wilderness after the Exodus who moaned that the daily ration of manna and quail wasn’t enough? I’m not picking on the Jews of Moses’ day; they had forty years to learn how to trust in the Lord. However, for some, it takes a lifetime! Many get addicted to bad habits, mostly to fill the emptiness only God can fill. The things of this world don’t really feed us in the long run; they merely “plug the hole.”

So when we feel empty, what do we do? Well, for one thing, we won’t be spiritually malnourished if we follow the spiritual disciplines of Lent – Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. Being content with what you have is not just a matter of getting through lean times – it’s a key principle of spiritual growth. That’s why Lent comes in the springtime; it’s our time to clean out everything that is stale. The story of the Transfiguration this Sunday is a glimpse of the clear, unclouded vision of the glory of God. That’s why we give up things – to remind us, year after year, of the fleeting nature of this present world.

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. The ashes we administer are not simply a reminder of our transitory nature, but a symbol of new life; forty days to remember that in dying, we are reborn to eternal life. If the theme of Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is “Let the Good Times Roll,” then the message of Ash Wednesday is “Let the Good News Roll,” because in the grand scheme of things, with all life’s challenges and problems, God promises a safe landing, not a smooth passage.
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FAT TUESDAY CELEBRATION!
TUESDAY, MARCH 1ST
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Adults $10 / Kids 12 & under $5

Pancakes, Bacon, Sausage, Juice and Coffee
Mimosas will be available for adults! 50/50 raffle

Please invite your family and friends
All Proceeds to Benefit St. David’s

Evensong for the Feast of St. David of Wales, our patron Saint. Sunday, February 27, 4:00 p.m.

Ash Wednesday. March 2nd at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Ashes are administered at both masses.

Quiet Day with Meditations. The theme will be the gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love. Saturday, March 12, 2022, 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, sponsored by the Daughters of the King. But open to everyone, male and female.

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.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Beginning this week, please note we will be collecting sandwiches on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. 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. We will also be collecting soup and other nonperishable items for St. Georges with our annual “Souper Bowl” through February 13th. Once we know the teams we will label the boxes but for now we just want to collect as much as we can.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by Daughters of the King.

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.

Sunday School is back in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00

Tuesdays: No service this week.
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30 p.m.

PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Anthony, Austin, Baldwin, Barbara, Bert, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Edna, Eric, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Mike, Parker, Patricia, Sharon, Susan, Violet, William. For the departed: Michael Cooney. For birthday celebrations: Kati Erickson, Sue Ashe. For anniversary celebration: Yvonne and Dennis Wright. For our expectant mothers: Ana and Ryan.

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzWRA9VxChBQd5l6rf3kF3A

hanks to an anonymous author for recognizing that. . .There is no egg in an eggplant, no ham in a hamburger, no pines nor apples in pineapples. English muffins were not invented in England and French fries were not invented in France. We sometimes take the English language for granted, but if we examine the paradoxes we find that quicksand takes you down slowly; boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Why do people recite at a play, yet play at a recital? We park in driveways and drive on parkways.

Having said all that, the way we speak also says something about the way we worship. “Old timers” will remember the upheaval over forty years ago when the “new” Prayer Book was issued. The issue was not simply changing the words of familiar prayers, but a subtle change in the piety and character behind them. Over time, people become comfortable with the words they’re familiar with, regardless of how close the translation is to the original Latin, Greek, Hebrew, or Elizabethan English. Words are a medium to express what sometimes is impossible or difficult to express. As English Bishop Michael Marshall used to say, “Theology is no good unless you can pray it.” And I would add, “Unless you can liwve it.”

Speaking of “talking,” I’m reminded of St. Mark’s Church in Ft. Lauderdale where I served in the mid-80’s. We had a deaf congregation which had a monthly mass at which the Rector and I alternated as the celebrant. I do not have the skill of sign language but we did have an interpreter who stood next to me during the sermon. I recall fondly how the Passing of the Peace could take as long as five minutes, even though there was total silence the entire time. So the message here is clear; it’s not what we say that’s most important; it’s how we act. Compassion is language the deaf can hear and the blind can see. And as the 20th c. poet, Edgar Guest once noted, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me, than merely show the way.”
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Evensong for the Feast of St. David of Wales, our patron Saint. Sunday, February 27, 4:00 p.m.

Quiet Day with Meditations. The theme will be the gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love. Saturday, March 12, 2022, 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, sponsored by the Daughters of the King. But open to everyone, male and female.

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.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Beginning this week, please note we will be collecting sandwiches on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. 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. We will also be collecting soup and other nonperishable items for St. Georges with our annual “Souper Bowl” through February 13th. Once we know the teams we will label the boxes but for now we just want to collect as much as we can.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by Daughters of the King.

Our “Souper Bowl” played out to be a great success. The ending score showed a win for the Bengals so fans can take pride in knowing they won at St, David’s. The final score was Bengals 37 and Rams 33 for a total of 70 items collected for St. George’s. Joyce Parker delivered our donations on Wednesday along with our sandwiches. Thanks for the great participation.

Evensong for the Feast of St. David of Wales, our patron Saint. Sunday, February 27, 4:00 p.m.

Quiet Day with Meditations. Saturday, March 12, 2022, 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, sponsored by the Daughters of the King. But open to everyone, male and female.

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.

Sunday School is back in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex. Donation $3.00

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 a.m.
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30 p.m.

PLEASE PRAY: For the sick: Alice, Anthony, Austin, Baldwin, Barbara, Beth, Carol, Carolyn, Donna, Doris, Doug, Edna, Grace, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jeanne, Jill, Joaquin, Kenzie, Manuel, Michael, Miguel, Mike, Parker, Patricia, Sharon, Susan, Violet, William. For birthday celebrations: Jedidiah Kalphat, Dennis Wright, Howard Barrett, Anne Guillaume. For our expectant mothers: Ana and Ryan.

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzWRA9VxChBQd5l6rf3kF3A