WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – March 6th – Fr. Thomas
When I was a student in theological college in England I sang in the college choir. One of the “duties” and privileges was to sing Evensong on Wednesday evenings in the cathedral across the street. It was called “Dumb Day:” not a reference to the seminarians, but the day the choir of men and boys was “silent,” i.e. off for the night.
During Lent we normally give up something, like sweets, adult beverages, television, and so on, but perhaps it would be appropriate to give up talking and idle chatter, whether it’s us or someone else talking. God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason: we learn little by talking. I realize that some reading this message live alone and experience silence most of the day, but “spiritual” silence is more than the mere absence of noise. It’s listening to what God may be trying to say to us, which we wouldn’t hear unless we tune out the competing noises and voices.
Silence is not simply the absence of noise, rather in silent prayer we realize that God is with us and we with Him. As St. Teresa of Calcutta wrote, “God is the Friend of silence.” Silence is the doorway through which we pass into a deeper understanding of God’s will for us and for the world. Be still and know that He is God, for our hearts are forever restless until they rest in Thee.
Saturday, March 12th we’ll be hosting a Quiet Morning in the church from 9 am til noon with spoken meditations and Mass. I encourage you to bring your family and friends as we meditate on God’s gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love.
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Daylight Savings is Sunday, March 13th. Don’t forget to turn your clocks forward one hour.
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 the Vestry. Next Sunday, March 13th will be hosted by the Congregation.
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, Mike, Parker, Patricia, Sharon, Susan, Tracy, Violet, William. For birthday celebrations: Jim Philistin, Jackie Whiting, Pat Bernard, Jackson Falco, Joyce Smith. For our expectant mothers: Ana and Ryan.
Our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintDavidsinthePinesWellingtonFL
WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – February 27th – Fr. Thomas
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
WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – February 20th – Fr. Thomas
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
WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – February 13th – Fr. Thomas
This Sunday is of course, Super Bowl Sunday. I’m reminded about an incident that occurred following Super Bowl #51 in 2017. After the game the New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady’s game jersey went missing. It was supposed to be on an equipment truck, but someone had been able to sneak in and steal the jersey. Of course, Patriots fans panicked. Owner Robert Kraft condemned the theft – publicly stating that the jersey was worth as much as a Picasso painting. Who in the world would take such a valuable jersey? Did they even know how much pain and suffering they were causing? Things then got a little silly. A jersey that anyone can go on line and buy for around $120 swiftly took center stage. Suddenly, this used, grass-stained, sweaty jersey was reported to be worth as much as $500,000! Over the next few weeks, the FBI, local authorities & the NFL all began a joint investigation spread out over the next few weeks. Hundreds of hours were spent looking at video tapes & investigating possible leads. It became an international incident! The person who reportedly took the jersey worked for a media firm in Mexico so then the Mexican government had to enter into the investigation. Ultimately the jersey was found & returned, along with some other items.
So, I’m glad that Tom Brady got his jersey back; but to seriously think that a used jersey would suddenly be worth a half a million dollars seems like warped thinking. It’s easy to get caught up believing that we’re only as valuable as the world says we are; but this is a skewed view. The “world” puts high values on things that are not all that valuable in the long run. You see, everything in THIS world is temporary. You can be as rich as you want, but when you die, you can’t take it with you.
At times, maybe we feel like average, ordinary, “run of the mill” people – that we no longer have anything to give, or that we’re of no use. We may at times wonder why God just doesn’t go ahead and take us home. We all have to deal with disappointments and bad breaks. That doesn’t mean that the Lord has given up on us, or that we’re of little or no value. We are new creations in Christ Jesus, adopted as children of the LORD. For as St. Paul writes to the Romans, “Neither life nor death, powers nor principalities, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Life doesn’t come with a bow, but it’s still a gift! Even one act of thanksgiving when things are going bad are worth a thousand when things are going well. So don’t think of all the things you didn’t get after praying – think of the countless blessings God gave you without asking.
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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.
“Souper Bowl” Sunday: We are still collecting soup and other nonperishable items for St. Georges with our annual “Souper Bowl” through Sunday.
Hospitality Hour is scheduled after the 10:00 a.m. service – Hosted by Congregation. Please bring your favorite dish or beverage.
Bunco continues on Saturday, February 12th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Loads of fun and super easy for newcomers! The more the merrier, so please bring a friend, a bite to share, and your favorite beverage! Cash prizes awarded – even if you lose! $10 per person.
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, 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: Britney LaBorde, Clare Morales, Ralph Robinson, Dawn LaBorde. For our expectant mothers: Ana and Ryan.
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzWRA9VxChBQd5l6rf3kF3A
