WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – June 28th – Fr. Thomas
A certain father was desperate for some peace and quiet one wet Sunday afternoon, so from his newspaper’s color supplement he tore out a picture of a map of the world. He got a pair of scissors and cut the map into small pieces and then said to his children, “Come on now and put the world together again.” After a bit of grumbling there were a few giggles and whispers, then a period of concentration, at the end of which the youngsters said, “There you are, we’ve done it.” And so they had – but the picture was not a map of the world. It was a photograph of a very happy looking family. The children had discovered that it was on the back of the map picture. And very fitting too; for isn’t the foundation of a united world a happy family?
Easier said than done, of course, but as Christians, our primary responsibility is not simply to “work our way into heaven,” but to bring others with us. One more story – A group of first graders was discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of the students suggested that he was adopted. A little girl said, “I know all about adoption; I was adopted.” “What does it mean to be adopted?” asked another child. “It means,” said the girl, “that you grew in your mommy’s heart instead of her tummy!”
The Good News, in this and every age, is that God loves us, and that we as disciples of His Son, are meant to be agents of love in our broken and torn world. When we show kindness to those who can repay us, it’s called “networking.” When we show kindness with no thought of repayment, it’s called love.
NOTICES:
The Diocese of Southeast Florida – has extended the ban on Church-wide in-person services, events and meetings and other activity until further notice. Live-streaming and recording of worship will continue, but no other in-person activity is permitted. We will move into Season 2 only when we are clear that it is safe to do so.
Village of Wellington – the food distribution in Wellington is at the Wellington Mall by Nordstrom at 8:30-10:30 a.m. on TUESDAYS. You will be given a voucher when you are in line. Let the person know if you are getting food for more than one family. View the link to learn more information…https://www.wellingtonfl.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=164
Sandwiches for St. George’s Outreach Project Extended through July – Please continue to prepare sandwiches for St. George’s and bring them to St. David’s parking lot each Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 am. Thank you for your continued support!
Please Pray – For the sick: Sarah, Alicia, William, Richard, Carole, Sandy, Kim, Joe, Steve, Bob, Linda, Francine, Donna, Ashlyn. For birthday celebrations: Jacquie Murray, Cristina Anzures. For our expectant mother: Andrea. For wedding anniversaries: Doug & Joy Noe, Danny & Carol Sneade, Michel & Theresa Guillaume.
https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp7_RCL.html
https://www.facebook.com/SaintDavidsInThePines/
Last week in the sermon, I spoke about the REAL Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I’m reminded of a story about St. Jean Vianney, the humble 19th c. Roman Catholic priest from Ars, France, who used to spend a great deal of time in the church, staring at the tabernacle above the altar (the receptacle which houses the Blessed Sacrament). Someone once entered the church and asked him, “What are you doing?” To which the saintly priest replied, “I look at Him, and He looks at me.” That just about says it all! When we’re in the presence of someone we love the time is well spent. So, it is with God our heavenly Father, whether in church at mass, or in the seclusion of our own homes. On this Father’s Day Weekend, let us give thanks for our fathers, living and departed, and pray for all parents.
Village of Wellington – the food distribution in Wellington is at the Wellington Mall by Nordstrom at 8:30-10:30 a.m. on TUESDAYS. You will be given a voucher when you are in line. Let the person know if you are getting food for more than one family.
As if the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t enough in our nation and world, and the official beginning of hurricane season; now we’re faced with rising tensions, anger, and violence as a result of the arrest and murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The racial tension that still exists in different places and in various forms hasn’t and will not go away anytime soon. It’s easy for many of us to simply think, “Oh, we’re all alike; black, white, Hispanic, Arab, Oriental; so in the words of Rodney King, “Can’t we all just ‘get along?” Well, we know that it’s not that simple; especially for those who have experienced racial discrimination in past, or even in present years. When one hears the stories of racial prejudice one can sympathize and begin to comprehend the anger and suspicion which still exists among different races and groups of people. However, we know too, that one cannot live in fear, nor live in the past either.
The message of Pentecost last week is that “We’re all in this together,” Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious in His sight,” as the old children’s song goes. But not everyone “gets it.” Why not? Maybe we have a lot of work still to do as Christians. Several people have asked me already in recent days if we’re living in the “End Times.” My response, from an historical point of view, is probably not, but we’re called upon to live each day as if it were our first, last, and only day. Some Pentecostal preachers were warning us that the new millennium was the beginning of the apocalypse. Well, here we are twenty years later, and what has changed?
So, we think we cannot change our world or ourselves; and we use that as a good excuse to simply live with the problems. Not to make light of the tragedies which afflict us throughout the years: wars, natural disasters, political upheavals, and plagues; but, we still have a lot of work to do to “colonize” our present existence before we move on to a higher one. And, the Good News is that we’re not in this by ourselves. The problem, however, is that we’ve become too comfortable with our divisions. We think the problems of the world are too big for us. Well, by ourselves, yes, they probably are. No part of the body is indispensable. We are all interrelated like a tag team. So, I leave you with a favorite African proverb – “If you want to travel fast, walk alone, if you want to travel far, walk together.”
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you and I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road although I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. (Thomas Merton, “Thoughts of Solitude”)
Village of Wellington –the food distribution in Wellington is at the Wellington mall by Nordstrom. The time was changed to 8:30-10:30 a.m. You will be given a voucher when you are in line. Let the person know if you are getting food for more than one family. 
