Weekly Message – Page 50 – Saint David's in the Pines

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – January 19th – Fr. Thomas

Eboo Patel, the distinguished author and commentator, in his book, Sacred Ground tells a story about visiting Berea College in Kentucky. Prior to a scheduled speech in the college chapel he was asked by a college official if he wanted the cross removed from its prominent place in the church. The question was an attempt to be sensitive to Patel’s deep Muslim faith. Patel’s response was somewhat surprising. Rather than consenting to the cross’ removal, he replied: “I don’t want them to cover the cross or remove it. I don’t want them to hide their Christian Faith; I want them to tell the story of how that cross inspired them to build an interracial college in pre-Civil War Kentucky. I want them to share how that cross moves them to admit Buddhists from Sri Lanka, Hindus from India, and have them in classes and volunteer activities with Christians from Appalachia. I want them to tell the world, ‘This is what it means to be a Christian.”

The Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on January 18, the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter and concludes on January 25, the Conversion of St. Paul. Next Monday is also the national observance of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Speaking personally, if we are not true to our own faith tradition, or ask our ecumenical partners, or ourselves, to be something less than who we or they are; we do each party a great disservice. In past generations, perhaps Christians of different denominations were not as familiar with each other’s traditions and practices. Now we have no excuse for ignoring the simple truth that we have much more in common than what divides us. “Before we can love one another, we must understand one another, and before we can understand one another, we need to meet one another.”

Next Thursday, we have been invited once again to join with other Christians to worship together at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Seminary in Boynton Beach at 7:30 p.m. for a special Taize service, followed by a reception. Carpooling begins at 6:45 p.m. from our church parking lot. The world is too strong for a divided Christianity. On the most important night of his earthly life, Jesus prayed that his disciples would all be one; not necessarily “alike” but at least able to come to the same table together. We still have a way to go before that becomes a reality so it’s up to all Christians to do what we can until there is truly One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism, under the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord.

THIS WEEK AT ST. DAVID’S

HOSPITALITY HOUR – Daughters of the King

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Sunday, 11:15 a.m.

HOLY EUCHARIST – Tuesday 8:30 a.m.

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Tuesday 7:00 p.m.

HOLY EUCHARIST AND ROSARY – Wednesday 6:30 p.m.

OUTREACH SUNDAY – donations accepted today for the feeding of the homeless in Riviera Beach at St. George’s Church, Wednesday, January 22nd, at 5:00 p.m.

SOUPER-BOWL – Palanca Pantry is collecting SOUPS (canned, bagged, boxed, wrapped) Jan. 26th and Feb. 2nd.

VESTRY – Sunday, January 19th, 11:15 a.m. in Church

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY – Tuesday, January 21st 7:00 p.m. Mark Room

ECUMENICAL SERVICE – to mark the Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, St. Vincent DePaul Seminary, Boynton Beach, Thursday, January 23, 7:30 p.m. Reception to follow.

FIRST COMMUNION CLASSES – for children ages six and up begin Wednesday, January 29th at 5:00 p.m. and continue each Wednesday through February 19th. Contact the office to enroll your child.

EVENSONG –Presentation of our Lord – Sunday, February 2nd 4:00 p.m.

BLOOD DRIVE – sponsored by OUTREACH – Sunday, February 9th, 8:30am-12noon

CURSILLO REUNION – Sunday, February 9th, 12:00- 3:00 in the parish hall

RUMMAGE SALE sponsored by the EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN – Saturday February 22nd & Sunday February 23rd

PANCAKE SUPPER – SHROVE TUESDAY – February 25th, 5:30 p.m.

ASH WEDNESDAY – February 26th, 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Irwin, Tania, Marianne, Kelly, Michelle, Mark, Rudy, Toni, Emily, Linda, Laurie, Francine, Timone, Donna, Ashlyn, Robin. For birthday celebrations: Jamie Murray, Ethan Douglas, Donald McCree. For our expectant mothers: Megan, Sofia.

2019 CHARITY CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS – available upon request for $250.00 and over; call or email parish office

Several years ago, the movie God’s not dead, with two subsequent sequels, tells the story about an atheist philosophy professor who told his students on the first day of class to write down, “God is dead” to ensure a passing grade for each student. One student, however, a practicing Christian, had a problem with that and agreed to debate the professor over God’s existence. Although you’ll have to see the film for yourself to learn how it ends, there’s nothing novel about “debating” God’s existence or seeking a way to reconcile what the mind thinks and what the heart feels, (sometimes the longest distance to travel.)

Historically, there have been five different propositions offered up to “prove” God’s existence. Of course, we know that one can’t “prove” God’s existence like proving a scientific or arithmetic experiment, but generally, taken together as a whole, they present a reasonable argument supporting the likelihood of a “higher power.”

The first argument is the Cosmological Argument. Every effect has a cause. Somewhere there must be a “First Cause.” God is the unmoved Prime Mover. The Moral Argument recognizes that humans have a conscience, a sense of what is right and wrong. Civilizations may disagree on what is right and wrong, but minimally, there is some sort of “moral yardstick.” This sense of right and wrong is instilled by a Supreme Being. The Teleological Argument claims that everything in the universe, from galaxies to electrons, shows purpose and design. God is the One who designed it all. Someone has suggested that if the world was randomly originated without any purpose or design, it would be like throwing a basketball out of a plane going full speed at thirty five thousand feet up in the air and having the ball land in a trash can on the first attempt. The argument from Universal Consent acknowledges that all people in different lands and times, have worshiped some sort of Supreme Being, albeit with varying personalities or attributes. Finally, the Ontological Argument claims that God is the highest entity that we can imagine or conceive. The presumption is that there must be something or someone above what we as mere mortals can conceive of (It’s a theoretical argument, so don’t reflect on it too much!)

Of course, the best argument is a life guided and fulfilled by God: a life of self-sacrifice and generous love. As I’m fond of saying, “I’d rather see a sermon, than hear one any day. I’d rather one should walk with me, than merely show the way.”

THIS WEEK AT ST. DAVID’S

HOSPITALITY HOUR – St. David’s Men’s Organization

DAUGHTERS of the KING – meet Sunday, January 12 ^th, 8:45am Parish Hall.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Sunday, 11:15 a.m.

HOLY EUCHARIST – Tuesday 8:30 a.m.

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Tuesday 7:00 p.m.

HOLY EUCHARIST AND ROSARY – Wednesday 6:30 p.m.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN – meet Friday, January 10 ^th, 11:00 a.m.

MEET & GREET – sponsored by the Daughters of the King – Saturday, January 18 ^th for 11:30am-2:00pm Parish Hall

VESTRY – Sunday, January 19 ^th, 11:15 a.m. in Church

ECUMENICAL SERVICE – to mark the Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, St. Vincent DePaul Seminary, Boynton Beach, Thursday, January 23, 7:30 p.m. Reception to follow.

EVENSONG –Presentation of our Lord – Sunday, February 2 ^nd 4:00 p.m.

BLOOD DRIVE – Sunday, February 9 ^th, 8:30am-12noon.

SOUPER-BOWL – Palanca Pantry is collecting SOUPS (canned, bagged, boxed, wrapped) Jan. 26 ^th and Feb. 2 ^nd.

PANCAKE SUPPER – SHROVE TUESDAY – February 25 ^th, 5:30 p.m.

ASH WEDNESDAY – February 26 ^th, 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Kelly, Michelle, Mark, Rudy, Toni, Emily, Linda, Laurie, Francine, Timone, Donna, Ashlyn, Robin. For birthday celebrations: Glenn Bresnahan, Tiffany Owen, Theodore L’Abbe, Franklin Montross, Linda McKeown, Margie Sandell, Alexandria Philistin, Steve Roca, Barbara Hastings-Griffin. For our expectant mothers: Megan, Sofia, Claire.

FLOWER & CANDLES – open and all dates are available for designation of altar flowers for your $40.00 donation; in honor, celebration or in loving memory of someone. Please use the fill-in form with your pre-payment.

2019 CHARITY CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS – available upon request for $250.00 and over – call or email parish office