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WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – March 28th – Fr. Thomas.

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Among the various restaurants where I worked as a server between college and seminary, was a summer at the Lexington Country Club. I remember an incident where a father and his young son had just come in from the golf course for lunch. The father ordered a Rueben sandwich and the son ordered a cheeseburger. When I went back into the kitchen to collect the sandwiches, the chef noticed that the hamburger was done before the salad chef had produced the Rueben. The chef had the bun already prepped with the lettuce, pickles, and tomato slice, so he put the burger back in the oven to keep it warm. Meanwhile, a few minutes later, upon my return to the kitchen, I grabbed the Rueben on top of the salad counter, and the burger platter off the grill countertop. I rushed out to the dining room and placed the plates on the table. A minute later, the father calls me over and says, “There’s no burger on the bun!” (Alas, I had grabbed the burger plate not realizing that the chef had not put the burger back on the bun!) The father said, “Is this a phantom burger? Where’s the beef?”

Moral of the story – as we approach the most holy week of the Christian year; the week that changed the world, one rightly asks, “Where’s the beef?” In other words, “What’s the point?” If our lives are not changed by the events of Jesus’ passion and resurrection, then where are we placing our priorities, our energy, our passion? Easter is not simply one day, it’s a way of life. The Bread of Life which Jesus gives is not a mere “symbol,” it’s a Person. The celebration of Easter is more than an annual holiday observance; it’s a way of life; the eternal life promised to us who follow in His steps through His passion, resurrection, and entry into that place where there shall be no mourning, nor crying, but the unending joy that comes from knowing His Son as Our Lord and Savior.

NOTICES:

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.

The Holy Triduum:
Maundy Thursday – April 1st – 7:00 pm, followed by one hour Adoration in the church.
Good Friday – April 2nd – 12:00 noon-1:00pm – Stations of the Cross.
Holy Saturday – Vigil Mass – April 3rd – 7:00 pm, followed by a festive reception.
Easter Sunday – April 4th – 8:00 am & 10:00 am.
Easter Egg Hunt – April 4th – after 10:00 am mass – 11:15 am.

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.

ECW Meeting: A lunch meeting is scheduled on April 9 at 11:00 am in the church.

Cleaning and Decorating: We need volunteers to help clean and decorate the church for Easter on Saturday, April 3 at 8:00 am.

Easter Flowers: We are collecting donations for Easter Lilies. Cost of flowers is $25. Please fill in a form and place it in the plate, or mail it to the office.

No Sunday School on Easter Sunday. Join the Easter Egg Hunt after the 10am mass.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 am.
Wednesday: Eucharistic Adoration 6:00 pm.
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30 pm.

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Alfredo, Andi, Barbara, Beth, Calvin, Cindy, Donna, Francis, Irene, Jeanne, Joaquin, Kip, Max, Patricia. For birthday celebrations: Eric Cohen, Laurette Bagley, Samuel Kalphat, Joe Mee, Lorna Lawrence, Lucas Webber. For anniversary celebration: Baldwin and Violet Henry. For expectant mother: Andi.

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – March 21st – Fr. Thomas.

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I heard recently that the 21 Club, the famous “Jockey Club,” in New York City had closed down. Even though other restaurants have been forced to close during the Pandemic, it was a little surprising that this iconic venue in NYC had been affected as well. It’s been over a dozen years since my wife and I have been to New York City. Prior to that visit, when my two oldest daughters were in their early teens, we went to New York for a short trip after Christmas and went to the 21 Club for lunch. The children asked me what “Steak Tartar” was on the menu. I explained that this was a mound of raw hamburger with a raw egg on top. Wouldn’t you know it; as soon as I spoke the words, the server brought out an order of Steak Tartar for a well-dressed elderly gentleman at a corner table, who was likely a regular diner there for the past fifty years! Anyway, I saved the menu as a souvenir, and have always been amused by the footnote under the Steak Tartar entry which alleges to have the dish “prepared discreetly tableside.”

How quickly we forget that before anything is served on the table, there is a price and a process: either it had to be ripped from the soil, carved out of the side of a once-living animal, or pulled from the waters off our coasts. The Bread which endures to Eternal Life came with a price as well: before Easter, there had to be Good Friday. Do we know Christ only in His sacramental food, or are we willing to walk with Him daily, in the fullness of His humanity, even unto death?

With only two weeks left before the conclusion of this holiest time of year, let us clear out the leaven of “malice and wickedness”, put away the old life of sin, and go the distance through all fourteen Stations of the Cross; because “It’s not what they take from you that counts; it’s what you do with what you have left.”

NOTICES:

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.

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 Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: A landscaping workday is planned for Saturday, March 27 at 9 am until finished. Please bring a shovel and/or rake if you have one. We are in need of monetary donations for the landscaping. Please make check payable to the church, but put “Landscaping” in the memo section. Thanks. Linda

Cleaning and Decorating: We need volunteers to help clean and decorate the church for Easter on Saturday, April 3 at 8:00 am.

Easter Flowers: We are collecting donations for Easter Lilies. Cost of flowers is $25. Please fill in a form and place it in the plate, or mail it to the office.

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

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30 am
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30 pm
Fridays during Lent: Stations of the Cross 6:30 pm. Dates: 3/26.

The Holy Triduum:
Maundy Thursday – April 1st – 7 pm, followed by one hour Adoration in the church.
Good Friday – April 2nd – 12:00 noon-1:00pm & 7 pm – Stations of the Cross.
Holy Saturday – Vigil Mass – April 3rd – 7 pm, followed by a festive reception.
Easter Sunday – April 4th – 8 am & 10 am.
Easter Egg Hunt – April 4th – after 10 am mass – 11:15 am.

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Andi, Barbara, Beth, Calvin, Donna, Francis, Irene, Jeanne, Joaquin, Max. For birthday celebrations: Alred Dyce, Matthew Hogan, Richard James, Nancy Schroeder, Meghan Schubert, Dexter Beresford, Austin LaBorde, Inara Elmquist, Ann Chambers, Faubert Pierre-Paul. For anniversary celebration: Chris and Kati Erickson. For expectant mothers: Andi, Bronwyn.

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – March 14th – Fr. Thomas.

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A story is told about the late evangelist, Billy Graham, while on a plane, was sitting behind a man who was drinking to excess. The man became rather loud and abusive. Finally, the attendant said to him, “Sir; do you know Billy Graham is sitting behind you? The man turned around and said, “Dr. Graham, I’m so glad to meet you. I went to one of your crusades and it changed my life.” (Well, apparently, but not for long!)

Lent is an annual reminder that our conversion experiences – daily, monthly, annually, or for all time are not momentary, but should have a lasting effect. It’s not easy, though, making the changes which will conform our lives to that of Our Blessed Lord. It’s like the occasional messages I receive on my computer which advise me: “You need some updates.” Yes, we ALL need updates from time to time. No one is perfect, but true humility doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself – it means thinking of yourself less.

Even though there are only three more weeks of Lent, remember: Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending, because The Lord doesn’t choose us for who we are, but for what we can become.

This Sunday is the beginning of Day Light Savings Time; so remember to set your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night/Sunday morning.

NOTICES:

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.

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 Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Pipe Laying: We need volunteers on Saturday, March 20th at 9:00 a.m. to help dig some trenches and lay pipes out to the church signs. Please bring a shovel if you have one. We need as many workers as possible for at least a couple of hours. Thanks. Linda McKeown

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

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm
Fridays during Lent: Stations of the Cross 6:30pm. Dates: 3/19, 3/26

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Calvin, Cynthia, Donna, Efim, Fiona, Francis, Irene, Jeanne, Joaquin, Mike. 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 expectant mother: Bronwyn.

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – March 7th – Fr. Thomas.

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On my day off I like to spend time outside – weeding, planting, landscaping. Some of the new plants and hedges I recently purchased however are already dropping dead leaves, but for a good reason – to make room for the new ones to grow. Lent reminds us that for new life and its “foliage” to grow, the old life of sin has to be removed. Perhaps that’s why we call it “Spring Cleaning:” when we clean out that which is old.

We’re now two weeks into Lent (which, by the way, derives its name from “Lengthen,” when the daylight becomes longer and the temperature rises.) So how’s it going so far? Will this Lenten season be like all the others; or will our repentant spirit and reformed life reflect the converted life for which Jesus died on the cross?

Hans Urs Von Balthasar, a popular German theologian of the 20th c., wrote, ”Man is led into the open realm in which he can love by the love he believes in because he has understood its sign. If the Prodigal Son had not already believed in his father’s love, he would have never set out on his homeward Journey–even though the love that received him back was beyond his dreams.”

In other words, it’s never too late to confess, forgive, and convert – for what awaits us is beyond our imagination. Everyone thinks of changing humanity, but no one thinks of changing himself. God wants to “fertilize” us with His sacramental grace, remove the old debris, and fill us with His holy and life giving spirit – now, and in every season of the year. Just as Adam “broke the fast” and was exiled from Paradise by eating the “forbidden fruit,” so Christ overcame temptation in the wilderness and opened the door for us into the eternal Paradise.

NOTICES:

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.

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 Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: landscaping workday is planned for Saturday, March 13 at 9 a.m. until finished. We will be planting and mulching the area by the dumpster as well as finishing the area in the right side of the church. Please bring a shovel and/or rake if you have one. We are in need of two rocks for our landscaping. The cost is approximately $100 each. If anyone is interested in donating a rock, please contact Kenneth Barrett at 561-204-2509. We are also in need of monetary donations for the landscaping. Please make check payable to the church, but put “Landscaping” in the memo section. Thanks. Linda.

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

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm
Fridays during Lent: Stations of the Cross 6:30pm. Dates: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Cynthia, Diana, Donna, Efim, Fiona, Francis, Irene, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For the departed: Richard Elliott. For birthday celebrations: Pat Bernard, Jackson Falco, Joyce Smith. For expectant mother : Bronwyn.

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – February 28th – Fr. Thomas.

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My wife and I have the custom of crossing ourselves and praying for the departed whenever we drive by a cemetery. I recall some years ago, however, while driving behind Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery on Southern Blvd, crossing myself and reciting the usual prayer, “Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon them.” It wasn’t until a few days later that I realized what was actually on the other side of the high stone wall adjacent to the cemetery – an auto parts store!

Lent is only forty days long; a short reminder that we all need prayers from time to time, and for various reasons. We don’t say, “My Father, who art in heaven,” or “Give me this day my daily bread,” or “Forgive me my trespasses.” Our prayers are intertwined with the intercessions of millions of others throughout the world, every minute, every hour, every day. That doesn’t minimize the importance of our prayers, but is a reminder that our prayers are for the common good, and that “We’re all in this together.” The more time we spend saying our prayers, formally in liturgical settings, or in the private moments of our days, we turn our own lives into signs of God’s grace in this sinful and broken world we live in.

Prayer is not a spare wheel we take out only when needed – it’s the steering wheel that directs us in the right path – hopefully through the “cemeteries” of life and into the heavenly home that awaits those who stay on the right path toward everlasting life.

(BTW, the last time I drove by the auto parts store I noticed that it was still up and running – prayers must have flowed over to them!)

NOTICES:

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.

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 Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: A landscaping workday is planned for Saturday, March 6 at 9 a.m. until finished. We will be planting and mulching the area by the dumpster as well as finishing the area in the right side of the church. Please bring a shovel and/or rake if you have one. Thanks. Linda.

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

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am
Wednesday: Eucharistic Adoration 6:00pm
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm
Fridays during Lent: Stations of the Cross 6:30pm. Dates: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Cynthia, Diana, Donna, Efim, Francis, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For the departed: Robert Gagnon. For birthday celebrations: Kati Erickson, Sue Ashe, Jim Philistin, Jackie Whiting. For expectant mothers: Andi, Bronwyn.

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – February 21st – Fr. Thomas.

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A newly appointed young priest was contracted by a local funeral home in Iowa to hold a graveside service at a small country cemetery. There would be no church service since the deceased had no family or friends left in the area. The priest left early for the cemetery, but got lost along the way. After several wrong turns, he finally arrived about half an hour late. The hearse was nowhere in sight, only some workman relaxing under a nearby tree eating lunch. The priest went to the grave and found the vault lid already sealed in place; he took out his prayer book and read the service anyway. As he returned to his car, he overheard one of the workman say, “Maybe we should
tell him it’s a septic tank.”

Lent reminds us that God turns our trash into something useful. That’s the whole point of the Incarnation. God didn’t throw His hands up in the air and give up on humanity. Lent has arrived, six more weeks of enhanced spiritual “warfare” using the weapons of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and one more – forgiving: all the essential elements of the Easter mystery. It’s not what they take from you that counts. It’s what you do with what you have left.

NOTICES:

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.

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 Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: We are organizing a new group called the “Lay Weeders” for church grounds. We will divide parts of the landscape into 10-12 small plots, and individuals, families or groups can adopt the area to do the upkeep of the plot. We are in the process working on Saturdays to get the areas in good condition. If you would like to participate or have questions on what it entails, please call Linda McKeown 561- 254-3902 or email at llmckeown51@comcast.net Thanks.

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

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Cynthia, Diana, Donna, Efim, Francis, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For the departed: Jake Williams, Sylvia Kairo, Elizabeth O’Donnell. For birthday celebrations: Jedidiah Kalphat, Dennis Wright, Howard Barrett, Anne Guillaume. For anniversary celebrations: Dennis and Yvonne Wright. For expectant mothers: Andi, Bronwyn.

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – February 12th – Fr. Thomas.

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Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent originated as the period of preparation for those to be baptized at Easter. Jesus and John the Baptist each spent time fasting in the desert before entering into ministry. Christians observe this time of prayer and fasting to prepare for our observance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. We chastise the body to strengthen the soul. It is at the same time both cleansing and liberating. The story of how sin was introduced into the world is the subject of Adam’s “breaking the fast” by eating the forbidden fruit. Jesus , The Second Adam, at the beginning of his ministry, maintained the fast in the wilderness and thus took the initial steps for our return to Paradise.

As for the ashes, it is a reminder to Christians and non-believers alike, that no one is perfect, nor lives forever in this life. Despite the imperfections of our world, God hasn’t abdicated, and we’re not in charge. Lent reminds us that we are “in” the world, but not “of” this world. We are citizens of another Kingdom – not that we ignore or take this one for granted. If God loved humanity enough to create it and become one with it, then we should love humanity no less. The problem is that everyone is more concerned with changing humanity than changing themselves!

Lent is a time of stripping down to essentials, as each Christian focuses on his or her relationship with God. Lent is not an exercise in spiritual competition. Fasting and self-denial are medicinal when they lead us to restoration of spiritual health. The focus of Lent is to study more deeply, to pray more sincerely, and to show greater kindness. 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.

NOTICES:

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.

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 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 Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: We are organizing a new group called the “Lay Weeders” for church grounds. We will divide parts of the landscape into 10-12 small plots, and individuals, families or groups can adopt the area to do the upkeep of the plot. We are in the process working on Saturdays to get the areas in good condition. If you would like to participate or have questions on what it entails, please call Linda McKeown 561- 254-3902 or email at llmckeown51@comcast.net Thanks.

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

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex.

Flowers and Candles: Donation – $40 for flowers and $20 for candles. Please fill out a form, and leave it in the plate.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am
Wednesday: Ash Wednesday at 6:30pm
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Billy, Diana , Donna, Ed, Efim, Francis, Jan, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For birthday celebrations: Britney LaBorde, Clare Morales, Ralph Robinson, Dawn LaBorde. For expectant mothers: Andi, Bronwyn.

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – February 7th – Fr. Thomas.

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With over two hundred million anticipated TV viewers of the Super Bowl this Sunday, I’ll share a favorite commentary of mine by an anonymous author.

12 Reasons why a local pastor stopped attending sports events

Every time I went, they asked me for money
The people sitting in my row didn’t seem very friendly.
The seats were very hard.
The coach never came to visit me.
The referees made a decision I didn’t agree with.
I was sitting with hypocrites—they only came to see what others were wearing!
Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.
The band played some songs I had never heard before.
The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands.
My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.
Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyway.
I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.
OK, you get the picture. Those reading this have their “priorities” in order; but sadly, many people in our country and in our world do not; which makes it more important than ever to maintain the faith and also share the faith as well during these challenging times. As I like to say, “Without God we cannot, and without us HE will not.”

NOTICES:

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.

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 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 Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: We are organizing a new group called the “Lay Weeders” for church grounds. We will divide parts of the landscape into 10-12 small plots, and individuals, families or groups can adopt the area to do the upkeep of the plot. We are in the process working on Saturdays to get the areas in good condition. If you would like to participate or have questions on what it entails, please call Linda McKeown 561- 254-3902 or email at llmckeown51@comcast.net Thanks.

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

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex.

Flowers and Candles: Donation – $40 for flowers and $20 for candles. Please fill out a form, and leave it in the plate.

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Billy, Diana, Donna, Ed, Efim, Francis, Jan, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For birthday celebrations: Maeve Blodgett, Kevan Bennett, Yvonne Wright, James McKeown, Rohan Wolliston. For anniversary celebrations: Desmond and Ann Chambers. For expectant mothers: Andi, Bronwyn.

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – January 31st, 2021 – Fr. Thomas.

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A new convert decided to test the effectiveness of prayer. Kneeling at the church’s altar he prayed for God to give shoes to a little girl he had seen barefoot that morning. Some time later he drove by her home to see if she had her new shoes. This routine went on for a number of days, and still no shoes. Finally, again at the altar the man said, “God, I’m giving you one more day. If you don’t give that little girl some new shoes by tomorrow, I’m going down to the store and buy them for her myself!”

Christ has ways of taking our gifts and turning them into miracles. Whether we drop a net in strange waters or turn over a few pieces of bread and some fish to feed a multitude, or bring a friend to Mass – each simple act is an act of faith, and it can be the basis for a miracle. People are looking for something in life. It’s not a spiritual desert out there, it’s a spiritual jungle with a variety of options. And if people seeking the presence of God in their lives don’t find it, or are not invited to try the Christian Faith, they will look elsewhere – even in the wrong places. Jesus didn’t compel people into righteousness; he loved them into righteousness. You might simply say, “Last Sunday in the sermon our priest said, “. . . .” or “In my daily devotional guide this morning, I read that. . . “Who knows where the conversation might lead you and your friend? The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what to say. So, don’t leave it to chance. For those able to attend mass in person, you might say to your family or friends, “I’ll pick you up at 9:30 and I’ll take you out to lunch after the service.” If they refuse, wait until another day.

God is calling us to join Him in the greatest job in the world: to bring more into His Kingdom. He’s taking us into deeper waters, where more faith is required, where we can’t simply rely on past experiences. The captain has not abandoned us. God is telling us to let down the nets for a bigger catch. Don’t be afraid when God is taking you from one “place” to another like Jonah and the disciples. He has a purpose so we don’t need to be afraid. As I like to say, “You catch them; He’ll clean them!”

NOTICES:

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.

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 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 Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

February Blood Drive: Our next drive is on Sunday, February 14th, Valentine’s Day! Please show your love by signing up to donate blood. Invite family (kids and grandkids 16 and older can donate) and friends to donate. You can register to donate using this link. https://donor.oneblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/1045951

Lay Weeders: We are organizing a new group called the “Lay Weeders” for church grounds. We will divide parts of the landscape into 10-12 small plots, and individuals, families or groups can adopt the area to do the upkeep of the plot. We are in the process working on Saturdays to get the areas in good condition. If you would like to participate or have questions on what it entails, please call Linda McKeown 561- 254-3902 or email at llmckeown51@comcast.net Thanks.

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

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex.

Flowers and Candles: Donation – $40 for flowers and $20 for candles. Please fill out a form, and leave it in the plate.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am

Wednesday: Eucharistic Adoration 6:00pm

Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Billy, Bishope Frade, Diana, Donna, Ed, Efim, Francis, Jan, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For birthday celebrations: David Blazek, William Blodgett V, Tom Parker, Pat Lorde, Jamie (Murray) Luther, Laurel Westerholt, Jenifer Elmore. For expectant mothers: Andi, Ashley, Bronwyn.

Altar Flowers: donated by Jacquie Murray in celebration of Jamie (Murray) Luther’s birthday and the birth of Romilla Emory Albor to Mayoli.

WEEKLY RECTOR’S MESSAGE – January 24th, 2021 – Fr. Thomas.

/in /by

One of the questions I’m asked on occasion during this Pandemic is, “Are we living in the “Last Days?’’” Well, if you remember the hurricanes in the Gulf last summer, the current wild fires in California, famine, wars, storms, and political unrest, one can easily assume that the world is coming to an end. But, I’m quick to respond, “Probably not anytime soon.” Has there ever been a decade or a century without most, if not all of these catastrophes? Those who spread fear and anxiety, like the authors of the Left Behind books, would have you believe that it’s all part of the end destruction. They would have you believe that God’s intention is to spread disasters to hasten the final judgment; when in fact, God’s mission is to redeem a fallen humanity, not hasten the day when God will destroy it forever.

The truth is that every person is created in the image of God. This is a message of hope, not despair. Beware of those who twist Biblical truth to scare the faithful. The Christian hope is that God will not “leave us behind.” God is with us already, and will continue to be with us despite the disasters which are part of the natural order, and over which we have little or no control. God’s presence is not seen in disasters and acts of violence: His presence is seen in acts of mercy and justice. We cannot hasten the apocalyptic timetable nor should we be eager to discern when that might be. Our universe will more likely “rust out” before it burns out. Even science says that there was a time when there was nothing, and there will be a time when there will be nothing. The first chapter of Genesis and the last chapter of Revelation both concur. Science asks the question, “How?” Theology asks the question, “How come?” Two different ways to finding the truth. Of course, it’s best to be prepared!

“Therefore, do not be anxious about what you shall wear, or what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, for your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first His Kingdom and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33

NOTICES:

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.

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 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: We continue making sandwiches for the foreseeable future. Starting this week, we are switching from Wednesday to Thursday . So please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s parking lot each Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 am. With your wonderful support, we continue to provide 300+ sandwiches every week! If you are unable to come to the church on Thursday mornings, please call me at 561-312-2719. Some parishioners are dropping off their sandwiches the night before. I will do my best to accommodate your schedules.

February Blood Drive : St. David’s hosts two blood drives each year, one in February and one in October. Our next drive is on Sunday, February 14th, Valentine’s Day! Please show your love by signing up to donate blood. Invite family (kids and grandkids 16 and older can donate) and friends to donate. You can register to donate using this link. https://donor.oneblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/1045951

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

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex.

Flowers and Candles: Donation – $40 for flowers and $20 for candles. Please fill out a form, and leave it in the plate.

Holy Eucharist:

  • Tuesdays: 8:30 am
  • Wednesdays: 6:30 pm

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Billy, Diana, Donna, Ed, Francis, Jan, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Tayvin. For birthday celebrations: Carly LaBorde, Dennis Amiel, Diana Firestone, Tanya Low, Millicent Thompson. For anniversary celebrations: Dick and Virginia Elliott, Tom and Joyce Parker. For expectant mothers: Andi, Ashley, Bronwyn, Katherine.

Altar Flowers:
-donated by Laurette Bagley in loving memory of Carl Bagley.
-donated by Kathleen Lannaman in celebration of Sydney Green’s 18th birthday.