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News and Upcoming Events
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Collect for the week
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of
spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable
to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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Readings for Sunday, July 5th / Proper 9
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
Psalm 48
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13
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Upcoming...
THE GENERAL CONVENTION
of the Episcopal Church
July 8 - 17, / Anaheim, CA
Please pray for our deputies from the Diocese of Central Florida as well as our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe.
Almighty and everliving God,
source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take
counsel for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all
things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is
right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to
accomplish it;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
There is an eight question survey you can fill out and submit on-line regarding asking lay and ordained Episcopalians to envision the church in 10 years' time and to prioritize the strategies toward that vision. For a link to the survey... CLICK HERE
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Healing, the power and promise of God...
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Dear Friends,
I want to commend to you all Gary Jackson's excellent sermon Jairus' Journey to Healing from Sunday (found on our website Click Here)
This particularly spoke to me as this week there was a remarkable answer to prayer. Last Tuesday, Grace Elizabeth Walsh, three week old newborn daughter of Scott and Jennifer Walsh was diagnosed with Meningitis and immediately hospitalized. The wait began as tests were taken to determine whether it was viral (serious but treatable) or bacterial (critical and most often fatal). Many were praying and God answered our prayers, On Thursday night it was discovered to be viral meningitis and on Friday morning Grace was discharged from Arnold Palmer Hospital and Scott and Jennifer took her home to finish her recovery. I am reminded of Psalm 103:2-3
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits, who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,"
Redemption salvation and healing are ours in Christ Jesus. It may not always come as we suppose. I have prayed for many folks who did not get better physically. Yet they received healing of their hearts, souls and minds an experienced the ultimate healing of entering the nearer presence of Christ Jesus.
I am reminded of a quote in the classic Matthew Henry Commentary... Sometimes Christ sees that we need sickness for the good of our souls more than healing for the good of our bodies. This is one of those mysteries we could spend our lives exploring. I do not understand why some people recover and are made whole while others suffer with illness and die. It is the age old quandary that asks: If God is good then why is there suffering in the world? There is not a one line, easy answer to that question. I have come to know this one truth: God is sovereign and though I have questions and confusion they fade in comparison to the glorious Lordship of Christ Jesus in my life. This is the knowledge of Christ that transforms us and is more valuable than anything this world offers.
Building on the last few sermons at Incarnation we will explore this a bit more deeply this coming Sunday by examining Paul's "thorn in the flesh".
May each of us press into Christ and take hold of him, for by doing so, true healing is ours.
Living where blessings abound!
The Rev. Jon Davis+ / Vicar
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