|
|
 |
News and Upcoming Events
|
|
Collect for the weekO Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your
people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand
what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power
faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
++++++++++++++++
Readings for Sunday, July 19th / Proper 11
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Psalm 89:20-37
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
___________________
Please pray for Incarnation member Danny Miller who will be in Honduras from July 13-18 where there is much civil unrest and political problems.
------------------------------
General Convention Debriefing by our Deputation
2 PM on Sunday, July 26 in the Cathedral Church of St. Luke
-----------------------------
Pray for The General Convention & our Deputation
July 8 - 17, / Anaheim, CA
Almighty and everliving God,
source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take
counsel at General Convention, July 8-17 in Anaheim, California, 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.
Our deputies from the Diocese of Central Florida are,,,
The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe,
Clerical Order
The Rev. Canon Ernie Bennett
The Very Rev. Anthony Clark
The Very Rev. Charles Holt
The Rev. Nelson Pinder
The Rev. Phyllis Bartle,
Lay Order Dr. Thomas Bates
Mrs. Anneke Bertsch
Mr. James Brzezinski
Mrs. Patty Tew
Mrs. Sonya Shannon, |
|
|
Dear Friends,
This week someone sent me a link to a free audio book Crazy Love - I checked it out and want to commend it to you as a fresh perspective on the Christian life and faith.
The free download is available through Christian Audio, check out: http://christianaudio.com/free The website for the book is www.crazylovebook.com has some captivating videos and other resources. There was nothing that was really new to me in this material but it was very engaging and renewed me and I hope it will do the same for you.
As you know the General Convention of the Episcopal Church is in full swing. I have been fervently praying for renewal, reform, revival, repentance, reconciliation and more. While praying I was reminded (I believe by Jesus) that these elements must begin first - in me. Daily I need to be transformed by the renewing of my mind in Christ. I could formulate a list of grievances with the way the Episcopal Church has conducted itself in the last few years. Yet as I pray I am quickly reminded and quite sure folks could do come of with a list of transgressions I have committed. I am relearning the principle Jesus teaches of "removing the beam from my own eye before trying to remove the speck from another one's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5)
I still pray these prayers but embracing the fact that renewal, revival, reform, repentance, all these things begin in my heart and mind. May it be so for all of Incarnation as we bear witness as a community to the grace, mercy, kindness, goodness and love of God found in Jesus Christ and flowing through us by the Holy Spirit. A priest friend posted the following on a listserve that reminded me of this...
I am reminded of the story of the old man who went out to the city gate day after day, week after week, month after month calling for those in the city to repent and turn their hearts to God. One day, a young boy comes up to the old man and say, "Old man, why you do you bother to come out here ever single day? Nobody listens to you. Nobody cares what you say. Don't you think you should just quit annoying everyone?"
The old man, with tears in his eyes, looked down at the young boy and said, "When I first started coming out here, I did so for the city - I hoped and prayed that those hearing the message would turn from their wicked ways and come back to God. So I came day after day, week after week, month after month, believing my words could change their hearts. ... But, now I've seen that that's not going to happen... and now I come and faithfully proclaim my message every day so that they don't change my heart."
An "old man" - Living where blessings abound!
The Rev. Jon Davis+ / Vicar
|
|
The Chronicles of C.S. Lewis - Conference at Northland Church - August 14-15.
If you are a fan of his writings this looks like a wonderful offering
to dig deeper into his thought and life. In 2006 while in Oxford I
spent a great deal of time wandering the halls and gardens of Magdalen
College (pronounced Maudlin)
where Lewis taught. I visited a few pubs where he was know to hang
out, lifting a glass in his memory. I also visited his church, his home
and grave site and gave thanks for this man's life that has so impacted
me. You can check out more about the conference by clicking here.
|
|
|
