|
The week of Oct. 19-25, 2015
|
TIME & TALENT SIGN-UP
CONCLUDES SUNDAY
The annual Time & Talent sign-up will come to a close Sunday. When all the commitments are submitted the parish leadership and committee chairs will know who intends to be involved in which aspects of our parish life. It's really important that everyone-every single member of the parish-fill out a form. Otherwise we won't know who to advise of activities and plans.
Sunday a special drawing will mark the end of the Time & Talent portion of our annual pledge drive. A drawing will take place at which one Time & Talent pledge form will be selected. The lucky parishioner whose form is picked will receive a gift certificate for a dinner for two at the Farm to Table Restaurant.
Is your name already in the drawing for the gift certificate? Sunday will be the last day to qualify for the drawing. You are probably asking, "How can I qualify?" Simple - just complete the Time & Talent Pledge form found in the narthex. You'll not only qualify for the drawing, but you will be able to feel the joy that comes from sharing your gifts with God and your friends at St. Paul's. So far we have 40 people sharing their gifts.
--Bobbie Gordon
Our friend in Jerusalem
Julett Butler at St. George's Cathedral
Our friend Julett Butler from Christ Church is pictured here in the chapel at St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem. She and her traveling group stayed in the Guest House across the court yard from the cathedral proper. She reports that she had the pleasure of reading the scriptures twice at Evensong while there. Julett asks that we all please pray for the situation in Jerusalem as new tensions develop between Palestinians and Israelites.
The many kinds of blindness
Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Psalm 34:1-8;Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52
Our Gospel reading this week provides us with an opportunity for a rich reflection on something we all have experienced any number of times: people who refuse to see what is in front of them.
the Gospel lesson this Sunday, Bartimaeus calls out when he is informed that Jesus of Nazareth has come to his hometown, Jericho. He shouts for mercy from Jesus. The Gospel lessons says, "many sternly ordered him to be quiet." Even in his lack of vision Bartimaeus can "see" that Jesus is his hope, his salvation. But his neighbors discouraged him.
How many times in the New Testament do people underestimate the power of Jesus, the interest of Jesus, the love of Jesus? In this instance it seems that they didn't want this resident blind man bothering the now-famous wayfarer. They didn't want Bartimaeus to give Jericho a reputation for tolerating outspoken people with disabilities.
Every one of us needs to inspire faith in Jesus, not try to control it or ration it or suggest to those who seek it that it is not available. For whatever reason. Jesus is the manifestation of God's love for humanity. On that we can depend.
Was that guy really the Pope?
Last month we saw a week of nearly universal focus on the visit of one man to the U.S. The celebrity status accorded to the Pope was incredible. Sports figures, movie stars, and even terrorists rarely get the kind of coverage the Pope received.
This would be enough to go to anybody's head. So what does he do? He carries his own bag, he says the one thing he wants to do is have a slice of New York pizza. He goes to schools and talks to school children, kisses babies, goes to a prison, drives in a Fiat rather than a limo. He advocates for the poor and the homeless as well as for responsible stewardship of God's creation. He focuses on being a Christian, not being a speaker for Church doctrine. This makes him stand apart from many religious leaders, regardless of denomination or sect. He exhorts us to go back to the basics.
Pope Francis has set quite an example. He has inspired Roman Catholics, other Christians and a considerable portion of the non-Christian world. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all would go in the same direction with our words and deeds. --Pete Bedrossian
The week ahead:
From our October calendar
20 6pm Seekers Group
21 SUSPENDED12:15pm Healing Service & EucharistSUSPENDED
Healing Service will resume Oct. 28
22 6pm Finance
25 8am Rite I; 8:45 am Lessons' Discussion; 9:30 Choir; 10am Rite II; 10am Sunday School; 11:15 Coffee Hour
26 6pm Worship/Altar Guild; 7pm Evening Prayer; 7:30pm Vestry
28 12:15pm Healing Service & Eucharist
31 11am Girl Scouts
|
|
|
|
