This Sunday at about 11:20 you are invited to bring your coffee and gather with Cathie Lewis, our alternate deputy to General Convention to hear about that important triennial decision-making gathering of the Episcopal Church that took place several weeks ago in Salt Lake City. Cathie will share some reflections on her time there and bring us up to speed on some of the important issues under discussion and resolutions.
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| We had a lively, full church last Sunday for worship and fellowship. |
Readings for this coming Sunday:
2 Samuel 11:1-15. Psalm 14. The
continuation of the story in 2 Samuel will serve as our second reading, 2 Samuel 11:26–12:13a. (We will omit the reading from Ephesians
3:14-21.) John 6:1-21.
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| View from the Behr’s field in Wonalancet |
A memorial liturgy in Celebration of the
Life of Karl Svendsen (husband of Gretchen Behr-Svendsen) will be held at
the church at 3 o’clock, followed by a reception, this Saturday afternoon
(July25). Karl died last week and private committal service was held on Behr
family land in Wonalancet.
Also this Saturday, at 11 o’clock in the morning, the wedding of Lil DeRose and
Bobby-Lu Ellis. Lil and Bobby-Lu are new to the parish and welcome members
of the parish to join with their family and friends as they exchange their marriage
vows.
The Rector’s Annual Coffee
Hour Brunch Open House will be held next Sunday, August 2nd immediately following
the single 9 AM service at 247 Pound Rd, Madison. You are invited to bring something for the
brunch table. (Directions will be available next Sunday) Please join us for a time of relaxed
sociability and fellowship.
Tickets are going fast for our Lobster/Steak Dinner on August 7th. The
deadline for purchasing tickets is next Sunday, August 2nd. Price it
is $30 ($5 for a children’s hotdog meal). The FUN-Raising Committee depends on
members of the parish to lend a hand with set-up, clean-up, ticket-taking, and
blueberry-buckle-making! Please sign up or talk to Carol or Sally.
Food for thought from the Rector….
On
sacramental life events… Not only are all
services of the church public and open to anyone, but the presence of members
of a parish at baptisms, weddings, and funerals actually is vitally important
both to the life of the church and to the family for whom the event is central.
Especially in our increasingly secularized world, it is common that many of the
invited guest and friends of the family are no longer – or have never been –
church-goers. These sacramental events serve as an often rare opportunity from
people to experience the power of prayer, liturgy, and Christian community.
More than a few of our loyal and regular members in this parish are here because they were touched by God through
the Holy Spirit when they came here as a guest at a wedding or a funeral and
realized this church had something important to offer them and where their
presence was welcomed and valued.
While funerals are generally considered to be open and public events, the truth is that church weddings are as well! The presence of members of the parish (even if they hardly even know the wedding couple) is a powerful witness to what it means to be members of the body of Christ and a profound way of indicating to the couple and their families that they are also an import gift to our shared life.
While funerals are generally considered to be open and public events, the truth is that church weddings are as well! The presence of members of the parish (even if they hardly even know the wedding couple) is a powerful witness to what it means to be members of the body of Christ and a profound way of indicating to the couple and their families that they are also an import gift to our shared life.
Peace and blessings,
Heidi+
Heidi+
