I will be on vacation July 22-28. I’m thrilled to be officiating at my niece’s marriage in Birmingham, AL on July 24, and looking forward to seeing all of my family. It’s been over two years since I’ve seen some of them, and it will be my first time to see my 9 month old great niece! Once again, please contact Deb in the office if you need anything (Office hours Tuesday: 9:00 – 12:00; Wednesday and Thursday: 1:00-5:00). In the event of a pastoral emergency please contact Patti Rau.
Nancy Spencer-Smith will preside at the Eucharist at 8:00 and 10:00 this Sunday. Thank you, Nancy!
Looking ahead…. Mark your calendars! On Sunday, August 1 we will celebrate St. Andrew’s 94th anniversary. During the usual sermon time we will share our thoughts on what we learned about church during the pandemic and our recent reopening for in-person services. What did you miss while our services were on Zoom? Now that many of us are back in church, what do you appreciate? Are there things you used to take for granted that have new meaning now? What are you most grateful for? Please write down your thoughts on one or more of these questions, keeping it to 50 words of less so that everyone who wishes can share at the service
Being the first Sunday of the month, this will be a 9:00 service, followed by a parish brunch. Haven’t you missed our parish meals? And Sammie’s cheese grits? (She will make it for this occasion!)
Blessings, Caroline
The remaining Sundays at 8:00 and 10:00 AM
This Sunday-July 25th
9th Sunday after Pentecost
at 8:00 & 10:00 a.m.
JOIN US FOLLOWING THE SERVICE FOR
A TIME OF CONVERSATION.
August 1, 2021
Join us for the 94th anniversary celebration!
9:00 service
Sermon time devoted to
sharing our experience of
St. Andrew’s during
the pandemic
Followed by a potluck
parish brunch
Bring your favorite brunch item to share
The Collect
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Lesson
2
Samuel 11:1-15
In
the Hebrew scripture reading King David, secure in Jerusalem while his toops
carry on a battle against the Ammonites, conceives a child with Bathsheba,
whose husband he then has killed. David
is concerned to cover up his impropriety and summons Uriah from battle. The king’s first intent is for Uriah to have
relations with Bathsheba, but the Hittite will take no comfort for himself
while his comrades are militarily engaged.
When this plan fails, David sends Uriah back to the fight carrying
orders for Joab, the commander, as to how Uriah’s necessary death is to be
achieved. David, so favored by God,
transgresses woefully.
Psalm 14
Those who
reject God are foolish and perverse, but God will be vindicated.
The Second Lesson Ephesians
3:14-21
In our epistle
lesson the author, in the language of praise, expresses fervent hope that the
community of the church might know the rich abundance of God’s indwelling
Spirit. There is a power and wisdom
which comes only from Christ, surpassing all knowledge. The blessing of knowing Christ exceeds all
that can be imagined, and will be at work for every generation of those who
are, through faith, members of Christ Jesus and his church.
The Gospel John
6:1-21
Our gospel is
the story of the feeding of the five thousand people by Jesus. The narrative recalls the story of the food
miraculously provided to the Israelites in the wilderness. So do the people declare Jesus to be the new
prophet whom God had promised to raise up in Moses’ place. But then they misunderstand Jesus’ mission
and want to make him a king because he has provided them with food. The story contains a number of other
themes. The twelve baskets of fragments
may signify the mission to the Gentile nations.
Christians perceive in this meal a foretaste of the messianic banquet in
heaven. It also prefigures the Eucharist.
Jesus is the bread come down from heaven.
Updating the Prayer List
Please let Deb know when a person can be removed from the prayer list. Thank you.
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