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Daily Message from St. Edward’s – June 5, 2020

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR RECTOR

This afternoon, I invite you to take in a good, deep breath.  Hold it for a second or two and then, really, let it go.  Breathe in deeply…hold…exhale fully…Breathe in deeply, feeling your lungs expand…hold it in for a few seconds…then: feel the air leaving your body, lighter in weight and in spirit, as you let go of the breath.  Breathe in God…breathe out Love.  Let go of fear…make room for hope.  Breathe in God…breathe out Love.

In the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, our Lord calls us to rest with patience and faith in uneasy times.  Jesus tells his first disciples: “Beware that no one leads you astray.  For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. (Mat 24:3-8)

When we dig in our heels and our emotions take over, our perceptions of the world can telescope in on us and tempt us to forget who we are…whose we are.  Whether we cry out for change or long for a return to ‘the way that it used to be’, our discipleship calls us to remember that we are, first and foremost, followers of Jesus Christ.  And our teacher asks us to ever-lean into our senses of faith, to take a long view when we’re anxious about the world around us.  In truth, we live in a universe that is still expanding, a Creation that is still evolving, and we each play a role in Christ’s own becoming by what we do and by what we leave undone in our lives each and every day.

It seems as if, in all things, our Lord blesses us with increased difficulty throughout our life-long programs of study as His disciples.  Particularly when we face forces (or persons) that strike us in our heart spaces as antithetical to what we stand for, just at the point where our senses of righteous indignation start to feel good, Jesus interjects: “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” (Mat 5:44-45)  Whether we feel called to march in protests, fervently seek to preserve the order of our status quo, or find ourselves in-between on the spectrum in our thoughts and feelings about the present state of social unrest in this country, we are called as Christ’s own to place our love for God and our neighbor at the center of our will.  This is not a political statement for the Right or for the Left…it is a reminder that we belong to Christ…and that the world shall know us by our LOVE.

So dear sisters and brothers, may be breathe this weekend, and may we find rest in the assurances of our Lord.  As we each seek, in our own ways, to do justice: may we each walk in love, humbly before our ever-merciful God.

Peace be with each of you,

Father Rick+

 

St. Edward’s Episcopal Church is inviting you to Evening Prayer – Friday. June 5, 2020
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82328056258

Join Code:  823 2805 6258

We will be showing the text on screen to make it easy to follow along. If you have a Book of Common Prayer, you may start on page 115.

Make certain you check your DAILY MESSAGE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON BY 4 PM for our link and information to our online Sunday Service of Trinity Sunday, as well as the link to join our Virtual Coffee Hour!

Also, we will be placing a basket with the June Scepter outside the front red doors tomorrow by noon.  If you would like to view it online, click here.

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – June 4, 2020

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Dear parishioners and friends,

More wonderful grace notes of ministry happening at St. Edward’s this week.

Many parishioners, coming to tend to our garden spaces with weeding and pruning.  Thank you to Ginny Kloepping for organizing this ministry and to Mike Freshwater, Barb Jakiel, Kiki Daivs-Brugmann, Barbara Schultz, and Dottie Gschwend (my apologies if I missed anyone, but know that your work is so very much appreciated).

In our sanctuary, so many thanks to Patrick Ishler, Karen Waddill, and Father Rick for re-imagining the choir/organist area with a spruced-up space and our wonderful banners.

We continue to pray for peace for all humanity.

Be well.  Be safe.  Keep the faith.

Michelle

St. Edward’s Episcopal Church is inviting you to Evening Prayer – Friday. June 5, 2020

Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82328056258

Join Code:  823 2805 6258

We will be showing the text on screen to make it easy to follow along. If you have a Book of Common Prayer, you may start on page 115.

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – June 3, 2020

administrator

Dear parishioners and friends,

In light of the Renewal of our Baptismal Covenant in this past week’s service, we invite you to click the link below to an article from the House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church, from the perspective of an African-American Episcopalian, Reuben K. Varghese MD, MPH, who is a member of the Task Force of the Theology of Social Justice Advocacy, created by General Convention Resolution 2018-A056, and a member of St. John’s, Georgetown in the Diocese of Washington.

A Pentecost Lamentation

Father Rick is so grateful that parishioners are reaching out to him with their thoughts and feelings on the current statements made by the National Church and would encourage all of us to keep our hearts and minds open, as well as the conversations.  Please know that his lines of communication are open and confidential.

Let us pray for both justice AND peace and that no one feels left out in the life of the Church.  We are all in this together and with God’s love we are being called to be understanding and transformative in our daily lives to make our world, for all of humanity, a better place.

—
We also leave you with a video link to “We All are One In Mission” from
First-Plymouth Church Lincoln Nebraska

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0AmVKrX6xg&list=RDw0AmVKrX6xg&start_radio=1&t=51

Have a peaceful evening.  Be well. Be Safe.  Keep the faith.

Michelle

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – June 2, 2020

administrator

Dear Parishioners and friends,

As we continue to take in and try to make sense of the unfolding unrest in our country, we want to keep you attuned to the most recent statement from our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry from last evening.

Please click here to read Presiding Bishop Curry’s current statement.

In speaking with Father Rick this morning about these nationwide events, which are unsettling, jarring, and profoundly sad, I found his ability to listen and counsel very mindful and introspective.  To that end, Father Rick would like to convey that his lines of communication are always open and confidential.  If anyone, at any time, would like to speak with him about any thoughts and feelings you may have, please feel at ease and confident that he is there for you, with an open mind and heart, to listen.  You can reach out to him on his direct cell phone line or via his email:  [email protected].

Please also keep in mind all those who are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and remember those who have lost their lives.  It is far from “over” and we must not forget to be mindful of people’s feelings and anxiety navigating the re-opening of our way of life we were so accustomed to.

We leave you today with a meditation (very apropos for today) and a virtual tour and hope both bring a little peace to your evening.

Forward Day by Day for Tuesday, June 2                           The Martyrs of Lyons
Matthew 13:54 [Jesus] came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power?”

How often do our expectations lead to our downfall? When the people of Jesus’ hometown see him, they expect the carpenter’s son. And even when confronted with the evidence of his wisdom and power, they still refuse to believe. They have already made up their minds before he ever opens his mouth.

Our own preconceived notions of others and the world regularly blind us to the actual reality God is creating. A quick glance through the Bible illustrates just how often God upends our expectations—humbling the proud and exalting the meek.

But perhaps the least helpful expectations are the ones we place on ourselves. When we expect too little of ourselves, we limit what God will do with us. When we expect too much, we rely too much on ourselves. Keep an open mind and an open heart, and God will shatter your expectations.

MOVING FORWARD: Make appropriate amends to someone for a wrong assumption you made.

PRAY for the Diocese of St. David’s (Wales)
Ps 45 * 47, 48 | Ecclesiastes 2:16-26 | Galatians 1:18—2:10 | Matthew 13:53-58

—

Visit beautiful Mallorca, Spain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNlGBkHM3vw

Be well.  Be Safe.  Keep the Faith.

Michelle

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – June 1, 2020

administrator

Dear Parishioners and friends,

We hope that you enjoyed our service of Pentecost, yesterday, as well as our tour!

If you missed it, please click this link to view!

We are working on finishing up the June Scepter this week which is chick full of great content! It should be posted online and available to pick up before the end of the week.

Look for messages regarding Bible Study and Evening Prayer for later this week.

As we continue to look outward, and reflect inward, on all of the recent events happening to our humanity, we thought you may like to read this article from Episcopal News Service from our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry. So important and gives us more perspective to contemplate.

Click here to read.

You will also see at the bottom of the article page there are articles/links to Presiding Bishop Curry’s Pentecost sermon, as well as his Habitats of Grace series: Pray for the entire human family.

Have a lovely evening. . enjoy the cooler weather for today!

Be well. Be Safe. Keep the Faith.

Michelle

Sunday Service Online – The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday – May 31, 2020

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Click here to download this Sunday’s service bulletin to follow along with the service.

Besides prayers, calls, cards and emails, there is one more thing you can do to support St. Edward’s during this time. Please keep up-to-date with your pledge or regular contribution. Even though we must keep our doors closed for a period of time, we also must continue to pay our fixed expenses such as electricity, insurance, and salaries. We will continue to pick up our mail, so you can easily mail your contributions to the office and we will see that they are properly credited.  We have also been blessed to discover that the diocese has set up online giving for each parish.  If you feel comfortable making your weekly giving or pledge donation in this manner (it is a secure giving tool), simply go to the diocesan web site, click on the tab up top and it will take you to a page where you can scroll down, find St. Edward’s, and continue with making your contribution!  Thank you for maintaining your faithfulness through your financial stewardship!

Click here if you would like to donate online through the diocesan portal. You will scroll down to find “St. Edward’s” under “Lancaster”. The portal is a secure giving site.

Consider joining the virtual coffee hour, hosted by Joe and Christina McLaughlin.  Please note:  We are going back to the OLD join code and pass code protocol via Christina’s account.  It appears there may be too much “traffic” on the paid-for subscription platform, and as with all technology, please bear with us as we work through a little trial and error to make sure we are bringing to you the ministries you love to participate in as we navigate the technology component, along with the millions of users who login each Sunday on Zoom for worship and fellowship.

Click here for step-by-step instructions to set up Zoom, that Christina put together.

And, if you have any questions, Christina has offered to please give her a call and she can help!  Her number is 717-415-7043.

DATE:  SUNDAY, MAY 31st

TIME:  10 – 10:45 am

PLACE:  Wherever you are comfortable with your computer in your home environment!

WHAT TO BRING:  Your coffee and something interesting to share with others!

** The join code and passcode will not be posted on the public website or Facebook but are in the Saturday email you would have received.

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – May 29, 2020

administrator

29 May 2020

Dear Members of the Episcopal Church in Central Pennsylvania,

George Floyd.

This is the name of the latest victim of racial violence in our country- violence perpetrated against people of color in brutal and deadly ways, violence that without proportion targets black men- Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Michael Brown, and Alton Sterling to name a few- violence that is issued by people of authority in our culture whom we have been taught to trust, and violence that is born of institutional and systemic racism. Violence that has left still another dead man lying on the street. This is the mark of institutional racism.

Healing from the sin of systemic, institutional racism requires work that is long and deep. It begins with the painful coming to understand that all white people are responsible. We must look over our shoulders to those whom, since the dawn of this country, have divided men and women into categories of White and Other, we must look at how power structures in our nation have been built based on the color of one’s skin, and we must own up to how the sins of white superiority and racial inequality have been kept alive- and grown- in all the parts of our society- in education, employment opportunities, housing, the legal system, prisons, and even in our churches.

Owning our place in the system as white people is the beginning. And changing it will be the work of several lifetimes.

Our (recent) attempts at anti-racism work in our diocese have been honest but ineffectual on a large scale; we have not reached enough people to create transformational change. The net has not been cast wide enough. We have gathered a few faithful souls who want to learn- Christians who want to create the world that the prophet Isaiah talked about where the lion and the lamb lie down together and peace reigns. We want to live like Jesus taught us, loving our neighbors as ourselves, and we look with hope to the day when the City of God will come down from heaven like a bride adorned for her husband, and we will live together, in unity, in a shining and glorious land that is marked by love.  But we are not there yet. Our journey is long, the road is rough, and we need the whole company of faithful people to join. Only then will we stand a chance at transforming our corner of this world- the beautiful diocese of Central Pennsylvania- into a place where every person is valued, every person is welcomed and has opportunity, and no one needs be anxious to step outside of their home for fear of violence perpetrated against them simply because of the color of their skin.

Dismantling institutional racism is a tremendous task that involves the transformation of minds and hearts. Only when our minds have been turned and our hearts have been opened will we be equipped with the passion and the power that is needed to change a centuries-old oppressive system.

Will you join me?

A first step is to enroll in our cost-free “Becoming the Beloved Community” class through the Stevenson School for Ministry. This introductory 10-week online course focuses on the sin of white supremacy and its role in creating and sustaining systemic and institutional racism. The course examines the connection between Western Christian identity, development, and white privilege in the creation of race as a means of advantaging those classified as White to the detriment of those classified as Other. Ultimately, the course examines the responsibility of communities of faith to truly demonstrate the expansive love of the Kingdom. You can register for the class at https://diocesecpa.org/vocationalcourses/

I will be taking the class this term and invite you to join me.

We can- through open and sincere dialogue and learning -begin the work of transformation.

Before another George Floyd, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Michael Brown, or Alton Sterling is killed, please join me in the work to dismantle racism and to create God’s dream of a peaceful, beloved community here, in the place that we call home.

In the Way of Love,

The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan

XI Bishop

St. Edward’s Episcopal Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic:  Evening Prayer – Friday. May 29, 2020

Time: May 29, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85776051371

Meeting ID: 857 7605 1371

 One tap mobile

+13126266799,,85776051371# US (Chicago)

+19292056099,,85776051371# US (New York)

 Dial by your location

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

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+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 857 7605 1371

Find your local number:  https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kfhKQaryf

We will be showing the text on screen to make it easy to follow along. We will also provide a simple pdf to follow along, which you can access by clicking here.  And, if you have a Book of Common Prayer, you may start on page 115.

Make certain you check your DAILY MESSAGE tomorrow for our link and information to our online Sunday Service of Pentecost, as well as the link to join our Virtual Coffee Hour!

Please bear with us as we transition to some new communications methods via our new parish-wide communication address of [email protected] and utilizing some email marketing programs, such as Mail Chimp. You may find these new communications in your SPAM folder initially as the new email “gets to know” your email and you may want to go into your spam filter settings (if you are daring!) and add our new email to your “safe list.” We will continue to send emails for the next few days in a couple methods (old and new) while we work the kinks out. Thank you for your patience and grace as we work to make communicating with you more modern and efficient.

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – May 28, 2020

administrator

Dear parishioners,

As we wind down this short week, and with such challenging times, on so many levels, we thought it would be good to remember, as Episcopalians, What We Believe:

We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As constituent members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, we are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church, and are part of the third largest group of Christians in the world.

We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world.

We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God, and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of sexual identity or orientation.

We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.

—

We have wonderful services coming up this weekend, starting with Evening Prayer tomorrow evening.  Here is the information to join Patrick Ishler in this wonderful service to end the week:

St. Edward’s Episcopal Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting

Topic: Evening Prayer – Friday. May 29, 2020

Time: May 29, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85776051371

Meeting ID: 857 7605 1371

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,85776051371# US (Chicago)

+19292056099,,85776051371# US (New York)

Dial by your location

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 857 7605 1371

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kfhKQaryf

We will be showing the text on screen to make it easy to follow along. We will also provide a simple pdf to follow along, which you can click on here.  And, if you have a Book of Common Prayer, you may start on page 115.

Make sure you check your email and the website on Saturday as that will have the information for our service of Pentecost for Sunday, May 31st as well as information to join us for our virtual coffee hour.

Michelle

Daily Message from St. Edward’s – May 27, 2020

administrator

Dear parishioners,

As we prepare for this Sunday’s online service, and BTW, please make sure you tune in, and celebrate Pentecost with us – it is a wonderful service, we are very reflective and mindful this week as many areas start to re-open.  It is wonderful, in many ways, that we can start to get back to doing some of the routines we have had to refrain from for the past almost 90 days, but with that, there can be anxiety in adapting to the “new normal.”

As we are guided by our faith, particularly as we pass the milestone of 100,000 deaths, today, due to COVID19: Please take care of yourselves.  Be gentle on yourself and others.  Be mindful of others in how they navigate our changed world.  Be kind.  Be patient.  Be safe.  And, as always, keep those who are less fortunate than ourselves, in so many ways, in our hearts and minds.  That is our ministry.

As the meditation below explores:  We all have gifts.  Let us continue to discover them and embrace them to help others.

Michelle

 

 

Meditation by Forward Day by Day for WEDNESDAY, May 27

Ephesians 4:11-12  The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

The staff of Forward Movement has spent the past year exploring our various gifts. Guided by an assessment tool called StrengthsFinder, we have learned about our individual strengths as well as those of our colleagues and how these interplay with one another.

The experience reflects the sentiment of this wonderful passage of scripture: We all have gifts—not the same ones, of course—but each one of us has talents and skills to contribute to our ministry at Forward Movement and more broadly to building up the body of Christ.

In this letter to the Ephesians, Paul doesn’t rank the gifts, scaling them by importance or difficulty. And neither should we. God blesses each of us with the gifts we need to go out into the world; may we be brave enough to embrace our own giftedness and celebrate those of others.

MOVING FORWARD: What gifts has God bestowed upon you? How are you using them to God’s glory?

PRAY for the Dioceses of Lichfield (England) and  Southwest Virginia

Ps 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30 * 119:121-144 | Isaiah 4:2-6 | Ephesians 4:1-16 | Matthew 8:28-34

Visit the Beautiful UK today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8uy86v6Kaw