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Dear parishioners,

Today is National Nurses Day and to pay tribute we posted on Facebook a message of support.  Where would we be without nurses, any day, and especially now!  They are so brave to take care of us in these times of COVID19, and every day.  Thank you, Nurses!!!

While coming into work today, I stopped by Dunkin Donuts to get coffees and the line was very, very long.  As I got to the window to get my order and pay, the gal said to me, “The woman in front of you paid for your order.”  What a surprise!!  Such a nice gesture.  I, in turn, decided to pay for the order of the gentleman behind me.  It makes one feel good to pass on gestures of community spirit and kindness.

Today’s message shares a favorite hymn of Libby Sternberg’s and a wonderful meditation for today from Forward Day by Day.

Michelle

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From Libby Sternberg:  Here’s an Easter favorite of mine by Patrick Hadley, “My Beloved Spake.” I remember singing this with an Episcopal choir in Baltimore. Seems appropriate now as spring comes and we contemplate things reopening:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjULGCnpYaI&list=PLkZaLImNGrfoJYxmdRunLL3XMNXtDCJse&index=54&t=0s

 

The text (hard to get from the recording):

My beloved spake, and said unto me,
Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.
For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of the singing of birds is come,
And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land
The figtree putteth forth her green figs,
And the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.
Arise my love, my fair one and come away.

 

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WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2020

Exodus 33:3b For you are a stiff-necked people.

Few things drive God crazier than stubbornness. More than forty verses in the Bible criticize the traits of a stiff-necked people—the hardened heart, the refusal to be led, the haughtiness of certainty.

God knows—God knows—we are a stubborn people. We dig in our heels even when evidence is presented to the contrary. We take comfort in certainty and pride in charting our own paths. Among our many sinful traits, stubbornness is among the most egregious.

We see what happens when its gnarly tendrils take root in God’s people—in biblical times and today. We become oxen following the same rutted paths, unwilling to see new possibilities, unable to find common ground. Let us pray for softened hearts so we might be open to God’s leading to a promised land, one we can neither imagine nor find on our own.

MOVING FORWARD: How do you discern the difference between determination and stubbornness? Is this a slippery slope for you? Pray for guidance.

 

PRAY for the Diocese of Kushtia (Bangladesh)

Ps 119:49-72 * 49, [53] | Exodus 33:1-23 | 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 | Matthew 5:17-20

 

 

Dear parishioners,

So many great things happening at St. Edward’s this week:  With the great dedication and ministry of Mike Freshwater, our exterior doors are being repainted (and they look great)!  Mike has also replaced the very worn out STOP sign in our driveway with a brand new one AND we have a new front sign with Father Rick’s name and a new “All Are Welcome” message.

Father Rick is working on implementing our Livestream capabilities so we will be up and running with that in a few weeks, as well as the clergy weekly calls with the diocese keeping our parishes abreast of what is happening and what we should be planning for.  Not to mention the rector’s office looking absolutely fantastic with new carpet and new décor with new furniture arriving this weekend.  What a wonderful space to have Father Rick do his ministry. . .We can’t wait for everyone to see it!

There was great ministry that happened over the weekend, as well, with a new riser built for the Praise Band drum set (again, looks pretty darn good!) and some great gardening and weeding by the Milligan family and Ginny Kloepping (if I left any of our gardeners out, please let me know?).  And, we appreciate Herb Johnston making his weekly stop by St. Edward’s to make sure our trash is being put out for pick up on Monday mornings, as well as his “walk through” of the church facility to make sure everything is AOK.  Thank you, Herb!

I hear from “reliable sources” that the virtual coffee hour had upwards of 30 people this past Sunday!  Fantastic!  Thank you to Joe and Christina McLaughlin for energizing that ministry.

Parishioners have also been sending me content to feature in the Daily Message and I greatly appreciate it.  I know there is more. . . Oh, there is one message to the parish and that is:  We thank you so very much for being faithful in your pledging and giving.  It is so vitally important for us to carry out the ministry of St. Edward’s and we are so appreciative of your continued support.  I think we have even collected a second wave of donations for the Hempfield Area Food Pantry to be able to send them a check in the $1,000 range, which is so needed right now, so thank you, all, for keeping that ministry in your prayers and donations.

Be well.  Stay safe.  Keep the faith.

Michelle

In today’s Daily Message, we offer you the new season of The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry, and a virtual tour.

Third season of The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry podcast begins May 5 with guest Jen Hatmaker

Season 3 of The Episcopal Church’s podcast The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry, is now available. These weekly conversations, featuring Bishop Curry, podcast host Sandy Milien, and a variety of guests, center on ways to live a life committed to living the way of God’s unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial and redemptive love.

Season 3 changes include longer conversations between Bishop Curry and his guests: faith leaders, authors, and thinkers who are committed to following the Way of Jesus in the world today. Framed by the Way of Love – those seven practices of turning, learning, praying, worshipping, blessing, going, and resting – listeners will hear stories and lessons about how they can grow closer to God in daily life.

In Episode 1, Bishop Curry sits down with New York Times best-selling author and podcast host Jen Hatmaker to discover how, among many changes, opportunities, setbacks, and even a television show, she and her family have paused, listened, and reoriented themselves again and again toward Jesus and his Way of Love. Hear about her shift from a self-centered to an other-centered faith, and how one unconventional fast deeply impacted her. Hatmaker’s latest book is Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire.   This episode of the Way of Love podcast is sponsored by Trinity Church Wall Street, which offers services streamed live and on demand in HD six days a week.

If you missed Seasons 1 and 2, or want to go back and listen again, individual episodes, including bonus episodes and reflection guides are here and here.

The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry, is available on most podcast apps and at episcopalchurch.org. Visit the Way of Love podcast webpage to subscribe to the podcast through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify and to sign up for notifications of new seasons and episodes as well as additional featured content.

 

Let’s go to. . . Beautiful Lofoten (Norway / Arctic Circle) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg67iIFivDo

 

 

Dear parishioners,

For our Daily Message today we have a celebration of new life!!

Let us “shout the good news” from the mountaintops. . . or in our case, from the fields and hilltops of St. Edward’s, that Elizabeth Casey Stauffer, and her husband, Kevin Stauffer, are proud parents of twin girls!!!

May we introduce you to:

Emma Michele Casey Stauffer and Sadie Raye Casey Stauffer!  Both safely delivered to Elizabeth at 5:37 am and 5:38 am, respectively, on Saturday, May 2^nd at Women’s & Babies Hospital.  From their “official stats” that Stephen and Rayelenn shared with us, it looks like Emma was born at 4 lbs 5 oz and 17.9” and Sadie was 5 lbs and 18.1”.  All our doing well and as Stephen relayed: “The Casey’s are now officially grandparents” and from Rayelenn, when we asked if we may share, she replied: “Yes, tell the world!”

We are so thrilled, and it is our deepest wish to the Casey and the Stauffer families for good health, much happiness, joy, and long life to all!

We offer these two prayers from the Book of Common Prayer: 

For the parents and grandparents For the Care of Children 

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

For Emma and Sadie, individually, For their Birthday and for every day:

Watch over thy child, O Lord, as her days increase; bless and guide her wherever she may be. Strengthen her when she stands; comfort her when discouraged or sorrowful; raise her up if she fall; and in her heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of her life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please share your thoughts, prayers, and good wishes with Stephen, Rayelenn, and all the family!

Michelle

Dear parishioners,

A lot happening today at St. Edward’s!  Repairs were completed to the rector’s office ceiling.  The new wall-to-wall carpet for the rector’s study will be installed tomorrow, and we put up a new banner outside the church to invite our wider community to worship with us, online.  We conducted Zoom calls to record the readers for this Sunday, and Beth Lynch was in to help in redoing our library area. All great stuff!

And. . . having Father Rick here every day has been such a blessing.  Such great ministry happening, it is exciting to witness!

For today we have:  A meditation; release of the May Scepter; a link to some awesome “what’s in my pantry” recipes; and the “journey” for today is to the Georgia Aquarium and their webcams of the marine life.  Do these incredible wildlife creatures “know” what is happening to our world, outside their tanks and habitats?  One of the great mysteries. . .if we could talk to the animals, yes?

Enjoy.

Michelle

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THURSDAY, April 30

John 8:7 Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.

From the Archives: December 30, 1996

“What is original sin?” the twelve-year-old asked her grandfather. He replied, “It is something we all have in common. It is one of the things that hold us together.”

Grandfather’s definition of original sin was a way of saying what Jesus had in mind when he said, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus understood the destructive consequences of adultery just as much as the scribes and Pharisees. But when Jesus zeroed in on sin, it was not just the obvious sins that caught his attention.

Hard-heartedness is also a sin, because in its rush to condemn, it does not hear the message of mercy and forgiveness from the Savior. Jesus’ parting words to the woman—“neither do I condemn you”—are a reminder of just how forgiving is the God whom we meet in the Bible.

MOVING FORWARD: Do you have a Judas place in your heart? How does Jesus come and meet you in that place?

Read the contemporary reflection here.

PRAY for the Diocese of Kondoa (Tanzania)

Ps 37:1-18 * 37:19-42 | Exodus 20:1-21 | Colossians 1:24—2:7| Matthew 4:1-11

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The May Scepter is out and can be found on our website here:

https://sainteds.org/scepter-newsletter/

 

We will also be making copies to put out tomorrow at our “usual table” outside the front red doors.  Stop by and pick one up. .  . It is predicted to be sunny and 64 degrees!

And if you have not picked up a new 2020 directory, they are available as well.

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Hungry? Here are some tasty looking dishes we can all make with items in our pantry.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/easy/g31704197/best-pantry-recipes/?slide=4

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Take a peek inside the Georgia Aquarium Webcam to marine wildlife:

https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/beluga-whale-webcam/

 

Dear parishioners,

Today was a beautiful day.  It was nice to see people stop by, again, properly masked and protected! We will be keeping the baskets of publications out all week and will be adding the May Scepter to it by Friday morning.  So, if you have not had a chance to pick up a directory and/or would like a copy of the Scepter, stop by!

Volunteers:  We were so thrilled to hear from two people who have offered to volunteer with some ministry tasks this week.  Beth Lynch will be coming over tomorrow morning at 9 AM and Ellen Milligan will be coming to church on Saturday.  To respect our social distancing and protection protocols, we ask that other volunteers or visitors not stop by during these times, or if you do, to pick up a publication outside, and if someone is here, please make sure you have your masks on and respect social distancing!  Thank you.

Youth & Young Adult Ice Cream Social:  The diocese has an event geared towards our youth and young adults on Monday evenings, via Zoom.  To our St. Edward’s youth, if you would like the opportunity to visit with other youth in our diocese, join the fun!  Here is the link on our site to get the sign up information:  https://sainteds.org/diocesan-youth-young-adult-virtual-ice-cream-social/

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A meditation for today:

WEDNESDAY, April 29                           Catherine of Sienna

Psalm 119:28-29 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Take from me the way of lying; let me find grace through your law.

I hung on a cross next to his. Me, a criminal; him, an innocent man…and so much more. My punishment was deserved; his was not. He was hanging there, pierced by nails and thorns, pierced by the unseen wound of disbelief. But he forgave them…and me.

The last words I spoke were: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he answered, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” I hungered and thirsted for love that day as I hung on a cross next to Jesus.

Now, love overflows. Here I am, dandled by love. Cradled by love. Loved by pure love, for now and all eternity, with Jesus. I breathe love. I see love. And, most miraculous of all, I feel that I am love—a child of God’s love, reaching out to share that love with others.

MOVING FORWARD: When have you felt Jesus’s complete and total love? Share that story with someone who may need some encouragement today.

PRAY for the Diocese of Kolhapur (Northern India)

Ps 38 * 119:25-48 | Exodus 19:16-25 | Colossians 1:15-23 | Matthew 3:13-17

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By happenstance the Anglican prayer above was for a diocese in Northern India and I had already picked the journey for tonight. . . A trip to “Incredible India”. . . coincidence?!?!?  Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77czO8sxABI

 

 

Be Well. Stay Safe.  Keep the Faith.

Michelle