Dear parishioners,
We hope our St. Edwardians are doing well and we want you to know we are here for you! We will be sending an email message every day that will include ways that we can serve in ministry to each other and to our community as a community of faith. So. . . STAY TUNED! We will end each email with a Lenten meditation from the Episcopal Relief & Development booklet and hope you find these reflective. In this email today, we have included the introduction to the booklet so that parishioners understand the daily format which is a scripture quotation followed by a reflection from one of this year’s contributors, who encompass rectors, development directors, children and youth ministry leaders in our Episcopal community.
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We have recently learned of the death of Joyce Shank, mother of Michael Shank. We ask you to hold Joyce and her family in your prayers.
May her soul, and souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.
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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!
David +
Here is the direct link to that diocesan web page: https://diocesecpa.org/stewardship/
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As of this week’s update from the diocese, the parish will be closed through April 4th, but should resume services for Palm Sunday, April 5th. Please stay in touch to get further updates, as situations may change.
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LENTEN MEDITATION
Thank you for joining Episcopal Relief & Development for this holy season of Lent. Our Lenten meditations this year focus on the spiritual lives of children and how children inspire the spiritual lives of adults.
Why children? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Children show us the face of God and help us to know the heart of God.
Around the world, 155 million children under the age of six are not reaching their full potential because of inadequate nutrition and health care. We know that the first years of life form a foundation for future learning, good health and well-being. Episcopal Relief & Development works with communities to ensure children have access to food, clean water and quality health care. When these basic needs are met, the lives of all people in the community improve.
Episcopal Relief & Development is committed to helping those whom Christ calls the greatest among us, so they can better reach their God-given potential to learn, grow and thrive.
As you pray and reflect upon the meditations in this booklet, I invite you to remember the children in your family, faith community and life-and the lessons they might teach you. I invite you to learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development’s work with children and how you can help us expand that work through our ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE campaign. We ask you to pray for the children in our programs and those who care for them. Please also pray for our partners and staff as they strive to help communities thrive. Thank you for partnering with us as we work together for lasting change.
LENTEN MEDITATION FOR MARCH 17th
If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
- Isaiah 58:10-11
As I spend time with my children, I often think about how amazing it is that their births and lives have affected my being so acutely. Much like with my ordination, I can very clearly feel and see a “before” and an “after.” I often wonder if that change was an uncovering of something that was within me all along or if it’s something that was given to me from outside.
In speaking about service, Isaiah offers a type of answer: YES. Acts of service reveal an internal light, but that’s not all. Service allows us to see God’s grace funneled toward us.
- Patrick Funston, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan, Kansas