Dear parishioners,
We hope everyone had a lovely Mother’s Day! The weather was nice and it was lovely to take a “break,” whether virtually or with the right social distancing, to honor the women of our world with good wishes for being there in ways that have nurtured us through our lives.
We also want to share a message to our St. Edwardians from Bishop Scanlan regarding some “news” that was put forward over the weekend about Lancaster County. The note is detailed and explains our stance on when it is safe to reopen and the guidelines our parish will follow. We hope this puts to rest any conflicting reports you may have heard.
From Bishop Scanlan:
I heard through the course of the weekend that the leadership of several of our Central PA counties were choosing to advance their local areas from the “red” phase of the Governor’s “Re-Opening Pennsylvania” plan to the “yellow” phase. I am writing to you because your congregation is in one of these 8 counties who have, of their own accord. (and with what considerations?) moved their regions out of ” red” and into “yellow.”
As you know, I have said that when counties achieve a” yellow” status under the Governor’s plan (not individual county leadership decisions) then parishes will be eligible to begin considering their Return to Church Buildings. At this time, the counties of Huntingdon, Franklin, Perry, Cumberland, Adams, York, Dauphin and Lancaster are still red.
Thank you for your attention to this.
Audrey
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It is a cold and gloomy day today, so I leave you with a virtual tour and a meditation to ponder. Until tomorrow. . . .
Michelle
Today we visit Greenland (Because it is YouTube, there will be ads that run prior to the video. If you look in lower right corner, after about 5 seconds you will see a button that reads “Skip Ad” to click).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7hbWvHKns0
The Episcopal Church is very much attuned to our environment and having us all be aware of how important it is to be good stewards of our planet. By sharing these wonderous adventures of natural spaces and the wildlife creatures that inhabit them, we hope this reminds us all of our:
EPISCOPAL COVENANT TO CARE OF CREATION PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
In Jesus, God so loved the whole world. We follow Jesus, so we love the world God loves. Concerned about the global climate emergency, drawing from a range of approaches for our diverse contexts, we commit to form and restore loving, liberating, life-giving relationships with all of Creation.
LOVING FORMATION For God’s sake, we will grow our love for the Earth and all of life through preaching, teaching, storytelling, and prayer.
LIBERATING ADVOCACY For God’s sake, standing alongside marginalized, vulnerable peoples, we will advocate and act to repair Creation and seek the liberation and flourishing of all people.
LIFE-GIVING CONSERVATION For God’s sake, we will adopt practical ways of reducing our climate impact and living more humbly and gently on Earth as individuals, households, congregations, institutions, and dioceses.
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Forward Day by Day Meditation for MONDAY, May 11
Matthew 6:1 Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them.
On my birthday, I hoped the lectionary would give me some sweet passage, the kind that turned easily into a Hallmark card or inspirational meme. Instead, we start with atonement sacrifices in Leviticus and end with this stern warning against swagger and preening in Matthew.
As a child, I learned the books of the Bible in exchange for gold stars and a lilac bookmark. As an adult, I still enjoy a reward (or at least acknowledgment) for a job well done. Don’t we all?
Perhaps there’s little wonder that I am called to sit with this verse and discern my way through it. Often I find comfort and hope in scripture but today reminds me that there is also challenge. Sometimes scripture should make us squirm, especially when it lays bare places that need new growth.
God always knows what I need to hear—even if I don’t want to listen.
MOVING FORWARD: When has scripture laid something in you bare? What steps did you take to work on those areas?
PRAY for the Diocese of Lafia (Nigeria)
Ps 56, 57, [58] * 64, 65 | Leviticus 16:1-19 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | Matthew 6:1-6,16-18