June 14, 2020 – Second Sunday after Pentecost
The Week Ahead…
June 14 – 10:00am, Second Sunday of Pentecost – Join here at 9:30am for gathering – service starts at 10am Meeting ID 834 7356 6532 Password 748475
2. Readings, Prayers for Readings and Prayers for Pentecost 2
June 14 – 11:15am – National Cathedral church service online
June 17 – 10:00am – Ecumenical Bible Study through Zoom– Join here at 9:30am for gathering Meeting ID 871 4255 8446, Password 144832
June 19 – 7:00pm – Reading Compline through Zoom– Join here at 6:30pm for gathering Meeting ID: 886 1366 5981 Password: 769116
June 21 – Third Sunday after Pentecost
June 21 – 10:00am, Third Sunday of Pentecost – Join here at 9:30am for gathering – service starts at 10am Meeting ID 834 7356 6532 Password 748475
June 21 – 11:15am – National Cathedral church service online
For Quiet Confidence (Book of Common Prayer, Page 832)
O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading Compline
Compline service, Fri, June 19 at 7:00pm, on Zoom in celebration of the Summer solstice on June 20. People have been reciting this last service of the day since the 6th century and takes less than 30 minutes.
“May the God of peace…equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight.” — Prayer from An Order for Compline, The Book of Common Prayer
The ancient office of Compline derives its name from a Latin word meaning ‘completion.’ The office provides quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day. Compline begins on page 127 in The Book of Common Prayer.
Kate Mears wrote the following for Maundy Thursday in 2016 to illustrate how Compline helped her through a hard time.
“It’s hard to think about what enough means after a disaster. With so many people so acutely struggling right in your own community, you know you must do something. But how many things can you do? Who can you serve? Who are you missing who is still in desperate need? And when can you stop and catch your breath? When are you allowed to rest?
“This concept of enough, these questions kept me up at night when I was helping clear out flooded homes in the months following Katrina in New Orleans. Had I done enough? Had I forgotten anyone? Had I prioritized those we could serve properly, justly? I could never answer those questions. I still can’t.
“But in the months following the storm, I found that I could quiet them through prayer. I lit a candle next to my bed almost every night and read the Compline service to myself, whispering both parts in the darkness.
“Most nights, that routine, those words I grew to know by heart, were all the prayer that I could muster with my scattered, distracted mind. But somehow that ritual, that flame, those whispers and that connection to God kept the anxiety at bay.
My time in prayer reminded me that while the challenges are many, they’re not mine to shoulder alone. There will always be enough work for tomorrow, but in the meantime, we can sit with the darkness and the quiet and try, for a moment, to find some peace and strength for what lies ahead – and to know that God is always enough.”
Lectionary, June 21, 2020 Third Sunday after Pentecost
I.Theme – Living in a new way
"Calling of the Disciples" – Domenico Ghirlandaio (1481)
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Jeremiah 20:7-13
Psalm – Psalm 69: 8-11, (12-17), 18-20
Epistle –Romans 6:1b-11
Gospel – Matthew 10:24-39
Today’s readings help us to recognize that God’s strength will always help us as we witness to our faith. In the face of terror, the prophet Jeremiah remembers God’s promises. Paul reminds the Roman community that God’s great gift of salvation overflows freely. In the gospel, Jesus reassures his disciples of their great worth to God.
Read more about the lectionary..
World Refugee Day, June 20
World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 to honor the contributions of those we do not know, refugees throughout the world, and to raise awareness about the growing refugee crisis in places like Syria and Central Africa and to focus on ways to improve the lives of refugees
What is a refugee? Refugee” is a legal term used to define an individual who:
“…owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.” (1951 Geneva Refugee Convention.)
Many of the characters we know in the Bible were refugees – Adam and Eve, Cain, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Lot, Hagar and Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Naomi, Ruth, David, Elijah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Mordecai, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Jesus, Peter, John and much of the Early Church.
Scripture supports refugees. “So, show your love for the alien.”- Deuteronomy 10:17-19.
“Be a safe place for those on the run from the killing fields.” Isaiah 16:4
The Old Testament, particularly the first five books, is covered with references to the “stranger”.
An important New Testament passage about strangers is Matthew 25:31-40.” for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me”.
Scholars have argued that in the New Testament, “stranger” and “neighbor” are in fact synonymous. Thus, the Golden Rule, “love your neighbor as yourself,” refers not just to people whom you know—your “neighbors” in a conventional sense—but also to people whom you do not know.
Today in 2020, an unprecedented 70.8 million people around the world have been forced from home. This is up from 65.3 million 3 years ago. Among them are nearly 25.9 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. 57% of the refugees come from 3 countries – Syria, Afghanistan, and South Sudan
There are also 3.9 million stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.
In a world where nearly 1 person is forcibly displaced every two seconds as a result of conflict or persecution, our work at UNHCR is more important than ever before.
Episcopal Migration Ministries is the refugee resettlement program of the Episcopal Church, and a living example of the Church’s commitment to aid the stranger. In 2016, EMM helped over 5,700 refugees from 35 countries build new lives in peace and security in 30 communities across the United States. EMM collaborates with local partner agencies in 27 Episcopal dioceses and 23 states to welcome those fleeing persecution.
Role of Episcopal Migration Ministries
There are three durable solutions for refugees: repatriation, integration, and resettlement. Thankfully, in many cases, refugees are able to repatriate or return to their home countries once the conflicts there have ceased and civil society has stabilized. Other refugees, who may not be able to return home, are able instead to integrate into the country of first asylum – the country to which they fled for safety. The remaining group of refugees – less than 1 in 100 refugees – is resettled to another nation.
Episcopal Migration Ministries is the church’s foremost response to refugee crises. Working in partnership with offices and groups within the church as well as with governments, non-government organizations (NGOs), and a network of affiliated offices, Episcopal Migration Ministries assures safe passage and provides vital services for thousands of refugee families upon their arrival in America: English language and cultural orientation classes, employment services, school enrollment, and initial assistance with housing and transportation. For each family, the goal is self-reliance and self-determination. After years of living in limbo, thanks to Episcopal Migration Ministries, refugees now have the opportunity to begin again on a strong foundation that honors their stories and dignity.
Why We Should Welcome Refugees?
Business Insider has written.."Immigrants can strengthen nations. A UK study found migrants boosted the British economy, deepened its labor force, raised wages of native workers, and boosted tax revenues.
"An influx of refugees into Denmark in the 1980s created increased competition for jobs, which encouraged native Danish workers to boost their skill sets. A German economist said immigration would quickly boost economic output in the EU (Euractiv).
"Many thriving entrepreneurs are also immigrants, such as Elon Musk of Tesla, Google’s Sergey Brin, and WhatsApp’s Jan Koum. Oh, and Steve Jobs’ dad was a Syrian immigrant." Enterpreneur Magazine has said the same thing. Plus refugees bring their own skillset – "By bringing their unique perspectives and skill sets to a new country, refugees are more than capable of finding new ways of doing business." Many are not trying to take jobs but create jobs.
Moreover throughout the Bible there are numerous statements from the Old to the New Testament on welcoming the stranger."Deuteronomy 10: "You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." The in Hebrews 13: "Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it."
“Politics, Peace and Justice” – Bishop Rob Wright, Diocese of Atlanta
To speak out against injustice these days is to be labeled as being “political and divisive.” But those seeking to dismiss justice seekers with these labels don’t know just how accurate they are! Jesus was also condemned for being political and divisive. He was political because his life, death and teachings were about the public affairs of his faith and nation. And he was divisive too! He pointed out the difference between abuse and leadership, darkness and light, selfishness and other-centeredness. Why else was he lynched on Calvary in front of his mother?
Jesus was political but not partisan. He didn’t support any religious or political leader or party. His politics were The Great Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself.” His political talking points were the Law and the Prophets. He spoke of equity and justice as the tangible evidence of love.
And Jesus spoke of the peril of a world where we avert our eyes from a neighbor left beaten and bloodied on a road side. Jesus stood waist deep in the tradition of the Hebrew prophets, who because of their great sensitivity to human suffering cried out in the public square and in the elite corridors of power. Even a cursory glance at scripture reveals these facts. So then, how is it possible to read the gospel on Sunday and deny its ramifications on Monday? What has bewitched the church that she does not speak in one voice against injustice? How can people be the church and regularly pledge to “…strive for justice and peace among all people…” and not see Jesus’ politics are justice.
Read 40% of the Bible this Summer
It takes just 70 hours and 40 minutes to read the Bible through “at pulpit rate,” and aloud! So when do you sleep and eat?
There is another way. We have a plan to read 40% of the Bible during June and July in the slower days of summer. This takes about 25 minutes a day to see the big picture of scripture. Within these 60 days, there are 6 days to catchup after 37 days.
Get your mind off of pandemic ! Step into a productive way to spend part of the summer! Schedule is online
Praying Differently this Summer
1. With Clenched Hands
Close your eyes and clench your hands tightly.
Imagine all the pressures and worries and tensions you carry here today. We hold on to a lot of things.
Then, in your own time, turn your gripped hands over so that they are facing down. Imagine God’s hands underneath yours and slowly open your hands so that the things you are carrying fall into God’s hands.
You may wish to repeat this several times. Turn your hands face up, but this time with the palms open and ask God’s Spirit to fill you afresh everything.
2.Worry Knots
As you think about these things, tie a knot in the rope to represent each worry and how it ties you up inside.
Matthew 6:25-34 reminds us, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
As you untie each knot you made ask God to help you problem-solve when and how you can.
Anything but Ordinary! Ordinary Time
Basically, Ordinary Time encompasses that part of the Christian year that does not fall within the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter.
Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary. According to The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, the days of Ordinary Time, especially the Sundays, "are devoted to the mystery of Christ in all its aspects." We continue our trek through the both the Gospels of Luke and John- through parables challenges, healings – some great stories and teachings.
Lent is about preparing people to live as disciples of Jesus. Easter Season is about giving especially the newly baptized or confirmed time to focus deeply on the doctrinal foundations of the faith and on discerning the Spirit’s calling and gifts for ministry, culminating in a celebration and commissioning for these ministries at Pentecost. The Season after Pentecost is about seeking the Spirit’s guidance and supporting one another as we undertake these ministries in Christ’s name.
While there are parts of Ordinary Time through the year, we think of Trinity Sunday until Christ the King Sunday or up to Advent as the Ordinary Time.
Make a Gift Today! 2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector 4. Server Schedule June 2020 5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (June , 2020) 6. Calendar 9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (June 14, 2020 10:00am), and Sermon (June 14, 2020) 10. Recent Services: Easter 7, May 24, 2020 Readings and prayers from Easter 7, May 24, 2020 Readings and prayers from Pentecost, May 31, 2020 |
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3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.
Knowing that not everyone prays at the same pace, you have control over the pace of the retreat. After each screen, a Continue button will appear. Click it when you are ready to move on. If you are new to online prayer, the basic timing of the screens will guide you through the experience.
Daily meditations in words and music.
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“We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance.”
Saints of the Week, – June 14 – June 21, 2020
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Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, 379 Gilbert Keith Chesterton, Apologist and Writer, 1936 |
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Evelyn Underhill, Mystic & Writer, 1941 |
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Joseph Butler, 1752, and George Berkeley, 1753, Bishops and Theologians |
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[Marina the Monk], Monastic, 5th c. |
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Bernard Mizeki, Catechist and Martyr in Mashonaland, 1896 |
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[Adelaide Tegue Case], Educator, 1948 |
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