We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, who are still here, and we honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do. We welcome all people to our church.
March 13 – 11:00am, Morning Prayer, Lent 2 – Join here at 10:45am for gathering – service starts at 11am Meeting ID: 869 9926 3545 Passcode: 889278
Lent 2, March 13. All the readings talk about the future. In Genesis, God seals a covenant with Abraham, a promise full of images of hope. The first image is of the stars and their staggering number. So shall Abraham’s descendants be. In the Gospel, having been warned that Herod, the ruler of Galilee, wants to kill him, Jesus reminds his audience that, as a prophet, his destiny awaits him in Jerusalem.
We had a small congregation with adverse weather yesterday and continuing cold conditions. That didn’t stop nature – future day lilies stalks are appearing and the river was picturesque with ice. Guest preacher the Rev. Deason Salli Hartman spoke on the Gospel with that image of a mother hen. Jesus invokes the image of the mother hen gathering her chicks together. Here, the power that Jesus describes is to gather and protect, unlike the power in Jerusalem that was used to rule and dominate. The power that comes from God is a power of protection, of bringing together, of healing and hope
We also celebrated the birthday of one of our youngest parishioners which also speaks of hope.
March 16 – Bible Study 10am-12pm
March 16 – Village Harvest food distribution 3pm-5pm
If you would like to volunteer, please email Andrea or call (540) 847-9002. Pack bags for distribution 1-3PM, Deliver food to client’s cars 3-5PM.
The Gospel this Sunday – Jesus as a mother hen!
Dr. Kathy Bozzuti-Jones, Trinity NY. Image “Mother Hen. Mosaic, Jerusalem”. Unknown
“In a striking woman-centered image of God, Luke’s Gospel invites us to contemplate Jesus as a mother hen, gathering her chicks under her wings in a loving, maternal, and open-hearted posture of mercy. But her children will not come home to her for shelter. And, by referring to Herod — an icon for the murderous powers of death — as a fox, this vulnerable hen, bereft and struggling with failure, declares that it will not run away. Jesus digs in, defiantly. He is resolved to move toward Herod and into Jerusalem for the completion of his saving work of healing and deliverance — his fiercely compassionate mission from God — despite all impending threats. Jesus must be on his way, now, even as he laments his certain rejection: Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills prophets.”
Questions for reflection:
“Does this caring, protective image of God confirm or expand your own image of God? Might it be a powerful image for our times? What does it say about the Christian call to radical vulnerability? What other images of God help you to understand God’s mercy and care, in this moment?”
St. Patrick, March 17, 2022
St. Patrick, apostle of Ireland, was born in England, circa 386. Surprisingly, he was not raised with a strong emphasis on religion.
When St. Patrick was 16 years old, he was captured by Irish pirates and brought to Ireland where he was sold into slavery. His job was to tend sheep. He came to view his enslavement of six years as God’s test of his faith, during which he became deeply devoted to Christianity through constant prayer. In a vision, he saw the children of Pagan Ireland reaching out their hands to him, which only increased his determination to free the Irish from Druidism by converting them to Christianity.
The idea of escaping enslavement came to St. Patrick in a dream, where a voice promised him he would find his way home to England. Eager to see the dream materialize, St. Patrick convinced some sailors to let him board their ship. After three days of sailing, he and the crew abandoned the ship in France and wandered, lost, for 28 days—covering 200 miles of territory in the process. At last, St. Patrick was reunited with his family in England.
The Call to A Holy Lent
“Our liturgy directly invites us into a holy season of specific practices aimed at helping us reconnect with God in preparation for the celebration of Easter. “I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent.” (Book of Common Prayer, page 265)
A. By self-examination. This means setting aside time to intentionally reflect upon one’s thoughts and actions, acknowledging the ways in which we fall short of God’s goodness and love.
B. By repentance. To repent means to have “a change of heart” and to “turn around” from actions and attitudes contrary to God’s will. This means honestly confessing our sins to God and receiving his forgiveness.
C. By prayer. This calls us to take part in the Church’s corporate acts of worship as well as the setting aside of time for personal prayer.
D. By fasting. To fast is to abstain from certain foods or all food for a period of time. Fasting separates you from the distractions of this world and it brings us into a closer union with God. It allows us to hear God better and fully rely upon Him.
E. By self-denial. Denying oneself in Lent means giving up certain luxuries, even legitimate pleasures, in order to focus oneself spiritually.
F. By reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. In Lent, believers are especially called to read and reflect on Scripture in a daily way.
Information about Lent, 7 Lenten Practices, Events, Christian Ed in 2022 and 2021 during Lent, Special topic including web resources, family activities in Lent, Lenten Prayers and music as well as giving to the Endowment Fund during Lent.
Lectionary, March 20, 2022, Third Sunday in Lent
I. Theme – We are called into faithful obedience
“Parable of the Barren Fig Tree" -Alexander Master (1430)
"Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’"
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm – Psalm 63:1-8
Epistle – 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Gospel – Luke 13:1-9
Today’s readings call us to faithful obedience. One way to do this is to clear a space for God.
This week, try clearing space in your life for being in solitude with God. Like clearings in a forest, where suddenly the stars and moon above come into view, such solitude can rejuvenate and strengthen us for full-hearted life.
Be ambitious: remove every obstacle in your path. Turn off the TV, unplug the radio, shut down the computer, put away your phone (especially at mealtime!), light candles, revisit your favorite music, read aloud your favorite poem, or take a walk in the woods under the night sky.
Whatever clearings you choose, let your goal be to deepen your awareness of God’s companionship and serene presence all around.
In the first reading, God’s promise to rescue the faithful summons us to a new relationship. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul looks at the experiences of God’s people in the past to show his readers how to live in obedience now. In the gospel, Jesus advises us to respond to calamities with a spirit of personal repentance.
Much of the text deals with the challenges of the wilderness, the hot desert in the Old Testament and Psalm and the need for new relationships . We who are given much squander our resources.
In any season, the garden is an organic model for a spirituality that is alive and growing. Each garden comes to maturity in its own time, producing its unique crop: figs or artichokes, pansies or sunflowers. Within each person lies this secret, sacred space. One person’s inner terrain cannot be compared to another’s; most people know intuitively which ground is barren, which is fruitful. Ultimately, like the fig tree, we are spared for our potential, not for anything we have done.
And if we are fortunate, kind gardeners sometimes intervene on our behalf. Friends “hear us into speech.” Coworkers make allowances. Someone takes us seriously; someone laughs with us; someone squeezes our hand in a tight spot. Family members forgive our all-too-obvious warts. Each gesture of respect and camaraderie stays the hatchet another degree, hoes the ground and manures it. With God’s grace fragrant as rain, we can come gradually to fruition. Sometimes, we can even become the compassionate gardener for another person.
The other bit of good news contained in this reading is Jesus’ interpretation of swift, violent death. While his hearers might be quick to read it as punishment for sin, Jesus knows that death will apply to himself as well. He who is sinless will also die a brutish death at the hands of Pilate.
We who hear about a disasters the moment after they happen can learn from Jesus that these events are not punishment for sin, but impetus for reform.
Make a Gift Today! 2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector 4. Server Schedule March, 2022 5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (March, 2022) 6. Calendar 9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (March 13, 11:00am), and Sermon (March 13, 2022) 10. Recent Services: The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany, Feb. 20, The Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Feb. 27, Lent 1, March 6, |
Block Print by Mike Newman
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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.
Your daily prayer online, since 1999
“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, March 13 – March 20, 2022
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13
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James Theodore Holly, Bishop, 1911 |
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14
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15
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[Vincent de Paul], Priest, & [Louise de Marillac], Monastic, Workers of Charity, 1660 |
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16
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17
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Patrick, Bishop and Missionary of Ireland, 461 |
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18
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Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, 386 |
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19
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Saint Joseph |
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20
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Cuthbert, Bishop, 687 |