September 4, 2008

Dear friends,

Sometimes the Sunday Lectionary gives us readings that do not seem to be related (note:the preacher must admit that when this happens, it's a homiletical challenge!) This is one of those weeks.

In our Exodus reading, God gives Moses and Aaron the instructions for Passover. The psalm contains an odd mixture of imagery--from song, praise and dance to a two-edged sword, vengeance and judgment. In Romans, Paul reminds us about what is truly important in our Christian life--namely, that love in the name of the risen Christ is the fulfillment of the Torah, the commandments. And in the gospel, Jesus has some practical words for how we might live together--words that, I might add, have been misinterpreted and mis-used throughout the years.

Despite the variations of lessons we will hear, we will gather in our usual way, utilizing the familiar structure of Holy Eucharist. As we begin our new program year with Ministry Opportunity Sunday, please come and be with us for worship this Sunday: 7:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

Sunday Readings
Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 149
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20

Announcements

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY SUNDAY is September 7! Please visit the tables set up in Wyatt Hall, after both services, and expand your choices of how you can share your precious gifts of time and talent in this parish. If you haven't been at St. Philip's very long, this is a great way to visit our many ministries and check things out. We have a copy of the recently updated parish Ministry Opportunities to Love and Serve the Lord" booklets--pick one up and see what's going on here. We'll also be raffling some fun prizes throughout the morning, so check that out as well.

Speaking of new program year, if you have children, please make sure you visit the Sunday School Ministry table and register your children for Sunday School. Christian formation is critical for our children and youth, and they need your support as parents to be involved.

Adult Inquirers' Classes begin next Sunday, Sept. 14th at 9:00 a.m. in the Wyatt Hall Conference Room. If you would like to be confirmed, received (from the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Church), or want to renew your baptismal vows, please join us. Sheila will lead these sessions, which begin on Sept. 14 and end on Oct. 26 (excluding Oct 12, when we have a special guest speaker and presentation). So if you want to learn more about your faith, and strengthen community with your brothers and sisters, please join us.

BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS

We'll be doing a special Blessing of the Backpacks this Sunday at the 10:15 worship service, for children and youth. Of course we'll really be blessing those who carry the backpacks! So remind your children and grandchildren to bring their backpacks to church this Sunday.

One really good way to help St. Philip's out financially involves your doing something you always do: buy groceries. St. Philip's has gift cards available from Giant, Weiss, and now Shoppers Food, and you can buy them on Sunday mornings after both services, at Coffee Hour (look for the lady with the blue bag!) Giant and Shoppers Food cards are in denominations of $50 and $100. How does buying a grocery card help St. Philip's? It helps because--for example--for every $100 card you buy from Giant, Giant will give St. Philip's 5%, or in this case, $5.00. So you get groceries, which you do anyway, and by using a gift card, you help St. Philip's budget in a painless way. So this Sunday, bring a check and buy a gift card at Coffee Hour. Thanks!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

For quite some time, Laura Waters has faithfully produced the monthly MESSENGER newsletter for St. Philip's. However, due to hers and Bob's travel schedules, Laura has said she is going to have to give up this particular ministry. Beginning with the October newsletter, Tracy Holmes, our Parish Administrator, will be taking on this ministry out of the office. So please send or e-mail any newsletter information (deadline for October is Sept. 15) to admin@stphilipslaurel.org.

The Vestry joins me in thanking Laura--as I know you all will--for this faithful ministry in the past few years--and we look forward to hers and Bob's continued ministries among us in other ways. God bless you, Laura, and thank you so much! ~ Sheila+

PRAYERS

As you say your prayers this week, please ask for God's healing for the following parishioners and friends: Gladys Golden, Laura Rullmann, Ann Jess, Ross Selby, Mary Windsor, Richard Campbell, Paul Forster, Nancy and Calvin Libert, Marsha Hooks, Jacqueline Turner, Obie Merson, Char Tolle, and Stephen Wheeler.

Pray for the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. Pray for their wives, husbands, children, parents, brothers, sisters and friends who miss them terribly. Pray for those who have been wounded, for those who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, for those whose post-war health care exceeds their insurance coverage, for those who have died, either in combat, or from injuries received in combat.

Pray for our brothers and sisters who have suffered loss of life, home or possessions in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, especially those in Haiti, who have now suffered the effects of two major storms within two weeks. Pray for those in the path of Tropical Storm Hanna as she approaches the US, and those in the path of Hurricane Ike, which is already a Category Four Hurricane.

Pray for our children and youth as they begin another academic year, for our college students who are getting settled in.

Pray for this parish as we begin our fall schedule. Ask God to bless all those who have been offering their gifts for ministry, and for those who will be doing new ministries for the first time. Pray that those of us who have been "old hands" at being an usher, teller, Sunday School teacher, choir member, reader, lay chalicist, etc. will welcome new ways of doing things, and new brothers and sisters in those ministries--always remembering that what we do is not "my ministry" but God's ministry.

As I write, I am grateful for so many things. As of September 1, you and I have spent one year together, and I offer thanks to God for having brought me to this parish family. I am grateful to God for your sharing your stories, prayer concerns, questions, doubts, thoughtful feedback and constructive criticism with me. This morning, as I did my daily morning reading and prayers, I realized that I was thinking about particular folks. In my mind's eye, I could envision where you sit on Sunday morning, or quiet, private conversations we have had together. And I realized that because you have shared your heart's concerns with me, or because I have walked through difficult times with you, I was able to pray more specificially for you. Do not ever be afraid to come and share with me. My door will always be open for you, and what you tell me will remain only with me and of course, with the God who loves us all.

I ask you to pray for me, as I continue to do for you.

Blessings, Sheila+

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