CELEBRATING GOD IN ALL THINGS, PEOPLE OF ALL KINDS
9:30 AM Sunday School (Resumes in Fall)
9:30 AM Bible Study
10:30 AM Fellowship
11:00 AM Worship
EVENTS FOR AUGUST:
11 AM Sunday, August 3
Holy Eucharist
Rev. John Childress, Celebrant
11 AM Sunday, August 10
Holy Eucharist
Rev. Jim Davis, Celebrant
Brown Plate: AR Rice Depot
Pot Luck
6:30 PM Tuesday, August 12
Second Tuesday Book Club
11 AM Sunday, August 17
Holy Eucharist
Rev. Jim Davis, Celebrant
Vestry Meeting
12 Noon, Monday, August 18
Church Women of Polk County
1st United Methodist Church
Potluck
5 PM Wednesday, August 20
ECW
11 AM Sunday, August 24
Morning Prayer
11 AM Sunday, August 31
Holy Eucharist
Rev. Doug Simmons, Celebrant
INTRODUCING …
Amrit Joshua Tharakan, born on Tuesday, July 1st at 8.49 AM, 7 pounds, 20″ long.
Father Jos writes, “You are welcome to call him either by his first name, which is Amrit, meaning the one who shares his meal with God or you can call him Joshua – He is NOT Josh!”
We rejoice with the Tharakan family at the arrival of Amrit Joshua(NOT Josh) and extend to them our love and congratulations.
A MESSAGE FROM THE BISHOP
By now many of you have received an invitation to get ready for Open Door Sunday, October 12, when we will all make an effort to greet people who come to worship with us in our local churches.
Open Door Sunday is not anything strange or new or mysterious or difficult. It is simply what we ought to be doing every Sunday: opening our doors and inviting people in. We need to let them know that there is a place where God’s unconditional love is made evident. And that place is their local Episcopal Church.
Open Door Sunday is first and foremost a call to our own transformation. We need to understand that the good news of resurrection-that unconditional love conquers everything else in all creation-is why we exist as a church. Our call as a church is to share that good news. And we do so by actively inviting into our worship people who want
to hear that good news. We show them that gathering around God’s table feeds us. We show them that serving others is how we proclaim God’s unconditional love in our own lives.
We will gather in Little Rock October 10-11 as a way to remind ourselves that it is not business as usual in the Episcopal Church in Arkansas. We gather in Little Rock as a way to share the excitement of being churches that are focused outwardly, not inwardly.
The phrase “Open Door Sunday” reminds us that we have to have our doors open. Yes, opened doors make a statement. Each one of us knows how discouraging it is every time we try to open a door and it is locked. Going to church should never feel like that.
I know that many of us are tentative when it comes time to open doors and focus on the newcomer. But the time has come to do so. Some people have asked if we really
have time to get ready for a diocesan gathering, if we really have time to get ready to greet people on Sunday morning. Well, if we don’t start now, just when will we start? There will always be a reason as to why “now” is not the right time. There is no perfect time; there is only the chance that we
have every day to start turning God’s future kingdom into a present reality. I don’t think we need to hinder or delay the truth that God wants us to begin opening our doors now. I am excited about this opportunity to allow God to transform who we are, and I hope you are as well.
I hope all of you will join me on October 10th and 11th in Little Rock. (Ed. Note: Edited for length.)
We are thinking of forming a “caravan” to Little Rock on Saturday, October 11, returning after the close of the session. If you are interested in participating, please let Sharon know.
WHAT JESUS DID NOT SAY
“You in my father’s kingdom? Do you believe in some kind of cheap grace? Get real. Now repeat after me, very slowly and clearly, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and …”
–Jesus did NOT say this to the thief on the next cross.
“Now if you want any help from me, you’ve got to take responsibility. You got yourself into this mess and you need to confess that very loudly and clearly so that no Gospel writer will forget to underscore it. These men have a perfect right to stone you, but if you will make a loud enough confession, I’ll see what I can do to help you. But don’t you ever, ever commit adultery again! Do you hear me!?”
–Jesus did NOT say this to the woman taken in adultery.
“I really should not be out here talking to you. You understand that, I hope. And don’t be telling anyone else about this conversation lest somebody misunderstand my compassion. Before you can drink any of my living water, you have got to leave your current lover and go back to your very first husband. And I expect you to tell everyone how bad you have been. Then I’ll see what I can do for you.”
–Jesus did NOT say this at Cana.
“Mother! Here you go messing in my business again. They don’t need any more wine. After all, they have been drinking over a week. This is precisely the kind of occasion for which God made Welch’s grape juice. After all, this scene must look very proper, because the Polaroid’s will be here to preserve it as an icon for Christian marriage. Now smile. Just say Cheesus.”
FROM THE GUILD
ECW will meet on Wednesday, August 20 at 5 PM. Please come and join in the outstanding work of St. Mary’s Guild.
MANY THANKS TO:
Tommy and Karen Johnson for hosting the annual picnic.
The Sobczak’s for the donation of books to our library.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Elise Welch (8/22) and Linda Sobczak (8/29)
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO: Bill and Beckie Duer (8/2)
A PRAYER FOR AUGUST
THE SCRIPTURES SAY …
“Love is patient.”
God, teach me to patient without being silent or inactive.
“Love is kind.”
God, teach me to love my enemy.
“Love is not jealous.”
God, teach me to keep my values straight.
“Love is not pompous.”
God, teach me to know how to both speak and listen.
“Love is not inflated.”
God, teach me to know my limits, that I make mistakes and that I don’t always see clearly.
“Love is not rude.”
God, teach me to respect all my sisters and brothers.
“Love does not seek its own interests.”
God, teach me to understand the needs and perspectives of others, especially the poor.
“Love is not quick-tempered.”
God, teach me to learn from my strongest emotions.
“Love does not brood over injury.”
God, teach me to move forward and get into action for what is right.
“Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.”
God, teach me to practice a love that wants the truth to win for all people.
“Love bears all things.”
God, teach me to let go and to trust in your wisdom.
“Love believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.”
God, teach me that I don’t love alone, but rather in community with you and with all my sisters and brothers.
“Love never fails.”
God, teach me to love with a heart as big as the world and to receive love and help with a big a heart.
Amen.
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Posted by christchurchmena 