Message from Father Mark

Brief Thoughts on Cleaning and Prayer

Electricians spent the past week updating and rewiring the electrical service in our 65-year-old house. I mention this because with the needed work came the dust and chaos of moving, removing, and again moving furniture and the stuff of our lives. And as the dust now settles, it’s time for us to clean and reorganize.

While many families “celebrate” an annual springtime housecleaning ritual, ours will occur yet this winter. In beginning the process this morning, I found myself working my way through a box of accumulated papers from the past. And buried in the box I found a wonderful, and wonderfully honest, prayer composed by an unknown writer which goes as follows:

Dear Lord,
So far today I’ve done all right.
I haven’t gossiped,
haven’t lost my temper,
haven’t been greedy, grumpy or nasty,
selfish, or over-indulgent.
I’m really glad about that.
But in a few minutes, Lord,
I’m going to get out of bed
and from then on
I’m probably going to need
a lot more help from you.
Thank you in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

While I can’t speak for you, I personally find this prayer to be not only humorous and clever, but also refreshingly accurate and honest. And therefore, I’m gladly sharing it with you now. Whether you are a spring cleaner, winter cleaner, or no cleaner at all, I hope that you take time each day – even a little time – for prayer. As this prayer so well illustrates, the best prayers are simple and honest ones. For prayer is less a matter of eloquence and length, than of depth and sincerity.

So please take time today – or better yet right now – to let God know what’s happening with you. What are you feeling, hoping, dreading, and longing for? Who and what are you worried about, and how might you be a source of comfort and strength for them?

Who knows, you might find a surprise or two in the next box you open. You might just find answered prayers!

Blessings,

Mark

Connect With Us

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Sunday Worship, January 31

You can connect to both services via Zoom. Click on this link to connect. If you have not used Zoom before, you will be prompted to download Zoom, go ahead and do that. When you enter the meeting you should be able to see and hear others and others can see and hear you. If you come in a little late, please listen for a moment before speaking. In order to see everyone, go to Gallery view (upper right on PCs and upper left for Macintosh). When we get started everyone except the speaker will be muted. If you are reading or playing music, please be sure to unmute yourself.

If you are connecting via telephone dial 301-715-8592 and when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 847 8600 1703 and press #, then enter the password: pray and press # again.

Click here for the service booklet for January 31.

Book Study starts tonight!

Do you wonder whether Christian life and church membership still make sense in our tumultuous world? And wonder how so many people claim to be Christian and yet act so differently? If so, then please join us beginning on Wednesday evening, January 27. Join us as renowned Biblical scholar, theologian, and fellow Episcopalian Marcus Borg takes us on a thoughtful, faithful, and hopeful journey. Join us in reading and discussing Borg’s final book, Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most. Copies of this book will be available at the Parish Office beginning this weekend. Book Study dates will be: Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. on January 27, February 10, February 24, March 10 Please join us as we read and discuss Borg’s final book, Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most.

Wednesday Book Study
Starting Wednesday, January 27 • Via Zoom, 7:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting link – click here. If you are connecting via telephone dial 301-715-8592 and when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 847 8600 1703 and press #. The password is: pray.

Non Food Pantry Latest

Saturday, January 30
• Noon to 3:00 p.m.
There will be a drive through distribution and no lunch. Kate Berry is coordinating the distribution. We are very grateful to Martha Rainbolt, Carl Huffman, Karen Hirt Mannon, and Christiane Wisehart who have worked very hard to obtain supplies for the Non-Food Pantry. Kroger is not able to acquire enough products for us, so the items are being purchased from a variety of sources. This is much more expensive. Donations to help offset this extra cost will be gratefully accepted!

Top 3 Needed Items
  • Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

  • Shampoo, Bar Soap and Dish Detergent

  • White and Black Trash Bags

Your prayers are asked for:

Lorrie Anderson, cousin of Joanne Haymaker
Heidi Beckman-Warren, mother of Thea Warren-Simpson
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at Saint Andrew’s
Jo Ella Burns, friend of Terry Noble
Douglas Butler, brother-in-law of Claudia Butler
The family of Patty Clements, friend of Cathryn & Jim Ensley
Narda Cotton
The family of Tom Gibson, brother of Gwen Morris
The family of Micah Grimm, friend of Zac and Savannah Johnson
Mary Ellen Gurnon, aunt of Daniel & Stephanie Gurnon
Rena Hale, sister of Thea Warren-Simpson
The family of Frances Louise Hassler, mother of Suzanne Hassler
William Johnston, son of Kevin and Meggan Johnston
Keith Keysor, friend of Andy Cullison
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob and Mimi Breese
Grayson Lyons, great nephew of Peggy Angleton
Jill McDermott, mother of Jim & Karen Mannon’s son-in-law
Stanley Morris
Mary Mountz
The family of Nick Mourouzis
Gordon Redden
Jordan Sanders, sister of Jim Ensley
The family of Jeff Sheffler, son-in-law of Page & Narda Cotton
The family of Rogene Snook, mother of Caroline Good
The family of Pastor Daniel Stroebel, friend of Father Mark
Skip Sutton
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
Father Bill Wieland
The family of Phyllis Wright, grandmother of Zac Johnson
The family of Eric York, husband of Christi York and father of Dunkin

Birthdays: Jim Ensley, January 31 . Gus Simpson, February 1 . Alexander Gurnon, February 2

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Saint Paul’s Church, Columbus: The Rev. Kathy Thomas, Rector.

Our companion dioceses: The Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil: The Most Rev. Mauricio Jose Araujo De Andrade, Primate of Brazil and Bishop of Brasilia. The people and Diocese of Haiti and Saint Andre’s in Mithon.

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil

GCYG

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