Thoughts on This Summer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer…
Nat King Cole, 1963
While the calendar tells us that summer arrived three days ago, recent experience tells us that it’s already been with us for some time. For me, though, summer really only arrives after listening and singing along with Nat King Cole to a beloved tune from my childhood – Roll Out Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer. I can’t help but grin and feel better each time I hear that lighthearted song. The truth is that summer is not my favorite season. It is, however, always more enjoyable and tolerable even on the hottest days when that tune rattles around in my head.
Music and memories can do that for us. Deeply held memories and treasured musical pieces have amazing and at times even unexpected power over us. If there is a church and congregation which understands and appreciates that, you are it. And you are to be lauded for it. I have little doubt that over the years the memories made and musical pieces carried home with you from St. Andrew’s have enlivened and enriched the lives of your many neighbors near and far. I also have little doubt that this enlivening and enriching will continue far into the future.
But I wish to add a final note. Ironically, this was reinforced even while writing this little piece. For in checking the origins of Nat King Cole’s summertime song, I was surprised by an unexpected fact. I discovered that the song was originally written in Germany and recorded in German in 1962. It only made its way across the Atlantic in order to be re-written and recorded by Nat King Cole a year later. So what I had assumed and expected regarding this silly little song didn’t match the facts. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve learned over the years that similar surprises occur all the time in silly little as well as big important ways.
In keeping, therefore, with this piece’s musical theme I borrow and share words from another familiar and beloved song – “You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometime you find you get what you need.” Like the summertime song, every time I hear this Rolling Stones classic I again grin and feel better. But perhaps not for the reason you think! For each time I hear it, I am reminded and comforted by one irrefutable fact. It is God, not I or us, who’s really in charge. And although the results might surprise us, when we ask, God answers. When we seek, we find. And when we knock, God opens the door.
With blessings, gratitude, and love…
Mark
Postscript: I wish to share one personal hope and prayer. It is that when we arrive in heaven, we discover that the angels sing as smoothly and soulfully as Nat King Cole!
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Prayers and Reflections for this week
You are invited to reflect on the daily readings with the help of these short meditations, prayers, and even a prompt to help you put your ponderings into action. The meditations are written by persons from Saint Andrew’s, Gobin UMC and Beach Grove UMC. The daily meditations will be in the newsletter each week and go from Wednesday to Tuesday, except for Sunday. Whether you enjoy these every day, or as the Spirit moves you, may this resource continue to bring you spiritual food for the journey. Blessings!
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday In-Person Worship, June 27
You can connect to the service 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 June 27
Non Food Pantry Latest
Saturday, June 26
• Noon to 3:00 p.m.
There will be a drive through distribution coordinated by Kate Berry with sack lunches served. 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 4 Needed Items
Your prayers are asked for:
Lorrie Anderson, cousin of Joanne Haymaker
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at Saint Andrew’s
The family of Margaret Anne Ervin, sister of Bob Haymaker
Jeanne Fitzpatrick, friend of Jim and Karen Mannon
The family of Eric Fladeland, friend of Tim and Caroline Good
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 and Stephanie Gurnon
Rena Hale, sister of Thea Warren-Simpson
Keith Keysor, friend of Andy Cullison
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob and Mimi Breese
Grayson Lyons, great nephew of Peggy Angleton
Art Mannon, brother of Jim Mannon
Jill McDermott
Stanley Morris
Mary Mountz
Marilyn Mourouzis
The family of Nafhat Nasr
The family of Rev. Bill Novak, friend of Fr. Mark Van Wassenhove
The family of Bruce Ploshay, friend of Page and Narda Cotton and former member of Saint Andrew’s
Gordon Redden
Jordan Sanders, sister of Jim Ensley
The family of Jeff Sheffler, son-in-law of Page and Narda Cotton
The family of Peter Staats, friend of Suzanne Hassler
Skip Sutton
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
The family of Florence Virtanen, mother of Sue Murray
The family of Phyllis Wright, grandmother of Zac Johnson
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Saint George’s Church, West Terre Haute: Mr. Chuck Stafford, Senior Warden.
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 Church of Pakistan (United).
Birthdays: Dave Murray, June 30 . Savanna Johnson, July 3 . Tim Jedele, July 3
Anniversaries: Dennis and Emily Knuth, June 28 . Daniel and Stephanie Gurnon, July 3