Sisters and brothers:

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to have lunch with our very own Preston Smith.  In our conversation he said that he asked Bishop Rick once why nothing new has been added to the Bible over the centuries. "Why are there no more letters to the churches?" "Does God not have any more to say?" Bishop Rick wisely replied, that God continues to speak and that perhaps our own writings (such as these weekly emails!) might be considered epistles to the Church of St. Jerome as we struggle to understand where God is at work in our lives together.

If this is so, what might God have to say to us today?  What word of encouragement or word of correction might we need to hear?  

This morning I was reading something I had written several years ago and in it I mused at how many Christians expect God to respond whenever we call and are disappointed when God doesn't.  Yet, time and time again we forget that relationships are a two-way street.  Relationships have to be nurtured and tended on a regular basis.  We can't do our own thing and then wonder why a relationship seems fragile or weak.  For instance, I shouldn't be surprised if my relationship with Ray deteriorated if I only interacted with him on an infrequent basis, or if I only communicated with him when I needed something or if I did things that he didn't like or somehow indicated our relationship wasn't somehow important.  Of course our relationship would be strained!

I wonder if that is part of the reason why so many folks are disappointed when it comes to faith and religion.  They've pulled so far away that they've practically severed their relationship with God, and the church and then if crisis occurs they wonder why God or the church did swoop in and make things all better.  

Sometimes we can get so busy pursuing outside interests that can create a sense of estrangement that is hard to overcome.  The problem is, we're the ones who have drifted away and have caused the rift in the first place.  

Perhaps, we all need a bit of a wake up call.  How's your relationship with God and with this parish family.  It is as strong as it could be? 

We regularly try to communicate with everyone.  Have you communicated in return?  

Blessings!

Fr. Dewayne

P.S. This Sunday is Seersucker Sunday - bust out that seersucker!

Greek?  Hebrew? Russian?  German? Spanish? Chinese?  The Feast of the Ascension is tomorrow (Thursday) and that means Pentecost is just a week away.  Do you have the ability to speak (or at least read a short paragraph) in a different language?  If you are willing to help us out during the time of our Prayers of the People as we celebrate the phenomena that occurred that first Pentecost, please see Fr. Dewayne

James Barrentine (Kevin's father)

Charity Watson (Kathy Cox's daughter) - recovering from heart surgery

Jonathan Cantrell

Matthew Reed (Maria's husband)

Dale Gillman (Francie's husband)

Chris Curtis (friend of Raul)

Linda Stevens (friend of Francie)

Steve Rathburn (family of Mikki Mast)

Allen Carpenter (Bill Carpenter's brother)

Mary Lynn Ruehlen (friend of Rack and Eric)

Sarah Vizza (Kathy Elliott's daughter-in-law)

Mike Feess

Carlene Sanchez (Hospice)

Roseanne O'Brien

Robert Stotler-Easley

Cloyd Stotler-Easley

Those who are (or will be) traveling

Paul Gossett

Andy Kinslow & Russ Kirkpatrick

Those who have died

Barbara Schoelen, mother of Steve Schoelen

Those in need of comfort or support

Marie Welden

Marlon & Alexis

Celesta Birk, Steph Cantrell, Jonathan and Eden

Raul Daniel Rosario (Raul's brother)

Many thanks to each of you who helped--or tried to--at Mayfest. The weather did what it often does in Oklahoma in the spring, so the first couple days were quite discouraging. We appreciate your willingness to help and your persistence under trying circumstances! 

St. Jerome Church is pleased to present Bobby Jo Valentine in concert on June 14. The concert will be preceded by a spaghetti supper with salad and bread. The entire evening is yours for just $15!

From his website:

For more information about Bobby Jo Valentine, visit his website at:

Bobby Jo Valentine

To hear one of Bobby's songs, click here:   Listen

  

To purchase tickets, click here:   Tickets

Mark you calendars; get your tickets; then anticipate a wonderful evening with friends, good food, and exceptional music!

The CAVU Center is planning to host this year's workshops entitled "Celebrating the Positives about Love, Sex and Faith."  The workshops are geared to offer insight into positive ways of understanding the dynamics that can happen when Love, Sex and Faith intersect.  

The conference is rated "SM" for Spiritually Mature Audiences.  it is an opportunity to openly explore issues of sexuality, intimacy, relationships, and spirituality in an accepting, safe, and non-judgmental setting.  The workshops are presented from a variety of theological perspective and experience.  Not everyone has to agree in order to learn about these topics. 

To find out more, and to register online, please follow this link: LOVE

Over the past few weeks we've had some beautiful flowers at the altar. Where do these flowers come from?  

While the Vestry earmarks a modest amount of our pledges each year for flowers, most of the money in the flower fund comes from donations collected around Easter and Christmas.  W hatever funds might be left over from these celebrations is carried over to cover costs for flowers throughout the year.  There are of, course, those times when arrangement of flowers at the altar are underwritten by someone for a special occasion.  

Most parishes have flowers at the altar on a regular basis.  Perhaps you might consider underwriting the flowers on a particular Sunday for our own special occasion.  (By the way, if you underwrite the flowers, you are more than welcome to take them home or share them with someone after the service.)  Because of our unique resources, a suggested contribution of $40 can assure an arrangement can be made that would normally cost most churches $80 to $100 dollars.  What a gift!

God, you are the source of life and growth.  Pour out your Spirit upon us that we may grow together in wisdom, love, devotion, and faithfulness. Stir up within us a desire to draw closer as one family. Give us a yearning for outreach, that we may serve a hurting world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.   Amen.

To download our church app, go to your Play Store and search for Churchlinkapp.  Select the app and download. (The app is free.) Once downloaded, open the app. Allow it to know your location.  In the search field, type in "the parish church of st. Jerome."  Select our parish, and you should be connected.