A Collect With Clarity
by The Rev. Cameron Randle, Rector
“Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”
Our Collect appointed for the Second Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost offers a concise but powerful blueprint for action. With the weight of the world bearing down on us through a combo platter of virus and violence, it’s easy to feel as though we’re being flattened by a sociological trash compactor. But the Collect for this Sunday (the prayer to be prayed at the outset of collective worship) points us in a decidedly more positive direction.
We’re reminded from the outset that our community of believers really is a family. The Church universal is referred to as a ‘household,’ with all the images of cooperation, support, love, appreciation, tolerance and forgiveness that term conjures up. The Collect asks our particular family unit to be ‘kept’ by the Divine within the sanctified purview of God’s faith and love, both of which are described as ‘steadfast.’ Imagine being docked, as it were, in the still, soothing waters of divine faith and love.
As we progress through the Collect, we soon realize that our request to be ‘kept’ or maintained in a sheltered setting of celestial origin is, by design, to be granted only on a temporal basis. Why? Because we are meant for movement. We are commissioned to engage in, and with, the world at large; to lend our hands and our hearts and, yes, our heads to mitigate the existential damages of a broken and hurting planet. As Church, we exist primarily to point others and ourselves toward the light. Midway in the Collect, we’re invited to acknowledge God’s grace as the only avenue by which we are able to proceed in the direction of our true spiritual destinies. Those destinies, by the way, are packed with purpose.
Our Collect identifies two undeniable directives. We are meant to ‘proclaim your truth with boldness’ and ‘minister your justice with compassion’. How refreshing and inspiring it is to realize, amid the challenges of the moment, that we are part of an ongoing initiative from our Creator. We have been enlisted to proclaim God’s truth (of love and forgiveness and acceptance and belonging and full equality). We are empowered to (ad)minister God’s justice in a very specific way---with compassion. Exactly what that entails will no doubt require some theological unpacking.
J.D. Salinger, the enigmatic author of
The Catcher In the Rye once wrote, “Justice is at best one of those words that make us look away or turn up our coat collars, and justice-without-mercy must easily be the bleakest, coldest combinations of words in the language.” As we begin our liturgical journey together along the pathway of Ordinary Time, let us take comfort and courage in the nature of our roles as arbiters of justice laced with compassion. Between now and Advent, no matter what happens, we have a message to share with a world in need of a helping hand.
It is good to be the recipient of God’s truth and mercy. It is even better to alert others to the invitation.
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Saints and Themes: St. Barnabas
Join Rev. Julia for this week's Saints & Themes tomorrow (Thursday, June 11) at 10 AM when we take a look at St. Barnabas, whose feast day is June 11.
We will record the session and post it to YouTube and Facebook later. Join us live so you can ask questions and share your thoughts.
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Last week we mailed out coloring pages to the little ones in our church.
Here is some of their artwork!
Keep your students connected to ESC this summer!
EYC (grades 6-12) will continue to meet via Zoom at 1pm on Sundays. Younger students will be mailed coloring sheets to go with one of the lectionary readings. Please email Molly Vaughn,
[email protected], if you are interested in receiving a weekly sheet or if your child is interested in joining the EYC Zoom.
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Music for the Second Sunday After Pentecost
Our featured hymn, # 541, for this Sunday, is “
Come, labor on.” The tune
Ora Labora, is written by Thomas Tertius Noble, text by Jane Laurie Borthwick. Listen as Westminster Choir School sings this stirring hymn that urges us to “Go work today.”
In Matthew 9:35 – 10:8, Jesus sends his disciples out to proclaim God’s good news. In the anthem “
How lovely are the messengers” by Felix Mendelssohn, we hear “preachers” of the word lauded and praised. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir presents a beautiful rendition of this anthem. You may recognize this music as our choir has sung it many times.
For an organ voluntary this week, I have selected the
2nd movement of Sonata no. 3 by Felix Mendelssohhn. The music gives an asthetic aura leading the listener to contemplative prayer. Enjoy.
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Join us on ZOOM for daily Morning Prayer
Need more steps? Join us for Daily Morning Prayer, the first of the daily offices each day (except Sunday). Everything you need is provided, simply join us on ZOOM each morning (except Sunday) at 7:30 AM. It takes about thirty minutes and offers a way to get together for spiritual exercise. A very good way indeed to start the day.
Meeting ID:
562 715 368
Password:
John1513
Join us won't you? We will all be made richer by your presence. You are not expected but welcomed indeed! Email Lee Davis
[email protected]
if you have questions.
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Teachers gearing up for Virtual Camp Turtle Trap!
Parish Day School continues to register campers for our
virtual Camp Turtle Trap: Travel the World: Stay Safe at Home
. This program is open to all children 2-9 years old. Campers will receive a camp packet with supplies to complete our virtual camp crafts and activities. Packets will be mailed (out of town) or picked up (local) the week before camp. Camp is modeled after our traditional camp plans with Storytime, Zoom Meet ups, Singing at Rally, Movement Classes and Arts/Craft activities that can all be done at the campers own pace at home. Camp begins on Monday, June 15 and runs through Friday, August 14 (2 week sessions for each theme) with four camp sessions being offered;
Session 2: Amazing States of America, Session 3: Jambo, Sawbuno! Welcome to Africa, Session 4: Asian Adventures Await and Session 5: Go for Gold!
We hope you are able to register for the fun!
Click here for more information
or email Camp Director, Chris Crocker at
[email protected]
.
Teachers are busy getting ready for Camp Turtle Trap by recording sessions for camp, creating the packets for families, and planning the virtual curriculum. While we would rather meet in person, we excited to make history with this virtual format for our campers. We will continue to think outside of the box to connect and serve our preschool and camp families. We are hopeful that they know that these activities are being created in love and support for those staying at home. We are so proud of our team as they are learning new ways to reach our littlest learners.
We continue to lift up our Parish Day School and Eastern Shore Chapel communities in prayer to stay healthy and safe during these challenging times.
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Book drive for Latino children on the Eastern Shore ends June 15
The Parish Book Store's Book Drive for Latino children and youth on the Eastern Shore of Virginia comes to a close on June 15. It's not too late to sponsor a book for a child in need. Book sponsorships range in cost from $4.00-$15.00, for young readers of all ages up through 12
th
grade. With monies collected from our sponsors, the Shore-based nonprofit Dos Santos will distribute books to families in need via the organization’s three food pantry distribution sites in Eastville, Pungoteague and Parksley, VA.
Donors are asked to contribute financially by making checks payable to Parish Book Store with Dos Santos on the memo line. Please send financial donations to: Parish Book Store, 2020 Laskin Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Due to limitations imposed by COVID-19 precautions, the Book Store staff will select all titles to be purchased for distribution to the children of migrant workers, agricultural workers, poultry workers and other members of the ESVA Latino immigrant community. Questions? Contact Susan Buchanan or Marty LaGiglia at
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
.
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The Chapel Chimes is distributed every Wednesday.
If you would like to submit an article to the Chapel Chimes email
with "CHIMES SUBMISSION" in the subject line.
Deadline is every Tuesday at 5 pm.
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