The Rector's Reflection:
The Cares of the World
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“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
-from Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
Like so many of the scripture passages from recent weeks, I am hearing things differently in the midst of all that we are carrying. Usually when reading these well-known words from the parable of the sower, I’d probably fixate on the lure of wealth and have a lot to say about consumerism and its likely impediments to our faith journey. But this week, I was struck by the cares of the world and that being an impediment to my own ability to hear the word and respond to it. Surely the point of this parable is not that Jesus intends for us to turn a blind eye to the cares of world. We certainly know better than that.
So what then is the caution being offered?
I think the key element is whether we let those true and real and overwhelming concerns call us into despair. To have the Word of God choked off, means we feel cut off from its promise. We somehow allow the size of the cares to gradually erode what we imagine is within God’s redemptive healing power. This is certainly being challenged in these days as we enter endless days of changing routines, rising cases of COVID-19 in our city, concerns around our healthcare workers, divisions in our society around race and class, complete uncertainty around what the fall may look like for our children and schools, etc., etc. That is before we even contemplate the normal challenges of human life. But more and more I see hope as a discipline. I have to hope and trust that God is working within us and within these challenges to further the kingdom of God. There are many seeds being sown and we have to be patient and wait for the seedlings to bear fruit.
Part of the discipline of hope is choosing what helps us remain hopeful. What are the lifegiving practices that you can take on daily that help you not be overwhelmed? I suspect the simpler the better. For me it is taking the time to make sure my bird feeder is refilled and singing along with children from Stay-cation Bible School last week. It is watching the news just enough to have a sense of what is going on in the community, without drowning myself in data and frustration. It’s checking in by phone with people in our community and playing board games with my adult children. What works for you?
God is present and available to us. We can more faithfully witness to the love of God when we see the concerns of the world and yet do not let them cut us off from the One who loves us beyond measure.
Peace,
The Rev. Beth Knowlton, Rector
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Readings
Genesis 25:19-34
Psalm 119:105-112
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
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Sunday Worship
During the summer, each Sunday at 10.00am we will gather online for worship. The first Sunday of each month will be a celebration of Holy Eucharist. The subsequent Sundays, we will offer Morning Prayer.
To listen to sermons online, visit our
website.
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Coffee Hour via Zoom
Sundays at 11.15am
Join us on Sundays at 11.15am for Coffee Hour! We'll gather on
Zoom
(Meeting ID - 895 8851 5969) for some time for fellowship and to check-in with each other.
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Children's Lemonade Hour
Sundays at 11.15am
Join the children on Sundays at 11.15am for Lemonade Hour! We'll gather on Zoom (Meeting ID - 846 3210 7691. Password - stmlion315) for some time to check-in with each other.
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Weekday Worship
Morning Prayer
- We are offering Morning Prayer, Monday through Friday. We hope you make plans to join us via
Facebook Live
at 8.30am. This is a more lengthy service with multiple scripture readings.
Resource for Morning Prayer:
Compline
We are offering Compline, Monday through Friday. We hope you and your family will make plans to join us via
Facebook Live
at 7.00pm. This is a shorter service and would be great for families to do together!
Resource for Compline:
-
BCP Online
- on the left side, click "Daily Office", then click "An Order for Compline"
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Zoom Gatherings
Online connections continue while in person programming have been postponed throughout Phase II.
Monday Morning Bible Study
Acts Bible Study
Time Out Bible Study
Thursdays at 10.00am via
Zoom
(Meeting ID - 979-222-853).
Art Class
Tuesdays at 10.00am via
Zoom
(Meeting ID - 359-019-174).
Youth Group
St. Mark's Youth Group Alumni
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Giving as an Act of Worship
You make worship, formation, and fellowship possible through your generosity.
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Text giving
Text the amount you want to give to 210-399-0072. Text 100 to give $100 toward your pledge or as a one-time gift if you do not have a pledge on file.
Recurring gifts
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St. Mark's Summertime Second Sundays
The St. Cecilia Series presents St. Mark's Summertime Second Sundays on July 12 and August 9 at 7.00pm. Stay tuned for more information!
This Sunday, July 12 at 7.00pm:
Jacquelyn Matava and Samuel Gaskin present “Travel, or Lack Thereof: A Quarantined Recital.”
Recorded at St. Mark’s, the recital consists of songs by Franz Schubert, Xavier Montsalvatge, Alberto Ginastera, Joaquin Rodrigo, Francis Poulenc, and Michael Head, each exploring some aspect of travel around the globe. The recital will be posted on St. Mark’s
Facebook page.
Sunday, August 9 at 7.00pm:
Agarita chamber players
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Stuff the Bus
July 5 – August 2
It’s time to get rolling! Since 2017, St. Mark’s has partnered with Communities In Schools (CIS) of San Antonio to support students at Crockett Academy in San Antonio ISD. It’s time for the annual Stuff The Bus School Supply Drive, which this year will be a virtual fundraiser. Instead of accepting school supply donations, we are creating a “St. Mark’s team” on CIS’s online platform so they will have the funds to purchase school supplies, uniforms and technology for students in need. This is a little different, but our commitment to Crockett students remains the same. They need us now, more than ever.
How Can You Help?
Go to the St. Mark’s team
website.
The bigger we grow our team, the bigger impact we can make for kids. Our goal is to raise $3,000, which will supply Crockett Academy entirely. Every dollar counts!
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Outreach
Stay-cation Bible School Outreach Project
Morningside Ministries Nursing Center and Assisted Living Facility
Last week during St. Mark’s Stay-cation Bible School, the children learned about being a blessing to others. One of their daily challenges was to work on an outreach project benefiting Morningside Ministries Assisted Living Facility, one of our outreach partners. The children decorated posters with the Bible verse of the day that hang on the windows surrounding the Atrium in the main building for all of the residents to enjoy. Many of these residents are feeling the effects of a months-long quarantine, and these posters will help lift their spirits.
If you’d like to participate and help the residents of Morningside feel connected during this time, see the following options:
- Correspond with a Morningside Manor Nursing Resident – residents of the nursing center love to receive handwritten letters, cards, and postcards addressed to them. Email Shea Pollom for more details. We have 9 residents who need to be paired.
- Contribute to Morningside’s Coronavirus Support Fund – they are currently raising money to purchase low-tech activities for residents to enjoy, such as hand-held musical instruments, gardening tools, bird feeders, and puzzles. Donate online.
Clothing Drive benefiting CAM
The Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) has continued to serve the homeless in San Antonio throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Twice a week, CAM holds a Clothing Distribution where women and men receive clothing kits comprised of new/gently used items. CAM has sent out an emergency request for the following items for these kits:
- New or gently used unisex t-shirts (size Small-3XL)
- New or gently used elastic-banded pants (size Small-3XL)
- New socks
- New underwear
Please separate and label items by type, size, and gender. There is a limited number of volunteers available to sort donations, so this step is helpful. If possible, please purchase items in bulk.
Donations may be dropped off at CAM's Downtown campus: 110 McCullough Ave., San Antonio, TX 78215, Monday - Thursday from 8.00am-2.00pm. Once at CAM, please drive to the warehouse, which can be accessed through the parking lot of Grace Lutheran church next door. Call the office (210-223-4099) and let staff know you are there to drop off clothing and someone will come to your car to collect donations.
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Stay-cation Bible School
We had the best week at Stay-cation Bible School! Thank you to Cathy Villani, Meredith Rogers, The Rev. Matt Wise, and all our volunteers!
If your family missed last week, the videos will be available all summer. Check out the Children's Ministry page of the
website.
To see pictures from our fun-filled week visit our
Facebook page
and/or
watch
the end of the week slideshow!
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Community Update
Click on the video to
watch
the community update.
We look forward to the day when we are able to gather in-person!
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Keeping the People of St. Mark's Connected
As we continue to explore different ways to stay connected during this time, please take a moment to make sure that the information we have for you is up to date. In addition to updating contact information, please make sure you have submitted a photo of yourself/your family. Cell phone photos are great as long as they are of good quality. Please
email
photos to Shea Pollom.
Please use the following steps to update your account through the St. Mark’s website:
- Go to www.stmarks-sa.org to access the website.
- Click on My Account at the top of the screen.
- Click Sign In to login to your account OR click Create an Account to create a new one.
- Click My Information.
- Update fields as necessary.
- Click Submit
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