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St. Mary's in- the- Valley
Episcopal Church
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On Sundays we meet at 9:30 a.m. with some restrictions. The Youtube liturgy is posted on Saturday evening.
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Happy Father's Day to all Dads. On Sunday the 20th, we will have blessing for all fathers present and we will remember faithful departed fathers and grandfathers in our prayers at the altar
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Calendar for the Week
Youtube Service will be available on Saturday evening
Friday, June 18, 2021
Office Closed
Saturday, June 19, 2021
9 a.m. Community Garden Meeting
Office Closed
Sunday, June 20, 2021
9:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Monday, June 21, 2021
4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Office hours: 10 a.m.-Noon
6 p.m. Zoom B.C. Meeting
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Office Hours: 10 a.m -Noon
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Office hours: 10 a.m.-Noon
Friday, June 25, 2021
Centering Prayer 8:30-9 a.m.
The Office Hours are listed above, but you can contact Fr. Phil, to arrange a meeting at other convenient times during the week. He can meet you at the church office.
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Letter from Bishop Susan on our Gathering
Dear Friends in Christ,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are glad to be hearing good news on the pandemic in our region. California has lifted COVID restrictions, and San Diego County has reached a milestone of official herd immunity (75% of the population is now vaccinated). Although we know that the Delta variant is coming, which for the unvaccinated population will be riskier both in contagiousness and in how sick people get, for now, we are in a good situation.
Therefore, following the advice of our Public Health Task Force, I am lifting many COVID restrictions, as always with the caveat that we may see restrictions tightening once more if the situation gets worse. Any congregation is welcome to adopt more stringent requirements than these, as congregational situations differ greatly by location, size of the sanctuary, vaccination status of your people, etc. These are the minimum guidelines I expect congregations to follow.
- Vaccinated people are no longer required to wear masks for worship. Unvaccinated people, including children under age 12, are expected to wear masks.
- Vaccinated people may now join in congregational singing, both indoors and outdoors.
- Although you may personally ask people their vaccination status, especially those with particular roles in the service (see next point below), we discourage asking people to provide proof of their vaccination status to enter a worship service.
- We require that the following participants in church ministry be vaccinated:
- Anyone celebrating or distributing communion. If any clergy person in this diocese is not vaccinated and wishes to celebrate or distribute communion, I ask you to call me about it so we can talk personally.
- Anyone singing in a choir or leading sung music in worship.
- Anyone leading children’s or youth ministries for children under age 12.
- Anyone visiting a home, hospital, or group care setting as part of a pastoral care ministry or serving as a Eucharistic visitor.
- You may serve communion wine in individual containers, or by having the priest intinct all wafers and drop them in worshipers’ hands. Sipping from the common cup, or having individual worshipers intinct, is still not allowed.
- Since children under age 12 have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated, all children’s ministries should be conducted with masks, following 3-foot distancing between children (the same requirements schools follow). Please conduct children’s ministries in a well-ventilated space, or outdoors. You may choose to have them spend most of the service in a special offering for children, entering the nave only for communion.
- As your space allows, please consider providing a separate space in the nave for families with children under age 12 and for other people who need or prefer to maintain masking and social distancing. Alternatively, you may choose to provide a separate service that continues masking and distancing requirements, limits singing, etc.
- I encourage clergy in congregations that have a significant number of children under age 12 to contact their families personally. Ask them how they are doing, how you can support them, and what they need to be comfortable returning to church in person. This is a pastoral conversation that will help build your relationship with your families.
- Refreshments may be served at coffee hour, indoors or outdoors, but they should not be served buffet-style with shared implements. Please have refreshments individually wrapped, or served by a server who is the only one to touch the serving implements. I encourage you to require your servers to be masked and gloved.
I ask you to continue to encourage your members to be vaccinated, to help prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, including the more dangerous Delta variant. Please join me in prayer that the worst of the pandemic is over here in the US, and that the situation in other countries will improve in short order. I am glad that our country is able to share vaccines with other countries at this time, for the protection of their citizens and ours.
My friends, I am so grateful for all you have done during the course of this pandemic. It has not been easy for any of us, especially during the days when we had to sacrifice in-person worship. Now that things are reopening, please let me say how inspired I have been by your example. You have pivoted to meet new requirements numerous times; you have learned innovative ways to provide worship; you have found ways to help people grow in discipleship; you have reached new people with online offerings; you have provided support to people who were isolated at home; and most of all, you have loved and cared for your people. I am so thankful for all of you, and I am thankful to Jesus Christ, the great physician, who brings us together in worship and sends us out again in mission.
In Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook
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Weekly Greetings
St. Mary’s in the Valley
Friday, June 18, 2021
Hello Dear St. Mary’s Friends –
Have you noticed? “ We’re having a heat wave! A tropical heat wave – the temperature’s rising, ain’t it surprising that we’re having a heat wave!” I’m not sure if you remember that old song or not, but it sure seems to be true these last few days. And we still have two days to go until it’s officially summer! I don’t know about you, but I would have been happy to wait for days like these for another few weeks. What happened to spring?
California and San Diego have officially re-opened! Will we ever be back to the way things used to be before March of 2020? That’s hard to say, but I would venture to guess, we will certainly be more aware and perhaps a bit more cautious in how we live our daily lives. My hope is that in our relief and our zeal for getting back to normal, that we continue to practice some of the things that we have learned over the last year or so. Masks continue to be somewhat optional, but they will still be required occasionally by various businesses and other venues where people will gather. Also, social distancing is not such a bad idea when things get crowded. Since San Diego has now reached “herd immunity”, whatever that may be – I gather it means that 75% of our population has been vaccinated, hopefully things will go well for us.
I’m going to challenge your memories now and hope that you will be able to assist the BC with some valuable information. Several years ago, when Andrew Simmons planted our lovely little olive trees, we let people know that if they would care to make a donation, we would eventually have small plaques available to commemorate those gifts. Time has passed and we are wanting to follow through with that idea, but we’re having trouble trying to reconstruct who actually provided funds at that time. The search is on for the official records, but I thought I would ask all of you if you did donate, and if you know how much your gift was, that you would contact either Father Phil or myself and let us know. You can reach me at [email protected] or at 303-621-5513. Check your directories for Father Phil’s info. We would like to hear from you if you participated in donating funds to the Olive Tree Project.
Here is a short thought for the coming week. It comes from Iyanla VanZant.
You’ve got to say no to the things that don’t honor you.
No to the things that don’t bring you joy.
And you don’t have to explain your no.
Have a great week – stay cool and stay healthy. I’m taking a week off to visit my son in St. Louis, so no letter next week.
Peace and love,
Connie
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Help Us Clear the Haven
As we have permission to meet in the Haven again, we need to clear the items which have been stored there. These items are for sale, having been purchased as Amazon returned items and they were given to the church to use for our bazaar or garage sales.
You might find a gadget or item that you can use. Fern Smith has inventoried the items and you can peruse the list here to see if you are interested. There are some computer accessories which need a home. If you know of groups or schools that might be interested, please let us know. Here is a List of Items:
As of today the following items are in the Haven. I am sure there are some that Have missed. All items that were broken or Missing parts are not included
Anti glare Computer Screens (will fit only a 17 inch Desk Computer) These are made of glass. Given the reasonable cost of updated Anti glare screens the odds against selling are high (count 88)
Charging cords for Android and i-phones. We have tried our own phones both Android and i-phone. They are not compatible with either phone. The only thing I can think of is that both Android and i-phones changed their connectors. They may be useful if the device is a i-phone 5 or earlier (count 500 +)
Cable connectors to extend the distance that cable lines can be stretched, (count 600) Coaxial cables for use in hooking up a device (Television, Sound Equipments, etc) (count 25)
Computer Keyboards USB wired (Count 23)
Wireless Keyboards (Count 6)
Remi Hair Clippers. All are missing wall chargers. (Count24)
Remi Shavers. All are missing wall chargers (Count 22)
Locks for Playstation (Count 45)
Intel Computer Fans. These are fans that go inside in Computer system. Unless you are in the business of Building or Repairing computers (Count 30)
Computer Mice. Both wired and wireless. (Count 30)
Pool Sander. I have not opened the box so I am not sure what it is,
Replacement pump for an in-ground swimming pol. ( Box says not for sale in California) Shock replacement for a Golf Cart
Small desk fans. (Count 10)
Odyssey Quantum mini flying Helicopters. These are toys. They are a popular item. Would make a good gift. (Count 15)
Weed Wackers Do not have batteries. (Count 2)
Orbit power sander (Count 1)
Followes Desk size shredder( Count 5)
Pic-a-Watt Wall Heater (Count 1)
Box of Odds and Ends. Wires, etc
MGE Ellipse. Provides power to Computer in utility outages. (Count 2) Ethernet 8 port Workgroup Hub ( Count 1)
Greenworks electric lawn-mower ( unable to lift so not yet determined as to working condition)
DeHumidifer. Working condition not yet established (Count 5)
Miscellaneous small toys (Count not known
Bedroom spreads and Shams (Queen) (Count 4)
Limelight Desk Lamp (Count 1)
Linksy USB-VPN and FireWall Adapter (Count 1)
LED Pool Hanging Light (Count 1)
Air Combat and Flight Simulation Controller (Count 1)
DigitalHandy Dandy pocket screwdriver set. Good stocking stuffer. (Count 50) Head Phones and Ear Buds. Cannot guarantee they are operational. (Count 45) Liven Electric Skillet-with ring
George Forman Electric Grill
Hamilton Beach Pizza Oven
Commercial Hot Dog Grill (The kind you would see at Arco or 7/11. Mr Coffee Expresso Machine
Russell Hood Coffee Maker
Karcher Push Sweeper electric. For outside use. I.e patios, driveways, etc. Foster Grant Sunglasses (Count 50 +)
Sturdy Step Stools (Count 2)
Box LED Light Bulbs
Breville Smart Grinder Pro. Haven’t yet tested
Solana LED Hex Straight Glass Down Light.
IP Camera Outdoor Mint\I Speed Dome Camera
Box that looks like metal shelves
Automatic Hand Washing Machines
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Upcoming Dates
July 4th at 6 p.m. Picnic and viewing of the Fireworks
July 10th at 10 a.m. ECW of Mary's Meeting at the Church
July 20th at 6 p.m. Next BC Meeting
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Video for the Good News Festival on December 3-4 with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego. Think about friends you would like to invite.
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June 19th Declared a Federal Holiday
We rejoice that a holiday observed in Texas for a long time is now a Federal Holiday. The Declaration of Emancipation arriving to Texas marks this day in history. Emancipation deserves a holiday, even if we use the holiday to remind ourselves that emancipation is not yet complete in how we live it out in our country with full racial justice.
Prayer: O God of Emancipation for the Black persons in our country, we give you thanks for every occasion when being created in God's image is fulfilled in our words and deeds of love and justice. Let our celebration of this declaration of Emancipation further rouse the better angels of our natures to be the loving neighbors which Jesus called us to be. O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, emancipate us from all hatred, ignorance and bias so that we can be true witnesses to the God of Love. Amen.
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Sacred Ground is an exploration and sharing about race relations in our country. We have been blessed by the sharing. We will have a three week summer break. The sharing of our personal experiences in our country with our history of how persons of color have been regarded and treated has beem a significant step in our progressive education toward the ideals of our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The establishing of June 19th as a holiday to observe the declaration of Emancipation coming to our country is an important way for us to recognize how our great sin of slavery kept us from our justice ideals and the great law of loving our neighbor as ourselves. Indeed, we are in need of becoming more Christian in how we appreciate all of the people who are our neighbors.
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Is God calling you to Centering Prayer? Two Opportunities to Explore
The Centering Prayer Group continues to meet, via Zoom, every Monday at 4:30 p.m. ending promptly at 5:45 p.m. Centering Prayer is a method of contemplative prayer in which we rest silently in the presence of God, releasing thoughts and feelings, surrendering ourselves in love to the Divine presence and action in our lives. We do this in silence, with the help of a sacred word or phrase, known only to ourselves. After the 20 minute silence, we typically have a formation period with readings or film, followed by faith sharing and discussion. If you want to know more and are interested in joining, please contact either Deb Lewallen ([email protected]) or Cindy Dodson ([email protected]).
A Friday morning Centering Prayer groups has started. The format is the same except that there will be no formation, sharing or discussion. The planned schedule is 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., every Friday. If you are interested, contact Cindy Dodson ([email protected]).
We are looking forward to meeting in person again soon. We will keep you posted.
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Dear Parish family and friends,
As you see from Bishop Susan letter, a significant number of restrictions have been removed for our gatherings, especially for those who are vaccinated. We will gradually develop return to normal practices particularly as it pertains to serving food and coffee, dealing with younger children and mode of intincting of the Eucharistic bread.
The BC had a full meeting on Tuesday to deal with the issue of regathering, plans for the Labyrinth, report from the Outreach committee, proposed community garden meeting on Saturday the 19th, clearing of the Haven so as to be able to regather for Prayers and Squares, Coffee Hour, Centering Prayer, and the AA group, as well as other uses. The BC approved of the hosting the picnic on the parking lot for the Fireworks on July 4th.
I wish every good blessing for our Fathers on Father's Day. We will do a Father's Day blessing in church as well as remember our faithful departed fathers and grandfathers in our prayers at the altar.
Blessings and much love,
Father Phil
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HEALING & RECOVERY
Jerry J., Nikki M., Bob W., Richard R., Janet S,Dottie H., Ralph D.,Doug S.,Jennifer D.,
CONTINUING CARE
Faithful Departed
SUPPORT & COMFORT
V
MILITARY
Brooke S., Barron S., Chris R., Ricky S.,
Joseph F.
Please submit the namers of persons for our Prayer Lists so that we can keep them current and up to date
Vicar's Office Hours 10 a.m.-Noon
Tuesday - Thursday
760-789-0890
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Blessings to you and your family and friends!
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St. Mary's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church
1010 Twelfth Street, Ramona, CA 92065
Mail: P.O. Box 491
(760) 789-0890
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