St. Mary’s in the Fourth of July Parade!

St. Mary’s has registered to participate in the Town’s Fourth of July Parade! Please consider inviting the whole St. Mary’s family—children, grandchildren, houseguests, friends, and neighbors—to walk with us and share in this joyful community celebration.



St. Mary’s is also entering the American Legion Auxiliary’s Decorating Contest. Decorations need to be up by July 2, and we have already ordered some festive supplies. If you would be willing to help decorate, or if you have creative ideas to share, please let us know. We would love to make this a fun and welcoming parish effort!

A New Invitation for Altar Flowers

St. Mary’s is looking at new ways to provide flowers for our altar and special services. We no longer have a source for purchasing economical prepared flower arrangements, and in years past members of the parish lovingly helped arrange the flowers themselves.

This ministry may now have two parts. First, we are looking for people who might be willing to help purchase cut flowers off-island from places such as Costco, BJ’s, King Kullen, or other affordable sources. (with parish funds like coffee hour), Second, we are looking for people who might enjoy arranging those flowers here at St. Mary’s.

We may only have the capacity to do this for major feast days, “High Holy Days,” and other special occasions—or, with enough interest, perhaps even on a weekly basis. Please give it some thought and prayer.

We are also wondering whether to revive the practice of inviting parishioners to donate toward the flowers in memory of a loved one, in thanksgiving for a blessing, or in honor of a special event. Some churches also offer donations toward candles or communion wine. In the past, St. Mary’s had a sign-up poster in the Hall for this purpose, and we would like to know whether there is renewed interest in this tradition.

If you would be willing to help purchase flowers, arrange flowers, or make a donation toward flowers or other altar offerings, please speak with the parish office or let us know. This can be a simple and beautiful way to give thanks, remember those we love, and help make our worship space reflect the beauty of God’s creation.

St. Mary's is registered to march with our Deanery parishes in in the upcoming Greenport Parade. All are welcome. Above is a not so great picture of the start of the East Hampton Parade with Sag Harbor Warden Thom Chu helping yours truly carry St Mary's banner. The truck in front is Christ Church's and some of their parishioners, (including Mother B) in their parish purple T-Shirts. St. Mary hats are coming

The 2026 North Fork Pride celebration will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 12n-4p in Greenport! Join thousands in celebrating Pride at the North Fork Pride Parade & Festival.

This Sunday's Readings and Study Aids

The Collect

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 for ever. Amen.

Old Testament

Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7)

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”

[The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Now Sarah said, “God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”]

The Psalm

Psalm 116:1, 10-17

Dilexi, quoniam

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *

because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.

10 How shall I repay the Lord *

for all the good things he has done for me?

11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *

and call upon the Name of the Lord.

12 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *

in the presence of all his people.

13 Precious in the sight of the Lord *

is the death of his servants.

14 O Lord, I am your servant; *

I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;

you have freed me from my bonds.

15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *

and call upon the Name of the Lord.

16 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *

in the presence of all his people,

17 In the courts of the Lord'S house, *

in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Hallelujah!

Sarah Laughed Olenick

The Epistle

Romans 5:1-8

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-- though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

Fr Plant's Commentary

Gospel Discussion by Clergy of St Mark's Episcopal Church, New Haven CT

The Gospel (shortened version)

Matthew 9:35-10:8

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

Link to Self-Guided Retreat and Reflections on this Sunday's Scriptures by Episcopal Priest Suzanne Guthrie