Welcome!

If you are searching for a place to worship God in a committed, inclusive, and intentionally affirming Christian community, you have found it! God is searching for you too.

Come and see!

Mother Jane’s Reflection

It’s stewardship season. Take a pencil and paper and draw three circles: one for time, one for talent, and one for treasure. In each circle, write the percentage that best reflects how you currently allocate that part of your life. As you consider each area, think about the following categories:

self-care—family time, rest, recreation, exercise etc
work—all components of work so commute, preparations, actual work
philanthropy—church, civic organizations, caring for others etc

Hang onto those pie charts—we will get back to them later.

Now read the Gospel lesson that follows this reflection. “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God…” This is not just about coins—this is about our hearts. This is about our time, our talent, and our treasure.

As summer relentlessly moves to fall, we begin our stewardship campaigns at both St Patrick’s and at St Thomas. The work that we, as Christians, have set about to do demands our total involvement if we are to be the agents of God’s kingdom that I believe we are called to be. That doesn’t mean that we have to opt out of everything that is not about church. It’s about living all of our parts as the Gospel teaches us. And it means that hope is core to how we spend our time, our treasure, and our talent. Our church, our country, and our world all face large challenges—but I believe with all my heart that the force behind us in the Spirit of God is greater than the task we have set before us, as long as we depend not on ourselves but stay grounded in the promise of Christ.

When we respond by listening with our hearts, our pie charts become visible statements of how we are spreading the love and mercy of God and carrying the Gospel into the world. Then we become the ones who make Christ known. We will be the ones to draw all the world to Christ by our actions.

Now I want you to look back at those pie charts. In your prayer tonight, let God know whether or not you believe that your chart reflects the love that you have received from Christ. We are invited to be changed by Christ’s love for us into people who give of our time, our talent, and our treasure. We give not because we owe it to the church or because we want accolades for our work, but because we believe our selves to be people created in God’s image and, therefore, totally and completely God’s people. There is a great hymn called Jesus Shall Reign. We will sing it at St Thomas this week. The fifth verse is a favorite of mine.

Let every creature rise and bring

Peculiar honors to our King;

Angels descend with songs again,

And earth repeat the loud amen!

You see, I believe that the peculiar honor we present is in the words of the Eucharistic prayer—“ourselves, our souls, and our bodies to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice”—to bring all that we are—time, talent, and treasure—to be a holy offering to God. What does your pie chart say?

Buen Camino,

Mtr Jane

Image attribution: Vos, Maarten de, 1532-1603. Altarpiece of the Guild of the Minters, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt University Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://act.library.vanderbilt.edu/artworks/57748 [retrieved October 15, 2026]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maerten_de_Vos_-_Render_unto_Caesar.jpg.

The Gospel

The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 24

The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away.

—Matthew 22:15–22 (NRSVue)

All Saints’ Day Necrology

All Saints’ Day (November 1^st) is fast approaching, and we will have our necrology read during the Eucharist Prayer. If you have a name of someone who has died within the past year (since last All Saints’ Day), please let Jason Trumble know, so he can place it in the bulletin.

Intergenerational Faith Formation Class

Sunday, October 25th, 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM

Join us for a formation class on the legend and impact of St. Patrick!. Beth will be talking about the history and legend of the saint, and of St. Patrick's Breastplate.

Happenings at St. Patrick’s, Long Beach

Sunday, October 18^th, 12:30 PM: Vestry Meeting
Sunday, October 18^th, 6:00 PM: Lecture #3 on History of the Bible
Wednesday, October 21^st, 6:00 PM: Evening Prayer followed by Christian Formation with light supper (discussion of Sunday’s lecture)
Wednesday, October 28^th, 6:00 PM: Evening Prayer followed by Christian Formation with light supper
Monday, November 2^nd: Ultreya

Happenings at St. Thomas, Diamondhead

Sunday, November 1^st, 6:00 PM: Lecture #4 on History of the Bible

Vestry Corner

Announcements and information from the Vestry will be placed here, along with the latest approved Vestry meeting minutes.

Please click here to download the August 2026 Vestry Meeting Minutes.

St Patrick’s Prays Together

Let my prayer be set forth as the incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

“When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words be without heart.”

—John Bunyan

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation. We pray especially for Alex, Anne, Barbara, Bear, Brad, Brody, Bruce, Caison, Cheryl, Chris, Craig, Dolores, Donna, Dottie, Eddie, Francis, Gary, Garry, Irina, Jason, Jean, Jim, Joyce, Judy, Judy, Kayla, Kathy, Krystal, Marlin, Martina, Mary, Mary, Maureen, Michael, Mick, Nancy, Norah, Norm, Patricia, Patricia, Reneé, Rick, Robin, Rosie, Sarah, Scott, Susan, Teri, Terrell Jr, Theresa, Tina, Tracy, Trish, William, and the Matherne family; for all those who feel isolated due to illness of body, mind, or soul; and all those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity, and for others known only to You.

We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled; be with the the bereaved and comfort them, and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.

Almighty and everlasting God, you alone search the hearts and test the minds of your people: Pour out your Holy Spirit upon all who are discerning a call to Holy Orders, especially Carllene, Jason, and Laureli. Guide their uncertain steps, open their ears to your still, small voice, and grant them the courage to embrace your will. Give them pure motives, wisdom, and steadfast faith, that if it be your will, they may be found worthy to serve at your altars as shepherds of your flock; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Please email Kristi Johnson and Jason Trumble (click here) if you would like to add, change, or stop a prayer request.

Worship — Faith — Community

Click Here for Zoom Tutorials

Sunday Morning Service

The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

Holy Eucharist (Rite II)

11:00 AM Central Time

In-Person & Live on Zoom and Facebook

(Uploaded to YouTube after the Service)

For those who are unable to attend in-person services, we invite you to enjoy and participate in the service from the comfort of your own home via the Zoom link below, or on Facebook Live (click here to go to St Patrick’s Facebook Page).

St Patrick’s Episcopal Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Sunday Service 2026

Time: October 18^th, 2026, 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Click Here to Join the Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 856 9616 5688

Passcode: 802423

To join the meeting via telephone (no camera or computer needed):

Dial into the meeting: (312) 626-6799 (Long distance charges may apply)
Meeting ID: 856 9616 5688, then press #
No “Personal ID” is required; just press #
Passcode: 802423, then press pound #

Click here for the bulletin for Holy Eucharist (Rite II), 21 Pentecost (Proper 24)

Children’s Lesson for Proper 24A (click here to go to website)

Our Celebrant, Gospeler, and Preacher this morning is the Rev. Jane Bearden
Deacon-in-Training is Carllene MacMillan
Doug MacCullagh as Lay Minister
Dr. John Paul on piano
Technical support provided by Brad Bishop and Justin Pope
Bulletins produced and printed by Jason Trumble
Altar set-up and clean-up: Joan McNamara and Garry Owen
Readers: First Lesson—Theresa Anoskey; Second Lesson—Mary Bostick
Intercessor—Jason Trumble

Evening Prayer 2026

Monday – Friday 6:00 PM CST

Online

St Patrick’s Episcopal Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Evening Prayer (and Other Weeknight Services)

Time: 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Every weekday in 2026

Click here to Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 893 4773 3376

Passcode: 384274

To join the meeting via telephone (no camera or computer needed):

Dial into the meeting: (312) 626-6799 (Long distance charges may apply)
Meeting ID: 893 4773 3376, then press #
No “Personal ID” is required; just press #
Passcode: 384274, then press pound #

Cemetery Tour

Carpool with Beth Powell from her house to the Long Beach cemetery on Girard for the not-scary but historical cemetery tour of the graves of those who shaped early Long Beach. This is a free event with local actors portraying the founders. Contact Beth at church or at childinfamily@gmail.com.

Christian Formation

Our Christian Formation program continues with the series of lectures/discussions on the History of the Bible by Dr. Bill Warren, Professor of New Testament and Greek at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Please see the below image for more details on this exciting series, or click here to download a PDF of the flyer.

Members of St. Patrick’s are invited to join us for Evening Prayer and further discussion of Sunday’s lecture on the following Wednesday, over a light supper.

—In the Community—

Good Golly, What’s OLLI?

OLLI (Oshner Lifelong Learning Institute) presents interesting courses and seminars on the campus of USM! These short courses and seminars are available year-round. Curriculum guides can be found on the table in the narthex. Any questions? See Jon Caridad or click here.

Featured at OLLI this Fall:

October 29^th: “Come out, Come out, Wherever You Are” is a seminar about the ancient tradition (and superstition) of exorcism, taught by Jon Caridad.

Long Beach Food Pantry Donations

On the Third Sunday of each month, St Patrick’s will collect and bless donations for the Long Beach Food Pantry and for the Blessing Box. We will also collect loose plate monies and donate them to the Long Beach Food Pantry on that Sunday. Please watch the newsletter for any special requests from the Food Pantry. Dry or canned non-perishable items only. Thanks for your generosity.

Items needed are cup o’ soups, ramen noodles, and boxed/packet instant mashed potatoes.

The Long Beach Food Pantry can be contacted on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 10:00 AM–2:30 PM, either in person at 21081 Johnson Rd, Long Beach, or at 228-861-1291.

Other food pantries in the area that accept fresh vegetables and fruits are Feed My Sheep in Gulfport and Back Bay Mission in Biloxi.

Click here to sign up for The Mississippi Episcopalian e-newsletter.

Would you like to let others know about something in the community? A workshop? A concert? An arts and crafts event? Let Jason Trumble know, and he’ll add it to the newsletter!

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

George Matheson

O Love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

O Light that follows all my way,

I yield my flick'ring torch to thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in thy sunshine's blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me thru' pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow thru' the rain

And feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life's glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

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Please give generously.

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