Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost
August 30, 2020
(Madrid: Museo del Prado, 1516),
oil on canvas.
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COLLECT
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
The readings may be found here.
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Processional Hymn
Gospel Hymn
Offertory Hymns
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Communion Hymns
Recessional Hymn
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The image Jesus left with the world, the cross, the most common image in the Christian religion, is proof that God cares about our suffering and pain. He died of it. Today the image is coated with gold and worn around the necks of beautiful girls, a symbol of how far we can stray from the reality of history. But it stands, unique among all religions of the world. Many of them have gods. But only one has a God who cared enough to become a man and to die.
Philip Yancey (unsourced)
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Greetings to the saints of St. Paul's
I’ll be taking a little down time in September, so this week’s Rector’s Update will cover a longer time window than normal. The big news is that we’ll be resuming in-person worship on September 13! We’ll have one service at 10:30. The rule from the Diocese is that if GISD is having in-person classes, then we may offer in-person worship. If GISD goes online only, so will we. When we resume, we’ll handle in-person worship just like we did in June. Seating will be first come, first seated basis. We’ll continue with our online streaming for the foreseeable future for those who aren’t ready to return (and we’ll continue to deliver remote Eucharist). The Bishop has encouraged that those 65 and over (and those with underlying health conditions) to continue watching the livestream, rather than attending the service in person.
Here are some of the more obvious facets of our in-person worship:
- Masks worn by all at worship (except dogs). Please bring your own!
- Sanitizers located at the entrance and exit.
- Worshippers/households separated by 6 feet.
- No tactile passing of the Peace.
- The collection plate placed at the entrance to the Nave, rather than going hand to hand.
- Bread only communion distributed within Diocesan protocols.
- No usual coffee hour.
- Indoor services will not have congregational singing.
- Only one entrance will be used to ensure that we say within lowered capacity requirements.
- When we go to multiple services, there will be a cleaning between services, including bathrooms.
On Sunday’s, we’ll have a 10:30 service only until we have at least 10 people who commit to attend an 8:00 service. Right now, the count of those who have let me know that they will attend the 8:00 Rite 1 service stands at 5 persons. Please let me know if you’ll commit to attend!
There will be no Wednesday service on September 2, 9, and 16. On September 23rd we’ll restart our Wednesday service as Morning Prayer at 10:30. We’ll continue to do the service via Zoom until 5 persons will commit to regular physical attendance (or we restart in-person Children’s Chapel). When the average attendance of the Wednesday service reaches 10, we’ll change it to Holy Eucharist.
The last Friday morning Bible Study was on August 28th. We’re discussing a better time/day, and hope to roll that out in September or October.
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Around the Parish
AUGUST 30 – Fr. Nick encourages all students and teachers to be virtually present at the 10:30 a.m. service on You Tube or Facebook for a special blessing to cover them in prayer as they go about their daily school work.
SEPTEMBER 10, 7pm - Episcopal Diocese of Dallas launches an online Alpha course. It teaches the basics of Christianity in an environment that fosters conversations and relationships. If you’d like to research Alpha more – https://www.alpha.org. (I recommend this excellent study; it was done at St. Paul’s in the early 2000’s.)
Information on how to sign up and connect will be available soon.
The Complete Alpha Schedule - 7:00 pm
September 10 - Is There More To Life Than This?
September 17 - Who Is Jesus?
September 24 - Why Did Jesus Die?
October 01 - How Can I Have Faith?
October 08 - Why and How Do I Pray?
October 15 - Why and How Should I Read the Bible?
October 22 - How Does God Guide Us?
October 29 - How Can I Resist Evil?
October 31 - Holy Spirit Online Retreat
November 05 - Why and How Should I Tell Others?
November 12 - Does God Heal Today?
November 19 - What About The Church?
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Streaming:
- Since we’re doing so much online our Google, YouTube, Facebook reviews are particularly important. Please take the time to give us a 5-star review!
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Our Sunday services are available live at 10:25 am (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCmlrRFxbQF7CSAnFS8H9FA) and Facebook (https://facebook.com/stpaulsepiscopalgreenville). Our recorded Sunday service is broadcast on the GEUS community Channel (Channel 34) on Wednesdays at 8 am and 6 pm. Previously recorded services may be accessed anytime on our Facebook and YouTube pages. The recorded sermons may be found on our website as MP3s.
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Remote Eucharist continues, and a few parishioners are helping me to distribute the Eucharist to parishioners’ homes on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please let me know by email if you’d like to receive the Holy Sacrament remotely. The best way to contact me is fathernickfunk@gmail.com.
- The Parish office remains closed; however we continue to check voicemails and emails regularly.
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The St. Paul’s Zoom Meeting may be found at https://zoom.us/j/9037772020. Our Meeting ID is: 903 777 2020. To call in, use one tap mobile: +13462487799,,9037772020# or to dial: +1 346 248 7799.
- We offer Noonday Prayer on Wednesdays at noon via a Zoom meeting, and upload it live if Zoom and Facebook work together (about 75% success rate).
- Our Friday morning Bible Study continues at 8:00 am via Zoom. We’re studying 1 Corinthians.
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Stewardship Today
Frank E. McKee - Stewardship Chairman
"No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Matthew 6:24.
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You can make your checks payable to "St. Paul's Episcopal Church" and mail them to:
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
8320 Jack Finney Blvd.
Greenville, TX 75402
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The Rt. Rev. George Sumner
During these days of self-isolation, social distancing, and hand-washing meant to slow down the pandemic of the coronavirus, one possible positive outcome for Episcopalians is the re-discovery of the Daily Offices. The offering of prayer and praise, alone or with a virtual community at morning, noon, evening, and night, is a venerable tradition rooted in the daily rhythm of Temple worship in Jerusalem, continuing in the lives of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, flourishing in the monastic movements of he medieval church, and consolidated and simplified for a return to the laity of the Church of England during the Reformation. Central to these acts of worship are the psalms of the Hebrew Bible, oftentimes referred to as the prayer book of the Jewish Temple, the early church, and Jesus himself. (continue reading)
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Pray for the Church, the Body of Christ
Please pray for those on our prayer list this week:
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Hospitalized, Rehab, or Recovering at home:
Paula Reeves, CJ Cathey
Peggy Cole, Evelyn Rovell
Dana Medford, Judy Shaddox,
Dolores & Father Gordon,
Jorn Jamieson, Chris Bynum,
Lily Stipe, Chris Wiltz,
Allen Clegg Sr., The Clegg Family, Jo Dodson, Elaine Hodge,
Beverly Gish, Mike Lavigne,
Faye Hamann, Bob Lanier,
Alice Cooney, Cyndi Sehr,
Wayne and Lillian McHenry,
Eileen Jenkins, Dru Ann Jamison,
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We also pray for our Daughters of the King Ministry as they bring their strength and service together by praying for friends and for the people.
You may add people to the list by filling out a DOK confidential prayer card and putting them in the blue box located in the Narthex.
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Contact our church office to add a name to our prayer list: 903-455-5030. Names remain for one month unless renewed or canceled.
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DOK PRAYER REQUESTS & BOX
The Daughters of the King support your prayer needs and wishes. Each Sunday a prayer team will be available to pray with you after the Worship Service in the choir area after the 10:30 service. If you would like additional information, please see a DOK member.
They also have a intercessory prayer box on the table in the Narthex to deposit prayer requests. Prayer request cards may be found in the pews and beside the box in the Narthex. Daughters pray daily. All prayers are confidential. Each person is prayed for one month. If you wish for continued prayers, please complete another request card or contact a Daughter.
You may call the church office (903-455-5030) and specify it is for the DOK intercessory prayer list. You can hand the card to a Daughter (she is always wearing her cross).
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SUPPORT ST. PAUL'S WITH YOUR SHOPPING
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates.
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