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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

The Epistle to the church in Phillipi uses memory, action, and determination to describe our need to return to God. “Regard as loss, suffered loss, gain Christ, be found in Him, faith, know, power, share, obtain, press on”… Remember this was a church that had spent a lot of time arguing among themselves about theology. Each side felt as though they had the inside scoop on God.

Whenever I teach an Inquirer’s Class, I am likely to make the statement that a traditionally Episcopal understanding of scripture offers more questions than it does answers. In my preaching and in my teaching, I try not to offer much in the way of absolutes and I think I am on pretty good theological ground. Paul does not claim that his credentials got him to Christ, but rather it was grace. He says that the gospel—his conversion experience of seeing and hearing God and knowing the Love of Christ—did not provide a prescription of “how to”s in order to be faithful to God; rather it presented him with questions about core Jewish understandings of the role of Torah in building relationship with God. In fact, his experience of Christ led him to wonder whether that was even the purpose of the Law in the first place.

When I am asked “what do Episcopalians believe?”, my response is that we don’t have a lot of beliefs, but we do have beaucoup faith. Maybe what we have is “faith” in the questions. Questions that lead us to radically reassess, just as Paul did, what it is exactly that God asks of us and how we, as followers of Christ, can best live in the tension of that ask and of our imperfect response. Where does our faith call for a change in our relationships.

As we stand on the brink of a new way of being church, we too have questions. So many questions in fact that it may be difficult to see the solutions. Matthew reminds us today that all of the other relationships we have grow from our relationship with God. Matthew tells us that God has provided the garden and the nutrients, it is up to us to respond by caring for it. In the coming months we will care for our communities individually and together, and God will be at the center. We won’t always agree, but if we keep God at the Center, we will always find a way thru our difference.

Being in relationship with God and with neighbor are not separable entities. Union with God cannot be attained without seeking out and loving our neighbor—those who are close and those who are far away—those who are similar and those who are different.

These lessons are not an easy way out by any means. Rather they demand our total and complete surrender to God. Giving up our own ownership—our control—of the world around us and embracing the one who comes to claim us.

I am excited to engage with both services this coming Sunday. Please be patient with me as I try to figure out how to best get from one place to the other. And please come to our gathering on Sunday evening at St Patrick’s to hear the Rev Dr Bill Warren speak on the history of the development of our sacred texts. I expect it to be interesting, informative, and a whole lot of fun.

Buen Camino,

Mother Jane

Image attribution: Glory Window, Chapel of Thanksgiving, Dallas

The Gospel

The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 22

[Jesus said,] “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went away. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them in the same way. Then he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

and it is amazing in our eyes’?

“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces its fruits. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

—Matthew 21:33–46 (NRSVue)

Happenings at St. Patrick’s

Sunday, October 4^th, 11:00 AM: Blessing of Animals (within Holy Eucharist)
Sunday, October 4^th, 6:00 PM: Lecture #1 on History of the Bible
Wednesday, October 7^th, 6:00 PM: Evening Prayer followed by Christian Formation with light supper (discussion of Sunday’s lecture)
Sunday, October 11^th, 12:30 PM: Craft Day (Fall Theme, continued)
Wednesday, October 14^th, 6:00 PM: Evening Prayer followed by Christian Formation with light supper (discussion of Sunday’s lecture)
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)

Happenings at St. Thomas, Diamondhead

Saturday, October 3^rd, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Rummage Sale
Monday, October 5th, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Red Cross Blood Drive
Thursday, October 8^th, 5:00 PM: Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 11^th, 6:00 PM: Lecture #2 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, Donna, Eddie, Gary, Garry, Irina, Jason, Jean, Jim, Joyce, Judy, Judy, Kayla, Kathy, Krystal, Marlin, Martina, Mary, Mary, 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, especially Diane, Deloris, and Sally Jeaux, 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 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Holy Eucharist (Rite II)

and

a Blessing of the Animals

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 4^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), 19 Pentecost (Proper 22)

Children’s Lesson for Proper 22A (click here to go to website)

Our Celebrant and Gospeler this morning is the Rev. Jane Bearden
Deacon-in-Training is Carllene MacMillan
Preacher is Jason M. Trumble
Jason Trumble 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—Laureli Latimer; Second Lesson—Jon Caridad
Intercessor—Bill Coble

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 #

Christian Formation

Starting October 4^th, our Christian Formation program will resume and include a 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.

Registration is now open by clicking here and filling out the form.

—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, oatmeal, cheese cracker sandwiches, peanut butter cracker sandwiches, small canned meats, single snack size chips, pull top canned fruit, pull top soups, portable/small can openers, etc.

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!

Questions

Mary Karr

for John Holohan

Jesus wound up with his body nailed to a tree—

a torment he practically begged for,

or at least did nothing to stop. Pilate

watched the crowd go thumbs down

and weary, signed the order.

So centurions laid Jesus flat

on a long beam, arms run along the crosspiece.

In each palm a long spike was centered,

a stone chosen to drive it. (Skin

tears; the bones start to split.)

Once the cross got propped up,

the body hung heavy, a carcass—

in carne, the Latin poets say, in meat.

(—The breastbone a ship’s prow . . .)

At the end the man cried out

as men cry. (Tears that fill the eyes

grow dark drop and by drop: One

cries out.) On the third day,

the stone rolled back, to reveal

no corpse. History is rife

with such hoaxes. (Look at Herodotus.)

As to whether he multiplied

loaves and fishes, that’s common enough.

Poke seed-corn in a hole and see if more corn

doesn’t grow. Two fish in a pond

make more fishes. The altar of reason

supports such extravagance. (I don’t even know

how electricity works, but put trust

in light switches.) And the prospect

of love cheers me up, as gospel.

That some creator might strap on

an animal mask to travel our path between birth

and ignominious death—now that

makes me less lonely. And the rising up

at the end into glory—the white circle of bread

on the meat of each tongue that God

might enter us. For 2000-near years

my tribe has lined up at various altars,

so dumbly I open this mouth for bread and song.

Your offering makes our worship and mission possible.

Please give generously.

There is a small fee attached for using this online giving. St Pat’s will gladly cover it, but if you would like to do so, please choose to add the cost to your online donation.