Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Prayer List & Newsletter

August 2, 2020 LESSONS FOR THE 9th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 1. Genesis 32: 22-31 2. Psalm 145: 8-9, 14-21 3. Romans 9: 1-5 4. Matthew 14: 13-21

We are pleased to welcome Father Brian Barry as - in-Charge for Holy Trinity, starting on September 1, 2020. We look forward to welcoming Father Brian & his family into our holy trinity family. Welcome, Father Brian!

Genesis 32:22-31 New Revised Standard Version Jacob Wrestles at Peniel 22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then the man[a] said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,[b] for you have striven with God and with humans,[c] and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[d] saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Psalm 145:8-9 New Revised Standard Version 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

Psalm 145:14-21 14 The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. 17 The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them. 20 The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

Romans 9:1-5 New Revised Standard Version God’s Election of Israel 9 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people,[a] my kindred according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah,[b] who is over all, God blessed forever.[c] Amen.

Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

"There's been a change of plans for counting contributions. The counting for August will be done on the first Thursday in August, August 7th. As always, contributions can be mailed to the church or left in the mail slot in the Williams' Building. And please know that your contributions are greatly appreciated."

My Parish Family & Friends Prayer List

George & Marilyn Bacon Karen & Victor Sarah, Selina Marsha Baldwin Carl Bucking Scott Bucking Mary Cranmore Theresa Dowd John Dowd Desmond Foster Anthony Carmen Grant Flo Hayward Nicole, Adam & Justin Edwin Hilbrandt Ellen James Hillman Jennifer, Catherine & Louie, Oliver Anne Hogan James Ifill Bob Imbriani Robert & Samantha, Dylan, Kate, Reid Doreen Imbriani Brian & Heather, Violet, Noah Debra Jacobs, Diane Jacobs, Evelyn Jacobs Anthony & Ngozi Kanu Chudi, Ike, Uzo Paul & Susan Kaszubski John, Jaclyn Lizette Kendrick Timia Moore Dorothy McGlynn Carol & Donald Russer David & Family, Karen Russer Betty Sabbatini Beth & Family, Andrea Sabbatini, Joann Schneiderman Cheryl Lesley, Robert & Gabriella Lesley Robbie Amy & Lisa, William, Shane, Corey Schmidlin Lynn Shortell Billy Gun Annmarie & Randy Thomson Joshua, Logan Renee Tolliver Paul Taylor Arlene Vrede Lorraine & Everest Campbell Andrew Ryan Shawn Susan & Michael Breidenbach Michael, Christopher, Matthew Joyce & Hugh Butler Kim & Craig Paul, Grace, Julie Heather, Thomas & Joanne, Sam Beth & Chris Lent Zander, Tina Oddie & Karla McLaughlin Cody, Shyla Margaret Moorhead Ifeoma & Godwin Onyeikl Chi Chi, Collins, Chiristian, Envi, Esther & Nwamaka Robert & Emily Ring Lexia & Shain Reece Shannon, Samara Desiree Giddings Ola Akinyemi, John Akinyemi, Toyin Akinyemi Yolanda Ochiobi Megan & Jimmy Dascoli Renee Giddings FR, Brian Barry, wife Holly and daughter Kaitlyn

We are having a Zoom Bible study for every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. We are going to start with the first chapter of the Letter to the Romans next week. Please contact Carl Bucking or Desmond Foster for the Zoom link if interested.

Desmond Foster & Carl Bucking are hosting a virtual Saturday evening prayer service every 2nd Saturday of the month with start time 0f 6 p.m. on Zoom. Please contact them for link if interested. You can email them at [email protected] and desmond.foster@ymailcom if interested.

A Reminder from Desmond Foster: Last week, on Wednesday, July 29 the Episcopal Church had “A Day of Celebration and Remembrance - Commemorating an event that mapped a path for change.” As a community, we celebrated the women who became the first female in the Episcopal Church. Below is an article written in the HuffPost on July 26, 2014, 6 years ago, marking the occasion. (Article has been edited to fit the pages) Remembering The ‘ 11’: Where The First Female, Episcopal Priests Are 40 Years Later.

WASHINGTON (RNS) On July 29, 1974, in Philadelphia, 11 women broke rank and were ordained as the first female priests in the Episcopal Church. They became known as the “.” While there was no law explicitly prohibiting the , there also was no law allowing it. After the Philadelphia at the Church of the Advocate, the 11 women were deemed “irregularly” ordained, and Episcopal warned the church not to recognize the women as priests. Two years later, the Episcopal Church’s General Convention — under pressure from the events in Philadelphia and elsewhere — affirmed and authorized the ordination of women to the priesthood. Today, the church is led by Presiding Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman to lead a national branch of the worldwide . In the 40 years since, the “Philadelphia Eleven” have gone on varied paths working in churches, at therapeutic horseback riding centers, retirement and more. Here’s what the “Philadelphia Eleven” are doing today:

1. Merrill Bittner Born: 1948 - After ordination: On April 15, 1976, she announced that she would “no longer affiliate myself with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.”

2. Alla Bozarth-Campbell - Born: 1947 - “We have these women who achieved these tremendous callings as bishops and our presiding bishop, in point of fact, but there is still at the lower levels and the mid- levels. It’s still difficult for woman , woman priests to be placed and fully integrated into positions of authority and leadership. ”After ordination: Founded Wisdom House, a -based interfaith spirituality center. Now: Retired, writes poems as ministry. Future: Continue as resident priest of Wisdom House, writing poetry and encouraging young people. Advice for women in the church today: “If there are barriers and, yet, the women feel called to those areas which are still blocked to them in their traditions, I would encourage to do what the Roman Catholic women have been doing. And that is get together, pray together, pray for guidance together and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit as it emerges.”

3. - Born: 1927 “I felt that if I didn’t go to that ordination I would lose my integrity and I wanted to do something for women. And the clergy was the logical place for me to start.” After ordination: Served in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Annandale, Va. Now: Retired. Future: “Wherever the spirit leads.” Advice for women in the church today: “The advice I used to give women back at the time was, only get ordained if you can’t help it and if you want to change the church. And I think that still holds, I think it still isn’t always easy for woman priests.” 4. Emily Hewitt - Born: May 26, 1944 “If I had a call, the call was to a fight. Someone upstairs had decided that we need to get some people here willing to fight about this stuff and I eventually developed a voice on this subject.” After ordination: Assistant professor of religion and education at Andover Newton Theological School (1973–1975). Now: Retired from chief judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims, October 2013. Future: Volunteer as a judge, travel and spend time with her spouse. Advice for women in the church today: “From the point of view of the church, I cheer on the women, without whom the church, living as long as it is, would barely be able to go on. I mean this is a lot of the muscle of the church.”

5. - Born: 1945 “Well, we were really quite privileged to be able to take that step. Somebody had to take it and it was our time, I guess. We came along and we were ready in every way other than the fact that the church wasn’t ready, but we were.” After ordination: Faculty at the Episcopal Divinity School. Now: Retired in 2005, helps run and teach at a therapeutic horseback center. Future: Heyward plans to continue her therapy work. Advice for women in the church today: “Stay aware of ways in which the church does and does not empower women to be fully who they are. And to really work to celebrate for the things that have happened on our behalf and really fight for the changes that are needed. And, also, to keep connection with other people who are struggling for justice.”

6. Suzanne Hiatt - Born: 1937 After ordination: Faculty of the Episcopal Divinity School until retirement. Now: Died May 30, 2002.

7. Marie Moorefield - Born: 1944 After ordination: Chaplain at the United Methodist Retirement Home in Topeka, Kansas (1973–1975). She returned to the Episcopal Church in the 1980s.

8. - Born: Jan. 5, 1895 Before ordination: She was a balloonist. With her husband, she piloted a into the stratosphere on Oct. 23, 1934. This made her the first woman in the stratosphere. After ordination: Served in St. Paul, Minn., until 1981. Now: Died May 17, 1981.

9. Betty Bone Schiess - Born: April 2, 1923 “My goal was not to be a priest, it was to change the church.” After ordination: Chaplain at from 1976–1978. Now: Retired, “sitting here at 91 with my 93-year-old husband, enjoying life.” Future: Writing a letter to her childhood church in about social issues, including the environment. Advice for women in the church today: “I would certainly endorse what is already being endorsed, that is to have women be in the public arena. Because what happens in the law of the country and every place else affects women, so they should have a say in what happens.”

10. Katrina Swanson - Born: 1935 After ordination: Worked at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in St. Louis. Now: Died Aug. 27, 2005

11. Nancy Wittig - Born: 1945 “It has confirmed the fact that opening up the priesthood to women was very important.” After ordination: Supply work for Episcopal Diocese of Newark. Now: Retired, part-time job at St. Peter Episcopal Church in Lakewood, Ohio. Future: “Grow old gracefully.” Advice for women in the church today: “Don’t assume there’s no prejudice about women. Don’t assume just because you’re very smart and have a good education that will pave the way. There will be a lot of bumps along the way. But don’t give up, stay faithful, show up and remember it’s not your ministry, it’s Christ’s.”

From Desmond Foster: Feast Day August 1st St. Joseph of Arimathea, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joseph of Arimathea was, according to all four canonical gospels, the man who assumed responsibility for the burial of Jesus after his crucifixion. Because there is no historical location of Arimathaia, scholars propose "Arimathaia is probably an invented word, meaning 'Best Doctrine Town'."[2]

Main article: Arimathea Arimathea itself is not otherwise documented, though it was "a town of Judea" according to Luke 23:51. Arimathea is usually identified with either Ramleh or Ramathaim-Zophim, where David came to Samuel (1 Samuel chapter 19).[25]

Old Testament prophecy

Many Christians[5] interpret Joseph's role as fulfilling Isaiah's prediction that the grave of the "Suffering Servant" would be with a rich man (Isaiah 53:9), assuming that Isaiah was referring to the Messiah. The prophecy in Isaiah chapter 53 is known as the "Man of Sorrows" passage: “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth”.

The Greek Septuagint text: “And I will give the wicked for his burial, and the rich for his death; for he practiced no iniquity, nor craft with his mouth”.

Veneration

Joseph of Arimathea is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and some Protestant churches. He is on the calendars of some churches of the Anglican communion, such as the Episcopal Church, which commemorates him on 1 August.

HEALING AND TGE PATH TO INNER PEACE

“I can’t go on. I'll go on.” Samuel Beckett (1906-1989)

The realization of our dreadful brokenness is the first step towards our spiritual enlightenment, on all our journeys of faith when we come to realize that the imperfections of the world camp insistently on our doorsteps, none more so than at the present time. These unwelcome visitations test the limits of our endurance, our sanity, and in the very possibility of a rational and benevolent universe. Even the most perceptive among us have trouble discerning by ourselves a perceptible purpose for a world whose moorings have become painfully unhinged. Sooner or later, most seeking a path of higher wisdom will come to the conclusion that the most magnificent philosophical constructs devised by the human mind do not approach and cannot apprehend the transcendent grace of God.

Clearly, we are not relieved of the sometimes-vexing responsibility of thinking about how we can contribute, through artistic and scientific endeavors, to solve the problems in the social and cultural settings in which we exist. But we are missing a large part our general malady if we do not address or conveniently ignore those things which bring sickness and ailment to our souls. This passage from 1 Corinthians 10: 13 addresses this idea directly:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind, and God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can endure it.”

In essence, there is no shame or disgrace on asking for help when the burdens of family, work, or personal matters seem far too great to allow us the luxury of bearing them alone. We cannot function properly or in reasonable health when the reality of isolation haunts our every waking moment. Whatever the source of our strength and comfort, be it family, friends or a community of faith, it is imperative that we lean on one another to get us through the rough times that have already happened or that are yet to come. If our hearts and minds are receptive to one another and to God's unconditional love, the most traumatic events can be borne together without the fear of any one of us being crushed by the oppressive weight of uncaring anonymity. Psalm.107: 19-21 points this out quite explicitly:

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent out His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.”

The pathway to healing a weary soul battered by a pandemic drenched world is different for each individual, depending on time, circumstance, and emotional receptivity to the idea that God’s eternal grace does not take marching orders from the social conventions of the present historic moment. Whether it be through prayer, meditation, counseling or just an intimate and heartfelt conversation with a good friend, the tricky road to gradual healing is wide open to resilient spirits that are reconciled to the notion that finding inner peace is not compatible with the cramped perceptions of the solipsistic mindset. The sacrifice of Christ on the Holy Cross to cleanse us from the stain of original sin is the promise, eternally made and kept by God, that the forces of darkness and death shall not have the final word over our passage on this earth.

Indeed, as we move forward together, the advice offered in James 5:16 provides the guidepost for our actions during this time of adversity:

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Our prayers and meditations, as noted by St. Augustine, will always bring us in communion with God and His only begotten Son, if we so blessed to heed his advice:

“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”

And in so doing, to find and to preserve the inner peace and glorious solace that passes all human understanding.

God's Peace,

Carl Bucking August 2020