 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Thursday, July 21, 2022 Adult class at 9:30 Short Service of Eucharist at 10:30  The Adult Class – 9:30 AM Searching for Sunday On July 24 we will begin the new book, Searching for Sunday, by Rachel Held Evans. Instead of a single leader, we will take turns leading the conversation. Mother Cathy will start the discussion this Sunday, but any others who are willing, will be invited to take a Sunday to lead the conversation. Eucharist We are going to use only two readings on Sundays when it is as hot as it will be this weekend, and shorter, fewer hymns.I want to keep the entire service short so that you can all get home and cool before noon, and so that we don’t keep the church a/c on too long.Our utilities are terrifically expensive this year – as I’m sure yours are, too. We are trying to conserve energy as we are able.The garden does have some peppers that are ripe, so do go outside and take what you can use. Where I was… 57 years ago I graduated from St Agnes Academy in Alliance, Nebraska, with a particular group of seven girls. After all those years, we are still friends. Every year we gather for a few days in the summer at one of our homes – just to be together. One has died; one was not able to come. But the five of us spent our days and evenings indoors because of the heat, with no agenda at all. But music, and talk, and food and laughter, and quiet and prayer. And love – so much love.I hope you have at least a few people with whom your friendships have survived through everything: marriages, deaths, struggles with children and grandchildren, misunderstandings, and all the inevitable changes that nearly 60 years bring. There is nothing quite like those relationships. Holding on to each other in hard times as well as the joyous ones produces an intimacy that is hard to match.There are no secrets. But plenty of empathy, transparency and peace, and joy.I am glad to be home.But it was good to be away, too. And on Sunday morning we prayed for you and for each of our congregations “back home.”    Luke 11:1-13 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught this disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him. ‘And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you, who, if your child asks for a fish will give a snake instead of a fish? Or, if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”   |
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