We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, and we respect and honor with gratitude the land itself, the legacy of the ancestors, and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

Education

Children Journey to Maymount in Richmond, 6 years ago, July 10, 2018

Story, photos and a video are here.   14 youth and adults enjoyed their day there in Richmond.

They concentrated on the animal and nature exhibits. Maymont is home to hundreds of animals including mighty black bears, iconic American bald eagles, playful river otters and friendly goats.

Maymont is a 100 acre Victorian estate in Richmond  developed by James and Sallie Dooley, who lived there from 1893 through 1925. The place remains much as they left it since it was donated to the City of Richmond at James Dooley’s death.

“Jairus Daughter” on “The Chosen”

Jairus daughter appears in Mark 5:21–43, Matthew 9:18–26 and Luke 8:40–56. The Mark account is this Sunday, June 30.

Jairus was a synagogue ruler who asked Jesus to come to his house and heal his 12-year-old daughter. On the way to the house, Jesus healed a woman who had been sick for 12 years. By the time they arrived, the little girl had died, and the funeral had already begun. Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Jesus is amazed at Jairus’ faith even though he is suffering.

Here is how “The Chosen” dramatizes it:

Sermon on the scripture”

After Jesus asks why the crowd is making a commotion and weeping, Jesus says, “The child is not dead but sleeping.” This statement is SO powerful! Because in making this statement, Jesus reminds us that God can see life where we only see death. God gives life in the midst of death. Our vision is limited. What we can see is only a piece of the whole. Sometimes, we can only see death. But God sees all, knows all, and redeems all.

Looking back to the beginning of Summer, 2016, 8 years ago

Traveling back in time for June and July, 2016 marks the transition from spring to summer. We have a slide show and a description.

 Look back to June, July 2016(full size gallery)

Here are some of the events that happened over the 2 month period:

1. Altarpiece center portion and other sections completed so scaffolding could be removed in July
A. July 21, 2016
B. July 13, 2016
C. July 3, 2016
D. June 26, 2016
E. June 11, 2016
F. June 11, 2016
G. June 9, 2016

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God’s Garden – Palm Sunday to Easter

This week was the culmination of the Lenten part of God’s Garden. They reviewed the Palm Sunday story which they had heard earlier. They made beaded crosses to hang around their necks. Finally, after working on the Lord’s Prayer with hand movements earlier in Lent they presented their work to the congregation today on Palm Sunday, March 24,2024

1. Reviewing the story on Palm Sunday

2. Creating crosses

3. Reciting the Lord’s Prayer – Palm Sunday in Church

God’s Garden makes “Resurrection Eggs”

On the week before Palm Sunday, the children created “Resurrection Eggs”. There were 12 numbered plastic eggs each with an object, a symbol of the events on that day of Holy Week. The children numbered the eggs, put an object in the eggs and heard a story. For example, the first was a palm branch for Palm Sunday. The story is taken through Holy Week to the Resurrection.

Here are the two handouts followed by the video segments:

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The Creeds Class, Part 4, March 13, 2024

“Worship the Holy Spirit” – Lance Brown

I believe in the Holy Spirit

Collect for Trinity Sunday – ” Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever.” Amen

This session completes the Trinity with the Holy Spirit. There were 6 participants.

The Holy Spirit

In Hebrew and in Greek, the word spirit means “breath.”  Our spirit is the breath of life that allows us to be active.  God’s spirit is God’s activity throughout all the ages, beginning with creation and continuing into our lives today. 

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Lenten Study, The Creeds, A Guide to Deeper Faith

When we say the Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed at baptisms and at Morning Prayer and the Nicene Creed when we celebrate the Eucharist), we are stating our belief in what the church believes, in faith, about God—that God is one being in three persons—that is, three “persons” within the one Godhead. 

It’s easy to say these words without much thought because they are so familiar.  And yet, they are the words that create community among Christian believers around the world, past, present, and future, the Apostles’ Creed being the most widely used of all of Christianity’s confessions of faith. These words are so important that they are permanently attached to our altar wall, along with the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer. The creeds not only bind us together in communities of faith,  but these words, if taken into our hearts, can lead us to a deeper faith. 

During this season of Lent, we will study these creeds, learning about how they came to be, what they mean to the Church, and we will also reflect on how they may help us grow in faith as Christians. 

The study is scheduled for five Wednesday nights of Lent—Weds Feb. 21st, 28th, and  March 6th, 13th, and 20th at 7PM on Zoom ID: 833 7014 5820 Passcode: 528834

The Creeds Class, Part 3, March 6, 2024

We had 8 participants. Thanks to all who attended.

The second part of the creed deals with Jesus  (Who do you say that I am?)  Look at the creed, The first part of section 2)

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one Being with the Father.  Through him all things were made. 

Lord—The very oldest Christian creed is one sentence.  “Jesus is Lord.”  (I Corinthians 12:3) The Greek term is Kyrios, which means Sir, this term is also used for pagan gods.  When early Christians confessed that Jesus was their Lord, they deliberately rejected the many lords and at some personal risk, also challenged the claims to dominion on the part of secular rulers.  To call Jesus Lord is to testify that our lives are oriented around Jesus and his teaching about the will of God for our lives. 

The name Jesus—comes from the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning Yahweh is salvation.  Both Matthew and Luke write in their gospels that Mary’s son be given this name. 

Christ, Greek Christos, is a translation of the Hebrew Messiah, the anointed one.  A king, descended from David, who would conquer the enemies of Israel in a decisive battle,  and establish a universal kingdom of peace and justice for all.  We can’t know precisely why the early Christians called Jesus the Messiah, but it is clear that they found his kingship to be other than a geographical realm on earth.  “My Kingdom is not from this world.” 

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God’s Garden Explores Mark – “Let the Children Come to me”

God’s Garden took up Mark 10:13-15 – “Let the Children Come to Me”

“13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.”

This is one story they can identify with and see Jesus as a great friend!

The class featured a variety of activities – two directly involving the children and two directed by the teacher. First one child read it. Jan explained it. The children played a game getting them to Jesus. Finally, Jan read them another story expanding on the Gospel for our time.

1. Children read the story

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The Creeds Class, Part 2, Feb. 28, 2024

What the Creeds have to say about God and how that understanding influences our own relationships with God. There were 7 participants.

The session started with Psalm 134

A song of ascents.

1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
    who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
    and praise the Lord.

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
    he who is the Maker of heaven and earth. 

The catechism was reviewed (beginning on Page 845), Book of Common Prayer. It has 5 questions

Q. What do we learn about God as creator from the revelation to Israel?
A. We learn that there is one God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

Q. What does this mean?
A. This means that the universe is good, that it is the work of a single loving God who creates, sustains, and directs it.

Q. What does this mean about our place in the universe?
A. It means that the world belongs to its creator; and that we are called to enjoy it and to care for it in accordance with God’s purposes.

Q. What does this mean about human life?
A. It means that all people are worthy of respect and honor, because all are created in the image of God, and all can respond to the love of God.

Q. How was this revelation handed down to us?
A. This revelation was handed down to us through a community created by a covenant with God.

The Nicene Creed presents a more complete picture than the Apostles Creed:

“We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.  (Nicene Creed)  I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.  “

Let’s break it down:

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