Photos

Under a partly cloudy sky and low humidity, coffee hour returned. For a July 4 it was very pleasant in terms of weather.

Ken and Andrea donated all the food from his birthday party on July 3. The menu included hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, baked beans, macaroni salad and a variety cookies and cakes. Cookie and Johnny brought water melon and organized the space with tables and decorations. People could come as they were without having to provide food. Thanks for all of the above.

It was relatively a small crowd which provided plenty of space for conversation. It was the first Parish event with the new pavilion which made it special.

A wonderful July 4 Sunday with great weather, partly cloudy with low humidity. We had 29 – 22 in the church and 7 online.

The flowers were donated by John and Toni Faibisy in memory of John’s mother, Mrs. Marion Faibisy, born on July 4, in Nova Scotia. Brad announced that he had a niece born earlier today on July 4. There are several people, including his later mother born on July 4.

The music was in keeping with the holiday – “How Firm a Foundation”, “America the Beautiful” (offertory), “Faith of Our Fathers”. This was in the bulletin – The Rev. Daniel Crane Roberts, who served a small rural parish in Brandon, Vermont, wrote the stirring words of today’s closing hymn, “God, of our fathers” for a celebration in his small town to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of The Declaration of Independence. Later, the hymn was used in a national celebration of the centennial of the adoption of the United States Constitution. It has appeared in Episcopal hymnals since 1892.

Mission work continues. We are now collecting hand sanitizer for Caroline’s Promise. The goal is 250 containers but should be small that students can carry with them.

After the service we had our first coffee hour since March, 2020. 16 months is a long time! We made up for it thanks to Ken, Andrea, Cookie and Johnny who provided all the food, setup and decorations. Wonderful! The link to the story with a photo gallery.

This not only Trinity Sunday but it was our first “maskless” Sunday since the pandemic with the pew holders full again with books and a sermon relating an apple to Trinity Sunday 28 were in the congregation with more online.

It was a warm Pentecost – maybe like a holy wind. 17 were present with another 9 online for a total of 26. There were differences in the past – “Hail Thee Festival Day” was done as a prelude and “O day of radiant gladness” became the opening hymn. The Holy Communion used Eucharistic Prayer D and not the special Prayer for Pentecost. Eucharistic Prayer D is the lengthiest and is generally associated with the holiest of our holidays or with occasions of Christian unity.

One thing that continued was the holy tongues of fire that appeared during the closing hymn, “There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place”. Johnny and Edgar did the honors.

The sermon spoke less of the Pentecost event and more of practices. Pentecost is the beginning of the church’s mission as well the coming of the Holy Spirit. The mission can’t work unless the Holy Spirit can do its work. If people think they have all the answer than the Holy Spirit is blocked.