Trinity Sunday (Yr A) May 31, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

The prelude is a time for preparation for worship.

 As we enter the sanctuary, let us prepare through quiet prayer and meditation.

 

 

The service is being livestreamed and recorded and will be available on our Facebook page and on YouTube.

The People’s responses are in bold type, and directions are italicized.

 

As a courtesy to others, please silence your cell phone.

 

The Hymnal 1982 is the blue hymnal; Wonder, Love, & Praise is the green hymnal; Lift Every Voice and Sing II is the red and black hymnal

 

 

PRELUDE:

“Holy God, we praise Thy name”                                               Carl Mueller

  

 

Prayer Requests, Birthdays/Anniversaries and Announcements

 

PROCESSIONAL HYMN:

“Holy, holy, holy!”                                                                The Hymnal 1982, #362

 

 

1  Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

          Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee:

     Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,

          God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity.

 

2  Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,

          casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

     cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,

          which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

 

3  Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,

          though the sinful human eye thy glory may not see,

     only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,

          perfect in power, in love, and purity.

 

4  Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

          All thy works shall praise thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

     Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,

          God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity.

 

 

Celebrant     Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

     People     And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Celebrant     Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

GLORIA:

 

“Glory to God”                                                             Enriching Our Music, #20

 

Glory to God in the highest!
Peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

 

For you alone are the Holy One,
for you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

 

Collect of the Day

 

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.

 

Please be seated.

 

 

First Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

 

Reader  A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

 

 

Reader     A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

 

 

Reader     A reading from the book of Genesis

 

     In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

      And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

     And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

     And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

     And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

     And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

     Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

     Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

 

Reader     The Word of the Lord.

People      Thanks be to God.

 

 

The Response: Psalm 8

 

1 O Lord our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!

 

2 Out of the mouths of infants and children *
your majesty is praised above the heavens.

 

3 You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
to quell the enemy and the avenger.

 

4 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,

 

5 What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
the son of man that you should seek him out?

 

6 You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
you adorn him with glory and honor;

 

7 You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
you put all things under his feet:

 

8 All sheep and oxen, *
even the wild beasts of the field,

 

9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.

 

10 O Lord our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!

 

 

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

 

Reader     A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

 

     Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Amen.

 

Reader    The Word of the Lord.

People      Thanks be to God.

 

Please stand as you are able.

 

GRADUAL HYMN:

“I Want to Be Ready”                                                                   LEVAS #7

 

I want to be ready,
I want to be ready,
I want to be ready
To walk in Jerusalem just like John.

 

John said that Jerusalem was four-square,

Walk in Jerusalem just like John.

Walk in Jerusalem just like John.

O walk in Jerusalem just like John.

I hope good Lord, I’ll meet you there

 

When Peter was preaching at Pentecost

Walk in Jerusalem just like John.

Walk in Jerusalem just like John.

O walk in Jerusalem just like John.

O he was filled with the Holy Ghost

 

 

The Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

        

Deacon   The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

People      Glory to you, Lord Christ.

 

     The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

Deacon     The Gospel of the Lord.

People   Praise to you, Lord Christ.

 

Please be seated

 

The Homily                                                         The Rev. Jean Vargo

 

Please stand as you are able.

 

 

The Nicene Creed

 

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth,
    of all that is, seen and unseen.

 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
    the only Son of God,
    eternally begotten of the Father,
    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.
    For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
    by the power of the Holy Spirit
        he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
        and was made man.
    For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
        he suffered death and was buried.
        On the third day he rose again
            in accordance with the Scriptures;
        he ascended into heaven
            and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

 

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
        and his kingdom will have no end.

 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
    who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
    With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
    He has spoken through the Prophets.
    We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
    We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
    We look for the resurrection of the dead,
        and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

 

Prayers of the People

 

Reader

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for The Anglican Church of Rwanda

 

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer we pray for Trinity Church in Newark, and Holy Trinity Church in Oxford.

 

In our Parish Cycle of Prayer we pray for Lee & Carol Smith, Tracey Swartz, and Jim & Patricia Tallman.

 

Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;

That we all may be one.

 

Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;

That your Name may be glorified by all people.

 

We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;

That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.

 

We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;

That there may be justice and peace on the earth.

 

Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;

That our works may find favor in your sight.

 

Have compassion on those on our Parish Prayer List: Claudia, Jim H., Hayward, George, Patricia, Jim T., Mary-Anna, Wayne, Judy, Juanita, Rob, Susan, and the Darnell family; and for all who suffer from any grief or trouble;

That they may be delivered from their distress.

 

We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;

May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

 

Give to the departed eternal rest;

Let light perpetual shine upon them.

 

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

 

Celebrant      Thanksgiving, blessing and praise be yours, God of the incarnation; because you care for us and for our prayer.  May our love for you and our likeness to you be strengthened every time we pray. Amen.

 

 

The Peace                                                                                    BCP p. 360

 

Celebrant      The peace of the Lord be always with you.

     People      And also with you.

 

The Offertory – The ushers collect the offering at this time

 

Offertory music:

“My prayer”                                                                                            Don Humphreys

 

Please stand as you are able.

 

PRESENTATION HYMN:

“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”                            LEVAS #56

 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

 

 

 

THE HOLY COMMUNION

 

Eucharistic Prayer D (The Book of Common Prayer, page 372)

 

Celebrant      The Lord be with you.

     People      And also with you.

 

Celebrant      Lift up your hearts.

     People      We lift them to the Lord.

 

Celebrant      Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

     People      It is right to give him thanks and praise.

 

Celebrant      It is truly right to glorify you, Father, and to give you thanks; for you alone are God, living and true, dwelling in light inaccessible from before time and for ever.

     Fountain of life and source of all goodness, you made all things and fill them with your blessing; you created them to rejoice in the splendor of your radiance.

     Countless throngs of angels stand before you to serve you night and day; and, beholding the glory of your presence, they offer you unceasing praise. Joining with them, and giving voice to every creature under heaven, we acclaim you, and glorify your Name, as we sing (say),

 

SANCTUS: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord”             The Hymnal 1982, #S128

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

 

Please stand or kneel

 

Celebrant        We acclaim you, holy Lord, glorious in power. Your mighty works reveal your wisdom and love. You formed us in your own image, giving the whole world into our care, so that, in obedience to you, our Creator, we might rule and serve all your creatures. When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find you. Again and again you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets you taught us to hope for salvation.

     Father, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill your purpose he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new.

And, that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all.

     When the hour had come for him to be glorified by you, his heavenly Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end; at supper with them he took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

     After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you.  This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

     Father, we now celebrate this memorial of our redemption.  Recalling Christ’s death and his descent among the dead, proclaiming his resurrection and ascension to your right hand, awaiting his coming in glory; and offering to you, from the gifts you have given us, this bread and this cup, we praise you and we bless you.

 

Celebrant and People

  We praise you, we bless you, we give thanks to you,

  and we pray to you, Lord our God.

 

     Lord, we pray that in your goodness and mercy your Holy Spirit may descend upon us, and upon these gifts, sanctifying them and showing them to be holy gifts for your holy people, the bread of life and the cup of salvation, the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ.

     Grant that all who share this bread and cup may become one body and one spirit, a living sacrifice in Christ, to the praise of your Name.

     Remember, Lord, your one holy catholic and apostolic Church, redeemed by the blood of your Christ. Reveal its unity, guard its faith, and preserve it in peace.

And grant that we may find our inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, with St. Mark and all the saints who have found favor with you in ages past. We praise you in union with them and give you glory through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

     Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty God and Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.  AMEN.

 

 

The Lord’s Prayer      BCP p. 364

 

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,
   thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

   as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
   for ever and ever.  Amen.

 

The Breaking of the Bread      BCP p. 364

 

FRACTION ANTHEM: “Christ our Passover”        The Hymnal 1982, # S154

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

therefore let us keep the feast.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

 

 

The Invitation    *Gluten-free wafers are available on request.

 

Celebrant      The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

 

Please be seated.

 

What we celebrate is not The Episcopal Church’s Supper, but The Lord’s Supper.  All are welcome at the Lord’s Table for Communion; those not partaking are invited to come forward, cross your arms over your chest, and receive a blessing.

 

Please stand as you are able.

 

COMMUNION HYMN:

“Holy God we praise thy Name (vs 1-4)”                               The Hymnal 1982, #366

 

1  Holy God, we praise thy Name,

          Lord of all, we bow before thee;

     all on earth thy scepter claim,

          all in heaven above adore thee;

     infinite thy vast domain,

     everlasting is thy reign.

 

2  Hark, the loud celestial hymn

          angel choirs above are raising;

     cherubim and seraphim,

          in unceasing chorus praising,

     fill the heavens with sweet accord:

     holy, holy, holy Lord!

 

3  Lo, the apostolic train

          join, thy sacred Name to hallow;

     prophets swell the loud refrain,

          and the white-robed martyrs follow;

     and, from morn till set of sun,

     through the Church the song goes on.

 

4  Holy Father, holy Son,

          Holy Spirit, Three we name thee,

     while in essence only One,

          undivided God we claim thee;

     then, adoring, bend the knee

     and confess the mystery.

 

 

Post-Communion Prayer

Celebrant      Let us pray.

 

Celebrant and People

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Blessing

 

RECESSIONAL:

“Immortal, invisible, God only wise”                                 The Hymnal 1982, #423

 

1  Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

     in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

     most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

     almighty, victorious, thy great Name we praise.

 

2  Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

     nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;

     thy justice like mountains high soaring above

     thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

 

3  To all life thou givest, to both great and small;

     in all life thou livest, the true life of all;

     we blossom and flourish, like leaves on the tree,

     then wither and perish; but nought changeth thee.

 

4  Thou reignest in glory, thou rulest in light,

     thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;

     all laud we would render: O help us to see

     ’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.

 

 

Dismissal

 

People      Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

POSTLUDE:

Hail, thou once despised Jesus!                                                                      arr. M. Burkhardt

 

  

Thank you for joining us in worship.

Please know that your participation with us today,

 in person or online, has been a blessing.

 

 

 

May 31, 2026

Trinity Sunday

 

Readings:

Genesis 1:1-2:4a  Psalm 8

2 Corinthians 13:11-13  Matthew 28:16-20

 

Celebrant: The Rev. Jean Vargo

Guest Organist: Percy Jones, Jr

Soprano Soloist: Laura Leach

Acolyte: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber

Lay Readers: Don Nancarrow, Jackie Hoskinson

Chalicists: Kendall Rubino, Jim Rudd

Tech & Facebook Live: TJ Walch, Katherine Wagner

Ushers: Dave Reuter, Jim Rudd

Counters: Janet Reuter, Katherine Wagner

Open/Close: Wagner/Reuter

May Altar Guild: Carol Nancarrow, Kendall Rubino

Candle: Remains lit during Pentecost

Coffee Hour: Dave & Janet Reuter

 

 

June 7, 2026

Pentecost-2

 

Readings:

 

Genesis 12:1-9; Psalm 33:1-12;

Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

 

Celebrant: The Rev. Jean Vargo

Organist: Barbara Acker-Mills

Acolyte: Gabriel Walch

Lay Readers: Carol Williamson, Jim Rudd

Chalicists: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber, Carol Williamson

Tech & Facebook Live: Dave Reuter, Katherine Wagner

Ushers: Wayne Harper, Tony Rubino

Counters: Pam Kulhanek, Tony Rubino

Open/Close: Wagner/Welch

June Altar Guild: Katherine Wagner, Elizabeth Wagner-Weber

Altar Flowers: TBD

Candle: Rommel Festus-Abibo

Coffee Hour: Joy Brown & Sandy Bultman

 

 +++++++++

 

 

Announcements for the Week of May 17

 

The CANDLE in the Sanctuary Lamp shines brightly over the Parish of St. Mark’s, its steady flame guiding us in these early weeks after Pentecost.

COFFEE HOUR is hosted by Janet & Dave Reuter

 

JUNE 6: DAYTON PRIDE! Join us as the Episcopal presence at Dayton Pride! We help staff the DSO tent, hand out swag from The Episcopal Church and the DSO, march in the parade, make friends, and show the LGBTQ+ community that they are beloved children of God. Questions? Ask Katherine or Elizabeth!

JUNE 6-8: ST. HELEN CHURCH will use our parking lot for overflow parking during their Annual Spring Festival. As usual, the lot will be roped off for St Mark’s use on Sunday. We’ve had this agreement with them for years: they use our lot that one weekend in the spring, and in return they plow it the following winter!

JUNE 7 is the CARE HOUSE collection. We accept donations of individual snacks, small water bottles, stuffed animals (huggable sized), and gift cards (gas, Walmart Meijer, fast food) and pass them on to CARE House.   

Mentoring and Tutoring Program – St. Mark’s is partnering with Mad River Local Schools to support 1st–4th graders at Saville Elementary through mentoring or tutoring. Please sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office.

Flags for Heroes – Honor a hero through the Beavercreek Rotary’s flag display on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. Each flag includes a medallion with your honoree’s name. Cost for all three holidays is $55. Contact Jim Rudd for details.

Follow St. Mark’s on Facebook – Support our Outreach by engaging with our posts – likes, comments, and shares help expand our reach and visibility.

 

JOINT Worship Services/Events for St. Mark’s and St. Paul’s

June 24 Men’s Group – The Men’s Group is back! Join us Wednesday, June 24, from 6–8 PM. This is a relaxed, social gathering- no agenda, no pressure. Monthly meet ups will continue on the last Wednesday of each month. Location will be announced soon. Open to all men of St. Paul’s and St. Mark’s; friends welcome.

Sunday, Jun 28 – Outdoor service at 10am; Potluck Picnic to follow. Location TBD

Sunday, Aug 2 – Outreach Project and Worship Service at St. Paul’s at 10am.The Outreach Committees at both parishes will work together to organize details for a joint outreach project.

Sunday, Oct 4 – Outdoor Worship service & Pet Blessing  at 10am. Location TBD.

    •  

 

Prayers for the Week of May 17

 

For those we have lost to death, suicide, addiction, or politics.

For those living in fear and uncertainty in these turbulent days.

For those who struggle with the basic necessities of life after natural catastrophic events; with finding asylum in loving, welcoming lands; with losing necessary services in this changing political climate; with unexpected job losses.

For those serving in the military, in public service, in political leadership, and political reform.

For our enemies, foreign and domestic.

 

For those on our parish prayer list: Claudia, Jim H., Ginny, Patricia, Jim T.,

Mary-Anna, Wayne, Judy, Juanita, Rob, Susan, and the Darnell family.

 

For those who suffer from illness, grief, or any other adversity:

Andrew; Blaze; Chip; Chris & family; Chuck; Clara; Crystal; Emily; Emma, Lowell, & the Burton Family; Fr. John; Fred; Katie; Luann; Mary; Natasha; Patti; Regina; Renea; Roberta; Steve; Tonia; Tony; the Younge Family.

For the mission work of this congregation: CARE House, Canterbury Court, St. Paul’s UMC Food Pantry, Hope4Riverside, Neighborhood Bridges, and for the seven non-profit groups who use our Community Building.

 

For our Diocesan Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Kristin White

For our Assisting Bishops: The Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs, The Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera, and The Rt. Rev. Kenneth Price

For our Presiding Bishop: The Most Rev. Sean Rowe

 

 

 

 

A Holy Cycle

 

The transition process is a holy cycle.

It begins with discovering what God is already doing in our community. We observe, listen, and ask questions.

 

We look for the small and large ways God’s love is at work among our neighbors – whether they live next door or in the next town.

 

As we learn the needs of our community, we also pray and reflect on our own gifts and passions, both individually and as a parish. We remember Jesus’ call to go and make disciples and Isaiah’s promise that God is making all things new. Our passions, shaped by the Spirit, meet the needs of the world around us. This is where ministry begins.

 

To be the church is to participate in God’s work. It is less about filling pews or balancing budgets – important as those are – and more about living the gospel with compassion, mercy, and Christ-like love. It is being the hands and feet of Christ wherever we are.

 

As we shape our parish goals, we shape them for the sake of our neighbors. We offer our community a church that cares for them, prays for them, and is present with them. And as God continues to inspire us, the cycle begins again: discovering need, noticing God’s activity, and listening for the Spirit’s leading.

 

May the Spirit of God inspire and guide you.