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, who are still here, and we honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do. We welcome all people to our church.
“Shepherdess with a Flock of Sheep”, Anton Mauve, c. 1870 – c. 1888
The Fourth Sunday of Easter , Year C, Mother’s Day and Good Shepherd Sunday
May 8 – 11:00am, Easter – Join here at 10:45am for gathering – service starts at 11am Meeting ID: 869 9926 3545 Passcode: 889278
- Bulletin May 8, 2022
- Lectionary for May 8, 2022
- Commentary May 8, 2022
- Sermon, May 8, 2022
- Videos, May 8, 2022
- Photos, May 8, 2022
Mother’s Day prayer BCP 829 #46 (adapt for “mothers”) Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give to all mothers calm strength and patient wisdom as the bring them up, that they may teach them to love whatever it is just true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
Mother’s Day prayer“Dear Lord, we come before you today to thank you for those who have brought new life into this world. We thank you especially for Mary , the mother of our Savior Jesus Christ, who brought to birth your Son who shared our human nature and lived and died as one of us. Give us the grace, all of us, to welcome you into our hearts and minds and spirits and bring your love to birth in this world. In the name of your song and through the power of the Holy Spirit we pray. Amen”
May 11 – Bible Study 10am-12pm
May 11 – Shred-it (time to be announced)
May 11 – 4:30om-6pm, Village Dinner . Take out only. Please contact Susan Linne von Berg for a reservation.
For mothers
“God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.” A ]ewish Proverb
“There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.” – Chinese Proverb
“A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.” – An Irish Proverb
“As truly as God is our Father, so truly God is our Mother.” -Julian of Norwich
“A mother understands what a child does not”. Jewish proverb
“The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children.”—Elaine Heffner
Easter 4, Year C, May 8
I.Theme – Jesus as the Good Shepherd
"The Good Shepherd" – Daniel Bonnell)
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Acts 9:36-43
Psalm – Psalm 23
Epistle – Revelation 7:9-17
Gospel – John 10:22-30
Today’s readings explore the image of God as a caring Shepherd. Scripture frequently uses the metaphor of shepherd and sheep to describe the relationship between the faithful and God. Easter 4 is often referred to as “Good Shepherd Sunday,”
In Acts, the apostles’ preaching and miracles bring many Gentiles to believe and follow. The familiar words of Psalm 23 illustrate our understanding of the relationship between the Good Shepherd and his sheep.
The Revelation to John gives us another image of the shepherd. As the seer looks around him, he sees a great multitude that no one can count. They come from all tribes, nations, and languages as they stand before the throne of the Lamb, wearing white robes and waving palm branches. The wrote robes signify their deliverance from tribulation, and the palms their victory over trials. Freed from hunger and thirst, those who were persecuted are now forever in the presence of God, able to worship God day and night in the temple.
In today’s gospel, Jesus pictures his relationship to the faithful as that of a shepherd who works for the life of the sheep. Jesus as a shepherd caring for his own flock provides more than green pasture and still waters. Jesus as a shepherd caring for his own flock provides more than green pasture and still waters – Jesus offers eternal life.
Our Good Shepherd guides us through the heights and depths of life, even during the most difficult times when we feel we are alone and abandoned, even when we feel the absence of God.
The sheep trust the shepherd. We who follow Jesus trust Jesus. We trust his voice, and we believe because we trust. It’s less a question of doubts verses faith as it is a question of trust verses mistrust. We may have doubts and questions about faith, but if we trust in Jesus, we still have faith. It is when we do not trust that we have lost. Trust leads to faith, and what Jesus calls us to do is to know his voice.
1. Good Shepherd Sunday – The setting for the Gospel – John 10:22-30
From Trinity Church New York —Dr. Kathy Bozzuti-Jones
Set in a moment of high tension in John’s Gospel, today’s Gospel passage is Jesus’s answer to the question: who are you, exactly?
Are you the Messiah? He responds by saying, in effect, “If you have to ask, then you are not one of my sheep.” Jesus claims his authority and asserts his unity with God when he says, “The Father and I are one.” At the conclusion of these words, John reports that the angered religious leaders intend to stone Jesus for blasphemy, but he escapes them.
In this brief passage, Jesus identifies so closely with God that they are not just close but “one.” In other words, to know Jesus is to know God. Jesus doesn’t just bring us closer to God, he puts us directly in relationship with God, removing any distance between us. Jesus invites all who hear the Good Shepherd’s voice to share in the life of God.
Few of us have direct experience with sheep, but the image of the shepherd speaks of care and protection and security; it is no wonder that Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved prayers throughout the ages.
2 Good Shepherd Sunday – Art Exhibit on Psalm 23
3 Good Shepherd Sunday Psalm 23 – the Most famous poem ever written
This week! May 11, Shred-it
Gather your older sensitive documents to be securely shred now
Lectionary Easter 5, Year C
I.Theme – Christian communities provide love and encouragement
"The Last Supper" – Leonardo da Vinci (1495-1498))
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Acts 11:1-18
Psalm – Psalm 148
Epistle – Revelation 21:1-6
Gospel – John 13:31-35
Today’s readings picture the love and encouragement to be found in Christian community. In Acts, Gentiles receive God’s word and the Holy Spirit just as the Jews do. John, in his Revelation, celebrates God’s final descent into our world to bring salvation and a restored world order. In the gospel, Jesus gives us a new command—love one another; by obeying Jesus, we show our discipleship.
God’s intention is to break down the dividing walls, the separations, between us and God, between us and each other, between us and creation. Jesus came to erase the boundaries, and gave us a new commandment to love one another. This commandment reframes the old: no longer are they to be about exclusion, but inclusion. No longer are people to separate themselves for God, but to come together and love one another for God. Even death will no longer divide and separate us. God’s intentions are for us to dwell together with God, as it was in the beginning. God’s desire is not destruction, but restoration. God is making all things new, and desires for us to participate in the breaking down of walls and the building up of the kingdom, or community, of God.
On earth “you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20). Already the Spirit grants you peace and joy through the forgiveness of your sins. For by the cross of Christ, “God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). His Gospel is “a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household” (Acts 11:14). He gives freely “from the spring of the water of life” (Rev. 21:6), “and death shall be no more” (Rev. 21:4). He dwells with His people, adorning His Church as a bride for her husband, “making all things new” (Rev. 21:5). Therefore, as the Son of Man is glorified by His cross, “and God is glorified in Him” (John 13:31), so He is glorified in us by our “love for one another” (John 13:35), which His Spirit works in us by His grace.
We are in Eastertide until Pentecost, June 5
Eastertide is the period of fifty days, seven Sundays from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.
Why 50 ? After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before ascending and ten more days after that until the Day of Pentecost. Lectionary readings throughout this season will revisit the post-resurrection appearances of Christ- healings, conversions, eye witness accounts, teachings, and “signs and wonders” with a message that broadens and bolsters our faith in the risen Christ, preparing his disciples (us), to take the power of his message to the world
Since Easter is not just one day, but a season, the church marks this time in special ways. The Paschal candle is lit during all services and the vestments and altar colors are white to mark this as a time of celebration. ‘The Lord is Risen!”, the Gloria, the Alleluias, the hymns, the scripture …. come back to us.
Receive the gifts of this season, there is always more because our faith is not a faith of reading something and thinking, “How nice.” Our faith is a faith of proclamation, action, prayer, and response
The season allows one to examine the Resurrection, more broadly and deeply. There are a number of questions.
Is Resurrection just about death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-56) ? Is Resurrection of Jesus is a precursor to your own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) ? Does it say something about our own ability to expect to see Jesus (Luke 24) ? How does the new Christian community begin to function making Christ the central part of daily life ? (Acts 2)
Jesus physically appears in Easter 2 and 3 making the Resurection tangible. The shepherding part of his ministry is explored in Easter 4. From Easter 5-7, Jesus must prepare the disciples for his departure. He is going to leave them. Jesus prepares his disciples for continuing his ministry without his physical presence. Themes explored include the holy spirit, the Prayer of Jesus and God’s glory through His Son and the church.
Christ ascends on the 40th day with his disciples watching . The weekdays after the Ascension until the Saturday before Pentecost inclusive are a preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.This fifty days comes to an end on Pentecost Sunday, which commemorates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, the beginnings of the Church and its mission to all peoples and nation. Note that the Old Testament lessons are replaced by selections from the Book of Acts, recognizing the important of the growth of the church.
Make a Gift Today! 2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector 4. Server Schedule April, 2022 5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (May, 2022) 6. Calendar 9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (May 8, 11:00am), and Sermon (May 8, 2022) 10. Recent Services: Easter Sunday, April 17 Readings and Prayers, April 17 Easter 2, April 24 Readings and Prayers, April 24 Easter 2, May 1 |
Block Print by Mike Newman
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3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.
Knowing that not everyone prays at the same pace, you have control over the pace of the retreat. After each screen, a Continue button will appear. Click it when you are ready to move on. If you are new to online prayer, the basic timing of the screens will guide you through the experience.
Daily meditations in words and music.
Your daily prayer online, since 1999
“We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance.”
Saints of the Week, May 8 – May 15, 2022
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Julian of Norwich, Mystic & Theologian, c. 1417 |
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Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople, 389 |
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Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, Prophetic Witness, 1760 |
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[Johann Arndt & Jacob Boehme], Mystics, 1621 & 1624 |
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[Frances Perkins], Public Servant and Prophetic Witness, 1965 |
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[Pachomius of Tabenissi], Monastic, 348 Junia and Andronicus |