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.
Dealing with too much or too little water in our times in the Season of Creation
Pentecost 16, Season of Creation 2 – Sept. 12, 2021
Sept 12 – 11:00am, Eucharist In person in the church or on Zoom. – Join here at 10:45am for gathering – service starts at 11am Meeting ID: 869 9926 3545 Passcode: 889278
Sept. 12 – 7:00pm, Compline on Zoom – Join here at 6:30am for gathering – service starts at 7pm Meeting ID: 878 7167 9302 Passcode: 729195
Sept. 13 – 6:30am – Be Still Meditation group in a 20 minute time of prayer Meeting ID: 879 8071 6417 Passcode: 790929
Sept. 15 – 10am-12pm, Bible Study on Wednesday in the Parish House
Sept. 15 – 3pm-5pm, Village Harvest
If you would like to volunteer, please email Andrea or call (540) 847-9002. Pack bags for distribution 1-3PM Deliver food to client’s cars 3-5PM.
Sept 19 – 11:00am, Eucharist In person in the church or on Zoom. – Join here at 10:45am for gathering – service starts at 11am Meeting ID: 869 9926 3545 Passcode: 889278
Sept. 19 – 7:00pm, Compline on Zoom – Join here at 6:30am for gathering – service starts at 7pm Meeting ID 834 7356 6532 Password 748475
Holy Cross Day, September 14
See Our Collection of Crosses
"O BLESSED Saviour, who by thy cross and passion hast given life unto the world: Grant that we thy servants may be given grace to take up the cross and follow thee through life and death; whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit we worship and glorify, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Holy Cross Day is Sept. 14 in honor of Christ’s self-offering on the cross for our salvation. The collect for Holy Cross Day recalls that Christ "was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world unto himself," and prays that "we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him" (BCP, p. 192). The themes of Holy Cross Day are powerfully expressed by the hymn "Lift high the cross" (Hymn 473).
This day has been a part of the Eastern Church. The feast entered the Western calendar in the seventh century after Emperor Heraclius recovered the cross from the Persians, who had carried it off in 614, 15 years earlier. According to the story, the emperor intended to carry the cross back into Jerusalem himself, but was unable to move forward until he took off his imperial garb and became a barefoot pilgrim. It only has been celebrated in the Episcopal Church with the current prayer book
Celebrating Hildegard -1098-1179) – musician, writer, prophetess – and saint
We celebrate Hildegard’s life on September 17.
Accounts written in Hildegard’s lifetime (1098-1179) and just after describe an extraordinarily accomplished woman: a visionary, a prophet (she was known as “The Sibyl Of The Rhine”), a pioneer who wrote practical books on biology, botany, medicine, theology and the arts. She was a prolific letter-writer to everyone from humble penitents looking for a cure for infertility to popes, emperors and kings seeking spiritual or political advice. She composed music and was known to have visions
Hildegard commanded the respect of the Church and political leaders of the day. She was a doer: she oversaw the building of a new monastery at Rupertsberg, near Bingen, to house her little community, and when that grew too large she established another convent in Eibingen, which still exists today (though the present building dates from 1904).
Lectionary, Sept. 19 17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B
I. Theme – Looking beyond self-centeredness toward "spirit-centered" relationships.
“Christ Blessing the Children” – Lucas Cranach the Younger (1540)
“ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’” – Mark 9:36-37
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm – Psalm 54 Page 659, BCP
Epistle – James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Gospel – Mark 9:30-37
Today’s readings call us to humility, compassion and service. The author of Wisdom gives voice to the ungodly, who experience the goodness of the righteous as an unwelcome reminder of their selfishness. James reminds us that humility and peaceableness show the wisdom of God. Today’s gospel reading from Mark contrasts the disciples’ battle over privilege with Jesus’ proclamation of his radical approach to the Kingdom of God and discipleship—placing ourselves at the disposal of the lowliest of the kingdom.
Brian Epperly writing in Patheos about this week, "Taken together, these passages are invitations to spirit-centered relationships. They challenge us to see beyond our own or our nation’s self-interest. They convict us of self-centeredness when we place profit over people or success over relationship. They urge industriousness that builds community and well-being that embraces an affirmation of women and men in their many and varied roles."
The Gospel is the second of three efforts to tell the disciples about his coming death and resurrection. The disciples don’t understand, are angry and are concerned about their role in the kingdom and what will happen to them (somewhat like a company which looks like it will close).
As Jesus probes the anger and denial of his disciples in today’s gospel, his question comes to us: What concerns are closest to our hearts? Do we, too, fret over status, authority or a lack of perks we think we deserve? Are we engaged in the disciples’ game of comparison?
We envy and can’t obtain, so we quarrel. From our painful attempts at acquisition, we know the truth of this stark statement. Jesus’ finger points at us as well as at his companions. But by the same token, he offers us the same remedy. Into our midst, he plunks the same disheveled, impish and probably grubby child. And if we’re honest, we ask, “What does this kid have to do with theological discourse? Who invited her?”
Jesus invited her. And if Jesus invited her, then the child must have something to tell us. The child who has no bank account, no learned degrees, no office staff and no expertise has everything. In her total vulnerability, she is wrapped by the arms of Christ. She enjoys a peace for which the contentious disciples would crave.
"God, grant me heavenly wisdom which is pure, peaceable, gentle and willing to yield…"
Read more about the lectionary…
Season of Creation 2021 – Theme
The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration of prayer and action for our common home. Together, the ecumenical family around the world unites to pray and protect God’s creation. The season starts 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
In 2021, the theme is “A HOME FOR ALL? RENEWING THE OIKOS OF GOD.” Oikos is the Greek word for “home,” or “household.” By rooting our theme in the concept of oikos, we celebrate the integral web of relationships that sustain the well-being of the Earth.
This year’s symbol, Abraham’s tent, signifies our commitment to safeguard a place for all who share our common home, just as Abraham did in the Book of Genesis. Abraham and Sarah opened their tent as a home for three strangers, who turned out to be God’s angels (Gen 18). By creating a home for all, their act of radical hospitality became a source of great blessing.
Abraham’s tent is a symbol of our ecumenical call to practice creation care as an act of radical hospitality, safeguarding a place for all creatures, human and more human, in our common home, the household (oikos) of God.
In Genesis God set a dome over the Earth. The word ”dome“ is where we get words such as ‘domicile’ and ’domestic’ — in other words, God puts us all is — all people, all life — under the same domed roof — we are all in the house, the oikos of God. God gave humans the ministry to take care and cultivate this oikos of God. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others have called the oikos of God ”the Beloved Community,” a community in which all of life are equally members, though each has a different role. We need to renew our world as an interconnected and interdependent global beloved community.
The Psalmist proclaims “the Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” There are two statements of faith at the heart of this song. The first is that every creature belongs to the Earth community. The second is that the entire community belongs to the Creator. A Greek word for this Earth community is oikos
By faith, we join the Psalmist in remembering that we are not stewards of an inanimate creation, but caretakers within a dynamic and living community of creation. The Earth and all that is not a given, but a gift, held in trust. We are called not to dominate, but to safeguard. By reason, we discern how best to safeguard conditions for life, and create economic, technological and political architectures that are rooted in the ecological limits of our common home. Through wisdom we pay careful attention to natural systems and processes, to inherited and indigenous traditions, and to God’s revelation in word and Spirit.
Faith gives us trust that God’s Spirit is constantly renewing the face of the Earth. Within this horizon of hope, our baptismal call frees us to return to our human vocation to till and keep God’s garden. In Christ, God calls us to participate in renewing the whole inhabited Earth, safeguarding a place for every creature, and reform just relationships among all creation.
Recent links dealing with the Season of Creation
“By mother earth my Lord be praised; Governed by thee she hath upraised what for our life is needful. Sustained by thee, through every hour, She bringeth forth fruit, herb, and flower.”
Hymnal 1982, Hymn 406 attributed to St. Francis
1. A Joint Message for the Protection of Creation”. Thoughts from the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox churches
2. Society of St. John the Baptist – live streaming during the Season of Creation and their resources
4. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This is part of the 6th assessment on climate change from the group created by the UN in 1988
5. Why we shouldn’t give in to climate despair. From the Washington Post.
6. How Climate change is contributing to weather ? As the Washington Post wrote “it is a moment of truth for climate action.”
7. How Climate change is plundering the planet ?
8. The intersection of the climate crisis and social justice
From the Environmental Defense Fund – “Climate change affects everyone, but not everyone is affected equally. Communities of color and low-income communities are hit first and worst because of discriminatory policies that put them at risk for exposure to extreme weather and air pollution. Think about heat islands in urban areas, where people suffer more heat-related incidents and illness because they’re surrounded by concrete. There are no parks and trees in these neighborhoods, and that was by design. Racist housing policies of the 1950s and ‘60s prevented minorities from living in white neighborhoods and relegated them to overpopulated neighborhoods that lack infrastructure development and industrial permitting constraints. There was no investment in these communities.
“We see industrial facilities adding to air pollution, which worsens as it gets hotter. Due to lax permitting requirements, these polluting facilities were purposely sited in low-income communities and communities of color, and still today, this is affecting people’s health. We see higher rates of asthma and even shorter life spans in some communities because they are exposed to a disproportionate level of air pollution.
“But people who live with these issues do not separate them into silos. This is what we live every day. You cannot separate the environment or climate change from everything else.”
Measuring your carbon footprint
The “Goodside” book this week takes up the need to measure your use of carbon.
What’s your carbon footprint ? A carbon footprint is defined here “The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
“In other words: When you drive a car, the engine burns fuel which creates a certain amount of CO2, depending on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. (CO2 is the chemical symbol for carbon dioxide). When you heat your house with oil, gas or coal, then you also generate CO2. Even if you heat your house with electricity, the generation of the electrical power may also have emitted a certain amount of CO2. When you buy food and goods, the production of the food and goods also emitted some quantities of CO2.
“Your carbon footprint is the sum of all emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), which were induced by your activities in a given time frame. Usually a carbon footprint is calculated for the time period of a year.”
Calculate it using Berkeley’s Cool Climate Calculator
How to reduce your footprint? – Drive less, change to a more vegetable diet particularly with local vegetables, plant a garden, unplug your devices, line-dry your clothes, set up a compost system, reuse items to keep them out of landfills
What information do you need to calculate a carbon foot print using Berkeley’s Calculator?
1. QUICK Estimate
Where do you live?
How many people live in your household?
What is your gross annual household income?
2, HOW DO YOU GET AROUND?
Your Vehicles – (Each vehicle considered separately) Miles per gallon, miles driven
Public transit – mi/year
Airplane – mi/year
3 HOW MUCH DO YOU USE IN YOUR HOME?
Electricity – $ year
Nat.. Gas $ year
Heating oil and fuels $ year
Living space Sq Ft
Water usage – compared to other households
4. HOW MUCH DOES THE AVERAGE PERSON IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD EAT?
Meat, Fish Eggs – daily servings per person
Grains, baked goods – daily servings per person
Dairy – daily servings per person
Fruits and vegetables – daily servings per person
Snacks drinks – daily servings per person
5. HOW MUCH DO YOU SPEND ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING?
Goods – Average, 2x,3x
Services – Average, 2x,3x
This is an example of the results of the questions – stacking up with others
Here are the recommendations it made
Goodside’s M.O.R.E. Model for Effective Climate Action – MEASURE (your carbon footprint)
Season of Creation focus in 2021 – Your role in reducing climate change
“Fighting climate change needs to be our life’s work.” “We’re not going to fix this overnight. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, as they say-and that means we need to train for it. “
The above is from Goodside’s M.O.R.E. Model for Effective Climate Action, a short, concise book on climate change in our time. We will review this book in September weeks. M.O.R.E is measure, offset, reduce and educate. We covered Educate last week
“Our goal with this book is to arm you with the know-how to easily adopt lifestyle changes, habits and actions that will aid in your efforts against the climate crisis”.
Educate – Learn Everything you need to understand climate change
Measure – Measure Your Carbon Footprint (How to Do It, and Why It Matters)
Reduce – Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: 26 Ways to Live More Sustainably
Offset – Offset Your Carbon Emissions (Yes, It Really Makes a Difference)
Let’s take a look at Measure. Turn the pages from the top toolbar.
Goodside-Measure-min
Make a Gift Today! 2. Contact the Rev Catherine Hicks, Rector 4. Server Schedule Sept., 2021 5. Latest Newsletter-the Parish Post (Sept, 2021) 6. Calendar 9. Latest Sunday Bulletin (Sept. 12, 2021 11:00am), and Sermon (Sept. 12, 2021) 10. Recent Services: Readings and Prayers, Pentecost 13, Aug. 22 2021 Readings and Prayers, Pentecost 14, Aug. 29 2021 |
Block Print by Mike Newman
Projects
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, Sept. 12, 2021 – Sept. 19, 2021
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12
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John Henry Hobart, Bishop of New York, 1830 |
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13
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Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr of Carthage, 258 |
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14
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Holy Cross Day |
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15
15 |
[Catherine of Genoa], Mystic and Nurse, 1510 James Chisholm, Priest, 1855 |
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16
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Ninian, Bishop, c. 430 |
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17
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Hildegard of Bingen, 1170 |
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18
18 |
Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, 1882 Dag Hammarskjold, Diplomat, 1961 |
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19
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Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 690 |