Dear Brothers and Sisters,
IT IS STILL ALLELUIA TIME!
A couple of weeks ago, I preached about what prayer meant to me personally, and introduced a very simple prayer form, based on the prayer Jesus himself used as he was dying on the cross. The words he used, based on Psalm 31:5, are “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” I’ve always felt, “If they’re good enough for Jesus, they’re good enough for me!” And I use this prayer in this way: “Father, into your hands I commend…. St. Margaret’s OR my worries OR my sleeplessness OR my child OR our country OR….” fill in the blank!
There has been A LOT for us to pray about in the last few weeks. And now it is my turn to ask you to pray: “Father, into your hand I commend my oldest friend and chosen family member, Lynn.”
Next Wednesday, on May 20, Lynn will be having part of his lung removed for cancer. He has been on our prayer list for a while as he continued to fight this dread disease. Unfortunately, he has no local family and some of our other friends are abroad. Because of my chaplaincy experience (and having served before for one of his surgeries), I will be going to stay with him for a few days whenever he gets out of the hospital, so there is someone to help him, take him to post op appointments, get his medicine, and be there in case of emergency. It’s impossible to know exactly when that will be. It all depends on how well he begins his recovery.
I am going to be looking for someone to supply for me on May 24 and May 31, just in case. And someone to provide pastoral care as needed during that time. As soon as it’s all arranged, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, your prayers for him and his medical staff are much sought. Those prayers have been working, because he was told initially he had less than a year to live and that was 8 years ago! His docs call him “a miracle man.” God’s will be done in the best possible way, whatever that is. God, after all, knows best.
A couple brief announcements: May 24 is the great feast of Pentecost. The birthday of the church! It is also Memorial Day weekend. We know that a number of people will be traveling, but that also means that visitors will be coming to St. Margaret’s and we still want to provide hospitality. The Hardings have volunteered to be sure that coffee/tea service will be set up. If at all possible, could those of you who will be at St. M’s that day, bring something to share? It needn’t be anything elaborate or a huge amount. Even something nice bought from the store would be great and will add to the welcome. You can lay it out on the coffee hour table downstairs. Thank you thank you!
Beginning in the fall, St. Margaret’s will be hosting a new Girl Scout troop on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 in the parish hall. This month, they will be there on May 12th and 26th . What a joy to have a group of young people using our space! So don’t be surprised if you stop by and hear happy, little voices ringing out!
The Monday book study group has voted to do one more book before breaking for the summer hiatus (and folks’ much deserved vacations!). I thought after the hard work people have been putting in during the spring, we should do something a little lighter. So the next book with be C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. It’s a very clever and fun novel about a senior demon training his young demonic nephew how to lure humans into evil. The group will begin June 1, 7:00 on zoom. If you are interested, please send me an email so I can send you the links each week. As always, there is no cost, but you do need to register.
Blessings, dear friends. And profound gratitude for your prayers.
ALLELUIA INDEED!
Mo. Laura+
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COMING UP!
- May 24 PENTECOST
- June 7: Gift Cards Orders Due
- July 6-10: Ellie Escher’s Music Camp I
- August 10-14: Ellie Escher’s Music Camp II
- Mondays, Book Study via zoom at 7:00 p.m.: next group starts June 1 C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters
- 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, Girl Scouts, Parish Hall, 6:00-7:30
- Wednesdays, noonday prayer via zoom at 12:00
- Wednesday evenings, yoga class at 6:00 (discount for St. M members)
- Saturdays, Iglesia Luz de Esperanza, 9:00-3:00