January 18 message from the Rector

A Message from your Rector:

"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight." (Proverbs 4:7)
 
Dear Parish family:
I received a request from Bishop Mark Lawrence that I am finding more helpful than the national media and am sharing with you below. Since my surgery on January 4th, I have enjoyed several spectacular sunrises at Litchfield Beach and continue to read books, give thanks for our new grandchildren, listen to the daily audio Bible in addition to prayers for healing and strengthening for all of us. 
 
Thank you all for the cards and well wishes, and especially for the outpouring of love through your financial gifts made to Saint Matthew's Endowment fund in memory of my dad. Truthfully, I can't think of a better way to honor Tommy than to support all parish ministries at Saint Matthew's for many years to come. 

From Bishop Mark Lawrence:
With division and strife intensifying in our nation, the National Mall in Washington, D.C. closed, and thousands of National Guard Troops assembled in our nation’s capital from credible threats of violence, and with concern for state capitals across the country growing, I am joining with our Archbishop Foley Beach and other ACNA Bishops calling our clergy in the diocese to join me in genuine intercessory prayer for our nation.
 
Please spend some time with your leadership considering how you and your congregation can together pray for our nation, our elected officials, and for peace in our land, not only this coming Sunday, but throughout this next week. There is of course the Great Litany as well as multiple prayers in the Book of Common Prayer for our nation, government, and civic leaders.

Saint Matthew's Call to Prayer :
As Jesus called his apostles: Follow Me, I invite you to spend time this week praying for all Americans to listen with empathy and respect, and to ask the Lord for wisdom as we seek the healing of our community, our state, our nation, and the world. The key to our heart of hearts is Forgiveness!
 
I encourage you to please tune in to Zoom Wednesday for a special Virtual Evening Prayer Service officiated by Rev. Frank Stoda. 
 
Finally, I know how many of us are weary of yet another media opinion with underlying agendas, but I think the article "Where does the South End and Christianity Begin?" is a thought provoking read and helps me pull the log out of my eye as I pray for personal forgiveness and understanding, instead of formulating another quick reply to push my opinion. 
 
Personally, I do not want to be influenced by political, geographical, social media, and anything else that fuels antagonism or hatred. I have learned to accept and submit our shared Christian Gospel that teaches us to be merciful as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. We are called to live the Gospel out in our lives. I am not ashamed when it comes to loving Jesus!
 
On the heels of the article above, and as we move from yesterday to tomorrow, remembering MLK Jr. toward the Presidential Inauguration, please read these words:
"The nonviolent resister must often express his protest through noncooperation or boycotts, but noncooperation and boycotts are not ends themselves; they are merely means to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent. The end is redemption and reconciliation. The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community, while the aftermath of violence is tragic bitterness."
-Martin Luther King, Jr., 1957

Faithfully in love to you all,
Rags+