From the rising of the sun

From the rising of the sun to its setting my Name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to my Name, and a pure offering; for my Name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 1:11

The "Waterboys" led by Chris Long are headed back to Mt. Kilimanjaro

One of our outreach efforts is to support the bring of water in the form of sustainable wells in parts of Africa where water is very scarce.  The "Waterboys" organization is led by Chris Long and you can read an update on these efforts below:

Countdown to Summit. This week I leave for my fourth Conquering Kili trip with a class of decorated military veterans and current and past teammates. It’s an annual opportunity for me to see the work that our Foundation funds and share my love of Tanzania and my deep-seated belief in the power of clean water with other passionate supporters. Conquering Kili is a program designed to bring professional athletes and veterans together to raise awareness and funds for the clean water crisis, all while challenging them to train for the hike of a lifetime up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Each year, before the climb, we spend two days in-country visiting a prospective well site and villages where Waterboys wells have already been erected. For many of the guys, it will be the first time they see how the clean water crisis impacts the citizens of Tanzania and just how different day-to-day life is with and without a well nearby. As my friend Elliot, a veteran on last year’s trip, described it. “You logically know that they are going to use the old oil jugs, caked with residue, to collect this unsafe water for their families, but when you’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder helping them do it, all the while knowing it could make them sick, it shakes you to your core.” I know exactly what Elliot means, and it’s the same reason why I require everyone who is planning to make the climb to attend these visits. Because that reality will not only help fuel every individual to the summit, but also inspire the continued dedication to talking about the clean water crisis for days, months, and years to come. And for me, that is the most significant gift we can give to those we serve and the most important part of this program. After the village visits, the tone around the group shifts. It’s difficult to describe but palpable in-person. The urge to get up the mountain is just as strong, but the reason WHY has likely morphed. It’s hard to describe what the team and I are in for next week but this short video compiled from The Way Up footage last year does a solid job of capturing the power and challenge of the experience. I want to thank all of my fellow 2019 Conquering Kili classmates for their partnership as advocates and fundraisers these past couple months. I hope you all will follow our journey both in the villages and on the mountain. For 11 days we will give all of our attention to the cause at hand and the mountain ahead of us. I hope you will send us your support for a successful summit on March 10 and if you can, donate to help the team get water to as many Tanzanians as possible. Upward for water! Chris Long Defensive End Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Champion LI & LII 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year

Well Warrior: Brad Leach & City Life Church Brad is the founder and lead paster at City Life. While he's a self-proclaimed basketball fan, his love of fantasy football and clean water put Chris Long and the Foundation on his radar. After researching our work and our focus countries, Brad's stepped up in a BIG way to back our mission. Huge thanks to Brad and the congregation at City Life for "proving it"! We continue to be able to serve our neighbors - here and abroad - because folks like you see the big picture.  Athlete Feature:  Joe Harris Hoops2O Starting 5 member, Joe Harris of the Brooklyn Nets, was part of this year’s 2019 Mountain Dew 3-Point Contest during NBA All Star Weekend. Harris surprised many by edging out big names like Steph Curry to become the first Net to ever win the competition. What makes it better is that Joe dedicated his participation to raising funds and awareness for Hoops2o! There's still time to celebrate Joe's BIG win here!

Dig Deep! Every Donation Counts.

Knock

Knock, & the door will be opened. -Luke 11.9

God's Grandeur

Ashley Wolff

God's Grandeur

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;

There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;

And though the last lights off the black West went

Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—

Because the Holy Ghost over the bent

World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)

Knock

Knock, & the door will be opened. -Luke 11.9

God's Grandeur

Ashley Wolff

God's Grandeur

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;

There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;

And though the last lights off the black West went

Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—

Because the Holy Ghost over the bent

World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)

Send your Holy Spirit

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Bishop Gutierrez reflects on St. Polycarp

Today we celebrate St. Polycarp. My favorites saint and my namesake.

Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, disciple of Saint John the Apostle and friend of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, was a revered Christian leader during the first half of the second century. Saint Irenaeus mentions Polycarp’s relationship with the Apostle John, noting that Polycarp, who knew John, was his own teacher and mentor.

Growing up among the Greek-speaking Christians of the Roman Empire, Polycarp received the teachings and recollections of individuals who had seen and known Jesus during his earthly life. This important connection – between Jesus' first disciples and apostles and their respective students – served to protect the Church against the influence of heresy during its earliest days, particularly against early attempts to deny Jesus' bodily incarnation and full humanity.

Irenaeus, wrote that Polycarp "was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ; but he was also, by apostles, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna." In a surviving letter that he wrote to the Philippians, he reminded that Church – which had also received the teaching of St. Paul – not to surrender their faith to the "gnostic" teachers claiming to teach a more intellectually refined gospel.

Polycarp was denounced to the government, arrested, and tried on the charge of being a ChristianAt 86, Polycarp was led into the crowded Smyrna stadium to be burned alive.
When the Roman Magistrate urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, and place a pinch of incense in a brazier burning before a statue of Caesar. Polycarp replied: "Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and Savior?"

Polycarp was sentenced to be burned alive. Before the crowd, the Roman proconsul demanded again that he worship the emperor. "Hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian," the bishop said. "And if you wish to learn what the doctrines of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and you shall hear them."

As he waited for the fire to be lighted, he prayed:

“Lord God Almighty, Father of your blessed and beloved child Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and hosts and all creation, and of the whole race of the upright who live in your presence: I bless you that you have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to be numbered among the martyrs and share in the cup of Christ, for resurrection to eternal life, for soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be accepted before you today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as you, the faithful and true God, have prepared and foreshown and brought about. For this reason and for all things I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved child, through whom be glory to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for the ages to come. Amen.

The fire was then lit The flames did not harm him. Losing patience, they ordered him to be stabbed to death. From the resulting wound, "there came forth a dove, and a great quantity of blood, so that the fire was extinguished.” The centurion ordered the saint’s body burned. The “Acts” of Polycarp’s martyrdom are the earliest preserved, fully reliable account of a Christian martyr’s death. He died in 155.

Saint Polycarp reminds us of a truth that takes us beyond our own experience and brings us face to face with the Lord’s stinging words: “No slave is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”

May Saint Polycarp intercede for us and give us the strength and courage to bear witness to the faith in the face of opposition and persecution.

Renew us

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church ~ Cathedral Road Liturgical Assistants and Readers Schedule for March-2019

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church ~ Cathedral Road

Liturgical Assistants and Readers Schedule for March-2019

Below is the schedule for March.  Please find your own substitute if you cannot make your scheduled Sunday and let the Rev. Peter M. Carey know about the switch revpetermcarey@gmail.com .  Virginia Trimble is the Coordinator for Liturgical Assistants and Alice Hershberger is the Coordinator for Readers.  Elizabeth Lowther is the Coordinator for the Altar Guild. Thank you!

Please also note that the only people who should be in the Sacristy before or after the service are the people listed below for that particular Sunday.  Liturgical Assistants, Acolytes, Celebrant, Readers, Prayers of the People Leader and Altar Guild members who are scheduled for that particular Sunday as well as the three coordinators listed above.

There is too much socializing and people coming in and out of this sacred space which has the purpose of setting aside an area for the preparation for the service and for the work to conclude the service.  

Thank you!

Peter+

March

3rd Last Epiphany

10am ~ Liturgical Assistants : Valerie James, Sandi Davis

Readers: Joe Trelli, Valerie James

Prayers of the People: Sandi Davis

Altar Guild: Valerie James, Olivia Van Osten

Flower Memorial

Tabernacle Light Memorial: The Rev. Daniel K. Sullivan

Adele Sullivan

6th Ash Wednesday - 10am - Virginia Trimble

7pm - Valerie James

10th Lent 1

10am ~ Liturgical Assistants : Virginia Trimble, Steve Snyder(chalice)

Readers: Elizabeth Lowther, Jean Duncan

Prayers of the People: Barbara Baumgartner

Altar Guild: Valerie James

Flower Memorial

Tabernacle Light Memorial

17th Lent 2

10am ~ Liturgical Assistants: Valerie James, Christine Snyder (chalice)

Readers: S. Zartarian, H. Zartarian

Prayers of the People: Carol Palmer

Altar Guild: Abby York, Valerie James

Flower Memorial

Tabernacle Light Memorial  

24th Lent 3

10am ~

Liturgical Assistants : Virginia Trimble, Sandi Davis

Readers~ Bob Kirkpatrick, Diana Menick

Prayers of the People ~ Jim Cochran

Altar Guild: Christine Snyder, Olivia Van Osten

Flower Memorial

Tabernacle Light Memorial

31st Lent 4

10am ~

Liturgical Assistants : Virginia Trimble, Sandi Davis

Readers~ Alice Hershberger, Mark Sullivan

Prayers of the People ~ Joe Trelli

Altar Guild: Virginia Trimble

Flower Memorial

Tabernacle Light Memorial

Bishop White Lodge (BWL) Schedule of Services

Bishop White Lodge (BWL) Schedule of Services

Every week, our rector, the Rev. Peter M. Carey presides over a Holy Eucharist at Cathedral Village in the Bishop White Lodge for residents of White Lodge, and also for residents of Cathedral Village, of course anyone is invited and welcome to worship with us.  These services are held at 10:30am at Bishop White Lodge.

Generally, we follow the Episcopal Church's "Calendar of Saints" for the services.

27 February 2019  George Herbert

5 March 2019 John and Charles Wesley

6 March 2019 2pm Ash Wednesday

12 March 2019 Gregory the Great

19 March 2019 Patrick

26 March 2019 Oscar Romero

2 April 2019 James Lloyd Breck

9 April 2019 William Muhlenberg & Anne Ayers

16 April 2019 Holy Week

23 April 2019 Easter

30 April 2019 Catherine of Siena

7 May 2019 Dame Julian of Norwich

14 May 2019 Dunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury

21 May 2018 John Eliot ~ Missionary among the Algonquin

28 May 2019 Bertha and Ethelbert - 616 (Queen and King of Kent)

4 June 2019 Pope John XXIII

11 June 2019 Ephram of Edessa

18 June 2019 St. Alban

25 June 2019 Irenaeus

2 July 2019 Pauli Murray

9 July 2019 Benedict of Nursia

16 July 2019 Bishop William White

23 July 2019 Thomas a Kempis

30 July 2019 Ignatius of Loyola

6 August 2019 Dominic

13 August 2019 Clare

20 August 2019 Bernard

27 August 2019 Augustine of Hippo

Seth Godin on "Skill vs. planning"

Skill vs planning

If you’re a gardener, planting orange trees in Ottawa, and nothing’s growing, it’s possible to beat yourself up, burn yourself out and say, “I’m a bad gardener.”

Or,

You could realize that oranges aren’t easy to grow in Ottawa. You could either move to Cuba or plant winter wheat instead.

But don’t beat yourself up just because the climate doesn’t match your seeds.

Accept our prayers

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

An update from Bishop Gutierrez's Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

My dear brothers and sisters,   Over the next few weeks, I will write and reflect on our Diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was a time of deep prayer and journeying. Through conversation, I know each of the pilgrims was deeply impacted by the experience. During the course of the trip, the Diocese developed deep connections with the people and the Diocese of Jerusalem. It is our collective desire to have a yearly pilgrimage to expand the relationship and share this deep walk with Christ.   The reason for this note is to share that I was injured on the third day of the pilgrimage. It was an accident near St. George's Cathedral. For those who are unaware, I live with Hemophilia. It is a genetic disorder in which the blood doesn't clot normally. It is an ailment I have learned to deal with since birth, but it has not stopped me from living fully. However, any injury that occurs is magnified exponentially by either minor or massive internal bleeding. The injury while on pilgrimage caused massive internal bleeding in my leg and, believe me, it was not pretty. While serious, I continued on and did not miss one day, walking each step with the pilgrims of the Diocese. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for my fellow pilgrims who assisted, allowed me to lean on them, offered ice packs, pillows and continually prayed. I knew I was going to be okay since I was with my diocesan family.   I want to express my sincere gratitude for those who checked on me each morning, protected me with their bodies (yes, really) acting as a shield through the narrow steps and large crowds so that I would not further injure my leg. I was moved by the love evident and demonstrated by those on the pilgrimage.   It will be a slow road to recovery; however, I have learned over the years how to deal with this. When I returned from the pilgrimage, I was sent to the hospital, began intravenous infusions and have kept off the leg. I continue in my daily work upholding all my commitments to all of you (and now with my doctor's clearance to do so.)   I give thanks for you and the notes of concern and I ask for your continued prayers for recovery and especially for Suzanne who takes great care of me. God bless you and know that you are in my prayers.   May the peace of Christ go with you, The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez XVI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

#KnowJesus#ChangetheWorld Visit our website: www.diopa.org