Open Letter from Rev. Clarence, 7/17/22

Dear Members and Friends of St. James,

As we move to mid-summer and as I look to the weather forecast for our region, I offer my usual word of caution. Whereas I am always immensely pleased to see familiar faces at Eucharist, as we issue health warnings for severe winter weather, so do I for what lies ahead. From my visits to Hong Kong during summer there, public official urges neighbors to check on neighbors when the temperature rose above the typical sweltering heights. So do I urge you all to take great care, but also to check up on your neighbor and those elderly in our parish.

While my meditation today suggests taking advantage of these summer hours for reflections, please note that plans are quietly underway to revitalize ministries which we were forced to curtail due to Covid-19. In addition to those plans, I will serve as “priest on call” for our neighboring parish, St. John’s – Arlington, while the rector there takes well-earned holiday.

Of your charity, I bid you pray for peace, both at home and abroad, as well as for those women and men who in their various professional callings serve those who are of ill health in mind, body, or spirit. Pray for all caregivers.

The Collect for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost shall unite us:
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you, and those whom you love, for ever. Amen.

Your fellow traveler in The Way,
CEB+