THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
June 18, 2023
THE FATHER IS MY HOPE; THE SON IS MY REFUGE; THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY PROTECTIOR.
ALL HOLY TRINITY, GLORY TO THEE!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY: PREVIEW OF THE READINGS.
THE LESSON: 1 John 3:13-24
Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But if any one has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.
By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.
THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 14:15-24
One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17 At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.”’
PARISH LIFE NOTES
FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Olwyn and Herbert Crozier Smith by Gwyn and Mervyn.
NEW HORIZONS FOR SENIORS’ COMMUNITY KITCHEN begins Monday June 19, at 10.00 a.m. Free, fun, nutritious cooking for seniors. A great time to try new recipes and make new friends. Sponsored by the Government of Canada. Please call the church office at 306.522-6052 to register.
ST. MARY’S COMMUNITY GARDENER. Today we gave thanks and pray for Emma, who will be spending the next six weeks working in and around St. Mary’s as our Summer Student Community Gardener, sponsored by the Government of Canada. Emma will also be helping out at the Berry Festival being planned for the end of July.
THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST which the Church celebrates on June 24th , accords with the chronology given in the Gospel of Luke, where we are told that after The Blessed Virgin Mary conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit, she went to stay with Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John the Baptist. ( Luke 1. 26,39, 56) According to ancient tradition, the day Mary conceived was also the day on which her Son Jesus Christ died: March 25th. “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 1.8). Speaking of John the Baptist, Jesus said, “Let me tell you what’s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God’s kingdom. But if you read the books of the Prophets and God’s Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with him in preparing the way for the Messiah of the kingdom. Looked at in this way, John is the ‘Elijah’ you’ve all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah.(Matthew 11.11, The Message). John the Baptist, in turn, speaking of Jesus said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3.30). And so it is that Birth of John the Baptist coincides with the time of the summer solstice, which this year falls on June 21, where the sun reaches its highest point and begins to decrease. New age pagans will observe this with bonfires and rituals aimed at reconnecting with them nature. Christians will come to church to mark the Birth of the man who “came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. “ (John 1.7.) Join us this Saturday at St. Mary’s at 5:00 p.m. for a Service of Evening Prayer.
VISIT OF THE BISHOP. Bishop Helen will be preaching and presiding at our service of Holy Communion next Sunday. Lunch on the lawn will follow the service. Please bring a salad to share. Hot dogs will be provided.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
WEEK DAY MORNING PRAYER: Tues. Thurs, Fri. at 8:30; Wed. at 9:00 a.m.
WEEKDAY EVENING PRAYER: Wednesday at 5.30 p.m.
EVENING PRAYER FOR THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST: Saturday at 5:00 p.m.