ITEMS OF INTEREST

Roots of the Holy Eucharist
The Holy Eucharist has its foundation in Two forms of Jewish worship: services in the synagogue and family meals around the dinner table. These same rites can help explain some of Jesus actions at the Last Supper. synagogue worship consisted of readings from the Law and the Prophets (called the Old testament by Christian), prayers, a sermon, and the faith statement of Judaism: the Shema, which is the basis for what Christians know as the first and great commandment quoted by Jesus (Matthew 22:37-38). the Shema says, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your soul, and with all your might (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

The Jewish people also had another form of worship, one that took place around the dinner table with family or a group of friends. At the start of the meal the head of the family took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and distributed it to everyone. At the end of the meal, he took a cup of said a longer blessing over it, giving thanks for God's love, God's mighty acts in history and for the special occasion being celebrated. Everyone drank from the one cup. This was called the cup of thanksgiving or cup of blessing. The Greek word for thanksgiving is eucharistia.  

Source: Beth Wickenberg Ely, A Manual for Lay Eucharistic Ministers (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing 1991) pp.16, 17.

TH BOOK CORNER

Rise to Rebellion
By Jeff Shaara

Jeff Shaara is rapidly emerging as one of our finest historical novelists. Now in Rise to Rebellion he tells deftly the story of the initial phase of the American Revolution. From the Boston Massacre and John Adams' decision to defend a British officer in court (a key step toward the rule of laws which made the American Revolution so different from the French and Russian Successors), to Benjamin Franklin's desperate and patient ten year effort to be an Englishman while representing the colonies in London to the quiet emergence of Washington as the disciplined force on which the revolution would succeed, Shaara creates a tour de force.

Anyone who would seek to understand the origins of the American Revolution and the precepts of political order, private property, individual liberty and the rule of law which made this the keystone for human freedom will find this a compelling book. shaara captures with remarkable accuracy the process of how these revolutionaries placed themselves at enormous risk to create a new future. His portrait of how the Continental congress moves slowly and with great agony toward independence is worth the entire book.  
His portrait of Franklin gradually becoming first disillusioned than embittered, then angry and finally defiant against the very British he had wanted to belong to is worth a dozen books. I cannot recommend this book too strongly if you would like to understand how America came to be. I am looking forward to the promised second volume.
Review by Newt Gingrich

LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, July 28, 2013: Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
Fr. Davidson was away. 


8:00 a.m. Service:
Morning Prayer led by Jeremy Ifell

10:30 a.m. Service
The Rev. Annika Warren was the celebrant.
First Lesson: Hosea (1:2-10)
Psalm 85, Page 708, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Colossians 2:6-15 [16-19]
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Luke (11:1-13)
Suggested Readings for The Week
Monday Acts 15:36-16:5; Tuesday Acts 16:6-15; Wednesday Acts 16:16-24; Thursday Acts 16:25-40; Friday Acts 17:1-15; Saturday Acts 17:16-34.

Sunday, July 21, 2013: Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
Fr. Davidson was away.

8:00 a.m. Service:
Morning Prayer led by Stephanie Lightfoot.

10:30 a.m. Service: 
The Rev. Annika Warren was the celebrant.
First Lesson: Amos (8:1-12)
Psalm 52, Page 657, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Colossians 1:15-28)
The Holy gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Luke (10:38-42)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday Acts 13:44-52; Tuesday Acts 14:1-18; Wednesday Acts 14:19-28; Thursday Acts 15:1-11; Friday Acts 15:12-21; Saturday Acts 15:22-35.

Sunday, July 14, 2014: Eighth Sunday After Pentecost
Fr. Davidson was away. Bishop Clarence Coleridge was the celebrant.
First Lesson: Amos (7:7-17)
Psalm 82, Page 705, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Colossians 1:1-14)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Luke (10:25-37)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday Acts 11:19-30; Tuesday Acts 12:1-17; Wednesday Acts 12:18-25; Thursday Acts 13:1-12; Friday Acts 13:13-25; Acts 13:26-43.

Sunday, July 7, 2013: Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
Fr. Davidson was away. Bishop Clarence Coleridge was the celebrant.
First Lesson: 2 Kings (5:1-14)
Psalm 30, Page 621, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Galatians 6:7-16)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Luke (10:1-11, 16-20)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday Acts 9:19b-31; Tuesday Acts 9:32-43; Wednesday Acts 10:1-16; Thursday Acts 10:17-33; Friday Acts 10:34-48; Friday Acts 34-48; Saturday Acts 11:1-18.

NEWS AND EVENTS

From The Desk Of The Rector

I am hoping that we will be prepared to try on something new. Remember that in so doing we give ourselves a chance to see what might work in our parish as we discern what God is calling us to do in mission. 

In Exodus 18:13-26 we read what some call the Jethro principle. Moses is advised by his father in law Jethro to share the responsibility of taking care of God's people. Your vestry will be using this principle as we manage the affairs of our church which will involve inviting you to help us to do the same. I have therefore appointed three committees. The Finance and Budget committee will have  responsibility for the management of the financial affairs of the Parish. The Stewardship Committee will be responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating a year-round stewardship program for the entire Parish. The Special Projects/Events Committee will be responsible for coordinating all the special events that involve the raising of monies for specific things. This committee will be responsible for the Gift Day, necessary projects, for instance our need for a shed and dividing wall and our continued wish to build a sanctuary depending on what the Feasibility Committee reports. I means that we will no longer have a Fund Raising Committee; some members of that committee will become members of this new committee. We ask that you commit to prayer these committees and others that will be appointed sooner than later.

Fr. Davidson On Vacation
Fr. Davidson will be away on vacation beginning Friday, July 5, 2013. Due to budgetary constrains he will only take one third of his Sabbatical leave, which is one month as defined by the Letter of Agreement and his continuing Education time off. He will return on Sunday, September 15, 2013.

Please continue to pray for Fr. Davidson and Mrs. Davidson as they enjoy family and friends. 

St. Monica's Website

To visit St. Monica's website CLICK HERE.

Directions To St. Monica's

For driving directions to St. Monica's, 3575 Main Street, Hartford CLICK HERE

August Services
There will only be one service in August. It will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Annual Cookout
The Annual cookout will be on Sunday, July 21, 2013. It will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Food Pantry

Please continue to donate to the Ruth Small Food Pantry. Suggested items are canned or instant potatoes, canned meats (tuna, salmon, chicken(, canned sweet potatoes, soup, peanut butter,jelly and individual fruit cups. Thank you for your continued support.

Rescheduling Meetings

Fr. Davidson needs our cooperation if we wish to reschedule a meeting on Monday or Wednesday between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Fr. Davidson schedules interviews and pastoral counseling either before or after Prayer Meetings on Monday. He may also schedule interviews and pastoral counseling on Wednesday. He schedules events when there is no Bible Study. As a courtesy, please call Fr. Davidson to verify if he has anything schedule.

Activity Calendar

Weekly: 1) Mondays-Prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m. 2) Wednesday-Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Weekly): 1) Wednesdays and Fridays-Food Pantry opens 10:00 a.m. to noon.

2) Every other Thursday-Pro's and Con's task Force at 6:30 p.m.

Special Says (Monthly): First Thursday-Stewardship committee at 6:30 p.m. 2) Second Thursday-Vestry Meeting 6:30 p.m. 3) Third Tuesday- Women of Valier 4) Third and fourth Saturday opens at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. 5) First Saturday-Episcopal Church women (ECW) at 12:00 noon.

Birthday And Anniversary in July

Happy Birthday to: Leslyn Clark 10th; Coleen Wilson 11th; Vickena Webb 15th; Gloria marsele 16th; Benoni Asamoah 16th; Cisalle Harrell 20th; Jordan Jones 20th; Shirley Freeman and Courtney Haughton 22nd; Enid Cooke 24th; Euna Ferrell 24th; Clarence Tuning and Robert Lightfoot 25th; Carl Harrison 26th; Natalie Wimbish 27th; Melvin Johnson, Joyce Asiedu, Victoria Webb and Agnes Rose 30th; Hazel Weather 31st.

Happy Anniversary to: Robert and Patricia Nelson 7th; Clarence and Edwina Tuning 24th.

Condolences
We extend to the Hanlan family our sincere Christian sympathy as they mourn the death of Mr. Leslie Hanlan. Funeral arrangements are being made for Saturday, July 27, 2013. May he rest in peace.

In Memory for July

In Memory of: Robinson Avery, Sandra Davis, Norris Smith and Susie Murray 7th;  Mae Adams 8th; Barbara Mills and Samuel Ulette 9th; Linda Williams 10th; Jacklyn Charlotte 14th; Simon Williams 15th; William Taylor 16th; Kenneth Hastings 17th; Ruth McBean 18th; Leon Cornwall 19th; Keslake Bailey 19th; Margaret Porter 22nd; Richard Rhodes 24th; Rose Palmer 25th; Frederick Evans 26th; Alexander Campbell 27th; Harry Lee and Leslie Duncan 31st.

Food Pantry

Please continue to donate to the Ruth Small Food Pantry. Suggested items are canned or instant potatoes, canned meats (tuna, salmon, chicken(, canned sweet potatoes, soup, peanut butter,jelly and individual fruit cups. Thank you for your continued support.

Rescheduling Meetings

Fr. Davidson needs our cooperation if we wish to reschedule a meeting on Monday or Wednesday between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Fr. Davidson schedules interviews and pastoral counseling either before or after Prayer Meetings on Monday. He may also schedule interviews and pastoral counseling on Wednesday. He schedules events when there is no Bible Study. As a courtesy, please call Fr. Davidson to verify if he has anything schedule.

Activity Calendar

Weekly: 1) Mondays-Prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m. 2) Wednesday-Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Weekly): 1) Wednesdays and Fridays-Food Pantry opens 10:00 a.m. to noon.

2) Every other Thursday-Pro's and Con's task Force at 6:30 p.m.

Special Says (Monthly): First Thursday-Stewardship committee at 6:30 p.m. 2) Second Thursday-Vestry Meeting 6:30 p.m. 3) Third Tuesday- Women of Valier 4) Third and fourth Saturday opens at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. 5) First Saturday-Episcopal Church women (ECW) at 12:00 noon.

Clergy

The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members

Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Veronica Airey-Wilson, Joyce Asiedu, Winston Barnaby, Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden), Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary), Patricia David, Evelyn Green, David Hickmon, A. Bates Lyons, Joseph Noel, Evelyn Stewart, Terrie Thomas.

Music

Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir

Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus

Canon Cyril Burke

Email

monicahartford@gmail.com