Praise, Pride, and Power

Welcome to your online Sunday worship from St. George’s, Georgetown for Sunday, July 11, 2021.

I continue to be away during the month of July and so I am inviting all of us to join to the diocesan online for worship while I am off. The links to order of service and the service itself are below.

Family Ministry

This week our family ministry resources focus on our reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1, verses 3 to 14. The Gospel reading is pretty heavy (see below), so for families the focus is on the hymn-like praise of this section of Paul’s letter.  In our weekly Sunday email, there are links to helpful family pages that help explain the reading and a fun comic page about the lesson that can be coloured.

Please sign up for our weekly emails to get those links to these great resources to use together with your family.  

Music

In July, I am not suggesting YouTube songs to sing along with as you will be invited to join in singing hymns as part of the online diocesan service.

The Gospel Reading

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.1

Online Diocesan Worship

There is an order of service available on the diocesan COVID-19 resource page. And here is the link to our Diocesan Facebook page for this week’s 10am live-streamed worship:

Click the image above to visit the diocesan Facebook page. The service begins at 10am and is also available at the same link afterwards to view the service, or view it at the diocesan YouTube page.

Prayers of the People

We pray for all medical staff, all essential frontline workers and their families, for those living and working at Long Term Care and seniors residences, and for those that are helping to distribute the vaccine: that God will be their strength and support.  Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

We pray for all those unfairly discriminated against in our society, praying especially for justice and reconciliation for our continent’s indigenous people.  Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

We pray for all who are facing trials and difficulties and for those who are sick. Show them your kindness, mercy, and healing.  Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

(To find the list of those we are praying for in our parish please sign up for our Parish email. To add a name to our prayers please contact me.)

I wish you all a blessed and safe Sunday and week.

Thank you for your continued support of the ministry and mission of St. George’s. I do look forward our online services returning in August.

Be Well and God Bless.

Peace,

The Rev’d Canon Rob Park

  1. Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.