From the Very Rev. Sam Candler
Via Livestream
Peace be to all of you, and thank you, for joining us for another edition of our Wednesday Parish Notices! During this season of social distance, the Cathedral of St. Philip delivers Parish Notices every Wednesday, at 6:15 pm.
During this season, I am glad for safe and gradual re-engagements! However, our Cathedral building remains closed. All of us look forward, one day, to returning to the beautiful Cathedral to worship, to sing and to pray, and to preach and to see and touch each other! We want to touch the Body of Christ! Safely, respectfully, honorably, and gracefully.
At this point, we plan to conduct our worship services online, through Sunday, May 31, for at least the next four Sundays. Our prayers and music will continue to be recorded earlier, by our ministers from our own homes, where you probably are now!
But, listen! I am serious about our offering each Sunday! Every Sunday, we still have the ability to offer all sorts of various things, besides money. We celebrate Holy Eucharist together, even online, because we still do have things to offer! That is the spiritual principle supporting our spiritual communion on Sundays these days. And these next two Sundays represent two excellent offerings!
This Sunday, May 10 –besides its being Mothers’ Day—and we certainly give thanks for mothers these days—we will be honored to give thanks for UTO Sunday! UTO means United Thank Offering Sunday. Members of our Episcopal Church Women usually process their offering physically in the Offertory Procession on UTO Sunday. This Sunday, however, online, we will see and hear them in an “Online Procession” of their thanks. Join them, during this Sunday’s Offertory time, by giving thanks for something!
Then, on the second Sunday from today, May 17, we will celebrate Youth Sunday! What a joy it will be to receive offerings from our Cathedral youth, who will preach the sermon, read the lessons, and pray the prayers! Nate Huddleston, who has been a splendid gift to the Cathedral of St. Philip in his position as Associate Priest for Youth and Young Professionals, will help us honor the special gifts that the Youth of the Cathedral have offering this past year.
These next two Sundays, UTO Sunday and Youth Sunday, will be wonderful Sundays! We all have something to offer. And those offerings create spiritual communion for us. Join us!
Though we are separated, we are together in Christ. Though we are many, we are one Body in Christ!
Here endeth the Parish Notices for Wednesday, May 6, 2020!
Let us Bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God!