Readings, July 31st, News & Announcements, Summer poetry.

Summer in Smithfield

Sweet birdsong gives rise to the emerging dominant morning sun

in all its glory and power.

Roses open their hearts freeing their fragrant perfume

And open our senses to the summer joy.

Crepe Myrtle shimmy and sway, cascading their alabaster smooth limbs

to sprinkle their puffed pink blossoms

Honey bees gently buzz and kiss their precious pollen treasures,

aiding the life line of nature.

Butterfly’s seek out their sweet lavender havens

teasing and flirting with the innocent pure white lilies.

Beaches blanketed with crystal sand

slipping through our palms and circling our toes,

evoking a warm balmy memory of summers past.

Children playing, families laughing, enjoying vacations beside the clear blue sea.

Sunflowers dance the tall order of surrendering their hidden spring faces

to the jealous blue sky,

mimicking their golden mistress of summer.

Egrets skim and glide effortlessly

over the lapping still waters of the Pagan River.

.

We seek shelter from the heady warm sometimes unrelenting sunbeams

under the soothing shade of the outstretched noble oak tree.

The multiple unique tones and shapes of coloured leaves in abundance

remind us we are all a part of this intricate woven fabric of life

And as each precious plant, and creature once again,

takes its place in the summer sun, they bloom, wildly and softly,

these blooms take voices,

and the voices are what we might imagine to be like those of the Angels,

soft and beautiful, strong and kind.

Within these pure, sweet, enchanted voices

is the music…

the music of Life, Love, Creation, and Summer

                                                                                                                 Written by Deborah Webb

News and Announcements:

Sun     July 31               Early Quiet Service – 7:45am

                                    Celebration Service – 9:00am

                                    Sunday School; all ages – 10:00am

                                                St Lukes - Traditional Service – 11:00am

Tues   Aug 2                 Daughters of the King – 6:30pm

Wed    Aug 3                Bible Study 4-5pm Eucharist: 5:00pm

                                    Celebration Band 6:30-7:15pm

Sun    Aug  7                 Early Quiet Service – 7:45am

                                    Celebration Service – 9:00am

                                    Sunday School; all ages – 10:00am

                                                Traditional Service – 11:00am

*Sundays at Four ~ Terrific Teen Talent*

The flowers on the altar are given to the Glory of God in loving memory of Helen Love from her family.

Readings July 31^st

9:00am

Reader:  A reading from the book of Genesis [32:22-31]

Jacob wrestles with a stranger he comes to recognize as God. He is told that he now will be called Israel, which means "the one who strives with God."

Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church

People: Open our ears to hear your Word.

But during the night he got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He got them safely across the brook along with all his possessions.

But Jacob stayed behind by himself, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he couldn't get the best of Jacob as they wrestled, he deliberately threw Jacob's hip out of joint.

The man said, "Let me go; it's daybreak."

   Jacob said, "I'm not letting you go 'til you bless me."

The man said, "What's your name?"  He answered, "Jacob."

The man said, "But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it's Israel (God-Wrestler); you've wrestled with God and you've come through."

Jacob asked, "And what's your name?"

   The man said, "Why do you want to know my name?" And then, right then and there, he blessed him.

Jacob named the place Peniel (God's Face) because, he said, "I saw God face-to-face and lived to tell the story!"

The sun came up as he left Peniel, limping because of his hip. (This is why Israelites to this day don't eat the hip muscle; because Jacob's hip was thrown out of joint.)

Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

People:  Open our ears to hear your Word.

7.45 & 11:00am (St Lukes)

+The First Lesson: Jacob wrestles with a stranger he comes to recognize as God. He is told that he now will be called Israel, which means "the one who strives with God."

A Reading from Genesis [32:22-31]

The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Reader: The Word of the Lord                                                                                           People: Thanks be to God  

Psalm 17:1-7,16:1-11 Page 600, BCP

Hear my plea of innocence, O LORD;
give heed to my cry; *
listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.

Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *
let your eyes be fixed on justice.

Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *
melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.

I give no offense with my mouth as others do; *
I have heeded the words of your lips.

My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; *
in your paths my feet shall not stumble.

I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; *
incline your ear to me and hear my words.

Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, *
O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand
from those who rise up against them.

But at my vindication I shall see your face; *
when I awake, I shall be satisfied, beholding
your likeness.

+The Second Lesson: Paul struggles to understand why Israel has rejected Jesus, but reaffirms that the people of the Old Covenant are the source of the law, and even the Messiah himself. 

 A Reading from Romans [9:1-5]

am speaking the truth in Christ-- I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit-- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Reader: The Word of the Lord

The People Respond: Thanks be to God