July 9, 2020
Dear Members and Friends of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church,
Aloha! This Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah 55:10-13 remind us that despite the hardship and challenges we may face in life God desires to bless. This portion of Second Isaiah was addressed to pilgrims returning from exile in Babylon to their homeland. The images of rain and snow falling from the skies to water the earth to bring life so seeds may be planted and food may be eaten remind us of the cycle of life. Although we may have dry periods in life, these periods of dryness will end with an overflowing pouring of water which brings renewal. As the pilgrims return the prophet promises that there will be joy and peace symbolized by the cypress and laurel.
In our gospel lesson from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 we are reminded in the parable of the sower and its explanation, how God seeks to bless all, even the hard hearted, the shallow person, the person distracted by the cares of the world, and the person able to hear and receive God’s Word. God is willing to share the blessings of the good news with all sorts and conditions of people. God is generous and merciful. But the question for us is will we be open to receive God’s Word so we may be a blessing to others?
Where are we in our life’s journey? Are we living through a dry period? Are we able to still have faith in God’s abundant mercy that there will still be joy and peace in our life? And what kind of “fruits” are our lives producing? Are we ready to receive love and mercy into our lives? Are we so focused on the immediate tasks at hand that we lose sight of the blessings which rain down on us? Are we so concerned about the externals of our lives that the hope for love to blossom in the world has been choked out of our hearts? Are we ready to have God’s love grow deeply in our lives and return the blessings to any and all that we meet in the gift of our lives?
As we continue to live with the pandemic, I hope you have been able to see God’s goodness giving you joy and peace. Seek to find blessings in your life, and seek to be a blessing to others.
This Sunday at 10 am., our live-streaming You Tube worship will be led by the Rev. Karen Swanson as the Presider, and I will be the Preacher.
The link for the live-streaming You Tube worship is below, and the worship bulletin is posted on the church website at www.stambrosefostercity.org.
The link is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg.
I invite you to pray for those who are ill, especially Yvonne Sidell, Jerelyn Weber, Ariel Rallos, Miles Martin, Frank Brown, John and Barbara Milligan and William Junker (brother of Charlene Adolph who is in hospice care.)
We give thanks for Karen Gardiner and David Soars (cousin of Janet Gardiner) who have recovered from illness. We give thanks for Peggy Redmond who is living comfortably in Atria Park. We give thanks for Mary Ota who is getting stronger living at home.
This Sunday, we give thanks for the life of Daphne Welsh who departed to eternal life last Sunday morning. Daphne was Janet Gardiner’s cousin. Please keep Janet in your prayers.
I invite you to continue to pray for the unemployed, people stricken with COVID-19, those who live alone, health care workers, first responders, essential workers, the Episcopal Church in Navajoland, victims of violence in all its forms, especially black and brown people and all others who face discrimination daily, law enforcement members, government officials seeking to balance law enforcement with needed social services.
I invite you to give thanks for Joanne Kerseg, Doug Merkel, Carolyn Franco, Nathan Frisch and John Schwab who will be celebrating their birthdays, and for Fe and Andrew Balamiento who will be celebrating their anniversary.
I look forward to joining you for worship this Sunday.
Yours,
David Y. Ota, Rector
Dear Members and Friends of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church,
Aloha! This Sunday’s lesson from Isaiah 55:10-13 remind us that despite the hardship and challenges we may face in life God desires to bless. This portion of Second Isaiah was addressed to pilgrims returning from exile in Babylon to their homeland. The images of rain and snow falling from the skies to water the earth to bring life so seeds may be planted and food may be eaten remind us of the cycle of life. Although we may have dry periods in life, these periods of dryness will end with an overflowing pouring of water which brings renewal. As the pilgrims return the prophet promises that there will be joy and peace symbolized by the cypress and laurel.
In our gospel lesson from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 we are reminded in the parable of the sower and its explanation, how God seeks to bless all, even the hard hearted, the shallow person, the person distracted by the cares of the world, and the person able to hear and receive God’s Word. God is willing to share the blessings of the good news with all sorts and conditions of people. God is generous and merciful. But the question for us is will we be open to receive God’s Word so we may be a blessing to others?
Where are we in our life’s journey? Are we living through a dry period? Are we able to still have faith in God’s abundant mercy that there will still be joy and peace in our life? And what kind of “fruits” are our lives producing? Are we ready to receive love and mercy into our lives? Are we so focused on the immediate tasks at hand that we lose sight of the blessings which rain down on us? Are we so concerned about the externals of our lives that the hope for love to blossom in the world has been choked out of our hearts? Are we ready to have God’s love grow deeply in our lives and return the blessings to any and all that we meet in the gift of our lives?
As we continue to live with the pandemic, I hope you have been able to see God’s goodness giving you joy and peace. Seek to find blessings in your life, and seek to be a blessing to others.
This Sunday at 10 am., our live-streaming You Tube worship will be led by the Rev. Karen Swanson as the Presider, and I will be the Preacher.
The link for the live-streaming You Tube worship is below, and the worship bulletin is posted on the church website at www.stambrosefostercity.org.
The link is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg.
I invite you to pray for those who are ill, especially Yvonne Sidell, Jerelyn Weber, Ariel Rallos, Miles Martin, Frank Brown, John and Barbara Milligan and William Junker (brother of Charlene Adolph who is in hospice care.)
We give thanks for Karen Gardiner and David Soars (cousin of Janet Gardiner) who have recovered from illness. We give thanks for Peggy Redmond who is living comfortably in Atria Park. We give thanks for Mary Ota who is getting stronger living at home.
This Sunday, we give thanks for the life of Daphne Welsh who departed to eternal life last Sunday morning. Daphne was Janet Gardiner’s cousin. Please keep Janet in your prayers.
I invite you to continue to pray for the unemployed, people stricken with COVID-19, those who live alone, health care workers, first responders, essential workers, the Episcopal Church in Navajoland, victims of violence in all its forms, especially black and brown people and all others who face discrimination daily, law enforcement members, government officials seeking to balance law enforcement with needed social services.
I invite you to give thanks for Joanne Kerseg, Doug Merkel, Carolyn Franco, Nathan Frisch and John Schwab who will be celebrating their birthdays, and for Fe and Andrew Balamiento who will be celebrating their anniversary.
I look forward to joining you for worship this Sunday.
Yours,
David Y. Ota, Rector
The Episcopal Church in Navajoland Needs Help. Please click the link for more information.
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Sunday Service Announcements and Worship Bulletin for the week
Worship Bulletin 7.12.20
Announcement Sunday 7.12.20
Virtual Liturgy of the Word, Sundays 10 am link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
Announcement Sunday 7.12.20
Virtual Liturgy of the Word, Sundays 10 am link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
SUNDAY SERVICES
8 AM Holy Communion with Hymns, cancelled until further notice
10 AM Virtual Liturgy of the Word Services
Zoom Sunday School for Children (Pre-school – 2nd grade)
11 AM Zoom Sunday School for Children (3rd – 5th grade)
4 PM Zoom Youth Group Meeting (Middle School to High School)
8 AM Holy Communion with Hymns, cancelled until further notice
10 AM Virtual Liturgy of the Word Services
Zoom Sunday School for Children (Pre-school – 2nd grade)
11 AM Zoom Sunday School for Children (3rd – 5th grade)
4 PM Zoom Youth Group Meeting (Middle School to High School)
The mission of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church of Foster City is to proclaim the good news of God in Jesus Christ as we care for each other and our larger community. In the Episcopal tradition, we extend an open and inclusive invitation to all people. We care for others and the stranger, we welcome children into our family, and we serve those in need.
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"Life is short and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk the way with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind. The Blessing of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be among you always. Amen"