Presiding Bishop Michael Curry statement on the violence in the Land of the Holy One
May 13, 2021 Office of Public Affairs
“One more time we awake to the news of violence. Reports come in, even as you read this, about violence that has caused death, life-changing injury and destruction of property and lives. Violence which is borne of frustration, rooted in injustice and the violation of international law and in truth, the violation of human rights and human decency. In the Name of the God of all creation, the violence must stop, regardless of where it comes from and to whom it is directed.
One more time The Episcopal Church stands to say that violence is not the way forward. We say the expansion of Israeli settlements at the expense of Palestinian families must end. We say incitement which encourages violence must end. We say enough is enough.
One more time The Episcopal Church encourages the government of the United States and others who have influence, who are of goodwill and who genuinely seek peace to be partners in peacemaking, to bring about a negotiated settlement to the long-standing conflict which has consumed both Israelis and Palestinians.
One more time we find ourselves full of sorrow and sadness. We find ourselves grieving over the loss of life, destruction of homes and the fear that lives in the hearts of tens of thousands of innocent people. We join all people of faith to offer up prayers for healing, wholeness, restoration and reconciliation.
And we pray God to grant wisdom and courage to all those in authority to seek peace and pursue it without delay, without excuses, without confusion and with only one agenda: a negotiated and equitable agreement for peace between Israelis and Palestinians — once and for all.”
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry Presiding Bishop and Primate The Episcopal Church
To learn more, and to find out how you can take action, please see the Office of Government Relations action alert. You can sign up for the Episcopal Public Policy Network here.
Graduating High School Seniors will be recognized by St. Thomas’ this Sunday (16 May) at the 10.30am service. Please plan to attend!
This Sunday we will also acknowledge ECW Sunday in the Diocese of NJ.
This Sunday at noon the Sunday School will participate in a County Cleanup service project and fundraiser. See Barbara K. for more information or to participate.
On Pentecost, 23 May, our outdoor service (10.30am) will meet in the cemetery in front of the church building, as we did for Christmas Eve. We will be re-dedicating the church bell, remembering Carl Pape and Ray Stevens in whose memory the restoration was performed, and giving thanks for all those who helped fund and perform the restoration over the last year. Please join us!
The Burial Eucharist for Tina Lawton will be held on the lawn at St. Thomas’ next week, the Day of Pentecost, 23 May, at 6pm. Just like Sunday mornings, please wear a mask and bring a chair.
The Diocese of NJ is recognizing high school seniors with a Diocesan Baccalaureate at 3pm on 23 May. Join us online!
This week we will continue our Bible Study on the book of Ruth. We will meet on Wednesday nights at 7pm on Zoom. Please join us!
Are you interested in a friendly, animated series on How to Read the Bible?
May is Mental Health Month. See resources from Virginia Theological Seminary.
See the Faith Formation Newsletter from the Diocese of New Jersey with resources for encountering Pentecost.
The CDC has provided guidance for those who have received the Covid-19 vaccine. Some protocols are relaxed among “fully-vaccinated” persons in private settings. For as long as not everyone has access to the vaccine, we will as a parish observe the protocols that keep everyone – including the unvaccinated – safe. This is a matter of justice and love: we do this in order to be in solidarity with all God’s children.
Announcements for the bulletin or parish email are due into the office by noon on Wednesday of each week. You can email them to office@stthomasglassboro.org or call the office at 856-881-9144. Announcements are subject to editing due to limited space.
Download this week’s bulletin or see the online version.
Lectionary readings for this week: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1
Lectionary readings for next week: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Acts 2:1-21, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Psalm 104:25-35, 37
Please continue in your daily prayers for: Dennis, Marge, Joann, Andrea, Bob, Jimmie, Bill, Kass, Sandy, Floss, Butch, Mary-Esther, Patty, Dean, David, Lois, Michael, Bianca, Kayla, Evelyn, Jackie, Tal, Richard
This Weekend at St. Thomas’
- Saturday, 6.00pm: Holy Eucharist in the Nave (limited capacity: RSVP here)
- Sunday, 8.00am: Holy Eucharist in the Parish Hall and on Zoom (limited capacity: RSVP here)
- Sunday, 9.00am: Online Sunday School for pre-school to pre-teens
- Sunday, 10.30am: Holy Eucharist Outdoors at St. Thomas’
- Sunday, Noon: Sunday School County Cleanup
- Sunday, afternoon: Holy Eucharist at St. Thomas’ (recorded)
- Sunday, 6.00pm: Youth Group Online
Contact Dan O. for details.
Weekdays at St. Thomas’
- Daily Morning Prayer (Monday through Saturday)
- Monday, 4pm: Centering Prayer (online)
- Tuesday, 6pm: Small Group Bible Study: Hebrews (online)
- Wednesday, 5.30pm: Holy Eucharist (outdoors at Lychgate)
- Wednesday, 7pm: Bible Study: Ruth (online)
Online events hosted by St. Thomas’ are accessed via Zoom: instructions here.
Diocesan Baccalaureate Celebration with Bishop Stokes May 23, 3:00 p.m.
This year‘s Baccalaureate with the Bishop will feature the presentation of scholarships, a virtual parade of graduates featuring your submissions, a multi-language reading of Acts 2:11 for Pentecost, and more!
If you are graduating this year (or know someone who is), please contact us at youth@dioceseofnj.org so we can include you in this year’s celebration!
See a calendar of Saints of the Episcopal Church.
Which Saint will you remember today?
See the official St. Thomas’ calendar or a list of upcoming events.
Are you serving in liturgy? Check the rota!
Saturdays, 6pm: Holy Eucharist
in the Nave: limited to 12 pews of up to two people each
Sundays, 8am: Holy Eucharist
in the Parish Hall and online
Sundays, 9am: Sunday School
online: for children
Sundays, 10.30am: Holy Eucharist
outdoors, rain or shine
Sundays, 6pm: Youth Group
online: for teens
Mondays, 4pm: Centering Prayer online
Tuesdays, 6.30pm: Small Group Bible Study online
Wednesday, 5.30pm: Holy Eucharist
outdoors, rain or shine
Wednesdays, 7.00pm: Bible Study: Ruth online
Daily on Weekdays: Morning Prayer
online: recorded
https://www.stthomasglassboro.org/
OFFICE:
office@stthomasglassboro.org
Office telephone:
856-881-9144
Emergency Pastoral Care:
856-881-2841
Call this number if you have a pastoral emergency, such as an alert about an ailing parishioner, a hospital stay, a death in the family, or to request last rites. Leave a message and with a phone number for your call to be returned.