PLEASE NOTE: ALL SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PLEASE CONTACT FR. ANDREW WITH PRAYER REQUESTS AND ANY NEEDS. OUR PRAYERS CONTINUE FOR THOSE AFFECTED IN ANY WAY BY COVID-19, THOSE WHO MINISTER TO THE SICK AND NEEDY, AND THOSE WHO SERVE US ALL TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY AND SAFE.
O MOST mighty and merciful God, in this time of grievous sickness, we flee unto thee for succour. Deliver us, we beseech thee, from our peril; give strength and skill to all those who minister to the sick; prosper the means made use of for their cure; and grant that, perceiving how frail and uncertain our life is, we may apply our hearts unto that heavenly wisdom which leadeth to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me, and I have done what he has expected of me so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”
MARTIN LUTHER, WHEN FACING THE BLACK DEATH PLAGUE
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me, and I have done what he has expected of me so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”
MARTIN LUTHER, WHEN FACING THE BLACK DEATH PLAGUE
THE RECTOR'S REFLECTIONS
April 3rd, 2020 Palm Sunday
Dear Christian Friends,
Like many of you we have decided not to frequent the grocery store. We are eating what is in our cupboards and refrigerators. Last night we had some corn that we froze last fall. Now corn, as you know, is a useless vegetable but quite tasty. We were surprised at how well it had stayed fresh. The taste of it brought us back to a happier time. Yes, we will have corn to freeze this fall. God will get us through this.
“Holy worldliness. All down history the church has tended to go to extremes ... Sometimes, in its proper determination to be holy, it has withdrawn from the world and lost contact with it. At other times, in its equally proper determination not to lose contact, it has conformed to the world and become virtually indistinguishable from it. But Christ's vision for the church's holiness is neither withdrawal nor conformity. “--- John R.W. Stott
A few things to do during these times: Confess your sins. Admit your shortcomings, how we have placed so many other things before God in our hearts and lives. Put your faith in Jesus. Salvation is found nowhere else. Repair your relationships. Reconciliation and forgiveness are hallmarks of Jesus' kingdom. Pray. Use this as a season to learn to pray more deeply. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Read the Bible: Take this quiet time to read the Bible.
Sunday Collect: ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This Sunday is commonly called Palm Sunday from the old practice of bearing palms (often willows in England) in commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The collect emphasizes that there is no Crown without the Cross.
In studying the collects, it is important to locate the verbs. It helps to locate the petition, which is to say what is being asked for. There is always a verb, and almost always an object. The verb is this week’s collect is “grant”. The object is dual: that we would “follow the example of his patience” and that we would “be made partakers of his resurrection”
Our Gospel lesson is Matthew 26: 14-27:66. Verse 21-22: 21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? When Jesus announced this to His disciples they were “ sorrowful” because they knew how quickly human nature can change.
In John’s Gospel we read how Peter full of the faith would soon give it up for fear. John 13:37-38 37 “Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.” In the eighteen chapter Peter denies Jesus three time 25 “ And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.”
How quickly we as humans can turn on someone we love. Even Peter who was full of the faith, in the end was made weak by fear delivered by the devil. This virus can be the vehicle to make us weak and lose faith or it can be the vehicle by which we come closer to Jesus to give us strength to run the course. “ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7
As you come into this Holy Week, may the grace of God through his Son Jesus Christ keep you strong and healthy!
There will be a service tomorrow at 10:30. I ask you not to come. The blessed palms will be on the porch of the Rectory from 11:15AM- 7PM if you would like to come to pick them up.
Fr. Andrew+
P.S. Please remember, if possible, to send offerings - 279 Congress St. Portland Maine 04101.
April 3rd, 2020 Palm Sunday
Dear Christian Friends,
Like many of you we have decided not to frequent the grocery store. We are eating what is in our cupboards and refrigerators. Last night we had some corn that we froze last fall. Now corn, as you know, is a useless vegetable but quite tasty. We were surprised at how well it had stayed fresh. The taste of it brought us back to a happier time. Yes, we will have corn to freeze this fall. God will get us through this.
“Holy worldliness. All down history the church has tended to go to extremes ... Sometimes, in its proper determination to be holy, it has withdrawn from the world and lost contact with it. At other times, in its equally proper determination not to lose contact, it has conformed to the world and become virtually indistinguishable from it. But Christ's vision for the church's holiness is neither withdrawal nor conformity. “--- John R.W. Stott
A few things to do during these times: Confess your sins. Admit your shortcomings, how we have placed so many other things before God in our hearts and lives. Put your faith in Jesus. Salvation is found nowhere else. Repair your relationships. Reconciliation and forgiveness are hallmarks of Jesus' kingdom. Pray. Use this as a season to learn to pray more deeply. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Read the Bible: Take this quiet time to read the Bible.
Sunday Collect: ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This Sunday is commonly called Palm Sunday from the old practice of bearing palms (often willows in England) in commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The collect emphasizes that there is no Crown without the Cross.
In studying the collects, it is important to locate the verbs. It helps to locate the petition, which is to say what is being asked for. There is always a verb, and almost always an object. The verb is this week’s collect is “grant”. The object is dual: that we would “follow the example of his patience” and that we would “be made partakers of his resurrection”
Our Gospel lesson is Matthew 26: 14-27:66. Verse 21-22: 21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? When Jesus announced this to His disciples they were “ sorrowful” because they knew how quickly human nature can change.
In John’s Gospel we read how Peter full of the faith would soon give it up for fear. John 13:37-38 37 “Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.” In the eighteen chapter Peter denies Jesus three time 25 “ And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.”
How quickly we as humans can turn on someone we love. Even Peter who was full of the faith, in the end was made weak by fear delivered by the devil. This virus can be the vehicle to make us weak and lose faith or it can be the vehicle by which we come closer to Jesus to give us strength to run the course. “ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7
As you come into this Holy Week, may the grace of God through his Son Jesus Christ keep you strong and healthy!
There will be a service tomorrow at 10:30. I ask you not to come. The blessed palms will be on the porch of the Rectory from 11:15AM- 7PM if you would like to come to pick them up.
Fr. Andrew+
P.S. Please remember, if possible, to send offerings - 279 Congress St. Portland Maine 04101.
WELCOME HOME! WELCOME TO ST. PAUL'S!
As Portland's oldest church, we are the authentic Anglican Christian community in Portland and the surrounding area! Authenticity is at the core of everything we do as we build a vibrant, Christ-centered community sharing and celebrating the goodness and love of God!
We invite YOU to join our community on this adventure of faith!
Our campus is located in Portland, and our parish family members come from communities throughout all of Southern and Mid-Maine.
Our regular Sunday schedule is 9 AM Spoken Eucharist 10:30 AM Sung Eucharist.
We invite YOU to join our community on this adventure of faith!
Our campus is located in Portland, and our parish family members come from communities throughout all of Southern and Mid-Maine.
Our regular Sunday schedule is 9 AM Spoken Eucharist 10:30 AM Sung Eucharist.
PARISH NOTES & EVENTS
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OUTREACH AT ST. PAUL'SAA Meetings
Monday - Friday, 8am in the Parish Hall Monday - Wednesday, Noon in the Parish Hall (Women's group) Monday, 6pm in the Parish Hall Stroudwater Food Pantry Donations of breakfast cereal, peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, tuna, ramen noodles, canned goods and empty egg cartons can be left in the marked box in the Parish Hall. Volunteers also needed! More info: https://stroudwaterfoodpantry.com/ Theology on Tap
Come and discuss theological topics at pubs in the mid-coast area. See St. Paul’s Facebook page for updated meeting times and locations, and for readings that correspond
with our topic. 
Anglican Church in America Classical Christianity Engaging the World Diocese of the Eastern United States The Most Reverend Brian Marsh, Archbishop The Right Reverend John Vaughan, Bishop Ordinary The Right Reverend Alexander Webb, Bishop Ordinary |