10/3/22 - Inspiration to Help you GROW in Faith
Because Inspiration isn't just for Sundays...
This week we offer the following resources
to help you build spiritual strength and live a more fulfilling life.
We offer lots of resources for you this week. You can either scroll through and select the videos you'd like to watch or click on this link to see a playlist with all of them: This Week's Videos - A Playlist for You
Start your week off with a prayer, a blessing and some encouragement to help you along the way...
Blessing of the Week:
Incorporate Spiritual Practices to enhance our spiritual life...
Spiritual Practice Suggestion of the Week:
Imagine for a minute that you're a dog. That's right, imagine God made you a beautiful, furry, lovable dog. Now think of how you feel every time a person says to you, "want to go for a walk?" That's my suggestion for you this week - take a dog for a walk (or spend time with an animal of your choice - either in person or online)
There's nothing more loyal than a dog, nothing more beautiful than the love shared when we take care of our pets. If you don't have a dog but would love to walk one, borrow a friend or neighbor's dog or call a local rescue shelter. They're often looking for people who will take a dog for a walk. Many shelters will even let you borrow a dog for a day. You don't have to keep it forever, just spend the day together.
While you enjoy your time with the pet of your choice, think about how wonderful and precious these creatures are. Then realize that they don't earn money, worry about their looks and most do nothing to "Earn their way" outside of being lovable.
If a pet can be lovable, so can you. Jesus says in Matthew chapter 6 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
Appreciate how wonderful pets are and accept how incredibly loved you are. You don't have to deserve it. God loves you anyway! God loves you just the way you are. So go out and be yourself and share yourself with others (especially wonderful, friendly pets). May this simple practice help you grow closer to God and live a more fulfilling life.
God's peace be with you, today, this week, and always. Amen.
Enjoy some peace along the way...
This Week's Peace Project is Episode 39 - Looking Up:
Scripture Readings for Coming Sundays:
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost, 10/2
Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost, 10/9
Help make a difference by putting your Faith in Action
Faith in Action Suggestion for the Month of October:
We are called to pray, AND we are called to put our faith into action. We are called to follow Jesus which means we need to love and serve our neighbors in the name of Christ. It’s also our job to stand up to injustice and respect the dignity of every human being.
This month consider joining with other Episcopalians who are urging Congress to act to Support the Global Fight Against Malnutrition. From 1990 to 2020, the number of children under 5 years ailing from chronic malnutrition has decreased from 253 million to 144 million globally. Investments by the U.S. and other poverty-reducing multilateral efforts have contributed greatly to this progress. However, malnutrition continues to be one of the top risk factors contributing to nearly half of all preventable deaths among children under age five and the global pandemic has made things much more challenging for families. You can find more information at https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/office-government-relations/ and click on “Support the Global Fight Against Malnutrition”
Looking for Ways to Take Action to #endgunviolence? Check out our Enews ORANGE Edition
Help serve the world in the name of Christ...
This Month's Outreach Project
October: REACH for Paws to help Homeless Pets
Fill a red REACH bag and return it to church or the office by the end of the month. The wish list is canned pet food, pet treats, blankets (no comforters, please), pill pockets, slip leads (a type of leash), laundry detergent, paper towels, trash bags, a “fur”ever home!
In case you didn't see it yet, or would like to see it again...
Last Sunday's Sermon
In case you didn't see it yet...
Last Sunday's Service
Make coming to church a priority...
You're invited to next Sunday's service
Here's what you can Look Forward to Next Sunday:
This Sunday, October 9th at 10:15am
This week we welcome a very special guest from the Bishop's Office. The Canon to the Ordinary, Melissa McCarthy, will be preaching and celebrating. The gospel lesson is from Luke. In it Jesus teaches about gratitude by telling the story of ten lepers who were healed, but only one returned to express his appreciation for the miracle that changed his life. The one who returned wasn't who you might expect. It was a foreigner, a Samaritan. Again, Jesus warns us to be careful. Beware of assuming we are worthy of healing or of any of the blessings we are given. We are blessed and healed not because we deserve it, but because God loves us. Come hear inspiring scripture, beautiful music and an uplifting message of hope and love. Come to church and get inspired!
Lots of great things are happening!
Keeping Up with Everything Offered at St. Paul's:
This is an overview of this week's resources to help you GROW in faith. To learn about everything going on at St. Paul’s, please see our E-newsletter. If you don’t receive it, please let us know. We’d be happy to add you to the list!
Click HERE to Subscribe to our Enews
Finally, I welcome you to reach out to share your spiritual journey. Next week, we’ll have new ideas and resources for you. And week after week we’ll get stronger, go deeper and offer ourselves to be transformed more and more into the people God is calling us to be.
God bless you this week and always,
Rev. Susan+
These resources are made available because of the generous donations of our members. We are grateful to everyone who pledges to support the work of the church. To learn more about giving to St. Paul's CLICK HERE.
Tags: Growing in Faith - Sunday and Everyday / St. Paul's Latest Updates & Blog
