Trinity V
Excerpts from a sermon given at St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland by the late Most Reverend John T Cahoon, Jr.
(In this Sunday's Gospel,) Jesus is standing alongside the Sea of Galilee when he sees two fishing boats on the beach. The fishermen are cleaning off their nets. Jesus addresses Simon—whom he is later to nickname Peter.
He has met Simon Peter already. Peter invited him to his house for lunch after synagogue services on the previous Saturday. When they got to Peter's house, they found that his mother-in-law was sick—these were obviously days when the pope was allowed to be married. Jesus healed the woman, and she got up and made lunch.
So Peter had reason to know that Jesus was concerned with practical and material things, and that he was willing to apply God's power to them. Jesus says to Peter, "Why don't you launch your boat back out onto the water, let your nets down, and catch some fish?" Peter—always the hard-headed one—says, "We've been out all night, and we haven't caught a thing—but if you say so, we'll do it."
Peter and his partners James and John are astonished at the number of fish they catch—so much so that Peter says to Jesus, "Go away from me, I am a sinful man." Jesus replies, quite calmly, "Don't get so excited. From now on you are going to be catching men." And Peter and James and John followed him from that time on.
One obvious lesson from this story is that we are supposed to trust Jesus and be willing to take the risk of obeying him and launching out in faith to do what we suspect he wants us to do. I had a meeting with our congregation in Charlottesville earlier this week. They have been having some difficulty deciding what they ought to do in terms of buying land and hoping to build a church. I told them to pay attention to today's gospel. Jesus asks us to take a chance and trust him. He never lets us down.
Most of us don't like to take risks—even if they are risks Jesus says he will support—which means they are not really risks. . . . We don't much want to have our normal patterns challenged or changed. But Jesus calls us out of our complacency into obedience and commitment. The Lord has anointed him to preach good news unto us meek ones. So let us launch out into the deep, and let down our nets for a draught.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Please click here to donate to St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
Upcoming Events
Sunday Services, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, & 11:15 AM (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )
Sunday School will return in September
Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing (for online participation, check info under Sunday Services)
Next Vestry meeting September
Annual Parish Picnic, Sunday October 8 at Fort Hunt Park, following a 10 AM combined service (no 9:00 AM or 11:15 AM services that day) , more details closer to event.
The list for MaRIH Crisis Pregnancy Center's needs was updated last week. The items in bold type are in critical need. If you can, please donate those items.
Updated List of Needs for MaRIH Center (crisis pregnancy center)
MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff has been providing help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need. If you can provide some of the items that are needed, please do so. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)
Especially Needed
In Bold and * are a critical need.
Diapers (sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, & 6*)
Lovies
Baby wipes*
Diaper rash ointment
Summer clothing: Newborn, 3-6 mo.,6-9 mo., 9-12 mo.,12-18 mo,, 18-24, 2T*
Baby shampoo
Baby blankets
Sleeping -- Pack-n-Play*
Formula: Simulac Advance Formula*
Formula: other but not recalled
Wash clothes
Hooded towels
Grocery gift cards*
Food Donations
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Christ House is very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Current needs include the following:
• canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
• peanut butter
• jelly
• tuna
• canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
• individual fruit cups (low sugar)
• canned fruit (low sugar)
• cereal (low sugar)
• pasta (regular and gluten-free)
• instant potatoes
• Macaroni & cheese kits
• Coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
Copyright © 2023 St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625