A note From Fr. Hank. Santiago De Compostela, Spain

Transcription

1 JUNE 2016 Year C They devoted themselves to the apostle s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 A note From Fr. Hank Via Con Dios Santiago De Compostela, Spain Grace Embraces Diocesan Cycle of Prayer St. Mary, Kinston June 5 Upper Cape Fear Deanery St. Francis by the Sea, Salter Path June 12 Widows of Bishops and Clergy St. Andrew s, Morehead City June 19 St. Cyprian s, New Bern Bishop and staff of the Episcopal Diocese of Dominican Republic June 26 St. Thomas, Windsor St. Anne s, Jacksonville Fr. Hank walked the 200 mile El Camino from Leon, Spain to Santiago de Compestela and arrived at the Cathedral of Saint James on Sunday, May 15th, The Day of Pentecost June Birthdays 14 Helen Wiliford 21 Ree Webb Parish Prayer List: Kathrine Burdick, Dana Outten, Annie Mabel Mixon, Debbie Spencer, Dorothy Spencer, John W. Outten, Diane Minton and Henry Bragg. Parish Prayer List Friends Sallie & Tarkington, Family Prayer Jane Swain List: Brown, Anthony Allen West (Jeanette Papineau), Sara Jo Goetz (Ree Webb), Carol Hall, Edna Dixon and Mary Brown (Audrey), Jeffrey Minton, Ann Hardison (Sandra), Carla Tosh and Erin Lisk (Diane), Gregory, Aaron Russum (Elise), Timothy Collins (Kate) Meredith Saunders, Dorothy Spencer, Nee Humphries, Kim Humphries, Corbet Kellam,, Anthony West, Pat Bauer,

2 Church Briefs A Statement from the Episcopal Bishops of North Carolina Regarding HB2 April 26, 2016 By The Bishops of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina A Statement from the Episcopal Bishops of North Carolina Regarding HB2 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In our baptismal covenant, we commit to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. For many, this is the most difficult promise in the covenant, as it calls us to move beyond our differences, expectations, fears, prejudices and misunderstandings about other people and meet them where they are. At times, it means standing up in the world and speaking truth to power, knowing that there will be resistance. This promise takes us out of our comfort zone and into the uncharted territory of God s grace. In the highly polarized and political environment in which we live, we may be tempted to take sides on an issue or to back off entirely and be silent. But the issue of discrimination is not partisan, nor is it secular. The practice of discrimination by a state or institution limits, even prohibits, us from respecting the dignity of another human being. It inhibits our very capacity to care for one another and to work for the common good. This affects all people. On March 23, 2016, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 2 (HB2). This bill overtly discriminates against LGBT people and goes further by cutting back on protection against discrimination for anyone in the state. HB2 does this by: Refusing to understand the complexity of the lives of transgender persons and criminalizing non-problematic behavior by members only of that community; Overturning the local passage of laws by the city of Charlotte to allow transgender persons to use the genderspecific facilities matching their identities, and requiring all people to use facilities according to the biological sex listed on their birth certificates; Preventing cities and counties from establishing ordinances extending protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons, while making no effort to call for protection at the state level; Making it more difficult for people who are being discriminated against for reasons of race, age, sex, religion or disability to take legal action by making them take their cases to federal court instead of to the state; Discriminating against the working poor by restricting a community s ability to demand that contractors raise minimum wages to living wages and pay for vacation and sick leave. In the weeks since the passing of HB2, other states have followed suit, putting forth bills openly supporting discrimination against LGBT persons. Such discrimination by the state reinforces the fear and prejudices of people who do not know or understand the lives of people who are already marginalized in our society. It cultivates an environment in which we do not respect the dignity of each person but instead fight to hold on to personal power and privilege. The response against HB2, in North Carolina and around the world, shows evidence that this bill affects the lives of more than a few people using the bathroom; it touches on the ongoing struggle for equality. As a Church, we seek to love unconditionally as witnessed in the life of Jesus and follow his example by embracing those who are marginalized by society.

3 May 1 The Sixth Sunday of Easter May 22 Trinity Sunday Holy Morning Eucharist Prayer, Rite II at 11:00 a.m. Acolytes: Lector: Intercessor: Lector: Diane Minton Eucharistic Altar Guild: Minister: Sandra Hewitt & Sterling Spencer Altar Vestry Guild: Person Sandra of the Hewitt Month: & Robbie Sterling Jones Spencer Vestry Presider: Person Sterling of the Spencer Month: May 8 The Seventh Sunday of Easter Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 11:00 a.m Lector: Frances Jones Intercessor: Betty Ann Glover May 29 The Second Sunday Morning Prayer, Rite II at 11:00 a.m Presider: Sterling Spencer May 15 The Day of Pentecost Morning Prayer, Rite II at 11:00 a.m Lector: Audrey Outten Presider :Amy Barsanti Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 11:00 a.m Intercessor: John Pruden Presider and Preacher: The Right Reverend Rob Skirving Trinity Sunday Trinity Sunday celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Page 3

4 June 5 The Third Sunday June 26 The Sixth Sunday Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 11 a.m. Lector: Janice Dunn Intercessor: Carol Outten Eucharistic Minister: Amy Barsanti Vestryperson of the Month: Sterling Spencer Altar Guild: Sandra Hewitt and Sterling Spencer June 12 The Fourth Sunday Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 11:00 a.m. Lector: Frances Jones Intercessor: John Pruden July 3 The Seventh Sunday Morning Prayer, Rite II at 11 a.m. Lector: Audrey Outten Presider and Preacher: Sterling Spencer June 19 The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 11 a.m. Intercessor: Carol Outten Eucharistic Minister: Amy Barsanti Vestryperson of the Month: Jeannine Saunders Altar Guild: Sandra Hewitt and Sterling Spencer Morning Prayer, Rite II at 11:00 a.m. Lector: Sterling Spencer Presider and Preacher: Amy Barsanti Happy 4th of July Page 4 GRACE EMBRACES

5 Church Briefs Continued Because we strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity every human being, we call on the North Carolina State Legislature to repeal HB2. We encourage our leaders to listen to the experiences of LGBT citizens and to seek to understand their lives and circumstances. Furthermore, we offer our prayers and support for the LGBT community, and for all who are affected by this bill. Yours faithfully, The Right Reverend Anne E. Hodges-Copple Bishop Diocesan Pro Tempore of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina The Right Reverend Porter Taylor Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina The Right Reverend Robert S. Skirving Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina The Right Reverend Peter James Lee Bishop Assisting of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina CAMP KANUGA FOR THE YOUTH of Plymouth will be held at Grace Episcopal Church July for ages 5-8 and If you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund so that all children may attend, please put your check in the offering basin and mark the memo line Camp Kanuga Sunday, May 29th, Our Bishop diocesan, The right Reverend Rob Skirving, will be the Preacher and Presider at Grace Church. Following the morning Holy Eucharist, there will be a reception in the Parish House. The June Vestry meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 20, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Parish House. **If you cannot attend please call or let someone know.** CONTACT INFORMATION Parish Office gracechurchplymouth@gmail.com Senior Warden, Robbie Jones Robbie.Jones@domtar.com Fr. Hank Burdick hcburdick@gmail.com Church Website