Trinity IV 

This Sunday’s Gospel comes from a long passage in Luke called “the Sermon on the Plain,” which is roughly equivalent to the “Sermon on the Mount” found in the St. Matthew’s Gospel. What should be immediately obvious to us is that Jesus spent much of His time in ethical teaching, instructing His disciples in a distinctive way of life. Christians are set apart, Jesus teaches us, not just in what we believe or how we worship, but by how we behave amongst ourselves.

We learn that the Christian life is outstanding for the quality of our relationships. Everything Jesus has to say here involves how we treat, and get along with, other people. Also, the moral principles of the Christian life are so utterly simple. Jesus does not speak of “gray areas,” or “ethical dilemmas.” When He speaks of being merciful, or not judging, or being generous, we have before us some very straight-forward material. No one can rightly say, “This is too hard for me to understand.”! We know only too well what Jesus means.

And yet… we can still get it wrong.  The passage “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged,” is often used as a bludgeon to try to silence Christians in public discourse… especially around discussions of societal morality.  In its proper context, Jesus does not forbid all judgment, but only destructive judgment. In John’s Gospel (7:24), Jesus said: "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." In other words, let your judgment be according to what is right… what is true. He forbids self-righteous, self- exalting, hypocritical judging.

This does not mean that we should sit by silently in matters of morality.  Yes, the world around us is a hot mess, and as mindful, well-grounded Christians, it is OK for us to speak out about a better way… a better path.  If we see spiritual harm being done in the World, we should speak up. This is all part of the process of moving away from suffering and towards mercy.  But the World has made this hard for us to do… we run the risk of being branded all manner of “ists” and “isms.”  This risk of social condemnation is a form of suffering, and the pain of suffering is a crucible through which God’s Mercy makes itself known in the minds and hearts of us. 

The key here is that if we are going to speak out and be a witness, we must show ourselves to be on the path towards righteousness. This is the essence of human mercy.  To speak the Truth while at the same time being the best example of it. Every time a prominent Christian individual or organization stumbles, it only reinforces that narrative that we are all hypocrites and have no right to speak our Truth in public.  But the Spirit of Truth is ahead of us and the path is full of mindful, sober, self-awareness that reveals itself in healthy lives and healthy faith communities.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to enter into this situation, we move beyond mere mortal mercy, and into the grace of Divine Mercy.  May God make it so!

-- Fr. Chris

All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee 
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SERVICES & EVENTS

Sunday, 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM services, for online participation go to
https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to 
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams

Nursery during both services

Sunday School, on recess for the summer, returns in September

Monday, June 29, Feast of St. Peter & St. Paul, Services at Noon & 7:00 PM
 
Saturday, July 4, at Noon – Holy Communion service

Wednesday, July 8, 7:30 to 9:00 PM in the church undercroft,  Fr. Bragg will offer a relaxed, informal course of Wednesday evening classes on the Hymnal that will run through August 26.  Each meeting will be a stand-alone session on specific hymns, focusing on the circumstances of their writing as well as their theological and devotional content.  Every hymn has a story behind it, and many of them are fascinating.
 
Saturday, August 29, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. in the undercroft. Women's brunch honoring the MaRiH Center: Enjoy some end-of-summer fun and fellowship while helping local women and their babies. Please bring an item from MaRiH Center's critical needs list. Brunch is potluck; please consider bringing a dish to share. RSVP to margot.anderson@proton.me. 
 
Save the date, Sunday, Sept 20, Annual Parish Picnic, following combined 10:00 AM service. More information to follow as the date draws near and plan to invite family and friends.

Parish notes:
To fulfill a request by a couple of parishioners, the following is a list of those confirmed and received on Trinity II by Bishop Johnson:  Those confirmed are Caeden Godbold, Elizabeth Godbold, Abby Weidner, Thomas Weidner V, Robert Ward, and Ralph Ebener.  Those received Wainwright Clarke, Tayloe Lewis, and Jennifer Lewis.
 
 
MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Updated Critical Needs
& More

Below are 2 updated lists: the critical needs list and the needs list:

Critical Needs:
Diapers, sizes 5 and 6
Spring/Summer clothing (Boys & Girls), size 0-3 months, size 2T 
Baby Wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby formula: Similac Advance Formula
Bibs: toddler
Car seat: infant
Other needs:
Diapers, newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4
Spring/Summer Clothing, 3-6 month, 9-12 month, 18-24 month, 
Bibs, infant
Maternity clothes (Spring/Summer)
Wash cloths
Hooded towels
Diaper rash ointment, Baby Shampoo
Baby bottles
Baby formula: All other Similac & Enfamil types. Also accept Alimentum & Nutramigen. No other brands are accepted. Please make sure dates have not expired.
There are two options for helping the Center with these needs:
Option 1 
Amazon has all the specific items needed. You can order the specific item(s) and have them delivered directly to the Center.  

The MaRiH Center
3230B Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-4521
703-370-4774

Option 2 
Go to your local store, purchase the items requested and drop them off at church on Sunday. We will deliver them to the MaRIH Center .
 
Food Bank Needs
 
The food bank continues to need our assistance to feed the hungry. Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are 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). Also lower sodium products are better and more healthy.

Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
tuna (cans or foil packages)
peanut butter. jelly
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso, chicken noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom. tomato
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625