Whitsunday (Pentecost)
This is a very busy time in our liturgical calendar. With Whitsunday we mark the end of a long 50-day feast season which began with Easter Sunday.  We also mark the end of the first half of the church calendar and begin the second half.  The first half tells the story of Jesus (Anticipation, Incarnation, Revelation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension).  The second half, Trinitytide, tells the story of the People of God.

We recently celebrated Our Lord’s Ascension – one of the greatest festivals of the Christian year.  Without the Ascension, Whitsunday has no meaning, because the coming of the Holy Ghost was the fulfilment of the promise made by Christ at his Ascension: “I’m leaving you, but I will send one to help you.”  And this ONE who comes is a gift from God.  The gift of the Holy Ghost.

It’s the Holy Ghost that makes the Church the Church, it’s the Holy Ghost that works in us to renew our hearts and minds and turn them to Christ.  It’s the Holy Ghost that actively works in us to stamp out sin and set us apart for God.  It’s the Holy Ghost that bears witness of the divine origin of the Gospel message. The Spirit is a great gift.  But that gift would never have come had Christ himself not Ascended, and without Christ’s promise to, and commissioning of, his followers at his Ascension, we wouldn’t know what to do with that great gift.

The Ascension promise gives us hope.  It tells us that Christ is not leaving us alone to do his work.  He isn’t leaving to establish a heavenly Kingdom only.  Indeed, He’s going to his heavenly throne, but that includes ruling over his spiritual kingdom here on earth.  And if we become complacent, the Ascension promise also reminds us to get busy building our Lord’s Kingdom.  He is coming back and he’s coming back soon.  We have lots of work to do!

But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27)

When the Counsellor comes.  In the Greek the word is parakletos.  It literally means, the one who “comes alongside.”  This is the Holy Ghost, who was sent into the world once Christ had Ascended to heaven.  He is the Spirit of Truth.  The disciples had been with Jesus through everything, and were eyewitnesses to his death, resurrection, and ascension.  They were called to go out as witnesses to what they had seen, and Jesus says that the Spirit will “come alongside” as a witness too.  And the Spirit did exactly that.  And the Spirit gave the signs and wonders to prove the divine source of the Apostles’ message.  And we see this throughout the New Testament.  You always see the Holy Ghost providing miracles to accompany the Apostle’s witness and teaching.  The Holy Ghost served as a witness to convince mankind of the truth of the Gospel.

The New Testament period was a special time with a special need.  Those early disciples were sharing a message to a world that had never heard it before and had no historical witness.  They had the Old Testament, but the inspired books of the New Testament weren’t written yet, and so the Holy Ghost manifested in ways and to an extent that he has not done since.

We still do sometimes see the Holy Ghost work those amazing miracles, but today the greatest miracle of all – and the greatest witness of all– is the regenerated and renewed heart of the believer.  We have the authoritative Word of God written to share with the world, and to back up its truth, the Holy Ghost renews our hearts and puts in them a love for God.  And that Divine Love is how we show the world the power of the Gospel. 

If the fruit of the Spirit is missing from our lives, then half of our message is missing – and our message to the outside runs the risk of falling flat.  So as we continue to write our own story as People of God, I ask you to be mindful of the Holy Ghost and to accept the indwelling of the Spirit as a great gift… just a Jesus asked of his Apostles.

-- Father Chris +

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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SERVICES & EVENTS
 
This Saturday, May 18, MEN'S GROUP, 8:30 AM, breakfast by Chef Extraordinaire Claude Crump (perhaps grits by Fr. John) and Bible study by Fr. Bragg.  Great food, Bible study and fellowship

Sunday Services, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, & 11:15 AM (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ ) 

Nursery in undercorft for 9:00 AM & 11:154 AM services

Sunday School, 10:30 AM

Wednesday, 12 noon, Holy Communion and anointing for healing, (for online participation for the service go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )

On hiatus until Wednesday June 12 Bible study with Father Bragg, "The Gospel of Saint Mark in the World of Saint Mark"

Monday, June 3, Next Vestry Meeting, 7:30 PM

Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic States Summer Camp
This year’s DMAS camp will be held at Camp Hanover in Mechanicsville, VA from
June 23-29. Application (due June 1) and more information can be found at https://dmas-acc.org
 
The camp is open to all children 8-16 (children older and younger will be considered on a case by case basis).  Please make the application available to your parishioners and encourage them to share with children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighbors.  It is always a fun time for everyone and even those campers who are unsure at first, once they attend, want to return every year.  
 
Each day will begin and end with Morning and Evening prayer. After breakfast we will spend time discussing our Lord, preparing special music, and working on a special art project. As in past years, our afternoons and evenings are filled with a variety of other activities for the kids, including: Swimming (be sure to bring water shoes, the pool is rough on feet), Crafts, Games, Adventure/ Challenge course, Nature Walks, and the Wall Climb.
 
It should be noted that the camp is in need of adult counselors (especially
women). If you can be of assistance, please give Father Weaver a call at 301-
466-1313, or via email at revfrmichael@verizon.net

MaRIH Center (crisis pregnancy center) Needs Our Help Now

MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff provides help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need.  Please provide some of the items that are needed.. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)

Especially Needed
 In Bold are a critical need.

Diapers (sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6)
Lovies
Baby wipes
Diaper rash ointment
Spring/Summer Clothing: 0-3 month 3-6 month, 2T
Baby shampoo
Baby blankets
Bibs
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)
• boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
• pasta (regular and gluten-free)
• instant potatoes
• Macaroni & cheese kits
Soups: Chunky or Progresso; Chicken broth
• Coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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Alexandria, VA 22301-1625