Dear St. Timothy Folk,

Welcome to the Season after Pentecost!  Sunday, May 31st, was the first Sunday after Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, one of the seven principal feasts of the church year.  “Celebration of Trinity Sunday was approved for the western church by Pope John XXII in 1334. This feast is associated with Thomas Becket (c. 1118-1170), who was consecrated bishop on Trinity Sunday, 1162. His martyrdom may have influenced the popularity of the feast in England and the custom of naming the remaining Sundays of the church year “Sundays after Trinity.” The Sarum Missal and editions of the Prayer Book through the 1928 BCP named these Sundays the Sundays after Trinity. The 1979 BCP identifies this portion of the church year as the season after Pentecost, and names these Sundays the Sundays after Pentecost (see BCP, p. 32).” [Episcopal Dictionary of the Church]

Many in the church know this season as “the long green season”, which can last as much as six months, depending on the date of Easter.  It is also known as Ordinary Time, not because it is common, but because the weeks are numbered.  The Latin word ordinalis refers to numbers in a series.  We get the word order from its Latin root ordo.  Ordinary Time includes the season following Pentecost and the season of Epiphany following Jesus’ Baptism.  The color green, which symbolizes hope, life, and growth, is used for this season as well as the Season of Epiphany.  

For the Lectionary, we will be following the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, track 1. This track takes us through the saga of our forefathers and foremothers in faith: Abraham and Sarah; Isaac and Rebekah; Jacob, Leah, and Rachel; Joseph; and on to the Exodus, with Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.  In the summer months, we will use Eucharistic Prayer C, which specifically calls us to remember our forefathers and foremothers.  The New Testament lessons for the next few months are primarily taken from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.  The Gospel readings heard during this season from the Gospel according to Matthew teach us about the life and ministry of Jesus, and help us to grow in our life of faith and ministry through his teaching.

If you are traveling, we pray for you safety in your journeys.  Catch up with us on Facebook.  If you are staying in the area, join us on Sundays to share in the prayers and hymns as we worship as the family of God, together.

Blessings,

Rev. Linda +

On Saturday, May 30th, St. Timothy’s Vestry and I gathered with the Vestry of St. Mark’s Dalton and their Rector, the Rev. Rick Tiff, in a conference room at the Carpentry Hotel in Dalton for an all-day Vestry Retreat, facilitated by the Rev. Frank Baltz.  We shared material Rick and I had heard at a diocesan Clergy Day in Atlanta presented by the Rev. Dr. Ted Smith about the changing cultural and spiritual context in which the Church finds itself, and its impact on churches and other volunteer-based organizations.  We also explored ways we could learn from one another and looked at possibilities for sharing ministry and fellowship opportunities.  There was a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm in that room.  Expect to hear more!