Communion at Home

Hi All,
I thought I would remind everyone that Stephen Ministers can give communion at home to anyone who is unable to get to church on Communion Sundays. All Stephen Ministers have gone through training by Rev. Gordon and have portable communion kits to administer the elements. These elements have been consecrated at the communion service each month just as is the communion served at the worship service. Call the church office if you would like this service. Communion is this next Sunday, August 1st at church. Gods Blessings, Diana

Stir Up a Hunger

So many wonderful things are going on at Rockport. We have free ice cream on Wednesday nights drawing big crowds, trail groups going on theatre trips, bike trips, book study group, and golf outings, and always outdoor worship each Sunday this summer. Spread the word and watch us grow.
At worship yesterday we had a "Ministry Through Music" sermon. Marty Miller sang beautiful worship songs and one song in particular touched me and I would like to repeat it:
Day into night
You can turn the dark into light
You can take a soul that was lost
And turn it around
Lord on my own
My heart can turn as hard as a stone
But You can make it tender again
With Your love
Chorus:
Stir up a hunger, stir up a hunger in my heart
Nothing will satisfy me, nothing else will do
Stir up a hunger
A hunger in my heart
Stir up a hunger in my heart for more of You
Have a blessed week. Diana

Family of God

We are having a busy church week. This weekend we had a funeral and a wedding, both with receptions after the services. This next week we have another funeral. One active church member said to me how close he felt to our church through working to make a reception or event come together with other church family. We might consider growing closer to Christ through Mark 3:35... "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister..." Obedience to God, therefore makes us the family of God. Let us try to fulfill the promise. God's Blessings, Diana

A Prayer for Independence Day

The outdoor chapel was beautiful for Independence Day this past Sunday. Communion was had by all. I found this prayer for the 4th, from an Episcopal Church prayer book:

Lord God Almighty, in whose name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have the grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Blessings this week, Diana

The Art of Being

The outdoor chapel was beautiful this morning for worship. Our Vacation Bible School children sang songs they learned this past week in VBS and we had a report on our annual conference at Lakeside. God was in our worship. The following is a reading from Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in Saratoga, California and something worth repeating:

Be understanding of your enemies.
Be loyal to your friends.
Be striong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone.
Be generous to those who need your help.
Be frugal with what you need for yourself.
Be open enough to believe in miracles.
Be willing to share your joys.
Be eager to share the sorrows of others.
Be a leader when you see a path others have missed.
Be a follower when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty.
Be the first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.
Be the last to criticize a colleague who fails.
Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not stumble.
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.
Be loving to those who love you.
Be loving to those who do not love you, and they may change.
But above all, be yourself. Have a blessed week. Diana

Happy Father's Day

Hello to everyone, and especially to all the fathers on this Father's Day.What blessings our families have given to us! What a blessing our church family is to us! After all, we are all God's children and he is our Father.
Have a good week, Diana

Hello Friends

After a 2 week absence from this site, I am back. My computer has had a virus and my son has nursed it back to health. My visitation ministry has been continuing. A lot of Random Acts of Kindness by congregation members, in the form of meals for those home from the hospital, have brought joy to the givers and the receivers. This week the minister and most of the staff are at Lakeside for the Annual Conference. I will be calling on those members in the hospital or in need and referring any needs I can't meet to the pastor for his return next week. At church yesterday a member and certified lay speaker gave the sermon. The title of the sermon was "Forgiveness Through Faith". It was a beautiful sharing which included the song "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". I thought I would share the words with you in my blog as they touch my heart.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

What a thought to carry with us through life. God's Blessings, Diana