Dear Friends

Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Prayer for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels)

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love entrusts me near, ever this day be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule, to guide. Amen. (Childhood prayer)

I am looking forward to being with you this Sunday and for the next four Sundays in a row. Last Sunday I preached at All Saints Episcopal Church in Saugatuck, Michigan. The priest reminded me that this week is also the day in the Episcopal Church that celebrates angels. I know it’s not an observance in the Puritan tradition that we belong to, but I bet I am not the only congregationalist that believes in angels. So I’m veering off the lectionary this week and asking you to think about who your angels have been or are, by your definition, human or celestial. Bring pictures or representations if you like to Zoom church. My sermon is “Send me an Angel!” Here’s a little secular inspiration: https://youtu.be/0R6WIbx8ysE.

Please note we are back on Zoom again this week. In October we’ll likely go back to in-person worship. Please be sure to wear a mask. On October 17 we’ll have a “room and Zoom” community conversation to talk about finances and future plans. That’s my last Sunday. We’ll line out what the last of this year will look like, preserving the continuity, and maybe what 2022 might bring. We’re doing room and Zoom to ensure the participation of as many voices as possible. We’re monitoring the trajectory of Covid19 carefully. We might not always do business or church this way, but we’re still in Covid time, hopefully coming out of it. Don’t come to church if you aren’t comfortable, or if you’re not feeling well, or if you’re not vaccinated. We will enable your participation virtually.

Save this date: Some of us are planning an observance/protest for Sunday afternoon on October 3 in memory of the third anniversary of Chinedu Okobi’s death. Details to follow. https://www.kqed.org/news/11751421/family-of-black-man-who-died-during-arrest-sues-san-mateo-county.

I can’t wait to see you on Zoom on Sunday!

With faith and hope,
Rev. Jim Mitulski

P.S. Our next book for the reading group is The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. It’s short, beautiful, and highly readable. Treat yourself and join us in reading even if you can’t come to the discussions.

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