Welcome to St. Mark's Episcopal Church Little ones make a joyful noise to the Lord.  Monday, May 12, 2008 Five Day Forecast Today's Headlines The Day of Pentecost Scriptures    Isa. 63:7-14    2 Tim. 1:1-14    Luke 11:24-36 Rector's Diary Archive of Thoughts for the Week Rectitudes All Saints' Episcopal School Thought for the Week: 5/05/08 Who Does Your Laundry?    Thousands of homes all over the country are preparing joyfully to receive their college and school young folk back home and lower the water levels of many reservoirs washing clothes that may not have received the touch of water since mid-January.  With this thought, I was pleasantly reminded of a sign from the days when we helped lead the college ministry 20 years ago in San Marcos.  A feisty redheaded campus peer minister put it up in the kitchen there, where we had supper every Wednesday night for 30 or 40 collegians: GOD IS YOUR FATHER BUT WE ARE NOT YOUR MOTHER CLEAN UP YOUR OWN DISHES    Part of our job as Church is serving others.  Another important part is teaching manners and civility and responsibility, to young and old alike.  The two are not opposed notions.  Just like every family, doing the chores, and helping everyone to take their part in doing the chores, are both important tasks.    We’re coming up on Mother’s Day.  God bless ’em, they cleaned up after us all our lives, and they taught us how to do it for ourselves, eventually, despite all our resistance.  Thank them for both those things, when you call or write or stop by, and if they are not still on-planet, stop a minute this day (and everyday), and thank them as you pray your prayer for them. And then pass it on.  Clean up someone else’s mess, and then help them learn how to do it for themselves.  It is all part of the same lesson—Gospel and Law, loving and learning, Jesus and Holy Spirit.     You will know the Holy Ghost has truly arrived for Pentecost when the kids do the laundry for themselves.  It beats speaking in tongues! Frank Fuller+ A Prayer for the Human Family - BCP, page 815 O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take awy the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.