Holy Comforter E-Messenger for Sunday,
July 6, 2025
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New Volunteer Reports Food Pantry a Diamond Worth Mining
By Dale Davis
As a new volunteer for the HoCo Food Pantry, I have been touched by the humility, politeness and extreme gratitude of our clients. I don't know what I expected, but the experience has me asking, what the heck did I wait so long for? Cindi, Marie, Kipley and all the volunteers (many of whom are not yet HoCo parishioners) have the Pantry running like clockwork, although occasional incidents do spark some added mirth (have you ever tried separating 10 pounds of chicken thighs that have frozen together?). I'm especially impressed by the fact that most of our clients seem to leave with a smile on their faces in addition to the full bags of food that they need help getting to their cars.
So, if you have an extra 90 minutes or so to spare from time to time, I would most definitely recommend this gratifying volunteer opportunity. But if you're "public-shy," there are also some behind-the-scenes ways to help out. These include:
- Picking up donated items from Panera or FeedMore
- Cutting and bagging donated bakery items from Panera
- Unloading donated items
- Stocking donated items on Pantry shelves
And if you can't spare the time and talent but would rather donate food or always-needed funds, I can't think of a worthier recipient than our beloved HoCo Food Pantry.
Don't forget this is Good Samaritan Sunday when we will be collecting grocery items for the Pantry from parishioners. Also, the first Sunday of every month's loose plate offering will go directly to the Food Pantry, so feel free to dig deep this Sunday!
Offerings for Food Pantry
Beginning with this Sunday, July 6, the loose plate offerings from the first Sunday of every month will now be designated to the Food Pantry. This coincides with the Good Samaritan Sunday, also the first Sunday of every month, in which parishioners bring food to church for the Food Pantry.
Shrine Mont Weekend HoCo Retreat - October 17
Registration is now available! The HoCo family will join St. Mark's for the annual Shrine Mont parish retreat Friday, October 17 through Sunday, October 19, 2025. Enjoy delicious meals, worship together, attend workshops, hike to the Cross (optional!), and enjoy a bonfire, skits, and sing-alongs. Free time scheduled as well! Friday dinner is 5:30 PM, and Sunday check-out is at 11:00 AM, with lunch before you head home. All ages are welcome. Register by mail or on-line, brochures are in the Narthex. Contact Melissa Irby mirby1137@outlook.com ) for more information.
Discernment Committee
The Discernment Committee for the next rector has been formed. Parishioners called to serve are: Frank Castellon, Brian Davis, Claire Everett, Peggy Hombs, Deb Love, Joella Rhoades, and Phoebe Winter. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to guide them in their work.
Safe Church Certification
We are blessed at HOCO by creative and energetic children. To ensure that they will always be safe and protected in this place, all adults who work with children and youth are certified by The Episcopal Church in Safe Church practices. In addition, everyone who holds a key at HOCO, all vestry members and all Altar Guild members must be certified in Safe Church practices. The deadline for certification is August 31, 2025. Directions for enrolling in the online training can be found on our website at: https://www.hoco.org/safe_church_instructions.htm
Shrine Mont Camps is in full swing!
Three ways you can be a part of this important ministry: 1- Pray for the campers, staff, parents, counselors, chaplains, and leadership; 2- send a post card or letter to: "Any Camper" or "Any Staff" Shrine Mont Camps, Orkney Springs, VA 22845; 3- Shrine Mont Camps has an Amazon Wishlist for those who want to support camp with supplies. Click here!
Health Brigade Letter of Thanks
Pastoral Emergencies
If you have a pastoral emergency, at any time of the day, please contact Bishop Susan Goff. Susan's phone number can be found in the parish directory. Her email address is InterimHOCO@outlook.com
Diocesan Creation Care Committee Newsletter AND IT WAS GOOD
ROLL AWAY THE STONE by Bishop Susan E. Goff heads this issue of AND IT WAS GOOD. The painting explodes with the energy and joy of the moment of resurrection, surrounded by the colors of nature and the richness of new life, all of which we celebrate in the Easter season. The newsletter also contains one of Bp Susan's poems.
Origin of the Pride flag
by Cameron Hunt
The Rainbow Pride Flag debuted in San Francisco in 1978. The designer, Gilbert Baker, refused a trademark, making it the ubiquitous symbol it is today. Gilbert went on to be a successful vexillographer (flag designer), but now 47 years later, his flag is in danger.
After having flown over world capitals and thousands of pride marches, the Pride Flag has been banned by three US states from flying on public property, following the federal ban executive order this year. In the last few weeks Alabama, Utah, and Idaho have banned the flag from being flown on public property (you can still carry it), while Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and even Gilbert’s home state of Kansas have similar, less restrictive bans related to public buildings. A dozen other states have bills proposing even more extreme bans, including from public marches and protests.
It is more important than ever as we now fly the Progress Rainbow Pride Flag, that we remember the original message of us coming together to fight for our rights, united in our diversity.
Write Now!
It's Easy - and Critical - for You to "Write" Your Congresspeople Now, Even Though They're Democrats
By Dale Davis
Poverty and hunger used to be non-partisan issues. No longer. President Trump's so-called "big beautiful bill" is rife with legislation that will bring poverty, hunger - and worse - to the least among us. And he wants to sign the bill by July 4th! That's why it's critical for all of us to "write" our congresspeople NOW, even though they may be Democrats - they should be reaching across the aisle to appeal to the basic humanity of their colleagues.
It's surprisingly easy to "write" to your congresspeople. All you have to do is use the templates provided at episcopalchurch.org
Once there, scroll down to the list of ministries and click on Office of Government Relations. Then in the box labeled Action Alerts, click on Take Action. This will take you to a list of items that provide a template you can simply sign and send (or customize if you prefer). I used the "Oppose Extreme Tax Cuts" and "Protect Medicaid" templates to combat "the big beautiful bill", and there may be others you wish to use as well. They are listed here in the order they appear on the website. Thank you!
HoCo's Good Works Elicit Gratitude from Our Community
Circles RVA
Circles RVA (circlesrva.org ) equips individuals and families to permanently move out of poverty and thrive. Circles RVA was established by several churches, led by Grace and Holy Trinity in The Fan, where we meet on Tuesday evenings. Circles RVA creates intentional relationships that develop strategies for reducing or eliminating the systemic barriers that hinder people from rising out of poverty. These relationships involve a Leader, who is seeking to improve their life, and Allies who support them. We are currently recruiting Allies for the next cohort. If you are interested in knowing more, please contact me, Don Ellison, in person after services or email me at don.ellison.rva@gmail.com.
School Supply Drive
Saint Of The Week: Thomas Cranmer
Click on this painting of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury and martyr, to hear about the author of the Book of Common Prayer.
This Week's Birthdays
Happy Birthday to all who have birthdays this week!
 | Mary Davis, 5th Rob Hanayik, 5th Judith O'Brien, 6th Joani Hayman, 10th |
|---|
Connections Time - An Important Part Of Growing Our Community
Spending time together after church helps us know each other better, and meet newcomers, and help them to feel welcomed and included. We plan to have Connection Time every Sunday with or without food. To make it less complicated and easier to help, we have updated the Sign-up Genius
( https://bit.ly/hoco_connections ) with these options and are asking that one person take one task on a Sunday:
- Drinks: making coffee, putting out a pitcher of water
- Putting snacks out that will be provided by Parish Life and will be in the kitchen
- Clean-up after Connections
Please consider signing up for one or more options.
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Boze, the vestry person for Parish Life. Thanks for taking part in this important ministry!
Welcome to the Church of the Holy Comforter (HoCo)! Here is Some General Information
Join us at church on Sundays at 10:00 am for a service of the Holy Eucharist. We often use prayers from Enriching our Worship, which offers expansive images of God. We live stream our Sunday morning service on FaceBook and post it to be seen at your convenience on FaceBook.
Parish office hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
If you have a pastoral need, and would like to schedule an appointment to speak with a member of our parish clergy, please contact our parish administrator, Katie, at office@hoco.org.
If you would like to make a financial offering, you may use online giving or US Mail. Thank you for supporting God's ministry to our local community and beyond through HoCo.
This Week's Worship Bulletin
Click on the image above to read this week's bulletin.
Wednesday Worship At Church
On July 9 we will celebrate the feast of Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism. Please join us in the Children’s Chapel in the Parish Hall for Centering Prayer at 11:45 am and for Eucharist at 12:15 pm. Bishop Susan Goff will preside.
Metro Richmond at Prayer (Richmond Hill Cycle of Prayer)
We pray for the criminal justice system in Metropolitan Richmond: For just institutional policies and programs that foster restorative practices, leading to wholeness and healing.
Good Samaritan Sunday
On the first Sunday of the month, we focus on our Food Pantry, celebrating the work that we do and the people we serve. Wondering what to donate to our Food Pantry? Please see our shopping list on the bulletin board in the parish hall and on our website www.hoco.org . You are invited to bring food for our food pantry friends to the Altar Table after the Offertory Anthem during our Presentation hymn. The Food Pantry helped 30 families on 6/3/2025, 10 35 families on 6/7/2025, 37 families on 6/17/2025, and 27 families on 6/21/2025. Thank you for your support. Our next Good Samaritan Sunday will be July 6th.
Monday Night Adult Formation
Monday, June 9th will be the last session of our current Monday Night offering: Examining Jesus' parables with Prof Amy-Jill Levine. The parables have usually been troubling so they've been domesticated to suit the current church desires. Prof Levine takes them back to their troubling roots and rolls in the background from Jewish teachings. The HoCo participants have had plenty to talk about via the Zoom session.
You can find the Zoom link on the HoCo website. Any questions, please contact Maria Scott, ntrvrt1958@gmail.com .
Informal Artists of HoCo announces UFOs – Un Finished Objects
We'll meet in the Conference room from 10:30 - noon (ish) on Tuesdays to work on our own personal projects. Knitting, sketching, drawing, writing... good conversation and busy hands! All are welcome - bring a friend. Contact Kipley Herr if you have any questions.
The Current Messenger
Click on the image above to see this season's issue.