John the Baptist, the prophet, and forerunner of Jesus, was the son of elderly parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah, and was related to Jesus on his mother’s side. His birth is celebrated six months before Christmas Day, since, according to Luke, Elizabeth became pregnant six months before the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.

John figures prominently in all four Gospels, but the account of his birth is given only in the Gospel according to Luke. His father, Zechariah, a priest of the Temple at Jerusalem, was struck speechless because he doubted a vision foretelling John’s birth. When his speech was restored, Zechariah uttered a canticle of praise, the Benedictus, which is one of the canticles in the Daily Office.

John lived ascetically in the desert. He was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey. He preached repentance, and called upon people to prepare for the coming of the Kingdom and of the Messiah, baptizing his followers to signify their repentance and new life. Jesus himself was baptized by John in the Jordan. He had many followers, some of whom became Jesus’ disciples. Because of his denunciation of the sins of Herod, especially Herod’s incestuous marriage, John incurred the enmity of Herodias, Herod’s wife, and was put in prison. Through Herodias’ plotting with Salome, her daughter, Herod was led to promise a gift to Salome, who demanded John’s head. John was thereupon executed.

John is remembered during Advent as a prophet, and at Epiphany as the baptizer of Jesus. The Gospel according to John quotes the Baptist as saying to his followers that Jesus is the Lamb of God, and prophesying, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).

Saints Peter and Paul, the two greatest leaders of the early Church, are commemorated separately, Peter on January 18, for his confession of Jesus as the Messiah, and Paul on January 25, for his conversion, but they are commemorated together on June 29 in observance of the tradition of the Church that they both died as martyrs in Rome during the persecution under Nero, in 64.

Paul, the well-educated and cosmopolitan Jew of the Dispersion, and Peter, the uneducated fisherman from Galilee, had differences of opinion in the early years of the Church concerning the mission to the Gentiles. More than once, Paul speaks of rebuking Peter for his continued insistence on Jewish exclusiveness; yet their common commitment to Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel proved stronger than their differences; and both eventually carried that mission to Rome, where they were martyred. According to tradition, Paul was granted the right of a Roman citizen to be beheaded by a sword, but Peter suffered the fate of his Lord, crucifixion, though with head downward.

A generation after their martyrdom, Clement of Rome, writing to the Church in Corinth, probably in 96 A.D., says: "Let us come to those who have most recently proved champions; let us take up the noble examples of our own generation. Because of jealousy and envy the greatest and most upright pillars of the Church were persecuted and competed unto death. Let us bring before our eyes the good apostles — Peter, who because of unrighteous jealousy endured not one or two, but numerous trials, and so bore a martyr’s witness and went to the glorious place that he deserved. Because of jealousy and strife Paul pointed the way to the reward of endurance; seven times he was imprisoned, he was exiled, he was stoned, he was a preacher in both east and west, and won renown for his faith, teaching uprightness to the whole world, and reaching the farthest limit of the west, and bearing a martyr’s witness before the rulers, he passed out of the world and was taken up into the holy place, having proved a very great example of endurance."

8:00am Holy Eucharist

9:00am Adult Bible Study, Room 1

9:00am The Bible in 90 Days, Parish Hall

10:00am Holy Trinity Bookstore Open

11:00am First Sunday of the Month Potluck

5:15pm Holy Eucharist

5:15pm Holy Eucharist and Healing

7:00pm Boy Scouts, Parish Hall

7:00am HE and Women’s Breakfast

9:00am Children's Day Out

10:00am Holy Trinity Bookstore Open

7:00am HE and Men’s Breakfast

10:00am NO Holy Trinity Bookstore Open

5:30pm NO Supper, Parish Hall

5:45pm NO EYC, Youth House

6:00pm NO Study of Hebrews, Room 2

6:00pm NO The Bible in 90 Days, Room 1

7:30am 1928 Morning Prayer, Nave

9:00am Children's Day Out

9:45am Rector's Bible Study, Room 1

10:00am Holy Trinity Bookstore Open

11:00am Holy Eucharist and Healing

5:00pm Wedding Rehearsal

11:00am Wedding

If you would like to help, call Angela Stephens at 685-4135.

Wednesday, July 4: Independence Day. Deuteronomy 10:17-21, Palm 145, Hebrews 11:8-16, Matthew 5:43-48.

Mike Peek

Robert Stewart

Jack Bilbo

Mark Wheeler

Laura Scott

Team II will serve June 30 - July 6. Barbara Leeton, Captain. Nancy Stewart, Janet Sam, Bonnie Hubbard, Kay Sirgo, Cindy Carpenter, Terry Staub.

Ann Curtis will serve breakfast on Tuesday, July 3, 2007, following the 7:00am Holy Eucharist.

David Cooley, Joe de Compiegne, Earl Baldridge will serve breakfast on Wednesday, July 4, 2007, following the 7:00am Holy Eucharist.

Those having a birthday: Jane George, Blair Wellen, Bryce Boring, Caitlin de Compiegne, Ceci Westmoreland, Louie Clarke, Pattye Fields, Marjorie Grella, Jonathan Huseman, Kelsey Clark.

Those having an anniversary: None.

Please call Cindy in the Parish Office to place a name on the Prayer List. Deadline is Friday at 2:30pm.

For Those in the Military: Bo, Eli, Nick, James, Kimberly, Chris, Mike, Rosemary, Justin, Lisa, Craig, Jody, Andrew, David, Steven, Jordan, Sean, Michael, Patrick, Etienne, Annie, Casey, Nick and his Platoon, the 293rd, and Victor.

If you know of anyone in the Armed Forces, please feel free to call the Parish Office and place his or her name on the Prayer List.

Please call the Parish Office at 683-4207, and let us know when someone from Holy Trinity is in the hospital or rehab center. We don't want to miss anyone. Thanks!

Adult Bible Study: led by Jim May in Room 1.

The Bible in 90 Days: Parish Hall

Women's Bible Study: led by Paula Howbert in the Parish Hall. 12noon. Brown bag lunch.

The Bible in 90 Days: Room 1.

Study of Hebrews: Room 2.

Rector's Bible Study: Thursdays at 9:45am in Room 1.

Wednesday, July 11: Late Night Movie Night at the Stephen's home, 406 Carol Lane. 8pm - 11pm. We'll be watching Stand and Deliver

Wednesday, July 18: 6:00pm, Swim Party at Abby Morrow's home, 1703 North "I" street.

Wednesday, July 25: 5:45pm, Deck Tennis- it's volleyball with a ring instead of a ball. Bring friends to play.

The Youth House will be open for hanging out from 9:00am-10:00am on the following Sundays:
August 5
August 12
August 19

Questions? Call Emily 664-2972

We had over 45 volunteers lead and shepherd the 160 children who participated in VBS this summer. They were all super stars in my opinion and made the week one of the smoothest ever! Thank you doesn't seem to be enough for all of the hard work you all did for the children at VBS. Great Job!

A big Thank you also goes out to all of our fabulous cookie bakers. Your tasty treats really addED a special touch to an already great week.

July 1-Children's Sermon

July 8-Dedee Boring

July 15-Kasey Chester

July 22-Anna Chester

July 29-Dedee Boring

August 5-Children's Sermon

August 12-Kasey Chester

August 19-Anna Chester

August 26-Dedee Boring

September 2-Children' Sermon

Every Wednesday, Bob Hilton comes to Holy Trinity to pick up food in the grocery cart in the Parish Hall to give to the poor who attend Comunidad Alabare. Please remember to bring food, especially canned or dry goods. Remember, need knows no season. Thank you!

Fr. Mark: frmark@holytrinity.org

Fr. Andy: frandy@holytrinity.org

Joyce Petrich: joyce@holytrinity.org

Cindy Wimberly: cindy@holytrinity.org

Dedee Boring: dedee@holytrinity.org

Emily Klemme: eyc@holytrinity.org

Tyree Johnson:

tyreejohnsonmusic@yahoo.com

Karen Parnell: cdo@holytrinity.org

A six-week support group for individuals who are actively caring for loved ones in their home, nursing home or assisted living facility. July 11 - August 15, at 12 p.m. on Wednesdays, at 911 W. Texas. A light lunch will be provided.

For more information, or to register, please call Ann or Cindy at 682-2855.

When in sorrow, read John 14

When men fail you, read Psalm 27

When you have sinned, read Psalm 51

When you worry, read Matthew 6:19-34

Before church service, read Psalm 84

When you are in danger, read Psalm 91

When you have the blues, read Psalm 34

When God seems far away, read Psalm 139

When you are discouraged, read Isaiah 10

If you want to be fruitful, read John 15

When doubts come upon you, read John 7:17

When you are lonely or fearful, read Psalm 23

When you forget your blessings, read Psalm 103

For Jesus' idea of a Christian, read Matthew 5

For James' idea of religion, read James 1:19-27

When your faith needs stirring, read Hebrews 11

When you feel down and out, read Romans 8:31-39

When you want courage for your task, read Joshua 1

When the world seems bigger than God, read Psalm 90

When you want rest and peace, read Matthew 11:25-30

When you want Christian reassurance, read Romans 8:1-30

For Paul's secret of happiness, read Colossians 3:12-17

When you leave home for labor or travel, read Psalm 121

When you grow bitter or critical, read 1 Corinthians 13

When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, read Psalm 67

For Paul's idea of Christianity, read 2 Corinthians 5:15-19

For Paul's rules on how to get along with men, Romans 12

When you think of investments and returns, Mark 10:17-31

For a great invitation and a great opportunity, read Isaiah 55

For Jesus' idea of prayer, read Luke 11:1-13 & Matthew 6:5-15

For the prophet's idea of religion, read Isaiah 1:10-18,

Micah 6:6-8

Why not follow Psalm 119:11 and hide some of these in your memory?