Quicklinks:
-Dedicate altar flowers https://forms.gle/9MYAw6CdHjvdjH4H8
-Host coffee hour https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080445ACAF2E5-57613910-coffee#/
-Submit a prayer request https://forms.gle/ZdxuP36Commodo6L6
-Request a nametag https://forms.gle/SS27AueptdmQT64Q9
-Listen to last Sunday’s sermon https://youtu.be/fMlKuNrkPRM?t=985
-Watch Sunday School for Adults https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8yU2xXdBbcVjsKnUK8xlRnvPDb__posy
Word of the Week
Our word of the week is Benedictus. There are actually several liturgical texts called the Benedictus; this week, we are looking at the one whose longer name is the Benedictus qui venit, generally considered part of the Sanctus in the Eucharistic prayer. There is a tradition some Episcopalians observe of crossing oneself during the Benedictus, a practice prompted in our bulletin for those who wish to observe it.
Hey, Baby!
It has been a big week for babies at St. David’s! Congratulations to Cody Boteler & Sam Shelton, whose daughter Maeve was born on Saturday morning. Everyone is healthy, happy, and home.
Congratulations to Allie & Ryan Keyes, whose daughter Lucy was born on Monday. Big sister Grace is thrilled!
And congratulations to Lori & Scott Martinet, whose granddaughter Lizzie was born in New York last week. Lori and Scott went up to watch Lizzie’s big brother and greet Lizzie when she arrived.
Parish Office Hours
Our parish secretary Kelly Buchanan is back from her summer vacation, and normal office hours have resumed. The parish office is open Monday-Thursday, 9am until 3pm. If you need something outside of those hours, or want to see Fr. Todd or Mtr. Santana, contact them directly. Fr. Todd’s day off is Thursday, and Mtr. Santana’s day off is Friday.
Rest In Peace
John B. Thomas II, brother of Lydia Thomas, died on July 29th. The burial office for John will be read at St. David’s on Saturday, August 8th, at 11am, with a reception following in the Sailer Room.
Outreach: Chess Players Needed
A group of our parishioners volunteers at the St. Luke’s Youth Center afterschool program to play and read with the children, and some of the children there have expressed an interest in learning how to play chess. One parishioner has volunteered to instruct the children, but we could use a few more chess players to help. If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Holly Crosby.
Outreach: Back-to-School Backpacks
The St. David’s Outreach Committee is once again looking forward to assisting Holy Nativity, Pimlico with their back-to-school backpack project. As well as contributing funds for supplies, some of us will help fill the backpacks at Holy Nativity, and we invite you to join us on August 29th. It’s a fun, sociable event where we get to know our neighbors better! Please contact Mary Galvin Wilson or Kate Kenny if you’re interested. If you’d like to contribute school supplies (click here for the supply list), that is also very welcome. You can leave them in the office at church and we’ll take them with us on the 29th.
Confirmation 2026
The Rt. Rev’d Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, Bishop of Maryland, will be visiting us on Sunday, December 13th, 2026. She will be offering the rite of confirmation and reception at the 10am service that day. Confirmation is for folks who are baptized and are ready to make a mature affirmation of their faith. We’ve had many adult confirmands here at St. David’s in addition to youth confirmands. The diocesan “minimum recommended age” is 15, but I will make exceptions for youth as young as 12, just talk to me! If you were confirmed already as a Roman Catholic, ELCA Lutheran, or Eastern Orthodox, or were baptized as adults, will be received rather than being confirmed. Those confirmed in churches outside of the historic apostolic succession (churches other than the ones named above) will be confirmed in The Episcopal Church. There will be classes; we’ll choose a time once we know who is wanting to be confirmed or received. The first step is to fill out this form and let us know you’re interested!
Dedicating Altar Flowers
There is a long tradition of “dedicating” the flowers we have on the altar on Sundays to the glory of God and in memory of someone who has died or in thanksgiving of someone still living, commemorating birthdays, anniversaries, or some other important date or holiday – the anniversary of a baptism, or in honor of a child or godchild’s graduation. All Saints’ (Nov. 1st this year) and Easter are occasions on which you might wish to dedicate flowers in memory of dear ones who have died, and on Christmas, you might want to dedicate flowers in thanksgiving for your children and/or grandchildren. Dedications, along with the names of the donors, are listed in the worship bulletins just above the opening words of the service or on a special page in the Christmas and Easter bulletins.
If you would like to dedicate the altar flowers, use our online form here. We’ve changed the form so that you can do multiple dates on one form! You can submit dedications up to a year in advance, so if you know you want to dedicate the altar flowers between now and the end of August 2027, go ahead and submit them. The suggested donation for altar flowers is $75. At St. David’s, we have other flowers in addition to the altar flowers at Christmas and Easter, and you can use this form to dedicate those Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies; the suggested donation is $20 per name and please put “poinsettia” or “lily” as your flower preference on the form so we’ll know you’re not dedicating the main altar flowers on those days (though you can do that, too, if you’d like!). Donations can be mailed or dropped off in the office or the collection plate; please memo your check, write on the outside of the pew envelope, or attach a note, “flowers.”
After Sunday services, the altar flowers get a second life when they are sent out to folks who are sick, recovering, grieving, or celebrating, so when you dedicate altar flowers, you’re taking part in a good deed, too!
Nametags
If you haven’t requested a nametag yet (or if you’re having a hard time with your magnet and want a pinback nametag), request one by clicking this link; magnets are the default, so if you want a pinback, make sure you note that (there’s a question at the end of the form). It’s ok to have more than one nametag – we have plenty, and we can always order more! Give Kelly a week or two after submitting your request and then look for them on the little table against the back wall of the church between the north entrance and the pew. If you don’t see yours, just let Fr. Todd know and he’ll find it.
Estate Bequests
August 1st is the feast of St. Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy follower of Jesus who gave his own tomb for Jesus’ burial (Mt 27, Mk 15, Lk 23, Jn 19). According to later Medieval legends, Joseph was Jesus’ uncle, brought Jesus to England when he was a little boy, and later became the keeper of the Holy Grail and brought it to England, too. He’s also responsible for the famous Glastonbury Thorn.
Because he gave his tomb for Jesus’ burial, Joseph of Arimathea became the patron saint of funeral directors and undertakers, and he is invoked in all matters concerning burial – for example, one of the funerary chapels at the Washington National Cathedral is named for him. His feast day is also my reminder to ask you to consider remembering the Church, and specifically St. David’s, in your estate plans. Generations of generous St. David’s parishioners have made gifts to St. David’s in their estate plans, and it has made all the difference, subsidizing our annual operating budget (38% of our operating budget comes from endowment and trusts) and giving us a reserve from which we can draw in lean years, buying us time to adjust and grow. In addition to endowment/trust gifts, estate bequests have provided for capital improvements to our campus, sometimes providing for the beautiful things we use in worship, and sometimes literally keeping a roof over our head.
If you haven’t already included a gift to St. David’s in your estate plans, I hope that you will consider doing so. Remembering Joseph of Arimathea and his gift to the Church, take the time this August to update your own estate plans to include St. David’s. All gifts are received with joy and thanksgiving, and even what you might think is a small gift is significant when it becomes part of our endowment, producing income in perpetuity to support the parish.
Summer Choir
Join Director of Music Douglas Buchanan and two section leaders at 9am on Sunday mornings to learn a low-stress piece which we will sing during the Offertory. This is a casual opportunity to make friends through music and offer our gifts in the service; it’s fine if you don’t have much experience singing or making music. There’s no audition to join, and you aren’t required to be present every single Sunday. If you’re interested, contact Dr. Doug.
Sunday Mornings for Children
Our professionally-staffed Nursery is open from 9am until noon. Your kids can be there throughout the service or you can go down and get them at the offertory so that they can join you for Communion.
We all need a break sometimes. We’ll be broadcasting the 10am service live on the TV in the Great Hall downstairs. If your child needs to let it out, feel free to go down there and take a break and be as loud as you need to be, or run around in circles, and still not miss any of the service!
Please Pray For:
Debbie and family, Jim, Corky, Tod, Kathleen, Darlene, Robert, Mark, Leila, Bill, Amy, Nancy, Meg, Manish, John, Katie, Linda, Barbara, Eleanor K., Judy, Allison, Randy, Peter, Dockery, Anne, David, Jim, Dianna, Will, Nathaniel, Penny, Elizabeth, Betsy, Anne, Mike, Patricia Ann, Russell, Betsy, Braeden.
Serving This Sunday:
8am: Lector: Cleaveland Miller
Intercessor/Chalice: Stan Klinefelter
Usher: David Trebing
Altar Guild: Jill Heptinstall
Flower Guild: Corby Pine
10am: Lectors: Daniel Casasanto, Leslie Norton Bethell
Intercessor: Mike Olson
Chalices: Jane Stone, Corky Hovermill
Crucifer: Cecilia Collins
Ushers: Rich Hall, Susan Gardner-Seitz
Altar Guild: Mary Louise Dawson
Flower Guild: Corby Pine
Tech Team: Hugh Bethell
Coffee Hour: Barbara Pilert