St Edmund's Episcopal Church San Marino

STEDY, September 13, 2017

The skin is the toughest part, once you’ve broken through that the rest is easy. The hope is that the inside will be crisp, juicy, sweet and refreshing – exactly what the outside promised. Despite assessments like squeezing, smelling and scanning for a blemish, it’s only until you have bitten into the apple that you will know whether or not it is good. The reality is it’s a gamble, it could be mealy, dry, there could be a worm or worse – half. Once that skin has been broken, the apple is done. You can’t put it back with the hope the next person won’t notice. The cut will shrivel inward betraying your act.

It was genius to use such a fruit to describe the fall of humanity. It’s so simple that even a young child can relate to this story. Whatever that thing is that tempts us, that calls us to do what we are not supposed to, it always holds such promise. It always offers exactly what we didn’t know we wish we had and it teaches us dissatisfaction. It becomes like a slinky serpent, slithering around our minds, reminding us, never allowing us to forget. The story of the fall is a fascinating depiction of the human condition. While we could see this passage from Genesis as providing theological permission to judge others for their struggles or even weaknesses. Instead I think this passage reminds how we each have our own “apples”, we are all vulnerable and need one another for support and grace.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, September 21
Huntington Middle School Auditorium

Partnership for Awareness
Stuck in the Middle: How to Help Your Middle Schooler Not Just Survive but ThrivePanelists will consist of Dr, Alex Cherniss, SMUSD Superintendent, Mr. Jason Kurtenbach, Huntington Middle School Principal, Chief John Incontro, SMPD and Huntington Middle School Counselors. Discussion will center on issues faced by middle school students followed by a Q&A session with panelists.
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Sunday, September 24
Team 4 Acolyting
Family Worship
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms

Confirmation Class
4 – 6 pm | Church

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Sunday, October 1
Blessing of the Animals
Team 1 Acolyting

Confirmation Class
4 – 6 pm | Church

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Sunday, October 8
Team 2 Acolyting
Recognition of Darlene Porter and Installation of Liz Westphal
as Director of St. Edmund’s Nursery School.
Family Worship
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms