Summer, Gratitude, and the Gift of Community
Author: Rev'd Nancy Cox
June 17, 2026
Summer arrives with a different rhythm. School schedules pause, vacations beckon, and many of us find ourselves spending more time outdoors, enjoying the longer days. Summertime invites us to slow down, notice God's creation, and give thanks for the blessings that surround us and cooler evenings as the heat of the day passes.
June brings Father's Day, an opportunity to honor fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers and all who have offered wise “fatherly" guidance. We give thanks for their encouragement, teaching, and the ways they have reflected God's steadfast love through their care. We also hold in prayer those for whom Father's Day carries grief, longing, or complicated memories, trusting that God meets each of us with compassion and grace.
As summer unfolds, the life of the Church continues. While routines may change, our need for faith and community remains the same. Gathering for worship, sharing fellowship, serving our neighbors, and praying for one another remind us that we belong to something larger than ourselves. In a world that can often feel divided and hurried, Christian community offers a place of welcome, hope, and encouragement.
Thank you to each of you whose extra effort made our “Prayer in the Park” June 14 meaningful and enjoyable. I deeply appreciated the time to be in God’s creation and have longer conversations with the people of St. Mary’s and their families and friends. Looking ahead, please plan to join fellow folks of St. Mary’s at the baseball park on July 11 and the food bank on July 12. If you are traveling, take time to look up a local Episcopal Church and please, by sharing your experience with us—we can learn from how others are living out their faith.
Whether you are traveling near or far this summer, or simply enjoying the familiar comforts of home, may this season be filled with blessings and may you find moments to rest in God's presence. May you discover joy in simple gifts, gain strength for the journey ahead, and offer gratitude for the people who walk beside you in faith as we continue to grow together at St. Mary’s—a community rooted in the love of Christ.
BACK