Today was the Fourth Sunday in Advent, the period including the four Sundays before Christmas; the first Sunday of which is always the nearest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew (30 November). Advent is a season of preparation and penitence. We prepare ourselves to celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas, but we also look forward to his second coming. The liturgical color for this season is purple reminding us of the Kingship of Jesus and that Advent is also a season of penitential preparation.
This report covers the Sunday Morning Service of the Fourth Sunday in Advent, the Christmas Eve Service the same night, as well as the Christmas Morning Service.
The weather for the Fourth Sunday in Advent was almost perfect. There were a few wispy clouds. Temperatures were in the low 50s at the start of the service and in the low 60s by the time we ended. Even though we have three services in two days, this morning’s service drew 25 people by the time it started.
Today’s Confirmation – Reception classes focused on Advent and the liturgical color for the season – Purple. Father Acker told us of his grandmother Lydia who always wore purple. It confounded many, but not those who knew of Lydia, the seller of purple dye mentioned in Chapter Sixteen Verse Fourteen of the Acts of the Apostles:
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
In ancient times, purple was the most expensive of dyes. The essence of the dye came from seashells. It was so expensive, it was reserved for kings. In the church, this Royal Color is used for the coming of The King. The Advent Wreath contains four candles, three are traditionally deep purple, one is rose, a light purple. The rose candle is used for the third Sunday which signifies for us a lightening up of the penitential nature of the season as we draw closer to Christmas.
Stephanie Boyd read the Epistle for today, which came from Paul’s first letter to the Philippians, starting at the Fourth Verse of the Fourth Chapter.
Paul calls on us to “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” We are to lead the world to Christ by example, to “Let (y)our moderation be known unto all men.” In this Advent season, as always, “The Lord is at hand.” We are to worry about nothing, “but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” And in the words we find at the end of the Holy Communion Service, may “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The Gospel for today came from the Gospel according to Saint John, the First Chapter, beginning at the Nineteenth Verse. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? John the Baptist “confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias?
And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; he it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”
Sermon
Our Christian Year begins with Advent, the preparation for the coming of the Lord. This “Coming of the Lord” is not just a 2,000 year old birthday celebration, but more importantly an anticipation of His Second Coming.
Over recent years, the emphasis has become more and more on the birthday celebration and less and less on the anticipation of His Second Coming.
Many call our current age The Post Modern Age. The Modern Age is thought to have ended in the early 1960s. In that age, careful observation and rational thought were believed to be the keys to understanding light and dark, good and evil and the world around us. The Post Modern Age shifts from rational to relative. Everything exists as it is perceived in the eye of the beholder. What may be good for you may not be good for me. Everyone is entitled not only to their own opinion, but to their own facts. There is no black, there is no white.
We do not live in a Modern Age or for that matter in a Post Modern Age. Rather we live in the world that God created. God has created the world and in it are good and evil. God does not exist simply or even because we believe in Him, but rather He exists.
We pass through this world as a kind of in the Harry Potter term, Sorting Hat. What we do here determines where we go next. We must keep in mind the Kingdom of God exists because there is a King.
Jesus came to the earth 2,000 years ago and He is coming again.
Let me into you heart, for I hold the key to your happiness and eternal life.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Today we celebrated Fran Dexter’s 64th birthday today. There were no reported anniversaries.
New Name Tags on Sunday
We had no new nametags today. David and Anna Mustol, who moved to San Antonio,were in for the Christmas time and we were happy to have them join us.
After Church Hospitality
The Mcauley-Boyd goody consortium was in full force today. Alex hand painted ginger bread men and other shapes. They were too lovely to eat, but that did not stop the Philistine known as the Beadle. He reports they looked lovely and tasted better.
Just in case that wasn’t enough, Alice Acker brought some spares of the Frozen Fudge. The Frozen Fudge was not as artful as the ginger bread people, but tasted every bit as good.
For those on points, there was fresh fruit with dipping sauce, as well as nuts. Father Acker once again made the Beadle’s day with his excellent homemade lemonade. Tim’s House of Coffee not only provided freshly brewed coffee, but also tea and hot chocolate, as well as sodas.
Christmas Eve
Tonight was Christmas Eve. Traditionally services held after sunset are counted towards the next day. As Christmas is a family day, Christmas Eve services have been the normal custom in the Anglican Church, as well as many other Christian denominations. The weather for Christmas Eve was exceptional. Temperatures were in the low sixties at the start, dropping to the upper fifties by the end of the service. Skies were clear and there was no wind. Stars were bright and the moon was about one eight and mid-transit. Although the service followed the Fourth Sunday in Advent service earlier in the day, we had 27 people for communion.
Christmas is one of the main events of the Christian year, second only to Easter Sunday in theological importance. Each year we not only recall the birth of our Lord and Savior, but look forward to His return, the Second Coming. Today’s world seems to have a lot of problems acknowledging the existence of Christ, let alone looking to His return.
At the start of the service Father Acker blessed the creche, in this case a beautiful three panel stained glass and metal artwork depicting the Nativity.
Alex Boyd read the Epistle for tonight, which came from the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews, beginning at the First Verse of the First Chapter.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved right-eousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Tonight’s Gospel is the narrative of the Nativity from the Gospel according to Saint Luke, the Second Chapter, beginning at the First Verse. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David: ) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Sermon
Tonight Father Acker brought home the reality of our Lord’s birth in Bethlehem. Mary who was nine months pregnant was walking the three day journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem. They went down hilly roads, from Nazareth to Jericho, then up hilly roads from Jericho to Jerusalem. Just before they got to Jerusalem, they left the road to stay the night in Bethlehem. They had hoped to stay in the inn. The inn, for there was only one, in Bethlehem was a large walled courtyard with a sort of roof around the perimeter for camping. The inn building itself was probably a one or two bedroom home. Mary, her time being accomplished, was ready to give birth. There being no room in the little house, they were allowed to stay in the enclosed stable, rather than camp in the courtyard. The weather was probably pretty mild; likely it was spring. Local shepherds were guarding their flocks at lambing time.
This was the world into which God brought His Son. He did so to make it clear to all His kingdom is not of this world. This was a problem for many Jews who were looking for a messiah to lead them to worldly victory, perhaps over the Romans. But God was not sending His Son into this world to be of this world, but rather to prepare us for His world.
God sent the angel Gabriel to bring news of His Son. To whom did He first reveal His Son? To the Chief Priest? To the Tetrach? Perhaps the Roman governor? No, Gabriel brought the Good News to shepherds guarding their flocks. To these lowliest of men, He brought the Highest of News.
They listened, they stopped what they were doing to come to Him. Are you with the shepherds? Will you come to Him?
Jesus came to the earth 2,000 years ago and He is coming again, in the meantime, we prepare for his arrival.
Let me into you heart, for I hold the key to your happiness and eternal life.
Special Notes on the Service
Our Christmas Eve service had musical accompaniment by Father Acker’s Free Teen Guitar Class (FTGC). Patrick Plummer, Alex Boyd and Jack Arnold provided wonderful music for the service, which was really appreciated by the congregation.
Alice Acker brought her famed chocolate chip cookies and scotchies, both excellent!
Christmas Day
Our Christmas Morning service was at Victoria Chapel. The 0930 service was originally scheduled for those who were uncomfortable driving at night, but drew those who awoke early. The weather was incredibly beautiful, there were only four present, but the service did not suffer for numbers.
Your Beadle read the Epistle for the morning, which came from Paul’s letter Titus beginning in the Eleventh Verse of the Second Chapter. “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Paul tells Titus to do what is right, trust is God and worry not. Quoting a later author, “Trust in God and Dread Naught.”
The Gospel for today came from the Gospel according to Saint John, the First Chapter, beginning at the First Verse. This particular Gospel is known as the Last Gospel as it comes from the last Gospel to be written, that of St. John, and it brings the final Word of Jesus to us.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
People in our Prayers
God’s Guidance
Shamim Gray – Please continue to pray for God’s help and guidance for Shamim as she takes care of her three young children, Zack, Aaron and Nadia while her husband Obra is in Iraq and pray for Obra’s safe return. Pray also that their entire family will come to know God’s love, which can bring them happiness and strength by following the clear instructions He has given us through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Commander O is home on two weeks R+R at present, please pray he will grow closer to his family during that time and be refreshed to safely complete his combat tour.
Travel
Ken is visiting relatives.
Muriel is visiting family.
Sick
Gene Hunt has mostly recovered from his hip surgery; but spends most of his time in his wheel chair. Evelyn comes most days to see him at Chase Healthcare Center when her back is behaving itself.
Barbara Emrich has moved around quite a bit over the last couple of months. She is now at the Jacob Health Center. “Not an ideal arrangement” but she is doing quite well after her diabetes has put her in the hospital several times over the last few months. She was writing letters in the dining room when Father Acker visited her last week.
Miney Farrell, below right, has mostly recovered from her minor stroke, please continue to pray for relief of the blurred vision in one eye.
Also at Evening Shade Home, Katie Benjamin, above left, is doing well. Although she says sometimes she feels 96, she sure does not act it!
Donna Dingwall is doing much better. She is grateful for your prayers. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Lorraine Winkles, below, is an “Anglican Catholic” she tells everyone. Of course they ask, “What is that?” and Lorraine get to tell what it means to be an Anglican who follows the ancient teachings of the undivided Church. Lorraine hasn’t been up to driving to Alpine for many years, but she now lives close by in Blossom Valley.
Like to Sing?
Walt and Fran volunteered to lead a new music group at church as soon as Walt is far enough along with his recovery. We may not have a choir, but we will have a music group to lead us. If you are interested, let the Beadle know so he can put together a list for Walt and Fran.
Front Door Lending Library
The Lending Library has some new Annotated Holy Communion Books. These books have the Prayer Book Holy Communion service on the left page and an explanation on the right page. They are a great way to learn about the service. Pick one up when you come in and use it for the service, if you like.
Craig Maxwell and Greg Chase have picked up some new CS Lewis books, one of the most widely read Christian writers and certainly the most famous Anglican writer, as well as an eclectic group of other books. Please feel free to borrow the books for as long as you like, all Greg and Craig ask is that when you are done with them return them so someone else can read them.
The Lending Library is a resource you need to use. Most of the books are short, understandable, but very powerful. Also, if you have any books you would like share, please bring them in.
Thought for the Day – Christmas or Holiday
This is Christmas, though listening to some it might not be apparent. But, there is hope – Not everyone wearing a purple shirt follows the fellow with horns. Listen to what Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester England has to say!
From This is London - A leading Church of England bishop has launched an outspoken attack on "thoughtless bureaucracy and political correctness" for helping to "write Christ out of Christmas".
The Rt Rev Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, points out a small but powerful group of officials are marginalizing religious celebrations out of a misguided oversensitivity to multiculturalism.
Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Bishop Nazir-Ali, who was born to Christian parents in Pakistan, but comes from a Muslim family background, calls for Christians to maintain their traditions to combat the threat posed by Islamic fundamentalism.
“Britain is again faced with the challenge of a totalitarian ideology that... claims to be rooted in a religious tradition, " he writes.
"If Britain is to defend its values successfully, it must rediscover the Christian faith in which these values are ultimately rooted. "
Quoting the example of a charity shop window that had a carol pasted inside - but with all the verses about Christ removed - he says there is "mounting evidence that Christmas is being marginalized" by 'a relatively small number of organizations, publications and people who would like to see Christmas made a matter for private celebration'.
"They have had a disproportionate influence on legislation and on the life of the nation in the past 40 years... employers and schools are reluctant to have public celebrations of Christmas because it could be seen as discriminatory against non-Christians and leave them open to litigation. "
Last month the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, took a similar stance when he criticised Government Ministers for sending non-Christian Christmas cards for fear of offending other religions.
The bishop's remarks follow an extraordinary attack on Tony Blair by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Who also attacked not only Blair, but President George Bush, as well as Britain as it currently exists and, of course, the United States.
In an unusually political message for the Christmas weekend, Dr. Rowan Williams said the Government's "ignorant" and "short-sighted" policy in Iraq had placed the Middle East's Christian population at risk.
The Foreign Office immediately issued a statement insisting that its policies had not increased persecution in the region.
Speaking during a visit to the Holy Land with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O"Connor, the leader of Britain's Catholics, and other church leaders, Dr Williams said the Prime Minister had failed to heed their warning that military action would leave Christians exposed as representatives of the "crusading West".
"What we have seen in the last year or so in Iraq has been attacks on Christian priests, the murder of some Christian priests, and the massive departure of large numbers of Christians from Iraq, " he told the BBC.
"I think there is no doubt that for Christians in Iraq the situation has got worse since the fall of Saddam. "
Dr Williams's comments came after he wrote an article in The Times condemning the Government for having no strategy for dealing with the aftermath of war.
"Iraq's own Christian population is dropping by thousands every couple of months and some of its most effective leaders have been forced to emigrate, ' he wrote.
"In Istanbul, the Orthodox population is a tiny remnant.
"In Egypt, where Christian-Muslim relations have been - and still are - intimate and good, extremist attacks on Christians have become more frequent.
"It's not unknown for Arab Christian families fleeing to the UK to find that their children are told in school that 'they must be Muslims really' and so are hived off with Muslim children for special activities.
And that simply illustrates that we in the UK are seriously badly informed about Middle Eastern Christians. "
The Foreign Office said: "We don't think it is our policies in Iraq that cause suffering of Christians.
"It is intolerant extremism of people who want to cause pain and suffering and chaos in order to promulgate the societies in which they can impose the way of life they want on people who have clearly voted for democracy and democratic government.
"The only way out of this is for us to work closely with the democratically elected government in Iraq to create a society in which the rights of Christians and all are protected. "
Question that only you can answer
What would you like to know about our history, what we believe, what we do or how we operate? Father Acker is looking for material for the Catechism class and the Beadle is looking for Thought for the Day material. Help us help you. Please send your question to the Beadle so we all can get an answer. Just because you don’t know the answer to your question doesn’t mean you are the only one who doesn’t know. But, if you don’t ask, no one will know.
Personal Prayer Books
The Under Beadle has located some very nice, some brand new, personal 1928 Books of Common Prayer. They are available for you to take home as your very own. They were surplus from a church in Florida. The books will be located on the Welcome Table. We have enough for everyone.
Frozen Fudge Sunday
Today was the Fourth Sunday in Advent, which in the Anglican Church is Frozen Fudge Sunday. This year it is also Christmas Eve. Perhaps because of this time honored tradition, perhaps because she wanted fudge, or more likely to bribe our members to attend more than one service, Alice Acker made Frozen Fudge for the entire congregation. If you did not attend the Sunday Morning Service, you did not get any. If you did, you know how wonderful the fudge was. There were samples out on the goodies table and packets for each member.
Thank you Alice!
Third Sunday in Advent
Due to the press of work events, your Beadle was not able to print and mail last week’s Beadle’s Report to those who get it non-electronically. This was not the fault of the Deputy Beadle who handles mailing, but rather the press of work on the Beadle himself. He regrets the late mailing.
Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the First Sunday after Christmas. The Confirmation – Reception classes will be back. Come see if Father Acker can pick up where he left off.
See you next week on Sunday!
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