Today was the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. The morning temperature at Mount Olympus was 50°F, temperatures at church were in the low 70°s. With absolutely wonderful weather, we had 25 people present.
Every couple of years, Father Acker does a series of instructional Holy Communion services. He provides contemporary footnotes as it were for the service. This gives us a chance to find out why we do what we do and what it means. This is not only interesting but fun and you have a lot more appreciation of what we are doing each Sunday. If all works out according to schedule, the instruction will continue for one more week for a total of six weeks.
We have made our way to Page 76 of the Book of Common Prayer and discussed the service up to the “Comfortable Words”, we now continue with the Sursum Corda:
Priest. Lift up your hearts.
Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord.
Priest. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
Answer. It is meet and right so to do.
“Lift up your hearts,” is an ancient salutation, asking us to give thanks to God. It dates back to the earliest texts of Apostolic times. And having confessed our sins, it is truly meet and right that we joyfully praise and thank God.
Proper Preface
We talked about the Proper being the Collect and Lessons fitting the theme of the day. A variable part of the preface to the consecration is also included. Some suggestions are printed in the BCP. It is optional: the Priest may choose to add specifics for the Saint of the Day or nothing at all. The BCP includes some specifics because “What we pray is what we believe.” It is our Anglican belief. You can’t miss our belief in the Virgin Birth and bodily resurrection.
¶ Here shall follow the Proper Preface, according to the time, if there
be any specially appointed; or else immediately shall be said or sung
by the Priest,
THEREFORE with Angels and Archangels, and with all
the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy
glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of
hosts, Heaven and earth are full of thy
glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High. Amen.
PROPER PREFACES.
CHRISTMAS.
¶ Upon Christmas Day, and seven days after.
BECAUSE thou didst give Jesus Christ, thine only
Son, to be born as at this time for us; who, by
the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man,
of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and
that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin.
Therefore with Angels, etc.
EPIPHANY.
¶ Upon the Epiphany, and seven days after.
THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord; who, in substance
of our mortal flesh, manifested forth his
glory; that he might bring us out of darkness into his
own glorious light.
Therefore with Angels, etc.
And so on and so forth.
The Holy, Holy, Holy or Sanctus reminds us that Christians never worship alone, but our action is united with that of heaven itself. We join with the heavenly host praising God in anthem found in Isaiah and Revelation.
Here the Sanctus Bells are rung. Bells are to recall our attention and focus. The bells remind us that something important needs our attention. We join in all of creation in praising God. This is a major point in our worship—Sometimes the priest bows low at the words Holy, Holy, Holy as all creation bows in worship.
The Benedictus, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest, was used in much of Western Christendom. It is the greeting of Jesus’ triumphal ride into Jerusalem. We come to see Jesus!
The Prayer of Consecration starts with the rubrics (top of page 80), which are liturgical directions:
¶ When the Priest, standing before the Holy Table, hath so ordered the
Bread and Wine, that he may with the more readiness and decency
break the Bread before the People, and take the Cup into his hands, he
shall say the Prayer of Consecration, as followeth.
The bread is broken and made visible to the congregation and the cup is taken into the hands of the priest. Continental Protestant reformers, if they said the Communion Service, didn’t make any sign or even pick up the bread and the cup as they believed that Jesus was not present in the Bread and the Wine. Anglicans however, believed that Jesus became particularly present.
Think for a moment, If Jesus wanted to more specifically say he was present, what words would he have used? It is “This is my Body; This is my Blood” that is the center of this Sacrament throughout the life of the Church.
The bells are rung announcing the start of the most sacred part of the service, the Consecration. In this prayer the Bread is taken, blessed and broken and the Wine is taken and blessed. The priest repeats the words that Jesus spoke. “This is my Body…this is my Blood. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Remembrance has a special meaning of “bringing present.” In the prayer it is as if a window in time were opened and we are present at the Last Supper. At Christ’s words, He is present in the form of Bread and Wine.
Sacramentally, the rubrics point out that it is This Bread & This Wine that we Take, Bless, Brake, and Give as Christ Jesus present in his Body & his Blood. Anglicans have always insisted the Jesus is truly present; we call it the Real Presence of Christ. The Bread and Wine are not obliterated or cease to be, but they are changed to make Jesus present with us. Not a symbol, not a thought, or an idea. Unlike before the consecration, Jesus is present here in a specific Bodily Presence. It is his spiritual reality breaking in upon the physical world.
The Exhortation warns us of the danger if we eat and drink failing to discern Jesus’ presence. Just like the benefit is great if we do recognize his Presence in our receiving Holy Communion.
The Priest genuflects and holds high the Host and Chalice that all may see and worship. There is a story of a priest who didn’t hold up the Sacrament high enough to be seen and someone called out “Heave higher, sir priest, heave higher!”
The Body and Blood are elevated that we might adore our Lord present with us silently saying, “My Lord and my God.” Some make the sign of the Cross reminding ourselves of Jesus’ gift of himself to us. The bells call us to attend.
Kneeling for the Consecration is one of the signs of our recognizing Jesus bodily present with us. While some cannot kneel given our health and bad knees, and the difficulty of getting up and down is magnified with the folding chairs. The kneeling pads help some. What is important is we kneel in our hearts before our Savior.
Prayer of Oblation
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is re-presented to the Father, and we are made part of His perfect sacrifice. Our imperfect offering is made perfect through His “blessed passion and precious death.” The Priest spreads his hands in presenting the offering.
Prayer of Invocation
This part of our Eucharistic Prayer is most importantly part of our American Anglican heritage. You won’t find it in the English Books of Common Prayer. It comes from the Scottish Anglicans. You might recall that the Church of England, in controlling the colonies, would not consecrate a bishop for the American colonials. If we might think it inconvenient to have our bishop in Seattle when we have jet planes, think of the inconvenience of a boat trip from England! After many attempts with the English, the Anglican colonists went to the Anglicans in Scotland. The Scottish Anglicans were influenced by the ancient Church and Christianity as it developed in Eastern Orthodoxy. A prominent element in their communion service was to ask that the Holy Spirit would descend upon the bread and wine to make Jesus’ Body and Blood present for us. So we ask God they be “blessed and sanctified with the Word and Spirit.
The offering of the Church is made compete through the blessing of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the Church and imparts new life. At the Invocation, we ask the Holy Spirit to bless our offering and make us partakers of Christ’s Body and Blood. At the Invocation the Priest extends his hands over the Bread and Wine as he asks that the Holy Spirit descend upon the gifts.
Sanctification
The concluding paragraph asks God that our receiving Holy Communion might give us grace, that our lives would be Taken, Blessed, Broken and Given. Not because of something we’ve done to deserve it, but because Jesus has made it a reality.
At “Here we offer and present…ourselves” the Priest bows and extends his hands in offering of ourselves.
The Priest makes the sign of the Cross over the Bread & Wine asking that we may partake of Jesus Body & Blood. The Priest and many in the congregation sign themselves with the Cross as we ask that we may be “filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction.”
At the end of the Consecration the Priest takes the Large Host and makes the Sign of the Cross over the Bread & Wine at the words “through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom and with whom,” and in a circling motion of unity, “in the unity of the Holy Ghost be all honor and glory.”
Hap Arnold read today’s Epistle, which came from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, the Sixth Chapter beginning at the Eleventh Verse. Paul continues to warn us of the conflict in our lives between the things valued here on earth and those which are valued by the forces of heaven (God). Writing to the Gentiles in Galatia, using to the rite of circumcision as a symbol for all of the law, he warns, “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.” Those who are every eager to have you follow the “law” themselves fail to follow it. He goes on to say that Jesus’ new covenant transcends the law and the law no longer has hold over man. For in Jesus there is salvation, may “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
“Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
Today’s Gospel started in the Sixth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, beginning at the Twenty-Fourth Verse. Jesus tells us, “No man can serve two masters …Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” There is only one first place, only one can be in that place. We either place God in first place or we put something else there. If we wish riches in this world as the most important thing in our life, we place the things of this world in first place. If we follow our Lord Jesus and His instruction, we place God in that first place. But, what of this world? “Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?” Jesus tells us not to worry, for worry is of no positive value. When faced with a problem, we must do our best, not merely claim to do our best, and trust in God. For, “which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?” God knows we have need of the things of this world while we are in it, he knows we worry about, “What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” If we first seek “His kingdom, and His righteousness” He will take care of all our necessities. But we must do as He asks, not merely say we are doing so.
Jesus tells us, “Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” We are not to worry, but to our best and let the morrow come as it will. We are to do our best, not merely say we are doing our best. For if we truly do our best, then that is all that can be done and there is no point in worrying.
Using an earlier phrase, Trust in God and Dread Naught.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Sermon - Ordering your life
In this modern world, we have so much going on in our lives. So many things call for our undivided attention that we are like the rich man. The rich man whose difficulty in getting in to heaven surpasses the difficulty of passing a camel through the eye of a needle. While it should be easier for a rich man to follow God’s will, for he has little he must do to gain food and shelter, it is not. Why? Because so much competes for his attention.
Jesus followed His Father’s will and put all others before Himself that we might have life everlasting. Thus He set an example of us to follow. If we will put Jesus at the center of our lives, live our lives the way He would have us live, to put others’ welfare and happiness before our own, we will find the eternal life and happiness He promised us.
If we center our lives on our selves, we surrender to the EGO of an imperfect being, rather than follow the clear instructions of a perfect Being. Putting one’s self first, one’s ego (Edging God Out) is a dysfunctional order for imperfect beings. Like the workers in the vinyard, we can be grateful for eternal salvation as our wages or we can be resentful of those who “did not do as much as I did” and lose that salvation because we become self centered valuing our ego while Edging God Out.
If we will put the Cross at the center of our lives, our lives will fall in place.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported anniversaries today. We did have the opportunity to celebrate Ben Lizak’s 71st birthday with him today.
Happy Birthday, Ben!
After Church Hospitality
Dru Arnold brought goodies today. A combination of homemade (curried chicken salad sandwiches), store bought (toffee cookies) and super natural (almonds and the ubiquitous grapes) which were very well received. An indication of how good the goodies really were is that your Beadle was so busy eating, he forgot to take pictures; his sincerest apologies.
Coffee was almost forgotten with Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley on travel; luckily Barrista Ben Lizak came through and fresh coffee was brewing before the service started. Once again, Father Acker got up early enough to make his famous low carb lemonade.
Guests
While we had no new nametags today, we were blessed with the presence of Reverend and Mrs. Callum Matthews, an Anglican Priest from North India who currently lives in North County. In addition, Aaron Huber’s mother Cinda is staying with them and joined us for our service. It is always a pleasure to see her.
Travel
Tim and Jan are on travel.
Hap, Dru and Jack are on travel this week.
Sick or in need of healing
Betty Cooke
Diane Chase
Muriel Pappin
Fran Dexter
Martha Stevens
Victor – Donna Dingwall’s husband, just got out of the hospital and is in need of prayer for increased strength. Please pray for his rapid recovery.
Marie “Rede” Acker – Father Acker’s mother broke her good shoulder on 14 July 2007. She is back home with her husband Jack. Please pray for her rapid recovery.
Annie Springer is still recovering at home from a kidney infection, she is also having vision difficulties and problems stabilizing her diabetes medication. Your prayers are asked for her completed recovery and for strength for the Springer family as she gets well.
Lona Walsh (Wanda Michaelis' mother) surgery has been put off.
Miney Farrell is doing great an looking forward to getting back to church in the next week or two!
Lorraine Winkles is still battling the shingles. She hopes not to set records for the most persistent case. She appreciates our praying for her on Sunday mornings.
Donna Dingwall is doing well enough that she and her family were able to do a bit of travel. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Rest in Peace
On Friday, 14 September 2007, Helen Lizak, Ben’s mom who has been in nursing care for several years, passed away. Please pray for Ben and his family as the mourn her passing and for the repose of her soul. Ben is planning on a graveside service, perhaps later this week.
On Saturday, 15 September 2007, Barbara Emrich passed away. There likely will only be a memorial service at Victoria Chapel. Father Acker will provide details as available.
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.
And let light perpetual shine upon them.
May their souls, and the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.
Back Door Lending Library
We have some new Amazing Grace books of several flavors, in addition, there are still several sets of the Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis, as well as some background books on the series. There are plenty of sets, so don’t be shy.
There are also 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.
Personal 1928 Books of Common Prayer & Bibles
During his many travels and general rooting around, your Beadle has come across some very nice personal 1928 Prayer Books and leather bound Bibles. If you would like one, please contact him directly.
How is it that nurses are authorized to do baptisms at Christian hospitals?
The proper minister in Baptism is any baptized Christian. While it is normal for a person to be baptized into the community of faith, on a Sunday as part of the regular service or a special service; these days the priest normally is the minister. However, in other times in the life of the church, Deacons baptized men and boys and Deaconesses baptized women and girls. This was very practical as people were baptized in the nude in that culture. I don’t think it will make a comeback.
What Deacons or Deaconesses performed was only the baptizing with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The priest or bishop still said all of the rest of the prayers and anointed with Holy Chrism.
So today a baptized Christian nurse might baptize a new born in an emergency, or perhaps if you came upon a car accident and the person wanted to be baptized you could do the baptism. If the person survived the emergency, it would be expected that they would be brought to the church so that the rest of the prayers of being made a member of the Body of Christ might be completed. Baptism at the side of the road isn’t without precedence if you remember your bible. [Hint: Philip and the Ethiopian]. While no one would say that a car crash or an emergency in the neo-natal ward is the norm, it is sufficient given your own baptism to minister the Sacrament of Baptism.
With the passing of Tertullian in 220AD, it appears that those who would oppose women performing emergency baptisms have lost their leader. In the event a person survives the event which precipitated the emergency baptism, they should come to the church and be received into the church. If they do not survive, Christ will handle the reception personally.
Like many things, if you cannot find the answer in the Bible, look in the BCP, in this case at the bottom of page 281:
PRIVATE BAPTISM.
¶ When, in consideration of extreme sickness, necessity may require, then the following form shall suffice:
¶ The Child (or Person) being named by some one who is present, the Minister shall pour Water upon him, saying these words:
N. I baptize thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
¶ After which shall be said the Lord’s Prayer, and the Thanksgiving from this Office, beginning, We yield thee hearty thanks, etc.
¶ But NOTE, That in the case of an Adult, the Minister shall first ask the questions provided in this Office for the Baptism of Adults.
¶ In cases of extreme sickness, or any imminent peril, if a Minister cannot be procured, then any baptized person present may administer holy Baptism, using the foregoing form. Such Baptism shall be promptly reported to the Parish authorities.
THE RECEIVING OF ONE PRIVATELY BAPTIZED.
¶ It is expedient that a Child or Person so baptized be afterward brought to the Church, at which time these parts of the foregoing service shall be used:
The Gospel, the Questions (omitting the question Wilt thou be baptized in this Faith? and the answer thereto), the Declaration, We receive this Child (Person), etc., and the remainder of the Office
During confirmation classes, on 24 September 2006, we discussed Baptism, including this very question:
Baptism
What do we believe of baptism[1]? First, let’s look at our Articles of Religion, specifically Article Seventeen:
XVII. Of Baptism
Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or New-Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God.
The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.
When we are baptized, we are joined to the church based on our promise, or a promise made on our behalf, to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. In return for accepting what is freely given by Jesus, we receive the gift of salvation, which provides a propitiation[2] for our countless sins. Without the intervention of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are condemned to the pit. Through Him we gain eternal life.
When we are baptized, we commit to putting aside our old self and accepting the salvation that Jesus’ gift of dying in our place brings.
All well and good, but what if?
What if a baby dies before being baptized?
What if a person never hears of Christ?
God is Truth,
God is Love,
God is Good.
While we don’t recommend taking chances, for we are told what happens to those who are baptized into Christ, we also know God is consistent. Because in addition to Truth, Love and Goodness, God is consistent. We need not worry about the fate of those who die before they have an opportunity to be baptized.
What if I am not sure about the baptismal status of one who is about to die and wants to be baptized?
There are two things to remember, both in the Armed Services Prayer Book:
· Conditional Baptism
· Baptism in Extremis
A person whose baptismal status is unknown can be baptized, “If you have not been baptized before, I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost …”
Yes, but what if the Padre is taking fire somewhere else? – Any baptized Christian can baptize the person.
Yes, but what if there is not water? – Any water will do, more than one person has been baptized with spit. Some might say that doesn’t seem to church-like. Perhaps the threat is not close enough if you have time to think that.
-----------------------------
[1] Baptism - The act of baptizing; the application of water to a person, as a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the visible church of Christ. This is performed by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring. [1913 Webster]
[2] Propitiation - 1. The act of appeasing the wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.
2. (Theol.) That which propitiates; atonement or atoning sacrifice; specifically, the influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing the divine justice, and conciliating the divine favor.
[1913 Webster]
He [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins.
--1 John ii. 2
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Kind of like manna, more than you wanted to know!
Question that only you can ask
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 continuing education 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.
Post Service Parish Meeting
We had a short meeting after the service to discuss progress on actually doing what our Mission Statement says we will do:
Grow closer to God and spread the good news of His Son Jesus Christ, our Savior, locally and throughout the world by prayer, word and deed in the Anglican tradition.
There was no real outcome, Father Acker brought up a couple of small ways we are trying to spread the Word, Ben discussed ways we might come up with ideas. We will try to make the post service meeting a regular feature, probably once a month.
Missionary Diocese of Viet Nam
If you did not get the initial briefing on the Anglican Missionary Diocese of Vietnam, please look at the Beadle’s Report for 22 July 2007.
Forward in Faith, NA has fallen by the wayside. They are of no help, but at least so far no hinderance as they appear to move towards irrelevance.
Plans are moving forward. Bishop Boyce has finalized the schedule, now a seven day trip instead of ten. The twelve candidates have been chosen and named:
• Nguyen Huu The
• Huynh Ngoc Thien
• Nguyen Quang Dang
• Nguyen Van Thanh
• Nguyen Binh An
• Bui Quang Trung
• Nguyen Ly
• Ynien Apor
• Nehermi Apor
• Le Khanh Tan
Pham Ngoc Hue
We are still looking to complete funding by the end of this month. Father Acker is approaching all the various Anglican churches, but if you know someone outside the church who might like to help, call Father Acker. This is the most cost effective way your Beadle has seen to spread the Word. Your Beadle is in front of this project and trusts you will follow him with your heart.
We invite you to join in the prayers we have been praying each night that:
• The people of Vietnam will not lose their ardor for the church;
• The people here will provide the support they can;
and where prayer is most needed:
• The church hierarchy will not place roadblocks in the way of the Lord's Work.
Please also pray for a safe and successful mission for Bishop Boyce and Father Mai.
Epistle Readers
In response to requests from the congregation and the readers, we will be posting the list of Epistle Readers in the Beadle’s Report from henceforth. This way, you can either plan your attendance or your pre-reading as the spirit so moves you.
Date Reader
23 September 2007 Jan Macauley
30 September 2007 Stephanie Boyd
7 October 2007 Alex Boyd
14 October 2007 Greg Chase
21 October 2007 Holly Lizak
28 October 2007 Ben Lizak
Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. Father Acker will be on his final Sunday of instructional Holy Communion, providing contemporary footnotes as it were for the service. You will have a chance to find out why we do what we do and what it means. This is not only interesting but fun and you will have a lot more appreciation of what we are doing each Sunday. Don’t miss it!
Come to church so you won’t want to wait for the Beadle’s Report to find out what happened.
See you next week on Sunday!
Father Acker posts a .pdf version of the current Beadle’s Report on the church website:
http://alpineanglican.com/BeadleReports.htm
An alternative version of the Beadle’s Report without photographs is available at:
http://web.mac.com/thebeadle/iWeb/BeadleBlog/Blog/Blog.html
All back issues of the Beadle’s Reports are available on request from:
thebeadle@mac.com
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