2007 Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

Today was the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity. The tropical moisture of the last two weeks was gone, a marine layer extended to the West Willows, odd for September. By the end of the service, we had clear skies, temperatures were in the mid-70°s and 22 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 last six weeks or so.

This week’s portion covers the liturgy of The Sacrafice.

Liturgy of the Sacrifice
Today we continue our Instructed Eucharist where we stop to learn about the meaning of our liturgy. We now begin the great Action that Christ ordained. This is our act of obedience to His command to “Do this in remembrance of me.” In addition to the other sacrifices, during this next part of the service each of us needs to offer ourselves to God.

This part of our service is based on Christ’s Four Actions:

• He took;
• He blessed;
• He broke;
• He gave.

This is the outline of the Liturgy of the Sacrifice—the actions of Christ himself.

These actions occur on two levels. The first level is in what God did in offering His Son as a sacrifice for our sin. And second, in Jesus allowing us to share in His sacrifice, that is in our lives being joined with his in His sacrifice. That is to say our lives need to be given to God:

He Took Our lives need to be consecrated;
He Blessed Our lives need to be made anew,
He Brake We need to receive the new life given back;
He Gave We make our offertory

The Father offered His Son. An Oblation of himself once offered.
It is the perfect gift of love. Jesus, fully a human being like you and me, was God’s complete gift for us. This was shown in Christ’s teaching, preaching, and healing. We know it as we take to and make part of ourselves: His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. And in a way that we can touch and feel now, in the food of Holy Communion, Our Lord offers His very life to us in this sacrament.

At the first Maundy Thursday at the Last Supper, Jesus said, “This is my body…this is my Blood.” Our offering is the next step in response to God’s gift.

What are we Offering?

Obedience—Jesus said “Do this!” It wasn’t optional or if you feel like it or If it seems meaningful.

We offer our Lives. The bread and the wine symbolize our lives. In the First and Second Century Church, the Church family would bring all sorts of things: If you kept bees, you might bring honey or candles. It might be fruit from the garden. You gave of what you produced. Most of us don’t produce products. You don’t get paid in goats or chickens. Money represents what we produce. So clergy and vestry don’t have to trade chickens and oranges to get what we need to do the work of ministry and mission of our congregation, most of you put checks in the offering plate and not eggs. It makes it easier on the Acolyte and Ushers taking the collection as well!

These things are represented in the bread, wine, and money of the Offertory. It is our Sacramental Offering, because through it we offer our lives to God. The “Green Card” with your Name is to help you in an outward and visible way to “Give your life to God.”

We ask that God would take our life, to bless, to brake, and to give.

Our life is given to God, to be placed upon the Altar.

What we have thought, said, and done; It is not “Accept me for who I am.” We give ourselves to God that God might make our lives to look like Jesus. God says to us, I’ll take you as you are right now, and I will take your life, bless it, brake it (remake it in my image), and give it that you might have life for eternity.
 
The Altar—the place of sacrifice.
Tabernacle: The altar of sacrifice at the center of the Tabernacle before the Tent of the Presence & the Holy of Holies. Off to the Right was the Laver (Clean up station). The altar was for the offering of dead animals in our place, the slaughtering of animals, the proscribed giving of one life to receive life from God. It was a barbeque pit. The animal was roasted. Some offerings were roasted. Some were burnt up—whole burnt offerings.

Before we come to Church, we should look at our lives so that we can place all these things, good and bad, upon the altar at the Offertory. In a few moments our imperfect offerings to God will join with the perfect offering of His Son. In a mystery full of wonder, what we offer as bread and wine will be given back to us as Christ’s body and blood. Our lives, given to Christ, are given back to us cleansed and transformed by His life.

Altar—Altar Stone placed upon a Table.

Altar Cloth or Fair Linen

Candles & Cross—Practical: so you could see. 7 lights the Christ being the central, light of the world. Holy Communion two extra lights: one on the Epistle side & one on the Gospel side. One at either place where the Altar Book was sitting so you could see it.

The school doesn’t let us use real candles because of the fire danger. But we do have the
symbol of the light.

On the altar is often kept a small house, or Tabernacle for reserve sacrament, on our altar is the portable communion kit, wherein is kept our reserved sacrament

The following are terms for the items used in the Holy Communion Service, we do not have pictures, so if you missed the service, come back in two years, or in the alternative, do a bit of research on your own.

The Corporal—place mat (stored in the Burse)
Veil—cover for the holy vessels
Chalice—cup                       Flagon or Cruet
Paten—plate                        Ciborium
Purificator—napkin
Credence Table—side table
Bread box, cruets of wine and water, bowl & towel, & offering plates, and whatever.

The priest places a wafer of bread on the paten, or plate, for each member of the congregation (those present & those who are homebound). Thus every communicant is offered to God as the priest holds it up as he says a prayer of offering to God.

The Priest’s Host is not special—it’s just big so that it can be seen.
The Priest blesses the water. Originally wine was kept in clay jars. As the seasons pasted, water would evaporate through the walls of clay. So the wine became thicker. So you would cut the concentrated wine with water to bring it back to normal strength. It took on the reminder that when Jesus died upon the Cross and was pierced with the spear in his side, out flowed blood and water. Blood of the perfect sacrifice and Waters of Baptism that we might receive Salvation.

The bread we use is made just of wheat flour and water baked as a thin wafer. We could use other types of wheat bread. Traditionally it is Unleavened Bread, made without yeast. This is what was used at the Passover meal that Jesus kept with the Apostles at the Last Supper. Leaven in the bible is usually a reference to sin. So the bread that is offered is without sin; that is Jesus, God’s only Son who was without sin—a perfect offering.

We don’t use rice cakes. Why? It would be more relevant, culturally correct to offer Hershey Bars and Starbucks Coffee. So why don’t we? Because Jesus used unleavened wheat bread and grape wine. Not plum or elderberry wine.

Then the Priest washes his hands. In a practical sense it was to get the grime off, but it was purifying, being made ready to handle “holy things.” Again after Communion the priest will wash the Chalice and his hands which have held “holy things.”

The Acolyte holds the Lavabo Bowl and Lavabo Towel while he pours water from the cruet. While washing his hands he recites part of Psalm 26 to remind him of the inward purity that he should have as he approaches the altar. At the same time, you may wish to repeat the Psalm silently remembering we should be inwardly pure.

I will wash my hands in innocency, O LORD; * and so will I go to thine altar;

That I may show the voice of thanksgiving, * and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Intercession
Having offered ourselves to God in the Oblations, the bread and wine, we now offer Him the work of our hands for the spread of His kingdom.
We begin with the Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church. In this prayer we offer prayers for all estates of men and women in God’s Holy Church on earth and in heaven.

That is what we ask in our Intercession: God here are members of our family needing you to do you best for them as leaders, as family, as those in need.

We intercede for the People of God—our Church family. Other prayers are offered for those outside the family of God. Our prayer here is about our Communion with God.

During this prayer, the congregation silently (sometimes aloud) add their intercession for those of the Church family who need God’s help. Traditionally, this was on of the liturgical roles of the Deacon. The Deacon would stand at the head of the congregation, with his stole in hand, offering up the needs of the family. The Diaconate, the Ordained Servant Ministry, were those who would see that all of the family was provided for. Most specifically, those who could not care for themselves—orphans, widows, and the ill.

Deaconesses, women who have been dedicated by the Bishop, has been preserved in the Anglican Province of America. Historically they carried on the major ministry in hospitals, but also to birth of children. Historically, Deaconesses did not have a liturgical function, except in the baptism of women.

Deacons, men ordained by the Bishop, oversaw ministry to “those without protectors”, that is orphans, who have no parents to provide for them, so it would fall to the family of the Church. Likewise, widows, who in the past ages frequently had no standing or at least disadvantaged under the law; so the Deacons advocated and made provision for widows. Likewise, the ill and the destitute.

As an add on to the written prayer, forming a litany, optionally the congregation may respond to each part of the prayer saying “Lord, hear our prayer.” It is our prayer, singular, because we pray as one, rather than our individual prayers.

Confession of Sin
In the Catholic faith, we have three ways of confessing our sins. God offers His forgiveness in each of them. Corporate confession is what we do in the service. But we also have private confession, in which we ask God to forgive our sins in our private prayer, and lastly, we have sacramental confession, in which we confess our sins to God in the presence of the priest. Each of these has a place in our spiritual rule of life.

Here we offer confess our sins as the family of the Church. It is not our individual sin, but as a family member. As the family of God we have “done and left undone” things required by God. Together we acknowledge our sins, asking forgiveness of God, (and those wronged!), and we purpose amendment of life.

Following the Confession, the priest declares God’s forgiveness or absolution of our sins making the Sign of the Cross. When we make the Sign of the Cross at the word “pardon”, we are showing that we have faith in God’s forgiveness.

The Comfortable Words are phrases from the New Testament that of renewed hope and remind us of our Lord’s promise of forgiveness and everlasting life.

As in all of the Sacraments, it is vital that we receive Holy Communion as people who have made themselves worthy of this special gift from God. We know that there is nothing that we can do to earn God’s Grace, because it is His free gift, and is not merited by any of us. No, it is not something earned, but it is something that we can lose.
 
At the center, the focal point, is the Altar with the Cross where Christ made His sacrifice that we might live.

Dru Arnold read the Epistle, which came from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, the Fifth Chapter beginning at the Sixteenth Verse. Paul tells us that Heaven and Earth are in conflict in our lives, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” If we are led of the Spirit, we are not under the law. If we are subject to the law, which we are bound to break due to our own inability to be ultimately good, we are also bound to the pit. But if we are with Christ, we are forgiven of our sins, providing we are truly repentant. We will enjoy “the fruit of the Spirit … love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

“I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

Today’s Gospel started in the Seventeenth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, beginning at the Eleventh Verse. Jesus comes upon ten lepers who appeal to Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” He does and tells them, “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.” As they left him, their leprosy disappeared. One of the ten, “when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.” Jesus marveled at the nine who turned not saying, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Once again a Samaritan, the “least” among the Jews was the only one to recognize and offer thanks to the Power of God. Do we recognize the power of God in our lives?

“And it came to pass, as Jesus went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Sermon - Which Way?
What should we learn from today’s Epistle? Paul gave us a whole lot of thing not to do, which he called works of the flesh:
• Adultery;
• Fornication;
• Uncleanness;
• Lasciviousness;
• Idolatry;
• Witchcraft;
• Hatred;
• Variance;
• Emulations;
• Wrath;
• Strife;
• Seditions;
• Heresies;
• Envyings;
• Murders;
• Drunkenness;
• Revellings;
• Then, just in case he missed any thing: “and such like”

This list is pretty much all inclusive. We each have a leaning or two to some of them, but think about it: Who wants to be around someone whose goal is to maximize each of the items on the list.

But on the other hand, to what does he commend us?
• Love;
• Joy;
• Peace;
• Long-suffering (aka Patience);
• Gentleness;
• Goodness;
• Faith
• Meekness;
• Temperance (in all things, not just drink)

Look at the list and see who you would rather be around.

One should not come to church to be better than others, rather to get the tools you need to scratch items off your first list and add to items on your second. We should come to worship our Lord and gain His wisdom through His love.

It is not enough to say you “love”, but rather you must act out that love with faith, goodness and patience. Do the words sound familiar? Check list two. Remember,

Actions speak louder than words.

There is no book in the Bible titled Beliefs of the Apostles.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
No reported birthdays or anniversaries today.

After Church Hospitality
Martha Stevens brought goodies today. She had these little chocolate cupcake things that jump into your mouth, how they pry your lips apart without causing any pain is beyond your Beadle. There were also chocolate chip cookies and the obligatory grapes for the points impaired.

Coffee was off to an early start with Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley at the controls. If Father Acker got up early enough to make his famous low carb lemonade, it was gotten before your Beadle made it to the table. Very sad.

Travel
No reported travel.

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 recovering at home from a kidney infection. 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.

Barbara Emrich is back in the Atrium part of Jacob Health Center. Father Acker was not able to visit much as she was not feeling well and was in bed for the day.

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.

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.


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.

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. 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.

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

16 September 2007 Hap Arnold
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 Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. There will be 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.

Father Acker is continuing his 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