2007 Seventh Sunday after Trinity - Senior Warden’s Party

Today was the Seventh Sunday after Trinity. Summer is in full swing. Temperatures were in the mid-70°s at the start of the service and right at 80° by the end. With a number of people on travel and several attending soccer games and the like, we had 25 people attending.

Continuing the series of Christian Education Class on discovering Church Membership Father Acker talked about our mission. You may recall from last week the 5 Biblical Purposes for our congregation:
• Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind
• Love thy neighbour as thyself
• Make disciples of all nations
• Baptizing them
• Teaching them

These came directly from Jesus’ Commandment and His Commission. The Commandment, which was recorded by Saint Matthew, Chapter 22, beginning at Verse 36:

Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Just after that scripture, in Mathew Chapter 28, Verse 17, we find the Great Commission:
Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

All well and good, but what does that mean to the Parish of the Blessed Trinity? Our Mission Statement puts it pretty clearly:

Following Anglican tradition, we will 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.

We believe through our Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission God will grow a Great Church!

The Anglican Tradition we speak of is in effect our family history. The Word came to England in the first century AD with Roman soldiers and merchants. Although there are no written records until the fifth century, legend holds that Joseph of Arimethea, who provided the tomb for the burial of Jesus Christ, brought Christianity to England in 37 AD. He is said to have built a church in Glastonbury in Somerset. Whether Joseph of Arimethea was the first to carry the faith to England or not, Christianity did arrive in England by the middle of the first century and was established there by the middle of the second century. Saint Alban, who was killed in the year 304, is believed to be the first English Christian martyr, and the British church was represented at the Council of Arles in 314 AD. When the Romans left England around 400 AD, the Church was cut off from the rest of the world. In the year 597, Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine, Prior of the Abbey of Saint Andrew in Rome and recently consecrated as a bishop, as a missionary to England. King Ethelbert and his Christian wife welcomed Augustine, and the king was converted and baptized. Augustine later became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Anglican way is a series of independent catholic national churches linked together in communion and unity of purpose. Unlike the Roman church is it not controlled by a centralized government with the ultimate power in one man.

Our Mission: We will grow closer to God, describes our personal an joint responsibility for each of us to grow closer to God. It does not happen by itself. Like an orchard, dead wood is not allowed, it means watering, pruning, and fertilizing. It doesn’t happen by itself.

We work together so you can grow in God.

We care how you’re doing. Ministry is asking How can I help?
           
Growing up is not always easy, we are there not only to help each other, but to be able to share our story.

God will challenge you to grow, there is something wrong. Living things are growing things.

Second half of our mission is “spread the good news of Jesus”; Bishop Michael Marshall said, “We have a song to sing and a story to tell.”

If God has touched your life, If you have come to believe & follow Jesus…You have a story that needs to be heard.

Your story will be different from mine; at 13 I realized Jesus being my Lord was having someone telling me what to do.

Our growing and our telling our story require the whole of our life, from now to the end; in our prayer, in our words, in our actions.

It is our Mission as members of this congregation.

We believe through our Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission God will grow a Great Church!

Mike Springer read the Epistle, which came from the Paul’s letter to the Romans, beginning at the Nineteenth Verse of the Sixth Chapter. Paul reminds us that when we strive above all else for the things of this world, we gain nothing we can take with us to the next. “For, when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” Conversely, if we will be servants of God (righteousness) we can be free from the devil sin). “… the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. If we will follow God, we will live, not only forever in the next world, but better in this world.

“I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Today’s Gospel started in the Eighth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, beginning at the First Verse. Jesus had been in the wilderness teaching a multitude, some four thousand in number. In those pre-restaurant on every corner days, the people had been without food and were hungry. Jesus was concerned and inventoried their supplies, seven loaves and a few small fishes. He gave thanks to God, and commanded the food to be set our before the people. When they had eaten their fill, the scraps gathered up from the seven loaves filled seven baskets.

“In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.”

Sermon - True Religion
Wednesday is the Feast of Saint James. James was the half-brother of Jesus, brother of our Lord, by Joseph, presumably by Joseph’s first wife. James had become the leader of the Church in Jerusalem. You might say he was the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Bishop of Rome of the Church in the decades following Jesus’ resurrection. In his letter, James talked of “true religion.”

Sometime around AD50 James wrote:

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1.27 KJV

Here is the bottom line: Because of the life we are given in Jesus, we look after the innocent, those who have no one else, and to live not for this world, but to live for eternity.

Jesus lead from the front, He set an example, He never asks us to do anything He Himself had not done. After all, that is the whole reason for the God incarnate. To lead us to Him, not to try to push us there.

If you believe this, what are you doing to reach out to those in need? Jesus never asked us to help those who would not work, but rather those who could not work. There is a big difference.

What are you doing for orphans and widows?

Birthdays and Anniversaries
We had no reported birthdays or anniversaries today.

After Church Hospitality
Sadly there was no after church hospitality today. On the bright side, if you read below, today was the Senior Warden’s Brunch, which was even better!

Travel
Shamim, Zach, Aaron and Nadia to the UK to visit Shamim’s family.

Sick or in need of healing
Betty Cooke
Diane Chase
Muriel Pappin
Fran Dexter

Marie “Rede” Acker – Father Acker’s mother broke her good shoulder in a fall Saturday morning 14 July 2007. With only the one “good” shoulder, she will have a difficult six week recovery. Please also pray for her husband Jack who will be under great stress.

Lona Walsh (Wanda Michaelis' mother) surgery has been put off.

Evelyn Hunt was back in the hospital for severe back pain again. While she is back to visiting Gene at Chase Nursing Care several days a week, she has had some on going pain and tests.

Gene Hunt was enjoying the music program on Friday when Father Acker went to take him communion. Gene especially enjoyed hearing “Mini’s” animated performance every 3 weeks.

Barbara Emrich was moved to the Southside of Jacob Health Center. The dining/common room where Barbara spends a good part of the day has floor to ceiling windows looking out into one of the garden areas.

Miney Farrell has been enjoying one of our “donated” prayer books. We’re hoping to work out a ride once a month for her to visit Church instead of Church visiting her. Greg Chase is going to see if he can make that happen as soon as he gets a Sunday off to come to church himself.

Lorraine Winkles is finally recovering from shingles.

Donna Dingwall is doing quite a bit better. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Rest in Peace
Wanda Michaelis’ father, William, passed away on 12 July 2007. He has been on our prayer list for the past couple of months.
 
Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord.
And let light perpetual shine upon him.
May his soul, 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
While not strictly part of the Front Door Lending Library, we have some personal 1928 Prayer Books. A church in Florida disposed of a nice quantity of personal hardback 1928 BCPs in excellent to new condition, which we were lucky enough to acquire. There are some on the Front Table. We have plenty, although we only put out a half dozen at a time. They are yours to take home as your very own. The only thing the parish asks is that if you ever go to the dark side, please return it. Otherwise, it is yours forever.

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
The initial stages of the establishment of the Anglican Missionary Diocese of Vietnam are progressing. Many of you heard from Father Mai and Hai (the house church leader who was visiting with Fr. Mai early this summer) when they were with us for Bishop Boyce’s visitation. Phase 1 of the plan is to gather about a dozen local leaders for instruction and training by Fr. Mai and Bishop Boyce during October. Each of these leaders is part of the 5 or 6 house church congregations with approximately 5000 people each! Phase 1 has a budget of $8,000.00 to cover Fr. Mai and Bp. Boyce traveling to Vietnam, the leaders’ bus travel to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and accommodations for the ten day training. The leaders will be confirmed by Bp. Boyce at the end of the training. Phase 2 will be sponsoring each of the church units which are comprised of a central house church with 3 satellite house churches. Upon appropriate training and vocational preparation each unit will have one priest and a deacon or trained lay leader for most of the satellite house churches. The priest would travel once a month to celebrate Holy Communion with each house church. We are hoping to budget approximately $100.00 per month stipend for the priest and lesser amounts for other leaders upon ordination or completion of training. In three years the Missionary Diocese will be self-supporting.

How is this missionary outreach being accomplished? At present Bishop Boyce has agreed to be the Bishop Visitor and Father Mai will be the Missioner in charge of training and organization. Forward in Faith NA is considering being a co-sponsor of the project, but has not made a commitment at present. Father Acker is facilitating the Vietnam Working Group to get the project underway. At present the following groups have committed their support:

Commitment Balance
Budget Target for Vietnam Mission $8,000.00
Alpine Anglican (APA) 1,000.00 7,000.00
St. Michael’s Carlsbad (ACN) 2,000.00* 6,000.00
San Diego AAC 250.00 5,750.00
Anglican Province of America 1,000.00 4,750.00

*just increased from $1,000.00 a few days ago

You many have noticed that Blessed Trinity has a funded commitment of $1,000.00 already and at least 2 pledges for $100.00 per month for Phase 2! This is really impressive that our congregation of two or three dozen people a Sunday would make this kind of commitment for the mission of the Gospel. We haven’t reached our goal of 50% of our budget being used for Outreach, but we’re working toward that goal because our love for Jesus Christ and his Church.

So we are getting close to fully funding Phase 1 ($3,750.00 to go). Bishop Boyce has shared the project with the Diocese of the East (APA); Fr. Acker has been asked to speak to our Diocese of the West (APA) next month, and he will be contacting Anglican clergy in the San Diego area to make sure we have the necessary financing of Phase 1 and receiving commitments for Phase 2. Phase 2 asks for commitments of $100.00 per month for 3 years making it affordable to individuals and small parishes. We hope larger parishes will sponsor several $100.00 increments.

Stay tuned for more information on this developing mission project.


Hai briefs Bishop Boyce on the mission plan


Cathie Boyce listening and Hai smiling as Father Mai talks to Bishop Boyce (off camera)

As you can see, we are closing in on our target funding, but we need additional funds. 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.

Opportunity to help the parish
The Vestry identified items that the parish now needs that were not in this year’s budget:

Trailer – Our parish trailer needs signage on the outside for advertising. If you would like to donate, you can write a check, or just add a bit to your normal contribution and put a note in the memo area.

Signs – Our Sunday morning sign problems have been solved for now. Thanks.

Senior Warden’s Brunch
After church the Lizaks hosted a brunch. If you came, you know what a wonderful time we had and how great the food was. If you did not come, you will have no idea and the Beadle can only try to do the event justice. Holly, Ashley and Ben put on an absolutely superb brunch. They handed each of us a mimosa as we walked in and it got better from that point. There was a wonderful variety of soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee, iced tea, lemonade and tea, if you got tired of mimosa, which is not easy to do. The brunch consisted of a lovely strata, salad, sliced tomatoes, deviled eggs (thanks to Jan) brownies and zucchini cake.

The food was really excellent; instead of good service, there was incredible hospitality.

Many people shy away from the after church events at people’s homes. Perhaps, they do not want to intrude or do not feel like part of the group, or some other reason. Don’t fall into those traps. Next time, join us! No one cooks like an Anglican and no one will make you feel more at home.

Thanks again to Holly, Ashley and Ben for sharing their lovely home and treating us all to a superb brunch!

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

29 July 2007 Jan Macauley
5 August 2007 Alice Acker
12 August 2007 Greg Chase
18 August 2007 Holly Lizak
26 August 2007 Jan Macauley

Pine Valley Parade – 28 July 2007
For the second year, we will be participating in the Pine Valley Parade, held this year on 28 July 2007. The parade starts at 0900 (9:00 am) in Pine Valley, the drivers will be meeting at the Arnold Wheeled Vehicle Museum at 0745 (7:45 am) to join the parade. If you would like to ride in the parade, let Father Acker or the Beadle know.

Vehicle Driver Remarks
GTB Troop Transport Hap Arnold Free Teen Guitar Class transport
GPW Jeep Traci Huber Crew – Aaron Huber, Emilie Springer and opening for one more
M601 Troop Transport Ben Lizak Crew – Holly Lizak, Alice Acker, Dru Arnold and openings for 8 more
F850 Fire Truck Mike Springer Crew – Annie Springer, Alex Springer and openings for ten more

Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Eighth Sunday after Trinity.

Summer is in full swing. We have a lot of people on travel. The Continuing Education Class is back on track as we learn what it takes and what it gives to be a Christian in a local church. Perhaps the sermon will interface with that and maybe tie the propers in. For sure? No and unless you come to the service, you will have to wait until you read the Beadle’s Report to find out.

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