2007 - Sexagesima

Today was Sexagesima, the second Sunday before the beginning of Lent. In stark contrast to last week’s mild Santa Ana, with clear skies and warm temperatures, today brought a cold front, with misty rain and temperatures in the low sixties. Even though it was cool and wet, we had an all time high attendance for a non-major feast Sunday of 40 people, due in part no doubt to Nick Patton’s baptism.

God wants to help us. He does not need us to tell Him what help we need, He knows, we tell him so that we can recognize our needs and focus our thoughts on our needs and His fulfillment of them. One of the reasons we go to church is a recognition we need healing from various sorts of ills; both physical and mental, of soul, heart, mind and body. Our Holy Communion Service has a Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church, which begins on page 74. In that prayer, we enumerate those for whom we pray and what we want God to do for them. There is also a rite, the Unction of the Sick, of which there is an outward and visible sign of the anointing with oil of those desiring God’s help for the inward and spiritual blessing of God. To focus our congregation’s prayer, we have moved the Unction of the Sick from its sometimes asked for and after the service time to a regular spot just before the Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church. This will help us focus our prayer on not only those whose names are mentioned in the prayer, but those present for the service. This should be of benefit to us all, for in a sense we all receive the rite, not just those to whom the oil is applied.

Sexagesima is the second Sunday before Lent (or the 8th before Easter); -- so called because it is about sixty days before Easter. The name "Sexagesima" is derived from the Latin sexagesimus, meaning "sixtieth," and appears to be a back-formation of Quinquagesima, the term formerly used to denote the last Sunday before Lent (the latter name alluding to the fact that there are fifty days between that Sunday and Easter, if one counts both days themselves in the total). Through the same process, the Sunday before Sexagesima Sunday was formerly known as Septuagesima Sunday, and marked the start of the Pre-Lenten Season which eventually became the time for carnival celebrations throughout Europe, this custom being later exported to places settled and/or colonized by Europeans. While Quinquagesima (50th day) is mathematically correct (allowing for the inclusive counting), Sexagesima and Septuagesima are only approximations (the exact number of days is 56 and 63 respectively).

The earliest Sexagesima can occur is January 25 and the latest is February 28 (or February 29 in a leap year).

Today marked the Twenty-Third Sunday of the Confirmation – Reception classes in preparation for Bishop Boyce’s visit in mid-Spring. Today Father Acker took continued the discussion on our Motto, Scripture • Reason • Tradition, and talked about Reason and the Reason behind Baptism to provide more insight into the meaning of Nick Patton’s baptism today.

The Word of God as written in the Bible tells us we need a new life; a new life we can only realize through the Christ, Jesus. It is reason that tells us that if we are to realize this new life we cannot be given it unwillingly, but rather must choose it. The choice we make is either to be with God or with Satan. You cannot choose both. You are either with Him or against Him. As is written, one cannot serve two masters. God, or the world? You must make the choice, no one can make it for you.

Baptism is “A choice for God.”
• Do you believe in God?
• Do you believe in God’s Son, Jesus?
• Do you accept Jesus’ saving grace and accept Him as your Lord?
• Do you believe the Christian Faith?
o Who is Jesus? – The Son of God
o Do you want what He gave from the Cross? – Eternal life and Eternal happiness
o Will you follow what Jesus taught? – His Summary of the Law: - 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.

Like all sacraments, Baptism has two parts, an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.

Water is the outward and visible sign, the drowning in water, dying to sin, as Christ did for us on the Cross and rising out of the water, reborn like a phoenix from the fire, resurrected like Christ from the death of the Cross ready for eternal life and happiness both here and in heaven.

With the miracle of baptism comes the help of God to live the life expected of each of us.
Each Sunday, we ask you to put your name on the orange card and commit, or recommit, your life to God through His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.

Once you understand, with reason, that Baptism is a choice for God and an initiation into His family, will you be baptized into this family and obey and follow God to the best of your ability every day of your life? That is the question, what is your answer?

Father Acker reminded us the leaders of the Anglican Communion are meeting in Tanzania for a week starting on 12 February 2007. There have been suggested prayers inserted in the bulletins the past couple of weeks. Father Acker asked each of us to pray that the Holy Ghost might enter into the hearts of the leaders, or Primates, and that they might listen and gain guidance from Him.

What we are asking is that the Primates listen to the Holy Ghost, follow His direction and not get in His way. We ask that they listen to the words of our Lord when He said, as recorded by Saint Matthew, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.“

For too long have the Bishops valued collegiality above God’s will. We ask the Primates as they meet consider what Jesus asked of us, Do not block God, but rather follow Him, Battle Evil; Do Good.

Ben Lizak read the Epistle for today, which came from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, starting at the Nineteenth Verse of the Eleventh Chapter. Paul reminds us that salvation, honor and glory come not from what we do or have done, but rather from God. Paul, who as Saul, had been the number one rabbi in the Hebrew nation, he was more learned, more vigorous in following the law, more vocal in all things. When he “saw the light” and converted, he took that same approach to Christianity. No one was more in any thing than he. He wrote, “Ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly, ) I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.”

No one did more than Paul, yet he counseled all to take comfort and pride in God, not themselves. Do your best and look towards God.

This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Luke, starting at the Fourth Verse of the Eighth Chapter and tells the well known parable of the seeds. “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way-side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way-side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Sermon
Laws. Laws can be good things. A stoplight orders traffic, much like the Ten Commandments order our lives. But the real value to of laws is the spirit in which they are given. One normally stops at a red light. But, no one should stop at a red light where there is no traffic while bringing a bleeding family member to the hospital. The law concerning a red light means normally stop, a green light means go. But, not without thinking. The danger of laws comes in the hiding behind them. Just as a green light means go, the law may allow you to do one thing. That does not mean that you should necessarily do it. After all, would you go on green, just because it is green, even though you saw a car proceeding through the intersection on a red light. After all, who wants to be dead right?
Legalists put the law ahead of justice. God gave us the Law as a means of guiding us to right and justice. Those who value the Law above right are wrong.

Put your trust in what is right (God), not the Law. Do what is right.

Will you trust yourself or trust God? You have been baptized a Christian, not an Anglican. You are to put your trust in God, through His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Your trust is in God, not your race, not your country, not your family and certainly not in yourself.

Baptism
Nick Patton has been a regular attendee at church for some months now, always cheerful and always looking to help; to set up, to break down, to get something for the ladies, not to mention helping reduce the excess goodies that have to be carried home after the service.

Today, we were honored to witness his choice to join our Lord’s family as a baptized Christian. Today, we welcomed Nicholas Robert Patton as a member of the Lord’s family.

Nick’s parents Don and Sandy Patton and God Parents Richard and Jean Yount, Nick’s aunt and uncle, came together to witness Nick’s choice to join our Lord’s family.

Nick made a powerful choice made in joining the Christian family, the followers of Christ. His life will be forever changed for the better. He chose this life and now will gain all the benefits therein.

We are grateful and joyous to have Nick join us.

Nick’s is the second baptism in our parish, the first being Tim Macauley. We look to the list growing as the Word of our Lord reaches people:

The List
Tim Macauley
Nick Patton

It is an incredible honor to be invited to share in a baptism, a welcoming of a new member into the family of our Lord and Savior. Do your best to never miss the opportunity to witness the commitment of a soul to Christ.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported birthdays today. We joyously celebrated Fran and Walt Dexter’s Twenty-Sixth Wedding Anniversary.

New Name Tags on Sunday
We had no new nametags today, although Nick Patton brought twelve guests with him. Nick has a very nice family and we had a great time talking to them and liked sharing our service with them, perhaps some enjoyed the service enough to come back.

After Church Hospitality
In anticipation of the joy of Nick’s baptism and this being the Second Sunday after Groundhog Day, Dru and Jack Arnold joined forces with Alice Acker to provide today’s goodies. Jack baked the cupcakes himself and frosted them. Dru baked little quiches and picked up a great veggie platter. Alice made a great apricot nectar cake, which seemed to disappear. Just in case any one’s dietary preferences were left out, there were chocolate hearts and conversation hearts.

Tim Macauley was back on the job with freshly brewed coffee from Tim’s House of Coffee, as well as hot chocolate, sodas and water. As customary, Father Acker got up early enough to make fresh low carb lemonade before the service.

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 makes his way back from Iraq. Obra’s tour has been cut short and he is on his way home to Pearl Harbor. 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.

Travel
Ken is on a business trip;
Craig and Lynn are on travel;

As some of you may know, Father and Alice spent a few days last week visiting family in Colorado. They had a really wonderful time and sent us photographs. If you study the photographs closely, you should cleverly deduce three things:

• Even though Father Acker might sleep with his collar on, he doesn’t wear it all the time;
• When the weatherman says 40 below, it doesn’t matter if it is Centigrade or Fahrenheit, bring a coat;
• When it gets really cold, it is good to be at one with your spouse.

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 from the Jacob Health Center and we need to catch up to her. She is getting mail in care of her daughter, if you want to write.

Miney Farrell asks your continued prayer for relief of the blurred vision in one eye. Also at Evening Shade Home, Katie Benjamin, is doing well.

Donna Dingwall is doing much better. She is grateful for your prayers. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Lorraine Winkles, is doing well. Perhaps we can get her a ride to a service now and again from her home in Blossom Valley.
 
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.

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.

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.

Free Teen Guitar Class
There is a new Free Teen Guitar Class starting up. As an outreach to the local community, Father Acker teaches a guitar class on Wednesdays at the Alpine Community Center. The class is known as the Free Teen Guitar Class (FTGC), but due to a scheduling miracle, the class is now open to Third Graders. If you know anyone with a youngster who would like to learn to play the guitar, have them contact Father Acker. This is an excellent opportunity.

Do not let the word Free in the title mislead you. Many people think something that is Free is not worth anything. That is not the case. Just in case you were not aware of it Father Acker is a professional class guitarist. And at least as important is he is not only a good teacher, but a superb guitar teacher.

Many people can play. Father Acker is not just a world class guitarist, but he can teach others to play. Plus, the class is not really free. Once a month, on the first Sunday of the month, the class plays for our 0830 service. If you know much about kids, being in place for a 0830 Sunday service is payback.

Core Singing Group
Walt and Fran Dexter have come together with Ben and Holly Lizak to form a Core Singing Group for our church. They would like a few more people to join them. Walt wants everyone to know this is not a choir, but core singing group. They aren’t planning on meeting every week for four or five hours and singing over and over. Rather they are planning on rehearsing the songs for each week so they can form a loud and clear core we can sing with. Our singing has gotten better and better each week, this should help even more.

It really doesn’t matter if you can sing, you just need to be able to read – Oh, yes, and be willing to sing loud and clear. If you want to join the group, tell Walt, Fran, Holly or Ben, they would love to have you. So would we.

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.

Also, if there is something you would like to see done or not done in our church, please let us know. There is a reason it was Carnac the Magnificant on The Johnny Carson Show and not Acker the Great. Father Acker is a really great vicar, but not much of a mind reader. Help us help you, let us know what we can, or should, do to make sure each of you get the greatest benefit from your church. This is Christ’s Church, which makes it your church. You have an obligation to make it the very best you can. Tell us how to help.

Coming Up later this year
Father Acker will be continuing the pre-service classes. As the Confirmation – Reception subjects are completed, he will be discussing portions of the Bible, as well as Christian history and Anglican history in particular. We have some very nice King James Version study Bibles for those who are interested. Please contact the Beadle at thebeadle@mac.com for your copy.

Next Sunday – Palm Crosses
Next Sunday is Quinquagesima, or the Sunday next before before Lent. Muriel Pappin reminds us to bring our Palm Crosses from last Palm Sunday to the service. Father Acker will burn them and add them to ashes from centuries past to comprise ashes for Ash Wednesday, which is 21 February 2007.

Also, next Sunday Father Acker might finish up on our motto – Scripture • Reason • Tradition in his Confirmation – Reception classes, or he might talk about Lent or Ash Wednesday, or maybe a new topic. But, unless you come to the service, you will have to wait until you read the Beadle’s Report to find out. Also, we will likely have the date of the Bishop’s visit this week or next.

Vestry Meeting
The Vestry (our Board of Directors, if you will) meets the second Wednesday of each month, the next meeting is Wednesday at 1830 at SCAIR in Alpine, all parish members are invited. The meeting is guaranteed to last less than one hour, or your money back.

See you next week on Sunday!

The full .pdf version of the current Beadle’s Report posted by Father Acker on the church website and is available at:

http://www.alpineanglican.com/Beadle/beadle.pdf

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