2007 The Sunday called Septuagesima or the third Sunday before Lent

Today was Septuagesima which is the third Sunday before the beginning of Lent. We had a mild Santa Ana today (a wind from the east, which results in clear skies and warm temperatures). Clear skies and temperatures starting in the mid-60s and ending in the low 70s, brought 25 people to church, even though it was Super Bowl Sunday.

Septuagesima is the third Sunday before Lent (or the 9th before Easter); -- so called because it is about seventy days before Easter. Its roots are in Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin septugsima (dis), seventieth (day), feminine of Latin septugsimus, from septugint, seventy.

In accord with the words of the First Council of Orleans, some pious Christian congregations in the earliest ages of the Church, especially the clergy, began to fast seventy days before Easter, on this Sunday, which was therefore called Septuagesima" - the seventieth day. The same is the case with the Sundays following, which are called Sexagesima, Quinquagesima, Quadragesima, because some Christians commenced to fast sixty days, others fifty, others forty days before Easter, until finally, to make it properly uniform, Popes Gregory and Gelasius arranged that all Christians should fast forty days before Easter, commencing with Ash-Wednesday.

From this day until Easter, the Church omits in her service all joyful canticles, alleluia’s, and the Gloria in excelsis etc. to gradually to prepare the minds of the faithful for the serious time of penance and sorrow; to remind the sinner of the grievousness of his errors, and to exhort him to penance. So the priest appears at the altar in violet, the color of penance.

In addition to being Septuagesima, which is the third Sunday before Lent, it was also the first Sunday of the month. Each first Sunday of the month, Father Acker’s Free Teen Guitar Class provides the music for our service. Participation today was limited to Alex Boyd, Jack Arnold and Father Acker. What they lacked in numbers, they made up for in quality. We really enjoy singing to the guitars; for some reason, it encourages the congregation to really participate in singing the hymns.

Today marked the Twenty-Second Sunday of the Confirmation – Reception classes in preparation for Bishop Boyce’s visit in mid-Spring. Today Father Acker took a break from the discussion on our Motto, Scripture • Reason • Tradition, and talked a little of the Novena, or nine days of prayer. 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.

When we confess our sins to God, we are not telling Him something He does not know, for God knows all. What we are doing is acknowledging those sins before Him. Once we acknowledge those sins, we can move to the next step. Seeing a faint shadow of His beauty, power, goodness, holiness and glory. It lets us be ready to ask the question, how can I get from my shabby house to His lovely home which He has made for us?

God has a plan for each of us. Normally, it is a simple plan, if we will but listen. We need to not get in His way and follow His plan.

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.

Alice Acker read the Epistle for today, which came from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, starting at the Twenty-Fourth Verse of the Ninth Chapter. Preaching temperance in all things and aiming for the real goal as he often does, Paul ask us, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?” He goes on to tell us, “So run, that ye may obtain.” If we are to strive for the prize of eternal life, we must understand that every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” While runners in a race run for a crown of brief glory, we run our race for eternal glory.” Paul tells us to not flail blindly, but rather keep our goal in sight and work steadily towards that goal, so he fights, “not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, starting at the First Verse of the Twentieth Chapter and tells the famous and multi-faceted parable of the vineyards. “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatso-ever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

Sermon
Perspective. Perception is reality to the eye of the perceiver. Not necessarily reality, but that which is perceived as real. Each of us has our own point of view, based on our life experiences to that point. As has been said before, we are each entitled to our own opinion, but not our own set of facts.

In today’s Epistle, Paul tells us to put God, first, then others and our life will of necessity order itself. 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.

Luckily for us, while each of us has their own perspective, so does God and His viewpoint is REALITY. While we look at the glass like the vinyard workers as half empty or maybe even half full, God looks at the glass and says, “Keep pouring! I want to you have the full measure of My Love.” All He asks is that you drink the whole glass!

All God asks is that when you pull up to the window of His Drive Through known as life is that you say, “Supersize me! Make me like Your Son, Jesus!”

God has chosen us. Will we stay on His team?

Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported anniversaries today. This being the Sunday after Groundhog Day, we celebrated Dru Arnold’s 52nd birthday with her. We also note that when Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow on Gobbler's Knob, he did not see his shadow. The Chief Prognosticator predicts an early spring.

New Name Tags on Sunday
We had no new nametags today.

After Church Hospitality
Today was more than Super Bowl Sunday, more than just the First Sunday after Groundhog Day, it was a celebration of Dru Arnold’s birthday. The Arnolds’ closest neighbors, Fran and Walt Dexter, brought very special goodies today. There was an absolutely lovely white cake with white frosting and beautiful pink roses for decoration, Dru’s favorite rose color. The cake had a strawberry mouse filling and was delicious. Fran had wondered what she would do with the leftovers, but forsooth, there weren’t any. Just in case anyone was so seriously counting points that they could not abide cake, Fran brought some wonderful veggies and dipping sauce. The veggies were so good that no one remembered to open the dipping sauce!

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.

Free Teen Guitar Winner
After the service each first Sunday of the month, there is a drawing for a prize limited to the guitar players who come to the service to provide the music. The prize is usually a music or computer oriented goody. Last month Jack Arnold won a 2Gb Jump Drive, this week Alex Boyd won the prize, a web-camera for her computer. The drawing is fun for all of us and really fun for the FTGC kids and the most fun for the winner, of course.

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 circuit trip and will be away several weeks;
Ashley is on travel;
Keith and Alice will be traveling to Colorado this week, please pray for safe travel and for them to thaw out in time to come to church on Sunday;
Greg was teaching weekend and missed church.

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. Although she says sometimes she feels 96, she sure does not act it!

Donna Dingwall is doing much better. She is grateful for your prayers. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Lorraine Winkles, 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.

Order of Saint James and Saint Matthew
The needs are many, the resources few. But, like loaves and fishes there are sufficient unto the day, with God’s help through our Lord and Savior.

Saint James tells us we are to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Saint Matthew tells us to do our good without fanfare, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Saint James goes further telling us what we are to do to be doers of Jesus’ Word: “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.”

In his role of Parish Chief Constable, your Beadle has established in his offices an Order of Saint James and Saint Matthew. If you know of a parish member who is keeping the Word, doing their duty to God and Country without fanfare, send your Beadle a note at thebeadle@mac.com for consideration of their potential admission to the order.

In keeping with the instructions of James and Matthew, details of the membership will be, as they say, closely held at the codeword level. Much like the Company, recognition is important, even if we do not tell the public.

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.

Coming Up later this year
The pre-service lessons towards Confirmation or Reception have been very well received. Your Beadle believes he has prevailed on Father Acker to continue the classes indefinitely. 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
Next Sunday is Sexagesima, or the Second Sunday before Lent. It is also a very special Sunday as Nick Patton will be getting baptized. This is a momentous occasion for Nick and his family as he officially enters in to God’s family. We ask each of you to make an effort to come to church next week to witness this important event and milestone in Nick’s life.

In addition to Nick’s Baptism, Father Acker might finish up on our motto – Scripture • Reason • Tradition in his Confirmation – Reception classes, or he might talk about Baptism, 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.

If you need an engraved invitation, here it is:

Please join us Sunday
at
0830L (8:30am)
for
Holy Communion

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