2007 Third Sunday after Easter

Today was the Third Sunday after Easter. It was clear on Mount Olympus, there was a marine layer all the way to the Victoria overpass, but by the time the service started it was clear and beautiful. Perhaps the post service temperatures in the mid-70s brought out the members, perhaps not. Nonetheless, we had a total of 25 attendees.

For this Thirty-Third Confirmation Reception class, Father Acker covered God’s goal for us. When God made us, He gave us free will, yet unlike Him, we are not perfect. Not a good combination for creatures like us to deal with. Yet in the words of John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace:

All I know is I am a great sinner
And
Jesus Christ is a great savior!

This is a much better combination. God wants us to pass through the refiner’s fire and become perfect like him.

His goal for us is:

Righteousness & Perfection.

Righteousness is the right relationship with God. But what is right? Is what is right for me right for you? Well, if you are talking about the black and white right of righteousness, there is only one right. God is the definer of right. God made everything that is: visible and invisible, material and spirit. God made it and it was good. There is no higher authority. God wants us to live in a proper relationship with Him.

What is God’s purpose?

Perfection – God intends us to be perfect. He made each of us to be perfect. You often hear, “Nothing is perfect.” Incorrect. God is perfect and He wants us to be perfect. He gave us the means to perfection, His saving grace through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. To walk with Christ is to walk towards perfection.

Jan Macauley read the Epistle for today comes from St. Peter’s first Epistle, the Second Chapter, beginning at the Second Verse. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”

The message sets the Christian apart from practioners of many other religions. First we are exhorted to do good works and live godly lives that others may be brought to our faith. Secondly, we are told to submit willingly to civil authority, for our Lord’s Kingdom is not of this world. These are particularly stark comparisons to the religion known as Mohamedism or Isalm. That religion sees its kingdom as of this world.

Today’s Gospel started in the Sixteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. John beginning at the Sixteenth Verse. “Jesus said to his disciples, a little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrow-ful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”

Sermon
Scripture as a detailed key to the return into the way of righteousness. In the Collect for the Day today, we find:

Almighty God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The intent of scripture is to speak to us. Individually and directly. What is written is not that written to just the people of Galatia, Rome or wherever, 2,000 years ago. It was written to you and for you. This past week in one of his occasional lucid moments, the Arch Bishop of Canterbury spoke of Paul’s letters and said “everyone in his imagined readership agrees in thinking the same-sex relations of the culture around them to be as obviously immoral as idol-worship or disobedience to parents.” He went on to talk about the “barefaced perversity of those who cannot see the requirements of the natural order in front of their noses.”

Paul had no “imagined readership”; he wrote to you and I. He wrote the truth for all to hear. In his letter to the Romans, Paul warns against homosexuality and other depravities. Not just for the unnatural nature of the relationships, but for the self seeking and self deceit involved. The nature of divine love is love of the other. Paul also makes the point of the false gods we each set up in our own lives, which then come between us and the real God.

The way of righteousness is letting God change you, to make you what He intends.

Center your world on God, set your course and set out. Use the freedom God has given you as the servant of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
Today we celebrated Walt Dexter’s 79th birthday today. There were no reported anniversaries.

After Church Hospitality
Dru Arnold brought the goodies today, four flavors of cookies, cinnamon twists, almonds, pretzel eggs and the obligatory red grapes. All wonderful. Tim’s House of Coffee was under the direct control of Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley. The coffee was superb. Father Acker made his customary low carb lemonade, which was much appreciated by your Beadle.

Travel
No reported travel.

Sick or in need of healing
Betty Cook
Muriel Pappin
Diane Chase – Chest pain for reasons currently unknown.
Ken Abbiss is recovering nicely from surgery for skin cancer on his nose and the bandages should be almost gone by now.

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

Miney Farrell is doing well. She asks your prayers for Bertha Rose’s balance problems are compounded by her blindness.

Barbara Emrich was enjoying the warm day on Friday of this last week and hearing about the Easter service.

Evelyn Hunt is recovering from being in the hospital for severe back pain. She is at home, but not able to drive to see Gene who said, “No use complaining.”

Lorraine Winkles thinks she is having some improvement. She’s been down with this very painful version of chicken pox since Christmas.

Donna Dingwall is doing quite a bit better. She had a great time on the cruise with her family. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Back Door Lending Library
The Back Door Lending Library is happy to announce the availability of 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.

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.

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 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.

Bumper or Window Stickers
The church’s stickers are finally in. You can get them from the front door table or the Lending Library table, or ask Father Acker or the Beadle. If you are a long distance reader, you can request one from Father Acker or the Beadle.

Church Patches
The parish patches are in. They are embroidered, four inch and round. They are available either Velcro backed or plain. The plain are designed to be sewn on, the Velcro backed are designed to be stuck to furry Velcro patches sewn to the garment or whatever.

Coming Up later this year – Bishops Visit and Second Annual Beadle’s Party
Bishop and Mrs. Boyce will be with us on 20 May 2007 for both Confirmation and Reception. Afterwards, they will be joining us for the Second Annual Beadle’s Barbeque at the Arnolds’. Confirmation is a very significant milestone in our spiritual lives, as is the Reception into the Church, for those confirmed. We are expecting a big turnout as those who are confirmed bring family and friends.

As those who attended the First Annual Beadle’s Barbeque can attest to, the Beadle’s Barbeque is not an event to be missed.

After the service today, at great risk to their very persons, your Vicar, his wife, the Treasurer, his wife, the Beadle, Under Beadle and Chief Deputy Beadle participated in a test of the Chuck Wagon BBQ. The test was very clearly an unqualified success, so there will in fact be a Chuck Wagon BBQ, less the “Crusty Chuck Wagon Cook.”

A Beadle’s Party (in this case really a Chuck Wagon BBQ) is traditionally held to allow church members to better get to know one another to help us work together to spread the Word of our Lord. These are very informal events, but always a lot of fun. All members are not only invited, but really encouraged, to come. Please bring your families and guests who might be interested in getting to know our Church.

We would like you to join us after Church, but if you are going to miss Church for one reason or another, we would still like you to join us!

2007 T-Shirts
This year’s T-Shirts are in. We will start handing them out next Sunday. As you can see, they have the quote from John Newton on the back. In addition to the church’s traditional green, there are two other colors. If you want one of the other colors, make sure you get to church early on Sunday.

The T-Shirts will be the UOD (Uniform of the Day) for the Bishop’s service on 20 May 2007, as well as for the Beadle’s Party.

Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after Easter. Being the first Sunday of the month, our Free Teen Guitar Class kids will be playing for us. Your Beadle is not sure where the sermon track is leading. He is betting on it tying the Epistle and Gospel to the pre-service class. 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