The First Sunday in Advent

Today was the First Sunday in Advent. This is the first day of the new “liturgical year” , a New Year’s Day, so to speak. This was also the first day that temperatures were below freezing on Mount Olympus, with a morning temperature of 30°F with very clear skies. The start of church brought a cool 49°F, which warmed to a lovely 55°F under deep blue sky. The superb weather and the Free Teen Guitar Class brought out 24 people for the service:

This was the First Sunday of the Month, thus music for this morning’s service was provided by Father Acker’s Free Teen Guitar Class (FTGC) kids. Alex, Ashley and Jack provided music for our hymns. It is really fun to sing with them and also to watch how much better they get each month. Great practicing and performing!

Signs, Symbols and Coming to the Lord
In today’s pre-service class, Father Acker discussed how we can use signs and symbols in our worship of God to point us towards him and keep us on track, just like the road signs keep us going in the right direction.

Because we cannot truly understand God from our current point of view, for “now we see through a 
glass, darkly”. Until the end of our time here, we need help. One way we can help ourselves visualize what God wants from us is through the use of signs and symbols. Things to help us to put our hands on the reality of God, knowing the reality of God.

How much symbolism?

Quakers reject any sign or symbol, instead they think about them.

The Eastern Orthodox Church is layer upon layers of signs and symbolism.

As Anglican Christians, we stick to the basics. At the Blessed Trinity, our Church in the Box” helps us focus on God. With no building to care for we can concentrate our efforts on ministering to our people’s needs and spreading the Word. As Anglican Christians, we are Incarnational. We believe that the Supernatural, God draws near in and through the natural. As people of time and place, we are natural; so God touches us with the supernatural using the common things and acts of daily living.

Popular culture teaches separation of matter and spirit, seen and unseen. More often it is a denial of spirit, a denial of anthing that is beyond the five senses. But, like sacraments, with the outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual, God works in our lives. It is not about what we do, but rather about what God does, even if he does it through us. Often God enters into us to make himself known in the material world.

In our liturgy, there is sybolism, Water cleanses, bread and wine feed, oil anoints, imposition of hands conveys new character, the marriage act unites. We do the seen, the symbol, the inner, spiritual action is not accomplished by us, but by God.

Our part is to prepare for, to open ourselves for God's grace to enter into our lives—we still have to say “Yes” to God.

Sacraments leave us different than before as we are touched by God.

Worship is acknowledging the presence and priority of God, and moving toward sanctification of our life--to become holy, saints of God. God comes to live in our life, to make us new.

God comes to us, takes us as we are, and through these outward and visible things transforms us; imparts to us the means to grasp the eternal.

We know Jesus, in his Incarnation. His work, & his Spirit transform

Dru Arnold read the Epistle for today, which came from Paul’s letter to the Romans, starting at the Eight Verse of the Thirteenth Chapter. Paul tells us to be self sufficient, but love and care for one another, do not commit adultery, do not murder, steal or lie. But more than that, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” For, if you love your neighbor, you will do no ill to him. “Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” We need to do this today, because the time of “our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” We hear often “The end of the world is near.” And it may well be. But for each of us, this world’s end comes when we leave for the next. Have we treated our fellow beings as Jesus commanded us in God’s name? Because in the answer to that is hidden the key to our next life.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

The Gospel for today came from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, the Twenty-First Chapter, beginning at the First Verse. It is the story of Palm Sunday when Jesus came triumphant into Jerusalem. Jesus sent “two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.” This was done that the prophecy of years gone past might be fulfilled of a triumphant entry of the Messiah into Jerusalem. The people expecting a Prince of this World, “spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” Rather than assuming the crown of this world, “Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Sermon - Come Lord Jesus
Sometimes we make things too complex. Don’t get me wrong, technology is great, it can make unmanageable things manageable. People might tell you the modern world is too complex. Perhaps it is if you dwell on the wrong parts, but if you focus on the right parts, it simplifies. Take my new cell phone, if you want to understand all about it, you will need a doctorate in electronic engineering. If on the other hand, you want to benefit from it, all you need to know is that it take the place of everything except my wallet. I no longer have to carry dozens of items, just the phone. It has everything I need, it’s my mobile office: phone, phonebook, calendar, internet, spreadsheet, powerpoint, and word processor. It’s simple for me—I carry two things wallet & phone.

Advent, these four weeks before Christmas, has a simple message: Come, Lord Jesus—Looking for Jesus’ coming.

The Collect for the Day, to be read throughout the season reads:

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

The whole point of the collect can be boiled down to “When he shall come…we may rise to the life immortal.”

Lord Jesus, Come into my life
Lord Jesus, Come into my home
Lord Jesus, Come into my relationships

In this morning’s Epistle, Paul gives the simple “how to” solution: Here is how you keep the Law of Moses, the 613 laws in the Old Testament; Here is how you keep the Ten Commandments:

He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

There it is, everything wrapped up so you can remember it. If you cannot remember that one, try this quote from Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

The Advent plan is to keep it simple: Focus on Jesus’ Coming.

Pray: Come, Lord Jesus

On the highway, In the rain or what ever else goes wrong.

Shopping, parties, school or work—where’s our focus

Don’t just “pray”, take action: Do what is right—love your family, friends, strangers; Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul; and your neighbor as your self.

With love comes the KISS: Keep it simple!

Come, Lord Jesus! Look for his coming to you.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported anniversaries today.

After Church Hospitality
Alice Acker brought the goodies today. Today was even more special than usual, with this coming Friday being the 25th anniversary of Father Acker’s ordination. Alice went all out on both the goodies and presentation; a first ever with real china and real silver. There were sugar free expresso bars, white cake with raspberry filling and crackers topped with dates and walnuts.

Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley handled the coffee on behalf of Tim’s House of Coffee. Once again, Father Acker got up early enough to make his famous low carb lemonade, a sacrifice much appreciated by your Beadle.

New Nametags
We no new nametags today.

People in our Prayers
If you are on our prayer list, or you have submitted a person for us to pray for, please update Father Acker in person, by telephone or e-mail. It helps to be able to pray specifically for these individuals including their specific needs; plus if they get better, it is good to give thanks!

Travel
Ken is on travel this week.

Sick or in need of healing

Pray for God’s healing in the lives of:
Fran (poison oak), Adelaide (Miney), Annie, Salvador (cancer), Betty, Marge, Richard, Kathy, Richard, Christian, Trish, Marie, Yvonne, John, Lois, Jennette, Heather, Holly, Ken, Linn, June, Gary, Delores, Anna, Melanie, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Betty, Terri, Mary, Ed, Bert, Mary, Nicholas, Carmen, Paul, John, Stella, Sheila, John, Shirley, Carson, Michele, Kevin, Tristan, Bruce, Susanne, Lynn

Pray for a holy death for:
Jack

Pray for God’s guidance and direction in the lives of:
Christiana, Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, Ken, Maruja, Terry, Margaret, William, Joe, Alexander, Jonathan, Phil, Sandy, Larraine, Brad, Brian, Cindi, Uni, Rick, Carol, Steph, Susan, Curtis, Kathyrn (Carson’s mom), Eric, Chris, Andrew

Pray for God’s grace for those who are not able to be with us because of age and infirmity:

Mary, Donna, Betty, Noko, Adelaide, Evelyn, Lorraine, Ellie

Pray for God’s protection for those serving in our Armed Forces:

Tillman, Patrick, Evan, Jim, Jason

Pray for those who’ve gone before us in faith:

Malcolm Pappin (8th year remembrance)

Jane (Jan’s mother) (2nd year remembrance)

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, including a couple with Hymnals attached and leather bound Bibles. If you would like one, please contact him directly.

Advent Calendars
As we did last year, we have Advent Calendars. For those of you who are not familiar with them, the calendars count down the days of Advent to Christmas.

The calendars are a bit generic, in that they number the days sequentially, presumably so they can use the same artwork year to year. There are twenty-four numbered doors to open as you count down towards Christmas. Behind each of the doors numbered one through twenty-four is a piece of chocolate. You can either start early on 1 December and end up on 24 December or you can open one door a day starting on Advent Sunday with Day 1 and then pig out with what is left on Christmas Eve!

What is the “Liturgical Year”?
Liturgy based Christian churches who consider themselves catholic, or universal, use a Christian Calendat which has a pre-set annual cycle of liturgical seasons which determines when Feasts, Memorials, Commemorations, and Solemnities are to be observed and which portions of Scripture are to be read.

Distinct liturgical colors are used in connection with different seasons of the liturgical year. The dates of the festivals vary somewhat between the Western (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Protestant) churches and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, though the sequence and logic is the same.

The dates of many feasts vary from year to year (Moveable Feasts) due to the variation in the date of Easter, and all other dates follow from that. The extent to which the fasts and festivals are celebrated also varies between churches; in general Protestant churches observe far fewer of them than Catholic and Orthodox churches, and in particular are less likely to celebrate feasts of the Virgin Mary and the Saints.

The liturgical cycle divides the year into a series of seasons, each with their own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer, which can be signified by different ways of decorating churches, vestments for clergy, scriptural readings, themes for preaching and even different traditions and practices often observed personally or in the home.

In churches that follow the liturgical year, the scripture passages for each Sunday (and even each day of the year in the Anglican tradition) are specified by a list called a lectionary. Anglicans and Lutherans have traditionally followed the lectionary since the days of the Protestant Reformation. Following the Roman Catholic liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the adoption and use of lectionaries in other Protestant churches (Methodist, Reformed, United, etc.) increased. In particular, the growing influence of the Revised Common Lectionary led to a greater awareness of the Christian year among Protestants in the later decades of the 20th century, especially among mainline denominations.

Biblical calendars are based on the cycle of the new moon. The year is from the first new moon on or after the spring equinox to the next new moon on or after the spring equinox, rather than an arbitrary starting point like the modern calendar.

Western Christian liturgical calendars are based on the cycle of the Roman or Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, including Lutheran, Anglican, and Protestant calendars since this cycle pre-dates the Reformation. Generally, the liturgical seasons in western Christianity are:

• Advent
• Christmas
• Ordinary Time (Time after Epiphany)
• Lent
• Easter
• Ordinary Time (Time after Trinity)

Advent From the Latin adventus, "arrival" or "coming", the first season of the liturgical year begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Historically observed as a "fast", its purpose focuses on preparation for the coming Christ.

Although often conceived as awaiting the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas it also points towards the final coming of Christ.

This period is marked by the Advent Wreath, a garland of evergreens with four candles. Although the main symbolism of the advent wreath is simply marking the progression of time, the church attaches themes to each candle, most often 'hope', 'faith', 'joy', and 'love'. Color: Violet or Blue. On the third Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday, Rose/Pink is used.

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.

Now that Bishop Boyce and Father Mai have returned from Vietnam, we will be working on a plan for Phase II. It appears we will need to adjust our original plan to allow for further introduction to the Anglican Church for the local priests. We note that there is no Book of Common Prayer currently available in Vietnamese. This will be a priority, in addition to funding the new priests and deacons.


Father Acker hoped to get Bishop Boyce together with Archbishop Chew, of the Province of Southeast Asia, while he is in the States later this month to discuss possible cooperation on the Missionary Diocese of Vietnam.

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.

Advent Book Study
On Wednesday, 12 December 2007 from 7:00-8:30pm at the SCAIR Learning Center, 2518 Alpine Blvd Father Acker will lead a book study on the fairly new book: The Gospel According To Starbucks. This is designed to be a one shot deal, but it might stretch out, depending. If you want to come and have not ordered a book through Father Acker for a mere $10.00, order your own from Amazon or go shopping on you own.

Fair Notice – This is going to be a really fun time. You will be sad you could not spare the time to come. Being coffee time, you won’t get the great Lenten Soup special, but you will enjoy it!

Epistle Readers
We post the list of Epistle Readers in the Beadle’s Report each week so you can either plan your attendance or your pre-reading as the spirit so moves you.

Date Reader

9 December 2007 Hap Arnold
16 December 2007 Jack Arnold
23 December 2007 Alice Acker
30 December 2007 Alex Boyd

The Week ahead, as well as Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Second Sunday in Advent. The 0930 (9:30am) Friday service will be a special celebration of Father Acker’s 25th anniversary of his ordination.

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 and simple text is available at:
http://thebeadle.blogspot.com/

or with one photograph per issue and colorful text 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