Third Sunday in Advent

DISCLAIMER - This report is the product of Hap Arnold, it is not endorsed by any organization, specifically Alpine Anglican Church of the Blessed Trinity. It is his opinion only. The Beadle will run comments or editorials by others from time to time, these will be specifically by-lined as others’ opinion. This report is not intended to offend or upset anyone; at the same time the Beadle does take personal positions on subjects. It’s not that he is opinionated, he’s just sure he’s right.:-)

Today was the Third Sunday in Advent. The sunrise temperature Mount Olympus was 39°F under a light overcast sky. Down the hill at church, the temperature was somewhat warmer at 59°F. As Father started the class, we had 18 people present, but by the time the service actually got underway, we had 29 people present.

Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class – When was the first Christmas?
Many people believe that Christmas is the primary celebration of the Christian year. It is not. Holy Week, culminating in the resurrection on Easter Sunday and Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Ghost have been celebrated far longer.

Christmas nonetheless is very important to us, it brings to the forefront the importance of the Incarnation. Christmas is about our knowing God, not our knowing the exact date of His birth. As to the date, we read in Galatians, Chapter Four, Verses Four through Five:

When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

When did He come? At the right time. When God intended.

He came when there was a common language for the “civilized world”, when the Romans had established civil order throughout that civilized world and perhaps as important built roads to allow travel and communication.

But, what about the year?

Well, at first it did not matter. At first no one really thought much about what year He had been born. Afterall, who asks a candidate for bishop or whatever when he was born. It is a matter of statistics, but not something to worry much about. All the people who needed to know when He was born “knew” it. They could wish Him a happy birthday. In keeping with Jesus’ emphasis on the next world over this world, it was just not something that one wasted precious paper on. Later, when the church wanted to establish a date of birth so calendars could be reckoned and so on, it was a different story.

The church worked various ways, some scientific, others seemingly so and established a date of birth. The intention was to establish a system based on Jesus’ birth to reference years. The Romans had no zero, thus the idea was to establish a year from which to count and Jesus would be born in the year 1 Anno Domini (Year of our Lord) or 1 AD. Time after would be referred to as AD and the time before that, counting backwards in time, BC.

Like many works of man and beast, it did not go exactly according to plan. Thus, if you assumed Jesus was born in the year of our Lord, Anno Domini, AD1 on the 25th day of December, you’d be wrong.

Near that point in time – Yes
That exact point of time as hoped to be reckoned – Yes
That exact point of time in reality – No

What do we know, with benefit of all the records previously not available to those who set the date that we cannot now change:

• King Herod who tried to kill Jesus died in 4BC
• Quirenius census of 8BC was implemented in 6 or 5 BC.

It seems the Sixth Century monk/mathematician/astronomer, Dionysius the Little, made an error in his calculations. In formulating a calendar to pivot on Jesus’ birth, dated it 753 years from the founding of Rome, but Herod died 749 years from its founding. By the time it was discovered it was too late to change the system.

What about the date, 25 December?

Many people try to tie this to an attempt by early Christians to “hijack” pagan holidays in an effort to give Christians something to celebrate. It does not seem like this is really the case.

Second-century Latin Christians in Rome and North Africa appear to have been among the first to try to establish the historical date on which the Lord Jesus died. By the time of Tertullian they had concluded that he died on Friday, 25 March 29. (As an aside, Father Acker noted this is impossible: 25 March 29 was not a Friday, and Passover Eve in 29 AD did not fall on a Friday and was not on March 25th, or in March at all.)

At this point, we have to introduce a belief that seems to have been widespread in Judaism at the time of Christ, but which, as it is nowhere taught in the Bible, has completely fallen from the awareness of Christians. The idea is that of the “integral age” of the great Jewish prophets: the idea that the prophets of Israel died on the same dates as their birth or conception.

It is to this day, commemorated almost universally among Christians as the Feast of the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel brought the good tidings of a savior to the Virgin Mary, upon whose acquiescence the Eternal Word of God (“Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten of the Father before all ages”) forthwith became incarnate in her womb. What is the length of pregnancy? Nine months. Add nine months to March 25th and you get December 25th; add it to April 6th and you get January 6th. December 25th is Christmas, and January 6th is Epiphany.

So, that is how they got the date. What do we know now, in retrospect?

• Shepherds were out in the fields “keeping watch over their flocks by night” in the angelic announcement (Lk2.8)
• Lambing time was the reason to stay out with the sheep.
• Lambing was Spring time. However, shepherds were known not to pen their sheep in the Palestine area.

So, how about the allegations that choosing the 25th of December was connected with pagan festivals? Father Acker pointed out the pagan festival of the “Birth of the Unconquered Son” instituted by the Roman Emperor Aurelian on 25 December 274, was almost certainly an attempt to create a pagan alternative to a date that was already of some significance to Roman Christians. In the 17th Century, German Protestant Paul Jablonski wished to show that the celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25th was one of the many “paganizations” of Christianity that the Church of the fourth century embraced, as one of many “degenerations” that transformed pure apostolic Christianity into Catholicism. Dom Jean Hardouin, an 18th C. Benedictine monk, tried to show that the Catholic Church adopted pagan festivals for Christian purposes without paganizing the gospel.
 
In the Julian calendar, created in 45 B.C. under Julius Caesar, the winter solstice fell on December 25th, and it therefore seemed obvious to Jablonski and Hardouin that the day must have had a pagan significance before it had a Christian one. But in fact, the date had no religious significance in the Roman pagan festal calendar before Aurelian’s time, nor did the cult of the sun play a prominent role in Rome before him.

December 25th was a by-product of attempts to determine when to celebrate his death and resurrection.
 
The really important thing to remember is that Christmas is the celebration of the coming of God’s gift to us, His Son, our Lord and Savior. The date does not really matter, the coming of our Lord does.

Jack Arnold read the Epistle for today, which came from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, starting at the First Verse of the Fourth Chapter.

Paul calls on those who would be the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God to be good and faithful stewards leading their flock rather than commanding from the rear. He tells them not to be fearful of the judgment of man. In fact, he tells he is not concerned of the judgment of men, or even that of himself, but rather that of God. God knows our hearts and when He judges, He “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.“

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

The Gospel for today came from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, the Eleventh Chapter, beginning at the Second Verse. Now when John the Baptist “had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” John was Jesus’ cousin and the one who baptized Him and heard God say, THIS IS MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” Yet, he and the rest of the Jews of the time expected the Messiah to come into Jerusalem in triumph, sit in the temple and rule, commanding, nay compeling the Romans to leave. No doubt marveling at the question, for it was asked of Him who had performed countless genuine miracles, healing the blind, the deaf the lame, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” As John’s disciples parted, Jesus talked to those about him. He asked them concerning John, “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” Because Jesus came into this world, not to be the King of the Present, but rather the King of that to Come.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Sermon - Preparing the way for someone you know

Think back to the gospel. Why was John sending someone to ask Jesus who he really was?

According to Josepheus, there were 204 towns and villages in the area around Galilee, it was a busy little area. From his prison cell, John the Baptist hears about what Jesus is doing. Remember who John is, he is Jesus’ cousin, the son of Zachariah & Elizabeth. John baptized Jesus. He said, “When I baptized Him and the Holy Ghost came down on Him, I knew He was the one.” So, why did he ask? Like Jews of the era, his expectation of the Messiah, the Son of David. came from the Third Chapter of Genesis. After four military occupations since 721BC, he expected the Messiah to:

• Go to the Temple;
• Proclaim he is the Messiah;
• Demonstrate he is the Messiah;
• Take the throne of David;
• Kick the Romans out.

That’s what you’d expect of David the military king. Take the Throne; bring on the Revolution.

But Jesus doesn’t do that. What is he doing?

Teaching, Preaching, Healing, Raising the dead,

John obviously thinks, “Hey, have I got the wrong guy? What’s the deal?” So he sends his disciples to go and ask Jesus, “Are you the One?” and report back.

Coming forward from Genesis to Isaiah, Chapter Thirty-Five, Verse Five and Six, the Messiah works differently, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

Jesus told them, “I’m doing exactly what Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would do.”

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus spoke to the crowd about John, the long haired, fiery eyed, bug eating, wearing camel hide tied with a leather belt—who went around saying “You brood of vipers.” And what about his disciples, who do you suppose, would follow someone like that?

The crowd wonders “What’s the deal with those guys?

Jesus says, What did you go to see when you went over the Jordan to be baptized by John? What were you expecting? A reed, a man who bends whatever way the wind was blowing? No? Perhaps a man in an Armani suit with a Christian Di’or tie? No you have to go to Sacramento or Washington DC for that! A prophet? He’s more than a prophet.

John is the one written about in Malachi 3.1:
Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Jesus said, To tell you the truth, no one bore of women has been greater than John, but know this: the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

John is not a New Covenant but Old. Preparing the Way. John is the last of the law & the prophets; if you can accept it he is the “Elijah” come.

Malachi 4.5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. An he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.

This is the end of the Old Testament—The curtain goes down.

John, Elijah, Prepares the Way.
The Lord comes the 1st time bringing salvation.
Born in a stable, goes to the cross for our sin & our salvation
The Lord comes the 2nd time he brings judgment.
            Literally, “All Hell breaks loose.” (Bill Creasy)

Is Jesus the One? Jesus says “I am.”

Can you accept it? John is the Elijah who would come.
Moses & Elijah are the witness to these events on the Mount of the Transfiguration and again in Revelation.

Can you accept it? Jesus is the One.
And not only believe, but turning the hearts of others to him.

Can you ‘Prepare the Way’ for someone else this Christmas, to help them to see God’s gift of Christmas.

Music Today
Our lovely and exceedingly talented organist, Marianne, was on travel today. Alex, Jack and Father Acker filled in very nicely playing all the hymns very well. We kept our usual songs and they provided excellent accompaniment. What a joy to have such an abundance of talent in our church.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported birthdays or anniversaries today.

After Church Hospitality
Jan Macauley brought the goodies today and what a lovely selection. First and foremost were the deviled eggs, the came smoked salmon rollups, chocolate peppermint jumbies, chocolate drizzled pumpkin cookies, fruit salad, nuts and two kinds of chocolate candy.

Jan ratcheted up the presentation bar with the lovely Christmas angel, double tablecloth, matching plates and napkins. Stunning and tasty!

Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley handled the coffee on behalf of Tim’s House of Coffee. Today’s coffee was a special Christmas blend. While the Beadle does not normally drink coffee during the day, he made an exception for this coffee and reports it more than outstanding. 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.
Tim is on travel this week.

Sick or in need of healing

Illness
Annie, Salvador (cancer), Betty, Marge, Richard, Fran (poison oak), Kathy, Richard, Christian, Trish, Marie, Wanda, Karen, Yvonne, John, Lois, Jennette, Heather, Holly, Ken, Linn, June, Gary, Delores, Anna, Ruth, Anne, Veronica, Melanie, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Betty, Terri, Mary, Edward, Bert, Mary, Nicholas, Carmen, Stella, John, Shelly, Jesusa, Carson, Michele, Roy, Kevin, Tristan, Bruce, Susanne
Guidance
Christiana, Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, Ken, Maruja, Terry, Margaret, William, Joe, Alexander, Jonathan,  Phil, Sandy, Larraine, Brad, Brian, Cindi, Uni, Jennifer, Greg, Rick, Carol, Steph, Susan, Curtis, Stephen, Kathyrn (Carson’s mom), Eric, Chris, Andrew
Homebound/Aged and Infirm

 Mary, Donna, Betty, Noko, Adelaide, Evelyn, Lorraine, Ellie
Armed Forces & Contractors
Tillman, Patrick, Justin, Evan, Jim, Jason, JR, Matt
Departed
Jackson, Paul, Jane

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.

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.

I’d like to get a different point across or announce something
If you have a different point of view, I would be happy to give you room to get your point across. While this publication is my perspective on events, I recognize not everyone may agree and that some people would like to express their own opinion.

If want to write an article or make an announcement, please forward your item to the Beadle (with a note as to whether or not you would like editing help) to the following address: thebeadle@mac.com.

Common Cause and the Anglican Church of the United States of America
At the recent meeting in Pittsburgh, three dioceses made commitments to follow God rather than the episcopagan party line. The Diocese of San Joaquin has now acted, congratulations and welcome are due John-David M. Schofield, 
Bishop of San Joaquin and his flock. Talk is interesting, but cheap; actions count. The diocese has moved to accept the invitation of the Province of the Southern Cone to join with them.

At its annual convention the Diocese of San Joaquin took an historic step and voted to disassociate from The Episcopal Church. The convention also accepted an invitation from Archbishop Gregory Venables and the bishops of the Province of the Southern Cone of South America to be welcomed into their membership. 

According to Bishop Schofield, “This is the first time in American Anglican history that a diocese has realigned with a like-minded province.” He added, “The vote was a resounding affirmation by our clergy and laity to remain within the worldwide Anglican Communion with its heritage and universally accepted teaching based on the word of God.”

While I would like to have seen the diocese join either the APA or the REC, this is clearly a very large and significant step in the more or less right direction. It also marks the first time a TEC bishop has lead his flock rather than wonder where they went. A personal well done to Bishop Schofield.

On a very important front, the Common Cause Partner Churches are actually moving forward and working on an ecclesial structure for Anglicans in North America.

The next major milestone in the development of Common Cause is next week, when the Common Cause Leadership Council gathers in Orlando, Florida on 18 December 2007, for its inaugural meeting. In accordance with the vision and resolution put forward by this parish, the Council comprises the head bishop, a clergy representative, and a lay representative from each Partner. This body represents Common Cause in all its fullness, and has the authority to do the work of the Partnership.

This is the organizing meeting of Common Cause, at which the assembly will elect its first officers and establish its initial committees and task forces. As such, 18 December 2007, will mark the formal beginning of a "separate ecclesiastical structure" in North America. Following this meeting, Common Cause will be in a place to seek official recognition of our Communion from the Primates. This, in turn, will require the Primates to make a clear choice between the Anglican Church of the United States of America. That may be hard for them. Nonetheless, we pray that they lead their flocks forward towards God and not wonder where they went.

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

23 December 2007 Alice Acker
30 December 2007 Alex Boyd
6 January 2008 Stephanie Boyd
13 January 2008 Greg Chase
20 January 2008 Ben Lizak
27 January 2008 Holly Lizak

The near future, as well as Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Advent and there is a lot going on in the next little bit.

Pre-Christmas Party!
On Tuesday night we’re invited to the home of Greg & Diane Chase in preparation for the celebration of the Christmas season. 7:00-9:00pm for dessert and coffee. 1527 Penasco Rd, El Cajon, CA 92019 (Rancho San Diego). Call their home (619) 270-7828 RSVP.
 
Christmas Eve Service
Our service will be on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2007 at 6:30pm at Alpine Elementary School auditorium.
 
Youth Challenge—We’re challenging our teenagers to bring a teen friend to our Christmas Eve service. If you bring someone with you we’ll give you a $25 iTunes Gift Card for meeting the challenge to share the good news of Jesus’ birth!
 
Christmas Day Service
A simple said Holy Communion will be held on 25 December 2007 at 9:30am at Victoria Chapel for those unable to attend the principal service on Christmas Eve.
 
Christmas Flowers
There is a signup for the Christmas Flowers on the Front Door table. We are suggesting a $10 donation, but any amount will help decorate our Christmas worship.

12th Night Celebration
On Saturday, 5 January 2008, the 12th night of Christmas, we’ll have a burning of the greenery for the lighting of the Epiphany at Victoria House. Bring a piece of your dry Christmas greenery to add to the brazier (no more than 6 inches with the fire danger). If you don’t have any, we’ll have some extras. After the service we’ll have dessert and sherry to close our Christmas season and welcome Epiphanytide.
 
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 a single photograph 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