The Second Sunday in Lent

Today was the Second Sunday in Lent. After a snow storm that closed Interstate 8 and kept some of our people from getting home earlier in the week, the weather was superb. Sunrise brought a lovely 45°F on Mount Olympus and by the time church began, the temperature climbed to about 60°F and it was about 70°F by the end of the service. Perhaps it was the lovely weather or perhaps the birthday girls or anniversary kids (more later) anyway, we ended up with 25 attendees.

Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class - Around the Bible in 70 Days, soon to stretch out to 140 days by popular demand
Today was the fourth in a ten week tour of the Bible, 10 minutes of teaching each Sunday, beginning at 8:30am. This week was the first week of the new slide series with all the Bible verses on the screen. Everyone seemed to appreciate the extra work on Father Acker’s part and the organization kept the class right at 10 minutes.

As of late, the class started with one of the Collects for the Day, applicable to the subject at hand, in this case the Second Sunday in Advent:

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Second Sunday of Advent BCPp92

We have been making our way through the Bible. As many of you know, the first five books of the Bible are known as the Pentateuch and are also part of the Jewish Torah, which in turn is the first part of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) and comprises five books. For that reason it is also called the Pentateuch, Chumash, or "the Five Books of Moses".

The five books of the Pentateuch are:
• Genesis (בראשית, Bereshit: "In the beginning...")
• Exodus (שמות, Shemot: "Names")
• Leviticus (ויקרא, Vayyiqra: "And he called...")
• Numbers (במדבר, Bamidbar: "In the desert/wilderness...")
• Deuteronomy (דברים, Devarim: "Words", "Discourses", or "Things")

The Hebrew names are taken from initial words within the first verse of each book. See, for example, Genesis 1:1.

Jews have revered the Torah through the ages, as have Samaritans and Christians. It is traditionally accepted as the literal word of God as told to Moses. Christian Bibles incorporate the Hebrew Bible (with some variations) into its canon under the name of Old Testament. Though different Christian denominations have slightly different versions of the Old Testament in their Bibles, the Five Books of Moses (or "the Law") are common to them all.

Today Father Acker discussed Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Pentateuch and of the Old Testament. In form it is a set of three sermons delivered by Moses reviewing the previous forty years of wandering in the wilderness; its central element is a detailed law-code by which the Children of Israel are to live in the Promised Land.

In theological terms the book constitutes a covenant between Yahweh, the god of Israel, and the "Children of Israel", his "chosen people"; this is the culmination of the series of covenants which begins with that between Yahweh and all living things after the Flood (Genesis 9). One of its most significant verses constitutes the shema ("Hear, O Israel, the Lord (YHWH) is our God, the Lord (YHWH) alone!"), which today serves as the definitive statement of Jewish identity.

The bulk of the book appears to have been composed in the late 7th century BC, during the religious reforms carried out under king Josiah of Judah, with later additions from the period after the fall of Judah to the Neo-Babylonian empire in 596 BC. Its essential concerns mirror the thrust of Josiah's reforms: Yahweh is to be accepted as the sole God of Israel, and worshipped only in one place.

Their Story

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. (Num 13:1-2)

We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great.
(Num 13:27-28a)

And Caleb…said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. (Num 13:30-31)

Plains of Moab
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
(Deuteronomy 32:1-2)

Mt. Nebo into Promised Land
And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.(Deu 34:4-6)]

Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses. (Deu 34:7-9)

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel. (Deu 34:10-12)

So, what does all this mean?

God was taking the Jewish people out of four hundred years of slavery and molding them into a people who would conquer the “Promised Land.” Except for two, none of those who left Egypt would make it, yet the people would. Moses knew he would not be one of those to make it, but he wanted those who did to move along the trail God had marked for them.

Jack Arnold read the Epistle for today, which came from the Fourth Chapter of Paul’s First letter to the Thessalonians beginning at the First Verse:

WE beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.


This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the Fifteenth Chapter, beginning at the Twenty-First Verse.

JESUS went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

This story surfaces again in the Book of Common Prayer in the Prayer of Humble Access, on page 82:

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

Sermon - Crumbs under the Table
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. - 1Thes4

In today’s Gospel, Jesus went from Galilee Northwest to the Seacoast region, Tyre was the main seaport. An area with many Gentiles, non-Jews, and few Jews. Thus, it was surprising when the Canaanite woman called unto Jesus, “Lord, son of David.”

This is not what you would expect of a Canaanite. Words mean something, both good and bad. Take care when you use them.

People notice what you do as a Christian.

Notice what the Caannite woman said when she sought Jesus, “Have mercy on me.”

Notice what she did not say - I want/I deserve.

Jesus’ reply was, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Salvation only comes through God’s plan—Israel.

Yet, she knew there were scraps falling from the table. Scraps the Jews of the time would not eat of. She knew the scraps: every gift from God is good, even the small things, were good. More than that, great.

"O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt."

Study in prayer: Come to Jesus: Have mercy upon me, O Lord. Through prayer and listening to the Holy Ghost, you will know what God wants for you. Then, you need to ask for God’s gifts.

Do you want to grow in your prayer life? Do these three things:

• Come seeking God’s mercy.
• Learn what God wants
• Ask for what you think you need, God will provide.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
Today was a cornucopia of celebration! We celebrated Evelyn Hunt’s 85th birthday, Muriel Pappin’s 81st birthday and Jan and Tim Macauley’s 42nd anniversary. What an exciting time!

After Church Hospitality
Dru Arnold brought the snacks today. While not as fancy as some days, she showed what you can do if you are really tired the day before, but remember to stop at both Costco and Smart and Final on the way home. There were four kinds of big fancy cookies , pound cake, hamantashen pastries (traditionally served on Purim ), Marcona almonds and red flame seedless grapes, of course.

Sadly, there are no photographs of the congregation sitting around enjoying this feast, but they did (for real).

Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley was back on the job, anniversary or no anniversary, and the coffee was great. And as Ben Lizak found out hot. Father Acker managed to get up early enough to make his famous low carb lemonade.

New Nametags
We had 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!

Please note that on the green cards at church, you can ask that those to be prayed for have their names disseminated to the “prayer team”, those names will be said in church and appear here. Or, your can ask that the names and purpose be kept confidential, then only Father Acker will know to pray for them.

Travel
Ken is on travel this week.
Walt and Fran are on travel this week.
Tim will be back on travel this week visiting his very ill parents in Las Vegas.
Mark on travel this week visiting his father who is nearing the end of his life on the East Coast.

Sick or in need of healing

Healing
Annie, Salvador (cancer), Betty, Marge, Kathy, Richard, Christian, Trish, Marie, Wanda, Karen, Sarah, Lois, Jennette, Linn, Gary, Delores, Anna, Ruth, Theresa, Melanie, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Betty, Terri, Mary, Edward, Bert, Jesusa (difficult pregnancy), Michele, Marybeth (broken foot), Kevin, Bruce, Susanne, Jack

Update from Sunday afternoon –Tim’s parents are both still in hospitals, but different ones across town. Bill is recovering from an infection and Betty from a minor stroke and high blood pressure.

Guidance
Christiana, Alexander, Katie & family (death of a child), Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, Ken, Maruja, Stella, Shelly, William, Joe, Alexander, Jonathan, Phil, Sandy, Larraine, Brad, Brian, Cindi, Uni, Jennifer, Greg, Rick, Carol, Susan, Curtis, Stephen, Chris, Andrew, Keith

Homebound/Aged and Infirm
Mary, Donna, Betty, Noko, Adelaide, Evelyn, Lorraine, Ellie

Armed Forces & Contractors
Tillman, Patrick, Justin, Tim, Evan, Jim, Jason, JR, Matt, Phillip

Holy Passing
Mark’s father

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.

Free Teen Guitar Class (FTGC – www.freeteenguitarclass.com)
The Free Teen Guitar Class is underway on Wednesdays with new times:

New Beginning Class 3:00-3:45pm String 1 and very basics.
Continuing Book Class 3:45-4:30pm We are doing pages 38 & 39 Key of G.
Techniques Class 4:30-5:15pm Starting improvisation on Ionian scale & rhythm part for Surfing with the Alien.

All classes are open to new students. You might know someone who already plays some and wants to join in. If you know someone who wants to play and does not have a guitar, we have a few loaner beginner guitars. If you haven’t done so, have a look at our website: http://www.freeteenguitarclass.com. I think you will like it.

Email me if you want a new FTGC Flyer! frkeitha@alpineanglican.com

The next performance opportunity is March 3rd.
- Father Ironhand

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

24 February 2008 Alice Acker

The near future, as well as Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Third Sunday in Lent.

Pre-Service Class
Next Sunday will also be the fifth Sunday in Father Acker’s new pre-service class series, Around the Bible in 70 Days, a ten week tour of the Bible, 10 minutes of teaching that begins at 8:30am on Sundays. The class provides an overview of the entire bible. This is the forest view for those feeling lost among the trees. Actually it a good reminder on the overall story and our reading it as God’s story.

The 10 minute teaching series begins at 8:30am each Sunday! This is an excellent opportunity to bring a friend who would like to know more about the Bible and Christianity.

Lenten Book Study
Each Wednesday in Lent, we will be meeting at 1815 (6:15pm) at the SCAIR Center in Alpine to discuss the book The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis.

Evening Prayer 1815 (6:15 pm)
Soup Dinner Starts 1830 (6:30 pm)
Discussion Starts 1915 (7:15 pm)
Discussion Ends 2000 (8:00 pm)

The Screwtape Letters, originally published in The Guardian in 1941, is an epistolary novel in the form of Letters from the demon Screwtape to his nephew, the apprentice demon Wormwood. Each Letter is a beautifully crafted description of how the forces of evil seek to subvert good men and turn them away from Christianity. From Lewis's Introduction:
I live in the Managerial Age, in a world of "Admin." The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid "dens of crime" that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern.

This metaphor, of course, proved to be more prescient than even Lewis could have foreseen. For as the Letters were being published, bureaucrats in Berlin and Moscow were exterminating humans by the millions and the Depression and the War would give rise to increasing huge and intrusive Welfare State bureaucracies, bent on destroying Religion, Family, Community, any institution which could rival the power of the State.

All the while, and ever so gradually, citizens were willingly ceding more and more of their autonomy (their hard won Free Will), as we slid into the modern Liberal godless Hell. To read Lewis now is to realize that things could have been different; that a few voices, crying in the wilderness, warned of the authoritarian netherworld that Western man exiled himself to for much of this Century as he abandoned God and Christianity in favor of the State and statism. We are now in the midst of a twilight struggle that will decide whether we retain sufficient confidence in our ultimate god-given dignity to reclaim our freedom from the grasp of the State, or whether Western man's crisis of confidence will lead us back to the Garden of Eden, with our needs taken care of and our souls extinguished.

There is no better way to gird yourself for the battle than to read this book.


THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS

Chapter Topics from the Devil’s point of view
• Preventing Conversion
• The Church
• The Family
• Prayer
• The War
• War & Fear
• Extremes
• The Law of Undulation
• Temptation in Trough Periods
• Acquaintances
• Laughter
• The Safest Road to Hell
• Repentance
• Humility
• Time
• Attending the Parish Church
• Gluttony
• Sexual Temptation, Marriage & Family
• God's Love and Being "In Love"
• Sexual Temptation, Continued
• Ownership
• "Losing in Love"
• Theology, Politics & "The Historical Jesus"
• The Christian "Inner Ring"
• Change
• Unselfishness
• Prayer, Free Will & Old Books
• Life & Death
• Cowardice & Courage
• Reality

Doubt not: this study will be entertaining, the food great, and when you are done, you will feel far more comfortable and be far stronger in your Christian beliefs. If you have not ordered your copy, either call Father Acker or scrounge in the Lending Library (there are some there).

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