The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called Palm Sunday

Today was the Palm Sunday, the Sunday next before Easter, commonly called Palm Sunday. The skies over Mount Olympus were scattered with about an inch of snow on the ground and a brisk 31°F. The temperature at church was not much warmer at 37°F and a light breeze that made it seem cooler yet. Although we had a number of people on travel, we still ended up with 19 members attending.

The name Palm Sunday comes from the palm leaves, along with clothing and other honors strewn along Jesus’ path as He came in to Jerusalem the first day of the week before His crucifixion. Of interest, only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion, every one else, including Jews, Romans and the Christians, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city. Those who thought of Him as Lord looked for a Kingdom of this World to be established. Far from that, He came to take us from this world to freedom.

It is important to remember as you go through Holy Week that Jesus was in control of all the events of the week. The moon was almost full, this was the year of the Messiah according to Daniel. Jesus chose the route into the city, through the King’s Gate. The people saw Him coming and met him at the Mount of Olives. They expected Him to come in and proclaim His rule. And that He did, but not in the way the people were looking for. He went in to the temple and through out the vendors selling “sacrificial” birds and animals at exorbitant cost, as well as the money changers. Far from announcing Himself head of the temple, He announce they had made His Father’s house a den of thieves. Rather than working within the establishment, He over turned it! Having made His point, He left the city the way He came in.

The reason Jesus came to Jerusalem at the Passover was to take the place of the yearly sacrifice one time, by one perfect sacrifice for all time and for all mankind. His was to be the blood marking our door that the destroyer might pass over.

Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class - Around the Bible in 140 days by popular demand
Today was the fifth in a twenty week tour of the Bible, 10 minutes of teaching each Sunday, beginning at 8:30am. 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 and are now at the end of the Books of Samuel.

… when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth … 1 Samuel 18.6-8

David at seventeen is a national hero after defeating Goliath and the Philistines. He has been recognized for the leader he was and at the same time Tall Saul has been recognized for the coward he is. With his great popularity, David cannot be ignored, so he is brought into the army. David becomes the General of Saul’s army by age twenty and becomes more popular with each victory. Unlike Saul, David leads from the front. As a result of David’s popularity, the now Jealous Saul descends into madness. In time, David and Saul’s son, Jonathan, becomes best friends, even as his father turns in madness to kill David.

As time went on Saul began to try harder to kill David than he was trying to kill Philistines.

Deciding he cannot oppose the king and should not kill him, David goes on the run. He hides from Saul in an area about twice the size of San Diego County for ten years. What to do? He goes to Achish, King of Gath, seeking work as a mercenary. One condition only, that he not fight the Hebrews. The word gets out and soldiers desert the Army of Israel to sign up with David’s Foreign Legion. Over time, he gains a force of 600 men who stay with him for ten years, until he is thirty. During that time, David had lots of chances to kill Saul, but he doesn’t.

David’s men counseled him to eliminate the problem, “The men of David…the Lord said unto thee, ‘Behold, I will deliver thine enemy unto thine hand.’” When Saul stopped for a restroom break one day in a cave, David snuck up behind him cut off a part of his robe. When Saul went back to his men, David came out and said, “My lord the king!... I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s annointed… See skirt of thy robe in my hand…mine hand shall not be against thee.” The message was clear, David could have easily killed Saul but did not. And there was peace more or less between them.

Saul met his end in battle the Philistines and his son fell defending him; David was king.

Palm Liturgy or Service
Before the service proper started, Father Acker conducted the Palm Liturgy or Service in which he blessed the palms from which we later made crosses.

After the blessing, he handed out fronds to each congregant:

Traditionally, we make crosses of the palm fronds after the service. It is a handy way to keep the palm frond until next year’s Ash Wednesday, when the palms are burned to make the ashes for that day.

Holly Lizak read the Epistle for today, which came from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, starting at the Fifth Verse of the Second Chapter.

Paul reminds us that if Christ, the Son of God, was obedient to God, we should so be. Also, as a result of that obedience, God hath given Jesus the name to which all of earth should bow.

LET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, starting at the First Verse of the Twenty-Seventh Chapter and tells the story of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion and death. The Gospel was read by in parts, with Ben Lizak as the Gospeller, Father Acker as Jesus and others and Jack Arnold as Pilate.

The normally powerful Gospel seems even more powerful when read as a play, so to speak. The crowd’s part is very hard to read as it reminds us of our dark side. If you did not make it to church today, please find someone to read this with in parts. It is an uncomfortable experience that you nonetheless should not miss.
Gospeller: The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew: When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying,
Judas: I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.
Gospeller: And they said,
Crowd: What is that to us? see thou to that.
Gospeller: And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said,
Crowd: It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
Gospeller: And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying,
Pilate: Art thou the King of the Jews?
Gospeller: And Jesus said unto him,
Jesus: Thou sayest.
Gospeller: And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him,
Pilate: Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
Gospeller: And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them,
Pilate: Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
Gospeller: For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying,
Pilate’s Wife: Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Gospeller: But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them,
Pilate: Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?
Gospeller: They said,
Crowd: Barabbas.
Gospeller: Pilate saith unto them,
Pilate: What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?
Gospeller: They all say unto him,
Crowd: Let him be crucified.
Gospeller: And the governor said,
Pilate: Why, what evil hath he done?
Gospeller: But they cried out the more, saying,
Crowd: Let him be crucified.
Gospeller: When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying,
Pilate: I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Gospeller: Then answered all the people, and said, Crowd: His blood be on us, and on our children.
Gospeller: Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying,
Crowd: Hail, King of the Jews!
Gospeller: And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying,
Crowd: Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Gospeller: Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
Crowd: He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Gospeller: The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
Jesus: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?
Gospeller: that is to say,
Jesus: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Gospeller: Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said,
Crowd: This man calleth for Elias.
Gospeller: And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said,
Crowd: Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Gospeller: Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Here silence is kept, some kneel or bow.
Gospeller: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying,
Crowd: Truly this was the Son of God.

Please read this.

Having read this, do you see yourself in the crowd? There is a little or more of the crowd in each of us. Uncomfortable? Yes. But, sadly very real. Yet, if we realize this, we can act to make ourselves less of the crowd and more of the Christ. For in us each is the crowd and the crown. We chose, each of us, which it will be, crowd or crown. One simple letter of difference, yet the gap between the two is bridged only by Christ.

Sermon - Kingdom Come, but upon Whom?
Father Acker started his sermon noting today is Palm Sunday and explaining that he is now, as a former parishioner once asked him to do, “preaching from the Bible.” Some have noted that of late he has been using his PDA instead of a printed Bible to keep him on track with his sermons. He thought it appropriate to explain this on Palm™ Sunday.

When Jesus came into the Jerusalem, he came in just before Passover of the year in which it had been predicted that the Messiah would come to “save” the Jews. All of Jerusalem was talking. This is the year predicted for the coming of God’s Messiah. Not only the year, but the day. Many went out to the Mount of Olives to wait. When they found Jesus riding in to town, the locals formed the crowd for the palm strewn parade into Jerusalem. The crowd cheered, but did they kneel before him? No. Yet, they “knew” the savior would go to the Temple and install himself as the Monarch and somehow overthrow the Roman Occupation Forces.

Instead of announcing his Kingship on the steps of the Temple, Jesus drove out the moneychangers who making a profit on changing Roman coins into Temple coins and the dishonest selling of sacrificial animals.

“My house shall be called a house of prayer, and you’ve made it a den of thieves.”

This was not what they were looking for. They wanted a man to save them from the Romans who were likely the best civil government they ever had and all God sent was His Son with the key to eternal salvation and true happiness here on earth.

So, how did they react?

With typical gratitude, when asked the cheering crowd called out, “Crucify Him!”

God has sent us incomparable gifts:

• His Son to give us eternal life, if only we will accept it.
• Happiness here on earth, if only we will accept it.

What does it mean to accept God’s gifts? It means to accept His Son as our King and to follow His rules with true obedience. All His rules, not just the ones that seem like a good idea, all the time, not just on Sundays.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
Today we celebrated Alice Acker’s 54th birthday with her. Her actual birthday is Saint Patrick’s Day and she asks that if you send corned beef, it either be refrigerated or canned. There were no reported anniversaries today.

After Church Hospitality
Betsy and Marianne Lane brought the goodies today. Two kinds of cakes, a dark colored one and a lovely pound cake; three flavors of macadamia nuts; chocolate chip cookies and your Beadle’s very favorite macadamia nut cookies with no chocolate! Oh yes, and Red Flame Seedless grapes. The Under Beadle reports the grapes as superb.

Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley was flying to Las Vegas to take care of his mother who just went back into the hospital. Barista Ben Lizak stood in for the CMCB and brewed wonderful coffee. Father Acker managed to get up early enough to make his famous low carb lemonade, sadly it spilled in the trailer, but there was barely enough.

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 or orange 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
Annie and Emilie are traveling north this week.
Tim is on travel this week, his mom Betty had to go back in the hospital, his father Bill is still at home.
Ken is on travel this week.
Aaron, Traci and Warren are on travel this week.
Walt and Fran are on travel this week.

Sick or in need of healing

Healing
Raymond (Fall/coma), Betty, Annie, Salvador (cancer), Betty, Marge, Uni, Bethany (collision), Greg (shoulder surgery),  Kathy, Richard, Christian, Trish, Marie, Wanda,  Sarah, Tina, Mark, Lois, Jennette, Linn, Gary, Delores, Anna, Ruth, Theresa, Don (post surgery), Melanie, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Terri, Mary, Edward, Bert, Jesusa (difficult pregnancy), Sheila, Michele, Marybeth (broken foot, stroke), Bill (infection), Kevin, Bruce, Susanne, Paul (stroke), Ralph (eyes), Allison (kidney)

Guidance
Christiana, Alexander, Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, Ken, Maruja, Stella, Shelly, William, Joe, Alexander, Jonathan, Phil, Sandy, Larraine, Brad, Brian, Cindi, Uni, Jennifer, Greg, Ed, Ruthie, Rick, Carol, Susan, Curtis, Stephen, Donny, Chris, Andrew, Keith, Jeff, Penny

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

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

Departed
Evelyn (3/16/08Dexter)

Miraculous Recovery or Holy Passing
Annie Springer’s brother Raymond fell on stairs and is in a coma. Raymond is not expected to survive.

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.

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 March 2008 Alex Boyd (Easter)
30 March 2008 Jan Macauley
6 April 2008 Hap Arnold
13 April 2008 Dru Arnold
20 April 2008 Jack Arnold
27 April 2008 Alice Acker

The near future, as well as Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Sunday next before Easter, commonly called Palm Sunday. Sunday being the first day of the week, it is also the first day of Holy Week.

Pre-Service Class
Next Sunday will also be the seventh Sunday in Father Acker’s 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.

Holy Week Activities

Holy Week, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, is coming up:

Holy Wednesday
1830 (6:30 pm) We have an instructional Seder Dinner planned for Wednesday at the SCAIR Center, time and location as for the Lenten Classes. Everyone is invited, you need not be a class attendee to come to dinner. Father Acker is taking a head count, though. He needs to know how many are coming so that he can prepare the necessary food. This is a very interesting event, and if that does not draw you, you need to know it is really fun, with great food.
Location – SCAIR Learning Center, 2218 Alpine Boulevard, across from the Alpine Inn.

For more information and head count, please call the church office at (619) 722-1772.

Maundy Thursday
1830 (6:30 pm) Foot washing and Institution of the Last Supper
Location – Victoria Chapel

Good Friday
1200 Ecumenical Stations of the Cross
Location – Queen of Angels
1830 (6:30 pm) Good Friday Liturgy and Mass of the Pre-sanctified Gifts
Location – Victoria Chapel

Saturday
1930 (7:30pm) Easter Vigil (Lighting of the Easter Fire & First Evensong of Easter)
Location – Victoria Chapel
 
Easter Sunday
0830 (08:30 am) Holy Communion
Location - Alpine Community Center
If you invite a friend and they come, you will each get a $25.00 iTunes gift card.

0930 (9:30 am) Breakfast with the Kiwanis - First time attendees’ breakfast is on the church.
Location Alpine Elementary Auditorium (our normal church location)

Easter Sunday is the most important day of the Christian year. It is the day the promise of Christ is delivered. If you don’t attend church any other day of the year, join us for the Easter celebration of the Risen Lord.

Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Easter. It seems a sure bet the sermon will be on the Risen Lord, in one form or another. On the other hand, it isn’t a bet if it is sure! Still, what about the pre-service class? Will we have one? Will it be about Kings and Chronicles? What about Ezra? Unless you come to the service, you will have to wait until you read the Beadle’s Report to find out.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me

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