Today was the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Summer may have been here last Sunday, but we were back to winter today. It was 38°F at sunrise on Mount Olympus and only 55°F by the time church was over. With a the dismal showing last week and with several members on travel and in the hospital, we were prepared for the lowest turnout of the year. But, it was not to be. It may have been the cold weather or perhaps the promise of Hymn 243 for the gathering song. Whatever it was, we had 19 people present for the service.
Father Acker recalled tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember those members of our Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice, without whose sacrifice we would not be free.
Reflections on Trinity Season, by The Right Reverend Daniel R. Morse
Bishop Co-adjutor, Diocese of Mid-America (REC)
The color for Trinity Season is green, which reminds us that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit makes his kingdom grow. As St. Paul said, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." (1 Cor. 3:5, 6)
During this season, it is appropriate for us to remember the way God has led us so that we can be duly thankful for what he is providing for us now. We must also be careful to thank him for all his provision in the past. Appreciating the specifics of God’s provision—especially the ones we don’t like—is the way we show true Christian thanksgiving to God. Even non-Christians are thankful for pleasant experiences and for plans that work out right with no hitches. If our thanksgiving is no different from theirs, what is Christian about us? To the contrary, God has fertilized our hopes and thanks with difficulties that we might trust in him alone for now and for the future.
All the unpleasant events we have ever endured have been for the purpose of helping us to be thankful for every detail of our private lives. God is greening (growing) his church, and he is also growing you and your family that you might be a beautiful adornment in praise of him. Just as we are now building a mission work at St. James that will glorify God, so our lives should be growing in beauty to be a credit to his Name. After all, the church is not brick and mortar put together in a pleasing fashion to honor God. The church is made up of living stones, the people of God. No matter how beautiful a church building is, if the living stones that worship in it are not growing in Christian loveliness and grace, God will not be glorified.
Let us then have as our goal in this Trinity Season to grow in godliness to the praise of our Triune God.
Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class - Around the Bible in 140 days by popular demand
Today continued the 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
Today we moved on to Proverbs, Solomon’s advice to his son, a son in his mid to late teens about to enter the world. Solomon was a great leader who loved God, even though he was not always that good at following God. Solomon, a great organizer who loved women (700 wives & 300 concubines), tried to impart to his son the knowledge he had gained and set him on a path towards God. “Do what I say, not what I do.”
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1.7
He gave advice about:
• Friends
• Money
• Love
Friends
• Be careful who your friends are.
• If you hang with weasels, you’ll be treat as one.
Money
• Where – Take care where you get it and where you spend it
• What – Take care with what you do with it. How you show it off.
• Who – Take care who you give it to. They can do good or evil with it.
Manage your money carefully. There will be people who want to take it from you. Careful where you keep it. Careful how you invest it. Careful who’s interested in it. As with Solomon’s son, uou must remember, “He who builds a lofty entrance invites thieves.”
Love
Be careful about who you get involved with. Look with dispassion before you look for passion. One quote from Proverbs 11.22 fits in very well here, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without good sense.”
There was also some general advice of living, such as Proverbs 23.33:
“Your eyes see strange sights, your wits and your speech are confused; you become like a man tossing out at sea, like one who clings to the top of the rigging.”
Perhaps advice like moderation in all things or never drink anything bigger than your head are similar in concept.
Jan Macauley read today’s Epistle, which came from the Fourth Chapter of St. John‘s First Epistle, beginning at the Seventh Verse. John pointed out that if we do not love our brethren here on earth whom we have seen and can touch, how then can we claim to have love for God, whom no man hath seen? “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
This reading covers the same ground as Jesus’ Summary of the Law, the second portion, “That he who loveth God love his brother also.” God is love, not hate.
BELOVED, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Today’s Gospel started in the Sixteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, beginning at the Nineteenth Verse. It is a story Jesus told of Lazarus, not the Lazarus whom he raised from the dead, but a fictional character. “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
THERE was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is com-forted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Sermon – Be not afraid
There is not fear in love;
Perfect love drives out all fear.
1 John 4.18
The world visitates fear upon us. In recent memory, we have been bidden to fear much in the way of this world:
• The world is going to be overpopulated by whenever and we are all going to die;
• There will be a nuclear war and we are all going to die;
• There is man made global warming and we are all going to die;
• If there is a nuclear war, there will be a nuclear winter and we are all going to die;
• There is a medical crisis and we are all going to die;
• There is a housing crisis and we are all going to die;
• There is a lending crisis and and we are all going to die broke;
• There is an oil crisis and we won’t be able to drive and and we are all going to die right where we are.
• By the time you read this, there will be a new problem to panic about.
Said the robin to the sparrow, "I should really like to know Why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so."
Said the sparrow to the robin, "Friend, I think that it must be That they have no Heavenly Father, such as cares for you and me."
--by Elizabeth Cheney
So, what did Jesus say to us about worry and fear? In Matthew 6.27, he said:
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Can any of you add a single hour to the length of your life by worrying?
Our national motto, “In God we Trust” tells us to put our trust in God. God who has for us eternal life. As with the worries we talked about earlier, each of our bodies will cease to function at our end here on earth. But, for Christians the end here is the beginning here. So long as we trust in God, we should dread nought.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported anniversaries today. We celebrated Marianne Lane’s 55th birthday with her today.
After Church Hospitality
Fran and Walt Dexter brought the goodies today. In keeping with the Memorial Day holiday, there were red, white and blue cookies that were great, deviled eggs (by Walt) and celery with cream cheese. Excellent!
The Command Master Chief Brewer was back on the job, the coffee was exceptional. Father Acker managed to get up early enough to make his famous low carb lemonade.
Snacko Jan Macauley asked that the upcoming after church goodies providers be listed in the Beadle’s Report to make it easier to remember:
Date Name
1 June 2008 Alice Acker
8 June 2008 Stephanie Boyd
15 June 2008 Jan Macauley
22 June 2008 Martha Stevens
29 June 2008 Opportunity Open
6 July 2008 Holly Lizak
13 July 2008 Opportunity Open
New Nametags
We had no new nametags today.
People in our Prayers - http://www.blessedtrinityprayerteam.blogspot.com/
Prayer is an extremely important activity.
It is not that God knows not our needs, for He surely does. Yet, Jesus commanded us to ask God for those same needs. In addition to the obvious of asking God for help, offering thanksgiving and the like, prayer helps us focus our thoughts on how we might do God's work.
The Prayer Team of the Alpine Anglican Church of the Blessed Trinity was established to help our members and fellow Christians pray for those in need and to give thanks as well for the blessings we have been granted.
Who can be on the list? Do I have to be a member of the Blessed Trinity Church to be prayed for? No! The only qualification to be on the list is that you want our prayer team to pray for you. We are Christians and are happy to pray for you, no matter who you are. If you want help from God, you are our kind of people.
What is the commitment from the prayer team?
Each member of the team will pray for the desired outcome at last once per day.
How do I get myself or someone else on the prayer list?
You can email one of the prayer team leaders: Greg - gnchase@cox.net or Dru - dru@descansorodents.com, or call the church office at (619) 722-1772 or fill out a prayer card at church.
What should I ask for?
Depends on what you want. Some people merely want God to be asked to heal their ills and be mentioned by their first name, others want a specific outcome and / or have more of their personal information known to the team. Ask for what you want. It is your desire and need for prayer the team is attempting to meet. For typical examples, see the list below.
Updating the Team
If you are on our prayer list, or if you have submitted a person that you have asked us to pray for, please update one of the team members or Father Acker in person, by telephone or email. It helps to be able to pray specifically for these individuals including their specific needs; plus if they get better, it is nice 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, you can ask that their names and purpose be kept confidential, then only Father Acker will know to pray for them.
Travel
Ken is on travel this week.
Jan and Stephanie are on travel this week.
Aaron, Traci and Warren are on this week.
Don, Sandy and Nick are on travel this week.
Ashley is returning from Las Vegas this week.
Greg and Diane are traveling all the way to the University of San Diego to participate in their son Nelson’s graduation today.
Repose of the Soul
Angelina Torres – passed away two weeks ago as a result of congestive heart failure. Please pray for the repose of her soul and comfort for her family members left here on earth.
Healing
Caroline (age 10 leukemia reoccurrence), Betty, Annie (diabetes), Salvador (cancer), Betty, Marge, Uni, Bethany (collision), Greg (shoulder surgery), Karl, Kathy, Christian, Marie, Wanda, James (diabetes), Frank+ (brain tumor), Sarah, Tina, Mark, Lois, Jennette (altzhimers), Gary, Delores, Anna, Ruth, Theresa, Don (post surgery), Melanie, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Terri, Mary, Edward, Bert, Carmen, Yolanda, Jodi, Ken, Sheila, Nancy, Leucrecia (cancer), Michele, Marybeth (broken foot, stroke), Bill (infection), Teiko, Ernie, Ray, Tamara, Betty, Hazel, Richard, Bruce (heart attack), Susanne, Paul (stroke), Ralph+ (eyes hip), Allison (kidney), Bill (ETOH poisoning), Fran (cataracts)
Ben Lizak came back from walking with Holly on Friday morning when he felt clammy and had a tightness in his chest. Holly took him to the Emergency Room at Kaiser where they found he had a heart attack. After a "shot" of nitro, he felt much better. They admitted him and are doing tests. He seems to be doing fairly well. Please pray for Ben's complete and rapid recovery and for Holly, Ryan and Ashley's peace of mind and soul while they help Ben with his recovery.
Al had a heart attack on last Friday. He was in Grossmont Hospital and has been released from the hospital. There was no vessel blockage and no heart muscle damage. He still feels very poorly, but is thankful to be home with no more heart damage. Please pray for his safe and successful recovery and also for his family.
Mary Parker is in the hospital with an infection. Please pray for her recovery and return home.
Kay Denton (Mrs. Kay) – Hospitalized with heart, kidney and lung difficulties with fluid buildup on the lungs and what may be a form of septic arthritis. Please pray for the fluid to dissipate and for her heart to regain regularity. Also, please pray for her to regain her positive attitude. As always, she retains her trust in the Lord, she is just a bit down on things of this earth. Pray also for Mrs. Kay’s family and her close friend Len who are under great stress that they might also keep their trust in the Lord.
Nicole Ethridge - age 27, mother of two - Has a form of liver disease which is causing her liver to shut down. She is near dialysis and would like you to pray for her disease to go into remission so that she can keep off dialysis and avoid a liver transplant. She asks that you pray for her continued faith and good spirits, as well as strength to take care of her children.
Guidance
Lloyd & Jennifer, Bob to be guided to church
Ashley, Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, Ken, Maruja, Stella, Shelly, Jerry, Martha, Matt, Marci, Nicholas, Carmen, Mary, John, William, Joe, Alexander, Jonathan, Phil, Sandy, Larraine, Brad, Brian, Cindi, Uni, Jennifer, Greg, Ed, Ruthie, Margie, Phyllis, Walter, Doris-June, Rick, Carol, Susan, Curtis, Stephen, Donny, Chris, Eric (job), Andrew, Keith (job decision), Jeff, Penny, Sara, Mark
Economic Guidance and Assistance
St. Andrew’s Academy (Lake Almanor, CA) Father Brian Foos (headmaster) – Please pray for help and guidance for the school which is under severe pressure from economic down turn. You can pray and turn your heart towards this problem. If you can do something concrete to help them, contact Father Acker.
Homebound/Aged and Infirm Mary, Donna, Betty, Noko, Adelaide, Evelyn, Lorraine, Ellie, Walter (skilled nursing)
Armed Forces & Contractors
Tillman, Patrick, Justin, Tim, Evan, Jim, RJ, Matt, Phillip, Tim, Oscar, Julian, Steven (US Army – Bagdad, Iraq), Joe (USAF - Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
Needs Employment
Stephen Pappin is looking for a job in the electronic power supply field and asks you pray for him to be guided to an opening where he can fit in, do well and help them prosper.
Thanksgiving
Fran gives thanks her eye problems are now down to only relatively mild cataracts and those appear to be operable.
Completion of military service for Jason & Matt
RJ and his entire unit returning from Iraq without casualties
Greg and Diane Chase give thanks for their son Nelson’s graduation from the University of San Diego.
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.
Our Church
We hear that the Bible (usually meaning the King James Version) is hard to understand, it needs to be written in Today’s Language. This same criticism is often leveled at the Book of Common Prayer, which after all is mostly a re-ordering of selected Bible texts (around 81% or so).
The King James Version of the Bible was translated almost 500 years ago. Yet, it was not written in the common language of that time either. When the Bible was translated, it was intentionally written in a grand and eloquent style the translators felt was the best they could do to pay honor to the Source. As the finest minds of their time, they were mindful of the awesome obligation they had been entrusted with. To translate for the first time the Word of God into the language of man. Not just a chosen few, but every literate man of their country.
It does take a bit of effort to appreciate what is written, but the work is more than repaid by the knowledge and insight gained.
It is true the Anglican Church requires effort to fully appreciate. It is far more demanding of its members than the Mega Churches. At the same time, the Anglican Church has far more to offer. We are the culmination of 2,000 years of "Scripture, Reason and Tradition."
Thought for the Day
Freedom is not Free. It never was and never will be.
Our country is free today only because of those who gave their tomorrows for our today.
Tomorrow is the one day each year set aside to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. All those who serve our country give of themselves and their families. They willingly go forth and ride towards the sound of gunfire that we might live in peace and freedom. They do so knowing that each sortie might be their last. For some it is, for others it is only another sortie. For those who did not ride the ride home, their tomorrow is with our Father in heaven. They gave their tomorrow here on earth for our free today. They sacrificed not only their life here, but their family’s lives. To them we owe a debt we can never pay. We can only acknowledge it.
In the words of a warrior long past, “Charge your glass, raise it high, drink to them!” Then, pray for them and for their families they left behind.
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.
Christian Fellowship Opportunity - Oblatum occasionem tene
We all go out to dinner on the odd occasion. Often we go by ourselves. Think of the opportunity for fellowship if you ask a fellow Christian. It can be someone from your church, another church or someone without a church home. You get a chance to talk about Christian things and become more involved with a fellow Christian, or even two. How much easier it is to worship, work and live together in peace and harmony with someone you know and like. Your Beadle is willing to bet you will have a great time.
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
1 June 2008 Ben Lizak
8 June 2008 Holly Lizak
15 June 2008 Fran Dexter
22 June 2008 Alice Acker
29 June 2008 Tim Macauley – Saint Peter’s Day, the Fisher of Men, read by the fisherman himself!
The near future, as well as Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Second Sunday after Trinity. Come next Sunday and see if Father Acker tells us what the Green Season means.
What about the pre-service class, will Father Acker lose his place or will he pick up where he left off? What about the sermon? Are we still on the Trinity, back to the Holy Ghost or something all together different? 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!
Alternate Sources of The Beadle’s Report
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
