Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

Today was the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Sunday. The weather was pretty darn nice for summer with a sunrise temperature of 57°F on Mount Olympus. By the time church was over we were at 76°F. The lovely weather brought out a total of 22 participants by service start.

Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class - Around the Bible in 140 days by popular demand
The customary pre-service class is on hold. The Ackers are on vacation. Father Acker will resume the class in September, or perhaps before if he gets bored with vacation! The usual class time was taken up with a couple of extra welcome songs with music provided by Father Acker and Jack Arnold.

Ben Lizak read the Epistle, which came from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, the Third Chapter beginning at the Fourth Verse. Paul reminds us through the Grace of God we can be able ministers of the new testament, on our own we can be in the end no good. If we are able to completely follow the Law, with good intent, we can through that please God, but inasmuch as that is impossible we fall short. The letter of the Law which cannot be complied with is death, the spirit of the Law gives life. That is Jesus’ message, for in the Law is death and in the spirit life. For if there is glory in administering the Law, how much more glory is there in the spirit of the Law, which is Jesus’ message?

SUCH trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

Today’s Gospel started in the Seventh Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Mark, beginning at the Thirty-First Verse. Jesus came in to the coast of Decapolis. The people brought unto him a deaf mute. Jesus examined the man, put his fingers in his ears, touched his tongue and said “Ephphatha”, that is, “Be opened.” What Jesus did here for the deaf mute physically is what he does for each of us spiritually. Through Jesus, we hear the Word of God and are given the ability to speak it. Conversely, there are none so deaf as those who will not hear and none so blind as those who will not see. It is up to each of us to choose if we will remain blind, deaf and dumb or open our eyes to see, hear and speak the Word of God. When we receive the gift of sight, hearing and speech we embark on a new life of freedom.

JESUS, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; and were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Sermon – How to be Holy People
Today Father Acker talked about how to be a holy person. When you think holy, don’t think “holier than thou” or the like. Think being more like God would like us to be and less like the devil would like us to be. Holier than thou is on the devil’s side.

If you are going to solve a problem, first you need to recognize there is a problem, then you need to recognize the solution and be willing to implement that solution. In this case, the problem is really that we are self-centered imperfect creatures. Following God’s will is the solution to our problem. At one level, we know that, at most other levels, we resist the obvious solution.

In today’s Epistle, from 2 Corinthians 3.9, we read:

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. KJV

or

The system which brings condemnation was glorious; how much more glorious is the activity which brings salvation. NEV

The point is that people took pride and glory from the old law, The Law which was impossible to keep without God’s Grace and yet reject the pride and glory in the new Word brought by Jesus. The Word of Salvation.

The system which they gloried in resulted in a pattern:

• Israel sins;
• God’s judgment comes;
• Israel repents;
• God forgives.

Each time, like Bullwinkle, “This time for sure!”

This pattern repeated over and over; written down it brought us the Old Testament. It would have gone on forever, a comfort to some. But, then came Jesus, the New Testament, brining change and an end to the endless repetition of this pattern. In John, Verse Five, Chapter Thirty-Nine, we read:

You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you will find eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me.

Through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we find the transformation we need to become holy people. Or, more precisely: Whole People, not mere shadows of our potential.


Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported birthdays today. We celebrated the Ackers’ 14th anniversary with them.

After Church Hospitality
Diane and Greg Chase brought the after church goodies today. Their plan was simple, bring about three times as much as you think will do and bring what Greg likes. Turned out to be a great plan. Everyone liked what they brought and nothing was left! There were, but are no more, chocolate cookies, white chocolate macadamia cookies, four kinds of fruit, four kind of cheese, three kinds of crackers and mixed nuts. All gone!

Command Master Chief Brewer Macualey was back from fishing and made excellent coffee. Father Acker got up early, vacation or no, and made his famous low carb lemonade. Thanks!

After church goodies providers as currently signed up:

Date Name
17 August 2008 Dru Arnold
24 August 2008 Holly Lizak
31 August 2008 Martha Stevens
7 September 2008 Stephanie Boyd
14 September 2008 Bishop's Visit and Beadle's Party
21 September 2008 Alice Acker

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, and then only Father Acker will know to pray for them.

Travel
Traci and Warren are on travel this week.

Healing

 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 (Alzheimer’s), 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)
, Joy, Kai, Jay, Tim, Sandy (back), Diane, Amy (Thyroid cancer), Doris (heart), Jim (pancreatic cancer), Lise (peritoneal cancer), Joy

Mary Parker has gone home from Sharp Memorial. She is still in the recovery process and in need to continued prayer. Please pray also for her family who are very concerned for her.

Alice, friend of Fran Dexter, had lung cancer and surgery five years ago and has been in remission. After she started coughing up blood, radiological testing found a spot on her lung. She and her husband Rick ask your prayers for her and the surgeons and medical personnel taking care of her as she waits for her next consultation on 20 August 2008. Fran asks in particular that you pray for peace of mind for both Alice and Rick that they might put their trust in God.

Denise, Father Acker's sister-in-law's niece, is in her early 30's and has started to have numbness in fingertips and toes. On 8 August 2008, she will be tested for Multiple Sclerosis. The test results will take a couple of weeks. Please pray also both Denise and her family to put their trust in God and not worry in this trying time.

Joshua Hamilton fell out of a car the morning of 27 July 2008. He sustained a closed head injury and potential spinal cord injuries. Joshua has undergone two surgeries to relieve pressure on his brain. He was in an induced coma, the coma inducing medication has been discontinued. He has not yet awakened and the MRI did not have a very positive if he should awaken. We are praying for God’s miraculous intervention and to do those things best for Joshua in his life with God. Please continue to pray for his wife, Tulani, and two children, Isaiah & Keanu, and of course his mom, Jo Ann, and his James brother who is in our FTGC, asking for God’s presence and comfort.

Sara, a good friend of John an old family friend of the Ackers. Sara has two small children and an abusive ex-husband. The ex-husband took the children and Sara is in court trying to get them back. Sara asks you pray that God’s will for these children will be realized and they will be put in the best custody situation possible. Please pray for God’s guidance in the lives of the ex-husband, John and Sara and that they might hear Him.

George, husband of LaVonda and friend of Susanne Barrett, whose bladder cancer has returned. The cancer is advancing, growing around the sciatic nerve and one of his kidnerys. Please pray for their children, Megan and George Jr., as they adjust to the news. Surgery will be occurring as soon as a few more tests are run. Of your Christian charity, please pray for George, LaVonda, Megan, and George Jr.

Glenn Finch – is awake and walking. Please keep praying for complete healing and for his family who have been consistently at his side. Also, pray for the doctors and nurses that attend to him. The family asks for your prayers for his healing and their strength. They are grateful for such loving, caring friends.

Evelyn Hunt is just not feeling right. She has generalized shaking, pressure in her head, blurred vision, nausea and fatigue. Although she has undergone many tests, they have not been able to determine the cause of the problem. She goes back to the doctor on Tuesday for more results. Please pray for a determination of the cause of her problems, a cure and a cessation of the symptoms.

Miney Farrell has had pain and weakness in her leg that has been limiting her activity.

Lorraine Winkles is still dealing with shingles (now over 18 months). The level of discomfort varies but the condition is persisting.

Lona Walsh is in significant discomfort, but it looks like it is not Lupus. A recent MRI indicates she needs shoulder surgery on both sides, not great news, but much better than Lupus. She hopes for more information shortly, in the mean time, she asks that you continue your prayers for healing.

Kay Denton (Mrs. Kay) – is home from the hospital now, though she continues to have with heart, kidney and lung difficulties with fluid buildup on the lungs and what may be a form of septic arthritis. She is doing much better. Every so often she has a flare-up of the severe shoulder pain, accompanied by chills and shivering- but the last time it happened was much relieved by Cortisone injections. Also, please pray for her to maintain her positive attitude. As always, she retains her trust in the Lord, she thankful to get her positive attitude back. 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. 

 Mrs. Kay sent the Prayer Team a card and asks that everyone who is praying for her know how grateful she is for their prayers.

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.

Caroline (age 10, leukemia recurrence) Day +19 From Caroline's mom Carmen Tuesday morning:

For the first time in months, Caroline is producing her own white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets -- hopefully no more transfusions! The new cells have engrafted to the point that they are now producing the full spectrum of cells that our bone marrow produces. Amazing. Thanks be to God. Thank you also to everyone who has been praying for her.

The Graft vs. Host Disease of her skin is almost undetectable. Her doctor even reduced the steroid. He also came in yesterday and started taking her off of more meds, as he said, "in preparation for her to go home." Caroline is trying not to get too excited, but he is looking at the end of next week (about Day +30) for her to leave the hospital. Although she has a wonderful ANC, the numbers really don't make a big difference to her. We still have to maintain isolation for at least the first 100 days because any virus can bring on very bad things. As I tend to err on the side of caution, the 100 days will probably be more like 6 months. She is having to deal with the many adjustments to her meds. At times she feels really down, but then she will have really good moments, too. Overall, the good moments are occurring more frequently and are staying longer. I am amazed by her strength and grace.

I pray that we have passed the darkest part of this journey. I feel like we have been journeying through a tunnel and I'm starting to see light. You have all been such gleams of light throughout the journey. I thank God for each and everyone of you -- you are all reminders of God's love for us.

Thanks be to God for His working in the life of Caroline and her family.  His grace is sufficient!

Guidance

Lloyd & Jennifer, Bob to be guided to a 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), Sara, Mark, Alexandra, Nelson, Perlita, Jack, Sam & Susie

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, Joe (USAF - Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)

Thanksgiving
Martha Stevens gives thanks for her almost complete and still improving recovery from vertigo. However, one thing led to another and while the vertigo was keeping her off balance, she stubbed her big right toe and the nail had to be completely removed. Please give thanks for her recovery from vertigo and pray for rapid and complete healing of her toe.

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.

Keeping Up to Date with the Parish and the World
In an effort to keep us in touch with each other and the Christian and non-Christian world, Father is posting updates at the Thursday Evening News, oddly enough on Thursdays. This is a nice mid-week update for us, drop in and take a look. It is also linked to from the various Beadle’s Blogs.

http://thursdayeveningnews.blogspot.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

17 August 2008 Tim Macauley
24 August 2008 Holly Lizak
31 August 2008 Alice Acker
7 September 2008 Tim Macauley
14 September 2008 Jan Macauley
21 September 2008 Dru Arnold
28 September 2008 Jack Arnold

Bishop and Mrs. Boyce Visit
Bishop Richard Boyce and his lovely wife Cathie will be making their annual visit to our parish on 14 September 2008. After Sunday’s service, we will be holding our annual Beadle’s Party at the Arnold’s home. This is a guaranteed good time. With the Boyces about, it has to be. If you have never had a chance to talk to Bishop and Cathie, this is your chance. They are really wonderful people and we are lucky that they have committed their lives to our Lord’s cause.

Mark Sunday 14 September 2008 on your calendar. Be there!

The near future, as well as Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity. Come next Sunday and see if Father Acker remembers he is on vacation and there is no pre-service class or if he forgets about vacation, but remembers where he left off in the Bible tour or he finally tells us what the Green Season means.

What about the sermon?  Will he preach on the Gospel 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