Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity

Today was the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity. The weekend saw a cold snap, temperatures on Mount Olympus dropped to 34°F overnight, with a sunrise temperature of 41°F. A cold Santa Ana was about, by the time church was over, it was 57°F under clear skies. Even though we had a number of people on travel, we had 16 participants by service start.

As usual, Father Acker and Jack Arnold provided music for the welcome or gathering songs. Again, it seemed to work. When they started singing, we had 12 people present. By the time they finished, there were 16 people!

Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class - Around the Bible in 280 days by popular demand
Today continued the forty week tour of the Bible, 10 minutes of teaching each Sunday, beginning at 8:30am. As is customary, 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 made our way through the Bible from Genesis (the beginning) to the Book of Obadiah, one of the minor prophets.

The central points of the Book of Obadiah, the shortest prophetic book being only one chapter long containing twenty one sentences are:

• Punishment of Edom
• The Day of the Lord

Book of Obadiah lays out the Prophet Obadiah’s vision of the utter and absolute destruction of Esau’s family line, and the fall of his nation state, Edom, as he and his people are interchangeably called. The prophecy takes place during or shortly after the Babylonian expulsion of the southern Kingdom in 586 BC. Judah’s fresh stinging exilic wound is now vigorously salted by their Brother Esau’s final and most bitter betrayal.

It has been a long and tortuous relationship for Isaac’s twin boys from their initial in -utero battles which continued throughout their lives, and was extended by their descendants, long after they departed, for nearly a millennium. Their sibling rivalry was birthed and forged on the anvil of the competing marital relationship between their parents, Isaac and Rebecca.

This is not only a story of Esau’s end; it is also the story of what appears momentarily to be Jacob’s demise. The northern kingdom composed of ten out of twelve tribes of Jacob has already vanished, antedating Esau’s death. The Southern Kingdom, composed of two remaining tribes of Jacob, is now being expelled by the Babylonians, and it appears to the world, and especially to Esau, that it is the end of them, and hence the absolute destruction of Jacob.

This is a historical experience which the Edomites savor with great relish and celebrate with gusto, finally tasting absolute supremacy and victory over their rival brother Jacob with whom they have competed over land, inheritance, blessings, and power, and most importantly, the biggest prize of all, elusive paternal love. Jacob’s conniving may have gotten him the first-born blessing, but in the end it is Esau who snatches victory from the jaws of defeat by living to witness the death and destruction of his little back-stabbing brother, or so it seems.

The entire book of Obadiah admonishes Edom for their terrible behavior to be a single survivor from the house of Esau.

Obadiah and God are irritated when Edom’s brother Judah is troubled by the Babylonian. Not only do they not help; they take part in dividing the spoils.

“You should not have gloated over the misfortune of your relatives in Judah. You should not have been glad on the day of their ruin.

You should not have laughed at them in their distress. You should not have entered the city of my people to gloat over their suffering and to seize their riches on the day of their disaster.” Obadiah 12-13

Obadiah draws an analogy between Esau and his children, the nation of Edom and an eagle and his nest. “The pride of your heart has beguiled you, you that dwell in the clefts of the rock. My habitation is high, he said in his heart. Who will bring me down to earth? “

“If you make your nest as high as an eagle and if amidst the stars you shall place your nest, from there I will bring you down, says God”

"The day is near when I, the LORD, will judge all nations. Edom, what you have done will be done to you. You will get back what you have given.

But on Mount Zion some will escape, and it will be a sacred place. The people of Jacob will possess the land that is theirs by right.

The victorious men of Jerusalem will attack Edom and rule over it. And the LORD himself will be king." Obadiah 15-21

The name Obadiah in Hebrew is linguistically linked to one of Esau’s names, and hence the name Obadiah is not merely coincidental. In Hebrew, Obadiah’s name is spelled “EVDYH”, or broken down to its two root components; “EVeD” (slave or servant), of YH (God). The term “EVED” can have quite negative connotations i. e. a slave e. g. a slave in Egypt. Alternatively EVED can have positive spiritual connotations, as in EVED (servant) of God. Thus the word EVED depending on the grammatical context can be either pejorative or complimentary.

Esau in scripture is twice referred to as an EVED. When his mother is pregnant with him and Jacob, she beseeches God who tells her that two nations are struggling within her, and that the elder will serve (YaEVD) the younger.

When Isaac blesses both Jacob and Esau, he tells each of them that Esau will serve (YaEVD) Jacob. Hence Esau is an EVED of Jacob in as much as Obadiah is an EVED of God: Both Obadiah and Esau are EVEDs. One is an honored servant, and the other is a despised slave. Thus the object of Obadiah’s prophecy is also the root of his name.

The text also has an interesting linguistic play on the name EDOM. It contextually uses the word EYDOM for “destruction”, drawing an analogy between the definition of Edom and his impending destruction. One could take the different root definitions of EDOM one step further. The root of the word Edom is also ADAM, i.e. MAN, who is both destructive and destructible.

Esau is probably the greatest tragic figure in the Bible. Jacob finagles both birthright and primo blessing from him, yet when Esau meets up with Jacob many years later, he embraces Jacob, kisses him, forgives and forgets. Truly he is the son of Abraham and Isaac. But Esau’s descendants are not as forgiving as him. They can never forgive Jacob’s multiple slights to their great father, nor can they forgive or forget. Hence they cannot and will not extend any semblance of filial assistance or love to their brother’s descendants.

Did Jacob ever assist Esau? Did Jacob ever make up for what was unjustly taken from Esau? Did Jacob ever make amends? Does Edom owe Jacob? Should not love go both ways? Esau mightily loved his father; nevertheless it was Esau who was exiled from heart, hearth and home by the alliance forged between Jacob and his mother. A millennium later, Esau is both cursed and doomed by God because he could not bring himself to forgive Jacob for having come between him and his father. Dancing on Jacob’s grave (albeit prematurely) was one of the many jealous acts of vengeance which Esau thought was well deserved. Throughout Esau’s existence he is and always was a sad, noble and tragic figure. Obviously Esau missed, “Vengeance is mine, … saith the Lord.”

Alice Acker read the Epistle for this morning which came from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, the Sixth Chapter, beginning at the Tenth Verse. In these passages, Paul gives his clearest definition of the spiritual war between the forces of Satan and those who would follow God. It not only assures us that there is a spiritual war, but it warns us that apart from utilizing the weapons which God has provided for us, we are hopelessly underpowered. This passage tells us what our divine weapons are. Beyond this, these weapons imply the nature of the struggle which we are in. The weapons which God has provided for us are those weapons which best repel the attacks of Satan, and thus we can learn a great deal about the nature of Satan’s opposition from simply considering each of the weapons at our disposal.

After a consideration of the war in general, we will then proceed to examine in more detail each of the weapons Paul mentions, and the offensive strategy of Satan which they imply. May God give us open hearts and minds to understand the spiritual war, and the means which He has provided for our defense.


MY brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The Gospel was written in the Fourth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. John beginning at the Forty-Sixth Verse. This is a telling of the story of the healing of a Jewish nobleman's son Capernaum through the faith of his father. When the man came to him asking for help, he responded as he often did to Jews, “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” The man persisted and because Jesus saw faith in him, he said, focusing his attention on faith in God, “Go thy way; thy son liveth” or "Be on your way. Your son is alive." In other words: "Do not worry. My Word can heal your son at a distance." The boy was healed in the very instant when Jesus spoke the Word. The father believed this Word. So did his household, wife, children and servants. More than one person was healed on that occasion.

This miracle shares characteristics with the previous healing of the Centurion’s son:

• Jesus has just come back to Galilee.
• Someone comes to him with a request.
• Indirectly Jesus seems to refuse at first.
• The person persists.
• Jesus grants the request.
• This leads another group of people (his disciples, the nobleman’s household) to believe in him.

Note the necessity of trusting in Jesus as the giver of life. Of the text, Luther wrote: "Although the Lord performed miracles and signs to make Himself known and to lead people to faith in Him, the underlying purpose was to focus their attention on the Word rather than on the signs which served merely to attest the truth of His testimony. Faith must rest on the Word of God." Another Lutheran theologian wrote: "In affliction faith is practiced and chastened. If a person does not see, taste and experience the help and grace of the Lord, then that person learns to trust the Word and nothing but the Word. That is the true faith, trusting the Lord for its own sake. Such faith comes not from flesh and blood. It's the Lord to which faith clings. That almighty Word works faith."

Jesus led this nobleman from a "miracle" faith to a true faith in His Word. He does this to us also.

"Be on your way. Your son lives." This Word of Jesus was not only a prophecy. It had the power to heal the sick boy. And this Word took the nobleman's worries away.


THERE was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judæa into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judæa into Galilee.

Sermon – Are you UP-Armored?
God will give us armor, defensive and offensive for use in our daily battle with the forces of evil. But, we have to take an active role. We have to accept the armor, put it on, wear it and carry it.

Consider today’s Epistle, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For [in today’s world] we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The world is full of stuff, stuff that seems to consume our thoughts and minds to the point it diverts our soul from the true battle against evil.

We come to church each Sunday to build a foundation, to center our lives and priorities on Christ. Here at church we get fitted for the Armor of God, we practice the donning and doffing of the armor, we hear how to use it. Then off we go, six days the armor stays in the closet and back to church we come to wear our armor.

Trouble comes not only on Sunday morn! Trouble comes during the six and a half days you are not in church. You need to wear the Armor of God seven, twenty-four, three sixty-five. You need God’s protection, God’s power every day to resist the “powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” of every day life. You will fail on the odd, or not so odd, occasion, but God will forgive your sins, if you ask in the name of His Son. We get that forgiveness every Sunday, every Morning and Evening Prayer. Not that we are “awful sinners”, but rather we are awfully far from perfect. We need God’s help to get a fix on our current position, to grasp our destination and plot the best course to the final destination, to see REALITY. Forget not, “The Truth shall set you free!” It is reality, it is truth, it is not STUFF.

We need to remember: He who dies with the most toys, still dies. Stuff deadens our senses. Don’t put stuff first. Jesus did not. Eternal reality is important; not stuff. Remember the Spiritual Battle. Think Commandment Ten: Thou shall not covet. Not cover what? Thy neighbor’s anything.

God wants us to be successful. Successful as individuals, as families, as parishes, as a diocese, as a country and as a people of this world. He knows that we do this by being connected to Him and to other People of God. We need to reach out to others, to help those in need, to encourage those who can to do and those who will not, let them experience what they need to to make them understand why they need to do to live God’s will. God put us on this earth to make a difference.

Go forth and DO!

Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported anniversaries today. We celebrated DeaconIT Greg Chase’s 60th birthday with him today, which was actually his birthday.

After Church Hospitality
Today being Greg Chase’s 60th birthday and his day to read the Epistle, his lovely wife Diane brought the goodies: birthday cake and fruit. The cake was a classic white cake, with white butter frosting (your Beadle’s favorite and apparently much liked by Greg) with no filling (excellent!). There was also much and varied fruit. Many thanks to Diane!

Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley was in La Paz on Hurricane Watch, Don Patton got there just in time to plug in the coffee. Father Acker got up early to make (and bring) his signature low carb lemonade.

After church goodies providers as currently signed up:

Date Name
19 October 2008 Martha Stevens
26 October 2008 Holly Lizak (Black Olive Egg Salad Sandwiches!)
2 November 2008 Diane and Greg Chase
9 November 2008 Opportunity Available!
16 November 2008 Alice Acker
23 November 2008 Opportunity Available!
30 November 2008 Opportunity Available!
7 December 2008 Stephanie Boyd
14 December 2008 Alice Acker
21 December 2008 Opportunity Available!

New Nametags
We had no new nametags today.

Prodigal Son (and Mother, too!)
While we had no new nametags today, we did have two "strangers." Traci Huber and son Warren came back after many months visiting family in Mississippi. While we were glad to have them back, we were not nearly so glad as husband and father Aaron! They just drove in Friday and were dead tired, but happy to be home.

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
Ben, Holly and Ashley are on travel this week.
Chris, Stephanie, Alex and Andrew are on travel this week.
Tim and Jan are on travel this week.

Departed
Jim for whom we have been praying recently passed away from pancreatic cancer. Of your Christian charity, pray for the repose of his soul and comfort for his family and friends who remain here on earth.

Healing

 Betty, Salvador (cancer), Betty, Marge, Uni, Karl, Christian, Marie, Wanda, Frank+ (brain tumor), Lois, Jennette (Alzheimer’s), Gary, Delores, Anna, Ruth, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Terri, Mary, Carmen, Yolanda, Jodi, Ken, Sheila, Nancy, Leucrecia (cancer), Michele, Marybeth (broken foot, stroke), Bill (infection), Teiko, Ernie, Ray, Betty, Hazel, Bruce (heart attack), Susanne, Paul (stroke), Ralph+ (eyes hip), Allison (kidney), Bill (ETOH poisoning)
, Joy, Kai, Jay, Tim, Diane, Amy (Thyroid cancer), Lise (peritoneal cancer), Joy, Martha, Evelyn, Sheryal, Kenny (ear surgery), Debbie, Joanna (stroke) [granddaughter of Father Holland a diocesan priest], Al (Ashley’s dad: surgery) Cyndi (arthritis pain; knee replacement 12/2), Scott (endocarditis and cow valve)

Muriel Pappin minor injuries from a kitchen cabinet that fell. Fortunately, it only grazed her and didn’t hit her on the way down. And just when you thought you were safe in your own kitchen!

John and Isabel Wilhelmy’s family ask your prayers on their behalf for God’s help through eye surgery and illness combined. We also pray that they will accept their family’s loving assistance in this difficult time.

Everett Joshua (EJ), grandson of Father Josh Acton, Rector of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church in Yuma, seems to have a condition where he cannot swallow breast milk, but instead actually chokes on it.  It is a severe reflux and can cause asphyxiation in infants.  His mother Vanessa is now having to pump her milk and add "thickening fluids" to her milk and then feed by bottle.  Apparently Vanessa watched an Xray of Everett swallowing, and consequently, choking on milk.  His air way is clogged after every time he feeds. This is not the definitive diagnosis. It sure beats the other possibilities. It is a dangerous but treatable condition. Your prayers and offers of help and support are greatly appreciated.

Please keep EJ and his family in your prayers.

Vince (12 yrs) who has bone cancer (a teammate of Andrew B) is doing well, things are much better of late. Please pray for his continued good progress!

Mary Parker is still in the Medical Intensive Care Unit, but she is making some great improvements. She is off the breathing mask part time and she is looking toward being well enough to go home. The doctors are working on getting her well enough to move to a regular ward, but she is feeling much better. Liz Anne & Priscilla were both there when Father Acker and DeaconIT Greg Chase, visited on Saturday.
 Please continue to pray for God’s will to be done and that she and her family continue to put their trust in Him. In particular, please pray for her family’s peace.

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 underwent surgery on 5 September 2008, which apparently went well. Fran asks in particular you pray for peace of mind for both Alice and Rick that they might put their trust in God.

Kenny had surgery to improve his hearing. It was hoped his hearing would improve over the next two or three months. There’s no improvement yet and he’s feeling frustrated. It is very difficult to have physical ailments and even harder when “promised” improvements apparently fail to materialize. Please continue to pray, not only for his improved hearing; but more importantly for his improved state of mind and faith.

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 underwent three surgeries to relieve pressure on his brain, but has not yet awakened. He is being moved to a long term care facility. He needs miraculous healing as the doctors have done all they can. 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.

Glenn Finch – Awesome news! Glenn's evaluation was incredible! He has improved physically and mentally in leaps and bounds. He will be discharged from rehab on 23 October 2008. His most difficult challenge right now is the driving simulator. He is scheduled for a driving evaluation 21 October 2008 to see if he can have his license reinstated. He has asked for your prayers! So many people have been so wonderful to drive him everywhere, but he is looking forward to this step of independence! He plans to move back home in small chunks, having his girls join him there for a weekend. Now he is mostly working on getting his body back in great shape and on executive skills that will help him as he goes back to work. He is so grateful for your prayers and support!! Thank you! Thank you! Caralie

Evelyn Hunt has pain in her jaw, face, & neck. The doctors haven’t been able to diagnose the cause. She has been very limited in getting out, but continued to do her walking in the house. Most importantly, pray for her to keep a good attitude and maintain a trust in God, so she will not worry.

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 23 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 and doing wonderfully well! As always, she retains her trust in the Lord and her positive attitude. Mrs. Kay 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) is doing quite well.  She will need to stay in Pasadena for another month or two to be near City of Hope where her bone marrow transplant took place.  She is still struggling with a few side effects, Graft vs. Host Disease, etc.  Our major prayer for her is that she does not relapse.  Right now the chance of relapse in patients with her kind of leukemia after recurrence and transplant is 40%.  She also has genetic markers that make relapse more likely. Caroline is being homeschooled right now by her parents and is able to make short excursions with a mask on to bookstores, etc., when they aren't crowded.  Please keep praying for this sweet girl to make a full recovery and live a long life, devoted to God and that she will be able to go home to Escondido soon as she misses being at home.  She and her family are Catholic Christians.

George (recurrence of bladder cancer) is undergoing weekly chemotherapy which makes him quite ill.  This last week he wasn't quite as ill as he has been, so please pray that he will be able to continue attending church each Sunday and will have a full recovery.  The future regarding surgery and other treatment is unclear at this point.  Please keep his wife LaVonda and their children Megan and George Jr., in prayer as well.  They live in northern Georgia.

Bruce Denny lives in El Cajon and has experienced two major heart attacks in his early 40's.  He was to have an appointment with a cardiologist last Thursday, but no results yet.  His previous appointment showed further deterioration of his heart, including a fluid build-up in the sac surrounding his heart.  The family is also under severe financial stress because Bruce has been unable to work after his heart attacks.  His wife, Jennifer, is looking for a job and for childcare for their one-year-old.  The church family at Lake Murray Community Church is helping out with taking their older boys to and from school and with meals, etc.  Pray for no further deterioration in Bruce's heart and for help with their finances.

Guidance
Tom, Mary, Lloyd & Jennifer, Bob to be guided to a church
Ashley, Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, Ken, Maruja, Jerry, Martha, Matt, Marci, Nicholas, Carmen, Mary, John, William, Joe, Alexander, Jonathan, Phil, Sandy, Larraine, Brad, Brian, Uni, Jennifer, Greg, Margie, Phyllis, Walter, Rick, Carol, Susan, Curtis, Stephen, Donny, Chris, Eric (job), Andrew, Keith (job decision), Sara, Mark, Alexandra, Nelson, Perlita, Lewis, Sam & Susie

Sarah is still struggling with custody arrangements for her children and would appreciate our continued prayers. A hearing on 24 November 2008 will probably change custody to a more permanent arrangement (the children are currently switching between parents every other day). A hearing in February should finalize things. Sarah really appreciates our prayers and is asking for the decision to be in the best interest of the children. 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.

Guidance and Protection
Christina

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.

Keith has had no work for the past three weeks.  Because of family medical expenses, they have no savings and are in debt.  Please pray for God's leading for a new job or for new clients for Keith's drafting business or for another stained glass commission.  Pray for Susanne as she tutors and teaches online classes while home schooling their four kids, that she may remain strong and able to do all she needs to do to teach their kids and help with finances despite herphysical condition (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc.).  Pray for them also to not fear for the future but to trust in the Lord. 

Eric and Eric both to find a job that will allow them to use their skill and talent to make their new company more successful.

Sonny and Carol have lost their business, their home is in foreclosure. Please pray that they might find an opportunity for gainful employment where they can use their talents to make a positive impact on the world.

Mark’s business is very very slow, he asks that God point him to new markets and give him guidance in following God’s will that his business might survive and his employees not lose their livelihood.

Please pray for Kevin in the UK. He has been looking for a job for a long time and is 52. Please pray he might find an opportunity for gainful employment where he can use his talents to make a positive impact on the world. Please pray also for his family, in particular his wife Beverley, that they might open their hearts and minds to God’s guidance for their future.


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

Armed Forces & Contractors
Tillman, Justin, Evan, Jim, RJ, Matt, Phillip, Julian, Joe (USAF - Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait), John Kelly (USN - USS Ronald Reagan)

Anglican Communion
Archbishop Peter Akinola, the head of the GAFCON Primates’ Council has asked us to pray for our Anglican Communion. Specifically during September to December, we are bidden to pray for:

1. Guidance of the Holy Spirit upon the GAFCON Primates Council that they may be united in their leadership for the Gospel of Jesus Christ

2. Upholding the Bible as authoritative for the life, faith, and conduct of all Christians

3. Remaining faithful in the central task of the Church to mission and evangelism, saving the lost, bringing life and health to the poor and needy

4. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit to bring renewal, revival and transformation of individuals, communities, and societies

5. Anglicans to focus upon God’s agenda set forth in Scripture, God’s authority as given by Jesus Christ, and God’s mission in saving sinners and by the Holy Spirit turning them into saints

6. The setting aside all other agendas, that Jesus alone be Lord

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

19 October 2008 Ben Lizak
26 October 2008 Jack Arnold
2 November 2008 Tim Macauley
9 November 2008 Don Patton
16 November 2008 Ben Lizak
23 November 2008 Holly Lizak
30 November 2008 Greg Chase

Anglicans on Travel
Our Under Beadle and Deputy Beadle just returned from an educational field trip covering the Revolutionary War period, which explains why they were not in church last Sunday. The Deputy Beadle has posted a travelblog which can be viewed here:

http://web.me.com/jackpippin/Site/Welcome.html

Your Beadle encourages you to not only look at the photographs, but check out the blog page which has narrative. The Under Beadle and Deputy Beadle attended an REC church in Arlington, Virginia last Sunday. The church borrows the building from a Greek Orthodox church for a 0930 service. The people were very nice and made them feel welcome. Their accouterments are a bit fancier and they are bit higher church. On the other hand, their priests and acolytes don’t play the guitar. Maybe we could provide them some acolyte shirts to lighten things up a bit. The church is about twice the size of ours (still clearly not a megachurch), with an average attendance of just over 40 people.

Post Church Dining
As we oft do, a bunch of us got together for lunch at a local taco shop. Occasionally, we go to a real restaurant, but mostly a taco shop. Today was a special day, the prodigal son (Warren) and his prodigal mother (that would be Traci) were back from Mississippi where they have been visiting family for many months. In addition, it was DeaconIT Greg Chase’s birthday. Not huge events, but they were way big enough to justify killing the fatted burrito for lunch. We figure out something to celebrate every week, almost anyway. Many times, we just celebrate it being Sunday and a new week about to begin. Join us sometime.

The near future, as well as Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity.

Come next Sunday and see if Father Acker remembers what book comes after Obadiah (hint – it is NOT Papaguyo). Or, maybe 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