Today was the Sunday next before Advent, the Feast of Christ the King and the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Perhaps oddly titled to our ears, it is the last Sunday in the Christian Year, we start where we began, focused on Jesus. The Propers were found on page 225-226; next Sunday the year starts again on page 90. A late Santa Ana weather condition tailed off with perfect weather. Calm winds and blue skies brought a post church temperature of 72°F. The incredibly beautiful weather brought out 22 participants.
We had Father Acker’s parents Jack and Rede Acker in town as is often the case for Thanksgiving.
As usual, Father Acker, Nick Patton and Jack Arnold provided music for the welcome or gathering songs. We sing popular songs before the service as the people begin to show up for the service. Today’s were:
• Forever
• I'll fly away
• Give thanks
• Doxology
• Just a closer walk
Anglicans worldwide are participants in the Just In Time concept of service attendance. The songs give a bit of leeway for people to make the service and they give those of us who like to sing a chance to do so. When they started singing, we had 13 people present; by the time they finished, there were 21 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 Habakkuk, one of the minor prophets, eighth book of the 12 minor prophets of the Old Testament. It is attributed to the prophet Habakkuk, and was probably composed in the late 7th century BC, not long before the Babylonians' siege and capture of Jerusalem. A copy of Chapters One and Two of Three is included in the Habakkuk Commentary, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Chapters One and Two are a dialog between Yahweh and the prophet. The central message, that "the just shall live by his faith" (2:4), plays an important rule in Christian thought. It is used in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38 as the starting point of the concept of faith. Chapter Three may be an independent addition, now recognized as a liturgical piece, but was possibly written by the same author as Chapters One and Two.
Habakkuk, in addition to being a weird name, is a very interesting short book. The major theme of Habakkuk is trying to grow from a faith of perplexity and doubt to the height of absolute trust in God. Habakkuk addresses his concerns that punishment for Judah's sins is going to be executed by what was thought to be a sinful nation in Habakkuk's eyes.
• Habakkuk complains of Cruelty
• Habakkuk complains of Violence
• Habakkuk complains of Wicked People
o How can you stand these treacherous, evil men?...So why are you silent while they destroy people who are more righteous than they are? (1.13)
He talks of the problems of unpunished wickedness and excessive punishment. He talks of people who seem to be beating the system, of waiting, God’s powerful presence in history, His coming; fear and faith.
Habakkuk presents a fork in the road, a great divide.
Choose to live in wickedness and face destruction or choose to live in righteousness and live a full life with God, through His help. The people, in the end, chose wickedness, as it seemed more fun at the time, and ended up with the destruction he promised.
Their choice is our choice Life or Death? Eternal freedom or eternal captivity. As creatures doomed to free will, we get to decide.
Chose Life!
Feast of Christ the King and Stir Up Sunday
Stir-up Sunday is an informal term in the Anglican Church for the last Sunday before the season of Advent. The term comes from the opening words of the collect for the day in the Book of Common Prayer:
STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Through an association of ideas, the day subsequently became connected, especially in England, with the preparation of Christmas puddings in readiness for Christmas. In the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 and later, this collect is listed for "The Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Trinity", with accompanying rubric specifying that this collect "shall always be used upon the Sunday next before Advent". This reinforced the significance of this day as forming part of the preparation for the season of Advent. The rubric is necessary because the last Sunday before Advent does not always fall on the twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity: Trinity Sunday is a moveable feast and the Advent season is fixed, so the number of weeks in between varies from year to year. The 1928 Book of Common Prayer solves this dilemma by marking only 24 Sundays after Trinity and setting this Sunday apart as next before Advent.
In recent years, most provinces of the Anglican Communion have adopted the practice of observing this Sunday as Christ the King. Thus, the Church Year ends as it begins, focused on our Lord. Popular attachment to the Stir up collect has, however, caused it to be retained in the liturgies of several provinces.
Holly Lizak read the Epistle for today, which came from the Book of Jeremiah, the Twenty-Third Chapter, beginning at the Fifth Verse. Foretelling the arrival of Jesus, Jeremiah prophesied, “I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Foreshadowing the New Covenant, he wrote, “They shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.”
BEHOLD, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUS-NESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
The Gospel for today came from the Gospel according to Saint John, the Sixth Chapter, beginning at the Fifth Verse. John relates one of the feeding the masses in the wilderness events. This event occurring long before there was a Thanksgiving Day, seems very appropriate for the weekend and also forshadows the arrival of the Christ at Christmas coming to feed our spiritual needs in the wilderness of this world.
With five thousand men with them looking for food in the wilderness, “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down…” Reminding us that if the Son of God gave thanks to God for His food, so ought we, “Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.”
Compare to saving our souls and feeding the inner hunger we have for God’s love, feeding a mere 5,000 men is child’s play, but then Jesus said we should accept God and His love through Him as the children do. So perhaps it really is child’s play.
WHEN Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
Sermon – Learning like Philip
Today’s Gospel has many lessons, one of those often overlooked is that which Philip learned:
• Who is Jesus?
• Will I follow Jesus as King?
The year was 29AD, the time just before Passover (March). Jesus was talking to 5,000 people on a hillside above the Sea of Galilee. The crowd began to hunger, there were no catering companies, no take out and no delivery, what to do? Jesus had a plan. As was often the case, he started with an observation and followed with a question:
Jesus: Look at these hungry people. How are we going to feed them?
Philip: I don’t have a clue.
Jesus: What do you have?
Philip: 5 dinner rolls & some kippers
Jesus: Make them sit down.
At that point, he took the bread, blessed the bread, broke the bread, gave thanks for the bread and gave it to them.
They were all filled with the bread and fish. He:
Took, Blessed, Broke & Gave
You know, He can do that to you and for you. Those whose stomachs and lives had been filled, “when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.”
Will you see Jesus’ miracle or will you chose not to?
Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported birthdays or anniversaries.
After Church Hospitality
Today Holly Lizak brought the after church snacks. First and foremost were her famous black olive egg salad sandwiches, downhill from there were really excellent chocolate chip cookies and bran cookies, as well as the biggest crispest sweet red flame seedless grapes seen in many moons.
Command Master Brewer Macauley was on brew duty today and produced wonderful coffee, Father Acker made his signature low carb lemonade.
After church goodies providers as currently signed up:
Date Name
30 November 2008 Martha Stevens
7 December 2008 Stephanie Boyd
14 December 2008 Alice Acker
21 December 2008 Diane Chase
28 December 2008 Jan Macauley
4 January 2009 Traci Huber
11 January 2009 Opportunity Available!
18 January 2009 Martha Stevens
25 January 2009 Holly Lizak
8 February 2009 Opportunity Available!
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
Ashley, John, Marie, Scott & Family
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, 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), Kai, Jay, Tim, Diane, Amy (Thyroid cancer), Lise (peritoneal cancer), Joy, Evelyn, 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), June (cancer), Al, Susan, Jeff, David (leg injury), Judy, who suffers from mental illness, is undergoing tests for cancer, Jon, Jeffrey, Joy (cancer), Jim (pain), Marie, Joe (broken neck), Loretta (cancer), Katheryn (ear surgery), Sue (surgery recovery), Greg, June (cancer), David (leg sprain)
Joy has a reoccurrence of abdominal cancer, which is non-operable. She is home from the hospital but still has a clot in her lung. She and her family ask your prayers for a miraculous remission. She asks God’s help to deal with the pain and discomfort while keeping a positive attitude during what is a very trying time. Pray also for her family might accept God’s will and enjoy whatever time she has with them here on earth. In particular please pray for peace of mind for Joy and her husband Dewaine that they might put their trust in God and increase their faith.
Mary Parker is home. She is standing three or four times a day. Her digestive tract seems to be under control, now she can work on eating and building strength. There is still a long road ahead of her, but she is doing incredibly well. Please that she and her family will accept the strength God can give them for the path before them. 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.
Joe Huber was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo radiation seed implants within the next two weeks. Please pray for peace of mind for him and his family and that they might put their trust in God and increase their faith.
Rod Cook has a reoccurrence of lung cancer. Prognosis is not promising. Please pray for either a miraculous recovery or a maximization of his time remaining here on earth. Pray also for his daughter Lori that she might accept God’s will and enjoy whatever time she has with her father here on earth. In particular please pray for peace of mind for both Rod and Lori that they might put their trust in God and increase their faith.
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.
Vince (12 yrs) who has bone cancer (a teammate of Andrew B) has a tumor in his leg. Alternate treatment has not reduced the tumor, so he will have surgery to remove the tumor on 28 November 2008. Also pray that he and his family might put their trust in God and accept His comfort.
Kenny had surgery to improve his hearing which did not end up improving his hearing in the end. Please pray for his adjusting to very limited hearing in just one ear. Also, please continue to pray 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 is back at work on a limited basis. Glenn has a new obstacle to overcome in addition to recovering from the brain injury sustained in his cycling accident. In his own words:
Well, if you ever reach a place where there is almost an acceptance of your personal/life circumstances... I thought I was there. I thought I had done a pretty good job of turning over to God the many circumstances in my life that were beyond my control, self limiting, and the many, many things that interfered with my daily life either physically, spiritually, emotionally or mentally. Then yesterday, one of my random Cat Scans revealed the presence of an aneurysm in my aorta that will require heart surgery in the next 6 months or so. Well, so much for being in a place of acceptance! This can't be happening. I thought I was being treated for a brain injury. I have come to realize that it is much easier to accept where God has you (and believed it is God-ordained) if you seem to be moving in a direction that you are ok with vesus these unforseen, life-altering surprises. This is definitely a setback in so many ways..... and a fresh reminder that I have so much to learn and so far to travel. And, I definitely understand that if I hadn't been in the bike accident, I would never have discovered the aneurysm and would have heaven bound sooner than anticipated. Thank you God for this gift! While I sojourn, please pray for physical and emotional healing, supernatural wisdom for my treating doctors, and for the peace that passes all understanding to cover and undergird me. Humbly..... my love and gratitude.... glenn
This is a major problem, yet if he had not had his accident, he would have likely found out about the aneurysm when it burst and he died. Glenn knows this, yet what a great deal of stress. Please pray for Glenn’s continued healing and trust in God.
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 24 months). The level of discomfort varies but the condition is persisting. She is in amazing spirits and sends her love to all.
Lona Walsh is in significant discomfort, but it looks like it is not Lupus. She asks that you continue your prayers for healing.
Kay Denton (Mrs. Kay) – called this week. She is still home and still doing wonderfully well! Mrs. Kay asks that everyone who is praying for her know how grateful she is for their prayers. As always, she retains her trust in the Lord and her positive attitude.
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 now home in Escondido after her bone marrow transplant in July. She will have to make frequent trips to City of Hope in Pasadena for follow-up appointments, but she's very glad to be home now. Please continue in prayer that her leukemia will not reoccur; after the transplant, the chance of recurrence is 40%. Caroline will be 11 in December. Please keep praying for this sweet girl to make a full recovery and live a long life, devoted to God. She and her family are Catholic Christians.
George (recurrence of bladder cancer) has been undergoing weekly chemotherapy which made him quite ill. While at the hospital, his oncologist had a series of CAT scans done on George, and the tumor on his bladder is GONE. Disappeared. Non-existent. The oncologist said that the best he was expecting was a 50% reduction in the size of the tumor, but it is GONE. Thanks be to God! George will still need a few more weeks of chemo and will also need blood thinning injections for quite a while to prevent other clots, and the doctor also saw a dark area on George's kidney. He doesn't think it's anything to worry about but he is having a couple of specialists in radiology take a look to be sure.
George, LaVonda, Megan, and George III are rejoicing in this healing from the Lord! Please continue in prayer for George, giving thanks for the total reduction of George's tumor. 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, 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, Jack (test), Alfred, Marie
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.
Paul S suffers from severe schizophrenia remains stable with his medication, but needs God’s guidance. He gives thanks for improvement in his housing situation.
Guidance and Protection
Christina, Sarah
Economic Guidance and Assistance
Matt and Tracey very good friends of the Hubers. Matt is looking for a new job and they have two young children. Please pray that they are able to find employment soon.
Keith is shutting down his current business and entering the handyman field. Please pray for God's leading him to work or work to him. 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, 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.
Thought for the Day – What is Advent and what’s with the wreath?
According to Webster’s Advent is the first or the expected second coming of Christ; as well as the period including the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent Sunday is the first Sunday in the season of Advent, being always the nearest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew (Now. 30). Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown. Oddly enough Advent is also a town in West Virginia.
The origins of the Advent wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light. Christians kept these popular traditions alive, and by the 16th century Catholics and Protestants throughout Germany used these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ, the everlasting Light. From Germany the use of the Advent wreath spread to other parts of the Christian world. Traditionally, the wreath is made of four candles in a circle of evergreens. Three candles are violet and the fourth is rose. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent.
Historically, the primary sanctuary color of Advent is Purple. This is the color of penitence and fasting as well as the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King. Purple is still used in Catholic churches. The purple of Advent is also the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week. This points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. The nativity, the Incarnation, cannot be separated from the crucifixion. The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world, of the "Word made flesh" and dwelling among us, is to reveal God and His grace to the world through Jesus’ life and teaching, but also through his suffering, death, and resurrection.
To reflect this emphasis, originally Advent was a time of penitence and fasting, much as the Season of Lent and so shared the color of Lent. In the four weeks of Advent the third Sunday came to be a time of rejoicing that the fasting was almost over (in some traditions it is called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word for "rejoice"). The shift from the purple of the Season to pink or rose for the third Sunday Advent candles reflected this lessening emphasis on penitence as attention turned more to celebration of the season. Churches other than Anglican have changed colors and emphasis on the whole wreath, we remain true to tradition.
The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival. " The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation, as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live "between the times" and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s inbreaking into history in the Incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption, " it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to "love the Lord your God with all your heart" and to "love your neighbor as yourself."
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
30 November 2008 Greg Chase
Second Annual Christmas Dessert or Desert Party
Greg and Diane Chase will be hosting their traditional Christmas Dessert Party on Wednesday, 10 December 2008 at their home in La Mesa from 7pm – 9pm. If you wish to bring your favorite desert, that would be nice. If you don’t, there is always plenty, you just may not get your favorite! The Chases will be providing hot apple cider, coffee, “chilled” Real Dew, and some deserts of their own. The Arnolds will be providing Diet, or as it is sometimes referred to, UnReal Dew. Come and chill out, Dew-D!
Diane would appreciate an RSVP no later than Saturday, 6 December 2008 - dlchase@cox.net.
The near future, as well as Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Advent Sunday. In addition, there are two services this week for Thanksgiving:
Wednesday
1900 (7:00pm)
26 November 2008 Alpine Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, held at Bethel Church - Father Acker will be running the service and the Free Teen Guitar Class will be playing for the service. Many of those attending will be going out to dinner after the service, we would love to have you join us.
Thursday
0915 (9:15 am)
27 November 2008 Thanksgiving Morning Prayer begins at 0915, followed by Holy Communion at 0930 at Victoria Chapel. For directions to the chapel, call the church office (619) 722-1772.
Come next Sunday and see if Father Acker remembers where he was in the Bible or does he move to a different subject. Or, maybe he will talk about the meanings of Advent as this will be Advent Sunday. 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/BeadleBlog/Blog/Blog.html
All back issues of the Beadle’s Reports are available on request from:
thebeadle@mac.com
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