Sunday, February 22, 2009

Quinquagesima - The Sunday called Quinquagesima, or the Sunday next before Lent


Today was the Quinquagesima, the Sunday next before Lent. Sunrise temperature on Mount Olympus was a warm 50°F under high clouds. Down the hill at church, the temperature picked up to a nice 72°F by the end of church. With very nice weather, we had 20 people present for the service.

Pre-Service Music
As they normally do, Father Acker, Nick Patton and Jack Arnold played their guitars for pre-service gathering or welcome songs. Today they played four songs, which the congregation sang to:

• Wondrous Cross
• When the saints go marchin’ in
• Forever
• Joyful, joyful

The concept of the gathering or welcome songs is simple, people just don’t seem to show up on time. The tradition seems to have started in Africa where most people walk to church, live differing distances, don’t have watches and are not quite as obsessive compulsive. Seems to work nicely in Alpine, too.

Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class – Vestments – Not candy from a sleeveless garment!
Today we took a break from the fifty-three week tour of the Bible for a class on the vestments worn by the priest for the service.

The special clothes that are worn in the Church are called vestments.

“Why are vestments worn?”

As with costumes, it is to help us to understand the player’s part.

Our Acolytes are wearing a special shirt—to help identify that they aren’t just wandering around the altar moving stuff and rearranging the furniture. They each have a specific set of jobs to do for which they have been trained.

The vestments have symbolic value—they represent something in our faith.

One of the priest’s functions is to serve as the Icon of Christ, he stands in Jesus place. The whole point of the priest’s vestments is to have the person disappear, so that Christ can be seen. It is to see Jesus who gathered with his Apostles at the Last Supper.
 
Cassock
The first vestment is the cassock. It is a long-sleeved waistcoat, which corresponds to medieval clerical street dress. Although fashions changed to the suit jacket, the Church kept the cassock as it reflected that the ministry remains constant despite changes in the world. The cassock is the basic garment worn by clergy, acolytes, choir, and lay readers.

Amice
The Amice is the collar. Later, collars would be attached to the garments. The Amice is put on over the head. It calls to mind the passage of Saint Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus, “…put on the helmet of salvation.”

Alb
Alb is the Latin word meaning white. This vestment is white for the innocence and purity of Christ—who was without sin. Although Jesus died the death of a criminal, He was innocent of the accusations. The priest is covered in white putting on the nature of Christ. The alb was the typical street wear of first century Roman men.
 
Girdle or Cincture
The girdle is the rope that binds the alb at the waist. It is tied with five knots reminding us of the five wounds of Christ.
 
Stole
The stole for a priest is like a badge for a police officer. It tells us the special job of the person wearing it. The priest wears the stole crossed upon his chest to show the Christ-likeness of the priesthood. As the priest stands at the altar, he is there in the person of Jesus, once again making intercession for us.
 
Maniple
The Maniple is the narrow cloth that hangs over the left arm of the priest. As Jesus came, “not to be served, but to serve,” the Maniple is the servants towel, and a symbol of the servant Christ.

Chasuble
The seamless robe put on Christ before He was led away to the Cross. It was a festal garment worn to Passover meals. In allowing Himself to be crucified He showed how great His love is for all people. In His death on the Cross, He would be the Passover lamb.

Jack Arnold read the Epistle for today, which came from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, starting at the First Verse of the Thirteenth Chapter. Paul talks of charity, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” Paul goes on to say that no matter what you do, if in your heart you have not that love for others, it is all to naught. Our understanding here on earth is limited, we will never here see the fullness of God’s plan, yet the part most clear is the love we must have one for another, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, for no reason other than we know that is right so to do.

THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Luke, starting at the Thirty-First Verse of the Eighteenth Chapter. The Gospel starts out telling of Jesus’ trying to prepare his disciples for what was to come, and they could not grasp it: “Then Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” The Gospel goes on to tell of Jesus’ healing of a blind man near Jericho, “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”

WHEN Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Sermon - And now abideth faith, hope, charity…; the greatest of these is charity.
Faith, Hope and Charity – The three saviors of the world through Christ

In Faith, God gives us His grace, which can open our hearts, if we choose to believe in Him. Then, His grace is given and we respond. If we believe, then we carry that belief into our lives. Thus, Faith.

By living in Faith, we discover Hope. God gives us a purpose. The new life starts with purpose and ends in Heaven throughout eternity. We live with the promise of God bringing about His purpose for us. When we live God’s way, we live to do His will, not our will. “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done…”

In Faith, with Hope, we find Love is the key.

The Greek word translated in the Authorized or King James version of the Bible as charity is the one of the words for love, which the Greeks separated into five separate words:

• Eros
• Philos
• Agape
• Storge
• Thelema

Eros or romantic love

Philos - friendship, a dispassionate virtuous love, which includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity.

Agape - a general affection, such as feelings for a good meal, one's children, and the feelings for a spouse. It can be described as the feeling of being content or holding one in high regard. The verb appears in the New Testament describing, amongst other things, the relationship between Jesus and the beloved disciple.

Storge - natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family.

Thelema - desire to do something, to be occupied, to be in prominence.

In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul tells them don’t just get stuff, get good stuff: Faith, Hope and Love.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
Today we celebrated Muriel Pappin’s 82nd birthday today and Dru and Hap Arnold’s 22nd anniversary.

After Church Hospitality
Today Dru Arnold brought the goodies. Two boxes of the finest dog nuts, with particular emphasis on the buttermilk bars, fresh snow peas and sliced carrots, four kinds of cheese and one kind of cracker – round. Well loved by the Beadle, particularly the balsamic vinegar dressing for the peas.

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
1 March 2009 Jan Macauley
8 March 2009 Alice Acker
15 March 2009 Martha Stevens
22 March 2009 Opportunity Available
29 March 2009 Holly Lizak (black olive egg salad sandwiches)
5 April 2009 Opportunity Available
12 April 2009 Easter – No snacks
19 April 2009 Diane Chase

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 yellow (maybe green or orange, if you get an old one) 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.

Repose of the Soul
Hugo Johnson, Sandy Patton’s grandfather, and Nick and Donny’s great grandfather, passed away last week. They have been fortunate to have had regular contact with their families throughout the year. The Pattons ask your prayers for Hugo and their family and friends who remain behind and will miss Hugo dearly. In particular they ask your prayers for Hugo’s wife Lorraine whose life was so intertwined with his.

Nearing the End of Her Time Here on Earth
Judy Reisor is near the time of her time here on earth. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are traveling to be near her as she transitions from this world to home with our Lord. Please pray for her, that she might make her passing in the certain knowledge of God’s love for her through our Lord Jesus Christ and that she and her family might grow closer to God and each other during the time they have left here on earth. Grant the family safe travel to join their mother at her transition. May they concentrate on their future together and not on their temporary separation.

Travel
Aaron is traveling this week

Healing
Betty, Salvador (cancer), Betty, Marge, Uni, Karl, Christian, Marie, Wanda, Lois, Jennette (Alzheimer’s), 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 and gout), 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], Cyndi (successful knee replacement surgery), Scott (endocarditis and cow valve), June (cancer surgery), Al, Susan, Jeff, David (leg injury), Judy, who suffers from mental illness, is undergoing tests for cancer, Jon, Marie, Joe (broken neck), Loretta (cancer), Sue (surgery recovery), Greg, June (cancer), David (leg sprain), Cheri, David, Keith (ruptured disk), Ben, Michael (heart valve replacement), Walter (skin cancer), Gabriella (surgery), Curtis, Gail (stroke)

Barbara Harris has advanced Alzheimer’s Disease and numerous circulation problems, the most recent a blood clot in her leg. Her son asks that you pray for her to make the best of her time here on earth and ease her transition to home with our Lord. Please pray also for Ken and Carol Harris as they do their very best to take care of her.

Jim R will be having surgery to relieve his chronic back pain.

Kathryn’s ear surgery was successful. She has regained some limited hearing. She can communicate on the phone and expecting continued improvements during the six month healing process.

Chaplain Larry Witherspoon is recovering from a stroke before Christmas.  He has made incredible progress. Please continue to pray for him, his wife Sheila and his family.

Joanne has had a significant increase her shoulder pain from an injury last year. She is looking for medical assessment and guidance.

Carol DeBolt, mother of Judy, a 3rd grade teacher at Greg Chase’s school.  Carol was complaining of hip pain over the Christmas period.  After numerous tests it was determined that she has breast and bone cancers, both are at stage 4 and have metastasized. She just finished surgery on her hip where the femur was been replaced with a steel rod.  She now has to go through 4 months of PT in order to learn how to walk again. Carol needs your prayers for her and her family to deal with not only the pain and difficulty of her present physical condition, but also the uncertainty of her life. Please pray for Carol’s peace of mind and trust in God, as well as a remission of her cancers and a physical recovery.

Rachel works with Greg as a teacher's aide in the special education department and is going to night school to get her degree to allow her to be a fully credentialed teacher. She recently went to the ophthalmologist for a second opinion and found she has a melanoma in one eye.  The melanoma is inside her eye and required nuclear surgery. She had her first eye surgery several days ago and the surgery went better than expected.  Her second (and final) surgery is scheduled for later on this week. Please pray for her to understand God is there throughout all this; He does not test us; we are imperfect beings, including our bodies; all things are possible through Him; He always answers our prayers, though sometimes we don’t want to hear the answer and other times do not understand the answer. Pray for Rachel’s peace of mind and trust in God, as well as a good outcome for the surgery.

Sue Anne Adkins mother of Greg’s co-worker Vicki Jones has Stage Three lung cancer. She is doing well in her treatment, but is in need of your prayers. Please pray for her to accept God’s help through the pain, discomfort and bewilderment of treatment. Pray the doctors, nurses and technicians who treat her will pay attention and do their best. Please pray Sue Anne and her family will pull with together with God in all this and accept the help He will give them.

Tina Walden is having back pain and asks that you pray for her back to feel better.

Lauralee underwent a lumpectomy on Friday after Thanksgiving and into targeted radiation therapy for 10 days. Please give thanks for the successful treatment to date and for complete remission of the cancer. Pray also Lauralee will maintain her great attitude and trust in God.

Joy has non-operable abdominal cancer. She is home, but near the end of her time here on earth. Please pray for her as she prepares to depart this world for home that she might be confident in the love of God and her Lord Jesus Christ and thus make the transition in peace. She has asked in particular that you pray for peace in her life and for her family. She is having quite a bit of difficulty with nausea and asks that you pray for her overcome this and keep food down. Please pray that Joy will grow closer to God and to her family during the time she has left here on earth and that her family will do likewise. Pray that her family who will remain here on earth might be able to put their cares and worries aside for the moment and focus on God’s love for their mother; as well as her love for them. May they concentrate on the unity and not on the temporary separation.

Mary Parker is home and walking all around the house, as far as her 50 foot oxygen lead will let her.  She made it to the table for Christmas dinner!  She does physical therapy every day and is eating very well!   She is enjoying reading books and the newspaper again!

 She is improving on a daily basis! Her recovery is truly a God given miracle. Please give thanks for her great recovery and continue to pray for her progress.

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.

Binnie was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. 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.

Vince (12 yrs) who has bone cancer (a teammate of Andrew B) had what appears to be successful surgery to remove the tumor and replace his knee joint on 28 November 2008. Please pray for his healing and non-recurrence of the cancer, as well as that he and his family might put their trust in God and accept His comfort and encouragement in this difficult time.

Joshua Hamilton is still in a coma after a severe head trauma in July. He has gotten past the MRSA and other infections. He is in skilled nursing in El Cajon with some response to physical therapy and they are working toward independent breathing. 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 was in our FTGC, asking for God’s presence and comfort.

Glenn Finch gives thanks for near total recovery from the brain injury sustained in his cycling accident. He asks your continued prayer for the aortal aneurysm discovered during his treatment for the brain injury. Please pray for Glenn’s continued healing and trust in God.

Evelyn Hunt’s neck is doing very well (thanksgiving). The neuropathy in her leg is still a problem limiting her mobility. She appreciates the phone calls. Most importantly, pray for her to keep a good attitude and maintain a trust in God, so she will not worry.

Miney Farrell has bronchitis and is seeing the doctor Friday.

Lorraine Winkles is still dealing with shingles (now over 32 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 doing pretty well considering some of the bones in her neck are degenerating as a side effect of her kidney failure. 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 11, leukemia recurrence) Caroline was diagnosed with leukemia at age 7 and underwent a bone marrow transplant in July.  Her mother Carmen e-mailed Wednesday relating Caroline has been lethargic, lost her appetite and has huge dark circles under her eyes; obviously they are quite concerned.  They visited Children's Hospital earlier this week. Just this weekend her appetite had been down and she seemed more tired than usual. Her Hickman line removal was rescheduled for the 23rd. We are really looking forward to that and the freedom it will give her. Although she will still have to get peripheral IVs and blood draws about every five weeks, it will be a positive move. Please pray for Caroline's complete recovery from leukemia and for peace for her parents, Carmen and Jeff.  Caroline has a 40% chance of relapsing after her transplant, and if she does chances of recovery are very slim. Please pray the leukemia has been eradicated and she remains clear of any cancerous cells Thanks so much for being faithful prayer warriors on Caroline's behalf. Please keep her in your prayers. She has always gained so much strength and healing from your prayers.

Natalie (age 10, leukemia recurrence) Natalie is 18 months into treatment for the same type of leukemia as Caroline's and has relapsed. She was in the hospital for two months, then had to return at Thanksgiving and was finally getting to go home. One month short of the year anniversary since transplant, she relapsed. She has been through so much. Her family hasn't even fully explained the implications of this to her. Seeing her hooked up to an IV pole again was devastating. Her chances of survival are slim, yet they are only chances and have naught to do with her. Please pray for her and her family.

Greg Chase’s back problem has flared up, he is taking medication and resting; he hopes to be able to return to work this week.

Guidance
Tom, Mary, Lloyd & Jennifer 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, Alfred, Marie, Dru, Jack, Hap, Estelle, Tina, William, Christina, Michael, Tuck, Lorraine (death of husband), June (death of husband), John, Jeff, Christiana (God’s grace)

Sarah is still struggling with custody arrangements for her children and would appreciate our continued prayers. Sara asks you pray 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.

Hap asks you to pray that he might be able to trust God will help him make the right decisions at the right time and not to worry uselessly.

Guidance and Protection
Christina, Sarah

Economic Guidance and Assistance
Keith is 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 her physical condition (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc.).  Pray for them also to not fear for the future, but to trust in the Lord. 

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 give thanks for Kevin in the UK who has found a job. While not what he was looking for, he is grateful for work. Please continue to pray that he will find a position that will maintain his family and 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.

To Find Employment
Stephen to find a job that will allow him to use his skill and talent to make his new employer more successful.

Michael and Lita both to find a job that will allow them to use their skill and talent to make their new employer more successful.

Eric, Keith, Kevin and Eric each to find a job that will allow them to use their skill and talent to make their new employer more successful.

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.

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.

Saint Andrew’s Academy is looking for a staff teacher.

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

Armed Forces & Contractors
Tillman, Justin, Evan, RJ, Matt, Phillip, Julian, John Kelly (USN - USS Ronald Reagan), Evan (USMC-Afghanistan), Eric (USN-Afghanistan)

Persecuted
Around the world, Christians are under attack, not only in the Muslim world, but from Hindus and others in India. Also, they are under continual attack in the western world as it becomes more and more actively atheist or pro-devil buddy. Please pray for God’s guidance and protection for all persecuted Christians and those around them.

Free Teen Guitar Class
Please join us in praying that the Free Teen Guitar Class will be an opportunity for God to work in the lives of the kids and their families. Help us to let the love of our Lord shine through us into their lives, putting Him first, so that He might enter in to their hearts and lives.

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 you want to write something, please forward your item to the Beadle (with a note as to whether or not you would like editing help) to: thebeadle@mac.com.

Free Teen Guitar Class (FTGC – www.freeteenguitarclass.com)
There is a new Class Schedule in effect:

FTGC New Class Schedule:

Advanced
2:30-3:20pm
    
Continuing 3:20-4:00pm (Beginners shift to Intermediate having learned all 6 strings and get to move on to chords)

       Beginning 4:00-4:50pm (A new class & those redoing the material; it’s okay to do both Intermediate and Beginner classes)

For anyone wanting to start again this is the time!

Saturday 21 February 2009 – FTGC plays the Albertsons Community Fair
Yesterday, Father Acker, Andrew Boyd, Ryan Howell and Jack Arnold played from 0945 – 1410 at the Albertsons Community Fair. They had a booth right next to the hot dog and veggies stands. It was an almost perfect location, except the water running off the drink ice chests. Oh, well. The River Jordan was fun to sing across.

Did we mention Miss Alpine dropped by for a Photo Op?

The guys had a great time playing songs and jamming. As the day developed so did the songs. By the end of the day, the guys were swinging axes and jamming along at warp speed!

Epistle Readers
We post the list of Epistle Readers in the Beadle’s Report each week so you can either plan your attendance or your pre-reading as the spirit so moves you.

Date Reader

1 March 2009 Jan Macauley
8 March 2009 Hap Arnold
22 March 2009 Ben Lizak
29 March 2009 Holly Lizak

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

Wednesday
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. There will be two services at Victoria House, one at 0930 (9:30am) and one at 1830 (6:30pm).

Sunday
Next Sunday is the first Sunday in Lent. It is also Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday. And, Father Acker will be doing “The Book of Romans” as the pre-service class. Romans is really the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans and is chock full of theology and quite interesting. This will be a good class to catch. Come and see!

Lent Soup Dinner and Class
This year we will be holding the traditional Wednesday Lent Soup Dinner and Class at the SCAIR Center in Alpine. The schedule looks something like this:

Evening Prayer 1815 (6:15 pm)
Dinner 1830 (6:30 pm)
Book Study 1900 (7:00pm)
Class Over 2000 (8:00pm)

The book is The Imitation of Christ, copies will be furnished by the parish.

Easter Service
After three Easter services in the Community Center, drawing absolutely no outside the congregation people, the parish decided to do something different Easter. We are going to have a ìCalifornia Sunriseî (08:30 am) service in the park as an out reach to the community. There will be a weather backup indoor location at the Community Center. We will place the altar in front of the stage and have at least 50 folding chairs set out for the congregation.

We have identified the need to work on the following issues:

• Ready access for those with limited mobility;
• Supplemental spot heat for the temperature impaired;
• Setup preparation;
• Advertising;
• Invitation format, perhaps incorporating breakfast vouchers.

See you next week on Sunday!

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or with one photograph per issue and colorful text at

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