Sunday, May 31, 2009

Pentecost commonly known as Whitsunday


Today was Pentecost, commonly known as Whitsunday. Sunrise on Mount Olympus brought a temperature of 48°F under bright blue skies. On the way down the hill, we found the marine layer up to 3,200’msl! By the time church started, it was a comfortable 68°F, but cloudy even after church. Our church space was a little over half taken by a school art show, so as Muriel Pappin said, “It is just like being in a chapel. So much more intimate.” Whatever the reason, we had 16 people at church, so it was a pretty close knit group!

Pentecost which is commonly called Whitsunday and the time of Whitsuntide
The octave (8 days) following Whitsunday. In the Book of Common Prayer, the Monday and Tuesday after Whitsunday are Red Letter days, so called because days provided with a proper collect (prayer), epistle, and gospel were marked in the calendar in red ink. "Whitsuntide" (formerly also spelled "Whitsontide") or "Whitsun Week" is derived from Middle English whitsonday, from Old English hwita sunnandæg, "White Sunday", in reference to the white ceremonial robes formally worn on this day.
Whitsunday marks the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on the 50th day after Easter. It ranks, after Easter, as the second festival of the Church. In the West, the Vigil of Pentecost soon became a secondary date for baptisms, with a ceremony resembling the Paschal Vigil Service. (Pentecost is the Greek name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which falls on the 50th day after Passover.) As the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles on this day (Acts 2: 1), the name was applied to the Christian feast celebrating this event, popularly called "Whitsunday".

Gathering Songs
Father Ironhand and Jack Arnold played the usual gathering or welcome songs for the service.

• God of Nations
• Just a closer walk
• Hymn 243 - I sing a song of the saints
• In the secret

We do the gathering songs for a number of reasons. It allows people a chance to “drift in” without being late. It gives us a bit of variety in our music. We can have more contemporary music before the service and still have organ music in the service, thus having something for everyone. It also a hit with our guitarists who love to play!

Once again, the gathering songs did their magic. When they started playing we numbered 9, by the time the service ended, we had 16! That is a hint that you don’t have to worry about walking in late.

Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class - Around the Bible in 370 days by popular demand
Today continued the fifty-three 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 to Saint Paul three pastoral epistles, two to Timothy (62AD and 67AD) and one to Titus in 62AD. Today Father Acker discussed the First Letter to Timothy.

Like Johnny Appleseed planting trees, Paul went around planting churches. When he left a church he left it in the charge of an overseer (Greek – Episcopos) and elders (Greek – Presbyteros) These positions evolved into bishops and priests, respectively. The titles survive to this day in recognizable forms.

You might well guess that when the Anglican Church formed in the newly minted United States there was a reason it chose the name it did, The Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America. The Anglican Church was noted for two organizational concepts. The first being it is organized around the diocese or realm of the bishop as its basic unit. The second being it is a national church (one church unit to each country) by definition.

The Presbyterian Church on the other hand does not hold with bishops. Their top ordained people are priests or presbyters. We might also note that the Reformed Episcopal Church, of which we are a part, many places in its documentation refers to priests by the term presbyter.

Back to Timothy! Many of the leaders Paul left were quite young, as was Timothy who he left in Philippi, and were in need of additional guidance. Hence, the pastoral letters to provide directions for the leaders who would organize and guide local believers.

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor devote themselves to myth and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
1 Timothy 1.3-4

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
1 Timothy 3.14-15

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated (justified) by the Spirit, seen by angels proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
1 Timothy 3.16-17

Paul asks Timothy and by extension each of God’s ministers (us included) to keep to true teaching, to not introduce new and improved (but, untrue) theology. To understand that like Christ’s example, our live, if lived properly will mirror his.

Alice Acker read this morning’s Epistle, which written in the Second Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles beginning at the First Verse:

WHEN the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Alice was on travel Sunday past. She clearly studied up while away for this Epistle: Galilæans, Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamia, Judæa, Cappadocia, Pontus, Phrygia, Pamphylia,, Cyrene and proselytes – All in one Epistle!

Today’s Gospel was written in the Fourteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint John beginning at the Fifteenth Verse:

JESUS said unto his disciples, If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.

Sermon – Empowered by the Holy Spirit – Our daily life with God
This is not actually Father Acker’s sermon. It is what the Beadle remembered from it. The sermon was very good, unlike the summary. The best part of the sermon was when Father Acker flashed a picture of himself at baptism up on the screen. It is good thing he decided to go to short hair. There was also an explanation of how he grew away from the Anglican church in college as he experienced the joys of collegeiant Bible study that involved Cheetos. If you missed that, you will have to ask him about that point. All of that was great and had a purpose. The remainder of the sermon is what follows, at least to the point your Beadle can recall it.

If you are concerned about the world around you and wonder what you should do, Jesus was talking to you in today’s Holy Gospel!

“… I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; … the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, … shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,”

Whitsunday, or Pentecost, the time of recalling the giving of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Counselor (is all the same fella) is a great time to talk about what you need.

What you need is the Power of God.

When you need the Power of God, nothing else will do.

So, where to find this Power?

The Bible is a good starting place.

The Bible is BIG.

Have you considered looking in the Book of Common Prayer?

The Book of Common Prayer is 82 percent scripture, after all.

You need God to point you in the right direction and to do it in a manner you can understand. He has already started, you need to work on your part. Have you considered daily structured prayer? Anglicans by nature are liturgical, that is to say believe in ordered worship. Have you tried it on more than Sunday morning? It works pretty well for a lot of us.

You can start by praying Morning and Evening Prayer. They are found in the Book of Common Prayer starting on page 3. They only take about 20 minutes each to read properly. A total of forty minutes a day. Is that too much to ask?

For most of us, regardless of what we just answered, the true answer is yes. It is too much time and we are not going to “waste it” on prayer.

So, the question then becomes what can we do that we really will do? Father Acker provided a revised and reduced version of Morning and Evening Prayer on a blue insert in the bulletin that will give you the high points in about three minutes. If you only have time for one, do Morning Prayer to start out your day properly. Then just pray your bedtime prayers. You will be amazed at the change in your life.

If you want a blue sheet and did not make it to church, email Father Acker or the Beadle and you can have one.

Wonder why there is not a short form in the Book of Common Prayer? Glad you asked. Check out page 592. There is a “Shorter Form” that your Beadle uses each and every day. Where it says ¶ Here may be added any special Prayers we add the Prayer for our country from Page 36 of the Book of Common Prayer and the Prayer for the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority from Page 32 of the Book of Common Prayer. Then we add the prayers for trust in God and His guidance from Page 596 of the Book of Common Prayer. Three minutes is all it takes. Actually, it takes two minutes and 45 seconds, but we are fast out loud readers.

Don’t have three minutes a day for God? Tell Him that when you get to the great sorting hat in the sky.

New Nametags
We had one new nametag today, Greg Chase’s mom Phyllis Chase.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported birthdays today. We did celebrate Diane and Greg Chase’s 38th anniversary with them.

After Church Hospitality
Alice Acker brought snacks today. There were giant seedless grapes, which looked lovely and were much admired. Your Beadle did not partake as he is on a low carbohydrate diet. On the other hand, Alice also made Whitsunquiche, or in the Old English Whitsonquiche. A blend of egg, cheeses and the like it was absolutely great and Alice brought one of the Beadle’s favorite accompaniments, Tapatio Hot Sauce (for which there is no Old English equivalent).

Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley was on an extended fish finding mission; in his absence, Barrista Ben Lizak made great coffee, Father Acker made his famous low carb lemonade and, as the Beadle noticed too late to get any, Alice made ice tea!

After church goodies providers as currently signed up:

Date Name
31 May 2009 Alice Acker
7 June 2009 Muriel Pappin
14 June 2009 Church and Picnic in the Park

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 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 their names and purpose be kept confidential, then only Father Acker will pray for them.

Remembering those who have gone before us
Raymond Deveraux died in February 2009. His wife Eleanor asks that we remember him in our prayers. The Deveraux were married for 64 years. As to be expected, there is still a huge gap in her life. She misses him. Pray that she will concentrate, not on their separation, but on their unity in God’s world for eternity in the future.

Repose of the Soul
Carmelita “Endae” Rollins passed away on Ascension Day, 21 May 2009, while on vacation at her ancestral home in the Philippines. Endae, who had cared for Admiral Jackson Arnold of this parish for about seven years, apparently died from advanced cancer with almost no warning. Give thanks for her time on earth during which she touched so many lives with positive results, always with joy in the Lord and that she has joined her beloved husband at home.

Travel
Don, Sandy and Nick are on travel this week.
Chris, Stephanie, Andrew and Alex are on travel this week.
Ryan is on travel this week.
Donny is on travel this week.
Tim is on travel this week.
Ken is on travel this week.

Healing
Salvador (cancer), Marge, Uni, Karl, Christian, Wanda, Lois, Jennette (Alzheimer’s), Ruth, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Nancy, Leucrecia (cancer), Marybeth (broken foot, stroke), Bill (infection), Teiko, Ernie, Ray, Hazel, Bruce (heart attack), Susanne, Paul (stroke), Ralph+ (prostate cancer), Allison (kidney), Bill (ETOH poisoning and gout), Kai, Jay, Tim, Diane, Amy (Thyroid cancer), 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), Susan, Jeff, David (leg injury), Judy, who suffers from mental illness, is undergoing tests for cancer, Jon, 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, Doyle, Martha, Muriel, Richard, Marybeth (radiation treatment; cancer has spread to her brain), Dru, Stephanie (flu), Ralph+, Jeffrey, Rod, Gary (sepsis; ICU), Dick (hip surgery), Mark

Mark Wilson underwent skin cancer surgery on his face 21 May 2009. They could not get all the cancer out and he will have to undergo four weeks of chemotherapy. He is concerned about the effect this will have on his business. Please pray for his peace of mind and well as a successful outcome for the chemotherapy and remission of the cancer.

Hy cannot put weight on her leg. She does not know why and so far the doctors have not been able to diagnose a problem. She is making some improvement. She asks you pray for her healing and guidance for those treating her.

Bashir Ahmed, father of Shamim Gray, father in law of Commander Obra Gray for whom we prayed while he was deployed to Iraq and on various carrier deployments, is gravely ill. He has not been doing well in the hospital, it seems there is little they can do for him. He is going to go home and be with his wife and family. Perhaps there he will be able to orient himself and he will feel like eating. Also, his wife will be able to get some rest so she does not deteriorate herself. Please pray Bashir will respond to being home and, if that not be God’s will, a departure in peace to His world for Bashir. Pray also for his family that they might open their hearts to accept all God’s love will bring them.

Michele has neck pain, on the 18 May 2009 she is having a myelogram.

Judy had emergency surgery Saturday 2 May 2009 for removal of a grapefruit sized benign abdominal tumor. The surgery was apparently completely successful. Please give thanks for the good surgical result and pray for her complete and rapid recovery. Pray also for God’s gift of strength for her and her family.

Mary Garcia fell and broke her hip on 18 April 2009. She had successful surgery and made it home. She is having problems with diet and her diabetes. Please read the note from her husband Gil:

Mary is now at home. She is doing well and improving everyday: however, she is not eating very much. As a result, last Saturday night she gave us a scare. She had a low sugar crash (her tester read low, which meant it was below 25). We kind of knew what was wrong, but she was not responding to sucrose tablets of orange juice. We finally called 911 and the paramedics came and right away put an IV with sucrose and she started responding right away, but they took her to Kaiser Hospital. They kept her at the emergency section until she was stable and then they discharged her at 3:00 AM. She came home and on Sunday she crashed again. This time the paramedics came and established here without going to the hospital. They reduced her insulin and she has been doing much better. Her walking is much improve and and her pain is less and less everyday. I will keep you guys informed.

The VA has finally come through with some home care help. I have a caregiver 8:00-12:00 ,Monday through Friday. That really helps the family caregivers who are trying to juggle days off, vacation time, etc to try to help Mary and Me.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the cards, phone calls, emails, flowers, visits and above all yours prayers. You can't imagine how much they help. Thank you all.
Gil

Scott Howell is having significant back pain and numbness in his leg. Please pray for a successful diagnosis of the source of his pain and a successful treatment for the problem. Pray also he will remain of good cheer while in pain. Chronic pain can make one less than pleasant to be around. Scott is such a joy to be with, we pray he will be able to accept God’s help while awaiting medical assistance so that he keeps a good attitude.

Lise, originally diagnosed with "peritoneal cancer", has undergone multiple surgeries and chemotherapy. Lise's doctors hope she is in remission, but are uncertain and do not know if she will be with us for more than a year. Her friend requests that you please pray for continued healing and full remission for Lise; and, and please pray that God might give wisdom and guidance to all of her medical providers. Lise appreciates your support and prayers.

Jan has just recovered from her fifth cancer surgery. The medical prognosis is good. Her friend asks you pray for Jan's continued healing and complete remission; and, please pray God might give wisdom and guidance to all of her medical providers.

Dave (39 yrs), unexpectedly had a brain hemorrhage yesterday and is undergoing emergency surgery. His friends request you pray for successful surgery, without complications, and full recovery. Please pray, too, that God might give wisdom and guidance to all of his medical providers. Dave's wife is also in need of our prayers for God's strength and guidance during this difficult time, and always.

Vince (12 yrs) has bone cancer (a teammate of Andrew B). The cancer spread to his lungs. Vince underwent surgery on Tuesday 3 March 2009. 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.

Joe is a young father who had successful repeat corneal transplant surgery on Tuesday 3 March 2009. He had the patch removed Thursday and just having that off makes him feel better. The doctor said things looked good from the surgery. He is very swollen and red and sensitive to light so he is wearing those lovely big sunglasses around the house and just resting. He will start the regimen of antibiotic drops and steroid drops until he sees the doctor again in about a week and half. He will have to sleep in the patch for about 16 weeks. Thank you again for your prayers…your loving prayers helped Joe to have a successful surgery and his family wants you to know we all appreciate you taking the time to pray for him.

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

Tim, brother of Lauralee, had a stroke and extremely high blood pressure and is now recovering. Pray for a full recovery.

Mary Parker is home and walking all around the house, as far as her 50 foot oxygen lead will let her. 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! Please give thanks for her great recovery and continued progress.

Evelyn Hunt has asked for prayers of healing for the pressure like feeling in her head and as she recovers from the flu. She isn’t driving presently and is hoping to get about her neighborhood with a scooter chair. 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 is thankful for her recovery from pneumonia. She is enjoying having her son and daughter in law back from a month trip around the Pacific.

Lorraine Winkles is still dealing with shingles (now over 34 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 woke up in the middle of the night and fell, breaking her nose, eye brow area and generally banging herself up. Not to interfere with dinner plans, though. 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 FSCS, which was causing her liver to shut down. The disease has apparently gone into semi-remission. She is thankful that she is no longer near dialysis. Please pray for her continued remission and her continued faith and good spirits, as well as strength to take care of her children.

Caroline (age 11, leukemia recurrence) is doing very well following her bone marrow transplant in July 2008. She is increasing her time at school and is riding her bike now. Her energy is nearly back to normal, and she has been able to reduce her anti-rejection meds. Please keep praying as Caroline has a 40% chance of recurrence of her leukemia.

Natalie (age 10, leukemia recurrence) is 20 months into treatment for the same type of leukemia as Caroline's and has relapsed. One month short of the year anniversary since transplant, she relapsed. She has been through so much. 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.

Guidance
Tom, Mary, Lloyd & Jennifer to be guided to a church
Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, Ken, Maruja, William, Joe, Alexander, Jonathan, Phil, Sandy, Larraine, Brad, Brian, Uni, Jennifer, Greg, Margie, Rick, Susan, Curtis, Donny, Chris, Eric (job), Andrew, Keith (job decision), Sara (God's grace and His patience), Mark, Alexandra, Nelson, Perlita, Lewis, Sam, Susie, Dru, Jack, Tina, William, Christina, Tuck, Lorraine (death of husband), Jeff, Christiana (God’s grace), Tara (divorce), Patricia & her family, Errin, Elizabeth, Brandon, Steven, Ashley, Ruth, Virginia, Betty who is considering moving into an assisted living home

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. 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.

Rod and Leah traveled to Guatemala to pick up their two new daughters. They were only able to return with one. Please give thanks for the one daughter and pray for the satisfactory resolution on the second daughter.

Please pray for the teachers at W.D. Hall Elementary who are facing difficult times from personal struggles with family members being ill or from the daily pressures of teaching in the public school environment.

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 has been unable to find any full-time work since his custom home drafting business of 25 years really dropped off last year. He is working as a handyman, doing tile work, painting, home repairs, etc. Their family has a great deal of debt from Susanne’s medical needs. Pray also for God's peace to comfort them and for His leading and wisdom to be very evident to them.

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. Please continue to pray 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.

Linda S. (job in jeopardy)

To Find Employment
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.

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) Donny (USAF – Biloxi, MI), Stuart (USMC-Afghanistan)

Thanksgiving
Corinne Cook underwent completely successful major surgery Friday 22 May 2009, in Saint Louis. Please read the note from her father, TW:

Dear Friends and Family,

Dr. Parks completed the rhizotomy around 6:00 PM last Friday. Corinne spent one night in PICU then five nights in a normal hospital room. According to Dr. Parks, the surgery was a complete success, we can see a remarkable difference in her legs and feet. She was released Wednesday afternoon but weather in the St Louis area prevented a smooth ride home. We left yesterday morning with a low overcast and rain but very smooth flight home. Per our request STL departure vectored us around all buildups and turbulence, great guys to work with. Our experience with St Louis Children's Hospital was the best ever, though we hope you or your love ones never need to visit. Corinne starts physical therapy today and hopefully she will be walking unassisted in about three weeks. Kathy is hoping sooner, loading and unloading a wheelchair can be a workout. Daily physical therapy is prescribed for four months, here again mom is hoping for a quick discharge.

We were excited to leave the hospital, but wheeling Corinne out we walked past twenty occupied rooms. Your heart goes out to these kids and their families. Some have been here for months or longer and some will not leave. Your prayers for our precious little girl were answered, but we ask that you pray for those still being treated.

Thanks again for your prayers and concern.

The Cooks.

Airman Donny Patton graduated from the United States Air Force Basic Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, on 22 May 2009. He will attend Technical Training Schools in the electronics field in Biloxi, Mississippi and Wichita Falls, Texas for the next five months before receiving his operational duty station.

Linda’s leg infection, the result of an open cut sustained in a fall, has healed nicely. Please give thanks for the healing.

Tieko received a kidney transplant and appears to be doing well. Please give thanks for the successful surgery and pray there will be no rejection.

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 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!

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

7 June 2009 Sandy Patton
14 June 2009 Don Patton
21 June 2009 Ben Lizak
28 June 2009 Holly Lizak

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

Next Sunday

The next Sunday from now is Trinity Sunday, the beginning of the Green Season, our Feast of Title (Blessed Trinity) and the first Sunday of the month, thus usually Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday. June will put FTGC Sunday off until the second Sunday, see below.

The second Sunday
The second Sunday from now is Flag Day Sunday, the First Sunday after Trinity and also Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday. Because our space has been preempted by graduation ceremony preparation, we decided to have Church in the Park. W decided to have FTGC Sunday in the park.

Blessed Trinity Calendar

6 June 2009 Saturday 1130 Free Teen Guitar Class performance at the Alpine Historical Society

14 June 2009 Sunday 0830 Church in the Park – Alpine Community Center Park. This will also be June’s Free Teen Guitar Sunday instead of the first Sunday
1030 Picnic in the Park or maybe Weiner Dog Ministry (substitute for Burrito Ministry) or maybe just the usual Burrito Ministry - TBD

21 or 28 June 2009 Sunday 1600 FTGC Concert (Alpine Community Park) Tentative

27 June 2009 Saturday 1200 Parade vehicle preparation – Descanso

29-30 June 2009 Monday 1200 Diocesan Synod in Oceanside

4 July 2009 Saturday 1000 Independence Day – Crown Hills Parade in Alpine

11 July 2009 Saturday 0830 Descanso Parade

12 July 2009 Sunday 1030 Senior Warden’s Breakfast at the Lizaks’ after church

12 July 2009 Sunday 1600 Christian Music Festival (Alpine Community Park) Tentative

25 July 2009 Saturday 0800 Pine Valley Parade

See you next week on Sunday!

Alternate Sources of The Beadle’s Report

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

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Ascension Day and The Sunday after Ascension Day and Memorial Day


Ascension Day

On Ascension Day, we had five members present for the 1815/1830 Evening Prayer and Holy Communion Service at Victoria Chapel. The service was over by about 1900 (for those of you not yet used to the 24 hour clock, that would be 6:15 pm to 7:00 pm and for our Air Force friends, that would be two hours and fifteen minutes past Happy Hour to three hours past Happy Hour). Ascension Day commemorates the return to heaven, the ascending of our Lord. This is a day filled with joy, one where we get to recall fulfillment of promises.

The Ascension Day service always brings a lot of happiness and fun, being one of those days.

If you did not make it, resolve to come next year. The parish will buy your dinner afterwards if it is your first time to the service .

The Ascension Day Propers
The Collect
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave.

For the Epistle. Acts i. 1.
THE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The Gospel. St. Luke xxiv. 49.
JESUS said, Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.

The Sunday after Ascension Day

Today was the Sunday after Ascension Day. We had pretty typical weather for this time of year. Sunrise temperature on Mount Olympus was 44°F, by the time church ended the mercury had climbed to 72°F, all under bright blue and clear skies. With numerous our members on travel or working, we ended up with 17 people present for the service.

Gathering Songs
Father Ironhand and Jack Arnold played the usual gathering or welcome songs for the service.

• I’ll fly away
• Abide with me
• Hymn 345 - The King of Love
• Jesus loves me

We do the gathering songs for a number of reasons. It allows people a chance to “drift in” without being late. It gives us a bit of variety in our music. We can have more contemporary music before the service and still have organ music in the service, thus having something for everyone. It also a hit with our guitarists who love to play!

Once again, the gathering songs did their magic. When they started playing we numbered 6, by the time the service ended, we had 17!

Memorial Day

Father Acker recalled tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember those members of our Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice, without whose sacrifice we would not be free.

Memorial Days.
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead; We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class - Around the Bible in 370 days by popular demand
Today continued the fifty-three 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 to the two letters of Saint Paul to the people of Thessalonica. These two letters were the first of the Epistles written, dating to 52 AD.

The theme of the letters is HOLD FIRM IN YOUR FAITH!

Paul was only in Thessalonica for about a month before he was run out of town by the local establishment. Writing in encouragement to the people he reminds them “…You have turned from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven.” (1 Thes 1.9-10) He goes on to tell rhetorically ask, “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thes 2.19-20)

The theme of both Epistles are living and dying as Christians while all the time waiting for Christ. For if He does not come when we are here, we will go to where He is. Thus, we need to do His will.

Therefore we need to “stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught be us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” (2 Thes 2.15)

Or in the current vernacular:

Keep the Faith!

Dru Arnold read this morning’s Epistle, which written in the Fourth Chapter of the First Epistle of Saint Peter beginning at the Seventh Verse. James tells us we are the pinnacle of God’s creation, destined to be the stewards of His world, His representatives, thus we should be considerate of what we do and let ourselves become open to His Word:

THE end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Between the Epistle and Gospel is often sung a hymn. We had not been doing this, but Warren really enjoys the song God Loves Me. We have been practicing it for about two months now and have finally managed to get the hand gestures down. Today Warren led us in the song.

God made me, God made me,
In my bible book it says that God made me.

God loves me, God Loves me,
In my bible book it says that God loves me.

God helps me, God helps me,
In my bible book it says that God helps me.

God keeps me, God keeps me,
In my bible book it says that God keeps me.

Before you write it off as just a kid’s song please study the lyrics for theology.

Today’s Holy Gospel was written in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint John beginning at the Twenty-Sixth:

WHEN the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the Holy Ghost will be coming to bring understanding to us. He is to bring our hearts the ability to understand Jesus’ message from the Father, He is to bring us comfort. Thus, the third element of the Triune God, the Holy Ghost goes by differing names, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, The Comforter. All are the same, the names change depending on the speaker’s preference or the situation. As the man says, “Is all da same fella!”

Sermon – Steward of God
Building on today’s Epistle, Father Acker talked about what it means to be God’s stewards, the awesome responsibility of acting on behalf of the one true God. He talked about:

• Our Mission
• Our Gifts
• Our Service

The first thing that he pointed out is that the word is STEWARD, that is servant, not STUART as in King or Queen. God’s intent for us to be His servants, for us to do HIS will, not ours. He sent His Son among us as an example. Jesus showed us how to act.

Stewards act on behalf of their master to serve others, to take care of others, to look after others. This about others, not you, not me.

He gave us a job:

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. [Matthew 28.17]

Our job is not to increase the holdings and power of Alpine Anglican Church of the Blessed Trinity or even that of Anglicanism. It is not to increase the power or holdings of even Christian Churches in general. Our job is to gather people, bring them into the Kingdom of God, where they can enjoy eternal life.

Each person has received a gift of talent from God. It is up to us to use those talents to His glory. Paraphrasing the words of military citations, “His actions reflect great credit upon himself and God.” Through us God should be seen, upon us God should be reflected as a shining star on a silver globe.

To make this happen, you need to plan your life, give your plan to God and wait for the coming alteration. Then follow God’s Plan.

Line your star up with God. When the stars are in line, so will your life.

New Nametags
We had no new nametags today.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported anniversaries today. We did celebrate Marianne Lane’s 56th birthday with her.

After Church Hospitality
Dru Arnold brought snacks today. While they were of the low carb variety, everyone seem to find something they liked. There were chocolate meringue cookies, crackers, and hummus for crackers, along with tiny colorful miniature peppers and snow peas, both of which went nicely with hummus. Then, of course, there were the almonds which go great with an empty mouth. All very edible, all things considered.

Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley made great coffee and Father Acker made his famous low carb lemonade..

After church goodies providers as currently signed up:

Date Name
31 May 2009 Alice Acker
7 June 2009 Opportunity Available
14 June 2009 Church and Picnic in the Park

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 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 their names and purpose be kept confidential, then only Father Acker will pray for them.

Memorial Day
Please remember in your prayers the hundreds of thousands of members of our armed services who have given their lives that we might be free in this country and that countless more might live in freedom around the world. Remember those soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen and merchant mariners, as well as the contractors working with them who stepped forward when their country called. When the call came, they did not just look at their feet, they stepped forward. Forward towards the sound of gunfire. When the need arose, their spirits rose and they filled the gap in the line. They gave their tomorrow so that we might have a today.

Remembering those who have gone before us
Raymond Deveraux died in February 2009. His wife Eleanor asks that we remember him in our prayers. The Deveraux were married for 64 years. As to be expected, there is still a huge gap in her life. She misses him. Pray that she will concentrate, not on their separation, but on their unity in God’s world for eternity in the future.

Repose of the Soul
Bob Rodenberger
Carmelita “Endae” Rollins
passed away on Ascension Day, 21 May 2009, while on vacation at her ancestral home in the Philippines. Endae, who had cared for Admiral Jackson Arnold of this parish for about seven years, apparently died from advanced cancer with almost no warning. Give thanks for her time on earth during which she touched so many lives with positive results, always with joy in the Lord and that she has joined her beloved husband at home.

Barbara Harris passed away the morning of 29 April 2009 after a prolonged illness. She is free now of pain and with those who have gone before us. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for her family left here on earth. Help her family to accept God’s peace in their hearts and in their lives; to remind themselves of the good times past and eternity of unity in their future. Pray in particular for her daughter Barbara, her son Ken and his wife Carol.

Travel
Don, Sandy and Nick are on travel this week.
Chris, Stephanie, Andrew and Alex are on travel this week.
Ryan is on travel this week.
Don, Sandy and Nick are on travel this week.
Donny is on travel this week.
Jan is on travel this week.
Alice is on travel this week.
Ken is on travel this week.

Healing

 Salvador (cancer), Betty, Marge, Uni, Karl, Christian, Wanda, Lois, Jennette (Alzheimer’s), Ruth, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Nancy, Leucrecia (cancer), Marybeth (broken foot, stroke), Bill (infection), Teiko, Ernie, Ray, Betty, Hazel, Bruce (heart attack), Susanne, Paul (stroke), Ralph+ (prostate cancer), Allison (kidney), Bill (ETOH poisoning and gout), Kai, Jay, Tim, Diane, Amy (Thyroid cancer), 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), Susan, Jeff, David (leg injury), Judy, who suffers from mental illness, is undergoing tests for cancer, Jon, 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, Doyle, Martha, Muriel, Richard, Linda (infection after open cut from fall), Marybeth (radiation treatment; cancer has spread to her brain), Dru, Stephanie (flu), Ralph+, Jeffrey

Mark Wilson underwent skin cancer surgery on his face 21 May 2009. They could not get all the cancer out and he will have to undergo four weeks of chemotherapy. He is concerned about the effect this will have on his business. Please pray for his peace of mind and well as a successful outcome for the chemotherapy and remission of the cancer.

Corinne Cook underwent completely successful major surgery Friday 22 May 2009, in Saint Louis. As you may know Corinne was born very premature (1 Pound). She has undergone previous surgeries for Cerebral Palsy in her legs. This time she had a procedure known as Dorsal Rhizotomy. They removed a section of the vertebra to expose her spinal cord. By use of electrical stimulation they identified the nerves causing her calf muscles to stay contracted and cut only those nerves. Now she will have daily physical therapy for four to five months. Please give thanks for Dr. Park and his team’s success with Corinne’s surgery and a speedy recovery.

Bashir Ahmed, father of Shamim Gray, father in law of Commander Obra Gray for whom we prayed while he was deployed to Iraq and on various carrier deployments, is gravely ill. It seemed he was nearing the end of his time here on earth. His family gathered from around the world to be with him. With God’s grace and numerous transfusions he came back from the brink. Please pray for a miraculous recovery for Bashir and, if that not be God’s will, a departure in peace to His world for Bashir. Pray also for his family that they might open their hearts to accept all God’s love will bring them.

Michele has neck pain, on the 18 May 2009 she is having a myelogram.

Judy had emergency surgery Saturday 2 May 2009 for removal of a grapefruit sized benign abdominal tumor. The surgery was apparently completely successful. Please give thanks for the good surgical result and pray for her complete and rapid recovery. Pray also for God’s gift of strength for her and her family.

Mary Garcia fell and broke her hip on 18 April 2009. She had successful surgery and made it home. She is having problems with diet and her diabetes. Please read the note from her husband Gil:

Mary is now at home. She is doing well and improving everyday: however, she is not eating very much. As a result, last Saturday night she gave us a scare. She had a low sugar crash (her tester read low, which meant it was below 25). We kind of knew what was wrong, but she was not responding to sucrose tablets of orange juice. We finally called 911 and the paramedics came and right away put an IV with sucrose and she started responding right away, but they took her to Kaiser Hospital. They kept her at the emergency section until she was stable and then they discharged her at 3:00 AM. She came home and on Sunday she crashed again. This time the paramedics came and established here without going to the hospital. They reduced her insulin and she has been doing much better. Her walking is much improve and and her pain is less and less everyday. I will keep you guys informed.

The VA has finally come through with some home care help. I have a caregiver 8:00-12:00 ,Monday through Friday. That really helps the family caregivers who are trying to juggle days off, vacation time, etc to try to help Mary and Me.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the cards, phone calls, emails, flowers, visits and above all yours prayers. You can't imagine how much they help. Thank you all.
Gil

Scott Howell is having significant back pain and numbness in his leg. Please pray for a successful diagnosis of the source of his pain and a successful treatment for the problem. Pray also he will remain of good cheer while in pain. Chronic pain can make one less than pleasant to be around. Scott is such a joy to be with, we pray he will be able to accept God’s help while awaiting medical assistance so that he keeps a good attitude.

Lise, originally diagnosed with "peritoneal cancer", has undergone multiple surgeries and chemotherapy. Lise's doctors hope she is in remission, but are uncertain and do not know if she will be with us for more than a year. Her friend requests that you please pray for continued healing and full remission for Lise; and, and please pray that God might give wisdom and guidance to all of her medical providers. Lise appreciates your support and prayers.

Jan has just recovered from her fifth cancer surgery. The medical prognosis is good. Her friend asks you pray for Jan's continued healing and complete remission; and, please pray God might give wisdom and guidance to all of her medical providers.

Dave (39 yrs), unexpectedly had a brain hemorrhage yesterday and is undergoing emergency surgery. His friends request you pray for successful surgery, without complications, and full recovery. Please pray, too, that God might give wisdom and guidance to all of his medical providers. Dave's wife is also in need of our prayers for God's strength and guidance during this difficult time, and always.

Vince (12 yrs) has bone cancer (a teammate of Andrew B). The cancer spread to his lungs. Vince underwent surgery on Tuesday 3 March 2009. 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.

Joe is a young father who had successful repeat corneal transplant surgery on Tuesday 3 March 2009. He had the patch removed Thursday and just having that off makes him feel better. The doctor said things looked good from the surgery. He is very swollen and red and sensitive to light so he is wearing those lovely big sunglasses around the house and just resting. He will start the regimen of antibiotic drops and steroid drops until he sees the doctor again in about a week and half. He will have to sleep in the patch for about 16 weeks. Thank you again for your prayers…your loving prayers helped Joe to have a successful surgery and his family wants you to know we all appreciate you taking the time to pray for him.

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

Tim, brother of Lauralee, had a stroke and extremely high blood pressure and is now recovering. Pray the doctors, nurses and technicians who treat him will pay attention and do their best.

Mary Parker is home and walking all around the house, as far as her 50 foot oxygen lead will let her. 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! Please give thanks for her great recovery and continued 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 for whom we have been praying had a heart attack the morning of 15 March 2009. Please pray for his recovery from this, as well as his 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.

Evelyn Hunt has asked for prayers of healing for the pressure like feeling in her head and as she recovers from the flu. She isn’t driving presently and is hoping to get about her neighborhood with a scooter chair. 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’s bronchitis turned out to be pneumonia. She was seeing some limited improvement, but as she said, “Things aren’t quick when your 93!”

Lorraine Winkles is still dealing with shingles (now over 34 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 FSCS, which was causing her liver to shut down. The disease has apparently gone into semi-remission. She is thankful that she is no longer near dialysis. Please pray for her continued remission and her continued faith and good spirits, as well as strength to take care of her children.

Caroline (age 11, leukemia recurrence) is doing very well following her bone marrow transplant in July 2008. She is increasing her time at school and is riding her bike now. Her energy is nearly back to normal, and she has been able to reduce her anti-rejection meds. Please keep praying as Caroline has a 40% chance of recurrence of her leukemia.

Natalie (age 10, leukemia recurrence) Natalie is 18 months into treatment for the same type of leukemia as Caroline's and has relapsed. One month short of the year anniversary since transplant, she relapsed. She has been through so much. 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.

Guidance
Tom, Mary, Lloyd & Jennifer to be guided to a church
Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, Ken, Maruja, William, Joe, Alexander, Jonathan, Phil, Sandy, Larraine, Brad, Brian, Uni, Jennifer, Greg, Margie, Rick, Susan, Curtis, Donny, Chris, Eric (job), Andrew, Keith (job decision), Sara (God's grace and His patience), Mark, Alexandra, Nelson, Perlita, Lewis, Sam, Susie, Dru, Jack, Tina, William, Christina, Tuck, Lorraine (death of husband), Jeff, Christiana (God’s grace), Tara (divorce), Patricia & her family, Errin, Elizabeth, Brandon, Steven, Ashley, Ruth, Virginia, Betty

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. 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.

Rod and Leah traveled to Guatemala to pick up their two new daughters. They were only able to return with one. Please give thanks for the one daughter and pray for the satisfactory resolution on the second daughter.

Please pray for the teachers at W.D. Hall Elementary who are facing difficult times from personal struggles with family members being ill or from the daily pressures of teaching in the public school environment.

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 has been unable to find any full-time work since his custom home drafting business of 25 years really dropped off last year. He is working as a handyman, doing tile work, painting, home repairs, etc. Their family has a great deal of debt from Susanne’s medical needs. Pray also for God's peace to comfort them and for His leading and wisdom to be very evident to them.

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. Please continue to pray 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.

Linda S. (job in jeopardy)

To Find Employment
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 they are able to find employment soon.



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) Donny (USAF – Biloxi, MI), Stuart (USMC-Afghanistan)

Thanksgiving
Airman Donny Patton graduated from the United States Air Force Basic Training School, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, on 22 May 2009. He will attend Technical Training Schools in the electronics field in Biloxi, Mississippi and Wichita Falls, Texas for the next five months before receiving his operational duty station.

Phil, Fran Dexter’s cousin, underwent a colonoscopy which found five bleeding polyps, none of which appeared to be cancerous. He had many concerns and worries, of which none came true. He gives thanks for your prayers and a successful outcome. Please pray also Phil, his wife Sandy and their family will put their trust in God and accept the peace God’s love will give them.

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 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!

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

31 May 2009 Alice Acker
7 June 2009 Sandy Patton
14 June 2009 Don Patton
21 June 2009 Ben Lizak
28 June 2009 Holly Lizak

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

Next Sunday

Next Sunday is Pentecost, known throughout the World Wide Anglican Communion as Whitsunday (middle English for White Sunday). Whitsunday commemorates the arrival of the Holy Ghost. It has been traditionally a time for baptisms and confirmations.

The second Sunday
The second Sunday from now is Trinity Sunday, the beginning of the Green Season, our Feast of Title (Blessed Trinity) and the first Sunday of the month, thus usually Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday. June will put FTGC Sunday off until the second Sunday, see below.

The third Sunday
The third Sunday from now is Flag Day Sunday, the First Sunday after Trinity and also Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday. Because our space has been preempted by graduation ceremony preparation, we decided to have Church in the Park. With the upcoming FTGC performances in the same park, we decided to have FTGC Sunday in the park.

Blessed Trinity Calendar

6 June 2009 Saturday 1130 Free Teen Guitar Class performance at the Alpine Historical Society

14 June 2009 Sunday 0830 Church in the Park – Alpine Community Center Park. This will also be June’s Free Teen Guitar Sunday instead of the first Sunday
1030 FTGC Concert Rehearsal for musicians and roadies
1130 Picnic in the Park

21 or 28 June 2009 Sunday 1600 FTGC Concert (Alpine Community Park) Tentative

27 June 2009 Saturday 0900 Parade vehicle preparation – Descanso

29-30 June 2009 Monday 1200 Diocesan Synod in Oceanside

4 July 2009 Saturday 1000 Independence Day – Crown Hills Parade in Alpine

11 July 2009 Saturday 0830 Descanso Parade

12 July 2009 Sunday 1030 Senior Warden’s Breakfast at the Lizaks’ after church

12 July 2009 Sunday 1600 Christian Music Festival (Alpine Community Park) Tentative

25 July 2009 Saturday 0800 Pine Valley Parade

See you next week on Sunday!

Alternate Sources of The Beadle’s Report


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

Monday, May 18, 2009

The Fifth Sunday after Easter, commonly called Rogation Sunday


Today was the Fifth Sunday after Easter, commonly called Rogation Sunday.  After last week’s “normal” spring weather, we are getting closer to summer. Sunrise temperature on Mount Olympus was 71°F, by the time church ended the mercury had climbed to 78°F. With members on travel and at work, we ended up with 16 people present for the service.

Gathering Songs
Nick Patton, Jack Arnold and Father Ironhand played the usual gathering or welcome songs for the service.

• Open the eyes of my heart
• Amazing grace
• Just a closer walk
• The King of Love

Today after the first song, our main Carvin audio system gave up the ghost, for reasons unknown. Flexibility being the key to tactical church power, out came the portable Carvin speaker system. We were operational again within five minutes.

We do the gathering songs for a number of reasons. It allows people a chance to “drift in” without being late. It gives us a bit of variety in our music. We can have more contemporary music before the service and still have organ music in the service, thus having something for everyone. It also a hit with our guitarists who love to play!

The gathering songs worked extremely well today. When they started playing we numbered 7, by the time the service ended, we had 16!

Rogation Sunday
The fifth Sunday after Easter is commonly called Rogation Sunday from the words in the Gospel appointed for the day: "Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give to you". (The Latin is 'Rogare' - to ask.) In the strictly biblical context, the chief thing to ask for is the spirit of God to enable us to be true children of God.

In the Western Church, processions to bless the crops and to include "beating the bounds", developed from the o1d Roman rites of "Robigalia" ("robigo": Latin for "rust" or "mould"), when prayers would be offered to the deity for crops to be spared from mildew.

Today the emphasis has shifted. A blessing on growing crops in fields and gardens, and on young lambs and calves remain. In the agricultural cycle, the main themes are seed sowing and the tending of the young plants and animals. This does not pre-suppose that all sowing takes place around Rogation. Sowing is done all the year round, as is the birth and rearing of the young, but it is convenient to fix on one particular festival as the time to remember these before God in a public way.

Rogation takes place in the springtime, when there is a renewing of the earth. In this country, it follows Easter, the season of resurrection. Renewal and resurrection therefore are also underlying themes of this occasion.

Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class - Around the Bible in 370 days by popular demand
Today continued the fifty-three 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 to the letter of Saint Paul to Philemon of the church in Colassae. Paul wrote this letter to Philemon when he found out Onesimus, one of Philemon’s slaves, had escaped and was amongst his congregation in Rome. He asked Onesimus to return to Philemon. One can only imagine Onesimus’ view of this at first. The prescribed punishment for escaping was death. The idea of “volunteering” to be killed probably did not appeal to Onesimus. Paul wrote to Philemon to tell him that Onesimus was now more valuable as a brother in Christ, than he was as a slave. He wrote, telling him, “So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 17-18 Refresh my heart in Christ. 20”

Paul’s point was that as Christians we are obligated to do our best to be at one with each other.

Hap Arnold read today’s Epistle, which came from the First Chapter of the Book of Saint James beginning at the Twenty-Second Verse. Saint James tells us “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

St. James reminds us we not only must:
¬ Talk the Talk;
but
¬ Walk the Walk.

We do not gain eternal life and salvation by our good works here on earth, but only by the Grace of God, through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through Christ our sins are atoned for that we might go to heaven. True enough, but we demonstrate our attempt to follow his instructions by our works here on earth.

BE ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and contin-ueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Between the Epistle and Gospel is often sung a hymn. We had not been doing this, but Warren really enjoys the song God Loves Me, we have been practicing it for about two months now and have finally managed to get the hand gestures down. Today Warren led us in the song.

God made me, God made me,
In my bible book it says that God made me.

God loves me, God Loves me,
In my bible book it says that God loves me.

God helps me, God helps me,
In my bible book it says that God helps me.

God keeps me, God keeps me,
In my bible book it says that God keeps me.


Before you write it off as just a kid’s song please study the lyrics for theology.

Today’s Gospel started in the Twenty-Sixth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint John beginning at the Twenty-Third Verse. Jesus said to his disciples, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

He told us not to ask Him to pray to the Father, but rather that we pray directly to the Father, asking for what we will in His name, “for the Father loveth you, because ye have loved me.” This explains why many of our prayers end in, “we ask all this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” or similar words.

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Sermon – Ask in My Name and ye shall receive
In the Holy Gospel today, Jesus tells us to pray to God in His Name. We are not to pray to Him, but rather to God in His Name. He is not going to pray to God for us, rather because of His Love for us, God will grant those requests made in His Name.

Does that mean so long as we conjure the name of Jesus that our requests to God will be fulfilled as we desire?

Sadly for our egos and well for our souls, the answer is NO.

What does it then mean? What this means is that if we ask, what we really need will be given to us. If we focus on Jesus’ purpose in our lives, if we align our lives to God’s purpose we will get what we need. Like Simon of Cyrene who was compelled to bear Jesus’ cross to Golgotha, what may seem a less than good deal can become a privilege and joy.

God placed us here on earth that we might make a difference in the lives of those around us.

New Nametags
We had no
new nametags today.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported birthdays or anniversaries today.

After Church Hospitality
Sandy Patton brought snacks today, sadly your Beadle is on a low carb diet, so he can only personally testify to the fact that the two kinds of sliced cheese and the mixed nuts were great. He has it on great authority (Nick and Jack) that both the brown chocolate chip and the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies were great. Warren provided an endorsement of the coffee cake. Not being able to talk much, he did not mention the flavor, but the smile was sufficient to be sure it was great!

Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley made great coffee. It turns out both last week and this week, Father Acker made his famous low carb lemonade. Unlike last Sunday, today your Beadle found it and thus his thirst was well and properly quenched.

After church goodies providers as currently signed up:

Date Name
17 May 2009 Sandy Patton
24 May 2009 Dru Arnold
31 May 2009 Alice Acker
7 June 2009 Opportunity Available
14 June 2009 Church and Picnic in the Park

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 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 their names and purpose be kept confidential, then only Father Acker will pray for them.

 
Repose of the Soul

Bob Rodenberger
Barbara Harris
passed away the morning of 29 April 2009 after a prolonged illness. She is free now of pain and with those who have gone before us. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for her family left here on earth. Help her family to accept God’s peace in their hearts and in their lives; to remind themselves of the good times past and eternity of unity in their future. Pray in particular for her daughter Barbara, her son Ken and his wife Carol.

Travel
Don, Sandy and Nick are on travel this week.
Ben, Holly and Ashley are on travel this week.
Walt and Fran are on travel this week.
Jan is on travel this week.
Alice is on travel this week.
Rod and Leah are traveling this week to Guatemala to pick up their two new daughters. Please pray for their safe travel, completed paperwork and safe return home for all.

Healing
Betty, Salvador (cancer), Betty, Marge, Uni, Karl, Christian, Wanda, Lois, Jennette (Alzheimer’s), Ruth, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Nancy, Leucrecia (cancer), Marybeth (broken foot, stroke), Bill (infection), Teiko, Ernie, Ray, Betty, Hazel, Bruce (heart attack), Susanne, Paul (stroke), Ralph+ (prostate cancer), Allison (kidney), Bill (ETOH poisoning and gout), Kai, Jay, Tim, Diane, Amy (Thyroid cancer), 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), Susan, Jeff, David (leg injury), Judy, who suffers from mental illness, is undergoing tests for cancer, Jon, 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, Marie, Doyle, Martha, Muriel, Richard, Linda (infection after open cut from fall), Marybeth (radiation treatment; cancer has spread to her brain), Dru, Stephanie (flu), Ralph+

Corinne Cook is undergoing major surgery this week. Please read the attached from her dad and pray for a successful surgical outcome. Pray the surgical team will pay attention and do their best. Pray for peace of heart for Corinne and her family in this very stressful time.

Dear Friends and Family,
 
Tomorrow we fly to St Louis Children's Hospital where our youngest daughter is having surgery this week. As most of you know Corinne was born very premature (1 Pound). She has undergone previous surgery's for the Cerebral Palsy in her legs. This week she is have a procedure know as Dorsal Rhizotomy. They will remove a section of the vertebra to expose her spinal cord. By use of electrical stimulation they will identify the nerves causing her calf muscles to stay contracted and cut only those nerves. Following the surgery she will have daily physical therapy for four to five months. Doctor Park is the best in the world and has a 99% success rate. 
 
Kathy and Corinne will be in St Louis for the next two weeks, Anna and I will come and go following the surgery. Please include Corinne in your prayers this week, for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.
 
Best Regards,
 
TW Cook  
 
Bashir Ahmed, father of Shamim Gray, father in law of Commander Obra Gray for whom we prayed while he was deployed to Iraq and on various carrier deployments, is gravely ill. It seemed he was nearing the end of his time here on earth. His family gathered from around the world to be with him. With God’s grace and numerous transfusions he came back from the brink. Please pray for a miraculous recovery for Bashir and, if that not be God’s will, a departure in peace to His world for Bashir. Pray also for his family that they might open their hearts to accept all God’s love will bring them.

Michele has neck pain, on the 18 May 2009 she is having a myelogram.

Judy had emergency surgery Saturday 2 May 2009 for removal of a grapefruit sized benign abdominal tumor. The surgery was apparently completely successful. Please give thanks for the good surgical result and pray for her complete and rapid recovery. Pray also for God’s gift of strength for her and her family.  

Phyllis Chase, Greg’s mother, had successful cataract surgery Monday 27 April 2009. Please pray for her rapid recovery and a successful surgery for the other eye next month.  

Mary Garcia fell and broke her hip on 18 April 2009. She had successful surgery and is now in rehabilitation. Please pray for her continued recovery and for her husband Gil who is also praying for her. Mary is expected to set records for recovery. She never ever gives up. Nonetheless, your prayers are needed.

Scott Howell is having significant back pain and numbness in his leg. Please pray for a successful diagnosis of the source of his pain and a successful treatment for the problem. Pray also he will remain of good cheer while in pain. Chronic pain can make one less than pleasant to be around. Scott is such a joy to be with, we pray he will be able to accept God’s help while awaiting medical assistance so that he keeps a good attitude.

Pete, sister of Father Acker’s sister in law, had surgery on 20 March 2009 to correct a heart valve problem. The surgery seemed to have gone well; then there were serious complications. Contrary to the doctors’ expectations, Pete healed incredibly well and she went home Sunday. Thanks be to God! Please pray a prayer of thanksgiving and also for control of her low heart rate and blood pressure. Please continue to pray for Pete’s healing and guidance for the doctors.

Lise, originally diagnosed with "peritoneal cancer", has undergone multiple surgeries and chemotherapy.  Lise's doctors hope she is in remission, but are uncertain and do not know if she will be with us for more than a year. Her friend requests that you please pray for continued healing and full remission for Lise; and, and please pray that God might give wisdom and guidance to all of her medical providers. Lise appreciates your support and prayers.

Jan has just recovered from her fifth cancer surgery.  The medical prognosis is good.  Her friend asks you pray for Jan's continued healing and complete remission; and, please pray God might give wisdom and guidance to all of her medical providers.

Dave (39 yrs), unexpectedly had a brain hemorrhage yesterday and is undergoing emergency surgery.  His friends request you pray for successful surgery, without complications, and full recovery. Please pray, too, that God might give wisdom and guidance to all of his medical providers. Dave's wife is also in need of our prayers for God's strength and guidance during this difficult time, and always.

Ryan Wyckoff (15), son of Kevin and Lisa Wyckoff friends of the Arnold family from Wasilla, Alaska, is being treated for Wilson’s Disease, a treatable failure of the liver to throw off copper. Please pray a prayer of thanksgiving as he is doing much better. The Wyckoff’s faith is broad, as well as deep. Pray they continue to pull with together with God in all this, accepting all the help He gives them.

Vince (12 yrs) has bone cancer (a teammate of Andrew B). The cancer spread to his lungs. Vince underwent surgery on Tuesday 3 March 2009. 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.

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 home recovering from a stroke before Christmas.  He has made incredible progress. His memory is returning; his speech is improving. With his wife Shiela’s help, he was able to read scripture at his church. Please continue to pray for him, his wife Sheila and his family.

Joe is a young father who had successful repeat corneal transplant surgery on Tuesday 3 March 2009. He had the patch removed Thursday and just having that off makes him feel better. The doctor said things looked good from the surgery. He is very swollen and red and sensitive to light so he is wearing those lovely big sunglasses around the house and just resting. He will start the regimen of antibiotic drops and steroid drops until he sees the doctor again in about a week and half. He will have to sleep in the patch for about 16 weeks. Thank you again for your prayers…your loving prayers helped Joe to have a successful surgery and his family wants you to know we all appreciate you taking the time to pray for him.

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 rods and is at home learning 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 two nuclear surgeries. She continues to do well from her second surgery and hopes for the best. 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 in the hospital due to pneumonia and the stress is showing in Vicki's lifestyle change to care for her mom. 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.

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

Tim, brother of Lauralee, had a stroke and extremely high blood pressure and is now recovering. Pray the doctors, nurses and technicians who treat him will pay attention and do their best.

Mary Parker is home and walking all around the house, as far as her 50 foot oxygen lead will let her.  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! Please give thanks for her great recovery and continued 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 for whom we have been praying had a heart attack the morning of 15 March 2009. Please pray for his recovery from this, as well as his 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.

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 has asked for prayers of healing for the pressure like feeling in her head and as she recovers from the flu. She isn’t driving presently and is hoping to get about her neighborhood with a scooter chair. 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’s bronchitis turned out to be pneumonia. She was seeing some limited improvement, but as she said, “Things aren’t quick when your 93!”

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 FSCS, which was causing her liver to shut down. The disease has apparently gone into semi-remission. She is thankful that she is no longer near dialysis. Please pray for her continued remission and her continued faith and good spirits, as well as strength to take care of her children.

Caroline (age 11, leukemia recurrence) is doing very well following her bone marrow transplant in July 2008.  She is increasing her time at school and is riding her bike now.  Her energy is nearly back to normal, and she has been able to reduce her anti-rejection meds.  Please keep praying as Caroline has a 40% chance of recurrence of her leukemia.

Natalie (age 10, leukemia recurrence) Natalie is 18 months into treatment for the same type of leukemia as Caroline's and has relapsed. One month short of the year anniversary since transplant, she relapsed. She has been through so much. 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.

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 (God's grace and His patience), Mark, Alexandra, Nelson, Perlita, Lewis, Sam, Susie, Dru, Jack, Tina, William, Christina, Tuck, Lorraine (death of husband), Jeff, Christiana (God’s grace), Tara (divorce), Patricia & her family, Errin, Elizabeth, Brandon, Steven, Ashley, Ruth, Virginia

Phil, Fran Dexter’s cousin, is about to undergo a colonoscopy. He only has one lung and is concerned he will not survive the procedure. At the same time, he is afraid he might have cancer. Please pray the procedure will go smoothly and will result in a clean bill of health for Phil. Please pray also Phil, his wife Sandy and their family will put their trust in God and accept the peace God’s love will give them.

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. 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 has been unable to find any full-time work since his custom home drafting business of 25 years really dropped off last year.  He is working as a handyman, doing tile work, painting, home repairs, etc.  Their family has a great deal of debt from Susanne’s medical needs. Pray also for God's peace to comfort them and for His leading and wisdom to be very evident to them.

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. Please continue to pray 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.

Linda S. (job in jeopardy)


To Find Employment
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 they are able to find employment soon.

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) Donny (USAF; graduates from basic training 22 May 2009), Stuart (USMC-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.

Car Needed for God’s Work
“Do you have an old vehicle to donate?”
Deacon David, a seminarian at our fellow Anglican congregation, Resurrection San Marcos, is in need of a car as his died a week ago. Deacon David was just ordained last month while he finishes his seminary studies. David is making plans to become a missionary priest in South America after being ordained to the priesthood and training for a year or two as a parish priest. He would said, “Old is good; getting there is better.”

Remember – If you donate a car to the service of the church (not to be sold for ‘filthy lucre’), you can deduct the fair market retail value for tax purposes. DISCLAIMER – The Beadle is not a tax professional and is NOT giving tax advice. He does know a good deal when he sees one.

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!

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

24 May 2009 Dru Arnold
31 May 2009 Alice Acker
7 June 2009 Sandy Patton
14 June 2009 Don Patton
21 June 2009 Ben Lizak
28 June 2009 Holly Lizak

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

Thursday

Thursday is the Feast of the Ascension. There will be a service at Victoria Chapel. Evening Prayer starts at 1815 (6:15pm), Holy Communion begins at 1830 (6:30pm).

Next Sunday
The next Sunday is the Sunday after Ascension Day. It is also the Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day is the day set aside to remind us of and honor those have given their lives that our country might be free. We often forget the high cost of freedom. At the same time, we seem to forget the even higher cost of not being free.

The following Sunday
The following Sunday is Pentecost, known throughout the World Wide Anglican Communion as Whitsunday (middle English for White Sunday). Whitsunday commemorates the arrival of the Holy Ghost. It has been traditionally a time for baptisms and confirmations.

The third Sunday
The third Sunday from now is Trinity Sunday, the beginning of the Green Season, our Feast of Title (Blessed Trinity) and the first Sunday of the month, thus usually Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday. June will put FTGC Sunday off until the second Sunday, see below.

The fourth Sunday
The fourth Sunday from now is Flag Day Sunday, the First Sunday after Trinity and also Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday. Because our space has been preempted by graduation ceremony preparation, we decided to have Church in the Park. With the upcoming FTGC performances in the same park, we decided to have FTGC Sunday in the park.

Blessed Trinity Calendar

6 June 2009 Saturday 1130 Free Teen Guitar Class performance at the Alpine Historical Society

14 June 2009 Sunday 0830 Church in the Park – Alpine Community Center Park. This will also be June’s Free Teen Guitar Sunday instead of the first Sunday
1030 FTGC Concert Rehearsal for musicians and roadies
1130 Picnic in the Park

21 or 28 June 2009 Sunday 1600 FTGC Concert (Alpine Community Park) Tentative

27 June 2009 Saturday 0900 Parade vehicle preparation – Descanso

29-30 June 2009 Monday 1200 Diocesan Synod in Oceanside

4 July 2009 Saturday 1000 Independence Day – Crown Hills Parade in Alpine

11 July 2009 Saturday 0830 Descanso Parade

12 July 2009 Sunday 1030 Senior Warden’s Breakfast at the Lizaks’ after church

12 July 2009 Sunday 1600 Christian Music Festival (Alpine Community Park) Tentative

25 July 2009 Saturday 0800 Pine Valley Parade

See you next week on Sunday!

Alternate Sources of The Beadle’s Report

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