Sunday, September 13, 2009

Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday • Bishop's Visit • Beadle's Party


Today was the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Sunrise temperature on Mount Olympus was a lovely 53°F under bright blue skies. Down the hill, the marine layer extended all the way to the Viewpoint at the 3,000’ msl level! It was marine layer overcast when we got there to set up and clear by the time church started. By the end of church the mercury had climbed to a very pleasant 76°F! Perhaps it was the lovely weather, perhaps it was the Free Teen Guitar Class playing the music, perhaps it was the Bishop, whatever the cause, we had 39 people attending the service, and that with several people on travel!

Richard Boyce is our Bishop, he lives in Seattle, Washington. He is the Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of the West of the Reformed Episcopal Church (DOW of the REC). He and his lovely wife Cathie have been to visit us once a year since the church formed almost five years ago. We try to have our annual Beadle’s Party in conjunction with their visit. As the leader of our diocese with oversight of our parish, he comes to make sure we are doing okay and not getting in to trouble. If there are any to be confirmed, he will do the confirmations when he is in town. For more on the role of a bishop, read Bishop Win Mott’s piece in last week’s Beadle’s Report.

We are very fortunate to have Bishop Boyce. He is a solid Christian and a stalwart Anglican. Much as he is those, he speaks his mind and has an extremely good grasp on the church. Bishops traditionally wear purple shirts. There are precious few Christians in purple shirts anymore. We have two. We are fortunate.

Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday
Usually the Free Teen Guitar Class (FTGC) provides our music for the first Sunday of each month. This month the first Sunday was Labor Day, so Father Ironhand pushed FTGC Sunday to the second Sunday. Father Acker was on travel during the week and the Bishop was in town Friday and Saturday, so the FTGC played more gathering songs than usual to take the place of the usual pre-service class. Today they played:

Just a closer walk with thee
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty
In the secret

The gathering songs did their job once again; they started with 22 and ended up with 39!

The for the service they played:

Hymn 243 – I sing a song of the saints of God
Ode to Joy / Joyful, joyful
Amazing Grace
When the saints go marching in

The gathering songs did their job once again; they started with 12 and ended up with 15!

You cannot look at the kids playing, listen to them and not be impressed. They are good kids and good guitar players. We are fortunate to be able to sponsor the Free Teen Guitar Class. It is free of cost to the kids, but not commitment. While the parish provides the instruction, and the equipment if needed, at no cost to the kids, it does require a commitment of time and effort that few are willing to make. Many people say, “I’d give anything to play the guitar like that.” What they need to add, but never do, is, “except my time and effort.”

Good kids, good music!

Propers
Each Sunday there are Propers: special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding. The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. If you have a hard time remembering, “Do I read the Collect from last Sunday or next Sunday during the week?” Remember Sunday is the first day of the week. There are also two Bible readings, the Epistle and the Gospel. While they are “lessons”, they are not the First Lesson and the Second Lesson, they are the Epistle and the Gospel. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles or letters in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the priest as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church or by one of the priests) and the Holy Gospel, which during the service is read by an ordained priest.

The Collect for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity follows:

The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hap Arnold read the Epistle, which came from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, the Fifth Chapter beginning at the Sixteenth Verse. Paul tells us that Heaven and Earth are in conflict in our lives, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” If we are led of the Spirit, we are not under the law. If we are subject to the law, which we are bound to break due to our own inability to be ultimately good, we are also bound to the pit. But if we are with Christ, we are forgiven of our sins, providing we are truly repentant. We will enjoy “the fruit of the Spirit … love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

I SAY then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.


The gradual hymn for today was God made me, lead by Warren: For a change we had the right slide and got all the verses in order with the right hand gestures!

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.

Today’s Gospel started in the Seventeenth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, beginning at the Eleventh Verse. Jesus comes upon ten lepers who appeal to Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” He does and tells them, “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.” As they left him, their leprosy disappeared. One of the ten, “when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan .” Jesus marveled at the nine who turned not saying, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Once again a Samaritan, the “least” among the Jews was the only one to recognize and offer thanks to the Power of God. Do we recognize the power of God in our lives?

AND it came to pass, as Jesus went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Sermon – The Spirit of Truth
"But when He, The Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the Truth" (John 16:13).

A group of theology students had been studying the various Philosophical schools of thought on whether or not, through human reasoning, it is possible to prove the existence of God. The students were not looking forward with pleasure to the upcoming final exam. On the morning of the test, the professor announced to the class that the test had been postponed for at least two weeks. Whereupon, one of the students breathed a big sigh of relief and exclaimed, "That proves it; There is a God."

I think that implied in the student's remark is a kind of built in understanding that the compassion of God is the ultimate proof of His existence. Ultimately, for all of us, the truth of God's existence is not finalized in words about God but in the experience of God in our lives.

In the 16th chapter of the Gospel of St. John, Jesus says to His disciples: "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13). And in his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul acknowledges the fulfillment of that promise. "God's love,” he says, "has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Rom. 5:5). "God's love has been poured into our hearts"!

Having said that, I think I detect a problem. The problem is that many of us come to church and hear this said time after time, but nothing much seems to happen. And it is probably true that, for many of us, the reason nothing seems to happen is that we are overlooking the vital balance which is essential to our life with God. By that I mean that unless the doors of our lives are opened outward - unless we are in touch with the world around us - unless we are especially concerned about people who are hurting, the Holy Spirit somehow gets blocked within us.

God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and there it stays. In order to experience God’s loving presence in the depths of our being, we must take the inner-journey. But if the encounter within is going to have significance for our lives - if something is going to happen because of it, we must take the outward journey as well.

Somehow, we must come to understand that this is not an option for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ. We must come to understand that this is essentially what it means to belong to Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ called His first followers, He didn't say "Come, I will make you feel good allover". He said, "Come, I will make you fishers-of-men.” And, as the disciples followed Jesus on His outward journey, they began to understand that just as He had poured the love of God into their hearts, they must pour the love of God into the hearts of others. And, if you ever are curious about what happened in their lives, just turn to the Book of Acts. There you will discover that because of this experience, not only were their lives turned upside down, but they also "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6).

There is a story of a famous author who had written a new Book. After the book came out, the author was eager to know if people were buying it. So he wrote a letter to the publisher. The letter consisted of one single character: a Question Mark. When the publisher received the letter, he understood immediately that the author wanted to know how the book was selling. So he sent the author a letter consisting of one single character: an Exclamation Point. And the author immediately understood that the book was doing great in sales.

Once you understand that the outward journey is NOT an option for those who love the Lord Jesus - you discover that certain messages from the world out there are coming through the open door of your heart. And if you were to reduce those messages to a single question mark, you would understand immediately that the sender is asking, “Do you love me?” And when you respond with the love of God which has been poured into your heart, you will be 'transforming those question marks into exclamation points! In one of CS Lewis' books, the senior devil is giving some advice to some of the junior devils as to what to expect when they go into the world seeking to destroy souls. “Remember,” says the senior devil, “disgusting as it may seem to you, God really loves those weak and filthy vermin that crawl the earth. Hateful as it may seem to you, He really wants them to be finally happy. That is why God did that treacherous thing - that which we here in hell will never understand: He cut them loose from His control, put human beings on their own in so many dangerous ways, took some of His own freedom and slipped into their beastly hearts. That is why He is so mysterious with them. He wants something more than mere obedience. His master plan is to win them the free, unforced recognition of His love - and the free, unforced and glad response to it.”

Anthony De Mello's book, "One Minute Wisdom", contains the following exchange between pupil and master: "What is love?" "The total absence of fear", said the master. "What is it we fear?" "Love", said the master.

For those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, for those who have embarked on the outward journey, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear", John tells us in I John 4:18.

A little boy named Jimmy was very much afraid of the dark. One evening his Mother asked him to bring in the mop from the back porch. Jimmy said, “It’s too dark out there. I'm afraid". Mother tried to explain that there was nothing to fear. "Besides," she said, "you know that Jesus is everywhere - even in the dark on our back porch.” Taking heart, Jimmy opened the door just enough to put his hand out as he said, “Jesus, please hand me the mop.”

“Take heart, it is I; have no fear,” Jesus said to his disciples. (Mark 6:50) Take heart; have no fear of the outward journey.

Take heart; have no rear of love - Even when the way becomes lonely and is shrouded in darkness - There is nothing to fear. Jesus is there. Just reach out and ask Him to hand you the mop - so to speak. Ask Him for the help you need and He will hand you the grace to persevere.

Amen

New Nametags
We had no new nametags today.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
Today we celebrated Ashley Carpenter’s second anniversary with her, sadly her husband Steven had to work. We also celebrate Ben Lizak’s 73rd birthday with him.

After Church Hospitality
Usually on the Sundays we have a meal directly after church there are no snack. But, this was Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday and Dru Arnold needed a bit more time to prepare for the party, so Alice Acker brought two great honking boxes of dog nuts. The dog nuts were of the local variety and very good. Sadly, due to his low carbohydrate restriction, your Beadle can only report they looked great and disappeared quickly.

Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley was on travel, there was no coffee, but we made do with excellent low carb lemonade by Father Acker. The lemonade was great and gone.

After church goodies providers as currently signed up:

Date Name
20 September 2009 Betsy and Marianne Lane
27 September 2009 Jan Macauley
4 October 2009 Playgirls
11 October 2009 Diane Chase
18 October 2009 Alice Acker
25 October 2009 Holly Lizak

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 least 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.

Travel
Tim is on travel this week.
Chris, Stephanie, Andrew and Alex are on travel this week.
Jan is on travel this week to be with Danielle after her surgery.

Peaceful Transition
Beatrice
Hal Cochran, a good friend of Al Ryan, is nearing the end of his time here on earth. A long time smoker, there is nothing more that can be done for his cancer. Please pray for a peaceful transition for Al from this world to that of our Lord. His wife Lorraine passed away five years ago from diabetes complications. His two sons Tom and Paul are taking their father’s impending departure very hard. Please pray for Tom, Paul and the rest of Hal’s family and friends who remain behind.

Repose of the Soul
Sean passed away the week of 6 September 2009.

Nettie, sister of Evelyn Hunt, passed away the week of 31 August 2009.

Uni, Fran Dexter’s aunt, passed away the morning of 3 September 2009. Please give thanks for her peaceful passing and pray for the repose of her soul and for her family left here on earth.

Julie Fish, a 30 year old daughter of a friend of Melanie Zimmers, passed the afternoon of 23 August 2009. She leaves behind a husband and 3 children aged 2-5. When Julie was pregnant with their last child, she was diagnosed with this unusual cancer that normally runs in men aged 50 and older. It is a rapid growing one that takes the pancreas and liver, so it is very painful and brutal. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for comfort for her husband and family who remain behind.

Pauline Gray passed away the morning of 23 August 2009 due to double pneumonia in Pensacola, Florida. She is the mother of Commander Obra Gray for whom we prayed while he was deployed to Iraq and on various carrier deployments. Pray for the repose of her soul and for comfort for her husband and family who remain behind. Give thanks Obra was able to be with her when she left for home. Pray in particular for her husband Obra (Commander O’s father) who is now alone after so many years of Pauline’s company.

Healing
Salvador (cancer), Marge, Karl, Christian, Wanda, Lois, Jennette (Alzheimer’s), Ruth, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Nancy, Bill (infection), 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, Debbie, Joanna (stroke) [granddaughter of Father Holland a diocesan priest], June (cancer surgery), Susan, Jeff, David (leg injury), Judy, who suffers from mental illness, is undergoing tests for cancer, Greg, June (cancer), David (leg sprain), Cheri, David, Ben, Michael (heart valve replacement), Walter (skin cancer), Gabriella (surgery), Curtis, Doyle, Martha, Muriel, Richard, Ralph+, Jeffrey, Rod, Gary, Mark, Jeffery, Charles (restricted artery to brain and broken arm), Amy (staph infection), Jennifer, Curtis, Steve (cancer), Paula, Ashton, Marjorie, Mike G, Uni (congestive heart failure, infection), Dave (knee surgery), Karl (shoulder surgery), Jeffrey (testing), Gary (sepsis; diabetic), Jim (stomach cancer), Eunice, Jeanette (Alzheimer’s), Kathleen (breast cancer), Mrs. Alvord, Peter H (prostate cancer)

Annie S had eye surgery this past Wednesday. She is on dialysis, but has just been added to the kidney transplant wait list. Please pray for her diabetic condition causing these complications.

Danielle’s neck surgery to remove lymph nodes and damaged tissue was successful. give thanks for a successful surgery and pray for a rapid recovery and successful radiation treatment. Pray also for peace of mind for Danielle and her family.

Jacquie is recovering from successful abdominal surgery on Monday 24 August 2009. Please give thanks for the successful surgery pray for her rapid and full recovery. Most importantly, pray that she might open her heart to God and accept His Love and Grace.

Jackie was involved in a rollover car accident, her passenger was not injured, but she sustained a serious head injury. She has regained consciousness. Pray for the medical team treating her that they might do their best. Pray for her and her family who are very worried about 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. Bashir lives in London. He was in the hospital for some time. They have been able to do little for him and have sent him home. It is good for him to be home. His wife can rest now and he is doing better being at home He is lucid more some days than others and can walk a few steps. Please pray God will deliver a miraculous recovery for Bashir; if that not be God’s will, a departure in peace to His world for him. Please pray God will extend His Grace to Bashir and his family and that they will accept. Shamim keeps her faith in the Lord. Above all, pray for his family to open their hearts to accept all God’s love will bring them.

Tom S, recovering from brain surgery and continuing radiation treatment.

Maureen had two heart valves successfully replaced and is now home. She sounds great, but has quite a few weeks of recovery from the extended illness and surgery. Maureen and her family really appreciate the prayers and are thankful for God's healing.

Peter H is in Kaiser with a less than good prognosis of prostate cancer. Please offer prayers of healing. His wife Susan understands we have prayer warriors in other countries including England. She is confident Peter will appreciate that as he is English.

Tom Garcia is now hospitalized Saint Bernadine’s Hospital after a “mild” heart attack and installation of a stent due to total blockage on the right side of his heart. He is doing well and might come home Friday if everything goes well. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Vera Zimmers had successful surgery last Monday for early stage two colon cancer. That is the end of the treatment, no chemotherapy. Please pray for a complete recovery.

Madelynn Calvert born Sunday 7 June 2009 to Sarah at 24 weeks and one pound seven ounces. She is doing well and at her second month weighs is 3 pounds 1oz. She is having surgery this weekend to put her abdomen back together, no more colostomy bag. She is doing good, but not eating; surgery will be now instead of at 8 pounds. Good news, her brain bleed has resolved on its own and both eye exams came back great! Please give thanks for all the good to date and continue to pray for her continued growth and improvement.

Mark Wilson underwent skin cancer surgery on his face 21 May 2009. He just completed four weeks of radiation treatment. He is concerned about the effect this will have on his business. Please pray for his peace of mind and well as remission of the cancer.

Hy cannot put much weight on her leg. She does not know why and so far the doctors have not been able to diagnose a problem. But, things are much better and she is getting around on using a cane. She asks you pray for her healing and guidance for those treating her.

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 pray for Mary to accept God’s help with her various difficulties and also for Gil to have strength to care for her.

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. 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.

Lauralee underwent a lumpectomy on Friday after Thanksgiving. Another anomaly has been discovered and she is back into preventative radiation treatment. 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 is now recovering. Pray for a full recovery.

Mary Parker is home. Please give thanks for her great recovery and continued progress.

Evelyn Hunt is still experiencing discomfort in her head problems with her leg. She welcomes the phone calls as she is no longer driving. Many of you know her son, Gary, passed away earlier in the summer and her last sister passed away this past week (Nettie).

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.

Kay Denton (Mrs. Kay) is still home and doing pretty well considering the bones in her neck and hands 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 28, 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 doing very well and coming off medications. 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 17 July 2008. Please keep praying as Caroline has a 40% chance of recurrence of her leukemia.

Natalie (age 10, leukemia recurrence) has not responded to any treatment since her relapse. She is nearing the end of her time here on earth unless there is a God given miraculous remission of the cancer. Her family knows Natalie is in God's hands and they are praying for a miracle. Pray they will accept God’s help with their faith and He will give them peace of heart, soul and mind.

Guidance
Tom, Mary, Lloyd & Jennifer to be guided to a church
Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, Ken, Maruja, William, Phil, Sandy, Larraine, Brad, Brian, Jennifer, Margie, Rick, Susan, Curtis, Donny, Chris, Eric (job), Andrew, Keith (job decision), Sara (God's grace and His patience), Mark, Alexandra, 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, Nelson, Ashley, Virginia, Betty who is considering moving into an assisted living home, Nick, Pat, Caroline, Stephen, Greg (vocation guidance and training for the diaconate), Stephanie, Richard, Daniel, Boo (death of her husband), Sheryl, Edward, Madeleine B, Caroline B, Jeannie, Rachel, Mikaela, Emma, Patrick, Mary (adoption); Ashley (job); Curt; Angelina & Ron C; Steven (strength); Vanessa H (trust), Jackie (God's grace)

Obra for God's comfort as he mourns the loss of his wife Pauline. Please pray he will put his trust and faith in God and turn his heart outward to the world, remembering God put him here to make a difference. Pray he will venture out, not stay inside and petrify; that he will let his heart be open to God’s grace.

Noriene for God's comfort as she mourns her mother and for her turning to God for His healing.

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.

Linda is embarking on a new venture to bring music therapy to developmentally challenged young people from a Christian perspective. She is investigating the potential need and environment south of the American border. She asks that you pray for her that she might discern God’s will, her abilities and the need; grant her safe travel.

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.

To Find Employment
Peter, Russell, Kris, 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.

Shawna’s father lost his job in March 2009. After 33 years of working, he has been unable to find work. Please pray that he will find a job that will allow him to use his talents to make his new employer more successful. Pray also that he might put his trust in the Lord and look outward; that he might turn his heart away from depression and towards God. Pray also for his family in this very stressful time. Shawna ask that we pray for all those out of work that they might find gainful employment. There is little worse for a person than no work to turn to and no way to support their family.

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), Stuart (USMC-Afghanistan), Airman Donny Patton is attending Technical Training School in the electronics field in Wichita Falls, TX, Eric (USN-Afghanistan through May 2010),

Thanksgiving
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. He has recently been responding to medication and is making objective progress. Please pray a prayer of thanksgiving for this wonderful turn. The Wyckoffs’ 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.

Naomi gives thanksgiving for delivery of her child. Please pray for her child’s continued growth.

Chaplain Larry Witherspoon is returning to work after a stroke before Christmas. With God’s strength holding him up, he made incredible progress. Please give thanks on behalf of Larry, his wife Sheila and his family.

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.

Vince (12 yrs) has bone cancer (a teammate of Andrew B). Please give thanks for his completion of chemotherapy and doing well in follow-up. Please pray 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.

Students
Please pray for all of our students and teachers as they begin another school year that it may be productive in education in the truth and for developing good citizens for our country.

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.

Fourth Annual Beadle’s Party
Bishop and Mrs. Boyce joined us for the Fourth Annual Beadle’s Barbeque at the Arnolds’ after church. The party began right after church and the dog nut break. We got done pretty early at church, everybody helped break down. The 20 minute drive to the Arnolds’ did not seem so long after everyone got there. Thankfully, everyone who set out got there with no wrong turns and no calls to Search and Rescue! It was pretty easy for those who had been there before and for the rest, Jack set out 11 signs to point the way!

The weather on Mount Olympus was almost perfect: a very light breeze, temperature about 76°F and sunny. At the announcement of “Attention to Grace!” we gathered on the lower patio for grace by Bishop Boyce, then we went up to the BBQ to the Chow Line. Dru, Perla, Emilia and Irene put together a wonderful Chuck Wagon Feast while we were at church. The Chuck Wagon fare was a bit simpler than last year’s Californian BBQ, we had:

30 hour slow cooked beef;
Sponge buns;
Chuck Wagon Beans;
Home made potato salad (Thanks to Holly BSD (Best Seen to Date));
Fresh Veggi Platter (Thanks to Fran)
Home made cole slaw;
Green Beans and Bacon (Thanks to Alice)
Cabbage dish that got completely eaten before the Beadle got in line (Thanks to Alice)
Fresh Fruit Mix (Thanks to Traci)
God Bless America Cake

We ate off stainless steel mess trays. There were two tubs full of drinks, a beer tapper full of Newcastle Brown Ale and a bar inside. The food was excellent and the company even better. The Under Beadle had prepared for 40 people, 25 showed. We only got through 70 percent of the beef and two thirds of the cake. On the other hand, the temperature was perfect for beer consumption, we managed to knock down two kegs of Newcastle Brown (small).

After the meal, our hardcore guitarists broke out their axes and shredded! Father Ironhand, Nick and Jack were blues jamming!

The only fly in the ointment was a bee, actually about a thousand meat bees:

The weather was perfect outdoor dining weather, the food was outstanding and the company even better. If you made the event, you will not miss the next one. If you failed to make the event, ask someone who was there if it was worth the drive.

And now the very special thanks. This may be titled the Beadle’s Party, but it was the Under Beadle’s party, the Under Beadle and her staff. The food, the drinks, the ambience were beyond compare. There may be a better place to be, but your Beadle has never been there. Many thanks, without these lovely ladies - Dru, Irene, Perlan and Emilia, it would not have been.
And, after the party was over, everyone wants to go home. But, special thanks to:
Bishop and Cathie Boyce
Father and Alice Acker
Don and Sandy Patton
Scott Berry
Greg Chase
They stayed and put away 52 chairs and seven tables, not to mention the many other things. Doesn’t seem like much, unless you are the one doing it!

Free Teen Guitar Class (FTGC – www.freeteenguitarclass.com)
The FTGC is now meeting Wednesdays at SCAIR Center in Alpine, (2218 Alpine Boulevard - across from Alpine Inn), the facility courtesy of Wanda Michaelis and Lona Walsh.

The previous Class Schedule remains in effect:

FTGC New Class Schedule:

Advanced 5:25-6:00pm

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

20 September 2009 Sandy Patton
27 September 2009 Don Patton

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

Next Sunday is the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. Nothing much during the upcoming week. Sunday will be fun, though. Worth the wait.

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

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