Sunday, October 25, 2009

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity


Today was the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. Sunrise temperature on Mount Olympus was 49°F under bright blue and clear skies. There was a marine layer about to Lake Jennings Road. By the time the service ended at 0930, skies were beautifully blue and the mercury had inched up to a lovely 74°F. With the usual number of people on travel and sick, we ended up with 22 people at the service.


Gathering Songs

Father Ironhand, Alex Springer, Nick Patton and Jack Arnold played today’s gathering songs:


God of Nations

Just a closer walk

In the secret

Jesus loves me

God is my salvation


Gathering songs are a great way not only to allow people to come in a bit late and not to worry, but also to allow us to mix contemporary music and conventional church music in the same service without interfering with each other. Plus, most importantly, our guitarists love to play. Plus, like today, somehow they often draw in people. We started with 11 people and by the time the songs were over we had 22!


Pre-Service Class

The 10 minute pre-service class is back. Each Sunday, Father Acker talks for about 10 minutes in a teaching session on some aspect of Christianity and the Church. Last year, it was the Bible in 10 minutes a week. After finishing the Bible, without the Apocrypha I might add, we have moved on to other interesting topics.


Today Father Acker continued last week’s discussion of the basics of Christian faith and what we believe, the basic beliefs of all Christians are laid out in the Apostles and Nicene Creeds. Our Articles of Religion, Article Eight says:


VIII. Of the Creeds.

The Nicene Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles’ Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture.


The acceptance of the two creeds grew out of a controversy as to the nature of God and the relationship between God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.


To understand Christianity, you must have an understanding of its historical evolution. For the most part, early Christians were:


Jews, not a separate entity

Their culture was the Hebrew of Scripture

Their language was Aramaic

Their learned people thought and wrote in Greek

They and the world were subject to the increasing influence of Greek Philosophy

Much of what was said may have been lost in the translation so to speak.


The creeds were written in response to various heresies or untruths. They were not written to define the nature of God, but rather to explain what the Bible says the nature of God is as we understand it. They were the product of all the early church fathers and the explanation they wrote has withstood the test of time.


The creeds lay out the truth of the Trinity and place Jesus in the proper place in the revelation of God.


Early heresies were manifold, some were put forth with genuine misunderstanding, others for personal gain. They:

Denied God entered into human history

They termed Jesus the “good man”, the prophet, the teacher

They said God wouldn’t lower himself to enter human condition

Some felt a divine Jesus would endanger the Unity of God


In denying the human experience of God, a action which gives Him an incredible advantage over the Devil who would not or could not do that, they:


Denied Jesus’ humanity

They maintained he was human in appearance only

They took a binary position:

o God is Good; Matter is Evil

o Christ is God, but not human

Humanity needs freedom from Matter


God is Good, Matter is Bad, therefore God did not create the earth, the Devil did. The fact is matter is neither good nor evil. What it does is good or evil. The concept was put forth again by Jesus when He said, “It is not what goes into a man’s mouth that is clean or unclean, it is what comes out of his mouth.”


If Jesus is not God, then:


God doesn’t know how we feel

God doesn’t really know human suffering

God doesn’t really love us to be born or die for us


This “if Jesus is not God” results in what CS Lewis terms the poached egg syndrome in

Mere Christianity:


I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.


Lewis uses the argument again in a 1950 essay entitled What are we to make of Jesus Christ? Indeed the whole of this essay could be seen as an expansion of the Mere Christianity passage. He begins by saying that the problem with dealing with the person of Jesus is to reconcile two facets of his character—on the one hand 'the almost generally admitted depth and sanity of his moral teaching' and on the other 'the quite appalling nature of the Man's theological remarks.' These are, he says 'claims which, if not true are those of a megalomaniac compared with which Hitler was the most sane and humble of men.' Lewis goes on to re-state the 'trilemma' in these terms:


There is no halfway house and there is no parallel in other religions. If you had gone to Buddha and said 'Are you the son of Bramah?' he would have said 'My son, you are still in the veil of illusion'. If you had gone to Socrates and asked, 'Are you Zeus' he would have laughed at you. If you had gone to Mohammed and asked 'Are you Allah?' he would first have rent his clothes and then cut your head off. If you had asked Confucius 'Are you heaven?' I think he would probably have replied, 'Remarks which are not in accordance with nature are in bad taste.' The idea of a great moral teacher saying what Christ said is out of the question. In my opinion, the only person who can say that sort of thing is either God or a complete lunatic suffering from that form of delusion which undermines the whole mind of man. If you think you are a poached egg, when you are not looking for a piece of toast to suit you, you may be sane, but if you think you are God, there is no chance for you. We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher. He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him. He produced mainly three effects — Hatred — Terror — Adoration. There was no trace of people expressing mild approval.


Don’t be a poached egg!


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 propers are the same each year, except if a Red Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead. Red Letter Feast, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Mostly dedicated to early saints who were instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. In any event, today, 18 October, is the Feast of Saint Luke. The propers for the Feast of Saint Luke are found on Page 253 of the Book of Common Prayer.


The Collect for the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity follows:


Twentieth Sunday after Trinity


The Collect.


O ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


As he did last year, Greg Chase read the Epistle for today, which came from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians beginning at the Fifteenth Verse of the Fifth Chapter. “… the days are evil. … understand… what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; …” God wants us to be happy, to be good and to enjoy life. The key to happiness is to do what God asks of you. No more (you can’t), no less. Though you fall short, keep trying, that is all God asks. If you find this no other place, listen to the words of St. Paul.


SEE then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.


The Gospel was written in the Twenty-Second Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew beginning at the First Verse. Talking to the priests and scribes, Jesus told one of the wedding parables, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then” he sent “his servants … into the highways” to “gather… together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.


JESUS said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.


Sermon – recoVery

Father Acker is on the road to recoVery. To put your life in God’s hands means to Voluntarily submit to God and the changes He wants to make in your life. You need to let Go and let God work in your life. You need to Get to God. In the words of Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans, from the Twelfth Chapter:


I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.


We are to be a daily “Sin Offering” to God, imperfect beings we are. We ask God for forgiveness, which He freely gives us through Jesus, then we go off and sin the more. Not big sins, perhaps, but small familiar sins. The sin which clings so closely. What to do? Offer yourself as an offering to God, to do with what He will. His will, not your will. Not in your mind only, but rather in Heart, Soul, Mind and Body. Walk the walk, not just talk the talk.


Articles of Religion, Article Twelve:


XII. Of Good Works.

Albeit that Good Works, which are the fruits of Faith, and follow after Justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God’s judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively Faith; insomuch that by them a lively Faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit.


Every day, aspire to be perfect, with God’s help, realize any day that ends with you being better than yesterday is a great day. Reality is:


One Defect At A Time

One Day At A Time


Focus on God’s Power

Focus on God’s Promise

Choose to Do Good

Choose Good People

Progress, Not Perfection


Remember, church is a hospital for sinners, not a sanctuary for saints. We are all imperfect. We strive for perfection knowing we are imperfect. Yet, if you aim low, you will never hit your target.


New Nametags

We had no new nametags today.


Birthdays and Anniversaries

We had no anniversaries today. On the other hand, we got to celebrate Jack Arnold’s 17th birthday with him today.


After Church Hospitality

The Arnolds brought snacks today. In true Hobbit fashion, Jack baked his own birthday cake, two actually. The cakes were multi-colored and excellent. There were also freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and devil’s eyeball eggs, plus mixed nuts. Excellent!


Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley was in Las Vegas visiting his mother, Barrista Ben had coffee duty, the coffee was great, as expected. Father Acker got up early and made fresh and excellent low carb lemonade, great and almost gone.


After church goodies providers as currently signed up:


Date Name

1 November 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.


Birthdays

Jack Arnold celebrated his 17th birthday this week


Travel

Tim is on travel this week.

Keith is on travel this week.

Chris, Stephanie, Andrew and Alex are on travel this week.


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 Hal from this world to that of our Lord. His two sons Tom and Paul are taking their father’s impending departure very hard. Please pray for Tom, Paul and Hal’s family and friends who remain behind.

Ruth is in home hospice care.


Repose of the Soul

Hector Ortega, passed away on 12 October 2009 in Panama after a brief illness. Please give thanks for the good he did in this world and pray for his wife, family and friends who remain behind.

Clarence

Don passed away peacefully in his sleep the night of 3 October 2009. Please pray for his family Stephanie, Ollie, & Ethan who remain behind.


Healing


Marge, Karl, Christian, Lois, Jennette (Alzheimer’s), Ruth, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Nancy, Bill (infection), Ernie, Ray, Hazel, Bruce (heart attack), Susanne, Ralph+ (prostate cancer), Allison (kidney), Bill (ETOH poisoning and gout), Kai, Jay, Tim, Diane, Amy (Thyroid cancer), Evelyn, Debbie, Lona (shoulders), Wanda, Paul (stroke), Doris, Scott (back/leg numb), Charles, Peter H (prostate), Marie (sprained ankle), 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, Ben, Michael (heart valve replacement), Walter (skin cancer), Gabriella (surgery), Curtis, Doyle, Martha, Muriel, Richard, Ralph+, Jeffrey, Rod, Gary, Mark, Jeffery, Amy (staph infection), Jennifer, Curtis, Steve (cancer), Paula, Ashton, Marjorie, Mike G, Dave (knee surgery), Karl (shoulder surgery), Jeffrey (testing), Gary (sepsis; diabetic), Jim (stomach cancer), Eunice, Jeanette (Alzheimer’s), Kathleen (breast cancer), Mrs. Alvord, Angie, Madge, Betty, Jeannie (testing for breast cancer), Ed Salvador (cancer), Betty, Karl (shoulder surg), Dick (knee surg), Phil (broken rib), Dave (tumor), Jacque, Jim, Jeannie (cancer tests), Sarah, Stephen, Curtis; Angie, Madge, Veronica, Carmen, Martha S (foot surgery), Alice, Dave (surgery recovery), John (prostate cancer), Ed S (liver failure), Isabella and Lilly (both with H1N1 influenza)


Tom and Ginger Strouse have been down with an Upper Respiratory Infection, which they are having a problem shaking. Please pray for their complete recovery.


Joan Jeffery has just been diagnosed with cancerous lymphoma and a shadow has been found on her lung. She is waiting for a decision from medical personnel on how to treat the problems. So far it looks like surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. She has been told the prognosis is good. Nonetheless, please pray for peace of mind for Joan and her husband Peter as she goes through this difficult time. Pray also for guidance for the medical personnel treating her.


Jordan, age 9, was in a car accident last week and is in Children’s Hospital. It appears she is paralyzed from the waist down. Please pray for a miraculous recovery for her and if that not be God’s will, that she will make the best of the situation and do God’s work in this world. Pray also for her and her family to draw closer to the Lord in this trying time and draw strength from Him.


Danielle’s neck surgery to remove lymph nodes and damaged tissue was successful., but the cancer type is more resistant than thought earlier; radiation and chemotherapy will start following placement of a gastric feeding tube. Please pray a good outcome and peace of mind for Danielle and her family. Pray also for Isabella and Lilly her two daughters whose recovery from H1N1 influenza has delayed her further treatment.


Jimmy had a stroke along with triple bypass heart surgery. Miney Farrell asks you pray for his recovery and positive frame of mind during his recovery.


Annie S is on dialysis, but has just been added to the kidney transplant wait list. Please pray for healing of her diabetic condition causing complications.


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.


Mark Wilson is recovering from skin cancer surgery and has been diagnosed with a heart condition. Please pray for his peace of mind and well as resolution of the problem.


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 thinks she has about 70 percent recovered and thanks all who are praying for her and those treating 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 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 significant neck/head pain. Pray for her doctors as they diagnose the problem which they think is spine related or low blood flow due to a heart valve problem. Greg Chase and Fr. Acker visited her this week.


Miney Farrell is happy to be over her pneumonia and celebrated her 94th birthday for the full octave having taken a number of excursions with her family. She also shares the birthday prayer with any of the folk at her home care or when she sends cards.


Lorraine Winkles is doing well all things considered, with some days better than other days. She 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, Rick, Susan, Curtis, Donny, Chris, Andrew, Keith (job decision), Sara (God's grace and His patience), Mark, Alexandra, Perlita, Lewis, 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,, Sheryl, Edward, Jeannie, Rachel, Mikaela, Emma, Patrick, Mary (adoption); Ashley (job); Curt; Angelina & Ron C; Steven (strength); Vanessa H (trust), Jackie (God's grace), Sandy, Lorraine, Brad, Brian, Jennifer, Greg, Margie, Phyllis, Sam, Suzie, Debbie & Cindy (Arla’s daughter), Tara (divorce), Virginia, Darin & Brian (mom’s health issues), Russell (job), Kris (job), Boo (husband RIP 8/4), Jeannie, Curt, Emilie


Megan is struggling with suicidal thoughts. Please pray for her to open her heart to God and accept His Love, Help, Guidance and Grace. Please pray for her parents to open their hearts to both God and Megan that they might see the world as she sees it and help her see the world as God would have her see it.


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.


Jacquie to open her heart to God and accept His Love and 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 traveling to Chile to learn more about 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

Russell, Kris, Keith and Kevin 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), Bob (USCG), Josh (USCG)


Thanksgiving


Madeleine and Caroline B are adjusting to their new family situation; thanksgiving is in order.


Madelynn Calvert born Sunday 7 June 2009 to Sarah at 24 weeks and one pound seven ounces. Maddie survived several surgeries and continued to grow and gain strength. On 12 October 2009, she was released from the hospital weighing more than 5 pounds and went home to sleep in her very own crib. Please give thanks for all the good to date and continue to pray for her continued growth and improvement.


Leslie [granddaughter of Father Holland a diocesan priest] gives thanks for a good recovery from stroke symptoms.


Eric and Eric both give thanks for finding a job.


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.


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


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.


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 5:30-6:15 pm


Intermediate 5:00 pm (Beginners shift to Intermediate having learned all 6 strings and get to move on to chords)


Beginning 4:00 pm (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!


Jam Session Free Teen Guitar Class (FTGC – www.freeteenguitarclass.com)

Friday the FTGC met in the Starbucks / Albertsons parking lot at 1830 for a two hour blues jam session. Father Ironhand, Alex Springer and Jack Arnold were joined by George, the android drummer! While not as personable as Father Ironhand’s friend George Dreyer the bass player from Carvin Guitar, George the Android was there and drummin’! Like the bass, the drum resulted in more visitors than all of our previous jams and demos combined!


If you have never come to one of the Jam Sessions, give it a shot. They are really fun, really cheap (free) and great music: Christian classics, blues improvs and a little Rock. Given the time of year, just before Halloween, the Adams Family Blues and the Blue Monster Mash made sense! The guys had a great time and so did the audience. Next time they play, don’t miss it!


Epistle Readers

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


Date Reader


1 November 2009 Holly Lizak

8 November 2009 Jack Arnold

15 November 2009 Mike Springer

22 November 2009 Alice Acker

29 November 2009 Greg Chase

The near future, as well as Next Sunday


Next Sunday is the Twenty-First 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