Today was the Second Sunday in Advent. After a cool Saturday, we had a damp, but not rainy, Sunday. Sunrise temperature was a coolish 37°F on Mount Olympus with very clear skies. The start of church found the mercury up to 45°F, under a medium overcast sky of grey. Because of the weather or in spite of it, we had 21 people for the service, including two guests.
Guests
Our exceedingly lovely and talented organist Marianne Lane and her mom Betsy came back from travel and brought their cousin Paula Mathers from Pennsylvania. Marianne was not playing today, Free Teen Guitar Sunday, don’t you know, but she is still lovely and talented even on Sundays when she does not play. We also had another guest, Father Wayne McNamara, pastor of the Church of Christ the King, a Reformed Episcopal Church parish in Dayton, Ohio. Wayne was a great help and we enjoyed his company.
One of the real benefits of the Anglican Church is that you can travel not only around our country, but around the world, and find the same Sunday Holy Communion service no matter where you go. We all use the same Book of Common Prayer, sometimes with local additions, sometime like a good scotch, straight up! But, always a service that you know will be true to scripture and free of heresy.
One of the high points of Greg and Jack’s trip to Wisconsin this summer was the two Anglican Churches they attended while on travel. Now they have the name of a great church in Ohio and they know the minister!
Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday
The first Sunday of each month all of our music is provided by Father Ironhand’s Free Teen Guitar Class. As is often the case nearing the holidays, none of the secular teens made the service, and even Nick Patton was on travel, so Ironhand and his dedicated core musicians Alex Springer and Jack Arnold not only provided music for the welcome or gathering songs, but the entire service.
Today they played:
• In the Secret
• Joyful, joyful
• God is my salvation
• How great is our God
• Hymn 5 – Lo, He Comes
• Various Actions in the Power of God
• Hymn 1 – Come, thou long expected Jesus
• Give Thanks
• Hymn 139 - Doxology
A little tidbit, factoid or perhaps just useless bit of information: the Doxology, which used to be Hymn 100, before it was renumbered 139, served as the entire Sunday worship service on British Naval warships without embarked chaplains. Each Sunday, if there were no chaplain onboard, the Captain would lead the entire ship’s compliment in the Doxology, then they were on Sunday duty. Even more time efficient than our service!
Father Acker’s Silver Jubilee – Plus Two – 27th Anniversary of Ordination
Today is the Twenty-Seventh Anniversary of Father Acker’s ordination. We are very lucky to have Father Acker with us. While many are aware of his high level of academic and technical qualification for the job, the far more important thing is that he is an exceedingly good man and dedicated to our Lord. The fact that he is well trained and industrious makes him all the more helpful to God’s cause.
Father Acker is pretty low key and not particularly self-serving. He was going to let the occasion slide, but your Beadle cornered him and prayed the clergy prayer found on Page 32 of the Book of Common Prayer with the congregation:
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift; Send down upon our Bishops, and other Clergy, in particular Keith, and upon the Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
We are very fortunate to have Father Acker as our Rector. He likewise is fortunate to have a congregation who appreciates his dedication and talent. The very definition of a Win-Win situation.
Pearl Harbor Day
Today was also another day important to us as Americans. Sixty-eight years ago, tomorrow, “7 December 1941 – a date which will live in infamy - - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. Two thousand three hundred fifty Americans gave their lives defending our country, giving their blood that we might live in freedom.
At least two of our parishioners had relatives at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day. Suzanne Barrett’s grandfather (her mom’s father) father was on a destroyer just outside the harbor on that fateful morning. The crew of the USS Ward spotted, fired at, and sunk a Japanese submarine just outside Pearl Harbor.
The Arnolds’ Uncle Jack, Admiral Jackson D. Arnold , was the Engineering Test Pilot at NAS Ford Island, Pearl Harbor and shot down a Japanese torpedo plane.
Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class – Sanctus Bells
This morning’s class, in anticipation of perhaps some FTGC families attendance, was on the Sanctus Bells.
Churches have used bells since “God knows when…” Why? Well, in the “old days” there were a number of reasons. The churches rang bells in various sequences to call people to worship, to let them know the time of day, to warn of danger and noise about news. It was not all religious, for instance, they “rang in the New Year.”
In the time of the Roman Church, the services were in Latin, the people often did not speak or read Latin, thus the bells gave a clue to the people as to what was going on. Plus people did not always make it to church, when the bells rang they knew what was happening.
The small bells we use today in our church are referred to as Sanctus Bells. Sanctus being the Latin for Holy, the bells first being rung during the service during the “Sanctus” on Page 77 of the Book of Common Prayer:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of hosts, Heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High. Amen.
One ring for each HOLY. Three rings total.
Then, we come to the Consecration Prayer on Page 80:
[Jesus] did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again:
One ring at the COLON. The punctus bell.
Then, at the end of the Consecration Prayer on Page 80, the minister first takes the Bread, holds it, kneels (one bell ring), raises it up (one bell ring) then kneels again (one bell ring). Then he takes the Cup holds it, kneels (one bell ring), raises it up (one bell ring) then kneels again (one bell ring).
Then, just before Communion the minister holds the Cup and Bread up to the congregation, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who taketh away the sin of the World.” Or, similar words to that effect. Then, a final ring.
It is Father Acker’s belief the bells are sacramental, broken into sacra mental. That is to say an aid to help you “see” or in this case, hear, God. An aid to worship, not an item to worship. If they help you, that is what they are for. If they do not seem to help you, then feel free to not hear them. They are convenient for letting you know where the service is if your mind is a bit drifty!
In the meantime, if you are a mathematician , there are a total of eleven bell rings. Eleven Rings to rule them all. Maybe a title for a movie?
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. Most of the Red Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saints instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent. For Advent, we have the Sunday Collect AND the First Sunday in Advent Collect, which will be read after the Sunday Collect. The Propers are found on Page 92-93, with the Collect first:
The Second Sunday in Advent
The Collect.
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.
The Collect for the First Sunday in Advent is on Page 90:
The First Sunday in Advent
The Collect.
ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be repeated every day, after the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas Day.
Tim Macauley read the Epistle for today, which came from Paul’s letter to the Romans, starting at the Fourth Verse of the Fifteenth Chapter.
Paul tells us the scriptures up to that time were written that we might have hope. He now reminds us to treat each other the way Jesus treated those about him, to open our hearts to each other as Jesus opened His. The promise of Jesus was not to Jews only, but to all people (Gentiles). Paul tells us Jesus Christ was a minister of … the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.”
He reminds us of the writing of Esaias, “There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.” Paul leaves with the blessing, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
WHATSOEVER things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
The Gospel for today came from the Gospel according to Saint Luke, the Twenty-First Chapter, beginning at the Twenty-Fifth Verse. In preparation for our recollection of the First Coming, the Nativity, we read St. Luke’s description of the Second Coming, “and there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts fail-ing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”
As clear as the Second Coming will be, so was the First Coming to those who would see and hear it. Once again, we are reminded that there are none so blind as those who will not see and none so deaf as those who will not hear.
Can you see Him? Will you hear Him?
AND there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts fail-ing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Sermon – Mathematics, Statistics and Change
God put us here on earth to make a difference, to change our world, not to “preserve” it or to build our “fortune” here. Before we consider what our job here on earth really is, consider these “facts”:
• 92 percent of all Americans “believe in God;”
• One in Five say they are Atheists;
• Over 50 percent pray daily;
• Most don’t believe God is a Person, rather He is a “Force;”
• Three out of Four say they worship at least once a month.
What does this tell you?
Well, the first thing it should tell you is the people who gathered the “facts” from their sample base either are not mathematicians or statisticians. The numbers don’t add up. The people doing either the asking or the answering don’t grok the issue.
Pretty clearly the Dragnet approach (“The facts, ma’m, just the fact,” pleaded Sgt Joe Friday.) won’t hack the program. You cannot reach out and bring people in based on rational facts. Don’t get me wrong, the facts are there, real, black and white and ready for anyone to appreciate. They just are irrelevant for most of those who do not already attend a church.
So what to do?
Back to Jerry McGuire and “Show me the money!” You need to be the shining example so that people might see the Glory of God, the Good of God, the Benefit of God, the Wonder of God, through your life. You aren’t perfect, not even close. Probably not as imperfect as the Beadle, but certainly not Christ-like. But, through your life, people should be able to see how much better they can be if they will try to follow Christ.
People will try to twist the message, like this one: FOCUS on your own damn family!
Typical of the Great Deceiver, this message is twisted. The focus is on our family. Both our nuclear family and the Family of God. Without being self-centered we are focusing on our family (so it won’t be damned). As Christians, we are obligated to make available Christ’s Gospel to all persons in all lands. Make it available, not force it down their throats. Live your life in harmony with your fellow man and fellow believers in particular. Live so that others might want what you have and come to get what you have where you got it – Christ!
How? Look to Christ. See how few times the capital letter I shows up in His speech. Read the Bible, see who He put first. When the opportunity presents, let others know how your life has been changed by Christ. How the Church makes your life better. Let them know how much return you get on your “investment” of time and effort from your church, your church, the Gift of Christ.
You cannot push people to Christ any more than you can herd cats. You need to lead them. Like with everything else, you lead from the front. Thus, you need to be an example (good, not bad preferably). You need to be between them and God, a window, not a wall. Something that let’s God’s light shine through, not blocks it out. Let them see how they can benefit by becoming a real Christian. In the words of Saint Matthew:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
New Nametags
We had no new nametags today.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
We had no anniversaries or birthdays today.
After Church Hospitality
Alice Acker brought snacks today. Because it was her husband’s Silver (plus two) Jubilee, we had chocolate cake (with extra icing) that was superb and the “low carb egg thing that Alice does and I love.” Your Beadle being in Low Carb World ate only a very small bite of cake (and loved it), but pigged out on the egg thing. Many thanks, Alice!
Command Master Chief Brewer Macauley was on 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
13 December 2009 Greg and Diane Chase
20 December 2009 Fran Dexter
27 December 2009 Dru Arnold
3 January 2010 Holly Lizak
10 January 2010 Opportunity Available
17 January 2010 Opportunity Available
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
Jan is on travel this week.
Wayne is on travel this week.
Don, Sandy and Nick are on travel this week.
Aaron, Traci and Warren are on travel this week.
Paula is on travel this week.
In memory of those who have gone before us
Malcom Pappin who left us for home on 1 December 1999, beloved of our Muriel.
ALMIGHTY God, we remember this day before thee thy faithful servant Malcom, and we pray thee that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, thou wilt receive him more and more into thy joyful service; that he may win, with thee and thy servants everywhere, the eternal victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Peaceful Transition
Beatrice
Ruth is in home hospice care.
Repose of the Soul
Hal Cochran, a good friend of Al Ryan, passed away the morning of Sunday 15 November 2009, as the result of a long fought battle with cancer. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for his two sons Tom and Paul that they might be thankful for additional time with their father and adjust to their temporary separation from him.
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 surgery), Dick (knee surgery), Phil (broken rib), Dave (tumor), Jacque, Jim, Jeannie (cancer tests), Sarah, Stephen, Curtis; Angie, Madge, Veronica, Carmen, Alice, Dave (surgery recovery), Ed S (liver failure), Greg (leg surgery with complications), John (prostate cancer surgery), Martin, Pauline, Pat A (altz: things are stable); Charles A (altz: slight improvement in general awareness that he is disappointed not being allowed to drive, Lee T (stroke)
Dan Heersema will be having three or four way bypass surgery on 7 December 2009, after an unsuccessful stent implant earlier in the fall. Please pray for God to guide the surgical team working on him and a successful outcome for the surgery, grant him a full recovery that he may live a long and healthy life to God’s honor and glory. Pray for peace of mind for Dan and his family.
Jackson Babcock, father of Hope DeLong, has not been feeling well. He ended up in ICU, got better and is now home. Please give thanks for the great turn around and pray that he will continue to recover and thrive at home and live a long and fruitful life to God’s honor and glory.
Mila daughter of Kristen Cramer was born six weeks early. Please give thanks for her successful birth. Mila needs to build her strength so she can be released home. Please pray for her to gain interest in eating and gain strength.
Vicky developed a brain aneurysm, which ruptured the morning of 28 October 2009. She made it through seven hours of surgery and the drug induced coma in a Denver hospital. Her husband and sons have been by her the entire time, so she has never been alone. In the words of her family …
It is amazing the difference a day makes! Yesterday at this time, mom had just gotten out of surgery; and tonight they are preparing to move her to the long-term acute care facility tomorrow. Apparently the surgery was a total success, the staff at University Hospital says that they are seeing telltale signs that she is beginning to wake up; dad said she looked more aware than she has in weeks. We still do not know when she will be transported; and as we have discovered, plans can change, but they are saying that tomorrow is the day. They are also speculating that her stay in the acute care could be short, since she is already breathing without the ventilator, and she could move to the rehab facility far sooner than we previously believed possible.
I feel that this is an opportune time to express my gratitude to the staff at University Hospital, without whom we would be in a much more tenuous situation. They have inspired hope and facilitated an utterly implausible resurgence to this point in mom’s path to recovery. With this thanks, it is also essential to thank all of you that have been sharing your love, thoughts and prayers over the past five weeks, and longer than that- Although we are not home yet, you have been an invaluable light guiding us thus far- All of my love and gratitude to you all- Love, Ian
Please pray for her recovery and for peace of mind for her family, that they might keep their trust in the Lord.
Zeke and Dorothy are in need of healing. Dorothy is currently in skilled nursing after a serious bout of colitis, trying to gain strength to go home. Her husband Zeke has liver disease and is doing better than Dorothy, but not that well. Please pray for the medical people taking care of both of them and for them and their family placing their faith in God and seeking his guidance.
Mike Wysocki has just been diagnosed with a bad heart valve, which seems to require repair or replacement. He is scheduled for an angiogram on 6 December 2009, so a determination can be made as to the course of action. Mike, whose real name is Ronald, but who is universally known as Chief, asks that you pray for the medical team treating him that they might pay attention and do their best. He also asks that you pray for guidance and peace of mind, both for him and his wife Wendy.
Cerrus, daughter in law of Hy, has had a relapse of her cancer. Please pray for a successful treatment and remission.
David is suffering from shingles and asks that we pray for a remission of the symptoms and a return to normalcy.
Faith, daughter of Craig, Associate Pastor at Bethel Christian, had major, serious and complicated heart surgery on 24 November 2009. Please give thanks for a successful result. Pray also for peace of mind and concentration on faith in God for Faith and her family during her recovery.
Obra has been hospitalized for reasons not yet clear. Please pray for guidance of the medical team who evaluates and treats him and God's comfort and strength for Obra and his family during this stressful time soon after 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; that he will let his heart be open to God’s grace.
Bishop Richard Boyce has bronchial pneumonia. He is down right now, taking antibiotics and likely feel pretty poorly, though he never complains. Seems like he is getting a bit better, though. Please pray for his rapid and complete recovery.
Danielle’s neck surgery to remove her lymph nodes and damaged tissue was successful. She has completed most of the radiation and chemotherapy, with three more days to go. It is very tough, but she is making it. Her mom Jan is with her. Things seem better with Jan there. Please pray a good outcome and peace of mind for Danielle and her family.
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 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 and is up and walking. 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 has regained an increased awareness of those around him and his surroundings. This is a very good thing and a large step back to earth. 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.
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 thanks all who are praying 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 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.
Mary Parker Is doing extremely well. She needs to be on oxygen with the altitude and she gets about nicely with the walker. Her goddaughter, Mary, has been doing an 6 week med-school visiting intern stay at UCSD Med. It was a joyful addition to the large family gathering for Thanksgiving. Son, Alan, is likely to be moving to Tennessee with a company required relocation--not great with his sons Alan & Kenny in college and finishing high school here in San Diego area.
Evelyn Hunt was in the hospital recently and just got out. She is undergoing testing and not feeling well. She is doing much better, her medications seem to be more properly adjusted. She gives thanks for the card and your prayers.
Miney Farrell was in Yuma for Thanksgiving with her daughter. She had a nice visit, but being at home does have advantages--like her Friday visit to the beauty shop.
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. Her thumbs are not particularly useful any more. Mrs. Kay asks 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. 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 struggling a bit with Graft Vs Host Disease (GVHD), which is causing stiffness in her joints and itchy rashes on her face and body. She is doing well post transplant; all tests show she continues cancer-free.
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, Alex, Emilie, Stephen
Hope asks you pray for God’s help in forcing the dissolution an aircraft partnership with two other people. For two and a half years she has been trying to come to an equitable agreement and cannot. She asks that she be open to God’s guidance in bringing this partnership to an end to the mutual benefit of all the partners.
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.
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 for 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.
Toni is applying for a promotion and asks God’s guidance.
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
Jack has been laid off from his job as a construction manager in East San Diego County; due to the economy jobs in the field are hard to find. Please pray that Jack will find a job, not necessarily in the construction, that will allow him to use his considerable skills and talents to make his new employer more successful; guide him and his family is this difficult time.
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 (RAF Mildenhall, UK), Eric (USN-Afghanistan through May 2010), Bob (USCG), Josh (USCG)
Thanksgiving
Martha S is recovering from foot surgery. Her foot has healed nicely. Her six weeks of recovery are up this week. She is just waiting for an appointment to have the pins removed. She gave Father Acker care and instructions on the Christmas poinsettia operation.
Joan Jeffery was diagnosed with cancerous lymphoma in her throat area. After her first two radiation sessions, the tumor shrank significantly and she can breathe readily again. Please join her in giving thanks for the great result and pray for continued success with the 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.
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. Please ask God to guide the class to new opportunities to make Him known to others. 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.
Advent Calendars
As we have since the parish’s beginning, we have Advent Calendars. For those of you who are not familiar with them, the calendars count down the days of Advent to Christmas. There are twenty-four numbered doors to open as you count down the days until Christmas. Behind each of the doors numbered one through twenty-four is a piece of chocolate.
The calendars come from Germany, where Advent starts the first of December every year, Teutonic sense of orderliness taking precedence over mere liturgical considerations. Normally this works out pretty well, with days left over, but an early Advent Sunday means a couple of days without chocolate (unless of course you saved some Halloween candy). If you did not already get yours, there are still about 10 in the Church Trailer. Now, you will have extras to pig out on Christmas Eve!`
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!
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
13 December 2009 Tim Macauley
20 December 2009 Greg Chase
24 December 2009 Emilie Springer (Christmas Eve)
27 December 2009 Hap Arnold (Happy Birthday)
3 January 2010 Holly Lizak
10 January 2010 Dru Arnold
17 January 2010 Alice Acker
24 January 2010 Greg Chase
31 January 2010 Jack Arnold
Finances and the dreaded Pledge Card
We are nearing the end of this year, thus we must begin to plan for next year. Although we are cautioned to “Trust in God and dread naught,” we are also told to plan and provide for the future and to spread the Word of God. Our pledges for the year expire at the end of this month. Sometime during this month, you will get a note from Father Acker or some potentate with a Pledge Card.
Next Sunday is the start of our Pledge Card Intake. That is fancy term that means we ask members of our parish to make a financial commitment to support the parish. As you know, we are a very small parish. We have no physical plant to support. Our annual budget is just about $40,000.00. All of our extras, like the Free Teen Guitar Class, the T-shirts, the signs, parades, parties and this report are off-budget items funded by individual directed donations. The annual budget is pretty sparse. But, with this little amount of money we have a major impact on our congregation, the Anglican community and the world in general. If we had more, we would no doubt figure out ways to spend it spreading the Word, but money gathering is not the parish mission.
We believe what we said in our Mission Statement:
We will grow closer to God and spread the good news of His Son Jesus Christ, our Savior, locally and throughout the world by prayer, word and deed, in the Anglican tradition.
Keeping the church in operation does cost money. We need each of our parishioners to make a commitment to the church for the upcoming year so that we can plan what we commit to do. This is not like the TV evangelist who wants your money to buy his jet. We don’t need a lot and we know the difference between want and need. We meet in a school. We use coupons for everything. We never pay retail, but we don’t beg and we don’t steal. We do not want our members to commit money they do not have to spare. That is not the point. The point is for each of us to make our commitment in support of the mission of the parish to the extent we can. No more. If you can afford a million, fine; if you can afford a dollar, wonderful.
Father Acker will send something like this form in an email to our membership, I pass it along to those of you who may miss it:
My Giving for God’s work in 2010
Church of the Blessed Trinity
With God being my helper, I commit to give to God’s Mission:
Following Anglican tradition, we will grow closer to God and spread the good news of His Son Jesus Christ, our Savior, locally and throughout the world by prayer, word and deed.
With prayer and thanksgiving, I give my support:
$____ per ____________ (week, month, year)
Signature: _____________________________
Name: _____________________________ Envelopes: __ Yes
You can send the form back by mail, e-mail your commitment to Father Acker [FrKeithA@AlpineAnglican.com], fax it or put it in the plate on Sunday.
The near future, as well as Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Third Sunday in Advent. It is also the second Sunday of the month, thus the Vestry Meeting. It is also the last meeting of the year, thus the meeting we start the discussion of next year’s budget.
The Macauleys are hosting their annual Christmas get together at 1830 (6:30 pm) on Friday 18 December 2009.
As you can tell from Advent, Christmas is on the way. Sunday 20 December 2009, after church and after the Burrito Ministry, we will be caroling at three or four of our parishioners’ homes, those who cannot really get out. Like almost all we do, it will be a great time.
The Christmas Dinner will be held at the Community Center at 1200. Keep an eye here for more details.
Not much going on this week, Sunday will still be worth the wait.
See you next week on Sunday!
All back issues of the Beadle’s Reports are available on request from: thebeadle@mac.com
Church is serious business!
If you don’t believe it, come and find out!
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