In addition to being Quinquagesima, it is coincidentally Valentines Day, short for Saint Valentine’s Day, the day of love. Mostly thought of as amorous love, it is interesting the Collect for the Day and the Epistle focus on love.
Pre-Service Music
We are getting a lot closer to fully operational with the new wireless system, although you might not have known it from today’s performance. Anyway, we think we are there. Today, the pre-service gathering songs were played by Nick Patton, Jack Arnold and Father Ironhand:
• Just a closer walk with thee
• Amazing Grace
• Doxology
• Here I am to worship
If you have not actually attended one of our services, you may not really appreciate the musical selection. The gathering or welcome songs, are a bit more modern and trendy, the remainder of the songs are from the Hymnal and more traditional and accompanied by the talented Marianne on the organ. All of them are singable and their theological message is quite clear. They are more than just, “He loves me, yah, yah, yah.” While a good message, there can be more and you will find it here. Come some time and see what they are about. We are confident you will really enjoy the music.
Father Acker’s Pre-Service Class – God gives new life
The current series theme is God gives us new life. You have to understand that God wants you to be happy. He is more concerned with your happiness than your having fun. To benefit from the Grace God freely gives you have to turn to Him. The abundant New Life He wants to give you is yours for the accepting. But, you do have to accept what He gives.
Somehow your Beadle missed the segue to the Daily Office, but I’ll try to fill that in. If you want what God is giving, you have to focus your life on His goals. As Anglicans we have something other Christians do not have: The Book of Common Prayer. That red book you use on Sundays is not just for Holy Communion, there are several forms of prayer services to be used daily, morning and evening. They are referred to as The Daily Offices. Father Acker is going to teach a class Saturday 27 February 2010 at 0900 on how to pray the Daily Office.
There are varying forms of the Daily Office, from the full up Morning or Evening Prayer which takes about 18 minutes to read aloud to the very shortest form, simply saying the Lord’s Prayer. The fuller versions of the Daily Office consist of:
• Psalms
• Bible Reading (Old and New Testament)
• Prayer
o The Lord’s Prayer
o Various Collects
o Various Prayers
Prayer is a very important activity. If you will come together in the morning with your family, if you live alone, pray aloud, and pray together; then, in the evening do likewise; you will find your life will change. Think of this, in the morning, start your day by focusing, in the evening finish with reflection and thanksgiving. We all could spend the 18 minutes needed for the full Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer, after all, that is only 36 minutes a day. Will we? Likely not. But, the Morning or Evening Prayer, a Shorter Form, found in the back of the Prayer Book, and available from the Beadle as a pamphlet, takes only 3 minutes. Still too long? The Lord’s Prayer takes less than a minute.
For now, it is not critical how much of the Daily Office you use, from just The Lord’s Prayer to the whole nine yards. It is critical you do pray. Remember the words of someone whose name I do not remember, "I like your way of doing it better than my way of not doing it."
Morning and Evening Prayer are essential to your well being. If you try them, you will be amazed at the result. Just like church, they won’t make you better than the next person, but they will make you better than you were. That is all you can ask.
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 in our church 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. The Propers for today are found on Page 122-124, with the Collect first:
The Sunday called Quinquagesima, or the
second Sunday before Lent.
The Collect.
O LORD who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoso-ever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Sandy Patton read the Epistle for today, which came from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, starting at the First Verse of the Thirteenth Chapter. Paul talks of charity , “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” Paul goes on to say that no matter what you do, if in your heart you have not that love for others, it is all to naught. Our understanding here on earth is limited, we will never here see the fullness of God’s plan, yet the part most clear is the love we must have one for another, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, for no reason other than we know that is right so to do.
THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Luke, starting at the Thirty-First Verse of the Eighteenth Chapter. The Gospel starts out telling of Jesus’ trying to prepare his disciples for what was to come, and they could not grasp it: “Then Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” The Gospel goes on to tell of Jesus’ healing of a blind man near Jericho, “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”
WHEN Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Sermon - When Two or Three are gathered in My Name…
As the time of His death neared, Jesus told the disciples of that which was to come. They did not understand, they had no idea how much God loved them. They were a classic example of 20-20 hindsight. We don’t do all that much better. But, we can. When Two or Three gather in His name.
Being a Christian takes more than saying, I believe. You have to:
• Say it;
• Believe it;
• Live it.
Christianity is not a religion for hermits; it is not a solo activity. Christianity is a religion to live in engagement with the world. It is not about you, it is about others. If you have no others with whom you can pray your daily prayers (aka Daily Offices), then pray by yourself. But, if you can pray with others, that is far better. [Beadle Comment and not in the Sermon – Far better to pray just the Lord’s Prayer with your family or a friend than to pray the whole Daily Office by yourself] When you pray, think how you can share. Perhaps take a separate time to “worship” with others. Come together, either before or after prayer talk about what you are going to do for the day, what you did during the day. Think about it yourself and share what went well, what could have gone better, what you will do next time. If you center your thoughts around God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, soon those with whom you meet will do likewise.
When we are baptized, we are filled with the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, that Third God Guy. But, if you don’t work at it, it seems like He can kind of leak out. When you pray, ask that God fill you with the Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost or however you want to refer to Him. He is not something you can have too much of.
When you meet, ask the others how you can pray for them, how you can help them. Lead from the front, ask others to pray for you, ask them to help you. Particularly ask them to pray for you to help others. When you pray, when you ask, be:
• Short
• Specific
Remember today’s Gospel. What do you want? I want to see.
Ask for what the person wants. Not just, “God please help Bob.” Help Bob with what? Get down to the details. If nothing else, it will focus your minds on what Bob actually needs. Don’t feel the need to sound like the prayer book. If you want to sound like the prayer book, read the prayers. You pray in your words. You will be astounded how effective it is.
New Nametags
We had no new nametags today.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported birthdays or anniversaries today.
After Church Hospitality
We have grown to expect color coordinated snack from Jan Macauley, but today Betsy and Marianne Lane brought snacks and raised the stakes considerably. Today, not only were the snacks color coordinated, being all pastels, but they were coordinated with the Collect for the Day and the Epistle, being centered on the word Charity.
Now, lest you think they were solely focused on this Sunday, they also consulted Matthew (9.37) for “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few…” Nonetheless, Nick, Jack and the Beadle ate as much as they could, but like those darn loaves and fishes, there kept being more and more!
Not only were the snacks plenteous, but they were great! There were two kinds of grapes, green and purple; five kinds of cookies; two kinds of chocolates, scones and sugar free muffins. The sign said, the greatest of these is Charity. Your Beadle can vouch for the Charity cookies being the best.
After church goodies providers as currently signed up:
Date Name
21 February 2010 Greg and Diane Chase
28 February 2010 Holly Lizak
7 March 2010 Jan Macauley
14 March 2010 Alice Acker
21 March 2010 Opportunity Available
28 March 2010 Greg and Diane Chase
4 April 2010 Easter
11 April 2010 Opportunity Available
18 April 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.
Birthday
Dru Arnold celebrated her 55th birthday last week.
Ryan Welter celebrated his 25th birthday three weeks ago.
Travel
Ben and Holly are on travel this week.
Walt and Fran are on travel this week.
Aaron, Traci and Warren are on travel this week.
Ryan is on travel throughout Southeast Asia until May 2010. He is thought to be in Malacca now and has promised to keep us updated.
Peter traveling in China.
In memory of those who have gone before us
Malcom Pappin, beloved of our Muriel, remembered on the anniversary of his birth, 9 February 1925.
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
Repose of the Soul
Mrs. Martin perished in the Haitian earthquake while attending a medical conference there. Her son and daughter in law Luke and Sheri Martin live in Pine Valley. You may recall Luke and Sheri have attended Blessed Trinity's Seder meals for the past few years. Please pray for the repose of her soul and her family who remain behind, in particular, Luke, Sheri and their children Maya, Frida, David and Olivia.
Peaceful Transition
Beatrice
Ruth is in home hospice care.
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; the doctors are at a loss on the decreasing cancer cell count except prayer; please add your thanksgiving to the prayers for healing.), Allison (kidney), Bill (ETOH poisoning and gout), Kai, Jay, Tim, Diane, Amy (Thyroid cancer), Evelyn, Debbie, Lona (shoulders), Paul (stroke), Doris, 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 (Healing from cancer. Betty has completed her chemotherapy after her surgery), Jeannie (testing for breast cancer), Ed, Betty, Karl (Healing of his shoulder injury, but not having surgery), Phil (Thanksgiving for his having received a pacemaker. Phil is suffering from renal failure and other complications), Dave (We had been praying for healing from a tumor. It now may require surgery), Jacque (Healing of her rare form of cancer. It is her second recurrence), Jeannie (cancer tests), Sarah, Stephen, Curtis; Angie, Madge, Veronica, Carmen, Alice, Dave (surgery recovery), Ed S (liver failure), Greg D (leg injury. Greg is making good progress still using a knee brace; Thanksgiving for the progress and requests continued healing) 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, Maurice (in ICU with a congenital disease), Susan, George (reoccurrence of cancer); Maggie (surgery the week of 28 Dec 09), Lillian, Rob, Ken, Marlene, Emma W (Brain tumor), Janet (cold)
Rede Acker, Father Acker’s mom, broke her leg the morning of 12 February 2010, just above where she had a knee replacement. She underwent surgery the morning of 14 February 2010, at Kaiser Hospital near her home in Colorado. While she would much rather have been in church, the surgery was a complete success. The break was lateral down to the artificial joint. They were concerned, but were able to repair the break with a plate and eight screws without disturbing the artificial joint. Please give thanks for the wonderful result and great work by the medical team treating her. Please pray for her rapid and complete recovery.
Wanda M has been out from work the last four weeks with bronchitis on top of her Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Please pray for her complete and rapid recovery, as well as her to keep her spirits up while she gets better.
Debbie Hunter has had a tumor in her chest for some time. Recently it has grown considerably. Apparently the tumor is in Debbie’s abdominal cavity and pressing on her lung causing shortness of breath. There are also tumor cells growing in her breast. There is good news in that it is believed this type of tumor does not tend to spread to other parts of the body. And, Debbie qualifies for a clinical study focused on this type of tumor that does not use IV, but rather oral (pills) which is a relief because it will allow her to maintain a more normal semblance of life. Debbie asks that you pray the clinical study works and that the skin on her chest remains healthy. Please pray also Debbie, her husband Todd and their children Jonathan and Carol might let God carry their worry and concern.
Vince (age 13), reoccurrence of cancer, recent testing found a nickel sized tumor in his lungs. The doctors are consulting with a specialist in Houston. Please pray for guidance for the medical team and for peace of mind for Vince and his family.
Brett (age 11) is hospitalized in Los Angeles, as the result of complications of a cochlear implant which has resulted in leaking spinal fluid. Please pray for guidance for the medical team and for peace of mind for Brett and his family.
Matt Alcantara, age 15, has Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), a very rare and lethal form of cancer with limited treatment options. He underwent surgery in Houston in June for the surgery involving removal of most of the left ilium, all of the hip socket and the ball of the top of the femur. Fortunately, despite all of the risks of complications, Matt was able to get through the surgery. After spending approximately a month in the hospital recovering, he came back home to San Diego. His recent MRI came back clean, there is still much concern. He will continue chemo for at least another 8 months (from now). His physical therapy will continue at least 2 years before he reaches his maximum medical improvement.
His family asks for your prayers for Matt and we ask you to pray also for his family in this time of great stress. Their friends set up a donation account to help defray travel and other expenses not covered by insurance. You can look at http://www.mattalcantara.com for information. If you want to follow Matt's progress, look at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mattalcantara.
Danielle’s neck surgery to remove her lymph nodes and damaged tissue was successful. A recent CT Scan, blood work and examination have given her a clean bill of health so far. She still needs to get off her feeding tube. Danielle will be following up monthly. Please pray a good outcome and peace of mind for Danielle and her family.
Dan Heersema had four way bypass surgery on 7 December 2009, which he tolerated well. Dan is home and on his way to a full recovery. Please give thanks for a great result and pray for his continued recovery and 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.
Claude Strauch has congestive heart failure and other heart related problems in Minnesota. He had a successful pacemaker implant the morning of Wednesday 10 February 2010, and is doing very well. Please give thanks for the great result and pray for Claude and his family, that they might put their care and worry on God’s back so they can do their best for each other.
Mike Wysocki had aortic heart valve replacement and arterial replacement on 30 December 2009. He is now home and recovering remarkably well. He had is first checkup on 21 January 2010, blood pressure, heart rate, EKG etc. are all good. His legs and feet are still swollen so Dr. Stewart is focusing on that for now. Mike, whose real name is Ronald, but who is universally known as Chief, asks you give thanks to God and pray for his recovery, guidance and peace of mind, both for him and his wife Wendy.
Lee Thomas had what appears to be a minor seizure two weeks ago. He was in the hospital for assessment and has not been released home. His wife Sandy is hopeful that being in familiar surroundings will be beneficial and he will regain some of the ground he has lost. Please pray for Lee, Sandy and their children to maintain their trust in God and to look towards Him for guidance. Pray also for the medical team treating Lee that God might guide and direct their assessment and treatment.
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. She regained consciousness, and is in a long term acute care hospital. Her husband and sons have been by her the entire time, so she has never been alone. Please read the latest from her husband:
Today - two weeks after the latest "procedure" to determine the cause and probable fix to Vicky's airway blockage, we have a commited game plan.
Dr. Opperman saw Vicky yesterday and has pulled together a team of surgeons who will conduct the surgery next Tuesday, February 16 at Rose Hospital in Denver. They intend to remove the damaged section of her trachea and then re-attach it to her throat. This is delicate surgery. As Opperman pointed out, any number of things can go wrong including damage to the nerves that signal her vocal chords or in interrupting the flow of blood to the area that is needed for healing. Of all people, I sure know there are no certainties, absolutes or guarantees in life. I just wish there were fewer obstacles.
In direct conflict with all these plans, Vicky has had a difficult time keeping food down. While she's being fed nightly with use of the tube in her stomach the function of getting her to swallow is part and parcel to the overall recovery process. After all, when she eventually gets to Craig Rehab they full well intend to get her to feed herself as she's been doing for a couple weeks already. If she continues to have her lunch coming back up once her airway is surgically corrected, she runs the high risk of asperating and getting pneumonia. It is not my primary objective to be a thorn in the hospital's side, but I do believe this should be addressed and resolved before next Tuesday - not afterward. I do believe they would be willing to just let nature take it's course and just deal with this if and when they must. After a month of wrestling with this problem, it's become a must.
Anyway, let's think positively. This is finally a passage away from where we've been stuck for a month. Once she's healed and ready to move on, there is a chance we can have her moved directly to Craig. No telling how long that might take, but we're closer.
The boys gave her some movies and the initial year of the TV series "LOST". When I play them for her on the lap-top she literally becomes lost in the story. It's all I can do to distract her for anything else. She brushed her own teeth last night and is pretty convincing that she knows what's being planned. I ask her about things that happened a day or two before and she does remember those events and the people involved. Fortunately, I think she's pretty much blocked out most of the past three months.
Sometimes it gets really hard for me not to go to Denver daily to see Vicky. The 140 mile round-trip really eats into my day. Still, I always see a change in her when I get there. The nurses do as well. It's got to be even harder to be so helpless and so vulnerable. I so much want to get her out of the quagmire she's in. It's got to be like jail. Well, maybe not - in jail if you can't keep your food down, they'll do something about it. Or, if they don't, you can scream for help.
Take good care and keep up the good thoughts and prayers.
Doug
Please pray for Vicky’s recovery and for peace of mind for her family, that they might keep their trust in the Lord.
Obra was released from hospital five weeks ago. From Shamim - The doctors cannot do a lot with a darling 86 year old man, who suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, prostrate cancer, heart disease, and a variety of other ailments (much like my own father). We sincerely believe Daddy is missing his dear Pauline a lot, and is very down now. Thank you for continuing to keep him in all your prayers. We know God is our only salvation.
Please pray he will keep 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.
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.
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 had a sudden loss in hearing due to a rare viral infection. This is a critical three week treatment period for her besides being on dialysis, etc. She 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.
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. She loved her carol visit and would like to make it to church, if she can make her way down the rocky road one day. 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 happy for a carol visit from her friends at church. She is getting over a cold, but doing.
Lorraine Winkles has severe arthritis pain in back, legs, and ankles. Please pray she will get relief from the pain which so limits her mobility.
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.
Caroline just celebrated her 12th birthday earlier this month. Although she remains free of leukemia after her bone marrow transplant in July 2008, the side effect of the transplant, graft vs. host disease (GVHD), is so bad that she can barely walk and at times cannot even hold a pencil because her joints are so stiff and swollen. Caroline is quite depressed; please pray for her and for an improvement in her condition.
Natalie (age 10, leukemia recurrence) has not responded to any treatment since her relapse. Please pray for God’s grace for Natalie and her family to give them peace of heart, soul and mind.
Guidance
Adam, Tom, Mary, Lloyd & Jennifer to be guided to a church
Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, 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, Jeff, Christiana (God’s grace), Tara (divorce), Patricia & her family, Errin, Elizabeth, Brandon, Steven, Nelson, Ashley, 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 (Relief from stress; Her husband has severe medical problems), Jennifer, Margie, Phyllis, Sam (guidance on direction of his business), Tara (divorce), Virginia, Darin & Brian (mom’s health issues), Jeanie (upset over her husband's cancer problems), Curt (Still providing care for his wife, Jacque, who is undergoing chemotherapy), Alex, Emilie, Stephen, Daniel S, Jan
Ali is searching for spiritual meaning; may the Holy Ghost guide those around her to help her in coming to Christ.
Nancy G. asks your prayers for her as she starts her new job.
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 A 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.
Megan C is experiencing chest pain and headaches, seemingly due to stress. The reason for them is not clear, the treatment has not been all that successful. An adverse reaction to the medication used to treat symptoms has caused significant problems. Please pray for the drugs to dissipate from her system and that Megan can renew her commitment to God and accept His Love, Help, Guidance and Grace so she can 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, after traveling to Chile to learn more about music therapy for developmentally challenged young people from a Christian perspective, is embarking on a project to actually do something about it. She asks that you pray for her that she might discern God’s will, her abilities and the need.
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
Father Keith is looking for additional employment to supplement his part-time stipend at Blessed Trinity. Keith believes his expertise lies in web site development and guitar teaching, both of which he is clearly good at. Please pray the Holy Ghost will enter into his heart and give him inspiration and guidance to lead him to a job which will use his considerable skills to support his family, bless the company he joins and further God’s Work, all together.
Obra, known to us as Commander O, has retired from the Navy after 20 years and now must find employment to support his family. Please pray for him to find a position which will use the skills he has and the training he got from the Navy to support his family and make his new employer more successful.
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.
Brad, Brian, 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.
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), Rachel Ziegler (USAF – Deployed to Southwest Asia)
Thanksgiving
Jackson Babcock, father of Hope DeLong, gives thanks for a great recovery. He is home and growing stronger and more alert everyday. He is in good spirits and even drove a short distance himself last week. He and his family are thankful for the recovery and prayers from everyone.
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.
Various Special Requests
Please pray for the earthquake victims in Haiti and ask God to guide relief efforts there. The country was in bad shape before the earthquake, now the situation is almost unbelievable. Pray for God to enter into the hearts of the people there and for the Holy Ghost to guide those attempting to provide relief for the suffering.
We ask that you pray, please ask God that the Holy Ghost might give you insight into how you might make the lives of your friends and family better. Remember helping others is not just those who you don’t know!
Please join us in praying for inspiration to grow our little church to the glory of God. Our numbers are static, we need God’s inspiration to figure out the next step. Please pray that we will open our heart to the gentle prodding of the Holy Ghost; and not do what we have always done expecting a different result.
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.
National Prayer Time - If Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. During WWII an advisor to Churchill organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace? This thought has been taken up here and now, if you would like to participate, pray every day at:
9:00 pm 8:00 pm 7:00 pm 6:00 pm
Eastern Time Central Time Mountain Time Pacific Time
Stop what you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens and for a return to a Godly nation. It won’t work unless you participate. Encourage others to join us.
What is Quinquagesima?
Quinquagesima, or, in full, Quinquagesima Sunday, is the name for the Sunday next before Ash Wednesday in the Catholic (Universal or Whole) Church Calendar.
The name Quinquagesima originates from Latin quinquagesimus (fiftieth), referring to the fifty days before Easter Sunday using inclusive counting, which counts both Sundays (normal counting would count only one of these).
Since the forty days of the Lenten fast included only weekdays, the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, succeeds Quinquagesima Sunday by only three days. The earliest Quinquagesima Sunday can occur is February 1 and the latest is March 7. The Roman Church no longer observes much of the Christian Year, including Quinquagesima and the two immediately before it — Sexagesima and Septuagesima Sundays.
The contemporary service books of many Anglican provinces do not use the term but it remains in the Book of Common Prayer.
The 17-day period beginning on Septuagesima Sunday spanning Sexuagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays was intended to be observed as a preparation for the season of Lent, which is itself a period of spiritual preparation (for Easter). In many countries, however, Septuagesima Sunday marks the start of the carnival season, culminating on Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday.
The Ashes for Ash Wednesday
You will hear more about Ash Wednesday next week. But, the tradition of ashes, though not this particular use, goes back to well before Christ. The ashes we use are made from the palms fronds and crosses of last year’s Palm Sunday. They are mixed with left over ashes from years past and thus, the ashes are a continuum to the church gone before. Today Jack Arnold and Nick Patton assisted with the burning of the palms.
Suffice it to say, neither will be an arson in the near future, but we did end up with ashes.
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.
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
21 February 2010 Ben Lizak
28 February 2010 Greg Chase
The near future, as well as Next Sunday
Wednesday
17 February 2010 - Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. Times Evening Prayer at 1815 (6:15 pm), followed by Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes at 1830 (6:30 pm); Location – Victoria House, 2828 North Victoria Drive, Alpine, CA
Friday
19 February 2010 - Lenten Book Study – Basic Christianity by John Stott – Read through Part One. Times Evening Prayer 1900 (7:00 pm) Study begins 1915 (7:15 pm) ends 2015 (8:15 pm); Location - SCAIR Learning Center, 2230 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA
Saturday
20 February 2010 – Free Teen Guitar Class and Parish Public Exposure Opportunity at Albertsons Community Fair – 1100-1330 (11:00 am – 1:30 pm) Location – Albertsons Parking Lot – Alpine, CA
Next Sunday
21 February 2010 – First Sunday in Lent – Time 0830 (8:30 am); Location – Alpine Elementary School Auditorium
Saturday
27 February 2010 – Praying the Ancient Daily Office – The history, practice and structure directed toward using this ancient tool in your spiritual like as part of a Christian walk with God. Find out that what you are looking for has already been invented and published for your use. Not just for Anglicans, everyone can use it and is welcome. Time 0900-1100 (9:00 am – 11:00 am); Location - SCAIR Learning Center, 2230 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA
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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