Fourth Sunday in Lent

The report is late because the Beadle has the Pony Flu and took a nap after church.

Today was the Fourth Sunday in Lent.  Sunrise temperature on Mount Olympus was a cool 39°F under the clear skies which follow a cold front passage.  It was about the same down the hill at church, but a bit warmer at about 43°F by the time the service ended.  Perhaps it was the picture perfect weather, perhaps it was Daylight Savings Time, perhaps it as something else, but we ended up at an all time low attendance with 10 people showing up for the service.

Pre-Service Songs

Today, as is the usual custom, Father Ironhand and Jack Arnold played the welcome songs: 

• Wondrous Cross

• Amazing grace

• 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.  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

Today Father Acker supplied his own summary of the class, so you can see just what he was trying to get across:

Today's Class on the Ten Commandments:

Once a month we rehearse the Ten Commandments. While we recognize they are not the ten suggestions, we also tend to see them  as ten prohibitions instead of God’s directions so that you might “know who you are.” They are given in a sequential order, however, I don’t recommend putting off working on “not covetting” until you’ve mastered the first nine!

1. No other gods. You need an external reference if you are to know who you are. Naval gazing ensures you won’t see yourself in the context of reality, but is self-referential. You will know more about yourself when God, who is outside yourself, put your life in perspective.

2. No idols. It is easy to make your own custom god having all the qualities you like or think god ought to have. Only trouble is this god is your creation; its just a golden calf. It could be “the Bible, the Faith, the Prayer Book, or whatever--Just know your created god isn’t really God. So you’ll never know yourself if your making up your own god.

3. Not taking God’s name in vain. If God or Jesus is a swear word or an exclamatory phrase, you really don’t take God to really be God in a meaningful, real presence. You will know yourself much better when you actually treat God as God.

4. Keep holy the Sabbath. Are you setting aside time to be in God’s presence? If you’re created in the image of God, you might want to spend sometime getting to know who God really is so you might see how He is reflected in who you are.

5. Honor your father and mother. In our earthly family we learn about being under authority, under the author of creation, our creator. We learn we don’t belong to ourselves but to the creator and author of our being.

6. Don’t murder. If you destroy life, you really won’t appreciate how much God values life. You’ll not understand the great love of God to have given his life on the Cross. God values your life--have we come to know this?

7. No adultery. If you break relationships, you won’t understand how much God values the relationship He has with you, the depth and intimacy God desires with us.

8. Don’t steal. Stealing is taking. God is giving and wants us be like Him. We work that we too might give. We learn “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Our true self is to be like God and be a giver.

9. No false witness. The nature of our “image of God” life is to be able to speak and embody the truth, not that we tell others, but that our life reflects reality. Is our life a witness to the truth?

10. Don’t covet. We will know ourselves when we want what God wants. If we want something else, it is less that what God intended for you.

Our lives are to be touched by God that we might know in reality “who we are.” So the ten commandments will continue to speak to us and our being made in God’s image. We should be encouraged in hearing again and regularly these words of encouragement in discovering our true self.

Rose Sunday

We are halfway through Lent, or close to it, 22 days down, 18 to go.  Many people do not realize that Lent has 40 days, as Sundays are not counted.  Sundays are not fast days, as we celebrate every Sunday in remembrance of the glorious resurrection of our Lord.  Situated halfway through Lent, this Sunday is often called Refreshment Sunday after the Gospel, with the loaves and fishes.  The liturgical color lightens from purple to rose as a break in our fasting.  It is also the time when English children traditionally came home from boarding schools for Easter.  It also is observed as Mother’s Day in England for that very reason and also referred to as Mothering Sunday.

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 or Lent.  

The Propers for today are found on Page 130-132, with the Collect first:

The Fourth Sunday in Lent.

The Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:

The first day of Lent, commonly called

Ash Wednesday.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.

Alice Acker read the Epistle for today, which came from the Fourth Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians beginning at the Twenty-First Verse: 

TELL me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. 

The Gospel for this morning came from the Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of St. John beginning at the First Verse. 

JESUS went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

Sermon  - Walking in love

Today Father Acker supplied his own summary of the sermon, so you can see just what he was trying to get across: 

The Sermon Synopsis

“Where are we to by bread, so that these people may eat?” This is Jesus’ question, not one of his disciples. Jesus asks the right question, that is What does God desire?

We need the right question to be asked in our life. What is it that God desires? But do we look to Jesus to ask the right question, or do we settle for our own question and our own Plan. I know it is so easy for me to get caught up in my understanding and I don’t remember to ask God.

What we saw in the Gospel reading for today (feeding the 5000) three things:

11. What does God want done? God knows what is needed and will ask the right question if we will listen to Him.

12. What does God want us to do to be part of the solution? So where do we start? Today’s reading says that they found out what the had (5 loaves and 2 fish). What is it we have to contribute? And second, what can we do in the matter at hand? You need to realize you don’t have enough and can’t do enough to fix the problem. But also recognize this is were God starts in our life and that from a few dinner rolls and two power bars God can and will feed a multitude! 

13. Are you willing to be led by the Holy Spirit? We have to place not just the problem into God’s hands, we have to place ourselves. We need to put our whole trust in God, to submit our lives and allow God to do what He knows to be best.

So as we keep this Holy Lent, we need to pray more asking that we might hear the right question; we need to fast more--to cry out to God, asking God to make up for what is lacking; we need to be giving alms--giving of ourselves and our substance putting at God’s disposal, letting God use us for His purpose and according to His will. 

As we lay our lives before the Altar this Lent, God will ask you “How are we to by bread, so that these people may eat?”

New Nametags

We had no new nametags today. 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

No anniversaries today.  We celebrated Alice Acker’s birthday with her today, while she clearly does not act it, it turns out she is now 56!

After Church Hospitality

In good Hobbit tradition, Alice Acker brought the snacks today.  She brought her usual egg casserole, which the Beadle loveth, chocolate cookies for Tim (who did not show, so we ate them for him), peppermint iced cookies, empañadas and Muriel brought Spanish peanuts, which the Beadle also loveth, but doth not covet!

After church goodies providers as currently signed up:

            Date Name

21 March 2010 Sandy Patton

28 March 2010 Greg and Diane Chase

4 April 2010 Easter

11 April 2010 Opportunity Available

18 April 2010 Jan Macauley

25 April 2010 Opportunity Available

2 May 2010 Opportunity Available

16 May 2010 Opportunity Available

23 May 2010 Jan Macauley

30 May 2010 Opportunity Available

6 June 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.

Anniversary

Jan and Tim Macauley celebrated their 44th anniversary week before last.

Dru and Hap Arnold celebrated their 23rd anniversary week before last.

Birthday

Alice Acker celebrated her 56th birthday this week.

Travel

Ryan is on travel throughout Southeast Asia until May 2010.  He is in Thailand and is keeping his parents updated.

Peter traveling in China.

Peaceful Transition

Beatrice

Ruth is in home hospice care.

Mona's grandmother 

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, 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, Walter (skin cancer), Gabriella (surgery), Curtis, Doyle, Martha, 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 (Alzheimer’s: 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), Vivian, Kelly (undergoing test unexpectedly), Maya (tonsillectomy)

Muriel Pappin’s back has really been causing her a lot of pain and limiting her mobility; it seems to be getting better.  Please pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the initial horrible pain is over and pray for her continued improvement.

Rede Acker, Father Acker’s mom, is recovering from her broken leg, just above where she had a knee replacement. She is undergoing physical therapy to help her to position herself for transfer at the edge of the bed, which isn't easy with a broken femur and only partial use of one arm.

Don Patton’s knee injury has improved some so that he is off crutches. No word on actual damage yet. 

Wanda M is still out work due to 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.  His recovery is going well, he is up to 100 pounds!  A major milestone! 

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.

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 fell and required a trip to the ER with a 5 inch gash on his head with many staples and stitchesPlease pray for Lee, his family, and the care staff.  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 has moved to a rehabilitation facility which specializes in brain injury patients and seems to be making progress.  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 has experienced some return of her hearing. She was unable to take one of the medications, so the recovery is slow. She continues receiving dialysis as she awaits a kidney transplant. 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 recovering from bronchitis. "I'm going to surprise everyone one of these Sundays," Mary said, by making it to our Sunday morning service.

Evelyn Hunt still needs prayers of guidance in adjusting her medication. She still has pain in her neck and leg. She would appreciate your prayer as she changes her part time care giver.

Miney Farrell had a couple more falls, but nothing as dramatic as a few weeks ago. Being sore and hurting has just slightly dampened her enjoying life on ninety-plus. One of the big pluses are her two doxies and the good folks at the board and care.

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, 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, Sean (court case), Tamera (her house is being taken by eminent domain and is in settlement phase; pray for a fair settlement)

Jack A (making choices for the health care for his wife) 

Ali is searching for spiritual meaning; may the Holy Ghost guide those around her to help her in coming to Christ.

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 asked everyone to give thanks that his doctor is adjusting his medication for severe schizophrenia.

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 and that he will open his heart to the Holy Ghost.

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. 

Freddy is looking for a job in the San Diego area and asks for your prayers for him during his search and interview process which he starts on 8 March 2010.

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), Aaron Huber (USNMC – Deployed to Southwest Asia with USMC),

Thanksgiving

Aaron made it to Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan today.  All of us give thanks for his safe, but tired, arrival.  Continue to pray for success of his mission, that he might do his duty to God, Country and Comrades, that he might return home safely and keep a sense of humor the whole time.  Pray also for Traci and Warren as they wait for Aaron to return.

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 Argentina and Chile and ask God to guide relief efforts there.  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 God to fill us with the Holy Ghost, even if (or maybe particularly if) we need Him shoved down our throats, to provide 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.

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 plays Albertsons’ Community Fair

Saturday, Father Ironhand, Jonathan Barrett and Jack Arnold played the Albertsons’ Community Fair from 1030 – 1330.  

The weather was not great, we only had a couple people stop by, but we had a great time playing Christian Rock, Regular Rock, Blues and some traditional hymns.  If you were there, you know what a great time we had, if not you missed a great 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 

21 March 2010 Jan Macauley

28 March 2010 Greg Chase

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

Next Sunday

21 March 2010 – Fifth Sunday in Lent – Time 0830 (8:30 am); Location – Alpine Elementary School Auditorium

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!