Diocese of the West Synod
Father Acker and Alice Acker were our delegates to the Synod of the Diocese of the West of the Reformed Episcopal Church this past week. This is the annual meeting of the diocese. The report of the meeting is pending, other than submitting the resolution we sent them asking that the meeting be held to include a Saturday to minimize time away from work for those who work during the week.
Independence Day
Today was the Fifth Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Temperatures were about perfect, sunrise temperature on Mount Olympus was 47°F under bright blue skies. By the time church ended, once again we were at 72°F. Even though there were a number of people on travel, we managed to end up with 21 people present for the service.
Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday and the Gathering Songs
This being the first Sunday of the Month, Father Ironhand, Nick Patton and Jack Arnold were joined today by Cassidy and Bryahna to do not only the gathering songs, but all the music. The two young ladies are our newest guitarists and coming along wonderfully! One of the premises of the Free Teen Guitar Class is that you need to be able to read music and play notes, not just strum along. That is working so very well. Another premise is that playing in class is one thing, performing in public is another whole level of playing. The kids do get a chance to play at the monthly jam sessions which is good, but playing in front of the church congregation is another level yet. It is a friendly audience to be sure, but when you are playing, it is an audience nonetheless!
Today’s songs were:
• America the beautiful
• Kum-ba-ya
•
God of nations
• America
• Joyful, joyful / Ode to Joy
• When the saints go marching in
• Amazing Grace
• Doxology
They did a wonderful job on all the songs, but a particularly great job on Amazing Grace. It was a joy to hear.
Once again, the gathering songs did their magic. When they started playing we numbered 9, by the time the service ended, we had 21!
Pre-Service Class
For today’s pre-service class, Father Acker played a 10 minute portion of a talk by Don Richmond+ about Holy Living. If you would like to hear it, it is available on line at:
And, here is Father Acker’s summary of the talk and Synod:
Today's Class & Diocesan Synod
For the 10 minute teaching today, we watched the first part of a lecture by the Rev'd Don Richmond covering Man and The Word. You can watch this video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsBRHj6lkwk Father Richmond presented this talk at the Diocese of the West Synod on Thursday in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I will let you know when I finish editing and posting them to the web.
Our diocese continues to grow with another four congregations being added to the diocese in the past year. Our bishops, clergy, and people continue to take seriously our Lord's prayer that we may be one. This is God's will for us and so we are working together recognizing that it is only our Lord who is perfect. Sorry no perfect priests, bishops, congregations, or institutions. We are reminded that we always need to be looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Have a blessed Independence Day!
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 minister.
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, except in a White Season, where it is put off. 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.
This Sunday is Independence Day, which supersedes the Fifth Sunday after Trinity; the Propers are found on Page 263-264.
Independence Day.
[July 4.]
The Collect.
O ETERNAL God, through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.
GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Dru Arnold read the Epistle, which came from the Tenth Chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy beginning at the Seventeenth Verse:
THE LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: he doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen..
Today’s Gospel started in the Fifth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew beginning at the Forty-Third Verse:
JESUS said, Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Sermon - Freedom of Religion or Freedom from Religion
Father Acker provided a summary of today’s sermon so you can see what he was trying to get across:
Today's Message: Independence Day
Religious Freedom is more than Freedom to Worship
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5.48
Independence Day is about freedom. With the signing of the Declaration of Independence it was an idea still needing to be brought about in reality. This freedom would need to be won, protected and maintained. The Declaration of Independence closes with the phrase printed on your bulletin cover this morning:
And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
The signers knew it would require their lives, their wealth, and their honor; they knew it would require God’s assistance. They were willing to sacrifice for this freedom to be built into the fabric of a new nation.
Christians have a stake in freedom. For we are called to “be perfect” as Jesus said in today’s reading of the Sermon on the Mount. We are called, even in our being far from perfect lives, to seek, to strive for, to uphold, and to desire perfection. For we were made in the image of God; we are to reflect God who is perfect by his nature or definition. God wants us be perfect, whole, complete, the men and the women which God us to be.
The Bill of Rights, written a few years later, articulates several of these freedoms. The First Amendment includes as a basic freedom the “free exercise of religion.” It is seen as a basic right because if we are to reflect the image of God, we must be witnesses to the truth, to what is good, righteous, and of value. It is important for this country that we speak publicly, openly, and upholding what is true.
Today “free exercise of religion” is under attack. Actually, there is a concerted effort to diminish and minimize “religious freedom” to a mere “freedom to worship” as articulated by some of our nations leaders. This reduction is not a mere substitution of equivalent words or meaning, but a fundamental change to the basic rights protected in our country. Most importantly, this change in terminology reduces this freedom from a public right to a private right. It removes our guaranteed right to express our religious belief in public, our moral belief, our understanding of right and wrong, to attribute right and wrong by God’s Word.
George Weigel, Senior Fellow of Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington DC, wrote in December of 2009:
Religious freedom, rightly understood, cannot be reduced to freedom of worship. Religious freedom includes the right to preach and evangelize, to make religiously informed moral arguments in the public square and to conduct the affairs of one’s religious community without undue interference from the state. If religious freedom only involves the freedom to worship, then… there is “religious freedom” in Saudi Arabia, where Bibles and evangelism are forbidden but expatriate Filipino laborers can attend Mass in the U.S. embassy compound in Riyadh.
Reducing freedom of religion to freedom of worship is to say, You can worship anyway you want.
But you can’t have religious standards for those you hire as a church.
But you can’t say that any actions are right are wrong.
But you can’t quote the bible as to what is a sin and what is pleasing to God.
Freedom of worship allows you to think and act in private, but removes this right from public exercise. It is to be put into the closet, out of sight and silenced from speaking the truth. Freedom of worship is just a small part of what freedom of religion means to our country and to its people. For Christians, human rights aren’t something private, but what we do and say in public. We are under the obligation to speak upholding life and liberty. As Christians we are told by our Lord to preach to all nations. It is not a private matter as Jesus commanded us.
Our belief and understanding is that human beings are made in the image of God.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1.27
What we are as men and women is to reflect the nature of God. We are called to publicly make known God’s desire for every human being. What is God’s desire for human beings? To be perfect. To reflect in our life, in our being, to be perfect, to be the truest, without flaw or error, whole, and completely the man or woman made in God’s image.
Our nation should embody this high value and ideal of every human being. This is the vision of in the Preamble of our Constitution:
We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The founders of this country understood that this country they were founding was dependent upon God, that if this human wholeness, perfection, would not be know or attained without God’s help and assistance, but importantly recognized that it would require individuals who, with God’s help, would work and strive that every person might be free to seek truth and wholeness, perfection.
Independence Day is a holy day of the Church, not because we celebrate this great country and the things we like best about living in the USA. It is a holy day because our country’s liberty and freedom encourages and protects the right of her people to fully human, made image of God. God cares if we abandon “freedom of religion” for a watered down, neutered “freedom to worship.” God wants us to be perfect.
A few months ago, our Secretary of State substituted “freedom of worship” in this private sense in place of “freedom of religion” in a speech to Georgetown University.
Andy Lane, the spokesperson for the State Department, covered when asked about this substitution, saying, the State Department does acknowledge that worship is just one component of religion.
"However, the terms 'freedom of religion' and 'freedom of worship' have often been used interchangeably through U.S. history, and policymakers in this administration will sometimes do likewise."
Meanwhile, the 2010 annual report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom said,
"This change in phraseology could well be viewed by human rights defenders and officials in other countries as having concrete policy implications," the report said.
--Reported by Sarah Zylstra, Christianity Today, 6/22/2010
So today we prayed for God’s help in our lives and the lives of every citizen of this country to receive “grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace.” Today we prayed for our government leaders to maintain God’s true religion and virtue.
Religious freedom is a basic human right. What is good, right, and true is the social justice for which this country stands and for which we must continue to fight.
Religious freedom needs to be the concern of our government officials, and of every citizen. Today we ask for God to assist us that we might pledge our lives, our wealth, and sacred honor that in the United States of America all might be free, and come to know the perfection of being made in God’s image.
[I want to acknowledge that credit goes to George Weigh, Sarah Zylstra, Ashley Samelson, C. Colson, and others for raising the issues of the reduction of religious freedom in recent times. kja+]
New Nametags
We had no new nametags today.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
There were no reported birthdays or anniversaries today.
After Church Hospitality
Alice Acker and Dru Arnold brought the snacks today, with a bit of unexpected help from Jan Macauley. Alice got dognuts and Dru brought cheese and almonds; then came the unexpected, Jan Macauley brought chocolate zucchini cookies! What a great set of snacks! Thanks!
After church goodies providers as currently signed up:
Date Name
11 July 2010 Mary Lou Ruiz
18 July 2010 Brunch at Holly and Ben Lizaks
25 July 2010 Opportunity Available
1 August 2010 Opportunity Available
8 August 2010 Greg Chase
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.
Prayer List Notice – If you have someone on the prayer list and their needs have changed, please let us know. We are loathe to just stop praying, yet some of the entries are a bit long in the tooth. We don’t mind praying, at all. We just want to be praying for what is needed!
Anniversary
Karen and Tom Collins celebrated their 38th anniversary week before last.
Birthday
Betty Macauley celebrated her 90th birthday this week.
Sandy Patton celebrated her 47th birthday last week.
Nick Patton celebrated his 14th birthday last week.
Moving
Alan, and his son Kenny, Parker are moving to Mississippi this week for Alan’s job. Please pray they will make a good place for themselves there and adapt to their new surroundings in a positive manner.
Travel
Greg is on travel this week.
Traci and Warren are on travel for the next few weeks.
Ryan is on travel throughout Southeast Asia until May 2010. He is in India (dot, not feather), heading to Kuala Lumpur and is keeping his parents updated.
Departed
The three year old daughter of Paul and Brooke, of Margaret River, Western Australia, died the evening of 12 June 2010, in Paul’s arms after he ran her over while backing up a trailer in his driveway. Please pray for the family, in particular Paul, to put their faith in God and let Him carry their sorrow; pray they will accept His help to bring their lives to peace with Him
Charlotte 13 June 2010
Victor 13 June 2010
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 (gall bladder surgery this month; waiting for heart transplant), 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, Jennifer, Curtis, Steve (cancer), Ashton, Marjorie, Mike G, Dave (knee surgery), Karl (shoulder surgery), Jeffrey (testing), Gary (sepsis; diabetic), Jim (stomach cancer), 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), Martin, Pauline, Pat A (Alzheimer’s: 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, undergoing chemotherapy), Lillian, Rob, Ken, Marlene, Emma W (Brain tumor), Vivian, Kelly (undergoing test unexpectedly), Veronica, Irith, Shirley, TP, David, Mark, Doris, Mary, Ken, Rick, Mike, Don, Sandy, Fern is recovering from a fall which broke her arm and pelvis, Louis, Alan P (Stress test for chest pain), Lydia
Jeffrey Hasara has been fighting bone cancer for over a year now. He may no longer be a viable surgical candidate, chemotherapy and radiation are no longer practical. There are numerous tumors throughout his body, the one in his left arm / body area has grown tremendously in the last few months. In the words of his father, Mark, “Now is the time to pray for miracles…” Please do. In the mean time, we leave you with a letter Jeffrey wrote to his family and friends. Please read and marvel at the great faith of this young man.
A letter from Jeffrey Hasara,
June 11, 2010
To my Family and Friends,
My condition has worsened considerably. On about May 29 the tumor pain started to increase and became constant. On the first of June I had my cancer IV injection port removed and spent the next several days in bed with pain on both sides. I thought I would regain strength. Over the next week my tumor (which had not grown since the priesthood blessing in March) has now tripled in size. Cancer is truly overtaking my body.
Why are we on this earth? To be tried and tested so we may come to know God and we may be found worthy to return to live with him someday. Our faith is tried so it may be strengthened. God allows us to be tested so we may more fully come to know him.
Don't worry or be afraid for me. Pray I might know God. I don't believe anything could test my physical, mental, or spiritual endurance more than the experience I am facing now. But now is not the time to worry about the outcome of whether I live or die. Now is the time to praise God, to petition to see his face and know him better.
Over the last several days my tumor has grown to the point I can't be upright and support the weight without great pain. I can only be up for about 5 minutes at a time. The rest of the time I must be in a laying position. I have been planning and looking forward to a trip to Utah since the first of the year. I have felt this trip was important not only for my enjoyment but to witness to my many cousins, aunts, uncles and family how much God has done for me.
When I was first diagnosed with cancer I was approved by the 'Make a Wish Foundation' to receive a wish. I was told to wish for anything and to think BIG. Over the next several weeks I had fun with friends and family thinking up bigger and bigger wishes. It always surprised me how small people's imagination was. I could not believe a thousand dollar shopping spree (or the like) was the biggest wish many of my friends could come up with.
A couple of nights ago I was praying to Father in Heaven and asking to please just let me go to Utah and have some pain free time with my family camping and enjoying life. Then whatever Gods wants I am ready. As I closed the prayer my mother pointed out to me I was not thinking big enough. Like my friends and 'Make a Wish' I was asking for a simple shopping spree when God stands ready to fulfill my greatest desires.
I have been tried and tested and stand firm in my faith, willing to submit to all things. What would you give to see God and know for sure you will live again through him. After you have given all, would you be afraid or forget to ask to know God? It is time for me to ask that I might receive.
My prayers have been very different the last two days. And I have received some direction from God. First, I was told if the Mormon pioneers could cross the plains with their sick I certainly can find my way to Utah this summer to share my testimony personally with my family. I believe this to be important and God will provide the way.
Second, God told me again I am to live. I will leave that in his hands. After all, who would not give their life to see God's face and know he lives. Yes, I am thinking big and know what ever God grants will strengthen my faith and help me to stand firm in the Gospel for the rest of my life. More importantly, I know I have a mission to fulfill as his special witness to Jesus Christ to bring others home to our Heavenly Father.
God lives and loves us,
Jeff Hasara
Lauralee underwent a lumpectomy on Friday after Thanksgiving. A further 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.
Luca, 5 years old, from our church family in Perth, Western Australia, who has just been diagnosed with leukemia. And for his Mum and Dad and extended family.
Doreen Wolf, mother of Melanie Zimmers, had very successful reconstructive orthopedic surgery on her foot the morning of Thursday 27 May 2010, to correct damage from previous surgeries. But, she cannot put weight on the foot for another three weeks! Please pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the successful surgery and that Doreen will be a good patient, hard for a nurse we all know, during her recovery. Finally pray for a good result that Doreen might live a long and healthy life to the glory of God.
Greg Chase asks that you pray for his family:
Diane, Greg’s wife, to see some positive physical signs for the ongoing treatment of her ulcerative colitis.
Phyllis, Greg’s mom, to gain physical strength to overcome her frailties after her recent "small" stroke.
Ed, Greg’s cousin, after a long history of heart issues (two open heart surgeries) to gain physical strength that continues to decline due to a series of other debilitating health issues.
Billy Zoe, Greg’s cousin, was admitted to the hospital Friday 30 April 2010, for a probable ruptured colon.
Sunny, Greg’s sister, to continue her recovery from a broken ankle.
Carl, Susanne Barrett’s dad had chest pains while visiting Hawaii. He underwent a successful double by-pass surgery. Please give thanks for the successful surgery and for a full and rapid recovery. Pray for peace of mind for Carl and his wife Judy. Carl believes he is self-made man who thinks he has always been able to do everything himself. Perhaps even more important, please pray for Carl to see the Hand of God in his life.
Michelle Cannariato (a former student of Susanne Barrett) had a stroke on her wedding night as the result of a benign tumor in her heart. She underwent what seems to have been very successful surgery for tumor removal on 20 May 2010, at Scripps-La Jolla. The surgery took several hours less than expected, the tumor is out, all the damage has been repaired and the mitral valve was not involved. Thanks be to God! Give prayers of thanksgiving for God’s gift of grace and the skill and attention of the surgeons and their team.
Please pray for peace of mind for Michelle and her husband Nick, as well as a full and rapid recovery for Michelle.
Karl is in ICU with a ruptured colon.
Carol and Rick, Muriel Pappin’s daughter and son-in-law, were in a motorcycle accident. They were banged up, but are now both home and healing. Please pray for their continued recovery and also give prayers of thanks that they were not more seriously injured.
Emma Langstaff thought she had a kidney stone, which might interfere with her upcoming trip to the UK with her family. Turns out that she did not have one; but three, two in one kidney, one in the other! Two of the three passed, she is back home after a volcanically successful trip. Please pray this one too shall pass for a total of three.
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. Rede has made great progress; she is walking with her walker unassisted. This is huge progress, please pray a prayer of thanksgiving. In Rede’s position, attitude is 100 percent of the game, pray for continued positive attitude. The whole family appreciates your prayers, thank you.
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.
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.
Matt Alcantara, age 15, has Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), a very rare and often lethal form of cancer with limited treatment options.
Matt has just made one year since his initial operation, something few get to with this disease. Further thanksgiving is due as his scans are completely clean to date. All looks good for now. Thanks be to God. His attitude is great, he and his family faith is great. Pray they continue to put their trust in God as the time passes. The stress is great and His help sufficient.
His family asks for your prayers for Matt and we ask you to pray also for his family in this time of great stress. 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. Danielle will be following up monthly. Please pray a good outcome and peace of mind for Danielle and her family.
Lee Thomas is in assisted living after a stroke. Please 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 Oc
tober 2009. She has moved to a rehabilitation facility specializing 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 Gray continues to take day by day, despite still mourning the loss of his beloved wife, Pauline. Please continue to keep Obra in your prayers, and give him the strength of knowing the Lord is with him and will never forsake him. Please God give Obra the peace in his heart he needs, and pray for him to believe the almighty Lord will hold onto him, and not let go until he is in the Lord's arms. Obra needs security of what lies ahead of him, and only the Lord can grant the solace to answer his prayer.
Paula, daughter of Obra Gray, has been diagnosed with ALS. Please pray for Paula and her family, particularly for her sons Brian and Jimmy, as well as her father Obra.
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, and father in law of Commander Gray for whom we prayed for while he was deployed in Iraq, and on various carrier deployments, has been blessed with the Lord's breath of life to stay on this earth for the time being. Please keep Bashir and his loving wife, who cares for him in your prayers. Above all, pray for his entire family to open their hearts to accept all God’s love will bring them.
Mary Parker is doing pretty well. "I'm going to surprise everyone one of these Sundays," Mary said, by making it to our Sunday morning service.
Evelyn Hunt is still having difficulty with her medication. She was back in the hospital for a week. She's at home now. Please pray that the doctor might find the right medication and doses for her treatment. Please pray for God's peace and goodness to surround her.
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 is doing pretty well considering the arthritis and all the other things, "I'm not doing too bad," said Lorraine.
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.
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, 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), 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, Tamera (her house is being taken by eminent domain and is in settlement phase; pray for a fair settlement), Rachel, Stephen, Paul, Seth C, Alan P (to control his feelings), Cris, Louis R (re-set court date), Sean, Lesa, Kenny, Carmen, Jeff, Jane (Bereavement of Caroline's death), Elizabeth B (Graduation from High School; preparation for Point Loma Nazarene), Kenny P (Graduation from High School), John, Cole, Gabe
Louis is in need of God's guidance and direction. Please pray that Louis might see God’s outstretched hand to him and guide him in all he does.
Mark Thomans is in need of God's guidance and direction. Please pray that Mark might take note God’s outstretched hand to him and accept his guidance in all he does.
Nick, age 90, grandfather of Dominique Mimnagh, friends of our Langstaff family members in Perth, is a UK citizen who suffers from various health issues, including what appears to be the onset of dementia. He has lived with his daughter Tina for 45 years. A year ago he moved to Perth with Tina, who is a permanent resident, on a temporary visa to be with his family. Immigration officials have refused to renew the temporary visa. Nick is faced with being forced to return to the UK, where he has no home and little family. Your prayers are so appreciated. This is a really troublesome time for the family. Currently, he is on medical hold because his doctor has said that he cannot fly due to irregular heartbeat. Please pray the immigration authorities will not stamp his visa with an 8503 which would mean they will not be able grant him an "AGE DEPENDENT VISA” so he and Tina can stay with her sister (who has lived in Perth for 10 years) who she is very close to. If Nick has to return to the UK, Tina will go back as well and that will break her sister’s heart and Dominique’s too. Please pray the immigration authorities will reconsider their refusal to renew the visa or that the family will come upon a solution that will be in the best interests of all concerned. Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for Nick, Tina, Dominique and the rest of their family.
Joan had just started her recovery from two back operations when she was given bad news, which she was unable to deal with on top of her physical problems. Things are looking up now. She is home and happy to be there. She has a new granddaughter, Eli, for whom she is grateful. Please pray Joan will look to God for the help He can give her, to help her accept those things she cannot change and change those things she can. Pray also for her husband Bob, that he might keep his mind clear to help Joan.
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.
To Find Employment
Sandra asks that you pray she will be able to find new employment in which she can use her considerable talents to make her new employer more successful. Please pray for her as she searches that she might maintain a good attitude while she looks for work and to look to God for guidance and not her inner self.
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.
Stephen, 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, Ray (Alzheimer’s Disease)
Armed Forces & Contractors
Tillman, Justin, Evan, RJ, Matt, Phillip, Julian, John Kelly (USN - USS Ronald Reagan), Evan (USMC-Afghanistan), Stuart (USMC-Afghanistan), Airman Donny Patton (RAF Mildenhall, UK), Bob (USCG), Josh (USCG), Rachel Ziegler (USAF – Deployed to Southwest Asia), Aaron Huber (USNMC – Deployed to Southwest Asia with USMC), Julian (USMC: Russia until 1 July 2010)
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 name of “Separation of Church and State” 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.
Thanksgiving
Allan gives thanks for tests clearing his potential heart condition.
Logan DeLong, grandson of our Ralph and Hope DeLong, born two months early to Ashleigh and Jarrod DeLong 16 May 2010, came home on 3 June 2010. Logan is doing well; eating and growing. Please join us in a prayer of thanksgiving for this great beginning to Logan’s life.
Various Special Requests
Sid Barnes, a missionary with Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California, to West Africa, is “missing” -- possibly in Ghana. He has not been heard of since he arrived in Accra, the capital city, on a British Airways flight from London, on Thursday, 18 March 2010, at 0900 and was missing when his assistant arrived to pick him up at 1030. Please pray for his return to family, friends and safety.
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 continue to 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.
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
11 July 2010 Jack Arnold
18 July 2010 Tim Macauley
25 July 2010 Alice Acker
The near future, as well as Next Sunday
You can go on line here and see our church calendar. There is also a link to subscribe. If you have problems finding this page, due to the typing requirement, go to the Beadle’s Blog or email the Beadle at thebeadle@mac.com for an emailed link.
Calendar Location - http://go.to/alpineanglicancalendar
Also, if we can get just five more members on our church Facebook Group page, we can have a name instead of a number. Help us get a name for go here and sign up for free:
Or, email the Beadle at thebeadle@mac.com for an emailed link.
Saturday
10 July 2010 – Descanso Parade – Meet at the Arnolds’ at 0900. No BBQ afterwards (sad, but true) Time 0900 (9:00 am); Location – Rat Hof – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA
Sunday
11 July 2010 – Sixth Sunday after Trinity – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service starting about 0945 (9:45 am). Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – Alpine Elementary School Auditorium – 1850 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA
See you next week on Sunday!
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