Today was the Sunday next before Advent, commonly called Stir up Sunday from the line in Collect for the Day. Perhaps oddly titled to our ears, it is the last Sunday in the Christian Year, we start where we began, focused on Jesus. The Propers are found on page 225-226; next Sunday the year starts again on page 90.
Sunrise temperature on Mount Olympus was a nice 40°F under rainy skies. Down the hill at church it was much of the same, by the time church ended, the temperature hit 47°F with a whole lot of water coming down! Rain or shine, we ended up with 19 people at church. Not all that bad considering the sick!
Gathering Songs
Today we had all our normal gathers on the job. Father Ironhand led Nick Patton and Jack Arnold for the pre-Thanksgiving songs as usual:
• Forever
• Give thanks all ye people
• Just a closer walk
• Give thanks
The gathering songs went really well today. Jack’s solos on Give Thanks were particularly cool. The songs are a great way not only to allow people to come in a bit late and not to worry, but also to allow us to mix contemporary music and conventional church music in the same service without interfering with each other. Today’s songs were particular favorites. Great music today!
Pre-Service Class
The pre-service class started where it left off, The Gospel of Saint Luke, the Sixth Chapter, beginning at the Seventeenth Verse, known as the Sermon on the Plain:
And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Stir Up Sunday
Stir-up Sunday is an informal term in the Anglican Church for the last Sunday before the season of Advent. The term comes from the opening words of the collect for the day in the Book of Common Prayer:
STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Through an association of ideas, the day subsequently became connected, especially in England, with the preparation of Christmas puddings in readiness for Christmas. In the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 and later, this collect is listed for "The Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Trinity", with accompanying rubric specifying that this collect "shall always be used upon the Sunday next before Advent". This reinforced the significance of this day as forming part of the preparation for the season of Advent. The rubric is necessary because the last Sunday before Advent does not always fall on the twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity: Trinity Sunday is a moveable feast and the Advent season is fixed, so the number of weeks in between varies from year to year. The 1928 Book of Common Prayer solves this dilemma by marking only 24 Sundays after Trinity and setting this Sunday apart as “Next before Advent.”
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 minister as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church or by one of the priests) and the Holy Gospel, which during the service is read by an ordained minister.
Today, the propers for the Sunday next before Advent can be found on Page 225-226:
The Sunday next before Advent
The Collect.
STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Don Patton read the Epistle for today, which came from the Book of Jeremiah, the Twenty-Third Chapter, beginning at the Fifth Verse. Foretelling the arrival of Jesus, Jeremiah prophesied, “I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Foreshadowing the New Covenant, he wrote, “They shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.”
BEHOLD, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
The Gospel for today came from the Gospel according to Saint John, the Sixth Chapter, beginning at the Fifth Verse. John relates one of the feeding the masses in the wilderness events. This event occurring long before there was a Thanksgiving Day, seems very appropriate for the weekend and also forshadows the arrival of the Christ at Christmas coming to feed our spiritual needs in the wilderness of this world.
With five thousand men with them looking for food in the wilderness, “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…” Reminding us that if the Son of God gave thanks to God for His food, so ought we, “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.”
Compare to saving our souls and feeding the inner hunger we have for God’s love, feeding a mere 5,000 men is child’s play, but then Jesus said we should accept God and His love through Him as the children do. So perhaps it really is child’s play.
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 - Stir Up Sunday
Father Acker provided the following summary of his sermon so you can enjoy the message.
Today's message: It’s Time to Get Stirred UP
This is Stir Up Sunday. It is more formally known as the Sunday Next Before Advent or traditionally as Christ The King. It is the last Sunday in the Christian Year. The Stir Up part comes from today’s collect (the prayer for this week).
STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
As you heard Jeremiah in the first reading this morning, Jeremiah was Stirred Up because in the midst of great hardship he knew that God was working out his plan for God. He and the people of Jerusalem were starving, in the midst of disease and death, as the city was under siege. The Babylonians (modern Iraq) had surrounded the city. Nothing was allowed into or out of the city. No food was brought in and they didn’t have freezers or MREs stock piled (military rations Meals Ready to Eat). No garbage out and things were getting ripe. And people were dying and not being buried. And you thought the budget and economy were bad.
In all of that trouble Jeremiah was able to look to God’s promise. God would provide a Messiah, a king who would be known as “The Lord is our righteousness.” Jeremiah may have had a new year’s resolution, but more importantly he was Stirred Up. Jeremiah looked to what God had done in the past, what God had promised for the future, and he looked for it to happen in his day.
The crowd was Stirred Up who came to hear Jesus preach, as we read in the Gospel reading for today. They had heard about what Jesus had been doing, the healing and his teaching. They wanted to be part of what they understood to be God bringing about his promise. It says when they realized what Jesus did in feeding the five thousand they wanted to make him king, to have him enter the Temple as God’s messiah, kick out the Roman occupation forces and bring righteousness to Israel.
We are to be Stirred Up as well. As we come to the close of another year, could look at our lives and say everything is pretty much the same as last week. We are in doors and not in the park. We’ve got the heat on instead of retreating to the shade of the oak trees. But if we are willing to look to God’s promises that we have in Jesus, we should be stirred up. Jesus has not only opened the way of life, to live in the love and fellowship with him and one another, Jesus asks us to be part of the living out of his promise being fulfilled.
We prayed that God might stir you up. What is it we should expect? The Jesus plan isn’t self-help, it grace powered. God wants to give his help, his power, to bring about that righteousness that makes Jesus “The Lord is our righteousness.” So being Stirred Up starts with looking to God, to Jesus as our King. It also looks to God coming to us, but that is Advent.
If we look at Jesus feeding the five thousand there are three things we want to know about how Jesus Stirs Up his disciples.
1. Jesus said to Philip and Andrew, “Where are we to buy bread?” Jesus didn’t have a well documented business plan, color pages and slick cover. Jesus didn’t have every detail laid out for his disciples follow the recipe. The ingredients weren’t all lined up on the counter, they weren’t all labeled, they weren’t premeasured. Jesus wanted them to help in a real way. Jesus wasn’t just giving them something to do to keep them busy. Jesus wanted them to help with the work—“the fruit of good works” is what we prayed.
There was no mistaking it was Jesus’ kitchen and Jesus was the master chef making the meal. But Jesus expected his sous-chefs to cook. Real cooking and participation in making the assigned dishes. Jesus expects that from us. If you’re Stir Up Jesus is asking you, “Where are we to buy bread?” Being Stirred Up means being an active part of what God is doing today. Jesus wants you out checking how many loaves of bread and finding fish.
2. Jesus said, “Tell the people to sit down.” Remember they were catering a dinner for five thousand. You can imagine how many in the crowd were complaining. “I don’t like being over in the corner.” “Can’t you find another table away from those people.” Jesus needed his disciples to go out into the crowd to talk to people, encourage, to deal with problems, and take care of people.
Unless you’re at a ball game or a concert, you don’t just yell, “Sit down.” Although I do recall telling some story or making a comment in college and being told to “Sit down.” These were hurting people, hungry people. Jesus knew it was about people and he needed his disciples out with people. Getting the food out to the people meant the disciples didn’t get to sit around the head table. Jesus sent them out to the people. Jesus sends each of us. Being here on Sunday morning is only where we pick up our food order in the kitchen. Why do you think we do Communion every Sunday? We even try to make sure you have snacks so you won’t faint while working out in the crowd bringing what Jesus has prepared.
3. Lastly, Jesus sent them out to pick up what was left, not clean-up but follow-up. Our Christian life is not just getting food out to hungry people. Jesus needs you to train, lead, support, and encourage new disciples. If you’ve been coming to Blessed Trinity for more than a year, you should be helping newer disciples. This includes anyone who has been confirmed, especially those in Middle and High School. You’re friends aren’t likely to want to hear what I have to say. They might want to come with you to ask questions or find out more. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression; If you want to learn a subject better, teach it to someone else. You don’t need a seminary degree to read the bible, use the prayers, and talk about what God at work or school. Picking up what was left over that nothing might be lost. Jesus will turn hearts but we need to gather.
We’re praying to be Stirred Up this week, and through out this coming year. Jesus has called us to be his disciples and not the crowd. The Lord is our righteousness—We know our King and he is Stirred Up and giving you his grace to truly be his disciples.
New Nametags
We had no new nametags today.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
We had no reported birthdays or anniversaries today.
After Church Hospitality
Jan Macauley brought snacks today. And, lovely they were! Curried deviled eggs, cranberry pistachio cookies, Swiss cheese bacon quiche, a wonderful veggie platter and almonds! All wonderful! Thank you very much!
After church goodies providers as currently signed up:
Date Name
28 November 2010 Nancy Graham
5 December 2010 Opportunity Available
12 December 2010 Holly Lizak
19 December 2010 Mary Lou Ruiz
26 December 2010 Mary Hollis
2 January 2011 Jan Macauley
9 January 2011 Opportunity Available
6 January 2011 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.
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
Sandy and Don Patton celebrated their 24th anniversary with us seven weeks ago.
Birthday
Jack Arnold celebrated his 18th birthday two weeks ago.
Travel
Walt and Fran are on travel this week.
Won is on travel to Korea.
Peaceful Transition
Otis is in hospice care.
Beatrice
Ruth is in home hospice care.
Peter Hunter is in hospice palliative care and needs his wife Susan's continuous care. Please pray for peace of mind through trust in our Lord for both of them as Peter passes from this world to his home. Pray also for their friends and family.
Departed
Poli Flores, Mary Lou Ruiz’ father) passed away on 12 November 2010 in El Centro. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for peace of mind for his family as they of necessity remain behind. In particular pray for his daughter Mary Lou as she adjusts to her father being gone from this earth.
Homebound
Mary, Donna, Betty, Noko, Adelaide, Evelyn, Lorraine, Ellie, Ray (Alzheimer’s Disease)
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, 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 (Broken arm & pelvis from a fall; bedridden & pain; Back in hospital), Louis, Alan P (Stress test for chest pain), Lydia, Burton (neurological back pain), Terry (Breast Cancer; surgery 3 Aug10), Goodwin Family, Kathy who had surgery for a reoccurrence of cancer, Susan A, Dorothea, Liz F (diabetes and vertigo), Robert, John, Liz, Jack, Bill, Corina, Liz, Robert, Mark, Paul, Terry, Liz & Bill (flu), June (bronchitis), Muriel (bronchitis), Gilbert
Kyle Thompson, USMC was injured was seriously wounded while on foot patrol in Helmand Province of Afghanistan on 25 October 2010. Kyle and his point man, Todd Love, were hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during a routine patrol. The IED ripped into Kyle's face, resulting in the loss of Kyle's left eye, and severely damaging the retina in the right eye. In early November his left eye was surgically removed. He is currently totally blind, although the doctors tell him his sight in the right eye may eventually return. Last week Kyle had surgery to remove large pieces of shrapnel from his face and jaw. He will need additional reconstructive surgery to replace his jaw bone and his lost teeth. Pray for peace of mind, courage and healing for Kyle. Pray for the medical teams treating him.
In the next week or so Kyle will be transferred to Palo Alto, CA for further treatment. Kyle would appreciate any words of encouragement you could offer, a simple "thank you" would boost his morale immensely. You can reach out to him at either logging onto http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kylethompson or by emailing his father, Michael Thompson, at miket4k@yahoo.com
Todd Love, USMC was injured was seriously wounded while on foot patrol in Helmand Province of Afghanistan on 25 October 2010. Todd and his squad leader, Kyle Thompson, were hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during a routine patrol. The IED took both of Todd’s legs and part of his left arm. Pray for peace of mind, courage and healing for Todd. Pray for the medical teams treating him.
Todd and Kyle are currently at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Todd could use a bit of a morale boost. Any words of encouragement you could offer, a simple "thank you" would boost his morale immensely. You can reach out to him at either logging onto http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/toddlove or by emailing Kyle’s father, Michael Thompson, at miket4k@yahoo.com. We hope to have a direct email for Todd soon.
Rachel in labor for over 48 hours.
Shamim Gray underwent a lumpectomy on Saturday 6 November 2010 at Bethesda Naval Hospital, with apparent great result. Please give thanks for the successful surgery, the good result and a quick recovery. Please pray for a complete remission of the cancer. Pray also Shamim will maintain her great attitude and trust in God.
Judith Clingwall, afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), suffered a major setback in her coping with the disease. She is currently hospitalized. Please pray for her strength, peace of mind, trust in God and remission of the disease so she might return home to her family. Pray also for strength for her husband Martin as he deals with all the problems and stress of Judith’s situation.
Joan Balslev underwent another nerve surgery on her right hand to transfer a nerve from her leg to her hand. The surgery appears successful, though she will likely need another. Please give thanks for the good result and pray for a complete and quick recovery.
Victor’s heart was racing and it was expected he had a blocked coronary artery, but an angiogram on 13 October 2010, at Scripps Green Hospital found no blockage. They did find some plaque in his heart, but they don't know why his heart is racing. They plan to do more tests, but they may never know. They will put him on medication to help his heart heal. Please pray for healing for Victor and peace of mind through trust in God for Victor and his wife Karen as well as the rest of his family and friends.
Becky Madden is paralyzed from the neck down as the result of a tragic shooting accident. She is about to be released home. Please pray for further recovery for Becky, as well as strength and guidance for each of those involved.
Hy Barrett had a hip replacement. Please give thanks for the great result and pray for her continued recovery.
Greg Garvin began chemotherapy on Monday 13 September 2010, for testicular cancer. Please pray for good result and peace of mind for Greg and his family.
Won King had a small stroke near the end of August, the only residual appears to be a loss of vision in her left eye. Please pray for a complete healing and give thanks for the great progress so far.
JJ Davies, age 11, sustained a crushing injury to his left hand on 1 September 2010, which resulted in the loss of four fingers. He was released from the hospital on the night of 3 September 2010, with no sign of infection. Please give thanks for no infection and the great results to date and pray for continued healing in his hand and arm. Pray for courage, strength and trust for JJ and his family.
Nancy Bologna underwent emergency surgery the night of 23 August 2010, for a brain tumor. Please pray for a successful outcome and strength and comfort for her and her family.
Nancy Belk’s breast cancer had been in remission for seven years. It has apparently resurfaced in metastasized into her lungs and her arm. Please pray for treatment that will help her, as well as strength and comfort for both her and her family.
George Seddon’s bladder cancer resurfaced earlier this year. His previous chemotherapy was ineffective, and he's been put on a stronger dose with more severe side effects. But, is seems it has worked! George is being re-evaluated for surgery which may take place around the middle of November 2010. Please continue to pray for George's complete healing. Please pray for effective treatment and pain control, pray for peace of mind for George, his wife LaVonda, and their children Megan and George III. Their faith is great, but so is their need.
Mary Jo for guidance in taking care of her husband.
Betty Macauley, Tim’s mom, is currently in a state of failing health. Please pray she will gain interest in life around her and actively pursue life here on earth. Please pray for her family, in particular her son Tim, as they try to help her.
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.
Jere Wolfe, Melanie Zimmers’ dad has been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart muscle. He just was released from the hospital after treatment for a very bad urinary tract infection, the apparent by-product of earlier radiation treatment. The treatment resulted in severe anemia which affected his heart condition. Please pray for his heart and urology doctors to talk to each other and for Jere to maintain his trust in the Lord.
Greg Chase asks that you pray for his family:
Greg broke his toe.
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.
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.
Rede Acker, Father Acker’s mom, is recovering from her broken leg, just above where she had a knee replacement. Things have been going great, but she had another fall on 20 November 2010. Please pray for her to keep a positive attitude. In Rede’s position, attitude is 100 percent of the game. The whole family appreciates your prayers, thank you.
Wanda M is still out of 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. After about 18 months of treatment, all his scans are clear and Friday 3 September 2010, he had his chemotherapy port removed. This with a disease that is about 90 percent fatal in that same time period. He has no hip joint on one side, but he walks and swims! Courage? Guts? You bet! Thanks be to God for the way things have gone. Thanks also for the great faith of Matt and his entire family. Their faith and trust is a wonderful example for each and every one of us. But, now is not the time to stop praying. Actually, it never is the time to stop praying!
Lee Thomas is in assisted living after a stroke and apparently declining after a limited recovery. 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 October 2009. Vicky’s neighbor Sandy has been updating us periodically and sent this:
On 28 October 2009, Vicky she told her husband Doug she had a terrible headache. As it turned out she had a ruptured brain aneurysm. After four surgeries and several months in hospitals, nursing homes and a rehabilitation hospital she came home five weeks ago. Considering the fact she was only given a slight chance to pull through and the fear was she would be an invalid and might never understand anything or talk again her coming home was a small miracle. Doug prepared for the worst but never gave hope and he made daily trips to Denver to be with her and their boys also went often.
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 Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) one month ago. The disease has impacted her far quicker than anyone can believe. Two months ago, she could walk with the aid of a cane, one month ago she could feed her self. Now she cannot move, cannot walk, cannot feed herself and has no movement from her neck downwards. 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 continues her recovery from the kidney transplant and is doing incredibly well! Please give thanks for the great progress to date and pray for continued recovery.
Bashir Ahmed, father of Shamim Gray, has been blessed with the Lord's breath of life to stay on this earth for the time being. But, things are hard for him and his loving wife, who cares for him. They have two young nieces living with them who see no real need to help, pray for God to enter their hearts. Above all, pray for his entire family to open their hearts to accept all God’s love will bring them.
Mary Parker is currently in rehabilitation to learn to walk properly again. Please pray for a positive attitude for her and a great result.
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 has pain and weakness in her leg. She asks that you pray for strength to work hard on physical exertion required to regain her strength. She also thanks God for the wonderful people she lives with.
Lorraine Winkles is dealing with the arthritis, but her shingles have resurfaced. She asks your prayer in dealing with the accompanying discomfort.
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
June D, 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, 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, Toni as she cares for Terry who is undergoing breast cancer treatment, Christy, Ray, Alan (stress in family matters), Kenny (dealing with not being able to physically qualify for the Coast Guard), Sol F, Alex, Emilie, Delores, Fontonilla, Will, Vinnie, Colleen and family, Maureen and family, Billy, Barbie, Robert, Terry, Tony, Sue (husband passed away after a long illness), June, Veronica, Richard, Ryan (new job), Ann (death of her cat of 14 years)
James Edward Gerard Fox asks that you please pray for him as he is not well in mind and body and needs raising up to perfection by God through our Lord Jesus. James suffers from anxiety and depression. He is desperate, he has bad asthma, panic attacks and blackouts - his min and thinking is disordered. He asks for a complete lasting miracle in order to heal him. He feels a tormenting unclean spirit inside him that needs taking out for good. Pray for him to accept God’s help.
Helen and her family are in need of God’s guidance that they might do His will, see things His way and hopefully come together through His love.
Sol and his family are in need of God’s guidance that they might do His will, see things His way and hopefully come together through His love.
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 Thomas 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.
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 to turn 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
Wanda for guidance on dealing with an employment situation for which her organization needs protection against those who would destroy and tear down the work of the helping organization; also for strength and guidance to deal with the extra stress and hours required to deal with these problems; and pray for her continued healing during this time of stress.
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
Nancy asks your prayers for guidance for her as she seeks employment at both Viejas and Donovan Prison.
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.
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.
Peter, 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.
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), Kurt Thomas (USN – Afghanistan FOB), Julian (USMC)
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
Melanie Zimmers give thanks for the passage of her kidney stones.
Shamim gives thanks for a successful surgery.
Doreen Wolf, mother of Melanie Zimmers, gives thanks for a good recovery from her foot surgery.
Various Special Requests
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 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 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
28 November 2010 Sandy Patton
5 December 2010 Tim Macauley
12 December 2010 Holly Lizak
19 December 2010 Alice Acker
24 December 2010 Jack Arnold (Christmas Eve Service)
26 December 2010 Jan Macauley (Boxing Day Service)
The near future, as well as Next Sunday
You can go on line here and see our church calendar.
Calendar Location - http://go.to/alpineanglicancalendar
Church Facebook Groups Page - http://www.groups.to/alpineanglicanchurch
Or, email the Beadle at thebeadle@mac.com for an emailed link.
Wednesday
24 November 2010 – Alpine Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service - Service start time 1900 (7:00 pm); Time 1900 (7:00 pm); Location – Alpine Community Church at the Five Way Stop, Alpine, CA
Thursday
25 November 2010 –Thanksgiving Day Service - Service start time 0830 (8:30 am); Time 0830 (8:30 am); Location – Victoria House, 2828 North Victoria Drive, Alpine, CA
Friday
26 November 2010 –Free Teen Guitar Class Jam Session – Albertsons (or Starbuck if you’re cool) parking lot. Jam until 8, then eat at Manañas; Time 1830 (6:30 pm); Location – Alpine Albertsons, 2955 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA
Sunday
28 November 2010, 235th Birthday of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps – First Sunday in Advent - 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
Sunday
5 December 2010 - Second Sunday in Advent - 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
Sunday
12 December 2010 - Third Sunday in Advent - 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
Sunday
12 December 2010 – Christmas Caroling after the Service – come with us to sing and visit with our homebound members. Time 1130 (11:30 am); Location – Alpine Elementary School Auditorium – 1850 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA
Friday
17 December 2010 – Macauley Christmas Party - Time 1700 - 2100 (5:00 pm – 9:00 pm); Location – Jan and Tim Macauley’s home – 8959 Chestnut Roan Way, Alpine CA 91901
Sunday
19 December 2010 - Fourth Sunday in Advent - 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
Friday
24 December 2010 – Christmas Eve Service - Service start time 1800 (6:00 pm); Christmas Carols before the service starting about 1730 (5:30 pm). Time 1800 (6:00 pm); Location – Alpine Elementary School Auditorium – 1850 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA
Saturday
25 December 2010 – Christmas Day Service - Service start time 0930 (9:30 am); Time 0930 (9:30 am); Location – Victoria House, 2828 North Victoria Drive, Alpine, CA
Saturday
25 December 2010 – Christmas Day Dinner for those with no family with which to spend Christmas or those who would like to spend it with us - Start time 1130 (11:30 am); Time 1130 (11:30 am); Location – Alpine Community Center - 1830 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA
Write Todd and Kyle – They’re counting on you!
