First Sunday after Easter

Today was the First Sunday after Easter. Sunrise on Mount Olympus brought a very mild Northeast Santa Ana condition with 50°F under bright blue skies. At church, temperatures had climbed to a very nice 73°F. The lovely weather brought 29 members and visitors to worship our Lord, amazing with all the people on travel!

Free Teen Guitar Class and Gathering Songs

This being the first Sunday of the Month, it was Free Teen Guitar Class Sunday! As our regular readers and / or attenders know, Father Acker teaches a guitar class on Friday afternoons for teenagers as a community outreach. The class which is free is known by the catchy name of the Free Teen Guitar Class, it even has its own website: www.freeteenguitarclass.com! The class is somewhat unique in that Father Acker, being a serious musician teaches music reading and individual notes. At first this may seem a tedious way to get started, but it turns out you can actually be playing real songs much quicker this way and you have a sound foundation for your musical progression. The class has two performance opportunities each month. The first Sunday of the month, our lovely organist Marianne stands down and the class provides all the music. The last Friday of the month, there is a Jam Session from 1830-2000 (6:30 – 8:00 pm) at Alpine Starbucks parking lot.

Today being the first Sunday of the month, Father Ironhand, Wyatt, Nick Patton and Jack Arnold played the gathering or welcome songs for the service.

• Just a closer walk

• Lord, I lift your name on high

• Everlasting God

• Kumbayah

• Ode to Joy (Joyful, joyful)

• When the saints come marching in

• Amazing Grace

• Doxology

We do the gathering songs for a number of reasons. It allows people a chance to “drift in” without being late. It gives us a bit of variety in our music. We can have more contemporary music before the service and still have organ music in the service, thus having something for everyone. It also a hit with our guitarists who love to play!

The gathering songs worked well today. We had 154 when they started and 29 when they finished.

Pre-Service Class

Before the service, Father Acker normally does a ten minute class. Today’s class was the start of an outline of Church History and discussed the origin of the New Testament.

The New Testament deal explicitly with 1st century Christianity and accompanied the spread of Christianity around the world. It both reflects and serves as a source for Christian theology. The New Testament has influenced not only religious, philosophical, and political movements in the Christian world, but also left an indelible mark on its literature, art, and music. The New Testament is an anthology, a collection of works written at different times by various authors. In almost all Christian traditions today, the New Testament consists of 27 books written beginning around AD 50. The New Testament consists of four narratives of the life, teaching, and death of Jesus, called "gospels"; a narrative of the Apostles' ministries in the early church, called the "Acts of the Apostles" and by the same author as the Gospel of Luke, which it continues; twenty-one letters, often called "epistles" in the biblical context, written primarily by Paul and consisting mostly of Christian counsel, instruction, and conflict resolution; and an Apocalypse, the Book of Revelation.

Propers

Each Sunday there are Propers: special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding. The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. If you have a hard time remembering, “Do I read the Collect from last Sunday or next Sunday during the week?” Remember Sunday is the first day of the week. There are also two Bible readings, the Epistle and the Gospel. While they are “lessons”, they are not the First Lesson and the Second Lesson, they are the Epistle and the Gospel. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the priest as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the priests and the Holy Gospel, which during the service in our church is read by an ordained priest.

The propers are the same each year, except if a Red Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead. Red Letter Feast, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Most of the Red Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saints instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent.

The Propers for today are found on Page 170-171, with the Collect first:

The First Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jack Arnold read the Epistle which came from the First General Epistle of Saint John, beginning at the Fourth Verse of the Fifth Chapter:

WHATSOEVER is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The Gospel for this Sunday came from the Twentieth Chapter of the Gospel of Saint John beginning at the Nineteenth verse:

THE same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Sermon - Peace and Presence

Father Acker provided a summary of his sermon so you can see exactly what he was trying to get across:

Today's Message: - Having God Fill Your Life with His Peace and Presence

In the Resurrection God fills the emptiness of our lives, puts his energy, his grace, into our lives. But how does that come about? How do we know God’s will in our making decisions, in spending our time, and in our using our resources, so that God will fill our lives?

Today is known as Thomas Sunday. On the Sunday after his resurrection Jesus comes to his disciples saying “Peace,” and showing them his hands and the spear wound in his side. The two are connected. Jesus was present in that upper room. Jesus brings peace with his presence.

If you want Jesus to fill your life get to a place where Jesus will be present. This community, Blessed Trinity Church is about being a place where Jesus is present. It is no coincidence that Holy Communion is the principle service of worship here and throughout the two thousand years of the life of the Church. This is a place where Jesus comes and is present. It was what the disciples knew at supper after their walking the road to Emmaus. The disciples didn’t know it was Jesus,

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. Luke 24.30-31

From the time I was in younger grade school, what I knew was Jesus would be there when I came to Holy Communion, before I was admitted to Holy Communion. And even on days when the prayers seemed long—Jesus would come. What mattered was not “how could this be?” but it was His peace and presence.

I would like every Sunday to be one of those times where Jesus’ presence fills my life and those around me. Fortunately, Jesus’ being present doesn’t depend on how I’m feeling today! Jesus’ being known and giving his grace doesn’t depend on if I’m tired, distracted, energized, or spiritually attuned, on a spiritual high.

What matters is being where Jesus is present. The point of today’s Gospel is not that Thomas was there, but that Jesus was! You may not have been at Church last Sunday or for years. What really matters is you are here today where Jesus is.

Thomas Sunday isn’t about Thomas having missed Jesus. Thomas made sure he was there the next Sunday. And the Church has gathered every Sunday ever since to be in the peace and presence of Jesus. So, I need to get to where Jesus is if I want Jesus to fill my life.

This is Sunday, but what about the rest of our week? We’re only here for an hour. What did Jesus tell those who were gathered?

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20.20-23

Jesus is sending you. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to you. Jesus wants you making a God-difference in the lives around you.

1. If my life is to be filled by God, I need to know Jesus is sending me.

When I was tending bar at Seminary gatherings, I used to say, “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.” What we do here this morning enables us to go out there. Jesus, our Lord and King, wants you at school, at work, at you neighbor’s house, and even at the Starbuck’s. You are sent. Boring places or peculiar places. Go where Jesus sends you.

We all know that Jonah tried going the opposite direction God sent him and he became fish food.

2. If my life is to be filled by God the Holy Spirit, I need to listen and be led.

When Jesus breathed on them the divine breath of life, the Holy Spirit, He wanted them to be bearers of God, to be those sent to make God present and known. When we’re told to pray constantly, it is to be asking, “God, what do you want here in this place at this moment?” It may be to block the hockey puck flying at you or pacing your horse for the next move, but it isn’t the hockey puck or the riding. It is the people. You could play or paint something beautiful, but it is about the people who hear and see it.

3. If my life is to be filled by God, I need to bring forgiveness, or even withhold it.

Jesus wants you to restore people in their relationship with God. Am I bringing God’s forgiveness when it is needed in this person’s life? Do I need to wait, not bring forgiveness? Is it God’s timing? It’s not about me. If I’m not sorry I’ve done something wrong, forgiveness has no power, but when it is the right time, God’s forgiveness can bring resurrection to new life.

Our prayer this week (Collect for The First Sunday after Easter) is that we might serve God in “pure living and truth” that everyone here today might not only know Jesus’ peace and presence, but bring it to the places Jesus is directing, into the life of the one person Jesus is directing you this week. There may be incidental people, people to whom we are kind and loving, but Jesus works intentionally with his peace and presence. It is in the lives of these people that Jesus will fill your life with his peace and presence.

Scripture quotations a courtesy from ESV Bible®

New Nametags

We had no new nametags today.

Birthdays and Anniversaries

We had no reported birthdays or anniversaries today.

After Church Hospitality

Muriel Pappin and Alice Acker brought snacks today. They were so great and we were having so much fun that the Beadle forgot to take pictures. Apologies! But, the snacks were great! First, the wasabi coated peas (not yogurt coated M&Ms), almonds, Alice’s best ever egg thing!, chocolate dognuts, white dognuts and those really cool florescent cookies your mom never lets you have! What wonderful snacks! Thank you very very much. AND, I humbly apologize for no pictures.

After church goodies providers as currently signed up:

Date Name

8 May 2011 Greg Chase and Nancy Graham

15 May 2011 Dru Arnold

22 May 2011 Jan Macauley

29 May 2011 Mary Lou Ruiz

5 June 2011 Opportunity Available

12 June 2011 Opportunity Available

19 June 2011 Opportunity Available

26 June 2011 Stephanie Boyd

3 July 2011 Betsy and Marianne Lane

10 July 2011 Opportunity Available

17 July 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

Ben and Holly Lizak celebrated their 10th anniversary with us last week.

Birthday

Holly Lizak celebrated her 65th birthday with us last week.

Travel

Tim and Jan are on travel this week.

Stephanie, Chris, Alex and Andrew are on travel this week.

Ben and Holly are on travel this week.

In need of a miracle or understanding of God’s Plan

Todd and Kenny have both been fighting osteocarcinoma for over five years and have been told their time here on earth is nearing its end, absent a miracle from God. Both are ready to go home and leave the pain, but would like to stay. Please pray for them and their families.

Peaceful Transition

Otis is in hospice care.

Beatrice

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

The mother of Sandra and Lydia

Trevor

Don Shepard died 6 April 2011, after a hard fought battle with ALS. Don never gave up continuing to email using voice commands until the end. Please preay for the repose of his soul and for peace and comfort for his family and friends, in particular his wife Mary Ann by whom he will be sorely missed.

Jeremy P. Faulkner, of Griffin Georgia, died 29 March 2011, of wounds sustained in Konar Province, Afghanistan, while protecting our freedom. Please pray for the repose of his soul and comfort for his family, comrades and friends who remain here on earth.

Homebound

Mary, Donna, Betty, Noko, Adelaide, Evelyn, Lorraine, Ellie, Ray (Alzheimer’s Disease)

Healing

Marge, Christian, Lois, Ruth, Connie, Tom, Crystal, Thomas, Hadley, Diane, Norm, Gregory, Nancy, Bill (infection), Ernie, Ray, Hazel, Bruce (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, 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), Jeffrey (testing), Gary (sepsis; diabetic), Jim (stomach cancer), Kathleen (breast cancer), Mrs. Alvord, Angie, Madge, Jeannie (testing for breast cancer), Ed, Betty, Karl (Healing of his shoulder injury, but not having surgery), Stephen, Curtis; Angie, Madge, Veronica, Carmen, Dave (surgery recovery), Ed S (liver failure), 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), 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 (healing from fall, but still weak), Louis, Alan P (Stress test for chest pain), Lydia, 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, Liz, Jack, Bill, Corina, Liz, Robert, Mark, Paul, Gilbert, Susan, Jeff, Addison, Gene, Kathy (low platelet count due to chemo treatment), Larry F., Bill F. (swelling of ankles), Mabel (stroke), Gabriela G. (terrorist shooting), Chloe, Sheila, Ryan (abdominal pain), Ronnie, Scott (physical and testing), Alice, Liz, Charles, Vince, Rachel, Fred, Dot, Jim, Frank, Betty, Bert, Ronnie, Patty, Jack, Jenny, Eric, Marty, Chris B, Ellen A (on respirator moving to rehabilitation), Eunice (Knee replacement), Suzi, Marcelino, Ellen A, Marie F (knee surgery went well in rehabilitation), Holly

Kai Laukkanen, grandson of Bill and Mirjami Laukkanen's grandson, son of Heikki & Casey Laukkanen, born 21 December 2010, has been in the hospital for 3 days in and out of consciousness. He is weak and the cause is unknown.

Please pray for our Lord to enfold Kai and his family with his healing power. Let the power of our Lord guide & strengthen the skills of the medical team at the Children's Hospital of Austin, TX to diagnose and provide care to baby Kai. We thank and praise Him for all the grace and wonders that he bestows upon us all.

Madelyn Calvert, 22 Months, for whom we prayed at her birth at 24 weeks and one pound seven ounces, is now in hospital with pneumonia. She is having problems breathing. She seems to feel much better, but still needs oxygen. Please pray for a complete recovery for Madelyn and peace of mind for her family.

Bill Aitken had a full knee replacement on 18 April 2011. He was doing pretty well, then he started doing poorly. The night of 30 April 2010, he went to the hospital and apparently is having some kind of bad drug interaction. Please pray for guidance for the team treating Bill and for his recovery. Pray also for guidance for him and his wife Sara.

Melanie Zimmers has what appears to be a badly bulged disc at C5-C-6 which is causing radiating pain down her right arm and numbness in her thumb and forefinger. Please pray for resolution of her problem and a good attitude while a means to solve the problem is found.

June K has the shingles and did not get appropriate treatment until just recently. Please pray for her peace of mind, comfort and full and rapid recovery.

Hal Campbell underwent apparently successful surgery for a cancerous lesion on the inside of his cheek and the associated lymph node on 7 March 2011, at the VA hospital in Seattle where he will undergo six weeks of follow up Chemo and Radiation treatment to hopefully eradicate and cancerous cells that may remain. Please pray for a successful result and for his acceptance of Christ.

Kyle Thompson, CPL USMC was injured was seriously wounded while on foot patrol in Helmand Province of Afghanistan on 25 October 2010. He has been released to Camp Pendleton on casual status until his medical condition is clear. Likely he will be medically discharged.

You can reach out to him by emailing his father, Mike Thompson, at miket4k@yahoo.com. We may have a new address soon.

Todd Love, CPL USMC 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.

Send Todd a note or log on to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/toddlove.

Shamim Gray underwent a lumpectomy on Saturday 6 November 2010 at Bethesda Naval Hospital, with apparent great result. 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 in a extended care facility. 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.

Victor is a senior in declining health who is a non-believer whose trust is in science. He appears to have congestive heart failure, as well as a Urinary Tract Infection and a viral infection in his lungs. He feels terrible and as might be expected is depressed. 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 has made it home and to church in a new donated magic wheelchair. Please pray for further recovery for Becky, as well as strength and guidance for each of those involved.

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 woke to excruciating pain the morning of 2 January 2011. Please pray for resolution. He is a pharmacist and church leader in Georgia whose bladder cancer returned spreading to his pelvis a year ago is home after surgery on Monday 29 November 2010.

Please give thanks for George walking and continue to pray for George's complete healing; 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.

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 had additional 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 cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart muscle. The pacemaker installation helped a lot, but he lost ¼ of his weight, so he has to fight his way back. Keep praying for his continued recovery and for him Jere to maintain his trust in the Lord.

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, however now she is suffering the effects of shingles

Phyllis, Greg’s mom, to gain physical strength to overcome her frailties after her recent "small" stroke.

Rede Acker, Father Acker’s mom, seems to have done well recovering from her broken leg, just above where she had a knee replacement. She and her husband Jack are planning on traveling to visit the kids in a few weeks! This is wonderful! Please pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the good progress and pray for her continued health.

Evelyn Hunt is still having difficulty with her medication and other related problems. Please pray the doctor might find the right medication and doses for her treatment. Please pray for God's peace and goodness to surround her.

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.

Lee Thomas is in assisted living after a stroke and after a limited recovery. Lee is doing a tad better with his speech, but his balance is so bad he cannot walk unassisted even with his walker. There are times when he knows what is going on around him and with family, etc. but other times when nothing seems to register. It's very sad for him. He wants to be home, he cannot live there safely. 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 a year and a half ago. Vicky is home and making progress. She is now walking without a cane, which is real progress. However, the gains on her thought process are much slower. Her husband ran into a store and told her to just wait in the car for him; within a couple of minutes he saw her wandering through the front door. He's now keeping the car keys hidden. She repeats anything she tells you several times in the same conversation. She's come an incredibly long way but still has a long way to go.

Please pray for Vicky’s recovery and for peace of mind for her husband Doug and family, that they might keep their trust in the Lord.

Obra Gray continues to take day by day. 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. Obra needs security of what lies ahead of him, and only the Lord can grant the solace to answer his prayer.

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.

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.

Guidance

June D, Adam, Tom, Mary, Lloyd & Jennifer to be guided to a church

Breyana, Vie, Asha, Cory, Heather, Holly, William, Phil, Rick, 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), Errin, Elizabeth, Brandon, Steven, 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; Steven (strength); Vanessa H (trust), Jackie (God's grace), Jennifer, Virginia, Jeanie (upset over her husband's cancer problems), Curt (Still providing care for his wife, Jacque, who is undergoing chemotherapy), 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 sorts out the affairs of her sister Terri who passed away intestate, 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, 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, Karen F., Toni, Carmen, Vince, Vicki, Rick, Anthony, Salvatore, Danielle to be guided to God, Marcella, Mark, Stephen, Richard, Jenny, Beth, Byron, Hector, Virginia, Nick, Nancy (legal proceeding), Rachel, Stephen, Susan, Hap, Don, Keith, Virginia R, Joy, Steve, Betty, Eric, Mary, Terry, Fausto, Leticia, Russ, Scott, Jenny, Lupe, Patty, Neson, Stephen, Ashely, Barbie, Billy, Katrina, Marty, Medaline, Norma, Patty, Gayle (divorce), Veronica, Stephen, Jack (caregiving stress), Elizabeth (Financial Aid deadline missed; deciding what to do next term)

Steve asks that you pray for difficulties he is having with his family. Please pray that the Holy Ghost will enter into his heart and provide him with the heaven sent inspiration that he needs to see clearly and deal with problems and the courage to do what needs to be done in the manner it should be done.

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

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. 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, Housing and Other Needs

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, 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, RJ, Matt, Phillip, Julian, John Kelly (USN - USS Ronald Reagan), Evan (USMC-Afghanistan), Stuart (USMC-Afghanistan), Airman Donny Patton (RAF Mildenhall, UK), Josh (USCG), Julian (USMC), Jordan (USMC – AIT), Neal (USN-Afghanistan), Trevor (USAF - KC-10 Boom Operator), Trevor (USN – Pilot Training),

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

Ron Valkenaar, age 81, was treated and released from the hospital and is now living with his son in Nampa, Idaho, and is doing very well. He needs to lose weight and is now about 60 percent there! While he has been living with his son, his wife Betty has almost recovered from kidney removal surgery. Please pray for God’s guidance in their lives and that they might be at peace with His Plan.

Joan Balslev underwent what appears to be a very successful second lumbar surgery on 14 March 2011, her seventh surgery in the past couple of years. Please give thanks for the excellent result and pray for a complete and rapid recovery.

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 building slowly; we need God’s inspiration to figure out where to go next or keep on keeping on. 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.

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

8 May 2011 Tim Macauley

15 May 2011 Greg Chase

22 May 2011 Dru Arnold

29 May 2011 Sandy Patton

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.

Sunday

8 May 2011 – Second Sunday after Easter – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – Alpine Elementary School Auditorium – 1850 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA

Saturday

28 May 2011 – Cobblestone Cottage Tea Party – Cost $20.00, including tea and tip. Contact Jan Macauley to sign up – Time 1400 (2:00 pm); Location – Cobblestone Cottage – 1945 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA

Scheduling Announcements from the Minister: He is Risen! He is Risen IN DEED!

Next Vestry Meeting: June 19, 2011

Hey, mate! Did you know that Ashley is going to be the loving mother of a baby boy, Steven will be a proud father and weirdest thing of all, our Dad will be a GRANDFATHER. I mean, Mom seems able to handle it, but Dad?