Alpha Kick-Off Dinner December 8th
November 30, 2009
The Kick-Off Dinner for the Alpha Course will give participants a chance to learn about the course, which begins January 5, 2010. Come to the dinner at 6 PM on Tuesday, December 8th to enjoy food and fellowship and information about Alpha.
Make your reservation by e-mailing alpha@allsaintsanglican.net.
Christmas Shopping with All Saints
November 30, 2009
Last Friday was the big shopping day for brick-and-mortar stores, but today (Cyber Monday) is the big day for online shopping.
You can avoid the crowds and save time, gas, and hassle by shopping online, and if you shop in the All Saints Mall or the All Saints Bookstore, your purchases will also contribute to fundraising for the parish.
Many of the major online retailers are part of the All Saints Mall, so you can shop at your favorite stores. Just start in the All Saints Mall and follow the links from there to your favorite stores. That tiny step of going to the online mall rather than going directly to the store’s Web site will ensure that All Saints earns a commission on any purchases you make.
The All Saints Bookstore is powered by Amazon.com, and your order will be processed by the online store just as if you shopped on the main Amazon.com Web site. By shopping through the parish bookstore, though, you don’t have to wonder if you’re ordering a book with content that will embarrass you and offend your Christian faith.
The bookstore depends on recommendations from parishioners, so if you don’t see books you want to order or favorite books you would recommend to others, e-mail webmaster@allsaintsanglican.net with your suggestions. You are also encouraged to submit short reviews to the same e-mail address help your fellow parishioners choose books.
There is only one disadvantage of shopping online with All Saints this year. Store clerks and other shoppers won’t be able to see the Christmas buttons we’re all wearing to remind the world of the reason for the season. However, you will still have plenty of opportunity to wear your buttons everywhere else you go throughout Advent.
What is the meaning of the Advent wreath?
November 29, 2009
This object helps us to focus our devotions to our Lord in this special season and is a circle of evergreens surrounding four candles; during our prayer time daily, one is to be lighted the first week, two the second week, three the third week, and four the fourth and last week before Christmas. On Christmas Eve, a candle representing the birth of Christ is lit in the center of the wreath.
The circle stands for the eternity of God.
The evergreens represent life and growth, as well as eternal life in Jesus Christ.
The candles symbolize the Light that has come into the world. Three are purple – the traditional color of Advent, signifying both a time of personal repentance and preparation for the coming of Christ and the color of royalty, as Christ is the heir of King David. One candle, traditionally lighted on the third Sunday of Advent, is pink – this is “joy” or “rose” Sunday, a time in the midst of a season of reflection to celebrate the event we are anticipating – Jesus’ return—as well as the event we celebrate—His birth!!! On Christmas Eve, a white candle, representing Christ, is lit in the center of the wreath. The wreath can be used all through the Christmas season, which ends on January 6th, Epiphany.
In our homes, the Advent Wreath may be placed on your dining table or in some other place where the family may gather round it. In the parish, it is most often placed on the pavement (floor) inside the sanctuary rail.
Liturgy Lesson for the First Sunday in Advent: Three Advents
November 28, 2009
Advent! The name conjures ancient and traditional images of candles…wreaths…and anticipation…of the coming Nativity…but, more importantly, of Christ’s Second Coming. Over the centuries, the Church has developed a specially-focused spirituality for Christians during Advent, to help them examine themselves in light of St. Matthew 24:43-45, which speaks about being ready for the Lord’s return. To this end, our seasonal Sunday liturgies and daily Scripture devotions have been designed to guide our Advent journey into a deeper experience of the mystery of Christ, with special appreciation for how He came to us—and for what purpose. Not surprisingly, then, our Fathers in the Faith have chosen Scriptures accenting three Advents: the Advent of Christ’s physical birth in Bethlehem, the Advent of Christ coming into our own lives, and the Advent of his Second Coming at the history’s end. This discipline of liturgy, daily reading, and contemplative, Spirit-led prayer in this season of anticipation calls us to a personal encounter with the living person of Jesus and His purpose for our lives, as we invoke the help and presence of the Holy Ghost. Consequently, when the Spirit edifies us through these added devotions, it will be helpful for us to think about how we should journey and grow through the season—and to ask ourselves—if the Lord were to come today, would he find us ready to meet Him? Maranatha—come quickly, Lord!
God Working in Our Lives by Lillie Ammann
November 27, 2009
As we sat in my office saying goodbye to a visiting friend, Jack complained of being dizzy. I told him to sit still for a minute and see if the dizziness went away. After our friend left, I asked Jack how he was feeling. When he tried to tell me he was still dizzy, he slurred his speech. I looked at him and saw his mouth dropping on one side. I asked him to raise each hand and foot, and he could lift his right hand and foot very only a few inches.
I was sure he was having a stroke and called EMS immediately. When the ambulance arrived, the EMTs said they, too, thought he was having a stroke.
I called Father Chip while they were loading Jack in the ambulance. Father Chip prayed with me over the phone and activated the prayer chain. By the time the ambulance reached the hospital, Jack was improving, and he was diagnosed with a TIA (transient ischemic attack or mini stroke). Most of his physical symptoms have gone away now except for a little weakness, and I’m sure he’ll have his strength back soon.
Praise God! I am convinced those prayers turned a stroke into a TIA.
Jack said, “I called on God for help, and He came flying on the wings of the wind.”
Liturgy Lesson for Thanksgiving: Eucharist as Thanksgiving
November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving, established by the Continental Congress in the 18th century, is a day we traditionally gather to feast and remember the Lord’s mercy and blessing to us all. In the Church, we offer our thanksgiving more often. Called Holy Communion, Mass, the Lord’s Supper or Holy Eucharist (Greek: “Thanksgiving”), Anglican Christians have observed this holiday with special prayers and lessons for the Eucharist celebrated that day. Rightly, Christian thanksgiving should focus on this service—which we hold at All Saints on Thanksgiving Eve. This is a very proper observance, since the sacrament of Holy Communion was ordained, as the Catechism says, “for a continual remembrance of His death and the benefits which we receive thereby.” But it’s more than a memorial meal. St. Paul wrote, by God the Holy Ghost, in 1 Cor 10:16, that it’s actually koinonia—partnership, as at the altar of sacrifice, in the Lord’s Blood and Body. This is one of the deepest mysteries of the Gospel—imparting Jesus’ life itself to our spirits. It is also a means we confess Christ to the World, while honoring Him by “showing forth His death until He come.” And we should partake in it as often as we have opportunity, in obedience to His command, and to edify ourselves and resist sin. With good reason, the ancient Church celebrated daily—they were thankful they had survived another day—and needed as much of Christ’s nature as they could get to face the new day. Consequently, they always linked thanksgiving with Communion. Real thanksgiving, then, is given to God our Father, thanking Him for His provision and asking for more of Him…less of us.
Book Review: Morning Coffee with James
November 23, 2009
Morning Coffee with James by Renae Brumbaugh
Available in the All Saints Bookstore
Review by Lillie Ammann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The book is a combination devotional and Bible study. Each devotional covers a few verses of the Book of James with comments about what James was saying to the receipients of his letter and what he is saying to us today. Then comes a thought-provoking question, a prayer, cross-references, and a concluding quote.
Renae’s faith and personality come through strongly in her writing voice. You feel like you’re sitting down with her over a cup of coffee discussing the words of the brother of Jesus.
Rather than telling others how to live better, she writes as a sinner herself saved by grace and struggling to live out her beliefs in her daily life. Other Christians who are following the same path will find Morning Coffee with James a worthwhile addition to the devotions.
Worship with All Saints on Thanksgiving Eve
November 22, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 6:30 PM, Eucharist
Service Bulletin
Liturgy Lesson for the Sunday Next Before Advent: Spiritual Workout
November 21, 2009
At one time I sat on a working committee tasked with assembling a new prayerbook. The bishop went around the room asking everyone which prayerbook we used. When I responded, “The 1928 Book of Common Prayer,” someone asked why we would not adopt a more modern language version. I responded by saying what we do in God’s house in worship is our work before Him, like working out in a gym, and that since the older language forces us to pay more attention, then, if we worship in Spirit and Truth, it will yield a more disciplined and focused result. There are huge analogies there. First, we make a considered decision to go to work out and prepare ourselves by being properly rested and dressed for the task. In the gym, we wear clothes suitable for the exercises. The same is true with what we wear to worship—except instead of sweats and t-shirts, we wear our best to reflect the spiritual exercises we do. Once we arrive at the gym, we don’t immediately rush to the equipment—we set it up for us and get stretched and warmed up. Ditto for God’s gym—we do an examen—asking the Holy Ghost to show us where we need to confess and/or forgive, and then we spend time in prayer, doing our preparation for worship—our warm-ups and stretches. In the gym, we would not do our exercises wildly, but would exercise proper form to derive the desired effect. Same in the People’s Work—aligning our bodies, souls, and spirits towards the end of rendering service to God and welcoming His Presence by the Holy Ghost into our lives, to change us from what we would be without this work into what He intends for us to be. After we finish, we leave, grateful for the workout, feeling energized and better equipped for the day. The same way when we do the liturgy, powered and guided by the Holy Ghost—the Word convicts and edifies us, and Jesus reveals and shares Himself with us in the Sacraments and prayers. And we are healthier because we work hard!
Are You the Vanilla in God’s Recipe? by Anne Pargeter
November 20, 2009
Did you know that God was a master baker? When He set out to create the world, like all great chefs, he first gathered all of His ingredients together. He knew what talents He wanted each of His creations to have in order to create a perfect world. And like a great chef, He knew even the smallest ingredient could make all the difference in the success of the final product.
Many chefs often add as little as a teaspoon of vanilla to a recipe. They know even though diners may not taste it in the final dish, that a touch of vanilla can turn a merely good dish into a truly delicious one. The vanilla works with the other ingredients to enhance them and make them come together better than they would on their own.
In His Plan for You, a teaching on LaDonna Taylor’s Web site that inspired me to write this piece, she writes, “ I remember how much I wanted to play the violin like a great classical violinist. I thought I had to have a virtuoso technique to offer God the most excellent music…I didn’t feel good enough to be accepted or chosen.” She put her violin aside for many years, but writes “God didn’t forget about His plan for my life.” As those who attended her appearance at All Saints will tell you, she is certainly using her talents in the way God planned for her to do.
Too often, like LaDonna once thought, we feel we need to be perfect or to make a big difference in the world to be worthy of God’s acceptance. We lose sight of the fact that God has gifted each of us with exactly the right talents and abilities to fulfill the role He has planned for us in His creation. How can we be sure of that, or even know what role God wants us to play? The best way, the only way, is to simply believe in Him, read His Word everyday, and listen to His leading directing us along the path He wants us to take.
“This person is so much smarter than I am, or this person is so much better at organization and making things happen than I am,” you say. That may be true, but they ARE NOT YOU. They don’t have that unique something, that essence of vanilla, that God gave you. You were custom made by Him to do what He wants you to do to build His Kingdom on earth. You may doubt that what you have to offer is good enough, but God is never in doubt.
“Just give Him what you have and He will use it. You don’t have to wait for anything. Just start doing something that you like to do and do it for God…When you start, you will realize that you have connected with, and have begun to accomplish His plan,” writes LaDonna.
I would just add, be proud of what you can offer. Remember even a teaspoon of vanilla can make a big difference!
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” II Timothy 1:9
