Reminder: Confirmation Sunday & Jake Hill Concert
January 8, 2010
Bishop David Bena will confirm and receive new members and celebrate the Eucharist at 11:15 AM on Sunday, January 10, 2010.
There will be no 9:00 AM service on Sunday.
Christian singer Jake Hill will give a concert Sunday evening at 6 PM, followed by a reception in the parish hall.
Book Review: A Thread of Truth
January 8, 2010
A Thread of Truth by Marie Bostwick
Available from the All Saints Bookstore
Review by Lillie Ammann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A great sequel to A Single Thread, continuing the heart-warming story of the compelling characters. Even though I have no interest in quilting, I enjoyed reading about the quilters because the quilting was just a backdrop to an enjoyable Christian story.
Liturgy Lesson for The Feast of the Epiphany: Manifestation
January 6, 2010
Today we commemorate the ancient Feast of the Epiphany, meaning “manifestation” or “showing forth.” The festival, which has specific devotions for an octave, or eight days, celebrates the day the Lord first revealed Himself to the Gentiles, in the persons of the Magi (Wise Men) from the East, who traveled to Bethlehem to see Him following His birth. This “showing forth” meant non-Jews could now share in the Gospel and privilege of membership in God’s family. The Magi presented Him gifts—gold, recognizing His royalty; frankincense, recognizing His divinity; and myrrh, an embalming spice, prophesying His death as mankind’s Sacrifice. Originally called the “Epiphanies,” in ancient times it also commemorated the finding of the Boy Christ in the Temple, His Baptism, and First Miracle. We sustain this ancient remembrance in the Gospels we read on the Sundays to follow. Epiphany begins on January 6th—12 days after Christmas—and extends to Septuagesima Sunday, the third Sunday before Lent.
Concert by Christian singer Jake Hill
January 5, 2010
All Saints Anglican Church of San Antonio will host a “one-time only” concert by musician Jake Hill, January 10th at 6 PM.
Composer, studio engineer, vocalist, and world class keyboard player, Jake studied piano, organ, voice, recorder, and music theory as a young boy. By the age of 12, he was performing in the company of Arthur Fiedler of the Boston Symphony, Seiji Ozawa, Michael Tilson Thomas of the Philadelphia Philharmonic, and The Boston Opera Company, to name a few.
When asked about his life in Christ, Jake answered, “”God has used music to reach me from the very start. At a crossroad in life — June of 1992 — my choice was death or spiritual life. The answer did not come quickly, or easily, until I remembered music. My daily prayer is to be a vessel for Him, and to a life of Service to God and my fellow man. I think the more people can relate the crossroad in their life, and not the details of mine, the more we can all relate…and that brings us together in Jesus.”
Jake received scholarships from The Boston Archdiocese Choir School and The New England Conservatory of Music, attending N.E.C. and Boston College High School at the same time, all by the age of 18. Although spending most of his energy writing and recording his own projects in Nashville, TN, Jake is involved in studio work via email and is available for concerts around the country, as well as solo and fill-in keyboard player here and abroad. Thousands of hours in studio time writing his own material for film, pop music, and digital music for the Web, make Jake a dynamic, precision live player.
Eucharist for Epiphany
January 4, 2010
The Feast of the Epiphany will be observed at All Saints with a Eucharist service at 7 PM on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.
There will be no Wednesday Night Supper Club.
Liturgy Lesson for the Second Sunday after Christmas: Taking Communion Worthily
January 2, 2010
In orthodox Anglican practice, unconfirmed members need to be confirmed before receiving Holy Communion, although they are welcome at the rail for a blessing at the hands of the celebrant in any Holy Communion service. That being said, since our confirmations only take place once a year, our supervising bishop has granted permission for the rector to admit baptized members to Communion. This may take place for anyone who has been baptized, but not confirmed, after a simple interview to make sure the baptized person understands the gravity of the Sacrament—with the understanding they are to be trained and confirmed as soon as possible. This is so important that we deliver the Exhortation, taken from our Book of Common Prayer, to all our members three times a year—after the Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church, in the Holy Communion service. It includes these words: “For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament; so is the danger great [emphasis mine], if we receive the same unworthily. In the case of children, our job is to make sure they are taught and can fully grasp what the Holy Communion (and all our Christian practice) is about. Our duty as a parish (family), is to protect and teach the children, raising them up—as Scripture teaches—in the “way they should go,” to establish Godly patterns for their adult life, while protecting them from making unhealthy choices—of all kinds!
