Transportation to Church for the Disabled
April 30, 2010
If you are having problems getting to church, VIA Metropolitan Transit provides paratransit transportation on a subscription basis for $1.75 per trip.
To qualify for VIAtrans, riders must be unable to ride a regular city bus and submit an application signed by their doctor.
Complete details and the application form are available on the VIA Web site.
Don’t let a mobility problem keep you away from worship. Sign up for VIAtrans and join us each Sunday.
What I Learned from the Plant World by Lillie Ammann
April 30, 2010
I grew up on a farm so you would expect me to know something about plants. However, south Texas was experiencing the worst drought in history for much of my childhood. Though we’ve been in a drought more severe than the 1950s drought, the earlier one is considered the worst because it lasted so long—more than seven years.
My father turned to chicken farming after it became impossible to grow crops or provide feed and water to the cattle. He even gave up growing his beloved vegetable garden because he couldn’t water enough to keep the plants alive.
So as a young adult, I had no experience with plants. When I worked as an employment counselor for the hard-core unemployed in the 1960s War on Poverty, I wanted to brighten up my dreary office. I bought a small ivy plant at a church bazaar. I dug up some dirt from the backyard and planted the ivy in a small cheese crock. In spite of my lack of knowledge, the little vine thrived.
Mr. Martin, the supervisor of another department and a plant lover, brought me a mother-in-law’s tongue (a.k.a. snake plant) as a companion to my little ivy. Still knowing nothing about plants, I followed the same formula as I had for the ivy: dirt from the backyard in another little cheese crock with no drainage. Like my church-bazaar vine, the mother-in-law’s tongue thrived.
Then Mr. Martin, a heavy smoker, told us he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. The day he went into the hospital for surgery, the snake plant started looking limp and pale.
Whoa! This had to be a coincidence, but I wasn’t going to take any chances. I decided I should learn something about plants. I bought a book and discovered I should have used potting mix instead of backyard dirt. I should have used a container with a drain hole or at least put a layer of rocks on the bottom of the crock for drainage. I bought potting mix and new containers. I haunted garden centers and asked questions until the clerks were ready to throw me out. If someone recommended plant vitamins, my plants got vitamins. If an expert said I need to fertilize, I fertilized.
All the attention seemed to make a difference. The little plant perked up and started looking like its normal happy self about the time Mr. Martin was released from the hospital.
All went well until Mr. Martin took a turn for the worse. So did the snake plant. I read more books; I asked more questions; I followed more advice. Mr. Martin improved, and so did the plant—temporarily. For the next few months, Mr. Martin had a series of ups and downs, and so did the plant he had given me. When Mr. Martin lost his battle with cancer, the little plant looked worse than it ever had. When I returned to the office after his funeral, my little snake plant was just a pile of mush on my desk.
Although I couldn’t save that little plant, in the process of trying to, I had accumulated dozens more plants (that soon grew to hundreds), acquired enough knowledge that people were asking me for advice, and developed a love for plants.
I could write a book on the lessons I’ve learned from the plant world. But the most important lesson—the one I learned when I tried to keep a plant alive as a sort of talisman of a person staying alive—was written long ago far more eloquently than I could express:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (KJV)
Reprinted from A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye
Liturgy Lesson for St. Mark the Evangelist: Preach the Gospel
April 25, 2010
The Church has set aside saints’ days (such as St. Mark we commemorate today) in honor of the first martyrs and those mentioned in the Gospel as most nearly connected with our Blessed Lord in the work of establishing His Church and in honor of all those who have given their lives for cause of the true Faith of the Church. They’ve been established for us to study and emulate their virtues and thank God for their examples. It is important to note—we don’t pray to the saints or address them directly in devotion, but, rather, we may ask our Heavenly Father for our share of their prayers in Heaven. The first record we have of a saint’s day comes from the second century, although it probably existed far earlier. The practice grew from ancient Christians meeting at martyrs’ graves on the anniversaries of their deaths for the Faith Eternal to celebrate their Godly virtues and bless God for their pure lives and heroic examples. The great truth for us in observance of saints’ days is that the saints on Earth are fellow-citizens with the saints in paradise, and all, whether living or dead, are members of one great Heavenly parokia, or parish—the family of God—the Communion of Saints. Like Christians we meet, our spirits can “bear witness” with the saints, because we resonate on Christ’s spiritual frequency—one Faith and one Baptism for the remission of sin. We are all rewired to our Lord’s specification. And, we can take joy in that we are empowered, just as St. Mark was—to preach the Gospel, regardless of the cost. And, like him, we have a great company with us to God’s purpose in our lives. For the Kingdom!
Some of the Saints of April by Anne Pargeter
April 24, 2010
One of the Evangelists, two early Archbishops of Canterbury, and the patron saint of England who allegedly killed a dragon are just some of the Christian Saints traditionally honored by the Anglican Church in April.
St. Alphege, whose feast day is April 19th, was the Archbishop and “the First Martyr of Canterbury.” Born in 953, St. Alphege became a monk in the Deerhurst Monastery in Gloucester, England. After a few years, he asked to become a hermit. He received permission for this vocation and retired to a small hut near Somerset, England. In 984 he became the bishop of Winchester. He served there for two decades and was revered for his care of the poor and for his own austere life.
King Aethelred the Unready used his abilities in 994, sending him to mediate with invading Danes. The Danish chieftain Anlaf converted to Christianity as a result of his meetings with Alphege, although he and the other chief, Swein, demanded tribute from the Anglo-Saxons of the region. Anlaf vowed never to lead his troops against Britain again.
In 1005 Alphege became the archbishop of Canterbury, returning from Rome after being named as archbishop in Rome by Pope John XVIII. He returned to England and was captured by the Danes. The ransom for his release was high. Alphege refused pay the ransom, an act which infuriated the Danes. He was hit with an ax and then beaten to death. Revered as a martyr, Alphege’s remains were placed in St. Paul’s Church in London. The body, moved to Canterbury in 1023, was discovered to be incorrupt in 1105. His emblem is an ax, and he is depicted in his pontifical vestments or as a shepherd defending his flock.
Another early Archbishop of Canterbury whose saint’s day is celebrated in April is St. Anselm, who is honored on April 21st.
Anselm’s desire to become a monk led him from his childhood home in Italy to a famous monastery in France. He studied the great writers of the Church, including St. Augustine, and spent much of his time teaching and writing important books that explained some of the deepest mysteries of Christian faith. It is believed that Anselm gave us the term theology and defined it as “faith that is seeking to understand.”
Anselm served as England’s Archbishop of Canterbury during a very turbulent period in history. The king, William II, wanted to appoint bishops and other Church officials. Anselm disagreed and was sent into exile. Anselm returned after William’s death, but the new king, Henry I, also wanted control over Church appointments and the large income that came from church-owned property. He, too, sent Anselm into exile. Eventually, Anselm returned to England, but he continued to make decisions based on his belief in Jesus and Church law.
Anselm fought against injustice. He opposed slavery and was responsible for a law being passed that forbid the selling of human beings. He organized efforts to care for poor people in England. Like Jesus, he was a true shepherd of his people. He listened to their problems and answered their letters with loving but firm advice.
Perhaps the best known English saint is St. George, the Patron Saint of England. Although he is well known, very little is actually known about him and his life.
It is likely that Saint George was born to a Christian noble family in Palestine during the late third century. At the age of 14, George lost his father; a few years later, George’s mother died. George decided to go to Nicomedia, the imperial city of that time, and apply for a career as a soldier. He was welcomed by the Emperor as he had known his father. Eventually, George was promoted and stationed as an imperial guard of the Emperor.
In the year AD 302, the Emperor ordered that every Christian soldier in the army should be arrested. George objected and with the courage of his faith approached the Emperor and ruler. George loudly renounced the Emperor’s edict, and in front of his fellow soldiers he claimed himself to be a Christian and declared his worship of Jesus Christ. The Emperor attempted to convert George, but he refused to denounce his faith.
Legend, possibly based on early Christian morality plays, portrays George as a hero who slays a dragon, rescues a fair maiden, and through his faith converts a city to Christianity. According to the legend, a dragon makes its nest at the spring that provides water for a city. To get water from the spring, the citizens have to dislodge the dragon from its nest for a time. To do so, each day they offer the dragon at first a sheep and then a maiden in sacrifice. The victim is chosen by drawing lots. One day, this happens to be the princess. The monarch begs for her life to be spared, but to no avail. She is offered to the dragon, but Saint George appears, faces the dragon, and protecting himself with the sign of the cross, slays the dragon. The grateful citizens abandon their ancestral paganism and convert to Christianity.
St. Mark the Evangelist, who is remembered each year on April 25th, is traditionally believed to be John Mark, a missionary companion of Paul and Barnabas and an associate of the apostle Peter. His mother was part of the early Christian movement in Jerusalem, and it was to her house that Peter returned when he was released from prison. It is also believed that St. Mark is the young man who ran away naked when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52). He is also believed to be the man who carried water to the house where the Last Supper was held (Mark 14:13).
Mark eventually traveled to Alexandria where the people resented his attempts to turn them from their worship of Greek gods. In AD 68 they placed a rope around his neck and dragged him through the streets until he was dead.
The Book of Mark is believed to be the first Gospel that was written. It is the shortest and most active of the four books that tell of the life of Jesus on earth.
Not Comfortable But Like Jesus
April 22, 2010
“God’s goal is not to make us comfortable, but to make us like himself, ‘to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.’ (Romans 8:29). ~ Pastor Ralph Wilson, Discipleship Lessons from John’s Letters, Lesson 1
Christ Our Victory
April 20, 2010
Bible Reading: “23And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]. 24For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].”—Luke 9:23-24 (Amplified Bible)
Bonus Reading: Luke 14:26-28; John 14:5-7;2 Corinthians 3:4-5
This year for Lent, we added a number of new services to Holy Week—at least two services every day, building in number and intensity as the week moved toward Easter Sunday. So, we set our pace and settled in…early mornings and late evenings, along with our usual weekly routines. The schedule was a little busy, but, that was still all good—a day in His courts…better than a thousand! It was a good “busy.” That’s when the Lord had some fun with my time management…again.
I got the news: my very best friend in my days coming up called me to tell me that his son was graduating from Air Force Basic Military Training School at Lackland AFB on GOOD FRIDAY…a day we planned five services and a screening for the Gospel of John. I had to flex to be at Lackland AFB, but it was great to see my friend as well as the flower of American youth in their new uniforms. Even though time was scarce, this was so worth it. Drill and ceremonies…the ancient practice of the most basic of military skills—originally used to position warriors for battle—was the morning’s centerpiece, as these young warriors honored the ancient practices of chivalry and parade.
With every step on the parade ground, I was with them in my memories…familiar cadence and discipline…martial music…fluttering Colors and the wonderful feeling of passing the reviewing stand in the company of like-minded comrades—unified for a purpose. After the ceremony, I left, not just with a nostalgia, but an assurance—our country is in the hands of a unified, trained, and equipped force committed to the mission of protecting us from those who wish us harm.
I returned to All Saints to prepare for Good Friday services—we were doing the Stations of the Cross at noon—walking the Via Dolorosa—the Way of Pain—with Jesus. It occurred to me this was very similar to the basic training graduation parade. We were passing in review behind the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And this was a graduation parade of far more reaching consequence—like the new airmen that left their old civilian lives, we left our old lives of the bondage of sin and flesh and Satan to march behind our Savior—the Rock of Ages. This was a victory parade!
The power of the moment was overwhelming. Christos Nika—Christ our Victory! Our devotions reflected our discipline and training at the hands of His Holy Ghost and our Church Militant. We, too, are unified against an Enemy who wishes us harm. In the marching from station to station, like our processions, we were positioning ourselves for battle, standing fast with our comrades, wearing the uniforms—the full armor of God—that we have in the new nature Jesus won for us, when He told us He made all things new.
Jesus told us to do just what those outstanding young people at basic training had done: deny ourselves—not just do whatever suited our old, unchanged natures; take up our cross—the heavy instrument of execution—killing off that old nature; and follow Him—do the things He did. If we do that, the entire spectrum of life changes for us. We know there’s nothing the World can do to us…we’re already dead to it. Even though the stakes are hugely higher, the assurance is even more rock-solid. And the thing is this: every day we form ranks behind the Lord. Every day we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. Every day is a graduation and victory parade.
Our lives are in God’s plan, not man’s. And Jesus told us plainly that we would do greater things than He did in His ministry and inherit the authority of His Kingdom, powered by the Holy Ghost. And to follow Him—easy. He said that if we loved Him, we simply did what He told us to. And His words to us are clearly documented in His Word. Simple.
And here’s the good part of the Good News for us this Easter season: the confidence I felt in our military—capable though they are—pales in comparison to the confidence we have in our Lord. He told us plainly: in this world, we will have rough times—tribulation. But He’s overcome it.
So, every day is Stations of the Cross. Every day, we form ranks and march behind our Lord. Every day is graduation and victory, because HE IS RISEN—HE IS RISEN, INDEED! Pass in review!
All love in the Beloved,
Chip+
Liturgy Lesson for the Second Sunday after Easter: IC XC
April 18, 2010
Eastertide is the most important season of the Christian year and is best characterized by the prayerbook canticle for Easter, “Christ is risen, alleluia!” Celebrating the Resurrection, it is the keystone in the arch of Christianity and reminds us that if Christ had not risen, then we, in St. Paul’s words, would still be slaves to sin and death. But He did rise, indeed—and this is a season for celebration, rightly proclaimed by the symbols of the season which point to His victory. One of these, used on our parish prayer list and displayed above, is the combination of the Cross and the abbreviations IC and XC, short for IHCOYC, or “Iesous” (Jesus)–a transliteration of the Hebrew “Joshua,” meaning “Jehovah is salvation.” The same symbol is combined with the Greek word “Nika” meaning “victory”—incidentally, the same word used for the popular athletic apparel manufacturer, Nike. This little symbol is a quick summary of God’s plan of salvation and empowerment for us, as it shows us who paid our debt to God, and where—and what it gives us in this life and the next—complete victory over everything, even death itself. That is a reason to celebrate!
National Day of Prayer 2010
April 15, 2010
San Antonio will observe the National Day of Prayer on May 6, 2010 on the steps of City Hall. The service starts at noon; pre-service music begins at 11:30 AM. 
More information is available at the San Antonio National Day of Prayer Web site.
Liturgy Lesson for the First Sunday after Easter: Eastertide
April 11, 2010
This is the first Sunday in Eastertide, the oldest festival of the church year—and one that rightly enjoys a far greater emphasis than Lent, which is, more than anything else, a spiritual examen to prepare us to receive the joys and empowerment of Resurrection life made possible by Easter’s victory. In ancient times, there was one long festival between Easter and Pentecost, correctly linking the two great holidays as one spiritual event—the birthing of the Church Militant by the conquest of sin and death and subsequent coming of the Holy Ghost. The early church called Easter “Pascha,” derived from the Hebrew word for Passover and our faith’s Hebraic roots. The liturgical color of the season is white, honoring our Lord’s purity and royalty. The symbols of the season are pleasant, in contrast to the hard symbols representing the unpleasantness of our falleness we discover and overcame in Lent. Eastertide symbols tie to the Resurrection—typified by the lilies decorating the nave and sanctuary areas. This flower represents the season in two ways: (1) it blooms at the appropriate time and (2) the seeming decay of the bulb before its growth, beauty, and fragrance is an icon of the Resurrection. Alleluia!
The Real Presence of Christ in Communion
April 7, 2010
Anglican Answers
Q: I”m interested in attending All Saints, but I have a question. Do you believe that the Holy Communion is the body and blood our Our Lord Jesus Christ?
A: We are catholic, evangelical, and charismatic. We do, indeed believe in the mystical Presence of the Lord in His Body and Blood of Holy Communion. And you’re welcome among us.
He is risen!
