Volunteers and Donations needed for Neighborhood Outreach
November 30, 2010
We need volunteers to assist with Christmas gift bag assembly for the kids in the nearby Larkspur Elementary area, on Saturday, December 4th at 10:30 am in Ballard Hall. We also need volunteers to pass out these bags on Saturday, December 18th at 1:00 pm in the neighborhood to introduce people to All Saints.
The bags will contain candy, small toys, an All Saints brochure, and information on services and Youth group and Children’s Sunday School, as well as a tract with a Christian-themed message.
We are soliciting donations to support the Christmas gift bag outreach and the Larkspur Elementary’s winter coat drive for students.
Those interested in supporting these two outreach projects can donate their time and/or can write checks payable to All Saints and designate Larkspur Christmas bags and/or Larkspur coat drive on the memo line. Or you may give cash in an offering envelope and designate what the money is for. If you’re interested in volunteering in assembling bags or distribution of the bags, please contact Bill Wimp, outreach@allsaintsanglican.net.
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass
November 29, 2010
Our Christmas Eve service is a very special time of worship, and we encourage you to invite others to share in the joy of our Savior’s birth.
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2010
10:30 PM
Spread the word with this flyer you can email or print and share.
Liturgy Lesson for the First Sunday in Advent:Maranatha!
November 28, 2010
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!
The Holidays Begin with Thanksgiving
November 27, 2010
Bible Reading: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.”– 2 Chronicles 20: 20-21
Bonus Readings: Psalm 7:17; Psalm 107:7-9; 1 Cor 15:57; 1 Thess 5:17-19; Rev 11:17
The holiday season in America begins with that uniquely American holiday, Thanksgiving. Contrary to the popular culture, it’s not about stuffing ourselves, football, shopping, or even family. It’s about pausing to honor God as our Source and thank Him for His provision during the past year. Its origins are linked with His provision, not plenty rendered by our own hands. Consider the original Pilgrims.
They left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. Although filled with uncertainty and peril, the move offered both civil and religious liberty unavailable in 17th century Europe.
For over two months, the 102 passengers braved the harsh, stormy North Atlantic. Arriving in Massachusetts in late November, they sought a suitable landing place. On December 11, they landed at Plymouth Rock.
After a prayer service, the Pilgrims began building hasty shelters. However, unprepared for the starvation and sickness of a harsh New England winter, nearly half died before spring. Yet, persevering in prayer and assisted by helpful Indians, they reaped a bountiful harvest the following summer.
The grateful Pilgrims then declared a three-day feast, starting on December 13, 1621, to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends. While this was not the first Thanksgiving in America (thanksgiving services were held in Virginia as early as 1607), it was America’s first Thanksgiving celebration.
Pilgrim Edward Winslow described the Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving:
“Our harvest being gotten in… we…, after a special manner, rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors… and although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD WE ARE…FAR FROM WANT.”
Powerful words.
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“By God’s goodness we are far from want.”
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In 1789, following a proclamation by President George Washington, America celebrated its first national Day of Thanksgiving to God. That same year, the Protestant Episcopal Church (Anglican Church), where President Washington was a member, announced the first Thursday in November would be its regular day for giving thanks, “unless another day be appointed by the civil authorities.” Yet, despite these early national proclamations, official Thanksgiving observances usually occurred only at the State level.
Much of the credit for the adoption of a later ANNUAL national Thanksgiving Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book. For thirty years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, finally convincing President Abraham Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War to set aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving. Over the next seventy-five years, Presidents followed Lincoln’s precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day. In 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as the national holiday we know today.
Lincoln’s original 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation came—spiritually speaking—at a pivotal point in his life. During the first week of July of that year, the Battle of Gettysburg occurred, resulting in the loss of some 60,000 American lives. Four months later in November, Lincoln delivered his famous “Gettysburg Address.” It was while Lincoln was walking among the thousands of graves at the battlefield he committed his life to Christ. As he explained to a friend:
“When I left Springfield [to assume the Presidency] I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.” The stress of the Civil War and the manifest frailty of human life demonstrated in the killing fields of that conflict had convinced Lincoln: Jesus was the Way, Truth and the Life. The natural response for him, as for the Pilgrims, was to be grateful to God for His mercy and provision to us.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving each year, we first should ask our wonderful Heavenly Father to restore the original gratefulness to God of the Pilgrims and founding fathers, remembering their Faith underpinned their courage and vision. If we see our Country in the crisis it truly suffers, this is our best hope. So it was for God’s people throughout Scripture—typified in 2 Chronicles 20, when King Jehoshaphat and the Israeli nation faced destruction once again. Facing the uncertain future, he, along with his people, prayed for God’s deliverance and provision:
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“We thank our Heavenly Father, as did the Pilgrims and Founding Fathers, because we know we have no other Source.”
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“LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ He finished his entreaty by exclaiming to God, “We don’t know what to do…but our eyes are on You.” King Jehoshaphat then bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.
This is the essence of Thanksgiving…prayer and supplication—a word that, in the original Greek, stems from a root that means “privation…indigence.” We thank our Heavenly Father, as did the Pilgrims and Founding Fathers, because we know we have no other Source.
But…what happened with Jehoshaphat? He appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.” His humility before God, worship and public thanksgiving yielded great results; Israel won the battle without even lifting a weapon. Sadly, however, the king allowed pagan altars to remain in Israel, and his reign ultimately failed. Although he did render thanksgiving, he did not give up the comforts of idolatry. This is the other big lesson…He provides for us, so our land belongs to Him alone. The other half of thanksgiving is to ask Him to show us where we hold on to the World, just because it’s there…and tear that down. That’s the least we can do for His mercy and grace. Real thanksgiving is a life rendered for Jesus!
Pray about it: “It would seem that the ingratitude, whereby a subsequent sin causes the return of sins previously forgiven, is a special sin. For, the giving of thanks belongs to counter passion, which is a necessary condition of justice. But justice is a special virtue. Therefore this ingratitude is a special sin. Thanksgiving is a special virtue. But ingratitude is opposed to thanksgiving. Therefore ingratitude is a special sin.”—Saint Thomas Aquinas
Contemplative Prayer: “Holy Spirit, show me if I live thanksgiving and tear down the high places in my life.”
All love in the Beloved,
Chip+
Liturgy Lesson for Thanksgiving: The Mass as Thanksgiving
November 24, 2010
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.
Outreach to the Larkspur Elementary Area
November 23, 2010
Bill Wimp, Outreach Coordinator, announces that All Saints is soliciting funds to purchase items to go into Christmas gift bags for kids in the nearby Larkspur Elementary area. These bags will be passed out at Christmas time in the neighborhood to introduce people to All Saints.The bags will contain candy, small toys, an All Saints brochure, and information on services and Youth group and Children’s Sunday School, as well as a tract with a Christian-themed message.
We have estimated the cost of each bag to be approximately $5.00. Emily Pratt has volunteered to assist with buying the bags and items. We will also need volunteers to assemble the bags and to distribute them. We are planning a bag assembly day on Saturday, December 4 and a distribution day on Saturday, December 18.
We are also soliciting donations to support Larkspur Elementary’s winter coat drive for students.
Those interested in supporting these two outreach projects can write checks payable to All Saints and designate Larkspur Christmas bags and/or Larkspur coat drive on the memo line. Or you may give cash in an offering envelope and designate what the money is for. If you’re interested in volunteering in assembling bags or distribution of the bags, please contact Bill Wimp, outreach@allsaintsanglican.net.
National Bible Week
November 22, 2010
National Bible Week has been observed during Thanksgiving week since 1941. The goal is “is to raise awareness of the Bible’s importance and relevance to our nation as a whole, as well as in the lives of individuals.”
Here at All Saints, our slogan,”Ancient, Classical, Scriptural, Spirit-led,” demonstrates the importance of Scripture in our faith and in our parish life. We believe the Bible is God’s Word Written—perfect and infallible. We use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, approximately 80% of which is taken directly from Scripture, in our worship services. We encourage parishioners to use the Prayer Book Daily Offices—Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer—in their private and family devotions.
Among our discipleship programs are several opportunities to study the Word of God.
- Wednesday Night Supper Club includes intensive verse-by-verse study of one book of the Bible at a time.
- Beth Moore Bible Study studies a topic based on a passage of Scripture.
- Adult Sunday School features a curriculum heavily grounded in Scripture.
BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent, 1928 Book of Common Prayer)
Liturgy Lesson for the Sunday Next Before Advent: Working out with the Prayer Book
November 21, 2010
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!
Thanksgiving Eve Service
November 18, 2010
Father Chip wrote in his Thanksgiving devotional:
The holiday season in America begins with that uniquely American holiday, Thanksgiving. Contrary to the popular culture, it’s not about stuffing ourselves, football, shopping, or even family. It’s about pausing to honor God as our Source and thank Him for His provision during the past year. Its origins are linked with His provision, not plenty rendered by our own hands. …
Eucharist is Greek for “thanksgiving,” and All Saints, we observe Thanksgiving with the Eucharist. Worship and give thanks with us on Thanksgiving Eve at 7:15 PM. If you have out of town company, bring them with you. All baptized Christians are welcome at the Lord’s Table.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thanksgiving Eve
7:15 PM
Bulletin
CAM Needs Help!
November 16, 2010
An update from Bill Wimp, who coordinates our outreach with CAM, outreach@allsaintsanglican.net
CAM reports in the last 3 months, they have seen a record number of clients—at least 1000 more clients per month than average! They are regularly serving over 200 individuals a day.
Unfortunately, their donations of food, clothing, and dollars have not been able to keep up.
All Saints has done a wonderful job of giving and volunteering to this important ministry. CAM needs our help to serve these folks in need. Your food and clothing donations can be dropped off in Ballard Hall. You can also make a money gift this Sunday. Make your checks payable to All Saints and designate CAM on the memo or place cash in an envelope and write CAM on the envelope.
Please pray for this ministry and let’s give God the Glory.
