Book Recommendation from Terry Mayclin
December 31, 2010
The Pursuit of Holiness
by Jerry Bridges
Available in the All Saints Bookstore
Recommendation from Terry Mayclin:
On the front cover of the book is a reference to 1 Corinthians 9:24; Run in such a way as to get the prize. This says it all. The book was originally published in 1978, republished in 1997 & 2006. John MacArthur stated: “This is surely one of the most important books produced in the last 50 years.” The book is a classic that makes you think and urges you to get real with God. It reminds us that, for professing Christians, Holiness is not an option.
Thank you from CAM
December 28, 2010
All Saints has received a nice letter from CAM thanking the parish for the recent donations of food and clothing.
All Saints supports Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) on an ongoing basis. Drop your clothing and food donations in the collection bin in Ballard Hall. Donations are delivered regularly.
New Year’s Eve Party
December 26, 2010
All Saints New Year’s Eve Get-Together!!
Time 7:30 PM til 12:01 AM
Potluck finger foods (chips, veggies, munchies of any kind)
Board games (bring games you’d like to play), visiting, possibly some music …
This is for adults and children alike. Come and join us in bringing in the New Year with fellowship and prayer for blessings on all of us and our families in 2011 and to thank God for the many blessings of 2010.
Everyone is welcome!!!
Liturgy Lesson for St. Stephen: Meeting Death with Courage
December 26, 2010
All we know of the first deacon (from diakonos—servant) and martyr St. Stephen comes from Acts, where it documents his outstanding faith, grace, Spiritual power, and wisdom (6:5, 8, 10).An expatriate Jew living in Greece, his Greek name means “crowned.” He was one of seven chosen to distribute assistance to Church widows, so that the apostles could be free for their spiritual tasks (Acts 6:1–6). Although selected for this practical ministry, he also exercised the Gifts of the Holy Ghost as well, acquiring distinction working miracles and preaching the Gospel. This earliest Church record of practical evangelism—special effort caring for the poor—freed the elders and bishops for worship, leadership, preaching, and discipleship duties. His service was not without personal cost, however, as it threatened the polite status quo of the local religious establishment. Consequently, synagogue leadership brought Stephen before a Sanhedrin kangaroo court on charges of blasphemy (6:9–14). He replied with a Scriptural survey of Israeli rebellion against God and how they continued in that tradition of their fathers by killing the Messiah (6:15–7:53). When he related that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (probably as advocate in his defense) the council’s rage boiled over, ordering him stoned to death (7:54–60). He met death courageously, praying as Jesus had done (Lk. 23:34), forgiving his persecutors and committing his soul into Christ’s keeping (cf. Lk. 23:46). Whether it was a legal execution or not, it seems that Pilate—the local Roman authority who normally lived in Caesarea— turned a blind eye to it all.
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass
December 22, 2010
The Vigil of the Nativity
Friday, December 24, 2010
10:30 PM
Candlelight Service of the Eucharist
Prelude Music: A Christmas Tribute by Grace Rains Brass, under the leadership of Mr. Marc Lumley
Blessing of the Creche
Holy Communion: all baptized Christians are welcome at the Lord’s Table
Anthems by the All Saints Choir: Unto Us, In the Bleak Midwinter, and Nativity Carol
Lighting of the Congregational Candles during the singing of Silent Night after Holy Communion
Flyer to send to your friends and loved ones to invite them to the service
Rector’s Devotional: Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas
December 22, 2010
Bible Reading: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth..”– St John 1:14
Bonus Readings: Luke 1:5-56; Luke 2:1-20; Isaiah 9:6-7; Romans 15:3a
Oh, yeah. It’s begun.
The rushing. The planning. The traveling. The obscuring. The depressing. The disappointing. Black Friday painted a powerful picture of what Satan would like Christmas to be about—the opposite of the real Nativity. But God calls us to come out from among the World around us…and be separate. That’s where we have the joy, devotion, renewal and rebirth. THAT’s keeping Christ in CHRISTmas.
OK—how?
Let’s look at the seasonal devotions. So many awesome chances to hear the Holy Ghost speak to our hearts. Lessons and Carols. Compline. Mass. The Advent Wreath and liturgies. I love ‘em all, but my fav has got to be when we all gather from our warm, well-lit homes to come together in the parish for our Christmas Eve Nativity Vigil, also called Midnight Mass. It has so many wonderful aspects. Lots of candles to remind us of the time we once had to meet at night, secretly. The scent of incense to remind us of our need for repentance and forgiveness. The blessing of the Creche, reminding all to prepare room to receive Him, every day, in our hearts. But, I think, for me, the best devotion of all is when the entire congregation genuflects together at the mention of the Incarnation during St. John’s Gospel reading.
Of all God’s expressions of love, this one hits home the most at this time of year. “The Word made FLESH” [emphasis mine]. The Prince of Heaven taking on our imperfect casing of dust. Heaven came down, and the least we can do is kneel at the mention of it. The least, seriously.
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“God calls us to come out from among the World around us…and be separate. That’s where we have the joy, devotion, renewal and rebirth. THAT’s keeping Christ in CHRISTmas.”
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But, although supremely cool, in a liturgical way, God doesn’t care so much about our physical posture…He wants a humble and contrite heart. A broken heart, if you will. This is the Gift He wants this year. Our hearts…broken. Busted. Not doing so great. Needing His help. Not all squared-away, but…needy. Poor. No resource. OK, if we’re honest, that’s us all. We just have to admit it. Kneel in our hearts.
Perhaps we’ve already gone there…but, perhaps, we haven’t. Or maybe we might have a little denial going on. How else do we kneel in our hearts? It’s that “W” word…our wills. We surrender our wills. Do what He wants. Advent gives us some tools:
Advent –the “Coming” teaches the “three advents”:
- Forgiven—no longer slaves to sin and passions—that first coming of Jesus into our hearts
- Freed—able to choose without duress, knowing He is Lord and Savior—allowing Jesus to come into the details of our lives
- Filled—empowered by the Holy Ghost to be doers of the Word, not just hearers—allowing Him to fill us by coming into us through the Holy Ghost—continuously!
Here’s the ticket: our honesty and our wills are the only gifts God wants from us. It’s ready to go, doesn’t need wrapping, and is supremely affordable—all it costs is a decision—that’s kneeling in the Heart. And when we kneel in the heart, we honor the Incarnation that ushered in the Abundant Life—all the joy, devotion, renewal and rebirth the Nativity brings us. That’s real CHRISTmas.
Pray about it: “A man is powerful on his knees.”—Corrie ten Boom
Contemplative Prayer: “Holy Spirit, show me how to kneel in my heart.”
A Christ filled Nativity,
Chip+
What Do You Want to Hear? by Father Ed Morgan
December 20, 2010
“Well done good and faithful servant.” Many times I have said that is what I want to hear when I stand before the throne of God. That would be the highest praise, I think, a person could possibly hope to hear. I don’t want to hear about grand achievements, wonderful leadership, sterling administrative skills (which would be a miracle in itself), or anything else. All I want to hear is “well done good and faithful servant” All else is emptiness born of man. My desire to be a good and faithful servant includes a willingness to be obedient to God and follow His Son, Jesus, who is the Christ. To allow the Holy Spirit to fill me and lead me into the fullness of life, life everlasting.
Oneisiphorus has two verse given to him in Paul’s letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:16-18) speaking encouragement, but also of persevering servant-hood. Paul says, “May the Lord show special kindness to Oneisiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me.”
Paul wanted God to show Oneisiphorus a special kindness because he visited and encouraged. What! Paul asks a special blessing for visiting and encouraging, not a special blessing for preaching or teaching, but for visiting. Where is the blessing on visiting and encouragement? Yet, Jesus did that very thing through out the Gospels. He visited the rich man’s daughter, visited the grieving mother on the loss of her son, visited the woman lying sick on her bed, visited the poor, the beggars, the Apostles on a boat tossed about in a storm. In each case of visitation he encouraged. When God sends angels to announce good news, the angels encourage by saying “do not fear or do not be afraid.” What an encouragement, when an angel of the Lord, a creature truly to be feared says, “do not be afraid,’ then continues with the message to be delivered. This is encouragement!
Visitation in circumstances that are uncomfortable is part of servanthood ministry. It is uncomfortable to sort clothes and stack cans of food at CAM, work as a dock warehouse worker at Daily Bread, or serve as host and hostess at the SAMM shelter, but these are visitations. It is out of the way, not of a normal routine. It is a seeking out of the living Word of God.
Paul goes on to say, “He was never ashamed of me because I was in prison.” Is it embarrassing to ask for a Christian service provider? I was in the hospital for a heart stint, and after the surgery the cardiac doctor came by to check on me. Julie asked him if he is a Christian. The doctor replied, “You can’t ask me that.” Julie informed him that as a doctor he might not be able ask the question, but the patient most assuredly would and does ask that question of you. He laughed, and then replied he was a Christian.
Look to do business with those blatant Christian business establishments. We seek out those places that honor God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the commercial marketplace. Jesus said if you are embarrassed by Him, then He doesn’t know you. Don’t be embarrassed to say Merry Christmas to those who say Happy Holidays.
Christ is worthy of being praised, yet Christ is an embarrassment to the world, to those who live in the lies taught by Satan, because Christ reveals the truth, the light, the hope of life everlasting. Seek Him everywhere until you find Him. Seek Him in worship and then invite Him to be your Lord and Saviour. Come to Christmas Eve service and find the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Seek Ye first the kingdom of God, and all else will be added unto you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Liturgy Lesson for the Fourth Sunday in Advent: Trust in Jesus
December 19, 2010
In Advent spirituality, we meditate on Christ’s birthing in our hearts. In this, we deal with the conversion of life—the movement away from our old life, lived under the power of evil—to a new life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. True conversion is a turning from one way of life to another. Christ calls us to be converted to Him, making him the pattern of our lives, our living and dying in Him. This can only be accomplished as we completely submit to Him and live our lives in respect to His paschal mystery and by the example He left for us to follow. In Advent we review, once again, where our faith rests and how we live. “Trust in Jesus” is not merely a onetime act, but a continuous choice, a moment-by-moment existence in Him. It’s a daily turning from a life lived for self to a life lived in step with the Spirit who continually molds us, if we will allow Him to do so, to be like Jesus.
All Saints Outreach at Strong Foundation
December 17, 2010
All Saints spent an evening with the children of the Strong Foundation Ministries. We provided child care for them while their parents attended an evening program. We also provided prayer, a Christmas message, refreshments and gift bags for all the children. A special thanks to all who participated and supported this outreach effort, especially to Emily Pratt who shopped for all the gift bag items and put them together.
Strong Foundation Ministries helps people get back on their feet, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. They offer shelter, food, and clothing to people in need.
God has provided them with a facility where they offer shelter on a case-by-case basis to homeless families with children. They are able to serve intact families—husbands and wives with children.
They believe keeping families together and showing them the love of Christ in action is a big part of what’s needed while they are getting on their feet. All Saints will be supporting this ministry in the future as part of our continuing outreach efforts. Please pray for this ministry and let’s give God the Glory. If you are interested in supporting this outreach ministry or other outreach opportunities, please contact Bill Wimp at outreach@allsaintsanglican.net.
Below are some pictures from the event!
Greening of the Parish and Potluck Lunch
December 14, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Beginning during the 11:15 AM service
Continuing after the service along with a potluck lunch and Koinonia
