February2015 The Messenger OF TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND LENT

Transcription

1 February2015 The Messenger 1 Growing as Disciples of Jesus Christ Through Worship, Learning, Fellowship and Outreach OF TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND LENT Therefore, my dear friends continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. Phil 2:12,15-16 Following Jesus is meant to transform who we are from the inside out as we become like Him. As NT Wright is fond of putting it, following Jesus gives us a new way to be human. As the above passage from Paul tells us, it is precisely this transformed life that is to offer life to the dark and broken world around us. We are to be living hope for a struggling and dying world. We are to be proof for those who yearn to know that there is indeed a real hope that things can actually be different. And yet we often don t see it. That always leads me to ask why? Many greater minds than mine have been asking the same question. NT Wright, in his book After You Believe, recalls a conversation with a banker in England after the worldwide downturn of As Wright inquired as to what it would take to fix the banking system that contributed so heavily to the debacle, his friend replied, Character The system is only really healthy when the people who are running it are people you can trust to do the right thing, not because there are rules but because that s the sort of people they are. (p. 10) Character, as DL Moody put it, is what you do in the dark. Character doesn t keep the rules in order not to get caught; character does what is right because of who we are. Could it be that what we need today, not just as a society, but as followers of Jesus, is a fresh understanding of, and appreciation for, the importance of building good character? Could it be that this is an integral part of what it means to follow Jesus? It seems that Paul would say so. This is exactly what Paul is getting at in his letter to the Galatians when he writes, So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Live by the Spirit and He will produce the character of Christ in you. It sounds so easy and wonderful. But one look around will show that good character isn t easy to come by. So how do we cultivate Christian character? Well intentioned Christians tend to vacillate between two perspectives: keeping rules and following their hearts. Rule keepers would say that we just keep on keeping the rules and eventually we will want to. Heart followers say just surrender to Jesus and it will all work out, eventually you will want to do the right thing from a changed heart. Ask either side, though, and they will likely agree: their scheme only works to a certain point. So is there something more we can do to produce good character? The answer to that isn t easy. Character doesn t just happen on its own. We must actively cultivate it. We do so through a proper practice of spiritual disciplines designed at rooting our lives in Christ and helping live by the Spirit. We actively involve our bodies in practices that in turn work to transform our minds and hearts. And we do these things for a prolonged time, not just for a little while. This Lenten season we will study Christian Character as a congregation through sermons and Soup Supper Teachings. We will explore what kind of character Jesus is seeking to produce in us. We will explore how we are supposed to cooperate in cultivating this character. Because it is Lent, we will also have an opportunity to engage in some disciplines the Church commends every year. There are three disciplines to highlight here. First, plan on attending special services, like Ash Wednesday and Holy Week Services. Second, plan on attending the Soup Supper Teachings on Wednesday evenings where we will explore character in greater depth and grow in fellowship with one another. Third, consider a Lenten Fast as a way to use your body to renew your heart and mind. Plan on engaging this Teaching Series to learn more about these opportunities and about the need to cultivate the kind of Christian Character that in turn allows us to offer living hope to the world. Yours in Christ, Fr. Karl+

2 FAMILY OBSERVANCE OF LENT The first time I decided to do a Lenten fast, I was a boy of probably seven or eight. With almost unbounded creativity, I decided to give up sugar for Lent. I was most likely successful in my fast for a whole three minutes on that Thursday morning, after Ash Wednesday successful until the Cap n Crunch cereal found its way out of the cupboard and mysteriously into my bowl. After my fall from Lenten observance and after many subsequent falls I marveled at Jesus stamina and fortitude in the wilderness those forty days. I marveled at the hardships of the people of Israel in the wilderness those forty years, surviving on nothing but manna and the providential hand of God. In other words, I felt something of the weight of discipline and temptation. I was given a glimpse into some major themes of the Christian Story. I hope that the kids in our parish can experience something of the significance of the Christian Story this Lent, too. I am not advocating for severe Lenten fasts. In fact, it is possible to observe Lent without giving up anything. We all have heard countless times, I am sure, that we can also take something on for Lent. This is a viable option for Lenten observance. Why not make Lenten observance a family event this year? Families could take on bible study or family prayer together, for instance. Families could give up something together like a favorite treat, television time, etc. Either way, this could be an opportunity for our kids to experience something of the weightiness and significance of the Story. So, give it a try and talk about it. See what conversations come up as you reflect on your Lenten observance together. And, interestingly, even if you all fail at various points in your observance, that too has value. For then the whole family can feel together the weight of discipline and temptation. The whole family can marvel together at the single -minded, always-obedient devotion of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has done perfectly where we fail. Yet his grace is always sufficient in the midst of our failures. I wish you all a blessed Lent. In Christ, Fr. Joe ASH WEDNESDAY Ash Wednesday is February 18th. We will be distributing ashes at three services: 7 a.m. in the Chapel at California Avenue 12:30 p.m. at St. John s Lutheran 7 p.m. at St. John s Lutheran 2 Trinity Family Ministry Growing Together in Christ Sunday School on the Campus of St. John s Pre-K 8th meet in the Sanctuary and then process to class at the Gloria hymn Youth Group - Sundays: 5:30-7:00 pm 2/1 - NO Youth Group 2/8 - Frazier Park Snow Day (TBD) 2/15 - Youth Group 2/22 Outreach Quiet. Meditations. All welcome. Lenten Quiet Day Retreat Mark your calendar Saturday, March 14 From 9am to 1pm Ages to Ages is moving forward toward our future facilities. The Property Team presented a Purchase Sale Agreement with the land developer to the Board on January 8, which was adopted. We have formally entered escrow, which is scheduled to close in mid-february. Valley Republic Bank approved a property loan in mid-january and a construction loan in late January. Our Architecture Committee has sprung back into action and is working with specialists to do the design development necessary to produce construction documents. Construction documents should be complete by the end of August, at which time we will submit them to the city. After the city approval process, which should be complete by November, we will bid the project and anticipate construction beginning in January For this type of project, this process is moving at a quick pace. Please hold the Property Team and Architectural Committee in your prayers as they continue this exciting work.

3 VALENTINE BAKE SALE CONFIRMATION CLASS Confirmation is open to adults and students Our ACW will be hosting a Bake Sale for all Valentines on Sunday, February 8th. This will take place after the 10:30 service at St. John s. 10th grade or higher Classes held Sunday mornings from 9:15-10:15 at St. John s Lutheran Six Weeks starting Sunday, April 12th If you would like to make some home-made goodies to donate, please bring them that morning. If you have any questions, please contact Stana Bright. All are welcome to attend the classes. May 31st Confirmation with Bishop Menees Contact Fr. Joe for more information GUEST WHO DINNERS First Intentional Holy Communion All are invited to attend our Guest Who? Dinners on Saturday, April 25th, at 5 p.m. Meals will be served in the homes of some of our church members, which makes this a wonderful way to get to know each other. A few days before the dinner, you will find out where you will be eating, and what other guests will be joining you. Tickets are $10 and will go on sale on March 15th. Child Care will be provided at the church office for a small charge. Preparation Sunday, March 22 9:30-10:15 a.m. This class is designed for baptized children in 1st grade or older, who have either not yet received Communion, or would like instruction. Students 1st Intentional Communion will then take place on Easter Sunday. Contact Fr. Joe LENT AT TRINITY ANGLICAN Soup Supper and Compline Wednesdays in Lent at the First Congregational Church in the Plymouth Hall (5 Real Road). Programs run from February 25 through March 25. 6PM. NEW(ER)COMERS CLASS March 28 9am-2pm A new Sermon Series on Becoming Like Jesus: Cultivating Christian Character beginning the week of February 22. If you are new(er) to Trinity and would like to know what Trinity has to offer, make some new friends, and learn how to get more involved and how to become an official member, join us on Saturday, March 28th, from 9 a.m., to 2 p.m., at the Trinity Offices (5100 California Ave. Suite 108). HOLY BAPTISM What will we do? Food! Light refreshments and lunch Instructed Eucharist why we do what we do in worship Basic Anglican beliefs The mission and structure of Trinity The next date for Baptism will be on Sunday, April 12th. If you or your child are ready to be baptized, please call the church office to make arrangements. Call the Church Office ( ) to register. 3

4 In The Parish Family Congratulations to Tom & Betty Holson on the baptism of their great granddaughter, Stella Karnes. Fr. Joe & Joette Lawrence on the baptism of their son, Andrew. Jennifer Pryor and Nicholas Hennagin on their marriage on January 17th. Jan Minot and Jack Salter on their marriage on January 24th. In Sympathy to Rob Sawyer and his family of the recent death of his brother, Dennis. Joy Rose and her family on the recent death of her brother, George Antonaros. MEMORIAL GIFTS Trinity s Altar Guild has several opportunities for you to remember a loved one or to commemorate a special event. Memorials and commemorations are essential to our worship services and greatly appreciated. Memorial gifts are available as follows: Altar Flowers $50 Wine and Wafers $30 Aumbry Light $20 For further information or to schedule a date for your gift please call Linda Schuler at Checks should be payable to Trinity Anglican Church Altar Guild and mailed to Linda at 308 Tiffany Drive, Bakersfield, CA FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS Elijah Partian Susie Dietze Michael Longbottom Sandy Roper KellyLudwin Madeline Ming Kevin McEwen If we have omitted your birthday, please call the office ( ) and give Tara the date. Eden Carroll Tom DeNatale Ben Fitzgerald Merry McCalley Solomon Poon Elaine Kelly Bob Yerry 2015 Board of Directors Jacob Longbottom Mildred Woods Congratulations to our newly elected Board members: Guy Lingo Jeff Mendoza Olga See Mark Smith Our officers are: Senior Warden - Mike Young Junior Warden - Kevin Ray Treasurer - John Cronen Clerk - Anne Giles Continuing Board members are: Marilyn Brown Ron Christolear Lynne Hall Steve McCalley Chad Savage DHC The Daughters of the Holy Cross will be having a new members class beginning on Sunday, February 1st. If you are interested in joining or if you have any questions, please call Lori Pflugh at or TRINITY STATS Attendance January 4th 204 January 18th 212 January 11th 220 January 25th 201 Giving Year-to-Date December Actual Budget Actual Budget Income $49,486 $44,625 $577,961 $535,000 Expense $74,820 $44,484 $531,157 $519,554 4

5 Trinity Anglican Church 5100 California Avenue Suite 108 Bakersfield CA February 2015 WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Morning at St. John s Lutheran Church 8 a.m. Holy Communion (1928 Prayer Book) 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion (Rite II) Thursday Morning 10 a.m. Healing Service 5100 California Avenue Suite 108 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mike Young Kevin Ray John Cronen Anne Giles Marilyn Brown Ron Christolear Lynne Hall Guy Lingo Steve McCalley Jeff Mendoza Kevin Ray Chad Savage Olga See Sr. Warden Jr. Warden Treasurer Clerk 5100 California Avenue #108 Bakersfield CA Office Fax office@trinitybakersfield.com OUR CLERGY The Rev. Karl E. Dietze, Rector The Rev. Joseph Lawrence, Assistant The Rev. John M. Wilcox, Retired The Rev. John LaMar, Deacon OUR STAFF Sue Wagner, Director of Music Tara Michaels, Office Manager Kendi Miller, Bookkeeper The Messenger 5