The Messenger. January 2013 OF ST PAUL S ANGLICAN PARISH. The Season of Epiphany

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1 January 2013 The Messenger OF ST PAUL S ANGLICAN PARISH The Season of Epiphany During the month of January, we keep the season of Epiphany. The word itself means, revealing, manifestation, making known. Epiphany is the day that we celebrate Jesus manifestation to the world as we commemorate the arrival of the Magi from the East. As the wise men came to greet the King who had been born, Jesus was made known to the world, and the world, in a foretaste of the future, worshiped at His feet. The length of the season after the Epiphany is determined by the beginning of the next season, Lent, which is, in turn, determined by the date of Easter. This year, the season will last until February 12 th, the day before Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. As a teaching tool, Epiphany commemorates several key events in Jesus life. First, the season begins, as we have said, with the arrival of the Magi on the Feast of Epiphany. Most scholars agree that the visit of the Magi did not occur until Jesus was no longer a newborn, perhaps as late as two years after His birth (based on Herod s edict to slaughter all males two years old and younger). Second, we remember the Baptism of Jesus on the first Sunday after the Epiphany. At Jesus baptism, when the Father said, This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased, Jesus was revealed (epiphany) to Israel as their Savior and His public ministry began. In Jesus baptism, we are reminded that Jesus was born (Christmas) in order to lay His life down for the sins of the world. Third, we celebrate Jesus Transfiguration on the last Sunday after Epiphany. It is a fitting conclusion to a season of manifestation as Jesus reveals His glory to Peter, James, and John just before making the final trek to Jerusalem to die. Many churches will celebrate this day as World Mission Sunday, acknowledging the privilege and duty of the Church to make Jesus known, to the ends of the earth. As we commemorate these events in Jesus life, we are drawn deeper into the theme of Mission. The liturgical color for this season is green, signifying growth as the Church engages in the work of making Jesus known to all the world. For many Christians, though, Mission means activity that takes place far away, overseas. While Mission certainly does take place overseas, more technically defined, Mission is simply taking the gospel to another culture. While Evangelism focuses on those of our own culture, Mission reaches out to those who are different. One of the benefits of being American is that we do not need to leave our own town in order to engage in Mission. We are surrounded by different national cultures, and, truth be told, we are surrounded by a Postmodern American Culture few of us innately understand. While that certainly presents a challenge, the Season of Epiphany calls us to rise to that challenge and make Jesus known. Yours in Christ, Fr. Karl+ 1

2 God s Word as a Means of Grace Over the last few months, we have sought to define grace, distinguish between God s common and saving grace, and explore how the Law and the Gospel differ and function. This month we will look briefly at how God s Word dispenses grace into our lives and discuss some applications. John Calvin wrote that, The highest proof of Scripture derives in general from the fact that God in person speaks in it...the Word is the instrument by which the Lord dispenses the illumination of his Spirit to believers. God s speaking to us and the Spirit s illumination are acts of God s grace. In the broad sense, we receive this grace when the Word is preached, studied and taught, meditated upon and memorized. When we come into worship on Sunday, we should be praying expectantly that God will speak to us through the sermon and that the Spirit would help us to focus. The same is true when we go to corporate Bible study and during our personal study. Furthermore, since we all suffer from spiritual amnesia, it is wise to seek to develop the practice of savoring and chewing upon God s Word through meditation and memorization. In closing, let s look at 8 ways that God uses His Word as a means of grace in our lives: 1) to bring grace to the guilty 2) to bring conviction to the proud 3) to free the ashamed to live transparently 4) to give hope to the failing 5) to provide proper motivation for good works 6) to comfort the dying 7) to create communities rooted in Christ s love 8) to bring glory to Himself. Certainly more could be written, but let us end instead with a question. How is God s gracious Word at work in you? In Christ s Love, Mark + These 8 applications were taken from B. Cosby DISCIPLESHIP GROUPS Come grow as a follower of Jesus through studying God s word in fellowship with others Sunday School (10AM) Parent Connection aims to assist you in building upon what your children are learning in Sunday school. It is available on our website under Growing in Christ. Youth Group (Sundays: 5:30-7:00 p.m.) 1/6 Teaching - Prayer: What is it? 1/13 Game Night at Church 1/20 Teaching - Prayer: How does it work? 1/27 Serving Dinner at the Mission 2:45-5:30 Contact Fr. Mark with? s mark@stpaulsbakersfield.org NEED PRAYER? The Daughters of the Holy Cross, a national Anglican women s prayer group, is dedicated to praying for the people and mission of the Church. They want to pray for you! The Daughters will be calling families on the St. Paul s Roster to see if you have any prayer requests or needs. Look out for your call! You can get your requests to the Daughters by filling out a prayer request card found in the pew on Sunday mornings. Just fill out the card and drop it in the collection plate! Mexico Mission Trip Cinnamon Roll Fundraiser Sunday, Jan. 13th after services Please support our youth going to Mexico this summer to build a home with Amor. Youth Group Game Night Jan. 13, 5:30-7pm Keep logging your hours. We are rapidly approaching 5000 hrs of love & service to our community. YG Serving Dinner at the Mission Jan. 27, 2:45-5:30pm 2

3 In The Parish Family Thank you All of our Altar Guild ladies for all of the hard work they did in decorating our beautiful church for Thanksgiving and for Christmas. The Choir, Ushers, Acolytes, Lay Readers, Lectors, and all the volunteers who made our Christmas celebration so powerful! 3rd 9th 10th 11th 14th January Birthdays Arlene Burrow Evan Foster Alice Underhill Hazel Perkins London Ray Sawyer Smalley Jan Smith 16th 17th 24th 25th 26th 27th Pete Smith Paul Wagner Jake Young Sophia Willis Harlene Haskett Noah Hall Sympathy to Lisa Thomas and her family on the loss of her baby granddaughter, Mia. NOMINATION COMMITTEE REPORT The Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence and his family on the death of his mother, Bertha. ACW NEWS We are in need of people to serve at our Coffee Hour each Sunday. There is a sign-up sheet on the ACW bulletin board in the hallway. If you have questions, please call Debbie Gibson. At our meeting on Thursday, January 17th, at 5:30 p.m., our guest will be Susie Dietze. All women are invited to attend. Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 21st, at 5:30 p.m. We are hosting a night of BUNCO. ROOM USE RESERVATIONS With our many ministry and study groups, and groups like the Afterschool Arts Enrichment Program (GPAPA), St. Paul s is a busy, happening church. If you would like to use one of the rooms at the church (Fireside, Forum, Parish Hall, Church), it is necessary to reserve it through the church office. INSTRUCTED EUCHARIST Have you ever wanted to better understand our service of worship? Some of our distinctive Anglican beliefs? Come join us for an Instructed Eucharist and learn more about our Anglican beliefs and heritage in worship. Saturday, January 12th, at 10:00 a.m. The following names have been put forward by the Nomination Committee for the Board of Directors and Delegates to Diocesan Convention. All of the following persons meet the criteria previously published. If a nomination comes from the floor of our Parish Annual Meeting, satisfaction of requirements will still need to be made and will happen at that time. Board of Directors: Four members to be elected Marilyn Brown Ron Christolear Lynne Hall Jeff Mendoza Bryan Oberg Larry Ray Delegates to the Diocesan Convention: Five delegates to be elected Cathi Chrisco Mary Carpenter Susan DeNatale Chris Miller Sandy Roper Chris Thomas Sarah Thomas Click here for Nominee Profiles ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Our Parish Meeting will be on Sunday, January 13th at 11:30 a.m., in the Parish Hall. Lunch will be served and we encourage all members to attend. We will be electing new members to the Board of Directors and Delegates to the Convention. 3

4 FEAST OF ST. PAUL Saturday, January 26th Silent Auction & Wine from 5-6pm Dinner from 6-7pm Mark your calendars now for our traditional celebration of the Feast of St. Paul. Join your church family and friends for food, fun and fellowship. All are invited! Please come and share some delicious food and wonderful entertainment. Auction announcements immediately after dinner Tickets go on sale January 6th Adults $8.00 Couples $15.00 Children $3.00 LITTLE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF SACRIFICE WINTER RETREAT February 1-3, 2013 at ECCO LECTOR MEETING Saturday, January 12th, 1 p.m. in the Church For more information call Pam Stout at or visit documents/lbss%20winter%20retreat%202013%20new% 20one.pdf BISHOP S VISIT AND CONFIRMATION On Sunday, January 27th, our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Eric Menees, will be at St. Paul s for a Reaffirmation of Faith and for Confirmation. Confirmation is appropriate for those who have never been confirmed in another Christian body. If you are interested in being Confirmed, Received, or Reaffirmed, please call Fr. Karl at CHALICE BEARER MEETING Saturday, January 12th, 2 p.m. in the Church HOLY BAPTISM The next service of Baptism is scheduled for Sunday, January 6, If you or someone you know would like to be baptized, or if you have any questions, please call Fr. Karl. 4

5 St. Paul's Anglican Parish th Street Bakersfield CA th Street Bakersfield, CA Office Fax check us out on Facebook! WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Rite I - 8 a.m. Rite II - 10 a.m. Sunday School at 10 a.m Service - 12 noon Thursday Healing Eucharist 10 a.m. in the Chapel The Messenger 5 January 2013 Our Clergy The Rev. Karl E. Dietze, Rector The Rev. Mark Hall, 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 Sheri Sorkhi, MOM s Preschool Director