The Saint Andrew s Epistle

Transcription

1 The Saint Andrew s Epistle The weekly e-newsletter from Saint Andrew s Anglican Church, a parish church in the Anglican Diocese of the South (ADOTS) led by The Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). st andrews hsv.com October 12, 2016 ************************************************************************************************************** Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost at Saint Andrew s Church ~ Sacrament of Holy Communion at 10 am ~ Confirmation & Reception ~ Fellowship Potluck Lunch ************************************************************************************************************** ~The prayer team is meeting from 6:30 to 7:15 pm on Thursday at Saint Andrew s Church. ~The Saint Andrew s intercessory prayer team meets at 9:15 am each Sunday upstairs before church. Everyone invited to join. Contact Kelly Hatley for information or prayer requests. Each month there will be a different focus or theme for the prayers. Prayer is not preparation for the battle prayer is the battle. ~ Oswald Chambers ~ Thursday from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. At Cafe 153, Bridge Street City Centre shopping mall. Studying the book of Hebrews. Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years. ~ Charles Spurgeon

2 Bishop Frank Lyons Visits this Weekend This is a short biography of Bishop Lyons who will visit Saint Andrew s Church for confirmation and reception on October 16th. Early life, education, and career Born in Maryland in 1954, Bishop Lyons was raised in an Episcopal parish near Potomac, Maryland. That means he is a dyed in the wool, true-blue, Baltimore (who moved to Indy) Colts fan, a Manning fan and an Orioles fan. At 17, he discerned a calling to serve as a bishop, based on 1 Timothy 3:1: Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Bishop Lyons holds four graduate degrees from Wheaton Graduate School, Nashotah Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Carey Theological College. He attended Wheaton College for both bachelor and master degrees. It was there that he met his future wife, Shawnee. He attended seminary at Nashotah House (an Anglo-Catholic seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles from Milwaukee). Bishop Lyons was ordained in 1980 in the Episcopal Church's extra-provincial jurisdiction in Ecuador, where he and his wife served as missionaries. They later served at churches in California, and then from 1993 to 2001 in Honduras. The Lyons were supported by the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders. The Lyons have five adult children. Two daughters, both married, live in the Chicago area. One married son is in Florida. Another married son is in the Air Force at Maxwell for the moment. And, another son who is attending Trinity School in Ambridge, PA. Episcopacy Bishop Lyons became known in the United States for providing oversight to theologically conservative Episcopal parishes who wished to break away from the Episcopal Church after its consecration of Gene Robinson as a bishop in By 2007, he oversaw as many as 40 parishes and was an active participant in the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone's role in the Anglican realignment. These U.S. parishes were known as the "Northern Deanery" of the Diocese of Bolivia. In 2001, Lyons was elected bishop of the Diocese of Bolivia, one of seven dioceses in the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America. The diocese was very small; at the time of his election, it included only four parishes. By 2012, that number had grown to eight. In August 2012, Bishop Lyons accepted an appointment as assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Last January, Archbishop Foley appointed him to serve as Assisting Bishop in the Anglican Diocese of the South. Saturday, Oct 15 4:20 pm - Dinner with the Vestry 6:30 pm - Bishop Teaching at St Andrew s / refreshments Sunday, Oct 16

3 10 am - Sacrament of Holy Communion Confirmation & Reception Fellowship Potluck Lunch The confirmand for the October 16th visitation by Bishop Lyons is Jonathan Mack. The candidate for Confirmation undertakes instruction in the Christian faith, and formation in prayer, worship, bible reading, giving and serving. All parishioners should encourage, support and pray for Jonathan. Tracy Perkins of St. Andrew's and Sibley Thomas of St. David, Florence will be received into the Anglican Church. Preparing for the Bishop s Visitation Pictures during worship In today s climate people want to take pictures. While it is acceptable, it is not appropriate to have people walking all over the church with flashing cameras and video cams. Therefore, sit where you wish to record from or take non-flash pictures from and stay there. After the service, Bishop Lyons is glad to take pictures with all who desire it. Visitations by the bishop are expected to be times of renewal and refreshing in the Holy Spirit for the congregation, the clergy and the bishop. This will not occur without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which only occurs when people have been praying and fasting for God to have His way in the service and meetings. Please prepare for the bishop s visit by praying daily for God s anointing on the services, on the bishop, on the ministry of the Word, on the administrations of the Sacraments and that all who are present encounter the Living God through Jesus Christ our Lord. On Saturday, October 15th, the bishop will lead an interesting teaching/discussion on the topic of Missions. Refreshments will be served after the Bishop s teaching. Hope to see you there. It is appropriate to take up an offering for the bishop s discretionary fund when he visits, which is used to help priests, people and with other various needs. Checks should be made out to: Saint Andrew s Church. On the memo line at the bottom of your check write: Assisting Bishop s Discretionary Fund. You may place your check in the offering basket during the next two weeks. All parishioners are encouraged to attend Saturday evening. This would be an excellent opportunity to invite a guest. Refreshments and time to speak with the bishop will follow the meeting.

4 Women s Fellowship this Thursday! A pumpkin painting party at Kimberly Mack s house on Oct. 13 at 6 pm. Her live-in chef Jonathon will be making either chili or jambalaya. He wants the group to vote on which it prefers. She will also have pumpkin bread. You can bring a side dish or dessert if you like, but don t feel you have to. Also, BYOP (bring your own pumpkin). Kimberly will have the paints and brushes. Kimberly. Address is: 209 Maigold Circle, Madison. For painting ideas, go to google images and search for pumpkin painting. October 16 th Fellowship Potluck Lunch Bishop Lyons visit Sign-up list on table by the front door. Because of food allergies to peanuts and tree nuts (almond, walnut, pecan, etc.), please do not use these items. Also, label spicy foods for delicate appetites. Drinks & Ice - Godwin Sides - Matthews,C Hatley Main Dish - Jesionowski, Dam, Edington Dessert - Leake, Williamson Gospel Coalition s NO OTHER GOSPEL Reformation 500 and Beyond The Gospel Coalition 2017 National Conference celebrates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, unleashed by God in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg door. Six plenary talks will proclaim the gospel of grace from Paul's inspired letter to the Galatians. Another three plenary talks will recount God's work in the lives of Luther, John Calvin, and other leaders in the broader Reformed tradition. Among our usual lineup of workshops, more than 10 will explore in-depth Reformation issues such as why the Reformers didn't unite in one church and where their missional legacy continues today. With 65 speakers and over 50 topics, it promises to be an event to remember. St. Andrews is hoping to send a group to this training. It is taking place in Indianapolis, IN, April 3-5, Pricing is better the earlier we register and if we have a group of at least 5, pricing gets even better. Additionally, Groups of 10 or more may qualify for additional discounts. Early Registration Through Oct 31 Regular Tickets $174 Groups (5-9)* $149 Regular Registration

5 Through Jan 15 Regular Tickets $199 Groups (5-9)* $169 Final Registration While Supplies Last Regular Tickets $219 Groups (5-9)* $194 If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Joye Williamson at (or at church on Sunday) as soon as possible so we can determine our pricing. We can carpool up there together and share rooms, where feasible. For information on the various plenary sessions and workshops, go to: 2017.thegospelcoalition.org. Church Flowers October November Stout C. Hatley Sign-up list on table by the front door. Flowers are a good way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, remember a departed family member or friend, or to give thanks for special blessings in your life. Flowers can be supplied by the church for $20. October November Sign-up list on table by the front door. Involves making coffee before church and providing some kind of snack (store bought or homemade) or church supplied for $25. St. Andrew Volunteers Worship Team Schedule A spirit of service, a gift to the church To volunteer, contact Dixie Hawkinson (momfrau@aol.com) Paper copies of the April - June Worship Team Schedule are available on the information table located in the back of the church. Date LEM Acolyte Intercessor Reader Oct 16 Sutton Eno None Matthews 23 Stout Stout None R Sutton 30 Debbie Counts Stevenson None Fletcher

6 Date Usher Lord s Table Nursery A/V Booth Oct 16 Leake, Stout Leake Stout T Jesionowski, Latham 23 Hawkinson, Whitt Mack Mack H Jesionowski, Dam 30 Counts, Jesionowski Jesionowski Sutton Counts, Latham This week pray for the people and clergy of our sister diocesan church: Good Shepherd Fellowship Jasper, AL asking you Lord to bless and strengthen their ministry and fellowship to be good witnesses for Jesus Christ. Amen. Seen on a roadside church readerboard No one stands as tall as a Christian on his knees. No one can ignore Jesus forever. Most things wrong in your life started by forgetting the things that were right. ~ St. Andrew s participates in a community outreach to help feed the hungry in Madison. You can donate by placing your cans in the large, red bin located at the back of the church. This would be a great teaching moment for each child to select and donate a can.

7 ~ The Apparent Project takes your cereal boxes to give to their artisans in Haiti to turn into beautiful beads. The artists keep the money from selling the beads to care for their familie s. To contribute your colorful cereal boxes, flatten them and place in the large, red container used for food bank donations located in the back of the church. I want the presence of God Himself, or I don't want anything at all to do with religion... I want all that God has or I don't want any. ~ A.W. Tozer Every heresy is due to an overemphasis upon some truth, without allowing other truths to qualify and balance it. ~ John R.W. Stott We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring. ~ Oswald Chambers We have the truth and we need not be afraid to say so. ~ Bishop J. C. Ryle 8 Symptoms of False Teaching Bishop J.C. Ryle, Bishop of Liverpool ( ) 1. There is an undeniable zeal in some of the teachers of error: their earnestness makes many think they must be right. 2. There is a great appearance of learning and theological knowledge: many fancy that such clever and intellectual men must surely be safe guides. 3. There is a general tendency to free thought and free inquiry in these latter days: many like to prove their independence of judgment, by believing novelties. 4. There is a widespread desire to appear charitable and liberal-minded: many seem half ashamed of saying that anybody can be in the wrong. 5. There is a quantity of half-truth taught by the modern false teachers: they are incessantly using Scriptural terms and phrases in an unscriptural sense. 6. There is a morbid craving in the public mind for a more sensuous, ceremonial, sensational, showy worship: men are impatient of inward, invisible heart-work. 7. There is a silly readiness in every direction to believe everybody who talks cleverly, lovingly and earnestly, and a determination to forget that Satan often masquerades himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). 8. There is a widespread gullibility among professing Christians: every heretic who tells his story plausibly is sure to be believed, and everybody who doubts him is called a persecutor and a narrow-minded man. How Many Versions of the Bible do We Really Need?

8 If you stacked all the Bibles sitting in American homes, the tower would rise 29 million feet, nearly 1,000 times the height of Mount Everest. More than 90 percent of American households own a Bible, and the average family owns three, according to pollsters at the Barna Group. The American Bible Society hands out 5 million copies of the Good Book each year; 1.5 billion Gideon Bibles wait in hotel rooms worldwide. Scripture outsells the latest diet fads, murder mysteries and celebrity bios year after year. Evangelical publishers alone sold an estimated 20 million Bibles in recession-battered 2009, raking in about $500 million in sales, according to Michael Covington, information and education director of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Experts say it's nearly impossible to calculate exactly how many Bibles are sold each year. But one thing is clear: The Good Book is great for business. "Bibles are in many ways a cash cow," said Phyllis Tickle, a former longtime religion editor at Publishers Weekly. "The Bible is the mainstay of many a publishing program." However, some Christian scholars wonder whether too much Good News can sometimes be a bad thing, as a major new translation and waves of books marking the 400th anniversary of the venerable King James Bible inundate the market this fall. The assortment of translations and "niche Bibles" (think, "The Holy Bible: Stock Car Racing Edition") sow confusion and division among Christians, invite ridicule from relativists, and risk reducing God's word into just another personal-shopping preference, the scholars say. "I think we are drifting more and more to a diverse Babel of translations," said David Lyle Jeffrey, former provost of Baylor University and an expert on biblical translations. Jeffrey believes Americans need a "common Bible" -- a role the King James Version played for centuries -- to communicate the grandeur of Scripture without reducing it to "shopping-center-level" discourse. "When we have so much diversity we lose our common voice," he said. "It is in effect moving away from a common membership in the body of Christ into disparate, confusing misrepresentations of the rich wisdom of Scripture, which ought to unify us." Leland Ryken, an English professor at Wheaton College, a leading evangelical school in Illinois, was more blunt. "When there is wide divergence among Bible translations, readers have no way of knowing what the original text really says," Ryken said. "It's like being given four different scores for the same football game, or three contradictory directions for getting to a town in the middle of the state." Christian publishers, meanwhile, say they have an obligation -- even a divine calling -- to make Scripture ready and readable to as many people as possible.

9 Despite the Bible's ubiquity, Americans are not necessarily reading or absorbing Scripture, said Paul Franklyn, associate publisher of the Common English Bible, a new translation sponsored by five mainline Protestant publishers. For example, half of Christians cannot name the four Gospels; a third cannot identify Genesis as the Bible's first book, according to a recent study conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The new Common English Bible aims to present an easy-to-read translation from the "theological center," Franklyn said. Its New Testament debuts this fall; the entire Bible is due next year. Despite the profitability of Bible publishing, penetrating the crowded and competitive market is a "big risk," requiring equal parts scholarship and salesmanship, Franklyn said. The Common English Bible publishers spent $1 million on the translation and will dole out another $3 million to get people to "pay attention" to it, he said. Scholars estimate that at least 200 English translations have been published since many of them revisions of earlier texts. Sorting out the differences between the New American Bible and New American Standard Bible, for example, can be daunting for even experienced readers. The market can be so confusing and crowded that half of customers who visit Christian stores to buy a Bible leave without one, according to a study presented to Christian retailers in "Heck, I'm overwhelmed and I'm supposed to know what the hee-haw I'm doing," said Tickle, author of "The Great Emergence," a well-regarded book on the future of Christianity. "Bibliolatry is not a word I use very often, but we are probably veering very close to it." There's even a cottage industry of experts to help people choose a Bible. Paul Wegner, a professor at Phoenix Seminary in Arizona who conducts church conferences about the Bible, says Christians constantly ask why there are so many different Bibles, and which is the "right" one. "People almost throw up their hands, there are so many Bibles out there," he said. "Maybe they've created a market for me." To counter consumer confusion, publishers began marketing Bibles based on "felt needs," or secular interests, said Andy Butcher, an editor at the journal Christian Retailing. Christian publisher Zondervan's 2010 catalog of Bibles ("The Book of Good Books") runs 223 pages and includes Bibles tailored toward black children, students, spiritual seekers, women with cancer, busy dads, new moms, recovering addicts, surfers, grandmothers and camouflage enthusiasts. "The next thing will be a Bible for men in midlife crises," Jeffrey said, "with ads for Harley Davidson motorcycles inside." Tim Jordan, a marketing manager at B&H Publishing Group, a leading Christian publisher that sells niche Bibles, compared them to conversation

10 starters. "It's just being smart about where people are at and trying to meet them there," he said. "We need to engage people into the Bible." Ryken, however, suspects publishers' motives may be more economic than spiritual. By definition, niche Bibles are designed to corner a market segment, he said. In the process, "the Bible loses its identity as the authoritative word of God and becomes something trivial, on par with shoes for hikers or luggage for the international set." The Word On Wednesday John Mason Our prayers say a great deal about us. Are your prayers like that of AA Milne s, Christopher Robin who, in the midst of his child-like reflections of the day, prayed that God would bless his parents as well as himself? Or do your prayers reflect the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, or the prayers people like Moses, David, and Daniel? JESUS PRAYER In John 17 we read the record of a significant prayer that Jesus prayed. It s a prayer that tells us a great deal about him and his relationship with God, his concern for his disciples, and also his concern for all his people throughout time. Today let me focus on the first part. In John 17:1 we read: After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, Jesus knew that within hours he was going to die. Given the prayers of Moses, David and Daniel, as well as the Lord s Prayer, it is significant there is no confession of sin. He alone is without sin. This prayer is sometimes called the great high priestly prayer, but this it is not. The central task of a high priest s work was to pray for the removal of sin his own as well as that of God s people. But the focus of Jesus prayer is glory or honor: Glorify your Son, so that the Son may glorify you GLORY Glory in the Bible usually is a reference to the outward manifestation of an inner, hidden reality. So in John 1:14, John speaks of beholding the glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Here in John 17, Jesus is praying that he will remain faithful to the end in implementing God s long hidden plan. It was a plan which, contrary to human wisdom, would reveal the glory of God in the events of Jesus death and resurrection. According to Dr. Ashley Null, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer grasped this profound truth: Null explains: For Cranmer, the glory of God is to love the unworthy. This, says Dr. Null, is Cranmer s central theological tenet God s glory is supremely revealed in the gift of salvation achieved through the one and only sufficient sacrifice made by Jesus when he died for our sin. With the first words of his prayer, Jesus was reflecting on the certainty of his arrest, trial, and death. Judas had just gone into the night to do his dark work of

11 betrayal. Jesus is now praying that he himself will remain faithful, as he had been throughout his life, persevering to the end. Indeed, in John 17:5, Jesus continues: So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. Jesus is self-consciously divine, but he is also human and therefore vulnerable. FINAL WORDS One great work remained his work of bearing the sin of the whole world, when he would be lifted up on the cross as he had predicted (John 3:14-15). His final words, in John 19:28 and 30, point to the completion of this work when he called out, It is finished. As he began his prayer (John 17:1), Jesus knew that his arrest, trial, and crucifixion would be painful beyond belief. We can barely begin to comprehend what it meant for him to bear our sin and for his eternal perfect relationship with God the Father to be at breaking point. In that hour he felt totally alone. Jesus knew that the only way he could remain faithful, passing through the deepest shadows of the valley of death and so glorifying God, would be in God s strength. He would be treading the path of suffering in the midst of the extremes of human hostility and supernatural opposition. Yet throughout this first part of his prayer Jesus reveals that his central concern is the glory of God. As we can now benefit from the events that perfectly reveal the glory of God the sacrifice of Christ and his resurrection surely we too will want to glorify God in everything. Jesus did not just pray for himself and the dark hours he faced. He prayed for his disciples, and he prayed for all his people including you and me today. In understanding what God in Christ has done for us, we will surely want to glorify God in our own lives by praying for people we know and by praying for ways to draw them to Jesus. To submit articles or announcements for The Epistle newsletter, them to Barry Leake (leakebarry@hotmail.com). Saint Andrew s Anglican Church Sunday Worship 10am st andrews hsv.com

12 Here Endeth The Epistle.