The Saint Andrew s & Saint David s Epistle

The Saint Andrew s & Saint David s Epistle The weekly e-newsletter from Saint Andrew s and Saint David s Anglican Church, parish churches 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 January 30, 2018 ********************************************************************************************************* Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany at Saint Andrew s Church ~ Sacrament of Holy Communion - 10 am ~ Sunday School for all ages at Saint David s Church ~ Worship Service and Bible study - 10 am **********************************************************************************************************************

Women s Retreat 2019 at Guntersville State Park *** Last opportunity to register **** The Women s Retreat 2019 will be held Mar 1 - Mar 3 at beautiful Lake Guntersville State Park. Tickets are available by going onto the Covenant Presbyterian Church Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/pg/covenantpresbyterian/events/?ref=page_internal ) (online registration) or by contacting Joye Williamson for a hard copy of the registration form. Cost is $70, which includes 4 meals, retreat materials, and the speaker. Partial attendance (less than 4 meals) is $60. ***Registration DOES NOT include lodging. Sample lodging rates (includes tax): 2 queen beds, lake view - $240/ 2 nights 1 queen bed, non-lake view - $206/ 2 nights Contact Lake Guntersville State Park at ((800) 252-7275, (256)505-6621 or (256)571-5440 to reserve your room. Mention group number 6735. (The lines stay pretty busy so you will need to be patient.) Blocked rooms will go very fast, so if you even THINK you will be going to the retreat, call now for your room. Registration deadline for the retreat is February 3. This will be (I believe) the 5th year we have been invited to participate in this retreat with our Sisters in Christ from Covenant Church. It is an chance to not only spend time with your fellow St. Andrews ladies, but also to recharge your spiritual batteries with a weekend full of worship music, scriptural teachings, fun ice-breakers, group discussions, fellowship sessions each night, and some free time to meditate, go hiking, make a couple of greeting cards, or participate in an exercise class. Please try to join us this year - I promise you will be glad you did! For information on this retreat, contact Joye Williamson or Kelly Hatley. Joye Williamson To God Be The Glory!

The intercessory prayer team is meeting from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Wednesday at Saint Andrew s Church. The Saint Andrew s prayer team also meets at 9:30 am each Sunday upstairs before church. Everyone invited to join. Contact Paul O Donnell for information or prayer requests. there will be a different focus for the prayers. Each month P rayer is not preparation for the battle prayer is the battle. ~ Oswald Chamber Thursday from 11:o0 am - noon. New Time At Cafe 153, Bridge Street City Centre shopping mall. Studying the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion. Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years. ~ Charles Spurgeon 15 th Annual Parish Meeting - This Sunday All Parish members are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 3rd, following church. What happens at the Annual Meeting? - The Vestry provides the proposed 2019 budget for congregational approval. - Those present elect two persons to 3-year terms on Vestry. - Annual Reports from the Senior Warden, Finance and Pastor are presented. Parish members Joye Williamson and Jonathan Mack are candidates for the Vestry. Rose Fletcher and Brenda Stout will be completing their vestry terms. Nursery care will be provided during the meeting. A quorum of parish members must be present to conduct any official business. So please try to attend. In order to vote, you must be a member of St. Andrew s. For more information on membership requirements see Pastor Geoff, Brenda Stout or Dixie Hawkinson. Sunday, January 24 th Sign-up list on wall by the side entry 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 - Main Dish - Side Dish - Dessert - Church Flowers February March 3-3 - 10 - Hatley 10-17 - Hawkinson 17-24 - Hatley 24-31 - Sign-up list on wall by the side entry 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 $25.

February March 3-3 - 10 - Hospitality team 10-17 - Hawkinson 17-24 - Potluck 24-31 - Sign-up list on wall by the side entry door. Involves providing some kind of snack (store bought or homemade). St. Andrew Volunteers Worship Team Schedule A spirit of service, a gift to the church To volunteer, contact Dixie Hawkinson. Paper copies of the Worship Team Schedule are available on the information table located in the nave. Date LEM Acolyte Intercessor Reader Feb 3 - Stout Stout None Edington 10 - Fletcher Counts None R Sutton 17 - Counts Jesionowski None Hawkinson 24 - None None Sutton K Sutton Mar 3 - Sutton Counts None Stout 6 - Fletcher None None Hawkinson 10 - Stout Stout None Williamson 17 - Debbie Counts Jesionowski None Whitt 24 - Matthews Counts None Edington 31 - None None Debbie Counts Debbie Counts Date Usher/Greeter Lord s Table Nursery A/V Booth Feb 3 - Leake, Stewart Leake Mack Hawkinson, Marconnet 10 - Biamon, Proctor Ortiz Fewell Edington, Mack 17 - Hawkinson, Whitt Ortiz Sutton Counts, Edington 24 - Jesionowski, Stewart Jesionowski Perkins Hawkinson, Marconnet Mar 3 - Counts, Leake Leake Mack Edington, Mack 6 - Hawkinson, Leake Hawkinson Hatley Counts, Mack 10 - Biamon, Stewart P O Donnell Sutton Edington, Marconnet 17 - Proctor, Whitt Ortiz Mack Counts, Hawkinson 24 - Fewell, Counts L O Donnell Fewell Hawkinson, Marconnet 31 - Jesionowski, Stout Jesionowski Perkins Edington, Mack Emergency Prayers If a prayer request comes up during the week that needs to be prayed for immediately, please call Pastor Hatley or a member of the Prayer Team: Suzanne Matthews and Paul O Donnell. This week pray for the people and clergy of:

Apostles, Knoxville, TN A sking you Lord to bless and strengthen their ministry and fellowship to be good witnesses for Jesus Christ and for our Archbishop and Bishop, Foley, and our Assisting Bishop, Frank. Weekday Prayer Emphasis: Sunday Worship Service(s) Thursday Ministries Monday Priest / Staff / Leadership Friday Seek God s Will / Follow His Direction Tuesday Stewardship Saturday Spiritual Growth & Education Wednesday Outreach / Evangelism Seen on a roadside church reader board Be what you wish others to become. Be careful how you live; you may be the only Bible some people will ever read. The Christian on his knees sees more than the philosopher on tiptoe. Often times God demonstrates His faithfulness in adversity by providing for us what we need to survive. He does not change our painful circumstances. He sustains us through them. ~ Charles Stanley From Genesis to Revelation, here's the central message: God Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God, the Triune God is in control of all things, period. ~ Charles Stanley God will never reject you. Whether you accept Him is your decision. ~ Charles Stanley To have God speak to the heart is a majestic experience, an experience that people may miss if they monopolize the conversation and never pause to hear God's responses. ~ Charles Stanley Any fear associated with giving to God's kingdom is irrational. It's on par with a farmer who, out of fear of losing his seed, refuses to plant his fields. Andy Stanley

One of the reasons Martin Luther came to his great discovery in the Bible of justification by faith alone was that in his early years in the Augustinian monastery he was influenced to love Scripture by Johann Staupitz. Luther devoured the Bible in a day when people earned doctorates in theology without even reading the Bible. Luther said that his fellow professor, Andreas Karlstadt, did not even own a Notes Ginny Cockerill Hymns are distillations of the richest truths of God, versified, set to music, and released in the mind and from the mouth. They re miniature Bible studies that lead us effortlessly to worship, exhortation, prayer, and praise. A good hymn directs those who hear or sing it to more God-centered thoughts and behavior, regardless of their knowledge of its author. Knowing the background of a particular song or songwriter, however, can be beneficial in its own right. Knowing a hymn s history will led to a deeper appreciation of its message. Our new song at St. Andrews for the month of February, How Long (We Have Sung Our Songs of Victory) was written by Stuart Townend to reflect the Psalms that express sorrow in suffering and anger at the state of the world. The last verse, though, is a reminder of the hope we have in the future that we can look forward to a day when the pain we see in our own lives and around us will be over and we will be able to rejoice fully in God s perfect presence! As we sing this prelude each week, I hope this song encourages you as much as it has me. During the service this Sunday, we will be singing the traditional hymns All Creatures of Our God and King, It is Well With My Soul, Be Thou My Vision, and Jesus Shall Reign. By His Wounds by Third Day, Trust in You by Lauren Daigle, and Living Hope by Phil Wickham (our new song for January) will be our other three songs. Each year the Daughters of the American Revolution collect old US flags for proper disposal at their State Conference in March. If you have an old flag that you no longer fly, you can bring it to the church and give it to Joye Williamson. You can be assured that your flag will be laid to rest most appropriately. Why Memorize Scripture? By John Piper First, a few testimonies: I have it third hand, that Dr. Howard Hendricks (of Dallas Seminary) once made the statement (and I paraphrase) that if it were his decision, every student graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary would be required to learn one thousand verses word perfect before they graduated. Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, "Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That's where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization" ("Spiritual Formation in Christ for the Whole Life and Whole Person" in Vocatio, Vol. 12, no. 2, Spring, 2001, p. 7). Chuck Swindoll wrote, "I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture... No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified" ( Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life ).

Bible when he earned his doctor of theology degree, nor did he until many years later. Luther knew so much of the Bible from memory that when the Lord opened his eyes to see the truth of justification in Romans 1:17, he said, "Thereupon I ran through the Scriptures from memory," in order to confirm what he had found. So here are a few reasons why so many have viewed Scripture memorization as so essential to the Christian life. 1. Conformity to Christ Paul wrote that "we all... beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." If we would be changed into Christ likeness we must steadily see him. This happens in the word. "The LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD" (1 Samuel 3:21). Bible memorization has the effect of making our gaze on Jesus to be steadier and clearer. 2. Daily Triumph over Sin "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word... I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:9, 11). Paul said that we must "by the Spirit... put to death the [sinful] deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13). The one piece of armor used to kill is the "sword of the Spirit," which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). As sin lures the body into sinful action, we call to mind a Christ-revealing word of Scripture and slay the temptation with the superior worth and beauty of Christ over what sin offers. 3. Daily Triumph over Satan When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to flight (Matthew 4:1-11). 4. Comfort and Counsel for People You Love The times when people need you to give them comfort and counsel do not always coincide with the times you have your Bible handy. Not only that, the very word of God spoken spontaneously from your heart has unusual power. Proverbs 25:11 says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." That is a beautiful way of saying, When the heart full of God's love can draw on the mind full of God's word, timely blessings flow from the mouth. 5. Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers Opportunities to share the gospel come when we do not have the Bible in hand. Actual verses of the Bible have their own penetrating power. And when they come from our heart, as well as from the Book, the witness is given that they are precious enough to learn. We should all be able to sum up the gospel under four main headings (1) God's holiness/law/glory; 2) man's sin/rebellion/disobedience; 3) Christ's death for sinners; 4) the free gift of life by faith. Learn a verse or two relating to each of these, and be ready in season and out of season to share them. 6. Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways The way we commune with (that is, fellowship with) God is by meditating on his attributes and expressing to him our thanks and admiration and love, and seeking his help in living a life that reflects the value of these attributes. Therefore, storing texts in our minds about God helps us relate to him as he really is. For example, imagine being able to call this to mind through the day: The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14) I used the word "enjoyment" intentionally when I said, "communion with God in the enjoyment of his person and ways." Most of us are emotionally crippled all of us really. We do not experience God in the fullness of our emotional potential. How will that change? One way is to memorize the emotional expressions of the Bible and speak them to the Lord and to each other until they become part of who we are. For example, in Psalm 103:1, we say, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!" That is not a natural expression for many people. But if we memorize this and other emotional expressions from the Bible, and say them often, asking the Lord to make the emotion real in our hearts, we can actually grow into that emotion and expression. It will become part of who we are. We will be less crippled emotionally and more able to render proper praise and thanks to God. There are other reasons for memorizing Scripture. I hope you find them in the actual practice.

Word on Wednesday by John Mason Some years ago I made reference to the Sydney-born Arthur Stace. Born in poverty to alcoholic parents, he had little education and became a petty criminal, an alcoholic and homeless. In the aftermath of World War II, he joined the lines outside a church that provided food and shelter for the homeless. But all who were fed also heard a sermon! It was through this ministry that Arthur Stace became a committed Christian. One night he heard a sermon on the text of Isaiah 57:15 : For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits Eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. The preacher stressed the point: Eternity, Eternity, I wish that I could sound or shout that word to everyone in the streets of Sydney. You ve got to meet it, where will you spend Eternity? Compelled by this exhortation, Stace, though almost illiterate, started writing in chalk in the early hours of the morning on the streets of Sydney the one word, Eternity. Written in a distinctive copperplate script, it is reckoned he wrote Eternity over 500,000 times. Eternity became the mystery and fascination of Sydney. My wife and I both remember seeing the word Eternity chalked on the sidewalk at street corners in the city. The word eternity awakens our minds to a larger picture of life and meaning to a time without end; to another world; to perfection; to God s Country. From cover to cover the Bible tells us that the world is going somewhere and that the final outcome will be the coming of the Christ in power and great glory, to establish God s kingdom and a new heaven and a new earth. Eternity will become a reality. The Book of Ecclesiastes tells us that God has put the sense of eternity into each one of us (3:11). Indeed, deep down most people throughout the world have a sense there will be life beyond the grave. In the New Testament Jesus gives us assurance of this. On the night of his betrayal and arrest he comforted his disciples: Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:1-2). In our troubled, uncertain and divided world where there are so many voices, we easily forget that God s great plan is to open up the possibility of life with him in all its beauty and joy forever. The Season of Advent reminds us that because Christ has come, has died and been raised to life, we can be assured of his promise that he will come again and take us to be with him. Scoffers. Amongst the verbal noise of today are the scoffers, who talk down the Christian hope of eternity as nonsense, a fairy tale for children. Such opposition is not new. In 2 Peter 3:2 we read: First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation! It seems that in Peter s day God s people were regarded as crazy because they believed that Jesus of Nazareth not only died and rose again but would return one day as God s King. Certainly, the idea of Christ bursting through the skies in a blazing display of power and glory, is not an idea that anyone can easily accept. And if it was hard to believe in the first century, it is much harder for us to believe after some twenty centuries have come and gone. But consider Peter s words: This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles (2 Peter 3:1). In Peter s day, as today, it was in the interest of the false teachers to ignore the idea of Jesus return because they wanted to retain their selfish and licentious lifestyle. If we want to live our lives our way, the last thing we want to think about is God s coming judgment. But 2 Peter 3 is insistent: the day will come when Jesus will return in all his power and glory as judge of us all. Peter s reference to the prophets and apostles is of fundamental importance. Our authority for our response to the skepticism around us is the Bible. Sadly, there are some theologians and church leaders who want to deny the second coming of Christ. But the fact is that the Bible leaves us in no doubt about the return of the Christ.

In the story of Arthur Stace we have a remarkable illustration of the power of God s gospel to touch and transform lives. It was nothing short of a miracle that his life was changed and that he became committed to getting the essence of God s gospel out to Sydney. The message from one insignificant man reached the world for on New Year s Eve at the start of the 21 st century, his one word was emblazoned across Sydney Harbour Bridge. Will you join me in praying that all of us will use the gospel opportunities we have? To submit an article or announcement for The Epistle newsletter email them to Barry Leake. Saint Andrew s Anglican Church Sunday Worship 10am st andrews hsv.com Here Endeth The Epistle.