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A WORD FROM THE RECTOR
Greetings in the
Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!
Throughout October the
Gospel lessons speak of servanthood and discipleship;
that the first shall be last, and the last first, and that we must be prepared
to foresake those things dearest to us to follow our
Lord. These lessons culminate (for the
month) in the healing of Bartimaeus of his blindness
(Mark 10.46-52). Jesus says to Bartimaeus, “... your faith has made you well.” Bartimaeus, who is
the only one in the crowd to recognize who Jesus is (he addresses Jesus using a
messianic title) is then the only healed person who is described by Mark as a
disciple; “... he followed him on the way” (Mark 10.52). It is by faith that we recognize who our Lord
is, and by faith that we follow Him (even when this takes us far, far away from
our “comfort zone”); and so it is fair to ask how we are informed in our faith.
We have at various times discussed that
faith is informed by Scripture, Reason, and Tradition. This month I wish to explore further how our
faith is informed by Scripture. In the
New Testament lesson for the second Sunday of this month we read, “... the word
of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the
division of soul and spirit ... and discerning the thoughts and intentions of
the heart” (Hebrews 4.12). The word is alive
because what the word means is what the word does. If any of us sits and listens to the
Scripture passively, and is not challenged by it, then we may be listening, but
we are not hearing. We are not
internalizing the message, that this message might affect (and effect!) how we
relate to God and to each other. A faith
which is not lively is at best passive and at worst dead, and our faith
requires constant infusions of the Spirit.
We can receive this spiritual feeding in worship, and do in the
sacraments, but it is through ongoing contact with Scripture that the word can
come to live in our hearts.
Before
seminary, I would have claimed a pretty good knowledge of the Bible. In seminary I had the opportunity to study
the Bible in depth, and to study biblical theology and languages in the context
both of history and of systematic theology.
So I came out of seminary with a better knowledge of the Bible. But the way in which I have really come to
gain knowledge of Scripture is by preparing a Bible study summary and sermon
every week for now more than three years.
(These summaries and sermons are posted on our website, and at the adult
forum on Sunday morning we explore the lessons for the day using the Bible
study summaries.) This systematic
exploration of God’s word has allowed me to make many connections between
lessons, and between lessons and liturgy, sacramental theology, and even
hymnody. It is in these connections, in
the trajectory of God’s plan being revealed in His word, that any one of us
will find that the word is alive, and that this living
word will equip us to better follow our Lord The Bible is such a large book that many people are daunted by it. Don’t be.
There are many “big picture” resources that will allow you to get a feel
for the overall shape of the biblical message.
Two can be found on our parish website, as outlines of Old and New
Testament content, themes, and theology.
(These outlines are listed under “Christian Education” on the
site.) Regardless of whether or not you
find a “big picture” approach helpful, visit God’s word regularly (ideally
daily). You can use the Forward
Day-by-Day devotional booklet. You
can follow the readings appointed for the Daily Office of Morning and Evening
Prayer (BCP pp. 933–1001), or you can just dive in. When you experience regular, ongoing contact
with God’s word, you’ll find that that the meaning of the word will become
apparent in how you live and in what you do.
All scripture is inspired
by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for
training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be
proficient, equipped for every good work.
(2
Tim. 3.16-17)
Yours
in Christ,
Vestry Highlights: Year-to-date
attendance: 2009: 2769 2008: 2464 Change: +12.4%
1.
Operating account: $13,376.73 2.
Capital account: $14,908.91
3.
Debt balance: $12,140.61 4. Pledges:
78.8% of a projected 80%
5. Rector’s
Discretionary Fund: Balance: $3489.50. In the past month 9 people have received help for necessary food, medical costs, and
utilities/housing relief (to the cost of $308.81), and $300 was
transferred to the Benevolent Fund of the Clay County Christian Fellowship, for
local relief.
Men’s Fellowship: The Men’s
Fellowship will meet on Monday, 9 November, at 6:30 p.m., at the Falkner camp
house. Beverages and side dishes are
provided for cost. Bring your own steak,
or something else to grill. Please
confirm attendance by Friday, 6 November.
Fall
Clean-up: Saturday, 7 November, is clean-up
day. There will be 2 indoor crews and 2
outdoor crews. Please meet at the Church
at 8:30 a.m. Donuts will be provided.
Episcopal Youth Community: The EYC and
Alexandra Fowler have hit the ground running, with a mix of fun and
learning. Fun has included “out of the
box” activities, such as a “Hug-a-thon” at Wal-Mart, and a youth retreat to
Sewanee is planned for 4 to 6 December.
Learning has focused on the basics:
diving into the Bible, to relate how God used people in very different
times and places to accomplish His purpose.
We
look forward to 29 November as Youth Sunday, when we’ll also (sniff!) say goodbye
to Alex, and look forward to welcoming our new Youth Minister.
Christian Education: The 4th-6th
grade class has been studying the Bible to see how it relates to issues that this age group face each day during school, family time and
free time. We are pleased to welcome Dawn Richardson as co-leader of our class;
and have also enjoyed working with Sarah Pogue to prepare for our music
performance All Saints’ Sunday.
Episcopal Church Women: Our last meeting was September 14 with 11 ladies in
attendance. The purchase of new altar
linens was approved and
ordered. Kristen Stevens reported
on the Christmas greenery sales which are now due. Please check the coffee hour sign-up sheet in
the kitchen and select a Sunday to make coffee and a light snack. Also, you don’t have to do it alone...team up
with someone. It was decided to try
holding meetings in individual homes, and out next meeting will be held at
Cheryl Sundbeck’s, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. Come and enjoy some time with the ladies of
the parish. I look forward to seeing you
there. Sandy Gentry, ECW president
Grace Notes
Music: The month begins with All
Saints’ Sunday, and therefore sing we such old favorites as For all
the saints, who from their labors rest (287) and I sing a song of the
saints of God (293). The former is
an 1854 composition of the English bishop William How, the latter a twentieth
century composition by an English bishop’s daughter. We are familiar with For
all the saints ... to the Ralph Vaughan Williams tune “Sine nomine” (Latin
for “without name”), composed for the 1906 English Hymnal, and this tune
has supplanted the original melodies used with How’s hymn. The words to the hymn have been cited by Bp.
Thomas Wright in his recent book Surprised by Hope as the best example
of good theology about life after death, and the difference between Paradise
and the kingdom of heaven.
The Lesbia
Scott hymn (293) is the only individual hymn subject to a resolution of General
Convention in the Church. When The
Hymnal 1982 was proposed the revisers of the 1940 hymnal had dropped I
sing a song ... as “trite”. This
hymn was re-inserted in the revised hymnal by joint action of the House of
Deputies and the House of Bishops!
Hymn 618, Ye
watchers and ye holy ones is a point of dispute between English and
American hymnals. On this side of the
Holy Days:
The commemoration of All Saints’ (1 November) originated in
The month ends with the feast
of St. Andrew the Apostle, patron both of