Spirit of the Eagle – September 2018
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for September 2018 from Father Tim
The end of summer 2018 draws nigh. The first day of the fall season arrives at 9:54 PM on Saturday, the 22nd of September. The secular world will celebrate Labor Day to begin the month. Holy Church will look forward to its Trinity Sunday’s, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Ember Days, feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle, and finally the feast of Saint Michael and All Angels. If you do not keep an ACC Ordo Kalendar at home you are missing much of the beauty of holiness each month. It may be hard for us to gather together during the weekdays at Saint John’s to celebrate these holy days, but we can always take a few moments at home in prayer, gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving as the holy days arrive and depart. The 25th of September we celebrate Anglican Divine, the Blessed Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop and Confessor. He led one of the teams who translated the Holy Bible into the English 1611 King James Authorized Version we use today. Andrewes was an immensely learned man who, it was said, “might have been interpreter general at Babel . . . the world lacked learning to know how learned he was.” He avoided worldly entertainment and instead preferred long solitary walks or the company of earnest friends. Andrewes eventually mastered fifteen languages, including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, and Chaldee; had an encyclopedic memory — “he not only calls to mind any matter,” noted a colleague, “but the very time, place, persons, and all other circumstances”; and was sought after by fellow scholars from all over the world. And to think modern man today believes he is intelligent because he carries a smartphone? I pray your September is full of long walks and earnest friends. ~ Father Tim
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Men may talk what they will, but sure there is no joy in the world to the joy of a man saved; no joy so great, no news so welcome, as to one ready to perish, in case of a lost man, to hear of one that will save him. In danger of perishing by sickness, to hear of one who will make him well again; by sentence of the law, of one with a pardon to save his life; by enemies, of one that will rescue and set him in safety. Tell any of these, assure them but of a Savior, it is the best news he ever heard in his life. ~ Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, Christmas Day Sermon, Whitehall, 1622
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Small window restoration will continue throughout this year. The new storm windows have arrived and installation will begin soon. We also still have a little plastering and painting we need to complete inside the Church Porch and Narthex. I hope to add some new items inside the glass display case in the Parish Hall soon. We will continue (in a small way) recreating the old St. John Church Book Stall where you will find copies of Christian books, Saint John book markers (a good item to give to friends), and other interesting items. Stop by soon and peruse the items already available for use! ~ Father Tim
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September Spirituality Class
In September we will be continuing our transitional class with both Spirituality and Bible Study. The class in September will cover The Book of Jonah. The study of God’s word is central to the life and mission of our parish church of St. John the Evangelist. Please join us after Holy Mass on the 16th of September for an engaging, dynamic, and informative exploration of the Holy Scriptures. All are welcome, but be warned: continued exposure to God’s word will change your life.
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Hence where he [Christian Mystic or Saint] is fully developed, he will, as Ruysbroeck tells us, swing like a pendulum between contemplation and action, between adoration of God and service of man. In him life has evolved her most powerful spiritual engine; and she uses it not for the next world, but for this world, for the eternalization of the here and now, the making of it more real and more divine, more fully charged with the grandeur of God. ~ Evelyn Underhill, The Essentials of Mysticism
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Would you like to commemorate a special occasion? Honor a special person or remember a deceased loved one AND help out your parish? Would you like to mark a special day in your life? Please consider donating money to the Altar Guild for the flowers used for our at Holy Communion. Beautiful flowers glorify God and beautify His holy altar where we gather to receive the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, and deepen our sense of community as we join together with fellow parishioners.
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The only true praise of a sermon is some evil left [abandoned], or some good done, upon the hearing of it. ~ + Lancelot Andrewes
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It is said (and you have to admit this was both quick thinking and even funny) that Bishop Lancelot Andrewes and fellow Bishop, Richard Neile of Durham, were with King James one evening at dinner standing behind his royal chair. James, in a dire mood, ask them both bluntly, “Cannot I take my subjects’ money when I want it without all this formality in Parliament?” Neile, who was even more a royalist than Andrewes, said, You should; you are the breath of our nostrils.” Andrewes calmly said he was not qualified to offer an opinion, but added, “I think you could take my brother Neile’s money, because he offers it.” ~ Just a little Anglican history and humor
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St. John September Ordo Kalendar
Sunday, the 2nd of September, we celebrate Trinity XIV, Enjoy your Labor Day
Sunday, the 9th of September, we celebrate Trinity XV, Coffee Hour
Sunday, the 16th of September, we celebrate Trinity XVI, Bible Study after Holy Mass
Sunday, the 23rd of September, we celebrate the Trinity XVII
Sunday, the 30th of September, we celebrate Trinity XVIII
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September Birthdays & Anniversaries
Joanna & Jim Barnett – Anniversary – September 5
Robert Kleven – Birthday – September 12
Gary Blade – Birthday – September 14
Rich Seyberth – Birthday – September 16
Lori Seyberth – Birthday – September 20
Liz & Michael Robbins – Anniversary – September 24
Micheal Fraser – Birthday – September 26
Joyce & Jack Murray – Anniversary – September 29
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I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries. Even so then at the present time also there is a remnant. ~ Jeremiah 23:3; Romans 11:5