November 2024
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
November 2024 from Father Tim
November 2024 has arrived and we immediately commence with All Saints Day (1st) and All Souls Day (2nd). November wraps us the final Sundays of Trinitytide and the last Sunday of the month is the Sunday Next Before Advent (24th). Thanksgiving Day USA falls on the 28th and there is one Day of Obligation, S. Andrew, Apostle & Martyr, on the 30th. This month I would like to write a tidbit on All Anglican Martyrs & Saints (8th). Who are the Anglicans we commemorate who “stand before the Throne and before the Lamb”? Sister Mary Constance was the superior Anglican nuns in Memphis, TN. In 1878, the Yellow Fever ravaged Memphis, the Sisters remained in the city to care for the sick and dying when the populace fled, converting their school into a hospital. In ten weeks more than 5000 died, including Sister Mary, and Sisters Thecla, Frances and Ruth. These four are memorialized in modern-day Memphis as “the Martyrs of Memphis.” Bernard Mizeki was a South African Christian. A gifted linguist, he served as a medical attaché and translator for the Cowley Fathers. During an anti-British uprising in 1896, the English were evacuated from the region, but Bernard refused to leave his patients, and was eventually stabbed to death. Edith Cavell was a nurse. The oldest daughter of an English priest, she was director of a nursing school in 1907 Belgium. When World War I broke out, she remained at her post after the German occupation and treated all patients, German or Allied, equally. When the local German commandant began brutalizing her Allied patients, Cavell smuggled over 200 Allied prisoners out of the country. When confronted by the German Commander she freely admitted her role and was executed by firing squad soon after. Nurse Cavel made her confession and received Holy Communion from an Anglican priest. Her last words were, “I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.” And for saintly Anglicans: George Herbert, a 17th-century priest and poet, who spent his days ministering to the needs of his parishioners, and his evenings writing lyric poetry. Herbert, along with John Donne, were two of the greatest English “Metaphysical Poets.” Anglo-Catholic Fr. Robert Dolling, who accomplished amazing reforms by living the life of Christ amongst the poorest of the poor, left us a beautiful road map in the book Ten Years in a Portsmouth Slum. These are just a few of the thousands we celebrate on All Anglican Martyrs & Saints (8th). ~ Father Tim
✠✠✠
Do you know someone struggling with temptation? Do they struggle with fear? Invite them to church this November where they can learn endurance and courage by following the Way, The Truth, and the Life. ~ Father Tim
✠✠✠
It is not the pain but the purpose that makes a martyr. ~ Saint Augustine, 354-430, Bishop of Hippo Regius & Doctor of the Church
✠✠✠
Do you know?
Do you know Saint John’s made a charitable donation to CareNet of Northern KY in October? Do you know our Book of Life Club will be discussing the book The Pilgrim’s Regress by C.S. Lewis? Do you know our Rule of Faith group has been meeting twice each month (see Chris Stockman for info)? Do you know the large stained glass window renovation in the Nave is underway? Do you know our red doors and ramp railing will be receiving new paint soon?
✠✠✠
Saint John November Ordo Kalendar
Friday, the 1st of November, at 6:30 PM, All Saints’ Day Mass
Sat., the 2nd of Nov., at 1:00 PM, Book of Life Club, The Pilgrim’s Regress
Saturday, the 2nd of November, at 3:00 PM, All Souls’ Day Mass
Sunday, the 3rd of Nov., at 10:30 AM, at 10:30 AM, Trinity XXIII Mass
Wednesday, the 6th of November, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sat., the 9th of Nov., at 9:00 AM, Morning Prayer & Litany for Mission
Saturday, the 9th of Nov., at 9:45 AM, Bible Study, Lamentations V
Saturday, the 9th of November, at 10:45 AM, Advent Discussion
Sunday, the 10th of November, at 10:30 AM, Trinity XXIV Mass
Wednesday, the 13th of November, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Saturday, the 16th of November, at 7:30 AM, Rule of Faith Meeting
Sun., the 17th of Nov., at 10:30 AM, The Order for Daily Morning Prayer
Wednesday, the 20th of November, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sun., the 24th of Nov., at 10:30 AM, Sun. Next Before Advent, Annual Meeting
Wednesday, the 27th of November, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Saturday, the 30th of November, at 7:30 AM, Rule of Faith Meeting
✠✠✠
If there be glory laid up for them that die in the Lord; much more shall they be glorified that die for the Lord. ~ Richard Baxter, 1615-1691, Church Leader, Theologian, Controversialist, & Poet
✠✠✠
The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins. ~ Soren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855, Danish Theologian, Philosopher, Poet, Social Critic, and Religious Author
✠✠✠
November Birthdays & Anniversaries
Brian & Sarah Miller – Anniversary – Nov. 11th
John & Lennie Fisher – Anniversary – Nov. 13th
Tom Fleischman – Birthday – Nov. 17th
✠✠✠
Why should we want to worship Jesus well?
The Great God values not the service of men if the heart be not in it: The Lord sees and judges the heart; He has no regard for outward forms of worship, if there be no inward adoration, if no devout affection be employed therein. It is therefore a matter of infinite importance, to have the whole heart engaged steadfastly for God. ~ Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, English Minister, Hymn Writer, Theologian, and Logician
✠✠✠
The Church of Christ has been founded by shedding its own blood, not that of others; by enduring outrage, not by inflicting it. Persecutions have made it grow; martyrdoms have crowned it. ~ Saint Jerome, 342-420, early Christian Priest, Confessor, Theologian, Translator, and Historian
✠✠✠
Sharing Your Faith
Last month I wrote about sharing your faith, and that one of the possible deterrents to doing so is fear; fear that people may react poorly or that you’ll force the conversation. Another fear is perhaps they will raise some objection to Christianity that you hadn’t considered, and so you would have to ashamedly admit you don’t know how to answer the other person. I shared that I’ve grown tomatoes before, and what needs to be done before gathering the produce is, first of all, planting a seed. Well, on top of seeding, the young plant must be protected. Perhaps the soil is bad, weeds spring up, or an animal wants an easy meal. Once again, people are the same way. People’s hearts are closed off to the Gospel many times due to falsehoods they have bought into. For such people, the falsehoods they have taken on often become objections that must be dealt with. Last time I mentioned Greg Koukl’s book “Tactics”, and how to use questions such as “What do you mean by that?”. Another great one he discusses that I use all the time is simply “How do you know that?”, or some variation, and I often follow up with asking “You say [Reason A] is why you believe that; what’s the connection between [Reason A] and [belief]? I don’t quite see it.” It’s normal to want to have an answer, but if you don’t, fear not. In giving you an objection to Christianity, the other person has made an assertion, and assertions mean there’s a burden of proof. Someone may say that God doesn’t exist because of the problem of evil; the assertion is that if there’s evil, there’s no God! You don’t need to be a theologian to answer this; rather, asking “Why do you say that? How do you know God wouldn’t have reasons for allowing evil?” is a good way to get off the hot seat. If you’re not confident in your capacity to give answers, don’t worry. In merely asking questions, you haven’t actually made any claims, and so you have nothing to defend! Rather, the person with the objection is on the hook to back up their claim, and it is always surprising to me how many skeptics simply can’t do it. Fair warning, however; on some occasions you will meet someone who IS able to back up their objection. In such cases, your initial posture of humility and sincerity in your questions will go a long way. No matter your response next, it must always be an honest one. An honest “I don’t know” is completely ok, as it allows you to then say “Let me look into that and get back to you”. Never shrink back from future opportunities to talk with someone about their worldview. And so, without forcing anything, without making claims, and by asking sincere questions, you’re making someone reexamine things that are keeping them from Christ. You’ve put a rock in their spiritual shoe. ~ Chris Stockman
✠✠✠
No one makes us afraid or leads us into captivity as we have set our faith on Jesus. For though we are beheaded, and crucified, and exposed to beasts and chains and fire and all other forms of torture, it is plain that we do not forsake the confession of our faith, but the more things of this kind which happen to us the more are there others who become believers…through the name of Jesus…You can kill us, but you cannot harm us. ~ Justin Martyr, 100-165 A.D., early Christian Apologist and Philosopher
✠✠✠
Never did the church so much prosper and so truly thrive as when she was baptized in the blood. The ship of the church never sails so gloriously along as when the bloody spray of her martyrs falls on her deck. We must suffer and we must die, if we are ever to conquer this world for Christ. ~ C.H. Spurgeon, 1834-1892, English Minister, the Prince of Preachers
✠✠✠
Martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer
The martyrs shook the powers of darkness with the irresistible power of weakness. ~ John Milton, 1608-1674, English Poet
✠✠✠
The problem with Christians [in the West] is nobody wants to kill them anymore. ~ Unknown Author
✠✠✠
The seeking of Jesus Christ and the quest for chivalry combined lead directly to one place only: Anglican-Catholicism. Courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help and defend the weak and the poor. Welcome to the Anglican Catholic Church. ~ Father Timothy Butler