Beth missed church last Sunday on All Saints'. I commented to someone that for her missing All Saints' Day was a big deal. Well, it was bigger than we realized. Next morning she went to the ER and ended up three days in the hospital. She really was sick.
In the midst of sitting with her, I got an email from the diocese about coming changes in the health care policy that have blown a hole a mile wide in our planning.
We've been here before in our lives. We've watched plans dissolve before our eyes only to see that God had something else in mind all along. Sometimes it has to go that way. So I trust that God is working something else out here.
I took a lot of encouragement this morning from this week's All Saints' reading on the Episcopal Cafe site. This is one of my regular stops during my morning devotions. Here's the link: http://www.episcopalcafe.com/thesoul/
One other spiritual moment this week. It was the morning Beth went to the hospital. I was up early, unaware of what was about to take place. I went for a walk in the late hours of the night. The full moon was about 20 degrees above the western horizon. I just walked toward it for close to 40 minutes watching it set above the trees on the other side of 280. Then I turned east and walked the same time into the rising morning sun. I was sharing with one of my fellow morning walkers afterward that it had been one of the most "spiritual" morning walks I'd ever experienced. Quiet, beautiful, peaceful... I suppose God was preparing me for the storm about to break when I got home.
I am also aware of that the days are passing fast, only 25 remain. There is so much to do and now we've lost a couple of days that we'd planned to use packing. We'll have to carve out more time for additional doctor follow ups and also for reconfiguring health care. And when the anxiety rises as I ponder all this, I look at the dark sky outside, think about my walking shoes waiting for me and head into the peace of the night sky, the bright moon that is just beginning to wane and head west in the quiet and beauty and the peace God provides my soul morning by morning.
Heck, even my impish little cat that is a holy terror most of the time, is nestled on my lap as calm as i've ever seen him. Even he seems to sense the need for holy quiet right now.
Ah, the ways in which God comes to us...
Peace, peace, peace
See you Sunday ... frfrank+
 
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SOUTH TALLADEGA COUNTY EPISCOPAL MINISTRY
Trinity, Alpine + St. Mary’s, Childersburg + St. Andrew’s, Sylacauga
 
Thursday,  November 5
8:55 am on WYEA(1290am) Fr. Frank's radio devotion
6:30 pm at Finchers St. Andrew’s supper out
 
23rd Sunday after Pentecost,  November 8
8:00 am at  Trinity: Holy Eucharist
8:30 am at  St. Mary’s:  Adult Study class with Dr. Dee
9:30 am at  St. Mary’s:  Holy Eucharist
9:45 am at  St. Andrew’s:  Adult Study class with Jim Ward
11:00 am at St. Andrew's:  Sunday School classes for children
11:15 am at  St. Andrew’s:  Holy Eucharist
2:00 pm at St. Andrew's: Girl Scouts
 4:30 pm at St. Andrew's: The STEM Cluster Council will meet to consider the STEM budgets for the end of this fiscal year and for 2010 and the interim period.
 
Monday,  November 9
Using days off and vacation days, Frank and Beth will be spending much of the last month to move out of the rectory.
 
Tuesday,  November 10
11:00 am – CVMA
Noon – Hospital Chaplains
6:30 pm at St. Andrew's: Compassionate Friends meet
 
Wednesday,  November 11
5:00 pm at the home of Celeste Morgan, the Daughters of the King meet
 
Thursday,  November 12     8:55 am on WYEA(1290am) Fr. Frank's radio devotion
6:30 pm at ? St. Andrew’s supper out
 
Friday,  November 13
10:30 am: ministry at Mountainview     
 
Saturday,  November 14       
24th Sunday after Pentecost, November 15
8:00 am at  Trinity: Holy Eucharist
8:30 am at  St. Mary’s:  Adult Study class
9:30 am at  St. Mary’s:  Holy Eucharist
9:45 am at  St. Andrew’s:  Adult Study class
11:00 am at St. Andrew's:  Sunday School classes for children
11:15 am at  St. Andrew’s:  Holy Eucharist
 
The Last Sunday in Pentecost, The Feast of Christ the King
November 22nd
No morning service
8:30 am at  St. Mary’s:  November vestry meeting
9:30 am at  St. Mary’s:  Holy Eucharist
9:45 am at  St. Andrew’s:  Adult Study class
11:00 am at St. Andrew's:  Sunday School classes for children
11:15 am at  St. Andrew’s:  Holy Eucharist
12:30 pm at St. Andrew's: November vestry meeting
3:30 pm at Trinity, November vestry meeting
4:00 pm at Trinity: Thanksgiving Service
Supper out follows the service.
6:00 pm at Knollwood Presbyterian: The annual Sylacauga Thanksgiving service sponsored by the ministerial association.
 
The First Sunday of ADVENT, November 29,
10:00 am at St. Andrew's - STEM Service, Fr. Frank's last service as Rector.
 
The Second Sunday of ADVENT, December 6
11:00 am at St. Mary's: The Rev. Pat Wingo, Deputy to the Bishop, will officiate at a STEM Sunday service. He will be available afterward to talk to the congregation about the process of calling a new rector.
 
The Rev. Stephen McWhorter will officiate at services on Dec. 13th, Dec. 20th and Christmas Eve.
 
The Lections for Sunday, November 8
 
The Collect
O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory,  we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
A reading from the Book of Ruth
Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do." She said to her, "All that you tell me I will do." So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the LORD made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him." Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David. ... The Word of the Lord [3:1-5; 4:13-17]
 
Psalm 127 Page 782, BCP
1 Unless the LORD builds the house, * their labor is in vain who build it.
2  Unless the LORD watches over the city, * in vain the watchman keeps his vigil.
3  It is in vain that you rise so early and go to bed so late; * vain, too, to eat the bread of toil,for he gives to his beloved sleep.
4  Children are a heritage from the LORD, * and the fruit of the womb is a gift.
5  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior * are the children of one's youth.
6  Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them! * he shall not be put to shame when he contends with his enemies in the gate.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen
 
A reading from the epistle to the Hebrews
Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. ... The Word of the Lord [9:24-28]
 
The Gospel of St. Mark
Teaching in the temple, Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." ... The Gospel of the Lord. [12:38-44]
 
The Living Church's weekly meditation on this week's Gospel
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/sundays-readings/2009/11/8/small-is-big-little-is-much-nov-8
 
Agnus Day cartoon links...
http://www.agnusday.org/comics/126/mark-1238-44-2006
 
Prayes of the people for NOV 8, The 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
As we await the coming of the Lord let us offer prayers to God who bears the sins of many.
 
Katharine, our Presiding Bishop; Henry, Kee and Robert, our bishops;
our sister parishes in STEM: Trinity, Alpine, St. Mary’s, Childersburg and St. Andrew’s, Sylacauga;
 
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
Our companion diocese of Haiti and its bishop, Zaché; our missionaries to Namibia, Jeremy and Penny Lucas.
St. Bartholomew's, Florence
For the clergy and people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
ONE Episcopalian Campaign to end global poverty
 
Anglican Cycle of Prayer
Sunday 8 - Uyo (Nigeria) The Most Rev Emmanuel E Nglass
Monday 9 - Vanuatu (Melanesia) The Rt Rev James Marvin Ligo
Tuesday 10 - Vellore (India) The Rt Rev Yesuratnam William
Wednesday 11 - Venezuela (USA) The Rt Rev Orlando Guerrero
Thursday 12 - Vermont (USA) The Rt Rev Thomas C Ely
Friday 13 - Victoria Nyanza (Tanzania) The Rt Rev Boniface Kwangu
Saturday 14 - Virgin Islands (USA) The Rt Rev Edward Ambrose Gumbs
 
for our President, Barack, and our governor, Bob and all leaders of our community, state and nation.
 
  Lord, have mercy.
For our bishop and our presbyter, for this holy gathering, and for the people of God in every place.
  Lord, have mercy.
For mercy, justice, and peace among all peoples.
  Lord, have mercy.
For good weather, abundant fruits of the earth, and peaceful times.
  Lord, have mercy.
For our city and those who live in it and for all those we love.
  Lord, have mercy.
For widows and the poor, the sick and the suffering, prisoners, captives, and their families, the hungry, homeless, and oppressed.
  Lord, have mercy.
For those who rest in Christ and for all the dead.
  Lord, have mercy.
For our deliverance from all affliction, strife, and need.
  Lord, have mercy.
Lifting our voices with all creation, with the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, let us offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ.
  To you, O Lord.
God of our ancestors, hear the prayers we offer this day and bring the riches of salvation to all who await you in poverty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
 
Please remember to pray these three prayers

For the Right Use of God's Gifts:
  Almighty God, whose loving hand hath given us all that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor thee with our substance, and, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

For the Call of a new Pastor
  Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for our parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Parish:
  Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
 
Sunday, November 29, I ADVENT
10:00 am - STEM Service, Fr. Frank's last service as Rector.
  As I anticipate this coming day, here are the words I recently discovered that I want to leave with you...
  Always keep God’s peace and love among you, and when you have to seek guidance about your affairs, take great care to be of one mind. Live in mutual good-will also with Christ’s other servants, and do not despise Christians who come to you for hospitality, but see that you welcome them, give them accommodation, and send them on their way with friendship and kindness.
  The last words of St. Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, 687
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  All Scripture lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  Prayers of the People are created by Ormonde Plater, a deacon of the Diocese of Louisiana. These intercessions are designed to be used with the Revised Common Lectionary, which became the official eucharistic lectionary of the Episcopal Church in Advent 2007. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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