Good Shepherd Newsletter Summer 2010 June through August Collect for Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday: O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. “Pentecost, Commonly called Whitsunday” WANT TO PRACTICE THE LOVE OF JESUS, THEM LET THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE. DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT REALLY LIVE WITHIN YOU? IS HE A TENANT OR PART TIME RENTER? IS HE THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE OR A CONVENIENCE WHEN YOU NEED HIM. IS HE THE CENTER OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR VISITOR ONLY? IT'S LIKE THIS: LET'S THINK OF A HOUSE AND THIS HOUSE IS MY LIFE AND I AM THE OCCUPANT OF THIS HOUSE. LET'S SAY THAT THE FURNISHINGS IN THIS HOUSE ARE THOSE TRAITS OF CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY THAT I POSSESS. I AM BAPTIZED. THE DOOR OPENS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ENTERS. HE'S A TIDY LITTLE GENTLEMAN WITH A FROCK COAT AND A COLONEL SANDERS GOATEE. HE BOWS GRACIOUSLY AND SAYS, "HOW DO YOU DO. I'M THE HOLY SPIRIT AND I HAVE COME TO LIVE WITH YOU." I SAY, "GREAT, THAT'S FINE. THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD ME WOULD HAPPEN. WELCOME." THE HOLY SPIRIT LOOKS AROUND HIM AND SAYS, "YOU'LL PARDON MY SAYING SO, BUT THE FURNITURE YOU HAVE IS RATHER SHABBY." I'LL SAY, "YES, I KNOW, BUT IT'S ALL I'VE GOT." HE SAYS, "DON'T WORRY. I'VE GOT A MOVING VAN PARKED RIGHT OUTSIDE WITH A WHOLE NEW SET OF FURNITURE WHICH IS THE EXACT MODEL OF THE FURNITURE THAT IS IN GOD'S HOUSE. IT IS YOURS FREE." I SAY, "MARVELOUS." HE SAYS, "SHALL I BRING IT IN?" I SAY, "SURE." SO HE PICKS UP A TABLE AND STARTS OUT WITH IT I SAY, "WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT TABLE?" HE SAYS, "IF I'M GOING TO BRING IN THIS NEW FURNITURE, I WILL HAVE TO GET RID OF THE OLD FURNITURE." I SAY, "YES, I CAN SEE THE SENSE OF THAT. BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAN I KEEP THAT TABLE? YOU SEE, THAT TABLE BELONGED TO MY MOTHER AND I AM VERY ATTACHED TO IT." THE HOLY SPIRIT IS VERY GOOD-NATURED, AND HE PUTS THE TABLE DOWN. HE PICKS UP A LAMP AND STARTS OUT WITH IT. I SAY, "SORRY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO KEEP THAT LAMP. YOU SEE, A FEW YEARS AGO I TOOK A COURSE IN WOODWORKING AND MADE THAT MYSELF. I AM VERY ATTACHED TO IT." THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS, "OKAY, YOU CAN, BUT LET'S GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT. IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE NEW FURNITURE, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET RID OF THE OLD FURNITURE. ANY TIME YOU ARE READY TO CHANGE THE FURNITURE, LET ME KNOW." AND THEN I DISCOVER THAT MY PROBLEM IS NOT HOW I CAN CONQUER SIN. MY PROBLEM IS THAT I AM NOT SURE THAT I WANT TO. I AM ATTACHED TO MY SIN. IT'S NOT THAT I HAVEN'T TRIED AND TRIED TO OVERCOME MY SINS, BUT THAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING HALF-HEARTEDLY. I AM REALLY VERY FOND OF MY SIN. WHEN GOD CONFRONTS ME WITH A CLEAR CHOICE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE ST. AUGUSTINE, WHO WROTE IN HIS CONFESSIONS THAT HE HAD PRAYED AS A YOUNG MAN, "OH GOD, MAKE ME CHASTE--BUT NOT YET." Collect for Trinity Sunday ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen. “Trinity Sunday" WISE OLD MOTHER CHURCH DOES WELL TO END THE FIRST HALF OF HER YEAR, WITH ITS EMPHASIS UPON DOCTRINES ON CHRISTIAN FAITH, AND TO BEGIN THE SECOND, WITH ITS EMPHASIS UPON CHRISTIAN LIFE, BY SETTING APART ONE SUNDAY WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO STAND STILL AND PAUSE A MOMENT AND CONTEMPLATE “THE HOLY TRINITY” WHILE A GREAT LESSON IS TAUGHT AND A DOOR TO HEAVEN IS OPENED. THOSE WHO DATE THE SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY, AS WE DO, FOCUS ON THE LONGEST SEASON IN THE CHURCH YEAR OF INSTRUCTION AND DISCIPLINE ON THE HISTORIC REVELATION OF FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST WHICH ARE STUDIED AND APPLIED TO THE CHURCH'S INNER LIFE AND OUTER WITNESS. Summer Schedule for Classes: Rector’s Class Sundays at 9:00am 3 Mini Courses- each 4 weeks beginning June 6 1st) Confirmation (Refresher’s Course)- Father Michael 2nd) Old Testament Survey - Robert Hogue 3rd) The Holy Communion - Dr. Paul Epstein Wednesday Women’s Study 1:30pm Continue throughout the summer as scheduled Wednesday Evening Study 7:00pm NO classes during the summer, resume in fall Wednesday Evening Prayer 6:30pm throughout Summer Men’s Saturday Breakfast (1st Saturday each month) No breakfast or meeting during the summer, resume in fall. Calendar: Sunday's 8:00 AM Holy Communion 9:00 AM Rectors's Class 10:00 AM Holy Communion Trinity 1. June 6 Trinity 2. June 13 Trinity 3 June 20 Trinity 4 June 27 Trinity 5 July 4 Celebration after 10:00 Service - Picnic Trinity 6 July 11 Trinity 7 July 18 Trinity 8 July 25 St. James Apostle Trinity 9 August 1 Trinity 10 August 8 Trinity 11 August 15 Trinity 12 August 22 Trinity 13 August 29 Family Prayers: "Prayers to begin and end your day!" Morning A Collect for Peace. O GOD, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PB pg # 17 A Collect for Grace. O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings, being ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. pg. 17 Evening A Collect for Peace. O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. pg. 31 A Collect for Aid against Perils. LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. pg. 31 Daily Additional Prayers For the Absent. O GOD, whose fatherly care reacheth to the uttermost parts of the earth; We humbly beseech thee graciously to behold and bless those whom we love, now absent from us. Defend them from all dangers of soul and body; and grant that both they and we, drawing nearer to thee, may be bound together by thy love in the communion of thy Holy Spirit, and in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. pg. 596 For Those We Love. ALMIGHTY God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come; knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. pg. 597 Additional Family Prayers pages 594 through 600. |