See Barbara Dyson to sign up this Sunday, April 29, 2012, for the Saturday, June 2, 3pm showing. Tickets are $12 in advance for adults and children.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAM COAT
Children’s Theatre Productions
May 25th – June 24th, 2012
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays & Sundays at 1 pm & 3 pm
Ticket prices are : $12 in advance;
$12 children, $15 adults day of show.

This colorfully historical musical adventure depicts biblical lessons of the power of forgiveness, the savagery of betrayal and the dangers of jealousy. Favored son, Joseph, son of Jacob, is deceived by his own brothers, sold into slavery and driven into Egypt. Through extreme challenge and hardship, Joseph perseveres with wit and faith and becomes the governor of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh. His colorful coat symbolizes his exceptionalism in an inspiring mystical story-turned-musical. And thus the scene is set for a new encounter with his brothers who travel to Egypt to purchase food. Popular songs include, Jacob and Sons, Go, Go, Go Joseph, and Any Dream Will Do.

VBS – VOLUNTEERS
Join us in Babylon as you lead or assist a small group, facilitate a craft, or prepare & serve snacks. Contact Kim Brewer to learn how you can help.

VBS
Mark your calendars June 4 – June 8; Meet Daniel in Babylon! Children ages 4-13. Sign up now – $15 per child

HARP & BOWL
Harp and Bowl is baaacckkk! One Sunday each month at 5:00 pm at the Beaufeaux residence we are getting our prayer on! Nathan R. Hale and Amber Falk Hale are supplying the rocking worshipful tunes and Kerri Beaufeaux will humbly facilitate the prayer topics. Contact Desert Mission Anglican Church for details.

ALPHA The Marriage Course: Helping couples build a healthy relationship

The Marriage Course Formula =
fantastic atmosphere + romantic meal for two + practical talks + couple discussion times + no group work

Contact DMAC to learn more about how you can join.

MEMBERSHIP & BAPTISM CLASSES
Contact DMAC if you are interested in attending a membership and/or baptism course – class dates & times TBD.

A few years ago, a football match had been arranged involving twenty-two small boys (including one of my sons, aged eight at the time). A friend of mine called Andy (who had been training the boys all year) was going to referee. Unfortunately, by 2.30pm he had not turned up. The boys could wait no longer. I was press-ganged into being the substitute referee. There were a number of difficulties with this: I had no whistle; there were no markings for the boundaries of the pitch; I didn’t know any of the boys’ names; they did not have colours to distinguish which side they were on; and I did not know the rules nearly as well as some of the boys.

The game soon descended into complete chaos. Some shouted that the ball was in. Others said that it was out. I wasn’t at all sure, so I let things run. Then the fouls started. Some cried ‘Foul’. Others said ‘No foul’. I didn’t know who was right. So I let them play on. Then people began to get hurt. By the time Andy arrived, there were three boys lying injured on the ground and all the rest were shouting, mainly at me! But the moment Andy arrived, he blew his whistle, arranged the teams, told them where the boundaries were and had them under complete control. Then the boys had the game of their lives.

Were the boys more free without the rules or were they in fact less free? Without any effective authority they were free to do exactly what they wanted. The result was that people were confused and hurt. They much preferred it when they knew where the boundaries were. Then, within those boundaries, they were free to enjoy the game.

Keeping God’s commands is the way to life in all its fullness. God’s commands are given out of his love for us. They are not designed to restrict our freedom but rather to give us freedom. Like the rules of football, they do not stop the enjoyment of the game. Rather they enable the game to be enjoyed to the full. In each of the passages today we read about God’s boundaries – his commands.

Leviticus 26:14-27:34
The last verse of Leviticus summarises what the whole book is about: ‘These are the commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai for the People of Israel’ (27:34, MSG).

Today’s passage describes the disastrous results when God’s people ‘will not listen to [him] and carry out all these commands’ (26:14). ‘If you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, then I will do this to you …’ (v.15).

We see the chaotic world that results from ‘stubborn pride’ (v.19). The relationship with God is broken. Prayers do not get through. God says, ‘I will … make the sky above you like iron’ (v.19). Disobedience is draining, ‘Your strength will be spent in vain’ (v.20). However successful we are materially, it does not satisfy: ‘You will eat, but you will not be satisfied’ (v.26b). These are described literally as ‘the curses of disobedience’.

God gives us every possible opportunity to repent. He puts all kind of obstacle in our way to persuade us to turn back to him (vv.18,21,23,27). In his faithfulness, God, in spite of continual rejection, is always ready to receive us back if we confess and humble ourselves (vv.40–42).

All this would be rather depressing if it were not for Jesus. The message of the New Testament is that none of us have kept God’s commandments totally. We have all broken his covenant. We have failed to keep his laws. Without Jesus we would all be subject to the ‘curses’ of Leviticus.

As St Paul writes, ‘All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no-one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” ’

‘The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The one who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit’ (Galatians 3:10–14).

It is only as we see the background to all of this that we understand quite how amazing the cross is and how much Jesus took on himself by becoming a curse for us, and the extraordinary blessing of being justified by faith and receiving the promise of the Spirit.

God’s Holy Spirit changes us as he writes his commands on the tablets of our hearts. As Paul says, ‘Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh’ (Galatians 5:16). God’s Spirit produces within us the fruit of ‘love, joy, peace’ and much more besides (v.22).

The commands were given out of love. Jesus summarises the commandments, ‘Love the Lord your God … and … love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 22:37–40). ‘We love because he first loved us’ (1 John 4:19). In love, he died for us and now he gives us his Holy Spirit to enable us to follow his commandments by living a life of love.

Lord, as we read of the results of breaking your commandments and being under a curse, we thank you so much that Jesus became a curse for us when he hung on the cross for our sins. Thank you that you have redeemed us from the curse of the law. Thank you that you give us your Holy Spirit to live within our hearts.

Thank you that all this is possible because of your great love for us. Thank you that you gave us the commands out of love. Thank you that when we failed to keep them, you sent Jesus to lay down his life for us out of love. Thank you that you now give us your Spirit to enable us to keep the commands and to live a life of love. Help us to love you with all our hearts, souls and minds and to love our neighbours as ourselves.

Attributed to Nicky Gumbel of Holy Trinity Brompton

http://bibleinoneyear@htb.org.uk/

Sunday’s Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 33:1-8 | Acts 11:19-30
1 John 4:7-21| John 15:9-17

Daily Office Readings: Sixth Week of Easter

Sunday:
AM Psalm 93,96; PM Psalm 34
Lev 25:1-17; James 1:2-8,16-18; Luke 12:13-21

Monday:
AM Psalm 80; PM Psalm 77,79
Lev 25:35-55; Col 1:9-14; Matt 13:1-16

Tuesday:
AM Psalm 78:1-39; PM Psalm 78:40-72
Lev 26:1-20 1 Tim 2:1-6; Matt 13:18-23

Wednesday:
AM Psalm 119:97-120; *
Lev 26:27-42; Eph 1:1-10; Matt 22:41-46

Thursday: Ascension Day
AM Psalm 8,47; PM Psalm 24,96
Dan 7:9-14; Heb 2:5-18; Matt 28:16-20

Friday:
AM Psalm 85,86; PM Psalm 91,92
1 Sam 2:1-10; Eph 2:1-10; Matt 7:22-27

Saturday:
AM Psalm 87,90; PM Psalm 136
Num 11:16-17,24-29; Eph 2:11-22; Matt 7:28-8:4

WEEKLY EVENTS

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Youth: 9am/Rm 408
Children 3-11: 10am/Cafeteria
Childcare birth-3 yrs: 10am/Cafeteria

STAFF & VOLUNTEER MEETING
Tuesday | 10 AM | Location TBD

WORSHIP TEAM
Thursday | 7PM | Paski Home

ANNOUNCEMENTS

VBS – VOLUNTEERS – Join us in Babylon as you lead or assist a small group, facilitate a craft, or prepare & serve snacks. Contact Kim Brewer to learn how you can help.

VBS – Mark your calendars June 4 – June 8; Meet Daniel in Babylon! Children ages 4-13. Sign up now – $15 per child

GIVING ENVELOPES – if you wish to designate funds or need the use of a giving envelopes for your tithes and offerings, they are located at the back table near the coffee

NEW COFFEE SALE –new roasts & blends now for sale

PRAYER CIRCLE
Pray for these AMiA Parishes this week:

The Mission Chattanooga – Chattanooga, TN
All Saints Anglican Church – Houston, TX
Bridge Point Communities – Austin, TX
Christ Church – Austin, TX

Link to Sermon

-For the freedom to worship God.
-For our family and friends who share their lives and love.
-For the provision of food and shelter that comes from Almighty God.
-For the men and women of the armed forces.
-For the police and firefighters.
-For our teachers.
-For those who volunteer their services to help those in need.

Show those you love and care for that you are thankful for them by:

-Spending time with them this season letting them know how thankful you are to them for being a part of your life. Tell them how much you love them and how much their love means to you.

-Start a family tradition. If you haven’t started a tradition, start one now. We live in a disconnected society and traditions can be anchors for us that build stability in our families.

-Reach out to someone who may be alone and may need a kind word or gesture to let them know that someone cares.

-Invite someone to share in your family meal on Thanksgiving. Breaking bread together is a way to show hospitality.

These are ways we can acknowledge that all that we have and all that we are comes from the Hand of God and we give thanks to Him for His love and care.

A Prayer of General Thanksgiving

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.

We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.

We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.

We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.

Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.

St. Ignatius was the second Bishop of Antioch, Syria, a disciple of St. John the Beloved. He was consecrated by the Apostle Peter, about 69 AD. A man of great faith, deeply loved by Christians everywhere, he was fiercely devoted to the defense of “orthodoxy” (right teaching) and “orthopraxy” (right practice) among the early Church.

During the brutal reign of Emperor Trajan, Ignatius was sentenced to death for   his refusal to renounce his faith. He was arrested and taken to Rome, by way of Asia Minor and Greece. As he journeyed, he became acquainted with Christians in those lands.  He wrote seven letters of encouragement and instruction to those he met. We still have these inspirational letters as a great treasure of the Church today.

Ignatius’ letters addressed the hierarchy and structure of the Church, but most importantly, he outlined the content of the orthodox Christian faith. It was Ignatius who first used the term “catholic” to describe the Christ’s one, holy, universal Church. These letters bind us to the early Church and the unbroken, clear teaching of the Apostles, given to them directly by Christ. They also reveal the holiness of a man of God who became himself a living letter of Christ. His death in the arena, devoured by two lions, was the culmination of a life lived in conformity and witness to Christ. Ignatius offered himself as a sacrifice for the sake of the Church, which he loved. His holy martyrdom occurred in the year 107 AD.  His feast is celebrated on October 17.

In his letters, he continually thanked his fellow Christians for their concern for his life, but was prepared, almost joyfully, to carry out his final witness of fidelity:

“I know what is to my advantage. At last I am becoming his disciple. May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of limbs – let them come to me, provided only I make my way to Jesus Christ. I would rather die and come to Jesus Christ than be king over the entire earth. Him I seek who died for us; him I love who rose again because of us.”

St. Ignatius was not afraid of death. He knew that Christ had overcome it.  He embraced a suffering like Christ’s Passion, knowing that he would rise with Christ in the Resurrection. He wrote to the disciples in Rome: “Permit me to imitate my suffering God… I am God’s wheat and I shall be ground by the teeth of beasts, that I may become the pure bread of Christ.” The beauty of Eucharistic symbolism in these words reflects his deep theology. He dedicated his life to defending the orthodox faith handed down by the Apostles, so that Christians would never be led astray by false teaching.  Anticipating his cruel death, he wrote these inspired words:

A letter to the Romans by St. Ignatius of Antioch

I am no longer willing to live a merely human life, and you can bring about my wish if you will. Please, then, do me this favour, so that you in turn may meet with equal kindness. Put briefly, this is my request: believe what I am saying to you. Jesus Christ himself will make it clear to you that I am saying the truth. Only truth can come from that mouth by which the Father has truly spoken. Pray for me that I may obtain my desire. I have not written to you as a mere man would, but as one who knows the mind of God. If I am condemned to suffer, I will take it that you wish me well. If my case is postponed, I can only think that you wish me harm.”

September, 18, 2010 – The House of Bishops of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda has elected the Rt. Rev. Onesphore Rwaje as Archbishop to succeed the Most Rev. Emmanuel Kolini. He currently serves as Bishop of Byumba Diocese and Dean of the Province. The Province distributed this official statement:

The Anglican Church of Rwanda is pleased to announce to all Rwanda Christians, especially Anglican Christians, that during their House of Bishops meeting, which took place on 17 September in the Year of our Lord 2010, Bishop RWAJE Onesphore was elected as the Archbishop-elect of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda and Bishop of the new Gasabo Diocese for the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda.

Kigali, Rwanda on 17 September the Year of our Lord 2010
The Most Rev. Emmanuel Musaba Kolini
Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda and Bishop of Kigali Diocese

Bishop Chuck Murphy, who attended the House of Bishops meeting, commented on the election:

I want to thank all the individuals, congregations and intercessors across North America who prayed for this important election. The presence of the Holy Spirit was clear and evident throughout the meeting, and we were blessed to have an election on the first ballot with overwhelming support for the Dean of the Province of Rwanda, Bishop Onesphore Rwaje. We left the meeting excited and united. I have scheduled a meeting on Saturday, September 18, with the Archbishop and Archbishop-elect to discuss plans for this next season in the life of the Province and the Anglican Mission and will be sending a video message with a more detailed report when I return to the US.

The Rt. Rev. Charles H. Murphy, III
Chairman of the Anglican Mission in the Americas
September 17, 2010

Throughout Holy Scripture and church history the people of God have come together to pray as one, in times of great decisions, in times of change, and in times of challenge to the people of God.  We find ourselves in such a time as this.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is threatened on many levels in the world and  tragically even in the church.  We now call Anglican Mission in the Americas, as a body of followers of Jesus Christ, to a focused time of devoted prayer and fasting during the weeks before, as well as on the day of this election.

We ask that the prayers for this election be offered up each Sunday during the Prayers of the People.   We also ask that individuals and groups add this to their regular prayer times and fasting is encouraged.  The following is a prayer point suggestion that may be used during individual prayer times.   We ask that the Holy Spirit would guide each church in responding to this call.

Prayer Points:

1.  Praise and Thanksgiving:  for all that the Lord has done in the past through Archbishop Kolini and Freda and for what the Lord will do through the new Archbishop and his wife.

2.  Confession of Sin:  for personal sin and for the times when the church has fallen short of the will of God; things done and things left undone.

3.  The Wonder of God:  for His calling Anglican Mission into existence and His faithfulness in leading and directing us for over 10 years.

4.  Faith:  for our trusting the Lord to direct our future together.

5.  Petition:  for the man of God’s choosing to be raised up, elected, and anointed by God for the office of Archbishop of Rwanda.

6.  Thanksgiving:  that the Lord hears the cries of His people and moves on their behalf for his purposes.

At the request of a congregant, here is an explanation of the difference between the Daily Office Readings & the Lectionary Readings – The Lectionary is a schedule of scripture readings for the Sunday Eucharistic service, set to a three-year cycle (Years A, B, C).  Often, the sermon is based upon or takes inspiration from the appointed lectionary readings.

The Daily Office or “Divine Hours”, arose from the Jewish practice of reciting daily prayers at specified times (Ps. 119:164) and is believed to have been handed down from the Apostles (Acts 3:1).  In the 5^th century, St. Sabbas began to record the various observed liturgical practices and later, St. Benedict of Nursia wrote the first manual for praying the Hours. In the 9^th century, these canonical offices consisted of eight daily prayer times and three to four nightly “nocturnes”, “vigils”, or “watches”.  Currently, it is most common for laypeople to observe the offices of Morning Prayer (Lauds, or “praise”) and Evening Prayer (Vespers, which is a time of thanksgiving).  The scriptures listed in our bulletin come from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and are set to a two-year cycle (Years 1 and 2), which encompasses the entire Bible.

Ash Wednesday (the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday),  marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on worshippers’ heads or foreheads as a sign of humility before God.  It is also a symbol of sorrow for the death that came into the world through sin.  It not only foreshadows the mourning of the death of Jesus, but also puts us in a position to realize the consequences of our own sin.  In the early church, ashes were only used to mark the foreheads of those who had made public confession of sin, had repented and sought to be restored to the fellowship of the community at the Easter celebration.  As time went on, other believers chose to show their humility and identification with the penitents by asking that they, too, be marked as sinners.  Finally, the imposition of ashes was extended to the whole congregation in services like those now observed in many Christian churches on Ash Wednesday.

The colors most commonly used in the sanctuary during Lent are purple, red violet, or dark violet, which symbolize both the passion of Christ leading up to the crucifixion and the pain and suffering of humanity as a result of sin.  Purple is also the color of royalty, so we look with anticipation toward the hope of eternal life that will be celebrated in the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.  Some churches use gray for Ash Wednesday or for the entire season of Lent, or for special days of fasting and prayer.   Some Anglican churches use unbleached muslin, which can range from white to beige, with accents in red or black for Lent to emphasize a spirit of penitence.

Lent is a penitential season, a time when we take an intentional journey through the desert, just as Christ spent 40 days in the wilderness – a time of trial, contemplation and preparation for the work He was called to do – so we are called to look inward and examine ourselves and prepare our hearts to receive the risen Saviour on Easter.  It is a time to make purposeful sacrifices of our time and talent with the expectation of receiving a greater spiritual reward.  One of the ancient customs of the Church is to “retire” the use of the “Alleluia” during Lent, symbolizing our voluntary restraint of praise during this solemn season.  By retiring something familiar for a period of time, emphasis is given to what precedes and follows it.  Taking a rest from something gives shape and rhythm to life, to worship, to relationships.  For this same reason the cross, a Christian’s symbol of victory, is also veiled – to remind us that we were dead in our sin, wrapped in a shroud – but through the victory of the cross and God’s amazing grace, we are risen with Christ and celebrate His triumph on Easter morning with the revelation of the cross and the joyful shouts of “Alleluia”!

We invite you to join us on this penitential journey through the wilderness of our souls.  To take time to look deeply and honestly at ourselves.  To put off the distractions that draw our focus away from Christ and take on periods of contemplation and meditation on the miraculous work of grace and forgiveness freely offered to us through His suffering, death and resurrection.  Prepare your spiritual house with a “spring cleaning” and ask the Holy Spirit to abide within.