 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Friday, November 4, 2022 Preparing for the Bishop’s Visit – part 2 This week’s worship readings This Sunday, November 6 Remember there is NO 9:30am class again until after Christmas and Epiphany – Instead, we will have lunch after Church and intergenerational activities for everyone. We will worship using the form for Morning Prayer. This week Ruth Lewis will be the preacher. Job 19:23-27 Job said, “O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved ono a rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and that after my skin has ben thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.”  Luke 20:27-38 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers, the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven has married her.” Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living: for to him, all of them are alive. Share Your Christmas Debra Beal will be back in Church this week after surgery. She is also our representative for Share Your Christmas. She will be bringing the first of the Angels that you can take – listing gifts that have been requested by children in the age group we care for: 9-11. You are also invited to begin to pick up any other gifts that are usually requested by children of this age – board games, art sets, crafts, books, sports equipment. What will happen when the bishop comes on December 4? Well, several things. +Diane will be the celebrant at the Eucharist, and she will remain afterwards to enjoy a potluck dinner with all of you – But she also comes to confer with the Bishop’s Committee, to answer your questions, and to confirm those who are ready to make an official commitment to the Episcopal Church. So – about Confirmation? The Prayer Book says this: “In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism, and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop” (page 412.) Adults who were baptized in another denomination are also invited to make this same affirmation and receive the laying on of hands as well. (Those who were confirmed in the Roman Catholic or Lutheran churches will be received – the prayer for these is slightly different, recognizing their previous confirmation and welcoming them into the fellowship of the Episcopal Church.) If you’d like to read it, the whole service begins on page 413 of the prayer book. You will notice right away that the “Examination” of the candidates asks the same questions that were asked of you – or the parent who presented you – at your baptism. She will ask – “Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil? Do you renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?” And as at baptism she will ask the congregation this question: “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?” And then all of us together will renew our baptismal vows. Then the bishop prays again before laying her hands on each person individually. “Strengthen, O Lord, your servant (Name) with your Holy Spirit; empower (him/her) for your service; and sustain (him/her) all the days of his life” Anyone 12 years old or older may request to be confirmed. Please indicate this on the form available in the church – or call, text or message Mother Cathy (417-399-4671) so we can meet together beforehand. |
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