Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Priest-in-Charge The Rev. Sharon Sheffield
Bishop’s Committee Allen Stout, Bishop’s Warden Joanne Jovanovic, People’s Warden Andrea Utzman, Clerk Lynne Richmond, Minutes Secretary Hazel Bellak Sabrina Hicks Precious Nwazota Tayler Philips, Youth Representative Minister of Music & Organist Editor of Canterbury Tales William Henderson Associate Organist & Webmaster Marc Skuster St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church 5306 East Arbor Road Long Beach, CA 90808 (562) 425-4457 Vicar’s church email: [email protected]
Vicar’s home email: [email protected] Vicar’s Cell: 562-833-3393
Web homepage http://saintthomas.ladiocese.net
July 2018
THEME FOR 2018 – 2020
“Moving Forward”
FROM OUR PRIEST-IN-CHARGE
What’s so special about “Ordinary Time”?
The weeks from Trinity Sunday to the First Sunday in Advent are often called
“Pentecost season,” but that’s not strictly accurate. Sure, we use verbal shorthand
to say “Pentecost 3” or – Heaven help us! – “Pentecost 26” as we have this year;
but this is not the season of Pentecost. Really, we are talking about “The Third
Sunday after Pentecost,” and the correct name for these weeks is “Ordinary Time.”
But this is not “ordinary” in the sense of “same old, same old” or “boring”
time. Rather, ordinary time refers to the counting off of weeks. Think back to your
math classes when you learned about the various kinds of numbers. The cardinal
numbers are the numbers that talk about how many of something we have: five
coins, thirty children, twelve donuts. Ordinal numbers tell us what order something
is in: the fourth person in the pew, the seventh son. And that’s what Ordinary Time
is all about – it’s the time before or after a major feast in the church calendar.
However, we need to not fall into the trap of thinking that this time isn’t
special, just because it’s “ordinary.” God is as present in ordinary time as God is
present on major holidays and church feasts. All time is special when we spend time
with God, and all time counts. We also need to remember that ordinary time is full
of special days. Birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, saints’ days… they all fall into
ordinary time, and they are opportunities to celebrate and give thanks to God for
what we have received.
We spend most of our lives in ordinary time, in both senses of the word.
Certainly we should enjoy our holidays and festivals as much as possible. But we
also need to make sure that “ordinary time” is as important and God-filled as the
major feasts and celebrations. When we work to make ordinary time EXTRA-
ordinary, that’s how we make life count. May our countdown of weeks after
Pentecost continue to be filled with love, work, and the presence of God in all God’s
manifestations. And may the blessings of ordinary life be ours!
Faithfully yours,
Mother Sharon
A Bible Moment Allen Stout
A New Testament Overview
Last month, we outlined an overall picture of the Bible, divided into the Old and New Testaments,
with the addition of the Apocrypha. When looking at the Hebrew Bible (AKA the Old Testament), we
noted that it can be broken down into 4 different sections: The Pentateuch/Law/Torah, the Histories,
the Wisdom Books, and the Prophets (which are largely included in that order). This month, we want
to take an overall look at the New Testament.
The New Testament normally includes 27 books. Similarly, to the Old Testament divisions, we can
group the books of the New Testament into 5 different sections or groupings: The Gospels, the Acts of
the Apostles, the epistles (letters) of Paul, the non-Pauline epistles, and the Book of Revelation.
The Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – contain a narrative of the life, deeds and sayings of
Jesus. While Jesus is directly quoted in a small number of locations outside the four Gospels, His
message (AKA “the Gospel”) is found in these books. The Gospel books can be divided further into the
“synoptic” gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), and the Gospel of John. The synoptic gospels include
many of the same stories, in pretty much the same order. It is thought by many that the Gospel of
Mark is the oldest of these books, and that the authors of Matthew and Luke were familiar with it
when they wrote their gospels. The Gospel of John does refer to many of the stories and events in the
synoptic gospels, it also contains what might be described as more esoteric or mystical language. It is
also focused much more on the struggle between the new Christian Church and the Jewish
authorities.
The Acts of the Apostles is thought to have been written by the author of the Gospel of Luke and
contains the story of the early Christian Church after Jesus’ ascension. The epistles of Paul (the
“Pauline letters”) are largely written in response to issues faced by early Christian communities in
places like Corinth, Ephesus and Thessaly. A further set of epistles follows those of Paul, and includes
the books of Hebrews, James, Peter (1-2), John (1-3), and Jude. The authorship of these letters is
widely debated. The final book in the New Testament is the Book of Revelation. This book is an
“apocalypse,” meaning that its primary subject is the end times of the world, and the final completion
of God’s plan through time. Some scholars consider the Revelation to be a “Johanine” book (written
by John), along with some of the non-Pauline letters. However, there is not an agreement on whether
they were written by the same person.
Finally, there is a wide assortment of non-canonical books (those that have not been approved by the
wider Christian church), including various letters, fragments found in archeological digs such as the
Dead Sea Scrolls, and the findings at Nag Hamadi in Egypt. This topic is probably a good one for a
future Bible Moment.
If you have any questions that you would like to have covered, please let me or Sharon know so we
can discuss them in future editions.
The Peace of the Lord Be Upon You.
IT’S TIME FOR DODGER BASEBALL!
This year marks the 25th
anniversary of Episcopal Night at
Dodger Stadium, and you’re invited
to join in the festivities!
On Friday, August 31, the Dodgers will play the Arizona
Diamondbacks. The game starts at 7:10, but you’ll want to
be there by 6:30 so you don’t miss the introduction of our
Bishop. There will be the usual Friday night fireworks after
the game.
Tickets are $25 each. To get your tickets, sign up on the
sheet in the narthex, or email the church office with your
name and number of tickets wanted. Tickets MUST be
paid for in advance, and the deadline for ordering is
Sunday, July 29. For more information, please talk with
our coordinator, Allen Stout – he is in charge of taking
ticket orders and collecting the money.
June 10 Confirmation
Our confirmands, Paul Ivory and Salim Khoury with Mother Sharon
and Bishop Azariah
Scenes from the Dinner Auction
Ryan Khoury 7/2
Federico Sierra 7/8
Michael Utzman 7/16
Juanita Bennett 7/18
Jason Heatherly 7/23
Samantha Jovanovic 7/23
Amanda Tapia 7/29
Karen Adelseck 7/30
Ashley & Auggy Sanchez 7/3/2011
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
We pray especially for Our Presiding Bishop Michael, our Bishops John & Diane and our Priest Sharon.
The world, especially the people of the United States, and for peace all over the world and wherever there is oppression or trouble.
Serving in the Armed Forces at home and around the world: members of the U. S. Army: Adam, Robert, and Michael; the U.S. Marine Corps: Sean and Mark; the U.S. Air Force: Jordan, Joshua, and Carlos; the U. S. Navy: Jonathan and Charity; and the U.S. Coast Guard: Jennifer and Corey.
The protection and guidance of Parishioners and Friends: Ashley, Jason, Jacob, Amanda, Angelina, Liz, Cheri, Deanne, Ashley, Rachel, Margaux, Evan, Christian, Ed, Ana, Harim, Edna, Monica, Stan, Cindy, Juanita, Bertha, Ariana, Alyssa, Charles, Vicki and Paul.
The healing of Parishioners and friends: Terry, Rachel, Joy, Andrew, Linda, Diana, Richard, Ana, Taft, Kathie, Karen, Paula, Liz, Lynn, Evelyn, Ellen, Carlene, Rellen, Becky, Samantha, Steven, Osias, Paul, Patricia, Erick, Claudia, Sue, Doreen, Wendy, Gabby, Paul, Bill, Patricia, Carmen, Mike, Mia and all parishioners with health problems.
Homebound and Special Needs: Gerry, Ellen, Karen, Paula and the homeless, the poor and the unemployed, affordable housing for families, the end of Ebola, AIDS, and Cancer in the world, and for those suffering from mental illness.
St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church 5306 East Arbor RoadLong Beach, CA 90808-1109 Phone: (562) 425-4457Fax: (562) 425-8317 E-mail: [email protected] Web page: www.saintthomasofcanterbury.org
