Mass Schedule – Trinity 16 (September 27, 2015)
28, Feria
29, St. Michael & All Angels
30, St. Jerome, 420 AD
01, Feria
02, Feria
03, Feria
+ On the Feast of Michael and all Angels, popularly called Michaelmas, we give thanks for the many ways in which God’s loving care watches over us, both directly and indirectly, and we are reminded that the richness and variety of God’s creation exceeds our knowledge. Michael (the name means “Who is like God?”) is said to be the captain of the heavenly armies. He is mentioned in the Scriptures in Daniel 10:13,31; 12:1 (where he is said to be the prince of the people of Israel); in Jude 9 (where he is said to have disputed with the devil about the body of Moses); and in Revelation 12:7 (where he is said to have led the heavenly armies against those of the great dragon). He is generally pictured in full armor, carrying a lance, and with his foot on the neck of a dragon. (Pictures of the Martyr George are often similar, but only Michael has wings.) What is the value to us of remembering the Holy Angels? Well, since they appear to excel us in both knowledge and power, they remind us that, even among created things, we humans are not the center of the universe. Since it is the common belief that demons are angels who have chosen to disobey God and to be His enemies rather than His willing servants, they remind us that the higher we are the lower we can fall. The greater our natural gifts and talents, the greater the damage if we turn them to bad ends. The more we have been given, the more will be expected of us. And, in the picture of God sending His angels to help and defend us, we are reminded that apparently God, instead of doing good things directly, often prefers to do them through His willing servants, enabling those who have accepted His love to show their love for one another. The Holy Scriptures often speak of created intelligences other than humans who worship God in heaven and act as His messengers and agents on earth. We are not told much about them, and it is not clear how much of what we are told is figurative. Jesus speaks of them as rejoicing over penitent sinners (Lk 15:10). Elsewhere, in a statement that has been variously understood (Mt 18:10), He warns against misleading a child, because their angels behold the face of God. (Acts 12:15 may refer to a related idea.)
+ Jerome was the foremost biblical scholar of the ancient Church. His translation of the Bible, along with his commentaries and homilies on the biblical books, have made him a major intellectual force in the Western Church. Jerome was born in about 347, and was converted and baptized during his student days in Rome. On a visit to Trier, he found himself attracted to the monastic life, which he tested in a brief but unhappy experience as a hermit in the deserts of Syria. At Antioch, he continued his studies in Hebrew and Greek. In 379, he went to Constantinople where he studied under Gregory of Nazianzus. From 382 to 384 he was secretary to Pope Damasus I, and spiritual director of many noble Roman ladies who were becoming interested in the monastic life. It was Damasus who set him the task of making a new translation of the Bible into Latin — into the popular form of the language, hence the name of the translation: the Vulgate. After the death of Damasus, Jerome returned to the East, and established a monastery at Bethlehem, where he lived and worked until his death on 30 September 420.
+ Wednesday Agape & Christian Education for all ages meets again this Wednesday, September . We will begin serving our common meal at 5:45 p.m. and education classes will begin at 6:30 p.m. We have three classes for children: ages 2-4 are taught by Sr. Lynda who will continue to focus on teaching the kids how to participate in a class, and hopes to instill a love for Scripture and the Church. Ages 5-8 are taught by Jackie Jamison who focuses on preparing for confirmation, on how the kids’ fit into the metanarrative of Scripture, and this year we’ll be studying who Jesus says he is. And ages 9 + will focus on doing Evening Prayer together and studying one of the passages from Evening Prayer in more depth. For the adults, Fr. Dan is teaching a short 6 week class Introducing the Old Testament. Classes are over by 7:15 p.m. Priscilla is cooking this week and Ann Spencer is cooking next week.
+ Our missions committee has planned a mission opportunity for any of our parishioners who would like to lend a hand to our mission in Blacksburg, VA. This is a hands on, one day project for beautifying the parish church of St. Philip’s. The workday is planned for November 7 and everyone on the missions committee is excited and looking forward to making a concrete contribution to good work of Fr. Wade Miller and his parishioners! I think this will be great. We want to build a strong relationship with Fr. Miller and the parish as well as bless them with some labor. Our tentative schedule for the day is:
9:15/9:30: Arrive at St. Philips
Break for lunch
5:30: Wrap up work
Grab some pizza and head back home
+ All Saints Men’s Group will met next on September 15, at 7:00 a.m. in undercroft.
+ The Holy Communion is celebrated this week Monday through Saturday at 12:15 p.m. There will be no Mass this Saturday, September 19.
+ All Saints parishioner may obtain a Mass card from the Church office. A Mass card is a greeting card given to someone to inform him or her that a deceased loved one or friend was remembered and prayed for at a weekly Mass. It is a specifically Christian way to express one’s love. Call Julie McDermott at the Church office (434-979-2842) and she will help you fill out the form. The celebrant will sign the card and we will mail it from the Church to the family of the loved one.