September 2021

Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC

Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
September 2021 from Father Tim

Is it really September already? Yes, it is. Besides the four Trinity Sundays this month contains the feast days of S. Matthew (21st) and S. Michael & All Angels (29th). And with September we also arrive at the Fall Ember Days (15th, 17th, and 18th). However, this month I would like to reflect a little on Blessed Lancelot Andrewes (25th). When King James ordered the translation of the Holy Bible into English it was Andrewes who led the Westminster group (the king had approved a list of fifty-four translators arranged into six companies). The result of this group’s efforts was our beautiful Authorized King James Bible. It was said of Lancelot Andrewes, an immensely learned man, that he “might have been interpreter general at Babel . . . the world lacked learning to know how learned he was.” He eventually mastered fifteen languages, including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, and Chaldee. He preached with power and eloquence, once writing, “The only true praise of a Sermon is some evil left [abandoned], or some good done, upon the hearing of it.” Andrewes had a wonderful sense of humor as well. One day King James asked Andrewes and a fellow bishop, Richard Neile of Durham, “Cannot I take my subjects money when I want without all this formality in Parliament?” The two bishops were standing behind King James’ chair at dinner. Neile, an intense royalist, said, “You should; you are the breath of our nostrils.” Andrews then said he was not qualified to offer an opinion, but added, “I think you could take my brother Neile’s money, because he offers it.” One has to wonder if James laughed out loud! Today’s fallen world is tainted with ugliness, ignorance, and sadness. As Christian’s it is our calling to cleanse the world with beauty, knowledge, and joy. I pray that this September all of us fulfill our calling. ~ Father Tim

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Is there someone you know who is suffering in a world of ugliness, ignorance, and sadness? Are they caught up in ghastly evil? September is the month of seasonal change and a perfect time to invite someone into the Holy Church to begin experiencing beauty, knowledge, and joy. Invite a lost or seeking soul and help them feel the calling of God and His close knit church family and allow the blood of the Lamb to cleanse them of all things tainted. ~ Father Tim

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Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death. ~ S. Stephen of Hungary, King & Confessor, feast day 2nd of September

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Did you know?

Did you know that Saint John’s hosted Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions and The Ion Center for Prevention of Violence in August? Did you know we are very close to having the Rectory completed? Did you know that we are in the process of securing the next repair quote for the windows high above the Narthex?

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By the help of the water of new birth, the stain of former years had been washed away, and a light from above, serene and pure, had been infused into my reconciled heart, — after that, by the agency of the Spirit breathed from heaven, a second birth had restored me to a new man. ~ S. Cyprian, Bishop & Martyr, feast day 16th of September

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St. John September Ordo Kalendar

Wednesday, the 1st of September at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 5th of September at 10:30 AM, Trinity XIV
Wednesday, the 8th of September at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 12th of September at 10:30 AM, Trinity XV, Vestry Meeting
Wednesday, the 15th of September at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 19th of September at 10:30 AM, Trinity XVI
Wednesday, the 22nd of September at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 26th of September at 10:30 AM, Trinity XVII
Wed., the 29th of Sept. at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer, S. Michael & All Angels

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Listen: there was once a king sitting on his throne. Around Him stood great and wonderfully beautiful columns ornamented with ivory, bearing the banners of the king with great honour. Then it pleased the king to raise a small feather from the ground, and he commanded it to fly. The feather flew, not because of anything in itself but because the air bore it along. Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God. ~ S. Hildegard, Virgin, feast day 17th of September

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God does not take away trials or carry us over them, but strengthens us through them. ~ Bl. Edward Bouvarie Pusey, Confessor, feast day 18th of September

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September Birthdays & Anniversaries

Jonelle Prideaux – September 1
Joanna & Jim Barnett – Anniversary – September 5
Ann Langdon – September 10
Robert Kleven – Birthday – September 12
Terry Mitchell Centers – September 13
Eliot Miller – September 15
Micheal Fraser – Birthday – September 26

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“We visited sixty-six islands and landed eighty-one times, wading, swimming (to shore). Most of the people were friendly and delightful; only two arrows shot at us, and only one went near—So much for savages!” ~ Bl. John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop & Martyr, feast day the 20th of September, [Note: his enthusiasm was short-lived, the natives did eventually kill him]

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But his deeds I think you know better than I could tell you; for, as is read in his Passion, no one doubts that, rising every night from his noble bed, with bare feet and only one chamberlain, he went around to God’s churches and gave alms generously to widows, orphans, those in prison and afflicted by every difficulty, so much so that he was considered, not a prince, but the father of all the wretched. ~ Cosmas of Prague, writing in 1119 about Saint Wenceslaus, Prince & Martyr, feast day the 28th of September

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The Scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning and deep enough for theologians to swim in without ever reaching the bottom. ~ S. Jerome, Confessor & Doctor, feast day the 30th of September

Let us pray for the Catholic Church; for the Churches throughout the whole world; that is, for their truth, unity, and stability; that in all charity may flourish, and truth may live. For our own Church, that what is lacking in it may be supplied; what is unsound, corrected; that all Heresies, Schisms, Scandals, as well public as private, may be removed. Correct the wandering, convert the unbelieving, increase the faith of the Church, destroy Heresies, discover the crafty enemies, crush the violent. ~ Bl. Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop & Confessor, feast day the 25th of September

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The seeking of Jesus Christ, and the quest for chivalry combined, lead directly to one place only: Anglican-Catholicism. Courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help and defend the weak and the poor. Welcome to the Anglican Catholic Church. ~ Father Timothy Butler