May 2023
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
May 2023 from Father Tim
May has arrived with some anticipated warmer weather, the Kentucky Derby (6th), mint juleps, and ladies in beautiful hats! In the Church Ordo Kalendar May begins with Ss. Philip & James, APP.MM. (1st) followed by Easter IV (7th). Easter V (14th) is also Rogation Sunday ( I will soon include a Bulletin Insert on the Rogation Days). The same week we will celebrate Ascension Day (18th) followed up with Ascension Sunday (21st). The month concludes with Whitsunday (28th). Speaking of Kentucky Derby hats someone recently asked, “Why do girls and women wear hats or veils at church during the Liturgy? Well, St. Paul says in 1 Cor. 11: 3-7 “that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man, praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesying with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head…for a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.” An ACC Bishop recently wrote: The woman’s head covering shows that she is under authority in the hierarchy of the Kingdom — the authority of either her husband or father, or a father-figure, which could be a family member or pastor. In the Kingdom, where all is communion-in-love, to be under authority means also to be protected, and to be cherished. One of the roles of angels is to protect and uphold God’s order in creation and the hierarchy of the Kingdom. The angels notice when this order is disobeyed and seek to minister in the ensuing confusion. The head coverings worn in church are a dress rehearsal for heaven. When clergy wear head coverings they take them off during times of prayer, women leave them on for the whole Liturgy, as St. Paul directs. If we do not like this arrangement on earth, why are we suddenly going to like it in heaven? For in heaven, we are to be crowned. Women’s head coverings are a symbol of the completed work of the Cross, where the glory of self-giving love is completely revealed to all the world, for all time, and eternity. At the foot of the Cross, the holy women, the little remnant that is there, are covered, or overshadowed, by the figure of the crucified Saviour. They are literally “under the Blood,” and the wounds which now dazzle all creation. They are covered by this one stupendous atoning act. Glory is a covering over God’s people. “Round each habitation hov’ring, See the cloud and fire appear For a glory and a covering Showing that the Lord is near.” (Hymn 385) The woman wearing the head covering is, in the “chain of command,” under the cosmic rule of the crucified One, who is risen and alive forevermore. Immersion in this much glory can be like putting a million volts through a tiny piece of bell wire. The least we can have is some insulation, and the head covering is a little piece of insulation, to help us handle all that glory. Glory must often be veiled. Our risen Lord comes to us under the veils of bread and wine. Our Lady is often shown wearing a long blue veil, the color of the Veil in the Temple, and of God’s glory there. Moses had to put a veil over his face when he came down from the mountain after receiving the Ten Commandments. St. Seraphim of Sarov, from 19th century Russia, sometimes wore a veil over his face for the same reason Moses did. His face would sometimes shine like the sun. Tabernacles are veiled, as are chalices. A Rood Screen is a kind of veil. Brides wear veils on their wedding day, and nuns “take the veil.” Someone else once asked, “What about the Altar Guild? Why just women? The Altar Guild, which traditionally has been composed of women, can trace their Guild roots to the women that cared for Jesus during His earthly ministry. These women are charged with the immense responsibility and privilege of tending to the Sanctuary and enabling our congregation to engage in worship that is filled with order, beauty, peace, and tranquility. So there you have the answers ladies! Break out those beautiful hats! Drape yourselves in those heavenly veils! Give honor to our Altar Guild! Practice in Church. Perfection in Paradise. I pray each of you has a beautiful and blessed May! ~ Father Tim
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Is there someone you know who needs to be protected and cherished? May is a beautiful month to experience the completed work of the Cross. Please invite a family member or a friend to church where they can be immersed in glory! ~ Father Tim
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The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved by him. ~ Matthew Henry, 1662-1714, British Minister & Author
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Did you know?
Did you know Saint John’s makes a charitable gift To Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions in March? Did you know we now have a new book club that meets consistently – The Book of Life Club? Our next book is The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis. Did you know our 2023 Bible Study Lineup Class, better known as ‘The Usual Suspects’ will meet at 2:00 PM on the 6th of May? Did you know we are about to begin improvement of the church gardens?
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Earth has nothing more tender than a woman’s heart when it is the abode of piety. ~ Martin Luther, 1483-1546, German priest, theologian, author, hymn-writer, professor, and Augustinian friar.
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St. John May Ordo Kalendar
Wednesday, the 3rd of May at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Saturday, the 6th of May at 2:00 PM, Bible Study Lineup, The Usual Suspects Club
Saturday, the 6th of May at 3:15 PM, The Imitation of Christ, The Book of Life Club
Sunday, the 7th of May, at 10:30 AM, Easter IV Mass – Lincoln Bock Baptism
Wednesday, the 10th of May at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 14th of May at 10:30 AM, Morning Prayer
Wednesday, the 17th of May at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Thursday, the 18th of May at 6:30 PM, Ascension Day ‘Quiet’ Mass
Sunday, the 21st of May at 10:30 AM, Ascension Sunday Mass – Vestry Meeting
Wednesday, the 24th of May, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Saturday, the 27th of May at 2:00 PM, Bible Study Lineup, The Usual Suspects Club
Saturday, the 27th of May at 3:15 PM, The Imitation of Christ, The Book of Life Club
Sunday, the 28th of May, at 10:30 AM, Whitsunday Mass
Wednesday, the 31st of May, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
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Paul does not say that woman must not preach in public because he regards her as less pious, less zealous, less eloquent, less learned, less brave, or less intellectual, than man. Those who advocate woman’s rights have a continual tendency to confuse this issue, claiming that the apostle, when he says that woman must not do what man does, meant to disparage her sex. This is a sheer mistake. You will search in vain for any disparagement of the qualities and virtues of the female sex; and we may at this place properly disclaim all such intentions also. Woman is excluded from this masculine task of public preaching by Paul, not because she is inferior to man, but simply because her Maker has ordained for her another work which is incompatible with the public preaching and teaching of the Word . . . . Accordingly, we never find the apostle drawing a depreciated picture of woman; every allusion of his to the believing woman is full of reverent respect and honor. Among the Christian women who come into Paul’s history there is not one who is portrayed after this imagined pattern of childish ignorance and weakness. The Lydia, the Lois, the Eunice, the Phoebe, the Priscilla, the Damaris, the Roman Mary, the Junia, the Tryphena, the Tryphosa, the “beloved Persis” of the Pauline history, and the “elect lady” who was honored with the friendship of the aged John, all appear in the narrative as bright examples of Christian intelligence, activity, dignity, and nobleness. ~ Robert Lewis Dabney, 1820-1898, American Christian Theologian, Pastor
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[Jonathan Edwards wrote of his wife, Sarah], “They say there is a young lady in (New Haven) who is loved of that Great Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this Great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight; and she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on him… she has a strange sweetness in her mind, and singular purity in their affection… you could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful… She is of a wonderful sweetness, calmness and universal benevolence of mind…. She will sometimes go about from place to place, singing sweetly; and seems to be always full of joy and pleasure; and no one knows for what. She loves to be alone, walking in the fields and groves, and seems to have some one invisible always conversing with her.” ~ Jonathan Edwards, 1703-1758, American Revivalist Preacher, Philosopher, & Theologian
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May Birthdays & Anniversaries
Abigail Evans – Birthday – May 4
Carol & Bob Petrie – Anniversary – May 9
Charles Benjamin (Ben) Meyers – Birthday – May 14
Judie & Rich Boughner – Anniversary – May 15
Natalie Evans – Birthday – May 16
Mike Murray – Birthday – May 16
Fr. Richard Bryant – Birthday – May 17
Terry and Jean Centers – Anniversary – May 22
Kim & Jim Marshall – Anniversary – May 23
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Why should we want to worship Jesus well?
We need not wonder that so much importance is attached to our Lord’s resurrection. It is the seal and headstone of the great work of redemption, which He came to do. It is the crowning proof that He has paid the debt which He undertook to pay on our behalf, won the battle which He fought to deliver us from hell, and is accepted as our Surety and our Substitute by our Father in heaven. Had He never come forth from the prison of the grave, how could we ever have been sure that our ransom had been fully paid? (1 Cor. 15:17.) Had He never risen from His conflict with the last enemy, how could we have felt confident, that He has overcome death, and him that had the power of death, that is the devil? (Heb. 2:14.) But thanks be unto God, we are not left in doubt. The Lord Jesus really “rose again for our justification.” True Christians are “begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” They may boldly say with Paul, “Who is he that condemns – it is Christ that died, yes rather that is risen again” (Rom. 8:34. Rom. 4:25. 1 Pet. 1:3). ~ J.C. Ryle, 1816-1900, Anglican Bishop of Liverpool
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Ascension of Christ ~ Gustave Dore
And He departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here. ~ St. Augustine of Hippo, 354-430, Bishop & Doctor of the Church
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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