The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
West Point, Mississippi
The Incarnate Word
19 October 2011
“[W]orship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 29.2). For something to be holy means that it has been set aside for God, just as each one of you at baptism is “... sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever” (BCP 308). For us to worship God as He calls us to do, we must be aware of the holy, aware of the sacred, in a society in which sacredness is dismissed. A person of faith is not even speaking the same language anymore with one who has adopted the secular agenda, and so revels in self, but even those of us who claim faith in God must remind ourselves constantly to be aware of and to cultivate the holy.
How can we cultivate what is holy? We can do so by being very intentional about setting aside time, place, and self for God. This means that I treat the church nave as more than a meeting place; that I not only say that God is present when we gather in His Name, but that I act this way. The little instruction in the weekly bulletin, “Before worship speak to God. During worship listen to God. After worship speak to each other” reminds us that our first action on entering the nave should be to acknowledge Jesus in the tabernacle, to acknowledge the altar, and then to pray. By this we are recognizing “this place is set aside for God,” and so we can each better participate in the beauty of holiness. We don’t need to be reminded by bells or with incense (although there is nothing wrong with using either) when we are intentional about placing ourselves in that “set aside” spiritual state in which we welcome the presence of God.
Be intentional about worship. Do this throughout the week when you set aside time for prayer. Do this in how you gather in God’s Name. Never take a step backward from what God has called you to be in this place, as people gathered into and fed by His Body. The practice of faith will make us each a better person, but we do not worship in order to become better people. We worship God because that is His due; it is why we were created, and when we recognize this reality, we recognize that we are “set aside” and may participate in the Beauty which is God because He calls to Himself. Set aside, indeed!
Proposition 26: The 8 November general election in Mississippi will include Proposition 26, which would amend the Mississippi Constitution to define the word “person” or “persons”, as those terms are used in Article III of the state constitution, to include every human being from the moment of fertilization.
How you chose to vote on Proposition 26 is a matter of your own individual conscience and political will, coupled with your own reading of the language of Proposition 26 and how you determine this language to give effect to your conscience and political will. In making this decision, how you are informed by your faith is relevant, and to this end an outline addressing the issue How is a person defined in Christian Doctrine? is available at the parish (front hall table).
Adult Education: The 5 p.m. Sunday course will meet this Sunday, 23 October at 4 p.m. The earlier start time will allow the class session to finish by 5:30, to allow for the 6 p.m. parish dinner scheduled at the Trulove residence.
EYC: EYC is inviting the members of the Mt. Hermon youth group to join them for the monthly EYC breakfast on Tuesday, 1 November. Adult help is needed in breakfast preparation, for a gorup of about 15, total. This is a trial run, to explore whether EYC can take the lead in organizing community youth prayer breakfasts to occur monthly. Please help make this a success. If you can help, call the office.
Fall clean-up: Fall clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, 29 October, from 8:30 until noon. There will be indoor and outdoor work crews. Please sign up on the list in the kitchen, so that we will have a headcount. This will enable best planning for projects.
Coffee hour sign-ups: We need people to sign up to host coffee hour. Snacks can be very simple. Please sign up on the sheet in the kitchen.
Stewardship: The stewardship campaign is in full swing. Whether or not you intend to pledge, please complete a pledge card and return it to your box captain, or to the parish office.
A common issue in stewardship, as people to work toward a tithe, is “Before or after taxes?” Our best guidance on this issue is found at Mtt. 22.21. When Jesus says to “Render ... to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” He is separating the issue of taxes from obedience to God. The answer is, therefore, before taxes.
New to the prayer list: Joan Ledwith, Norman Armstrong.
Thanksgivings: Thanksgiving is offered Kyle Chandler IV for managing necessary physical plant repairs.
Music this week: The choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., and on Sundays at 9:45 a.m.
Psalm 1, A Hymn Tune Psalter
Pro. 437, Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Seq. 336, Come with us, O blessed Jesus
Anthem: As we Gather at your Table (WLP 763)
Rec. 551, Rise up, ye saints of God!
Com. 680, 335
The choir is losing a soprano (Elizabeth). Please add your voice! The choir needs another soprano, an alto and a tenor. All voices are welcome.
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