Anglican Church of Saint Paul  e Newsletter
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July 27, 2017

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" Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 
 Your kingdom come, your will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven. 
 Give us this day our daily bread, 
 and forgive us our debts, 
as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
 And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from evil
.
"
Matthew 6:7-13


"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:13

As we conclude our time looking at the Lord's Prayer I would like to take us into a few situations.  The first is a kleptomaniac, walking into a bank that for some reason or another is empty of all customers and staff, but the vault is completely open and all the bags of money are just lazily laying on the floor waiting to be taken.  The second is a mobster who prays a prayer of repentance, and before his fingers touch the last bead on his rosary, is already planning on meeting his contact in some dark ally.  The final is a young soldier who for the first time is about to jump from a plane into a war zone, and before they take that impossible step, which a good portion of the body and brain does not want to take, prays that God protects them and gives them the ability to be a warrior.  

So, why the stories?  Its because out of all of the petitions that we have been taught to pray in the Lord's Prayer this is the most difficult to deal with, both theologically and, when we are honest with ourselves, personally.  It gets super messy, and demands some solid answers to a few very difficult questions.  So, again, why the stories of a kleptomaniac, a mobster, and a soldier?  In each of these cases we see temptation, how it works, how God can use it, and how we react.  

Before we look into these things I want to quickly look at two other passages about temptation.  The first is in James 1:12-13 "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trail, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.  Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one."  The second is from 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has  overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."  

What God tells us in Scripture about temptation is very strange.  First, we are to ask for the protection to not be tempted.  Its like the sticky fingers in the bank.  We pray that we are not ever put in places or in situations that would tempt us to do things that hinder our relationship with God.  However, if we are brought into those situations we are promised that we will have an out.  The mobster at the first could easily just walk away from the obligatory confession with a truly changed heart and not do the dastardly deed that he was planning even with the consequences that would come with that.  Which brings up the idea that God may give us a way out, but it may not be easy.  Finally, because we serve a God "who causes all things to work for the good of those who are called by him," temptations, though from the evil one, can be used to test us and make us stronger.  The soldier looks at the battle and knows what must be done.  Like wise, we look at the valley of death that we may be in, and with our hope in God we let Him lead us through this period of our lives, and in the end we are stronger and our understanding of God is more profound, in other words we are stronger warriors in His army.  

And just as we have been reminded from the very beginning of this series, we have to have our hearts and minds solidly set on God.  When we are praying for protection at the beginning of our day, our prayer isn't so we can be perfect, its so God can be glorified and so we can have a closer relationship with Him.  Which, means when we are in those temptations we have something to fight for. Finally, when we keep our hearts meditating on God and who He is we know that He will never leave us, and will always give us the tools we need to not just survive a situation, but to be perfected by it. And all this is because He is our "Father in heaven."

LISTEN TO SUNDAY'S SERMON
 
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CLICK TO HEAR Fr. Brad's Sunday sermon.
MEN'S BREAKFAST SATURDAY AUG. 5
 
The Men will have their breakfast at Eggberts  on Hwy. 20 (116th Street N) just East of QuikTrip  Saturday, August 5, at 8:00 am.
NIGHT LIGHT DONATIONS NEEDED 
 
We are collecting  feminine hygiene products and  lightly used men's clothing to give to Tulsa Night Light.
If you have items to donate, please bring them to church and give them to Jay Ide for delivery.
FR. CHRIS ON VACATION IN JULY
 
Fr. Chris will be on vacation during the month of July. Although he may be attending services on some Sundays, he will not have an official role. 
Frank and Betty Christel will be editing the newsletter. If you have anything to submit, please contact them.
In the event of a pastoral emergency, please contact Fr. Brad Van Deventer or Dn. Jean Wolfe.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
 
The ACSP Women's 8th Annual Retreat will be Saturday, October 28, 2017.   Yvonne Mitchell a missionary with Reaching the World through Hammer and Sword will be our guest speaker.  Invite friends, the more the merrier.  Watch for more information.
TWO SERVICE SCHEDULE - OWASSO
July 30, 2017                
Eighth Sunday After Pentecost
Altar Guild D. Spears
First Lesson  F. Christel
Second Lesson  R. Anich
Chalice B. Christel
Prayers M. Anich
Acolyte M. Anich
Oblationers G. Ernest/N. Wolfe
Greeter D. Spears
Refreshments M. McLean/B. Scott
Friday Devotional SUMMER BREAK
Prayer Team SUMMER BREAK
Children's Ministry Fr. B. Van Deventer/T. Hickey
A/V Crew K. Black
August 6, 2017                
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
Altar Guild T. Spears
First Lesson  J. Waters
Second Lesson  D. Robberts
Chalice T. Spears
Prayers J. Lombardi
Acolyte B. Scott
Oblationers J. Ide/J. Lombardi
Greeter M. Martin
Refreshments D. Roberts/K. Skelton
Friday Devotional SUMMER BREAK
Prayer Team SUMMER BREAK
Children's Ministry Fr. B. Van Deventer/T. Hickey
A/V Crew F. Christel
TWO SERVICE SCHEDULE - BARTLESVILLE
July 30, 2017   
Eighth Sunday After Pentecost
Altar Guild J. Chamberlain
Lay Reader
K. Smith
Chalice
T. Chamberlain
Prayers of the People T. Chamberlain
Oblationer K. Smith
Bread J. Gallery
August 6, 2017   
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
Altar Guild B. Garrison
Lay Reader
G. Kane
Chalice
Y. Vaughn
Prayers of the People Y. Vaughn
Oblationer T. Chamberlain
Bread J. Gallery
IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS REMINDER
        A
  • ACSP Women's Retreat will be held Saturday, October 28. More information to come. 
     
  • "Pennies From Heaven" Building Fund Project :  Call  Betty Scott  if you have large quantities of aluminum cans to recycle and she will gladly pick them up.  Please bring smaller quantities of cans to the church so she can collect them there.

Our Vision Statement Is:

The Anglican Church of Saint Paul will become a church united in love, growing spiritually through small groups of individuals studying God's Holy Word, praying for one another and the blessing of the church, and working towards the goal that the Lord's "salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6)

The following scriptures summarize our church's Core Values:  

 

OUR PRIORITY - First of all, seek God. "... seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

OUR DIRECTION - Come out of the wilderness to the LORD and beckon others to join us. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

OUR PURPOSE - Be healed and become a place of healing and peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

OUR REMINDER - In all things, it is the LORD who gets the glory. "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)

OUR REWARD - Keep our eyes upon the prize. "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it." (Revelation 2:17)