SHROVE TUESDAY SUPPER
FEBRUARY 20
6:00 p.m.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
FEBRUARY 21:

7:15 a.m.
12:10 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
_____________________________________
                                                

SINNING BOLDLY

Several weeks ago at the Plaza, Bobby Bowden spoke to the local gathering of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  Coach Bowden's address, always entertaining, was equally thought-provoking and challenging, and, as CNS has re-run that FCA meeting any number of times on their local channel, perhaps some of you have been able to hear it as well. If I focus on one important caveat, it is not to denigrate the very fine work Mr. Bowden has done with so many young people, but to touch upon a subject that has arisen on more than one occasion with not only the FCA but with any number of other Christian organizations.  It is a subject which the Coach admirably tried but failed to pragmatize simply because it is quite beyond pragmatization.  The subject has to do with "being saved", and the Christian's subsequent behavior.

Toward the end of his speech, the Coach referred to his hope that everyone in the room might be together again some day, but most likely that would not be in Thomasville at the Plaza, but in Heaven - but only of course, if everyone there in the room that morning was "saved".  He told the audience that he was saved and that when he died he "knew where he was going", and that if anyone else wasn't sure where they were going, then he or she ought to "get busy and get yourself saved."

Granted Bobby Bowden is a major college football coach and arguably the finest; thus one can overlook the perhaps overtly enthusiastic command for one to get busy and get him/her self saved, as if one could save himself. One wishes however, that the FCA and others would not constantly speak of God's great gift of salvation as if it were simply an insurance policy to protect one's soul from the fires of hell.  The Christian anticipates Heaven and rightly so.  "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) The Christian holds this truth with quiet confidence not because he fears hell, but because he genuinely wants to be with the Lord. 

Although his peroration sounded somewhat like:  "You're either on the team with me, or else you're someplace else", Bowden's confidence in his salvation is admirable - which leads to the other interesting point of the talk, our "post-salvific" behavior.  Coach knows that any number of his audience are skeptical about "accepting Christ as Lord and Savior" because they think they would cease to have a good time, or be severely punished for any sin committed subsequent to accepting Christ.  There are a couple of difficult verses in Hebrews which could lead one to believe this.  Thus in order to quell any hesitation in his audience, Mr. Bowden said to the effect (with more than a tad of braggadocio, at least in tone):  "I'm a Christian; I'm saved; I still sin, and I don't worry about it!"

I don't believe for a moment that he meant it's OK or good to sin.  He was trying to get across to his audience in a few moments what took St.  Paul the first eight chapters of Romans to articulate.  Indeed Paul writes that the Christian can be so sure of God's grace that he can "sin boldly" - obviously in the back of Mr. Bowden's mind.  What he and Paul of course meant is that when we sin, we don't need to beat ourselves up to compensate because Jesus has already done that on the Cross.

That is, the Christian has more than enough cause to live in confidence and hope.  He /she has this hope for no other reason than having accepted Christ as Lord and Savior either verbally or silently; either alone in the privacy of his room, or publically in the sacrament of Holy Baptism.  One cannot emphasize enough that this moment is totally God's gift:  literally taking us out of the realm of the Law and placing us in the realm of Grace.  It does not mean that we will never sin again.  However, "Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14)

That sounds comforting beyond words but it gets even better.  As mentioned above:  "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1) and continues:  "If Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin (even though you continue to sin), your spirits are alive because of righteousness (because of Christ's righteousness)."  (Italics mine)

None of this confidence and hope precludes for a moment the constant necessity for the Christian to repent and ask God's continued forgiveness.  But it is such hope that allows Paul to conclude that glorious eighth chapter with those wondrous words about how absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  No one who accepts Christ is ever going to lead a sinless life.  Nevertheless the knowledge, belief, or faith in God's love toward us in Christ should turn our minds, hearts, and wills to accept that:  1) While we need not think in terms of sinning "boldly", there is no sin we are capable of committing that God is not capable of forgiving and therefore 2) We can desire Heaven not to avoid hell but because Heaven is where God is, and our soul's greatest desire is to be with Him.                                  FAB

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

February 4, 11, and 18, we will continue and conclude reading W. H. Auden's poem:  "For the Time Being."  The text will be available during the week in the office, and in the Parish Hall Library on Sunday.  This poem is the major testament of one of Anglicanism's greatest minds.

During Lent (beginning February 25), we will read and study a selected portion of the Psalter. 

ASH WEDNESDAY AND LENT

Please note that the Ash Wednesday Services will be held in the church at 7:15 AM, 12:10 PM, and 5:30 PM.

The weekday services during Lent will be held in the chapel:

Mondays and Wednesdays:  5:30 PM 
(Evening Prayer and Holy Communion)
Tuesdays:  10:00 AM:  (Holy Communion)
Thursdays:  12:10 PM:  (Morning Prayer and Holy Communion)

"I BELIEVE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH."

Someone asked me last week why the Book of Common Prayer (1928) has left out the word "holy" in the third paragraph of the Nicene Creed.  I had always heard that it was a misprint, but then the same "misprint" is also made in Morning and Evening Prayer.  For the answer, I consulted Dr. Peter Toon, President of the Prayer Book Society.

He writes that many medieval manuscripts including the Sarum Rite (the Liturgy used at Salisbury which Cranmer used as his basis) did not contain that word.  Thus it never made it into the BCP until later when better and more ancient manuscripts based on the original had become available.

It is right and proper that when we recite the Nicene Creed, that we mentally and vocally insert the word: "Holy", i.e., "I believe One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church."

ALTAR GUILD

Anticipating the arrival of a second priest this summer, the Altar Guild will need at least four additional members.  Anyone who even has the slightest interest in joining this group of faithful and dynamic ladies, please just come to the Sacristy (right side door) of the Church any Sunday after the service, or call the Church office or contact me at 225-1581.

Nicki Sanders
Chairman of the Altar Guild

VESTRY OFFICERS

At its January meeting, the Vestry elected as Senior Warden and Junior Warden, Mr. David Grooms and Mr. Clay Sewell.  Brad Jackson and Carol Singletary continue as Treasurer and Clerk.

THANKS AGAIN

To Roy Lilly, Tom Simmons, Jenny Ladson and Debbie Beson for representing the parish in Valdosta at the Diocesan Convention.

ATTENTION VESTRYMEN

The Vestry will have its regular monthly meeting in the Parish Hall Library at 8:00 A.M. on Sunday, February 18. 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, February 14 at 5:00 p.m. in the parish hall.  The nursery will be available and refreshments with a St. Valentine's Day theme will be served.  Please plan to attend as the agenda includes setting the 2007 budget among other items.  We want everyone's input!  Should anyone be interested in looking at the letters from the non-profit organizations requesting funds, they are available for review in the office. 

Liz Parvey
Jenny Ladson

SAINT CECILIA AND SAINT DAVID CHOIR NEWS

The choirs have begun the New Year splendidly; thank you to all choir parents for bringing the choristers on time and helping to begin the rehearsals promptly. The choir snacks are a real treat and we all enjoy them. Considering all the "bugs" going around, the attendance has been excellent.  There will be no rehearsals on Ash Wednesday, February 21.  Both choirs will sing March 4.

Kathy Buechner

EPISCOPAL YOUNG CHURCHMEN

After a very successful local mission effort organized by Hands On Thomas County, the youth will be heading to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a winter break. We will be leaving the church parking lot on Friday, February 9 and traveling to the mountains for ice skating, laser tag, lots of hot chocolate and much more fun! Chip and Andrea Hancock and Kim Bragg are the chaperones for this adventure and, to date, we have 12 youth planning on the trip. We will return the night of Sunday, February 11.

OFFICE CLOSING

The office will be closed Monday, February 19 in observance of President’s Day.        

TRANSITIONS:

 Happy Birthday in February to:
  
  Rachel Grooms   2-11-84
  Maryam Norajean Sibley 2-11-02
  Neel Gurley   2-12-98
  Will Ladson   2-13-99
  Virginia E. Jackson  2-19-99
  Jonathan Douglas Harper 2-19-96
  Rob Stubley   2-22-90
  Cecile Shea   2-22-91
  Catie Hancock   2-23-90
  John B. Brinson, V (Jack) 2-24-97
  Colleen Elizabeth Nudd  2-24-06

 Happy Birthday in March to:

  Raleigh Rollins   3-2-01
  Stephen Shea   3-12-86
  Stephen Stubley  3-16-92
  Lauren Hancock  3-23-89

Transfer:

Please welcome Angela, Kenneth, Jonathan and Christina Fuller from First Presbyterian, Thomasville, Georgia.

Requiescat in Pace

Carol Dana Tritschler departed this life January 21, 2007.

May her soul, and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.  Amen.