Cont’d. on page 2

Starting on September 15th, we will launch our

new Sunday morning educational course called

“Christianity Explored: One Life. What’s It All

About.” This course which was developed at

All Souls, Langham Place, a leading

evangelical parish in the Church of England,

has been offered in over 50 countries and

translated into over 25 languages. It has been

enthusiastically endorsed by innumerable

evangelical theologians and church leaders.

Here’s a sampling of opinions about the merits

of this course:

“Christianity Explored is a tremendous

resource for churches who want to reach

their community for Christ. It provides a

welcoming, accessible, and unapologetically

scriptural presentation of the gospel. It also

serves as a practical, useable, model to equip

and mobilize a congregation for evangelism.

This new edition is superbly produced and

can be easily used in small or large group

contexts.”

— John Currie, Lecturer in Practical

Theology and Director of Student

Development and Alumni Relations,

Westminster Theological Seminary

“I wish every Church, every Sunday School

Class, and every Small Group would use

Christianity Explored at least once a year.

Then our churches might once again become

what they were meant to be: God’s

evangelistic society and network of spiritual

maternity hospitals where we live in

expectation that new Christians will be born.

I personally value Christianity Explored as a

tool for evangelism for a wide variety of

reasons:

Because of Rico Tice’s clear and

engaging presentation of the Gospel.

Because “Christianity Explored” uses

The Gospel (of Mark)—and not just a

few isolated texts—to tell the Gospel

of Jesus.

Because using it in the church family

creates a context for Christians to use

their gifts together to show others, as

well as tell them about, the good

news and the new life they have found

in Christ.

Because it also walks those who are

already Christians through the Gospel

and strengthens both their understanding

of it and their ability to express it.

Because I have rejoiced to see

people come to faith in Christ through

its ministry.”

— Sinclair B. Ferguson, Distinguished

Visiting Professor of Systematic Theology,

Redeemer Theological Seminary

“Rico Tice is one God’s great gifts to this generation. He is a passionate preacher of

8:00 a.m. Holy Communion

9:20 a.m. Prayer Troop*

10:00 a.m. Holy Communion*

10:00 a.m. Preschool & K Chapel*

10:30 a.m. Preschool & K Sunday School*

10:30 a.m. Grades 1-5

Sunday School*

11:15 a.m. Middle School Class*

11:15 a.m.

High School Class*

11:15 a.m. Fellowship Sunday*

12:00 p.m. Children’s Choir

5:00 p.m. Evening Prayer*

Coffee & Conversation after Worship

*Nursery

The Lectionary for the

Fifteenth Sunday

after Pentecost

Ecclesiasticus 10:7-18

Hebrews 13:1-8

Luke 14:1,7-14

Psalm 112

Bishop’s Statement on

Supreme Court Ruling

PAGE 3

To age well involves becoming clear about what we

have received from our forebears, how we have

developed and refined it, and even taken it beyond

what we received from them. That is what we pass on

to our heirs (biological and

relational), not so much by

instructing them, but by being who

we are. One writer and ethicist

speaks of legacy by speaking of

¨what will matter.¨ He writes: Ready

or not, someday it will all come to an

end…. All the things you

collected, whether treasured or

forgotten, will pass to someone

else…your grudges, resentments

frustrations and jealousies will

finally disappear…so, what will

matter? What will matter is not

what you bought but what you built,

not what you got but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success but your

significance. What will matter is not what you learned

but what you taught. What will matter is every act of

integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that

enriched, empowered, or encouraged others to

emulate your example. What will matter is not your

competence but your

character…Living a life that

matters doesn´t happen by

accident. It´s not a matter of

circumstance but of choice.

Choose to live a life that

matters.¨

This a work years in the

making. Whatever one´s

circumstances, the truth about

one matters and will be

received by those one touches.

Aging well is a matter of being

conscious of what about one

matters and choosing to allow that to affect those one

loves —even all who know one.

Happy (blessed) aging!

Cont’d. from page 1

2

Christ crucified. The course he has developed draws people into a careful study of Mark’s gospel. It is great to see from Mark who Jesus was, why he came and what he requires of us.”

— Phillip Jensen, The Dean of Sydney

“Christianity Explored offers a highly effective way to help unbelieving friends consider the claims of Christ for themselves, and to voice their comments and questions in a context of learning and discovery. An evangelistic study of Mark’s Gospel, it has energized and equipped many Christians to share their faith more effectively and comes with study materials that are attractive, succinct and to-the-point. It is sensitive to the objections, fears, and misapprehensions of unbelievers, showing respect and consideration for honest doubts and questions.”

— Alistair Begg, Senior Pastor, Parkside Church, Ohio

Please make a point to swing by the “Christianity Explored” table on Rally Day to pick up your study book. ($5.00/each)

Tough Questions:

Hasn't science shown that Christianity is wrong? – If there is a God, why does he allow suffering? – Isn't believing in the resurrection ridiculous? – Wasn't Jesus just a great teacher? Why bother with church? I'm a decent person – surely I'll be fine? –

These are touchstone questions for Christians. When our times are examined through distant future eyes a crossroad may very well become evident where we are standing today. Join us as we strike our direction.

3

For additional analysis of the rulings, please see

the excellent article by A.S. Haley on his blog,

The Anglican Curmudgeon. CLICK HERE to

read the Court documents in both cases.

4

When in 1962 as an eighteen year old I returned to this country after a decade of schooling in England, I was encouraged by a family friend to read two books by way of bridging the gap between the perspective of my education in the 'old country' and what my re-claimed native land had to offer a returning son. Actually, my mentor's intent was not so much to indoctrinate me in —or

acclimatize me to —a radically different world-view as to encourage me to 'take on board' two writers who, though as truly American as they could be, yet, in their different yet complementary ways, 'connected the dots' between experience of and in the 'new world' with the ancient and perennial perspective on 'Nature, Man and God' (Archbishop William Temple's phrase; C.S. Lewis called it ‘the Tao’) in which I had been schooled; and, underlying that, the very Gospel itself.

One of the two books to which I was introduced was Lanterns on

the Levee by William Alexander Percy of both the Mississippi Delta and the Sewanee fastness. It was of course the latter that first beckoned me (thanks to my English school I was already a reader of The Sewanee Review) to its Mountain, where some of the old Southern Agrarians, so-called, still held forth. It would later be my sad privilege to preside at Allen Tate's memorial service in the University Chapel there.

The other author commended to me was a Texan, John A. Graves, whose first book, Goodbye to a River, had been published just a year or two earlier. It took me a little longer to get to Texas! Little did I know that in God's providence my own destiny would eventually lead me to John Graves's home parish and to take on the (equally sad) assignment of preaching at his memorial service.

Like the scions of old Arcady, John Graves understood the perennial truths embedded in land and blood, in history and memory, and in nature's horizontality in relation to eternity. What better vade mecum could I provide for my son James, eighteen years old himself, as he too now settles in to learn the traditions of Sewanee —or for any of us as we try to cope with the vulnerability in this time and place of our spiritual and cultural inheritance —than the following excerpt from the second of John Graves's books, Hard Scrabble:

You have the power to make a choice, or at least from

long habit you think you do. And when the time comes to

choose land you choose, against all good sense, a patch

of rocky rough cedar hills with a few tired little fields and

pretty water flowing past them over ledge limestone. In

the short, disastrous, backwater-history of its use by men

of your —its swift decline from primal richness —you

come to see that this is a summary of the relationship

between men and land, on all parts of this planet, in ages

succeeding a golden time of harmony between men and

the natural order ...Because there is in you a need to

know certain things —though why the need is there you

do not at first discern —you undertake this bit of land's

uneconomic restoration to what you hope is gentler human use with no certainty at all that those who come after you will

be gentle with it too; or that, in long time, what you do here will matter a mote for good or bad...

Yet out of the work and the illusions come, in time, some scraps of understanding, tardy and incomplete perhaps, but

there were other things to do before, and maybe for that matter it was only now time to learn about scrub brush and

rhizobia and goat-bleats and all those other things. And through the understanding comes, abruptly, and at long last, a

glimpse of old reality, indestructible, hiding among the creatures wild and tame and the stones and the plants, and in the

teeming dirt. Without having known fully, till now, that this was what you sought, you see it there as clearly as does any

battered ancient pensioner who leans on a hoe and picks his nose beyond the fringes of

suburbia, uncontemporary, at one with vanished medieval peasants in his fundamental

thrusts and rhythms, at one with Sumerian farmers working in fields beside the Tigris,

and hearing from far off the clash and clang of mad kings murdering one another.

You see it and it sees you. Old reality survives, blinking at you there, lizard-eyed.

Survives and will prevail.

Everyone was back. The migration had begun with flocks of families gathering for the beginning of school. Despite the warm

temperature readings, summer was winding down, and it was a time to re-group. It was a time to seek more wisdom and more

knowledge. It was a time to be fed.

Migration is defined as a seasonal journey and generally involves a group, flock or one body travelling great distances in

search of the perfect weather conditions for their survival needs. While I have often attributed migration to other species,

the question of “where do you winter and where do you summer?” does bring a smile of amusement. And while I have

never thought of myself as a bird or a reptile/animal going into winter hibernation I can find similarities in our behavior.

Tens of tens of red breasted Robins gathered for” the first day of school” on my front lawn. The red, Red Robins came

bobbin’ along. The number astonished me as I had never recalled seeing such a flock at this time of year. The Red Robin

had always been a symbol of spring.* I have discovered, after some research, that the Red Robin “summers” in the North

and “winters” in the warmer states like Florida and in Mexico. They live in pairs during late spring and the earlier part of

the summer and don’t mingle with others. In the fall they flock together in search of food and will stay as long as they

have a good source of food.

Where do you winter? Where do you summer? How far are you willing to travel in search of a good source of food? Are

you ready to re–group with a desire to seek more wisdom and knowledge? The migration has begun. Please join us for

Rally Day, September 8th, at St. Andrew’s and learn more about the Fall Women’s Bible studies and other parish

activities. It will be a seasonal journey that will bring enrichment and nourishment. You may even decide to “winter”

at St. Andrew’s.

*Christian lore states that the Robin felt Christ’s agony during the Crucifixion, and went to pull a thorn from His brow.

One version says that some of Christ’s blood fell upon the birds breast; another version says that the bird was wounded;

both versions agree that the Robin was blessed for the act of heroism, thus the reason for how the Robin got his red

breast.

45

6

The summer of 2013 has been a great one here in our children’s program! We have enjoyed a variety of scriptural studies, mostly from the Old Testament, though we also did a study series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount with the elementary age children. We also have enjoyed special topical presentations by members of our own parish and by several special guests. Our studies have worked well with the attendance patterns of our families in these months of vacation times. In just the last two weeks, we have enjoyed a presentation by Matt and Pam Caddell (with Wycliffe Bible Translators), and an interesting, colorful program by Katherine Wilson and her girls, Anna and Olivia, on the recent Choir trip to England.

Also, several weeks ago we wished Godspeed to Deborah Rakestraw, who had helped for many years in a huge way in our children’s program, and we also saw Cassie Bay off to the University of Oklahoma, to begin her freshman year there. Cassie has been a most wonderful help in VBS, Preschool Sunday School, and the Nativity Pageant the last few years, and our children and teachers all love her. When she is back in town at vacation times, she will be stopping by to visit our children. Her younger sister, Carrah, will be helping from time to time with our youngest children, out of her love for children and also in conjunction with a theology service project at Nolan High School. The Bay girls are delightful with children and respectful and great with adults too. We thank them for their good work! In next week’s Messenger, you can begin to read details about our new Fall Program which will begin on September 15. We are on our current Sunday School schedule through September 8, with a few adjustments for Rally Day Sunday. Happy end of summer and beginning of fall!

6

Our drive continues through

the month of August to collect

items on this specific WISH

LIST for children living at

Union Gospel Mission.

Many thanks to St. Andrew’s

parishioners who have already

donated!

Pocket Folders, Back-Packs,

10-12 Thumb Drives, Erasers

To learn more, please contact

Pam Rhoads at:

edd-macfund@t-andrew.com.

“Feeling the Love” at East Handley Elementary School

St. Andrew’s parishioners, led by Team Leaders Molly Bryant and Elaine Lambert, have now concluded two wonderful outreach efforts supporting the teachers, staff, students and families of the East Handley Elementary School community. Elaine’s Book Drive provided hundreds of books for pre-K through 5th grade and will be used as rewards for students and to replenish the school library. A big thank you to all the MANY parishioners who donated books! Your gifts will bless many students and families.

On Monday, August 19th, Molly’s team carried out a very special Teacher-Staff Kick-off Luncheon on their first in-service day to meet and prepare for the year ahead. Every teacher and staff member was given a personalized cookie as well as a special “survival kit” basket. Their reactions were heartwarming, from squeals of delight to stunned gratitude: "We have never been treated like this before"…"No one has ever done a teacher lunch before, first time since I have been teaching at East Handley"… “God bless you all for this!” The photos here capture some of the feel of this special day. St. Andrew’s parishioners who helped prepare, drive, set up and/or serve include Debbie & Paul Mitchell, Kate Barbolla, Lisa Haslam, Charlotte Laker, Marguerite & Ron Weatherill, Mary Rehfeldt, Carol King, and Nancy Komatsu. Donations of food, supplies or cash were made by that group, plus parishioners Paula Perkins, Karen Ferrer, Tom & Johanna Kimpland, Betty Claire McKnight, Amanda Daily, Shirley Bain, Julie Clark, Lyn Dulaney, Elaine Lambert and Alice Waters. What a wonderful effort by many parishioners joining hands to bless our adopted school!

A personal note from Molly Bryant following Monday’s wonderful day of blessing

I just wanted to extend my humble thanks to each of you for helping at our EHES

Luncheon yesterday. As you saw, God provided bountifully through your hands, and

each pair of hands was certainly needed and appreciated! I know you saw also how

much the lunch meant to each teacher. Speaking as a teacher, I know that the week be-

fore the children return is crucial for faculty and staff. They must form and re-form

those strong "school family" bonds so that they may support their children and the

EHES families with even greater unity.

Almost nothing achieves this better than a good meal. All of those beginning of the year

in-services teachers attend wear them out, and room organization can be head-

spinning. You refueled these teachers both physically and spiritually. People who be-

come teachers are highly relational people, and you helped give them part of what they

like best...time with their community and some awesome food!

To all of you who contributed dishes, desserts, and donations toward the teacher sur-

vival kits...we have no words for how amazing the food presentation/gift baskets were!

One teacher exclaimed, "Oh no! Oh no! Too many amazing choices! I am on overload!"

We were able to fill them with a tasty, healthy lunch AND stock the lounge refrigerator

and pantry with goodies that will last throughout this important week. Teachers defi-

nitely haunt the lounge for leftovers when it's 6 pm and they are still doing bulletin

boards! God bless each and every one of you. We look forward to doing this again next

year for EHES.

8

Names may be submitted to Carrie Brent at 817-738-6496 or email Patti Parish at parrishuc@mac.com. Permission should be obtained before submitting the name of someone other than oneself.

September 1 Betty Cleveland Beccy Egger Jordan Hawkins

September 2 Hayes Casey

September 3 Greg Whitehead Kent Harrington Charles Moncrief Alan Farquharson Dorcas Day Angie Felton Charles Day

September 4 Patty Wallace Shelli Harveson

Alexandra Lange

September 5 Robert Ramos Phyllis Stouffer John Wynne

September 6 Ken Sudderth Gen Barr Libby Aughinbaugh

September 7 Gene Buck Michael Elsey, Sr. Jason DeMott Sadie Johnson Isabella Lange

on the death of

wife of Carlos H. Lowenberg, Jr.

mother of Nicolas & Tres Lowenberg

daughter of Linda Bailey (Frank) and Randall Kressler (Sharon)

sister of Robert Kressler (Laurel) Colin Bailey (Sonya) &

Tappan Bailey (Caroline)

The flowers for Sunday, September 1

are given to the glory of God

at the Church altar

by the family of

Gene M. Buck

in honor of

her ninetieth birthday

and at the Chapel

& Children’s Chapel altars

by Dan Gleckler

in thanksgiving for

the life of Dr. Joe Chumlea

Join Dr. Dickson Thursday evenings from 7:00-9:00PM for a two-year course in Biblical and Patristic Greek. We will work through the standard grammar* of Biblical Greek and then read together most of the Greek New Testament and samplings from a variety of early Christian Fathers.

This course is offered for free to the community. There are no fees. The students must purchase the required books. Although it varies from person to person, the average preparation time to keep up with this hard hitting, seminary-

level class is one to two hours per day, every day. (Tutorial help will be available.) Those who complete this course successfully will be able to sight read the Greek New Testament quite fluently. Enrollment is limited.

To register, contact Megan Breedlove either by email soluschristus1517@yahoo.com or by telephone 817.713.2652.

This class will begin on Thursday, September 12th.

*Jeremy Duff The Elements of New Testament Greek (Cambridge University Press, 2005) http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Testament-Greek-Third-Audio/dp/0521670802/ref=tmm_pap_title_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1283296782&sr=8-1

Sunday, September 8, 3:30pm - 5:30 pm

The Church of St. Peter & Paul, 3900 Morris Ln, Arlington, TX

RSVP by Sept.5th

rsvp@fwepiscopal.org

Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church

917 Lamar Street

Ft. Worth, Texas 76102

817-332-3191, Fax: 817-332-9724

Email: church@st-andrew.com

SAINT ANDREW’S MESSENGER is published weekly, except bi-weekly during the summer and the week after Christmas, by St. Andrew’s Parish. Periodical postage is paid at Fort Worth, TX. USPS 5898-90.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 917 Lamar Street Fort Worth TX 76102.

The Rt. Rev’d Jack L. Iker, D.D. Bishop The Rev’d Dr. R. William Dickson Rector The Rev’d Richard Clark Pastoral Care The Very Rev’d William N. McKeachie Vicar

Kendall Felton Dir. of Youth Ministries Jason Runnels Choirmaster Glenda Robinson Organist Elisabeth Gray McKeachie Harpist Judy Mayo Dir. of Children’s Ministries Marsland Moncrief Liaison to Women’s Ministries Angie Felton Nursery Facilitator Peggy Rush Editor/Publications

Mission Statement St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church exists to worship God in the beauty of holiness and in Spirit and truth; to win the lost to Jesus Christ and disciple every believer; to equip and empower every member for ministry; and to spread God’s kingdom through charitable, righteous works locally and globally.

Tuesday 10:00 a.m. Holy Communion Thursday 7:00 a.m. Holy Communion

Monday, September 2

Labor Day

Office Closed

Tuesday, September 3 6:30 a.m. Men’s Devotion & Bible Study, Chapel & Koslow 10:00 a.m. Holy Communion, Chapel 1:30 p.m. Staff Meeting, Koslow

Wednesday, September 4 12:00 p.m. Rector’s Bible Study, Koslow 7:00 p.m. St. Andrew’s Choir Practice,* Choir Room

Thursday, September 5 7:00 a.m. Holy Communion, Chapel 7:00 p.m. Greek Class, McFarland 11:30 p.m. Messenger Deadline

Friday, September 6

Saturday, September 7

10:00 a.m. Rally Day Set-up, Moncrief

Sunday, September 8

Rally Day The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost 8:00 a.m. Holy Communion, Chapel 9:20 a.m. Prayers for the Church,* Chapel 10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer,* Church 10:00 a.m. Preschool & K Chapel,* Children’s Chapel 10:30 a.m. Preschool & K Sunday School,* Preschool Area 10:40 a.m. Grades 1-5 Sunday School,* Youth Rm. 3 & Elem. Area 11:15 a.m. Rally Day,* Moncrief 5:00 p.m. Evening Prayer,* Chapel

* Nursery

Parenting is a ministry, prepared by God for each parent. And the mission of a parent is the Great Commission — to make disciples of their kids! But how does that happen? “Parenting by Design” examines the parenting method of the Perfect Parent, God, and applies His methods to children of all ages. Parents are encouraged to imitate God, using the “three Es” (Experience, Example and Exploration) to help their children grow into the adults God designed them to be. Giving kids more age-appropriate choices, and walking empathically alongside as they experience the consequences of those choices, is a big part of the classes. Learning to communicate unconditional love through the parenting process makes all of the lessons easier for kids (and parents) to learn.

Please contact Maureen Grable at maureengrable@yahoo.com or

469-774-1471 for more info.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

9 a.m.– 2 p.m.

Evening Prayer

Sundays in August & September

5:00 p.m. in the Chapel

Join us after the service for