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Growing as Disciples of Jesus Christ Through

Worship, Learning, Fellowship and Outreach

The Messenger

December 2013

OF TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH

Growing As Disciples of Jesus Christ Part Three: Learning

We continue our exploration of our Mission Statement this month as we consider how it is that we experience transformation through learning.

We begin by asking the simple question: what are we to be learning? Paul, in his letter to the Ephe-sians, gives us direction. “You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:20-24).

Christ is the content of our learning, the classroom in which we learn, and the instructor. It is not the act of study that chang-es us, but the content of our study. Learning Jesus changes us.

The primary source of our study of Jesus is the Bible. As we study the Bible in such a way that we draw nearer to Jesus, we are changed. It isn’t a rule-book that we memorize, but God’s communication of Himself to us. This is where some basic theology is very helpful. The Bible is God’s Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). We believe that God revealed Himself and His message to the authors of the Bible, who, by the inspiration of the Holy

Spirit, we enabled to communicate that message (revelation) to God’s people. With the help, or illumination, of the Holy Spirit, we can understand what God revealed to and through the author,

through the specific genre and historical context, to their original audience. God speaks to us through His authoritative Word and we are changed.

But how does this actually change us? Through the renewing of our minds as we learn Christ.

As the Holy Spirit works in our lives, He renews our minds with God’s truth. By growing in our knowledge of God, we come to know right and wrong, true and false, noble and base. We see ourselves through God’s eyes: understanding both the reality of our sinful hearts and magnitude of God’s love for us. Our minds, as they become rooted in God’s truth, begin to see the world through a different lens. As our minds become saturated by God’s Word and truth, it becomes a part of who we are and begins to flavor everything we do.

Reading of the Bible should be part of our daily spiritual diet! As Anglicans, we have a ready-made Bible reading program in the services of Morning and Evening Prayer. Readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, and New Testament are assigned for each day. Even if you can’t keep up every day, engaging in the Daily Office (Morning and Evening Prayer) will nourish you greatly!

Yet we can study more than just the Bible. The study of theology, Church history, and the insights of great Christian think-ers, all as they are rooted in the truth of Scripture, can be a tremendous blessing and source of growth.

But we don’t just learn alone. We need each other. In fact, most people learn more effectively alongside others and by sitting at the feet of teachers. If we are serious about learning, it follows that we need to be a part of a discipleship group and engage classes offered through the Church. As we learn Christ, on our own and together with others, we grow as disci-ples and will “be made new…the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24).

Yours in Christ, Fr. Karl+

CHRISTMAS MEMORIALS

Our Altar Guild is asking for donations to decorate the church for Christmas. We will, once again, have many beautiful poinsettias and greenery. Donations may be made in memory of someone, or in celebration of something - anything you like. Please call Meg Pryor (587-9116) for details and questions.

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Trinity Family Ministry

Growing Together in Christ

Sunday School (11a.m.)

PreK-8th Grades meet in Bldg. 3

12/22 Christmas Gospel Presentation as part of the main service

Youth Group - Sunday 5:30-7:00pm in Bldg. 3

12/1 Teaching and Games 12/8 Teaching and Games 12/15 BHC Outreach 12:30-3:00pm 12/22 Christmas Party 12:30-3:00pm 12/29 No Youth Group

Contact Fr. Mark with ?’s at mark@trinitybakersfield.com

TRINITY STATS

Attendance

Nov. 3rd 263 Nov. 17th 231 Nov.10th 239 Nov. 24th 232

Giving

October Year-to-Date Actual Budget Actual Budget Income 52,339 44,333 409,614 443,330 Expense 40,691 44,186 360,000 441,860

Slowing Down for Christmas

It’d be interesting to see a statistic on the most common replies to the simple question, “How are you doing?” I’d be willing to bet that the little word “busy” would somehow find it’s way into the top answers.

There is neither space nor time to address the many underlying reasons behind our busyness, and whether or not it is actually bearing any real fruit in our lives. But there is one thing for certain - our culture pushes busyness to the hilt during the Holidays.

The day after Halloween, while our children are still vibrating from their sugar rushes, the toy catalogs find their way into our mailboxes. Before Thanksgiv-ing even arrives, holiday parties end up on our calen-dars. Some we will truly look forward to, while attend-ance at others may feel more like obligation.

It is not a bad thing that our culture exhibits greater generosity and festiveness during the Holiday season. It is true that much of what our consume-driven culture embraces is disconnected from the un-derlying source of these Holy days, yet lamenting this truth will not change its reality.

What I’d like to suggest, is that we learn how to slow down amidst the busyness, and embrace these Ho-ly days. There are many ways we can do this, but they are all centered in the same truth. “So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today” (Heb. 4:7 NLT).

The author of Hebrews is saying that there is even now the opportunity to enter into God’s Sabbath rest. Just as God rested after He finished creation, we can find rest now because of Jesus’ declaration from the cross that “it is finished.” We can rest from trying to save ourselves, because Christ already has.

This is not to say that following Jesus requires no activity, rather it is saying that what matters most is finished. What gift could you receive that is greater than being at peace with the living God, being united to the Savior of the world, and being filled with the Holy Spirit? Think about it, is there really a graduation be-yond being God’s child and co-heirs with Christ?

Much of our busyness might just come from the fact that we live our lives as if there is something better than what we have already received. Entering God’s rest is to remember that we have nothing to prove or accomplish, because we will never advance beyond being God’s beloved children. Remember Jesus be-came God with us in order to become God in us, today.

In Christ’s Love, Mark +

July 2014 Mission Trip Information Meeting

Sunday, December 1st at 12:30pm in Bldg 3

We are heading back to Tijuana to partner with Amor Ministries in building a home for a family in need. This meeting is for anyone who is interested, adult or youth, in joining us in July. We will discuss safety issues, costs, and any questions that arise. Come Join Us!

TAX REMINDER All donations for the tax year of 2013 must be received by Noon on December 31st.

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Jack Merickel Judy Wilcox Michele Jones Joanne Fredriksz Betty Wickersham Meagan Holmes Connee Schroeter Heather Merickel Lucile Nowlin Joseph Fredriksz Liz Smith Karen Williams Matthew Fredriksz Anne Giles Paul Scott

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS In The Parish Family Joy Hawley Nick Points Jerry Starr Juliet Smith Diane Moore Howard Quilling Kristin Savage Darcie Larman Haden Williams JoAnn Adams Joshua Wagner Suzanne Wagner Stafford Betty

WE NEED USHERS!

We have a shortage of ushers. For both the 8 a.m. service and the 11 a.m. service. If you feel this might be the ministry for you, or if you know of someone, please call the church office (861-6020).

REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERS of THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

and

DIOCESAN CONVENTION DELAGATES

The Nominating Committee will be receiving names for replacements for the four Board members completing their three-year term and for our five Delegates to Diocesan Convention. Nominations need to be received by December 6th and can be sent to the church office. It is very impor tant that those wishing to serve Jesus Chr ist in this capacity be aware of these duties and requirements:

Have a strong personal commitment to Jesus Christ and carry out His ministry in our community under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Be a communicant in good standing of Trinity Anglican Church who is regular in prayer, worship and giving to the operation of Trinity.

Be active in the life of Trinity Anglican Church, and willing to assume leadership roles, including active participation in at least one parish ministry.

Be a pledger of record who tithes or is actively working toward the tithe.

Congratulations to…

… Bryce, Elizabeth, and Andrew Hollman on the birth of Natalie Elizabeth on November 15th. Grandparents, Rob & Mary Jo Sawyer couldn’t be happier! Thank you…

… for all of the blessings and thoughtful, wonderful prayers. Merna McNamara

… to Mildred Woods for all her hard work in making the Thanksgiving Pot-Luck a fun, sharing event.

… to Jim Stubblefield and his crew for setting up and taking down, and moving furniture for our Thanksgiv-ing Pot-Luck and every Sunday.

…”To our Trinity Family - Thank you all for your pray-ers and kind thoughts during my recent procedure at UCLA Medical Center. Thanks also for God’s blessing and His guidance of my surgeon’s hands Everything went smoothly and the improvement is 110%! I am even quilting again. With our love to you all. Sharon & Peter Leigh-Pink Our Sympathy to…

… Gay Monroe on the death of her husband, Jesse.

Plan Ahead

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

January 19, 2014 12:30 p.m.

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KAIROS INTERNATIONAL PRISON MINISTRY

Kairos International Prison Ministryis scheduled to con-duct a meeting here on the Olive Drive Church campus on Saturday, February 1, 2014. This prison ministry is eager to put together a team of volunteers from the men of our local churches in Bakersfield. If you are interested in learning about this ministry project, or if you have ques-tions, please contact Dcn. John La Mar. To those women who might be interested in learning more about Kairos women’s prison ministry work, please contact Christine Miller.

CHRISTMAS TEA All Trinity church women and guests are invited to The ACW Christmas Tea on Saturday, December 14th, at 2 pm, in the Glass Garden Room of Olive Drive Church.

The cost is $10. Tickets are available after church or in the office during the week.

The cut-off date for purchasing your tickets is Monday, December 9th. We are not able to sell tickets after that date, and no tickets will be sold at the door, so buy your tickets before December 9th!

COFFEE HOUR

Our ACW is in need of volun-teers to bring “goodies” for the coffee hour after the 11 a.m. service each Sunday. Please see the new Sign-Up sheet on the table in the Glass Garden

Room. We need about 6 to 8 dozen cookies or treats each week. Ask a friend to help you! If you have any questions, please call Tara, in the church office, or call Stana at 834-7586.

CHRISTMAS AT TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH

Advent 4

Sunday, December 22nd, 8 and 11 a.m. Children’s Christmas Gospel Presentation during the 11 a.m. service

Christmas Eve

Holy Eucharist at 3 p.m. Music of Christmas at 10:15 p.m.

Holy Eucharist at 11 p.m.

Preliminary Study Committee Thank you one and all for your tremendous re-sponse to the PSC Questionnaire. We had over 202 questionnaires completed and in addition there were interviews with 28 Sunday School Youth. Your support and your interest in the fu-ture growth of Trinity Anglican Church is a true Blessing. Please check the website as all of the power point slides will be posted along with a summary, responses from the youth, and addi-tional graphs that were not presented at the two informational updates. We encourage you to call and/or email us if you have any additional ques-tions. We are here to serve the Parish and are honored to be part of the three phases of Discern-ment. We are now concluding Phase II of the Discernment process before the Thanksgiving Holiday. We have met with the various minis-tries of Trinity Anglican Church and have provid-ed the ministries an eight question Needs Assess-ment Survey. Please continue to keep us in prayer for guidance. Blessings of the Season to each of you.

ALTAR GUILD NEEDS

The Altar Guild is continuing to acquire needed items for services of worship. We have been blessed to borrow chalices and a ciborium for the reserved sacrament, but it is our hope that we can acquire our own. For those interested in making a gift or memorial toward altar items, please contact Merry McCalley: mcmerry2005@gmail.com

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Our Clergy The Rev. Karl E. Dietze, Rector

The Rev. Mark Hall, Assistant

The Rev. John M. Wilcox, Retired

The Rev. John LaMar, Deacon

Our Staff Sue Wagner, Director of Music

Tara Michaels, Office Manager

Kendi Miller, Bookkeeper

5500 Olive Drive, Bldg. 3

Bakersfield CA 93308

661-861-6020 Office

661-399-3615 Fax

trinity@bakersfield.com

December,

2013

Trinity Anglican Church 5500 Olive Drive, Bldg. 3

Bakersfield CA 93308

The Messenger

Trinity Anglican Church WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday Morning 8 Holy Communion

(1928 Prayer Book)

11 Holy Communion (Rite II)

Thursday Morning 10 Healing Service