September 27, 2005

Of Saints and Angels

Every day for three years, I sat in the seminary chapel across from a peculiar stained-glass window.  I never tired of gazing at its depiction of a human-like horned creature, with reddish serpent skin, lying on the ground.  Standing over this mesmerizing portrayal of the devil was the even more impressive, and obviously more powerful, figure of the Archangel Michael, who was holding Lucifer down with one foot as he prepared to slay him with a spear.

 

Thursday is the feast day when Christians around the world remember Michael and all of God’s other angels and archangels.  The biblical word “angel” (from the Greek: angelos) literally means “a messenger.”  Messengers from God can be visible or invisible, and may assume human or non-human forms. Christians have always felt themselves to be attended and protected by these spirit creatures — swift, powerful, and enlightening. Angels are often depicted through Christian art in human form, with wings to signify their swift ability to move immediately through time and space, with swords or spears to signify their power, and with dazzling clothing to signify their ability to enlighten us with wisdom from God. Unfortunately, this type of pictorial representation has led some to dismiss angels as just another mythical beast, like the unicorn, griffin, or sphinx. 

 

Of the many angels spoken of in the Bible, only four are called by name:  Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. The Archangel Michael is the powerful agent of God who wards off all evil from God’s people, leads the angel armies in their battle against the devil and his evil ones, and delivers peace to us at the end of this life’s mortal struggle.  “Michaelmas,” as his feast is called in England, has long been one of the popular celebrations of the Christian Year in many parts of the world.  Michael is the patron of countless churches, including Mont Saint-Michel, the monastery fortress off the coast of Normandy that figured so prominently in medieval English history, and Coventry Cathedral, England’s most famous modern church building, rising from the ashes of World War II.

 

One of the more common misconceptions about eternal life in our postmodern world is that when people die, they “get their wings” and become an angel.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Christians do not sprout feathers; God gifts us with a new and glorious resurrection body.  As we stand in the magnificent presence of the risen Jesus, who makes our wholeness and our eternal life a reality, we will become part of the vast multitude of the saints triumphant who will sing praises to Jesus as Michael and the angel armies conquer all evil and usher in the final new age…the age when God will be all in all. 

 

Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals:  Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

 

J. Derek Harbin, priest

 

 

Christian Formation…for adults and children will follow worship beginning Sunday, October 2…The adults begin their 2005-2006 focus on “Living a Passionate Life” following Jesus with a two-week session in the worship space entitled Planning a Spirit Led Financial Future…Don’t miss Beloved’s own, Rob Kirby, who will present this week and the diocesan missioner for congregational development, Bill Wrenn, who will finish up next week.

 

 

Around Beloved...Any adult or child (no age requirement – only the ability to serve and sit quietly up front with the altar party) who would like to serve at Beloved’s altar as an Acolyte (carrying the cross, torch or gospel book), please contact Susan Boylston (sboylston@alltel.net ) or the Development Office (by reply email) by this Friday, September 30 so we can publish the dates and teams for the 2005-06 year...Our profound thanks to all those who baked the 93 dozen cookies Beloved sent to last weekend’s Kairos Prison weekend…The Servant Member Funding Team, led by Kris Leinenkugel and Fred Mellon, continue distributing tickets for the Simon Evening of Giving fundraising project to reduce Beloved’s projected $35k income shortfall for this year.  If you need more tickets to sell or didn’t receive any, please see Kris in the hospitality area on Sunday.

 

 

All Saints Sunday...(November 6) will be here in a month’s time.  During this service we remember those who have died and gone to God’s heavenly feast since last year’s All Saints celebration.  At Church of the Beloved, we parade into worship with banners bearing our loved ones’ names, reminding us that they are “Christ’s Own Forever.”  The church provides the banner, while family members prepare the letters of their beloved one’s name to go on the banner.  If you have had a relative die this year, please contact the Development Office by October 15 (via reply email) so that you can learn how to prepare your banner for this special day.

 

 

To Be Married...I publish the Banns of Marriage between Timothy Scott McCloud and Caroline Sherrill Benfield.  If any of you know just cause why they may not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are bidden to declare it.  This is the final time of asking.  Derek Harbin+

 

 

Comings and Goings...Since Beloved’s move to Community House Middle School for Sunday worship six weeks ago, we have welcomed 38 individuals who have visited for the first time (representing 13 new families).  Half of these folks have already returned to worship at Beloved again; we are so glad you are here!…Each week in worship we are told, “If you need assistance, find someone with a Beloved name badge.  We have been trained to serve you.”  Kudos to Bruce Fowler, Nancy Hodgson, Tony Hodgson, Brian McCarthy and Heather Philips for completing this Orientation training and for their willingness to serve newcomers…our prayers and best wishes go with John, Karen, Asa and Tucker Price who have chosen to return to St. Martin Episcopal Church, located in the uptown Elizabeth neighborhood.

 

 

In Our Prayers...The victims of this hurricane season and the relief efforts underway around the nation…Dan Hood’s brother, Scott, and Bruce Fowler’s brother, Arthur, who are serving in Iraq…Nancy and Tony Hodgson’s granddaughter, Emily…the pressing need to fill additional janitorial staff openings at Community House Middle School…Jennifer Sanders while she looks for a job working with children and Bruce Fowler while he looks for a job in automotive sales/management…for a holy death for Heather Philips’ grandfather, William who is suffering from oral cancer and is now under the care of Hospice….for Jeff Raynor’s mother whose health is deteriorating and for Kathy Raynor’s mother who recently fell.

Upcoming Calendar...