Unit 6, Assignment 4

Unit 6, Assignment 4; Ten Commandments

Start with a prayer:
Dear God, my Confirmation is getting near. Guide and help me in my preparation; give me courage for that day so that I can enjoy the Confirmation service.
Of this I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.


The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, are a list of religious and moral imperatives which are very important in Judaism and Christianity.

The Ten Commandments are given in two passages of the Bible: Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21.

According to the Bible, the commandments are spoken by God on Mount Sinai. There are biblical passages that also refer to ten commandments being written by God on stone, and it is widely held that these were the ten commandments we are speaking about. These are called "tables of stone”, also referred to as "tables of testimony" or "tables of the covenant", which he gave to Moses. Moses then gave them to the people of Israel in the third month after their Exodus, their departure, from Egypt. Israel's receipt of the commandments occurred on the third day of preparations at the foot of the mount.

The arrangement of the commandments on the two tablets is interpreted in different ways. Some say five on each, some say all ten commandments on both tablets. We don’t know for sure.

The tablets "were written on both their sides," with the carving going through the full thickness of the tablets. The stones in the center part of letters were not connected to the rest of the tablet, but they did not fall out. The writing could also be read from both sides; it was not a mirror image on the back.

After receiving the commandments and returning to Mount Sinai, Moses saw that the Israelites had "defiled themselves", and that his brother, Aaron, had made a Golden Calf and an altar in front of it. Moses, in terrible anger, broke the tablets. God later had Moses carve two other tablets, to replace the ones he smashed. God himself appears as the writer. This second set, brought down from Mount Sinai by Moses, was placed in the Ark of the Covenant, hence designated as the "Ark of the Testimony."

The Bible also makes other references to the commandments. References to them and the consequences for not following them are found throughout the book of Deuteronomy.

Jesus refers to the commandments in several places, and summarizes them into two general commands:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like unto it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

The Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic division of the commandments both follow the one established by St. Augustine. The first three commandments govern the relationship between God and humans, the fourth through eighth govern public relationships between people, and the last two govern private thoughts. Here is the text from Deuteronomy:

1. "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments."

2. "You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name."
(This commandment prohibits not just swearing but the misappropriation of religious language in order to commit a crime, participating in occult practices, and blaspheming against places or people that are holy to God.)

3. "Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day."

4. "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you."
(This commandment emphasizes the family as part of God's design, as well as Gods relationship with his creation.)

5. "You shall not murder."
(But what about death sentences, war and abortion, for example? There are different views about the meaning of this commandment.)

6. "Neither shall you commit adultery."
(Adultery is the breaking of the holy bond between husband and wife, and is thus a sacrilege. This commandment includes not just the act of adultery, but lust as well.)

7. "Neither shall you steal."

8. "Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor."
(This commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in relations with others. This also forbids lying.)

9. "Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife."

10. "Neither shall you desire your neighbor's house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Anglicans teach the validity of the commandments, and call it a summation of the "moral law", binding on all people. However, we emphasize the union of the believer with Christ - so that the will and power to perform the commandments does not arise from the commandment itself, but from the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Assignments:
* Do you think that the Ten Commandments are still valid today?
* Try to think of a couple of situations when you think it’s ok NOT to obey the commandments.

Unit 6, Assignment 3

Unit 6, Assignment 3 – Lord’s Prayer

The Lord's Prayer, known also as the Our Father or Pater noster (“our Father” in Latin), is probably the best-known prayer in Christianity. On Easter Sunday 2007 it was estimated that 2 billion Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Christians read, recited, or sang the short prayer in hundreds of languages in houses of worship of all shapes and sizes. Although many theological differences and various modes and manners of worship divide Christians, there is a sense of solidarity in knowing that Christians around the globe are praying together, and that these words always unite us.

Two versions of it occur in the New Testament, one in the Gospel of Matthew 6:9-13 as a section of the Sermon on the Mount, and the other in the Gospel of Luke 11:2-4.

The prayer in Matthew is a part of a speech by Jesus attacking people who pray simply for the purpose of being seen to pray. Matthew describes Jesus as instructing people to pray after the manner of this prayer. Taking into account the prayer's structure, flow of subject matter and emphases, many interpret the Lord's Prayer as a guideline on how to pray rather than something to be learned and repeated by rote. Some disagree, suggesting that the prayer was intended as a specific prayer to be used. The New Testament reports Jesus and the disciples praying on several occasions; but as it never describes them actually using this prayer, it is uncertain how important it was originally viewed as being.

Here is the text from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke:

Matthew 6:9-13
Pray then like this: Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy 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.

Luke 11:2-4
And he said to them, When you pray, say: Father, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.

Written originally in Greek, the Lord’s Prayer was first translated to English already around year 650! Here is one of the translations that we use today:

Our Father in Heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in Heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.


Assignment:
* Find the Lord’s Prayer in your Bible, in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (see above), and read the circumstances around the prayer.

* Pray with the words of the Lord’s Prayer.

Unit 6 - Creeds and Prayers

Unit 6, Assignment 2 – The Nicene Creed

Now to the next Creed. But first a prayer:
God, our helper and friend; as we prepare for the feast of Easter we pray that you will help us to remember why we celebrate Easter and to be grateful for what Jesus did for us and for whole humankind.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

The Nicene Creed is the most widespread or ecumenical Christian statement of faith. Since its original formulation it continues to be used in the Roman Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, Anglican, Lutheran, and most other Protestant Churches.

As we already found when looking at the Apostles’ Creed, the purpose of a creed is to act as a yardstick of correct belief. It was hoped that by memorizing this summary of the faith, people without theological training would still be able to recognize deviations from beliefs based on the Bible.

The Nicene Creed, both in its original and revised formulas, is a condemnation of specific errors. Thus, as different variations in Christian belief turned up in the fourth century and were seen as threats, new phrases were seen to be needed, like amendments to a constitution.

The Nicene Creed was formulated at the Council of Nicaea year 325 and at the Council of Ephesus year 384. Those councils met to combat heresies and to declare that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. That is why this creed places so much stress upon the two natures of Christ; that He is both God and Man (see the second paragraph).

To the majority of modern Christians, the Nicene Creed is regarded as the most important expression of Christian faith. In this traditional belief, all "proper" Christians affirm the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed is referred to by Roman Catholics and Orthodox as the "symbol of faith," and it is often part of Christian worship services.
For the Eastern Orthodox Churches this is the only creed that they use and they only agree to the earliest forms of it; which differs a little bit from the text that we use.

The Nicene Creed is universally used as a Eucharistic creed (remember that the Apostles’ Creed is a baptismal creed). We tend to use it on major holidays, while the Apostles’ Creed is used more often and on “ordinary” Sundays and weekdays.

The Creed was originally written in Greek, which was the language spoken at the big councils at that time, and first translated to Latin. Here is the English translation from the Book of Alternative Services that we use today:

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.


Assignments:
When was the Nicene Creed written?

When do we use it in our church?

Which one do you prefer: the Apostles’ or the Nicene Creed? Why?

Unit 6 - Creeds and Prayers

Unit 6, Assignment 1 – The Apostles’ Creed

Before you start, take some time for a prayer:
God, our loving Father, you know me better than anybody else. You know all the things that I am afraid of and all the things that I am happy for. Share my joys and comfort and help me in my fears.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.


Now we will start to look at Creeds and Prayers.
First out is the Apostles' Creed, sometimes called Symbol of the Apostles. It is an early statement of Christian belief. When the people who knew Jesus personally and who had heard his teachings died there was a need to summarize the Christian faith to protect it from false teachings, called heresies. So the Apostles’ Creed is a summary that could easily be learned by people. It is widely used by a number of Christian Churches today including the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheranism, the Anglican Communion, and Western Orthodoxy.

The Apostles’ Creed appears to have been originally formulated as a refutation of Gnosticism, an early heresy. This can be seen in almost every phrase. For example, the creed says that Christ was born and suffered and died on the cross. This seems to be a statement directly against the heretical teaching, which says that Christ only appeared to become man, and that he did not truly suffer and die, but only appeared as if he did. The Apostles' Creed, as well as other creeds, was written as an example of the apostles' teachings, and defended the Gospel of Christ.

The name of the Creed comes from the fact that, being composed of twelve articles, it was earlier believed to have been written by the Twelve Apostles, each of whom was supposed to have contributed an article under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.

Many hypotheses exist concerning the date and nature of the origin of the Apostles' Creed. It was apparently developed from what scholars have identified as "the Old Roman Symbol" of the 1st or 2nd century and influenced later by the Nicene Creed, that we will look at next week. Some historians place the origin of the Apostles' Creed as late as 5th century. The earliest known concrete historical evidence of the creed's existence as it is titled today is a letter of the Council of Milan in year 390.

The Creed was first written in Greek, the major language at that time. Here is the English translation from the Book of Alternative Services:




I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.




The Apostles’ Creed (and also the Nicene Creed that we will look at in the next assignment) is in three paragraphs (=parts). Each paragraph speaks of One of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, that teaches us that God is a fellowship of three Persons in One God. The First Person is the Father: God bringing us into being and keeping us in existence. He is the Creator of all things. The Second Person is the Son: God in Jesus Christ who came to die and save us. He is the Redeemer of all mankind. The Third Person is the Holy Spirit: God guiding and strengthening his people. He is the Sanctifier, making holy the people of God.


The Apostles’ Creed is a Baptismal creed. We use the Apostles' Creed in form of questions in our rites of Baptism. During a Baptism the Priest asks the people: “Do you believe in God the Father?” and the people answer with the first part of the Apostles’ Creed. Then the second part and the third. In your Confirmation you will renew your own baptismal covenants by answering the same questions.
The Apostles’ Creed is also used in many other prayers and services in our Church today.


Assignments:
Why was the Apostles’ Creed written?

What is it about? Can you summarize it?!

Read on page 626 in the Book of Alternative Services how the Apostles’ Creed will be used at your Confirmation (if you don’t have the book at home you can borrow one from the church!).

Christian Spirituality Part 2

Confirmation Class - March 26, 2007

Assignment 2, Christian Spirituality


Let’s begin with a prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are my Saviour: forgive my sins and set me free.
Lord Jesus, you are my teacher: teach me wisdom and guide me to truth.
Lord Jesus, you are my Lord: be at the center of my life.
Lord Jesus, you are my friend and guide: hear my prayers and give me your comfort. Amen.

You are unique! This isn’t news to you or to anyone – but sometimes we need to repeat it to ourselves. We need to remind ourselves about our own uniqueness because we are each a child of God, and yet we all come together to work and worship. How can we do that – given our individual strengths and weaknesses?

The scripture writer Paul, used the image of the physical body to explain this. Check out 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. He writes that although we may each be a different “part” we can all work together to make a strong body – in effect – a body of Christ here on earth.

So, we each are unique and each have different gifts! Again, this isn’t rocket science! I used to love math but really hated English class – but my sister was born to write. How could we possibly be sisters, in the same family… different gifts – unique! So, it’s the same when we talk about our “spiritual” life. My sister and I have different “spiritual” gifts but we are each working together to bring glory to God.

The history of the Christian Church since the time of its beginning can be seen to follow the teachings of Jesus and his disciples. There are basically six ways in which people have come to express this “following”. Here’s what the Renovare program says:

The history of the Church has been marked by movements, a word used to describe how God’s Spirit has moved upon individuals and groups of people with a particular mission. Usually such a movement has emphasized one of six traditions – bringing a focused renewal to the church.

1. In the fourth century men and women fled city life to begin cloisters and monasteries where they emphasized the importance of solitude, meditation, and prayer. The Church was strengthened by their emphasis upon the intimacy with God, and a Contemplative Movement was born.

2. In the early 18th century John Wesley and his friends formed a group nicknamed “the Holy Club” and began to focus on “morals” and the need for Christians to overcome sinful habits. They developed a “method” and the Church once again took sin seriously. The purifying effects of the Methodist effort were dramatic, and it became the Holiness Movement.

3. In the 17th century the Church witnessed a new outbreak of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men and women who were called “Quakers”, led by the ministry of George Fox. The active presence of the Spirit in the lives of believers became the overpowering principle behind scores of conversions. The active role of the spirit was at the center of their worship, and it propelled them to evangelism, missions, and social concern. This is an example of the Charismatic Movement.

4. In the late 12th century Francis of Assisi and a group of followers abandoned their former lives and went about the Italian countryside, caring for the sick, the poor and the lame. Countless men and women followed Francis’ lead, forming the Franciscan and Poor Clare Orders. Their impact on disease and poverty was remarkable, and they became an example of a Social Justice Movement.

5. In the 16th century Martin Luther and others proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ after discovering its message anew in the Bible. This message of hope and victory was expressed by clergy and laity in sermons and mission efforts. In the Church it was a wonderful example of the Evangelical Movement.

6. In the 18th century a man named Zinzendorf built a village on his estate. Initially divided, the group who gathered in this community became unified when they experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit after Zinzendorf led them in daily Bible studies and in formulating the “Brotherly Agreement”. These later became known as the Moravians and they joyfully served God – praying, evangelizing and helping others – in the midst of baking, teaching, weaving and raising families. This is an example of an Incarnational Movement.


Six examples of different communities all of whom serve and worship God. Our end goal is the same but each group emphasizes a particular strength or “method”.

Contemplatives - quiet meditation and focus on the mystery of God’s work

Holiness - focusing on a virtuous and healthy life, turning again and again from sin and any action that calls us to move away from God’s grace and love.

Charismatic - waiting for the “sound” of God’s call to us and focusing on the power of God’s Holy Spirit to guide and direct us.

Social Justice - finding a way to serve God by serving those in need.

Evangelical - God’s Word through Holy Scripture is the message and the focus of all work and worship.

Incarnational - Living out daily life, acknowledging that all we do – is done to bring glory to God.


So, here’s the question for you to consider. Do you feel that you are drawn to one “movement” or another given your own personality? If you could start your own “Movement” what might its focus or work be?

So the Assignment is to pick one of the following six which appeals to you and then answer the accompanying question.

Contemplative Movement read the passage Mark 14:32-36 Jesus often “went out to pray” and here in the garden Jesus prays knowing that the journey to the cross is just ahead of him. How do you think that his prayer connected him to God?
Try writing a personal prayer to God (this can be a private exercise), or try praying each day for 5 minutes dedicated to silence with and in the presence of God.

Holiness Movement read Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was tempted as we have been, to do what he wanted to get him out of a bad situation. Have you ever been tempted to do something that you knew wasn’t “life giving” – and how did you respond? Do you think that connecting to God at that decision-making moment may have helped?
Try “Going a day without saying anything negative or anything dishonest.”

Charismatic Movement read John 14:15-17, 25-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15 Jesus reminded his friends that when he was gone from them they would have an “advocate”. Have you ever had a friend be an advocate for you – or stand up for you? Have you ever been an advocate for someone else? How was that experience a “life-giving” one for you? Have you ever known God’s presence with you at any time – giving you support or strength, how has that made the connection between you and God seem stronger?
Try thinking of which of the “gifts of the spirit” best describes you and which one of them you may need to work on (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Social Justice Movement read Matthew 25:31 – 46 Jesus asks us to be attentive to the things we do in life, keeping in mind the needs of others. Have you ever found yourself caring for some one else? Has someone reached out to help you? Would it make a difference to you if the person you were helping was “Jesus in disguise?”
Try reaching out to someone this week in a way that is helpful and caring – write an encouraging letter or help someone who needs a hand.

Evangelical Movement read Luke 4:16-20; 42-44 Jesus read the scriptures (the bible) to the members of his church and it was as if they were hearing it for the first time. Have you ever heard a reading and had a “light bulb” go off in your head – like “yeah, that makes sense!” Were you ever part of a youth group or Sunday School class and heard a bible story that really seemed to make particular sense or spoke to a situation in your life? How about a video (like a Veggie Tale? Or something else) that gave you an insight about God or your relationship with others? What did you learn or remember as significant?
Try reading one of the shorter books of the bible out loud – try one of Paul’s letters (for example, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Titus, Timothy, Thessalonians). How do you think that the early Christians would respond to hearing this for the first time?

Incarnational Movement read Luke 13:10-17 Jesus taught his followers that there was no time that was “incorrect” for doing God’s work – and this included time at work or school or play. Here’s a particular situation: Winter Break is a time of Christmas for Christians and Spring Break is a time of Good Friday and Easter for Christians. How do you celebrate these “holy times” in the midst of a society which wants to keep the “religious side out of it”. Do you think this is a good idea?
Try this week to bring God into every decision and deed that you do. Take a moment to receive Holy Communion and know that God is filling you for service. What will you do with this gift?

If you’ve come this far – congratulations! Just to sign off here’s a prayer that has been a favorite for many: Footprints in the Sand

This poem was originally written in 1939 by Mary Stevenson.
There have been a couple other versions since then by other poets in addition to the 'author unknown' edition.


One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.



He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."



The LORD replied:

"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

Christian Spirituality

Confirmation Class – March 20, 2007

Assignment 1 - Christian Spirituality


Our next gathering will be with everyone – Parents too! – at the home of Bishop Jim Cruickshank (I'll e-mail each of you with the exact address)

What to bring to eat?

Elizabeth – I’ll BBQ a salmon for us to share.
Euper’s – a salad or appy’s
Gutjahr’s – bread or desert
Hart’s - desert
Maxwell – main course
Emma – appy’s

So, let’s continue with a prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

As we begin to talk about “Christian Spirituality” – check it out on the “Google” page – Wow! 1, 980,000 hits – so, you can’t tell me that people aren’t talking about this. Though I would echo what you were saying last Thursday, this isn’t the stuff that we talk about to our school buddies.

It’s actually interesting that when we do “marriage preparation courses” here at St. Mary’s some of the couples have never discussed with each other any sense of “spirituality”. Often times we ask “our mate” what church you go to, and then make assumptions about what it is “you believe” from there.

Well, here’s what the opening web page from St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church had to say about the subject:

Defining Spirituality - What is Spirituality?

"Spirituality" = derived from Hebrew ruach, which had a range of meanings:
- spirit
- breath
- wind
- that which gives life and animation to something

Spirituality:
- that which animates a person's life of faith
- that which moves a person's faith to greater depths and perfection

Defining Spirituality - What is Christian Spirituality?

Elements of Christianity:
- 1. a set of beliefs, found in the Creeds and doctrines of the Church

- 2. a set of values, based on:
- hope and promise of redemption
- love of others
- denial of self

- 3. a way of life

- The real, human life in which our beliefs and values are embodied and expressed
- Christianity Spirituality is part of our way of life as Christians


Defining Spirituality - What is Christian Spirituality?

Christianity Spirituality is the quest for a fulfilled and authentic life that involves
- taking the beliefs and values of Christianity
- and weaving them into the fabric of our lives
- so that they "animate," provide the "breath" and "spirit" and "fire" for our lives


So, here’s a question to start our task to learn about Christian Spirituality.

1. Having read these suggestions, what would you describe as being “spiritual”? Try focusing on a particular topic, like music or art, and answer this query – why do I consider this (music or art) to be “spiritual” – or a representation of something spiritual?

2. Does Christian spirituality have to be different from “other” spirituality?

You can respond via the blog or email me at enorthcott@stmaryskerrisdale.ca

Unit 4, Assignment 2: Five Minor Sacraments

We’ve talked about the two major sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist. These special symbols of the Christian faith were commanded by Jesus:

Holy Baptism
[Jesus said:] “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Holy Eucharist
“While they were eating, [Jesus] took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:22-24).

In addition to these two major sacraments, there are five minor sacraments. The two major sacraments are distinguished from the five minor sacraments in that the five minor sacraments are “hinted at” but not commanded by Jesus in the New Testament.

Here are the five minor sacraments, and Biblical passages that allude to them:

Anointing (a sacrament of healing) James 5:14

Confirmation (a sacrament of vocation) Acts 8:14-17

Marriage (a sacrament of vocation) Ephesians 5:31

Ordination (a sacrament of vocation) Acts 6:6; Acts 13:2-3

Reconciliation (a sacrament that communicates God’s forgiveness) John 20:21-23

Assignment:

1a. Click here to go to an article about the sacrament of anointing. What did this sacrament used to be called (Extreme _____ )? What did it signify then?

1b. Look up James 5:14 about anointing. Write out the Bible passage.

2. Look up Acts 8:14-17 about confirmation. Write out the Bible passage.

3a. Look up Ephesians 5:31 about marriage. Write out the Bible passage.

3b. What do you think the Bible means when it says “one flesh”?

4. In the Anglican Church we say there are three “orders” of ministry: deacon, priest, and bishop. Find a definition in the dictionary for each of these.

5. Look up John 20:21-23 about reconciliation. Write out the passage.

Unit Four, Assignment One: Two Major Sacraments

Take a moment to pray before you begin:

"God of steadfast love, I ask that you will help me to keep a focussed mind as I participate in the process leading to my Confirmation. As I begin this assignment now, help me to be aware of the presence of your Holy Spirit in this place where I work. Help me to recognize your strength and guidance. Help me to imitate Jesus that I may become more and more like him. Bless my family and friends, and thank you for the freedom to learn about and worship you. In Jesus' name I pray." Amen.

A number of years ago, some political activists in the United States burned a flag of the USA as a sign of protest. When they were questioned about their patriotism for doing something like this, they claimed their right to express themselves freely was protected under the Constitution. Ironically, the flag is a symbol of the Constitution; they were defending their right to burn the flag on the basis of what the flag represented.

What is a symbol, and how does it relate to two similary words: “sign” and “sacrament”?

A sign is an object that points to something beyond itself. On a summer day, when the leaves on a tree turn upward so that you can see their undersides, it is a sign that there is going to be a change in the weather – usually to rain. When you pull up to an intersection and see a red octagon with the word STOP, it is a sign that traffic may be coming and that you should come to a halt. When you walk into a neighbourhood where houses look rundown and garbage is lying around, it may be a sign of poverty. On the other hand, when you walk along a street where luxury cars stand in front of large and well-maintained homes, it may be a sign of wealth.

A symbol has worth in and of itself. We’ve already considered the example of a flag. It points to something beyond itself, but a flag is revered in way that an upturned leaf or a stop sign is not. A $20 bill is a symbol, not only of worth, but also of the strength of the government and economy it represents. It is against the law to destroy currency because our society expects it to be treated with respect.

A sacrament is a special kind of symbol. In the Anglican Church of Canada (as well as some others like the Roman Catholic Church) there are two major sacraments and five minor sacraments. All Christian churches acknowledge the two major sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist. Not all churches acknowledge the other five (even in some parts of the Anglican Communion worldwide).

A commonly used definition of the word sacrament is “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.”

In Baptism, the outward and visible signs are: 1) water; 2) words spoken (“I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”); and 3) people gathered.

In Eucharist, the outward and visible signs are: 1) bread and wine; 2) words spoken (“Take, eat/drink, this is my Body/Blood which is given/shed for you. Whenever you do this, you do it in memory of me”); and 3) people gathered.

The inward grace in Baptism is the strengthening of the Holy Spirit. The inward grace in Eucharist is the presence of Christ in our midst.

In the next assignment we will look at the five minor sacraments. But today, please answer the following questions.

Assignment:

1) Please give an example of a “sign” and a “symbol” different from the examples given above, and justify why you believe they are a sign or symbol.

2) Describe in 75 words a personal experience of either Baptism or Eucharist that has been meaningful to you.

3) Go to Wikipedia and find a definition of grace. Paste it into your assignment, and give an example of how God’s grace works in real life.

Please contact me if you have any questions:

Kevin Dixon

kjdixon@shaw.ca

SMK Confirmation Class 2006-2007

SMK Confirmation Class 2006-2007

Notes for everyone's attention!

Hi everyone! We had a good discussion last Thursday evening about how things are working for you. Many thanks for your input.
So, here's how a schedule now looks.

Thursday Jan 25th at 6:00 pm Class with Elizabeth and the Confirmation Candidates - at St Mary's lounge.
Thursday Feb 1 at 6:00 p.m. Class with Elizabeth and Students and Parents and mentors - at Euper's home.
Thursday Feb 15 at 6:00 p.m. Class with Kevin and students - at St. Mary's lounge.
Thursday March 1 at 6:00 p.m. Class with Kevin and the students and parents and mentors - at Jim's home (? - to be confirmed)
Thursday Mar 15 at 6:00 p.m. Class with Elizabeth and the students - at St. Mary's lounge
Thursday Mar 29 at 6:00 p.m. Class with Elizabeth and the students - at St. Mary's Lounge
Thursday April 12 at 6:00 p.m. Class with Elizabeth, the students and Parents and Mentors - at Elizabeth's home
Thursday April 26 at 6:00 p.m. Class with Maria, the students and Parents and Mentors

I'll e-mail the directions to the homes, and if you need further directions, please feel free to contact the office at 604-261-4228
The class lessons will be posted on the Blog as well as e-mailed to you - what ever medium is comfortable for you, please use.

Again, many thanks for your patience and willingness to participate in this learning (for all of us!)

Take care.
Elizabeth

SMK Confirmation Class 2006-2007

SMK Confirmation Class 2006-2007

Unit 3 Assignment 2

What is Anglicanism?

Before Christmas this year, I was looking for a computer to use at home. There were some features that I wanted included in the package, but like most other computer “newbies” I didn’t really even know how to ask the right questions. When I went to the store – I was blown away by the choices. There were choices in style, size, content and purpose … but they were all computers!

I thought that perhaps there would be maybe 2 or 3 choices to be made, but no – depending on me, my computer requirements and my knowledge base, there were many, many decisions to be made.

So, let me draw this parallel to the question at hand.

The Christian Church is a world wide association of people who believe that “God is One: Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. So in my analogy, that’s the “Computer”.

The kinds of computer, whether lap-top or hard drive or palm-sized or… - well that coordinates to the branches of it – only one branch being the Anglican Church. So the many choices are what we call “denominations” but all belong to the Christian family.

Here’s another visual – think of a tree … the root and trunk of the tree is the Christian Church with it’s teaching of “One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit” – and the branches all stem from the central trunk and all having the same root.

So, what are the other branches of the Christian Church called? Some of them include: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, and United, just to name a few. We are all called Christians and all share a faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son – but the way in which we choose to express our worship or arrange our church structure is what makes us different.

Let me give you a “for example”! On November 30, 2006, the Anglican Church of Canada celebrated an Anniversary – that of the ordination of Women to the Priesthood. Thirty years ago there was a great and heated debate about whether or not to allow women to become ordained. As a young girl, I had never seen a woman at the altar – or near it – and girls were not permitted to serve as “Acolytes” (ie. carry the cross or serve at the altar). I also remember a conversation that we had around the dining room table when my Uncle was there for a visit. Uncle Walter was the Bishop of South Dakota at the time and later became the Bishop of Rupert’s Land and later Archbishop of Rupert’s Land. His comment was that women should not be allowed to be ordained because they were far too fragile and too emotional and would never be able to deal with the “difficult” situations which would arise from ministry from time to time.

The decision was made, much to my Uncle’s dismay, that women would be ordained as Priests in the Anglican Church. Many were angry at this decision and left the church to find another Christian community where they would share more closely an understanding of gender roles. But in the Anglican Church – we have now ordained many women, from all ages and stages of life, and have recently consecrated three women Bishop’s.

Following his work with women, my uncle soon changed his mind radically about woman’s ordination and soon came to realize that it wasn’t a person’s gender that made them a Priest – but whether or not they were called by God for the particular work in the church. The last chapter of this story was that Uncle Walter ordained me in 1991 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

So, in some branches of the Christian church there are women in positions of authority as “priest” or “minister”, while other branches do not allow for women to be priests.

In some branches of the Christian Church the emphasis in worship is on bible study, while in others it is focused on the Communion or “Mass”. In the Anglican Church we are in our worship somewhere in the middle.

As a matter of fact, the Anglican Church has often been given the title “via media” or “middle ground”, because in so many matters we walk the middle ground on many issues of debate. A good example is the current debate about the “Blessing of Same Sex Unions” – at the present time we are in discussion with each other about how to celebrate life-long relationships while recognizing that not all who would enter this debate see any homosexual relationship as being acceptable.

• Being an Anglican is being a Christian.
• Being an Anglican is having an open mind and heart to the debates and discussions of the church.
• Being an Anglican calls us to engage with our faith and learn daily how God moves in and through our lives. A daily prayer discipline is also suggested for all Christians, not just Anglicans. That’s where the Prayer Book comes in to the story of the Anglican Church.

Questions:

Take a copy of the Book of Common Prayer and list the names of the services of worship. For example, in the table of Contents you’ll find the list which includes Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer …

Find the Articles of Faith, how many are there? Check out #32 – so, can Anglican Priest marry?

Check out #22 – have you ever heard of “purgatory” before?

Find the Order of Confirmation in the green “Book of Alternate Services” and read through it, (page 625). What question is asked of you – what are you “confirming”?

SMK Confirmation Class 2006-2007

SMK Confirmation Class 2006-2007

Unit 3, Assignment 1 - "Why the Church?"

Why the Church?

Begin with a time of prayer:

Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, each following the path of our Savior Jesus Christ into every walk of life, together serving God in mission to the world and witnessing to God’s love on every continent and island. We ask this in Jesus’ name and for his sake.

There is an old story about the man who visits the local “wise woman”. He asks her why it is that he should be a part of the Christian Church, he wants just to go his own way in the world, living a “good life” and being kind to everyone.

I think that this is a good and quite common question that we all ask at some point in our lives. The image that the woman then presents is one that always has stayed with me. The “wise woman” went to her fireplace and with tongs took out one small piece of coal and set it upon the hearth. Soon the ember changed color from a brilliant red glow to an ashen grey. In the stillness of the moment, the young man realized the message – to be a “part of” means that the power and energy is shared and the fire can burn hotter and last longer than being on your own. The “wise woman” nodded her head and then showed the man how quickly the ember began to glow again once it was returned to the fire.

Some one once said that you can never return home again, but at your baptism you became a part of a family that always leaves a light on for you so that you can find you way. We are always stronger together than we are apart.

With that image, the early Christian disciples spoke of the “body of Christ” as being the Church – the Christian church.

After Jesus died and was raised from the dead and appeared to his friends, his followers spread the word of this “new life”. Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, gave the first recorded Christian sermon on the day of "Pentecost”. As a result, more than 3000 people began to join this new following which in its early days was called “the Way”.

Some Roman emperors saw the early Christians as rebels because they refused to worship Roman gods. The Roman authorities persecuted both Christians and Jews, blaming them for their own political disasters. In 70 CE, the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem, hoping that this would rid the Roman Empire of both Christians and Jews alike.

To avoid arrest, Christians often met in secret. They often used secret signs, such as the fish, to show other Christians that it was safe to talk about their faith.

In 313 CE, the Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian and soon made Christianity the legal religion. A few years later in 325 CE Constantine called together other church leaders to Nicea to draw up a statement of Christian belief. This statement of belief is called the Nicean Creed. This then, became the accepted statement of Christianity. This creed included the idea of Trinity, which describes God as three persons in one: Father (creator of all), Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit (God’s continual presence in the world). This is still our central belief in the Christians community.

In the 5th and 6th Centuries the Roman Empire split in two. Constantinople was the capital in the Eastern (or Byzantine) Empire, while Rome became the capitol of the Western Empire. The Christian Church continued to grow and flourish but in 1054 there was a heated dispute between the head of the church in Constantinople (called the Patriarch) and the head of the church in Rome (called the Pope). This caused a great split in the church and even today we speak of the Eastern Orthodox Church and its Patriarch and the Western Church and the Pope. The Church in the west soon became known as the Roman Catholic Church – “catholic” meaning world-wide.

In 1529, King Henry VIII of England challenged the supreme authority of the Pope and declared himself to be the head of the Church in England. Many reforms were made at this time including the changing of the worship from the largely unknown language of Latin to the language of the “common man” – English. One of the great works of this time period was the translation of the bible into English and the writing and publishing of the Book of Common Prayer in 1549. Here, for the first time, there was a compilation of scripture, prayers and the worship of the people in their own native tongue.

Today, branches of the Church of England, also known as Anglican or Episcopalian, are found in many countries of the world. Here in Canada, you can link to the Anglican Church of Canada by visiting the site www.anglican.ca , and to our own “diocese of New Westminster by checking out www.vancouver.anglican.bc.ca


Companion Diocese

Our Diocese, like many in Canada, has a “companion diocese”, a diocese in another part of the Anglican Church with which we have a particular link. People from one diocese often visit one another, share in prayer, and share information and views. In our Diocese of New Westminster, our Companions are the people of the Anglican Diocese of Taiwan.
Every week we pray for each other in our worship and every few years we have a trip planned to visit the Diocese of Taiwan and 3 years ago, there was a group from Taiwan visiting us.

Questions

1. Go to the www.vancouver.anglican.bc.ca site and on the yellow strip click on Resources and scroll to page 9 where you will find a download for “Partnership Sunday Resources” and to the right side of the page, click on the down-facing arrow to see the screen. What you will see here are prayers and “ideas for worship” with a world-wide theme.
Choose one prayer that you like and write it in your blog. Why does it appeal to you? If you would offer prayer for another person or situation, what would it be?

2. St. Mary’s Kerrisdale is our Anglican Church, located on 37th and Larch St. in Vancouver, BC. Check out the web site for the church at www.smkchurch.com and find the Mission statement of the Parish. How does this statement tell others who read it that St. Mary’s Kerrisdale is a Christian church?

3. The Nicene Creed was written long ago as a statement of belief for the Christian community. Do you believe this statement? What parts of it may trouble you? Why?

Unit 2, Assignment 3 & 4 – “How the Bible came to be written and it’s Authority” (due Dec. 28)

A prayer for the New Year:

We thank you, Father, Lord of all time, for the gifts of food, warmth and company, for your love and the protection of our homes, and, in all that this New Year may hold, for the friendship of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

How the Bible came to be written
The New Testament is a collection of works, and as such written by many different authors. The traditional view is that all the books were written by Apostles or disciples working under their direction
But really; the only books for which there are solid consensuses are seven of the Pauline epistles, which are universally regarded as written by Paul, and the book of Hebrews, which is regarded as anonymous.

The problems with knowing who really wrote ancient works like those in the New Testament can be demonstrated by looking at its four gospels:
Because of the many similarities between Matthew, Mark, and Luke, they are often referred to as the Synoptic Gospels ("seeing-together"). The Gospel of John, in contrast, contains much unique narrative and dialogue and is considered to be different in its emphasis from the other three gospels. The question of how the similarities between the synoptic gospels arose is known as the “synoptic problem”. How material from each gospel was introduced to other gospels brings up significant problems in assigning authorship. Was each written by one individual, the four simply relaying in their own words the events of Jesus' life they themselves witnessed? Was there a first author and gospel whose work substantially contributed to the later gospels? Was each gospel written over a relatively short or long period of time? Was each gospel written by only one person?
The dominant view among critical scholars, called “the Two-Source Hypothesis”, is that both Matthew and Luke used the Gospel of Mark and another common source, known as the "Q Source", from Quelle, the German word for "source". The nature and even existence of Q is speculative. Most Q scholars believe that it was a single written document, while a few say that "Q" was actually a number of documents or oral traditions. No information about its author, if it existed, can be obtained from the resources currently available and, indeed, little or any direct biographical information about their authors is assumed to be traceable. This is just one example of how difficult it is to know who wrote such old documents.

According to tradition, the earliest of the books in the New Testament were the letters of Paul, and the last books to be written are those attributed to John, who is traditionally said to have lived to a very old age, perhaps dying as late as year 100.

The process of canonization
The process of canonization, gathering the books to a Bible, was complex and lengthy. It was characterized by a compilation of books that Christians found inspiring in worship and teaching, relevant to the historical situations in which they lived, and consonant with the Old Testament.
Many believe that the New Testament canon was summarily decided in large, bureaucratic Church council meetings, but this is not true; rather it developed very slowly over many centuries.
In the first three centuries of the Christian Church, Early Christianity, there seems to have been no New Testament canon that was universally recognized.

The oldest clear witness of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John being the only legitimate gospels was written c. year 180. It was a claim made by Bishop Irenaeus who writes: "It is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in number than they are. For, since there are four zones of the world in which we live, and four principal winds, while the Church is scattered throughout all the world, and the “pillar and ground” of the Church is the Gospel and the spirit of life; it is fitting that she should have four pillars, breathing out immortality on every side, and vivifying men afresh."
At least, then, the books considered to be authoritative included the four gospels and many of the letters of Paul.
The New Testament canon as it is now was first listed by St. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, in 367.

Authority of the Bible
All Christian groups respect the New Testament, but they differ in their understanding of the nature, extent, and relevance of its authority. How much authority one gives to the New Testament often depend on how you look at inspiration; the role of God in the formation of the New Testament. Generally, the greater one believes the role of God to be in writing the New Testament, the more one accepts the doctrine that the Bible is never wrong.
Most Christians believe that the Scriptures are both human and divine in origin: humans wrote them, but their source is God, the Holy Spirit, who governed the writers.

Among Anglicans, as among most Christian Churches, you can find both people who read the Bible literally (taking every word as true – God did create the world in six days) and people who read the Bible symbolically (meaning for example that the six days of creation could be symbols for six long time periods).

Anglicans believe in the authority of the Bible as the medium through which God by the Spirit communicates his word in the Church and so enables people to respond with understanding and faith. The Scriptures in the Bible are "uniquely inspired witness to divine revelation", and "the primary norm for Christian faith and life". The Bible, however, must be translated, read, and understood, and its meaning grasped through a continuing process of interpretation. Since the seventeenth century, Anglicans say that the Bible is to be understood and read in the light of "tradition" and "reason". Tradition refers to the ongoing Spirit-guided life of the Church which receives, and interprets again, God's message. “Reason" means simply the human being's capacity to symbolize, and so to order, share and communicate experience.
So; the Bible is the first authority. But, for it to be relevant, you must translate it to your situation today and the life of the church today.

Questions:
What is the Synoptic problem?
Explain the Anglican view on the authority of the Bible.

Unit 2, Assignment 2 – “New Testament” (due Dec. 21)

A prayer to start with:

O God of Peace, you fill our hearts with hope at every Christmas time, for we remember again that this is the world that you love. May that hope, peace and joy fill our hearts this Christmas. Amen.

The New Testament, sometimes called the Greek Testament or Greek Scriptures, and sometimes also New Covenant which is the literal translation of the Greek, is the name given to the final portion of the Christian Bible. It was written by various authors after year 45 AD and before year 140 AD. Its books were gradually collected into a single volume over a period of several centuries. The New Testament is more or less the root of the Christian religion, which has played a major role in shaping modern Western morality and culture.
The common languages spoken by both Jews and Gentiles in the holy land at the time of Jesus were Aramaic, an old form of Greek called Koinee, and to a limited extent a dialect of Hebrew. However, the original text of the New Testament was most likely written in Greek, in the dialect in 1st-century Roman provinces of the Eastern Mediterranean, and has since been widely translated into other languages

Books of the New Testament:

Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation

The New Testament are twenty-seven separate works: they consist of the four narratives of Jesus Christ's ministry, called "Gospels"; a narrative of the Apostles’ ministries, which is also a sequel to the third Gospel; twenty-one early letters, commonly called "epistles" in Biblical context, which were written by various authors and consisted mostly of Christian counsel and instruction; and an Apocalyptic prophecy, which is also technically the twenty-second epistle.

The Gospels
Each of the Gospels tells the story of Jesus Christ. The traditional author is listed after each Gospel name below. Modern scholarship differs on precisely by whom, when, or in what original form the various gospels were written.

The Gospel of Matthew, traditionally believed to be written by the Apostle Matthew, son of Alphaeus.

The Gospel of Mark, traditionally believed to be written by Mark, who wrote down the recollections of the Apostle Simon Peter.

The Gospel of Luke, traditionally believed to be written by Luke, a companion of Paul of Tarsus.
The Gospel of John, traditionally believed to be written by the Apostle John, son of Zebedee.

Acts
The book of Acts, also called Acts of the Apostles or Acts of the Holy Spirit, is the story of the Apostles' ministry after Christ's death, which is also a sequel to the third Gospel. Examining style, use of words and other evidence, modern scholarship generally think that Acts and the Gospel of Luke have the same author.
Acts tells the story of the Early Christian church, with particular emphasis on the ministry of the Twelve Apostles and of Paul of Tarsus. The early chapters, set in Jerusalem, discuss Jesus' Resurrection, his Ascension, the Day of Pentecost, and the start of the Twelve Apostles' ministry. The later chapters discuss Paul's conversion, his ministry, and finally his arrest and imprisonment and trip to Rome.

Pauline Epistles
Paul of Tarsus (born around year 10, died around year 65), 'the Apostle to the Gentiles' was, together with Simon Peter, the most important of Early Christian missionaries. Unlike the Twelve Apostles, Paul did not know Jesus in life; he was Roman and used to persecute Christians but came to faith through a vision of the resurrected Jesus. According to Acts, his conversion was on the Road to Damascus.
More of the New Testament is attributed to Paul than to any other author. The Pauline epistles are the thirteen or fourteen letters to different congregations in the New Testament traditionally believed to have been written by the apostle Paul. Among them are some of the earliest Christian documents. They provide an insight into the beliefs and controversies of formative Christianity and, as part of the canon of the New Testament, they have also been, and continue to be, hugely influential in Christian theology and ethics. They consist mostly of moral counsel and behavioral instruction, though they do include other elements as well. Paul appears to have dictated his epistles to scribes and often only wrote a hello by his own hand. The Pauline Epistles are:

Epistle to the Romans
First Epistle to the Corinthians
Second Epistle to the Corinthians
Epistle to the Galatians
Epistle to the Ephesians
Epistle to the Philippians
Epistle to the Colossians
First Epistle to the Thessalonians
Second Epistle to the Thessalonians
First Epistle to Timothy
Second Epistle to Timothy
Epistle to Titus
Epistle to Philemon
Epistle to the Hebrews

General Epistles
The General or Catholic Epistles are those written to the church at large (Catholic in this sense simply means universal).

Epistle of James, traditionally believed to be written by James, brother of Jesus and Jude Thomas.
First Epistle of Peter, traditionally believed to be written by the Apostle Simon, called Peter.
Second Epistle of Peter, also by the Apostle Simon, called Peter.
First Epistle of John, traditionally believed to be written by the Apostle John, son of Zebedee.
Second Epistle of John, also by the Apostle John, son of Zebedee.
Third Epistle of John, also Apostle John, son of Zebedee.
Epistle of Jude, traditionally believed to be written by Jude Thomas, brother of Jesus and James.

Prophecy
The final book of the New Testament has had one of the most profound impacts on Christian theology of the whole work. The Book of Revelation, also called Revelation to John or Apocalypse of John is the last book of the New Testament in the Bible. It is the only biblical book that is wholly composed of apocalyptic literature. The book is frequently called "Book of Revelations" or simply "Revelations"; however, the title found on some of the earliest manuscripts is "The Apocalypse/Revelation of John". The first sentence of the book, The Revelation of Jesus Christ ... unto his servant John, is also sometimes used as a title.
After a short introduction, it contains an account of the author, who identifies himself as John, and of two visions that he received on the isle of Patmos. The first vision, related by one speaking with "a great voice, as of a trumpet", are statements addressed to the seven churches of Asia. The second vision comprising the rest of the book begins with "a door … opened in heaven" and describes the end of the world—involving the final rebellion by Satan at Armageddon, God's final defeat of Satan, and the restoration of peace to the world.
Revelation is considered one of the most controversial and difficult books of the Bible, with many diverse interpretations of the meanings of the various names and events in the account.

Questions:
When and in what language was the New Testament written?
What does “epistle” mean?
What do you know about Paul of Tarsus? (feel free to read more on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_of_Tarsus)

Unit 2, Assignment 1 - "the Old Testament" (due Dec. 14)

It's Advent and Christmas is soon here! Before you start reading take a while for this Advent prayer:

"Come, Lord Jesus, come as King. Rule in our hearts, come as love. Rule in our minds, come as peace. Rule in our actions, come as power. Rule in our days, come as joy. Rule in our darkness, come as light.Rule in our bodies, come as health. Rule in our labours, come as hope.
Your Kingdom come among us!
Amen."

The Bible is the single most important book in the history of the Western world, and it continues to be a bestseller. First we will look at the Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible. It is a holy scripture for three of the world's great religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Full of rich tales, shining heroes, and even more colorful villains, it has inspired some of the world's greatest works of art, music and literature. But it is also a deeply religious book and can speak to one's heart, stirring the imagination and the soul.

If you are in the Jewish tradition, the Old Testament is the collection of sacred writings from ancient Israel and is called the Hebrew Bible, as it is written in the Hebrew language, or Hebrew Scriptures, or Written Torah (to distinguish it from the Oral Torah of the rabbis). If you are in the Christian tradition, the Hebrew Bible is called the Old Testament--old because Christians view it as the essential introduction to the New Testament. Some people have suggested the use of Older Testament or First Testament in order to avoid any suggestion that it is out of date. The Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament may contain the same collection of books depending on which Christian Bible you are using, though the order of individual books may differ.

The Hebrew Bible is one book, as it is typically bound as a single volume. At the same time, it is a collection of books--a library of twenty-four originally separate works. In fact, the term Bible comes from the Greek ta biblia which means "the books." The individual books came from many different authors who wrote over a span of one thousand years or more. They were gathered together and included in a single work we call the Hebrew Bible. The Jewish community that gave rise to the Hebrew Bible divided the various books into three collections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings.

A final authoritative collection of books is called a canon. This means that other books were available but were not chosen. The biblical canon institutionalizes the choices that were made. There were, in fact, many more Jewish writings, written in both Hebrew and Greek.

Traditionally Jews and Christians have traced the origin of the Bible to God. Using human agents, God "inscripturated" his word for humankind. Many groups and individuals were responsible for handing down the material contained in the Old Testament and for giving the individual books their final shape. Most remain nameless to this day. Even the books of identifiable prophets such as Isaiah and Amos were not entirely written by those men. The books are collections of their sayings, which anonymous editors gathered together.Much of the material that eventually was included in the Hebrew Bible started out as folktales, songs, and religious liturgies. The common people inherited these stories and passed them on from one generation to the next by word of mouth. Oral tradition, as it is called, was the source of many of the stories that have survived about Israel's ancestors and early history. Priests and highly trained scribes, typically employed by the king, were the only ones able to read and write. They were responsible for gathering materials from oral and written sources, organizing them, and compiling them into books. Probably the earliest that any books were written down was around 950 B.C. during the reign of Solomon, the king of Israel at its golden age.
The Hebrew Bible took centuries to shape. After individual books were completed, they were joined into collections of books until we finally got the version that we have today.

Questions:

Now, I’m sure that you have heard some of the stories or about some of the heroes in the Old Testament. Do you remember any of them? If so; name them.

The most known part of the collection of Law in the Old Testament are the ten commandments. Do you know any of them by heart?
You can check them out in your Bible in the book of Exodus, chapter 20.

Next Dinner Class - December 7, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Just a reminder to everyone that our next dinner class will be on Thursday, December 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Parents are asked to attend with the confirmation class participants. Would the boys and their families please bring a first course dish, and the girls and their families please bring a dessert?

Also, just a reminder to keep up with the assignments. It should take you about twenty minutes each week to do them. Don't let yourself fall behind!

If you have any questions, please get in touch with me. See you at church on Sunday!

Kevin Dixon

Unit 1, Assignment 4 - "What is confirmation?" (due Nov. 30)

Before you start reading and completing this assignment, take a moment to offer a prayer.

God of steadfast love, I ask that you will help me to keep a focused mind as I participate in the process leading to my Confirmation. As I begin this assignment, help me to be aware of your presence in this place where I work. Give me your strength and guidance. Help me to imitate Jesus so that I may become more like him. Bless my family and friends, and thank you for the freedom to learn about and worship you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Review of last week's assignment

Last week we looked at the meaning of baptism. Put simply, baptism means participating in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus went down into the river Jordan and was baptized in solidarity with sinners fulfil all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). This baptism led Jesus along the way of the Suffering Servant, made manifest in his sufferings, death and resurrection (Mark 10:38-40, 45). By baptism, Christians are immersed in the liberating death of Christ where their sins are buried, where the "old Adam" is crucified with Christ, and where the power of sin is broken. Thus those baptized are no longer slaves to sin, but free. Fully identified with the death of Christ, they are buried with him and are raised here and now to a new life in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, confident that they will also ultimately be one with him in a resurrection like his (Rom. 6:3-11; Col. 2:13, 3:1; Eph. 2:5-6).

Why is there such a thing as Confirmation, anyway?

Actually, confirmation was not part of the church before the 4^th Century AD. The main reason for this was that in order to be baptized, a preparation period of about 3 years was required. Only adults were baptized, not because there was any prejudice against infant baptism, but because in a world where Christianity was such a minority the odds of anyone being born in a Christian household were very small. There was no such thing as a ‘cradle Christian,’ because almost no one would have had two Christian parents.

In a world where the only people who are baptized are adults, and where those adults are only baptized after a 3-year period of instruction and formation, there was no need for confirmation. The bishop, who would have been bishop of only a small area, such as a city, would have done all the baptisms, and would have laid hands on all the candidates for baptism as part of the service. So for many years there was no separate confirmation.

Soon after the legalization of Christianity in 313 AD, there came the problem of what to do with infants who were being raised in Christian households. In addition, as bishops acquired more territory to oversee, it became impossible for them to officiate at every baptism. It was at this point that infant baptism became an option, and that confirmation began to be separated from baptism.

Today we have reached back to the early church’s understanding in many ways. Baptism is not a partial initiation requiring confirmation to complete it. Baptism, by itself, is full and complete. (By the way, in the Anglican Church we demonstrate this by allowing children to receive communion as soon as they and their parents are ready, at whatever age that may be).

So why do we bother with confirmation at all? For four reasons; first, just as there was a three year instruction period in the early Church, confirmation preparation today provides opportunity for instruction, for teaching, for self-discovery. There is still a need for young people to have a chance to think critically about the vows that were made on their behalf when they were children.

Second, confirmation is an opportunity to affirm personally the baptismal vows made by parents and godparents. It’s about “growing up” in the faith and making a mature decision for oneself. The service of confirmation is a public statement of faith in Jesus Christ.

Third, confirmation is a rite in which we receive the strengthening of the Holy Spirit. In the moment that you are confirmed, the Bishop will lay his hands on your head and pray: “Strengthen, O Lord, your servant N with your Holy Spirit; empower him/her for your service; and sustain him/her all the days of his/her life.”

Fourth, confirmation is a statement that you are a member not only of a local parish church but also of the wider church, as symbolized in the Bishop.

By the way, if a person has been baptized in another church denomination, it is not necessary for them to be re-baptized. Baptism is what symbolizes a person’s conversion to Christ as Saviour and Lord. If, however, the person who comes into the Anglican Church has been confirmed in another denomination, that person will be either “received” or confirmed by the Bishop. In the Anglican Church, baptism is about becoming a Christian, and a member of the Church; confirmation is about becoming a member of the Anglican Church.

Assignment

Based on the reading above, complete the following questions on your own blog:

1. Why did confirmation not exist before Christianity became legal in 313 AD?

2. How long was the preparation period in the earliest church?

3. What are the four reasons for confirmation?

On the Comment section of the Online Learning Space, and combining what you learned about the definition of a sacrament in last week’s assignment with what you’ve read about confirmation this week, write 50 words about how confirmation conforms to the definition of a sacrament.

Unit 1, Assignment 3 - "What is Baptism?" (Due Nov. 23)

Before you start reading and completing this assignment, take a moment to offer a prayer.

God of steadfast love, I ask that you will help me to keep a focuessed mind as I participate in the process leading to my Confirmation. As I begin this assignment, help me to be aware of your presence in this place where I work. Give me your strength and guidance. Help me to imitate Jesus so that I may become more like him. Bless my family and friends, and thank you for the freedom to learn about and worship you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Review of Last Week's Assignment

Last week we reflected on Jesus identity as "teacher" and "movement founder" The key aspect of Jesus' identity as "teacher" is that he taught an alternative wisdom that subverts the social boundaries generated by the conventional wisdom of his day and ours. Also, his wisdom teaching points to the world of conventional wisdom as a world of blindness and he invites us to see differently. As a movement founder, Jesus' action was deliberate, intentional, and the movement - the church - for which he was the "catalyst" is meant to embody the egalitarian, inclusive social vision of Jesus.


What is Baptism?

Baptism is one of the church's sacraments. Click here to find a descriptive definition of "sacrament." In the Anglican Church, we acknowledge two major sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist) and five minor sacraments (Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, Reconciliation, Unction).

Baptism is the means by which a person is initiated into the Christian faith. It is described by St. Paul as the means by which we "die" (like drowning) to selfishness, ego gratification, and appetites and "rise" (are reborn) to a life focused on love of God, love of neighbour, and appropriate self-love. Paul's understanding of baptism is described in Romans 6:1-7. There, he describes dying with Christ and rising to new life with him. This is what baptism symbolizes. And the life we live, with Jesus as the pattern of our existence, is sometimes described as "participating in the paschal mystery."

Put simply, baptism means participating in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus went down into the river Jordan and was baptized in solidarity with sinners fulfil all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). This baptism led Jesus along the way of the Suffering Servant, made manifest in his sufferings, death and resurrection (Mark 10:38-40, 45). By baptism, Christians are immersed in the liberating death of Christ where their sins are buried, where the "old Adam" is crucified with Christ, and where the power of sin is broken. Thus those baptized are no longer slaves to sin, but free. Fully identified with the death of Christ, they are buried with him and are raised here and now to a new life in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, confident that they will also ultimately be one with him in a resurrection like his (Rom. 6:3-11; Col. 2:13, 3:1; Eph. 2:5-6).

In the course of history, the practice of baptism has developed in a variety of forms. Some churches (like ours) baptize infants brought by parents or guardians who are ready, in and with the Church, to bring up the children in the Christian faith. Other churches practise exclusively the baptism of believers who are able to make a personal confession of faith. Some of these churches encourage infants or children to be presented and blessed in a service which usually involves thanksgiving for the gift of the child and also the commitment of the mother and father to Christian parenthood.

Since Biblical times, Baptism has been administered with water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is meant to be administered in a way that emphasizes the symbolic dimension of water. The act of immersion can vividly express the reality that in baptism the Christian participates in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Water, with all its positive associations with life and blessing, signifies the continuity between the old and the new creation. It reveals that baptism is significant not only for human beings but also for the whole cosmos. At the same time, the use of water represents a purification of creation, a dying to that which is negative and destructive in the world: those who are baptized into the body of Christ are made partakers of a renewed existence.


Assignment

On your own Blog:

1. Give a definition of "sacrament" based on the description found in the link mentioned in the reading above.

2. Talk to your parents about your own baptism and write 100-150 words describing it. Be sure to include the following: Who were your godparents and why were they chosen for the role? What did your parents learn about Christianity through the experience of your baptism? What were the most special parts of the occasion?

3. Read Romans 6:1-7. In your own words, what is St. Paul saying here about baptism?

On the "comment" section of the online learning space:

Give your opinion of whether adult or infant baptism is the best practice, and why. (75 words)