THE BOOK CORNER

The Real Mary:Why Evangelical Christian Can Embrace The Mother Of Jesus

by Scot McKnight

Scot NcKnight opened his his book with a question. Why is a Protestant writing a book about Mary? McKnight gives several reasons.

"Because the story of the real Mary has never been told."

"Because she was the mother of Jesus and because the mother of Jesus ought to matter to each of us."

"Because the Magnificat, her song in Luke's first chapter, is the Magna Carta of early Christian songs."

"Because the real Mary always leads us to Jesus."

Stop for a moment and consider the society in which Mary lived. She was betrothed to Joseph and thus was legally married except for sexual relations. By saying to the angel Gabriel "may it be" she was allowing herself to become pregnant while remaining a virgin. She would have to

convince her family that she was still a virgin, then Joseph, then the people in her village.

Mary knew Joseph would realize he was not the father, and his first thought would be that she had committed adultery. The Torah was clear about the punishment for adultery, death by stoning. This courageous Jewish woman, perhaps thirteen years old or at most sixteen, had an unfailing faith and trust in God.

When Mary uttered her song, the Magnificat, she expressed the feeling devout Jews had of the Messiah. He "would be like Moses, mentoring everyone to obey the Torah; like a prophet...; like David the King...after conquering the Land and routing the enemies of Israel; and like Solomon, offering wisdom to the people." She gradually come to understand that Jesus was following another course. Upon his crucifixion Mary realized "to reign in this world,... was to give one's life for others as Jesus had given his."

This is a profound book and I highly recommend it.

Review by Floyd Wyche

LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Book of Job (42:1-6, 10-17)

Psalm 34: 1-8, page 627, BCP

Letter to the Hebrews (7:23-28)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (10:46-52)

Suggested Readings for the Week

Monday Revelation 1:4-20; Tuesday Revelation 4:1-11; Wednesday Ephesians 4:1-16;

Thursday Revelation 5:11-6:1-11; Friday Revelation 6:12:-7:1-4; Saturday Revelation 7:9-17

Sunday, October 18, 209

Book of Job (38:1-7)

Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b page 735, BCP

Letter to the Hebrews (5:1-10)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (10:35-45)

Suggested Readings for the Week

Monday Luke 1:1-4; Tuesday 1Corinthians 15:41-50; Wednesday 1Corinthians 15:51-58; Thursday 1Corinthians 16:1-9, Friday Matthew 10:16-22; Saturday Philemon 1-25

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Book of Job (23:1-9, 16-17)

Psalm 22:1-15 page 610, BCP

Letter to the Hebrews (4;12-16)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (10:17-31)

Suggested Readings for the Week

Monday 1Corinthians 13:4-13; Tuesday 1Corinthians 14:1-12; Wednesday 1Corinthians 14:13-25; Thursday 1Corinthians 14:26-33a, 37-40; Friday 1Corinthians 15:1-11; Saturday 1Corinthians 15:12-29

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Book of Job (1:1; 2:1-10)

Psalm 26, page 616, BCP

Letter to the Hebrews (1:1-4; 2:5-12)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (10:2-16)

Suggested Readings for the Week

Monday 1Corinthians 10:14-11:1; Tuesday 1Corinthians 11:2, 17-22; Wednesday 1Corinthians 11:23-34; Thursday 1Corinthians 12:1-11; Friday 1Corinthians 12:12-26; Saturday 1Corinthians 12:27-13:1-3

SAINT MONICA'S NEWS

Upcoming Events

October 24, 2009 - Youth Forum 4:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall

October 25, 2009 - Commitment Sunday at both services

November 1, 2009 - All Saints/All Souls and Baptism

November 15, 2009 - Report from Discussions

November 22, 2009 - Thanksgiving Service and celebration of the independence of Barbados at both services

November 29, 2009 - Advent Sunday

Family Matters

This is information about donations given for specific things:

Church sign/notice board - a proper Church sign will cost about $4,000; to date $900 has been given and is in the bank.

A proper lectern costs about $2,500; to date $350 has been given and is in the bank.

An industrial dish washer can cost cost about $4,500; to date $350 has been given and is in the bank.

The $100 given to buy a clock is in the bank; we will soon purchase a clock.

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Baptisms and Condolences

Happy birthday to Synfoni Green October 2nd; Angela Chambers October 4th; Beverly Haughton October 5th; Nicholas Harvey October 6th; Susan Davis October 7th; Immauni James October 8th; Florence Burke October 11; Parron Duncan October 16; Beverley Forester and Jordan Taylor October 25th; Warren Monet October 28th; Edrick Hall October

30th.

Happy 60th wedding anniversary to Percy and Eleanor Nelson.

Congratulations and best wishes to Christine Hurdle and Wilson Faucher who were married Saturday, October 3, 2009. Christine Hurdle is the daughter of Arlette Hurdle.

The Sacrament of baptism will be administered on Sunday, November 1, 2009, All Saints Day.

Christian sympathy to Nora Brown on the death of a loved one.

Calling All Youth

There will be a youth forum in the Parish Hall on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. The forum will include a panel of individuals from the Department of Corrections, Hartford Police, Windsor Police, Adult and Juvenile Probation, Juvenile Detention, Gang Task Force and Social Works Department. Please come out and bring a friend to discuss the challenges that our youth face today and how we can help them to choose the right path. More information will follow.

DIOCESE AND NATIONAL NEWS

We Have Elected a New Bishop

The following was copied verbatim from Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut website:

www.ctdiocese.org.

The Rev. Dr. Ian T Douglas was elected on the 2nd ballot during the electing convention October 24, 2009 as 15th Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut and has accepted.

Autobiography

I have been incredibly blesses my entire life by the love and support of a variety of communities in the Episcopal Church. I am a life-long Episcopalian/Anglican of immigrant stock who grew up in an economically depressed mill-town in central Massachusetts. I am a New Englander at heart; educated in Vermont, Kristin (my spouse) and I have made our homes in New Haven, Connecticut and greater Boston.

I grew up in a typical, broad-church Parish at Christ Church, Episcopal in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. As a missionary in L'Eglise Episcopale d'Haiti 1983-1984 I learned how the Church ministers with poor and marginalized people. For the last two decades I have served as a parish priest at St. James's (yes, it's James's with "s's"), an economically challenged, diverse, and dynamic inner city congregation in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As Professor of Mission and World Christianity at the Episcopal Divinity School since 1989, I have traveled the world teaching and advocating for God's mission of restoration and reconciliation.

My wife Kristin, our three young adult children Luke, Timothy, and Joanna, and our dog Lily show me over and over the incredible gift of the love of God in Christ. My frinds and ministry colleagues continually call me to a deeper understanding of what the Holy Spirit is up to in the world today.

Diocesan Day of Repentance

Bishop Andrew D. Smith sent a document to the clergy and wardens of the parishes of the Diocese of Connecticut regarding the Diocesan Day of Awareness and the Diocesan Day of Repentance. The Day of Repentance will be Saturday, November 7, 2009 at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. The morning session will begin at 9:00 a.m. (coffee at 8:00 a.m.). The Service of Repentance will begin at 1:00 p.m. , with a reception to follow. For more information call 860-233-4481. Sponsored by the Anti-racism Committee. See the July 2009 blog for excerpt of Bishop Smith's document.

THE BOOK CORNER

Welcome to Sunday

by Christopher L. Webber

My wife and I are former Methodists who have attended an Episcopal church for the past 18 months. We were attracted by the Eucharistic service but don't wish to "check our brains at the door", as would be required by the Bishop of Rome. I bought this book because I wanted basic information on the background and meaning of the service we so recently found. The book didn't disappoint me. The author explains the traditional architectural styles and floor plans, the roles of the Ministry and the Laity, and the Christian year as it is observed in the Episcopal church. The author systematically works his way through a typical service, explaining in adequate depth for all but the budding theologian, the origins and meanings of each part. He also discusses trends within the church, for example, to include more elements of the Eastern Orthodox service. Each chapter ends with questions for thought and further discussion. This would make it a great book for an adolescent or adult discussion group. If you want a book to explain the Episcopal (Rites I and II) service in methodical and easily understood fashion, this is a great start.

Review by A. Bastanza