Excerpts from a Sermon on Trinity XII by The Most Rev. John T. Cahoon, Jr., Metropolitan, Anglican Catholic Church & Rector of St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland

The thread which connects this morning's Epistle and Gospel is that in both lessons we hear an argument about the relationship between the Old Testament and the New. When we talk about the Old and New Testaments, we don't just mean the collections of writings which make up the Bible. Old and New Testament refer also to covenants - agreements -- deals between God and his people which the Bible books talk about.

The covenant in the Old Testament which lasted the longest was the covenant with Moses. God and Moses met on Mount Sinai in Arabia just after the Israelites escaped from Egypt. God gave Moses a complicated series of laws of various kinds. The covenant the deal -- was that if the people would obey the laws, God would be their god and take care of them.

In today's Epistle, St. Paul is talking about Moses, and describing what he looked like when he came down Mt. Sinai carrying the stone tablets on which God wrote the Ten Commandments. Moses' face was shining so brightly that he had to put on a veil so people could look at him and not be blinded.

St. Paul calls the Ten Commandments "the ministration of death," "the ministration of condemnation." Those sound like harsh words for a code of behavior we thought we were supposed to take seriously. One of the greatest themes in St. Paul's teaching is that God gave us the Law to show us that we cannot keep the Law. That connects to last Sunday's parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector: remember the Pharisee bragged to God about how many laws he kept, while the tax collector knew he could only ask for mercy.

The Ten Commandments minister death and condemnation, not because there is something wrong with them, or that we should not try to keep them. They minister death and condemnation, because no matter how hard we try, we find we cannot keep them -- in thought or word, or deed. If we think we have to keep them perfectly to be on God's good side, we know we are in big trouble -- death and condemnation.

It is when we realize that we cannot keep the law that we should be willing to look for the help we need to get out of our predicament. Jesus brings us several kinds of help: he brings God's forgiveness for our failures to keep the law; he brings us the Holy Ghost to give us strength; and finally he brings us the assurance that God is going to take us to heaven not because we have kept the law but because he loves us and we love Jesus. . . .

REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS, HOW HE SAID, IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE

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Upcoming Events

Sunday Services, 7:45, 9:00 & 11:15 AM nursery care provided during 9 & 11:15 AM services  (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )
Nursery at 9:00 AM & 11:15 AM Services

Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion

Saturday Sept 10, 8:30 AM, Men's Breakfast & Bible Study, Breakfast by breakfast chef extraordinaire Claude Crump (perhaps grits by Father John) and Bible study by Bob Boyd

Sunday September 11, 10:30 AM, Sunday School

Sunday September 18, Parish Picnic, Fort Hunt Park (right off GW Parkway toward Mount Vernon) after combined 10 AM Service (7:45 AM Service will be held)
 
Monday September 26, 7:30 PM, Vestry Meeting, Undercroft

Saturday, October 1, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Blessing of the Animals (annual pet blessing -- please bring your pet and also invite family, neighbors and friends to bring their pets too)

SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, November 30, 7:00 PM, St. Andrew's Day -- Kirkin of the Tartans with bagpiper and Scottish music followed by festive reception with Scottish foods and beverages

Please pray for everyone on the parish's prayer list that is in the attached bulletins.

Donations to the Food Bank and Marih Center are greatly needed.  Across the country, crisis pregnancy centers have been attacked or vandalized.  The needs are great.  Please help with either a goods donation or a monetary donation.  You can give through the donation button in this newsletter and use the drop down menu to choose "Charity & Mercy."   Thank you.
 
Food Donations 
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Christ House is very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar).  Current needs include the following:
• canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
• peanut butter
• jelly
• tuna
• canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
• individual fruit cups (low sugar)
• canned fruit (low sugar)
• cereal (low sugar)
• pasta (regular and gluten-free)
• instant potatoes
• Macaroni & cheese kits
• Coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar 
 
 Updated List of Needs for MaRIH Center (crisis pregnancy center)
MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff has been providing help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need.  If you can provide some of the items that are needed, please do so. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)

Especially Needed
Baby wipes (an ongoing great need)
Diapers (sizes 1, 4, 5, & 6)

Clothing
Bibs
Sleep Sacks: Girls 0-6 mos.
Socks: Boy/Girl 2T
Short sleeved onesies: Boy/Girl 3-6 mos.

Others
Diaper rash ointment
Baby shampoo
Aldi, Giant, Safeway & Walmart gift cards (for food!)
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St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625