TRINITY XIX
Grace and Peace be unto in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

In this Sunday’s Collect, it reads that we are not able to please God.  So we ask the Holy Spirit to direct & rule our hearts to live a Holy life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In this Sunday’s Epistle, the Bible has many words for instructions such as:  therefore and wherefore.  Here, it is used to give instructions to the Christians.  First, Paul tells us not live like the Gentiles because the Gentiles are the unsaved.  If you are unsaved, you are living a dead life.  So we are to imitate the life of the saved, not the unsaved.  The unsaved think differently than the saved Christians.  The saved Christians have the belief, the repentance, and the resurrection.  The unsaved do not.  Thus, the saved and unsaved have a different mindset. 

Second, Paul tells us that you have heard & have been taught by Jesus.  So live in truth in Jesus – putting off the old man and putting on the new man with the Holy Spirit in your mind.  For what is in your mind is connected to you heart.  If you don’t fill your mind with the Holy Spirit then your heart is filled with the rebellious self and will act in sin.

And third, Paul warns us of many Christian prohibitions.  Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.  Moreover, don’t lie, anger, and steal.  And don’t talk with corruption, don’t be bitter, and don’t keep malice.  It is ok to be angry, even God was angry in the Old Testament.  (Numbers 25:4 and Jer 4:8)  The key is not to let it develop into bitterness, wrath, and evil in your hearts and act on these evils.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus first entered the ship to head to the city to heal the sick man with the palsy.  Second, Jesus forgave the sin first and healed later.  Jesus did this because this was the greatest need – the forgiveness of sins.  We don’t know the man's sins, but he was not saved.  But rest assured that sin does not lead to sickness necessarily.  And forgiveness does not lead to physical healing.

Third, the scribes accused Jesus with blasphemy.  Jesus knew their evil thoughts and said to them “wherefore think ye evil in your hearts.”  Then Jesus says which is easier - to forgive sins or arise & walk?  Here, the Son of Man has power to forgive sins - so he does.  Later, Jesus heals the sick man with the palsy – a disease of gradual paralysis.  Fourth, then Jesus says to the healed man to return to his house, to live his life of change through Jesus Christ. 

And fifth, the multitudes saw the saving/healing and glorified God.  They saw Jesus the man because God had “given such power unto man.”  But the multitude did not see Jesus as God, only a man with God given powers.  We see this often in the Trinity Sunday readings. 

So what do these readings teach us?  We learn that we are not able to please God because we walk the life of the damned & unsaved.  Paul teach us to learn & act according to the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.  And live with a pure heart & mind of Jesus Christ as a new man and forgive one another as God hath forgiven you.  In other words, this Sunday’s reading is the Summary of the Law.
 
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

-- Fr. Anton+
 
All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee

Please click here to donate to St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland. Your help is needed and greatly appreciated.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 14, at 11:00 AM, funeral service for Paul R. Grisetti, followed by a reception and celebration of his life. 

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

Sunday School at 10:30 AM

Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing (for online participation, check info under Sunday Services)

Vestry Meeting, Monday October 30, 7:30 PM, Church undercroft

Kirkin of the Tartan, St. Andrew's Day, Thursday November 30, 7:00 PM

St. Andrew & St. Margaret parish has a long history of helping others in the community. Two of our ways of doing this are food donations for the Christ House food bank and needs for babies and infants to the local crisis pregnancy center. Please take a look at the lists below and, if you can, please provide some of the needed items.  You can also help by donating money  through the secure donation button in this e-letter by selecting Charity & Mercy in the drop down menu on the donation page.  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 

The list for MaRIH Crisis Pregnancy Center's needs was just updated again.  The items in bold type are in critical need.  If you can, please donate those items.
 
Updated List of Needs for MaRIH Center (crisis pregnancy center)
MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff provides 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
 In Bold and  * are a critical need.

Diapers (sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, & 6*)
Lovies
Baby wipes
Diaper rash ointment
Fall/Winter Clothing:0-3 mo*, 3-6 mo*, 12-18 mo*, 2T*
Baby shampoo
Baby blankets*
Bibs
Formula: Simulac Advance Formula*
Formula: other but not recalled
Wash clothes
Hooded towels
Grocery gift cards*
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St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625