Trinity XVIII

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

In today’s Collect, we plead to our Lord to grant to thy people to resist the worldly temptations, the flesh, and the devil. We fight our temptations through our pure hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the Epistle today, first, we are reminded of Grace - which is a gift from God. With Grace we are given Salvation and Spiritual gifts. And Paul is writing the Epistle because the Church of Corinth was using the gifts the wrong way. Second, Paul tells us that we are enriched in all utterance. Here, the “utterance” means the gift of the tongue or prophesy. So we are to enrich ourselves to live holy lives. We use these gifts and knowledge for understanding & faith. And third, we are confirmed in the testimony of Christ. Here, “confirm” means a legal contract. In other words, we have the witness of the Word & Spirit to guarantee that God will keep his contract with us. This is the foundation of our love, trust, and obedience to our Lord.

In today’s Gospel, we see once again the Sadducees and Pharisees. First, the Sadducees were priests, Jewish aristocracy and liberal elites. They were secular, and they did not believe in the resurrection and afterlife. The Pharisees however were rabbis. They believed in God and that God had punished the Jews by the Roman Rule. They have adopted the gentile laws & reason. They believed in coming of the Messiah; and they believed in hell, angels, demons, and Heaven.

Second, in the Old Testament Mitzvoth, there are 613 Old Testament laws, some serious and some light. But if you break one of them then you are guilty of all of them (James 2:10). Here, Jesus cites the Shema (Hebrew word “to hear”) Deut 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” This is the Jewish confession of faith recited daily. To love God and his brothers.

Third, as the Pharisees were trying to trick Jesus, Jesus asks them the perplexing question. What does the “the Lord said unto my Lord” mean? All they can say is that Christ is the Son of David. But they could not understand how Jesus is both Lord and Son. This is an easy answer if you believe in the dual nature of Jesus Christ. As Christ, Jesus is Lord to David. As Jesus the Man, Jesus is the Son of David. This is the Doctrine of Dualism of Jesus Christ. He is both God & Man. In sum, we are to fight the devil and the world through Grace & Salvation of Jesus Christ as both God and Man.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

--Deacon Anton Yoe

All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own
have we given thee.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, October 15, 8:30 AM, Men's Group, Breakfast & Bible Study, come enjoy a great breakfast, fellowship, and an interesting and thought provoking Bible study

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/ )

Sunday, 10:30 AM, Sunday School

Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing

Monday, October 24, 7:30 PM, Vestry Meeting, church undercroft

Ordination of Deacon Anton Yoe to the Priesthood– Saturday, November 19, at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the ordination service.

Bishop’s Annual Visitation – Sunday, November 20 – If you wish to be received or confirmed by Bishop Lerow during his visitation with our Parish, or if you are unsure of your status, please contact Fr. Roddy as soon as possible.

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)
Diaper rash ointment

Clothing
Bibs
Clothing for boys and girls (0-6 months)
Sleep Sacks: Girls 0-6 mos.
Socks: Boy/Girl 2T

Other
Baby shampoo


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Our mailing address is:
St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625