Trinity VIII

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

Sunday's Collect says that God ordered all things in heaven and earth. With all orders, we are to put away things are hurtful and God will give us what is profitable for us.

In Sunday's Epistle, Paul addresses us Brethren. Paul’s word for Brethren is addressed to the Christians not the unbelievers. Here, Paul tells us to live in the Spirit, not the flesh because the flesh is death, and the Spirit is life. We do not owe to the flesh, but to the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit lives in the Christian body and the Christian lives in the body of Christ, we become the sons of God. And we become resurrected like Jesus Christ incorruptible & life everlasting. 1 Cor 15:54 & Gal 6:8.

However, if we give into the flesh, the flesh controls our mind, theology, preaching, music, and worship. So how do we get to the Spirit. We are to mortify or kill the deeds of the sinful body. And we are to put God first and live according to his will. As a Christian, your destination is fixed to the glory of Heaven once you become the sons of God. In birth, you are born to your parents. They had no choice who they get as the baby. But you can be disowned & disinherited from your parents.

In contrast, in the law of adoption, your parents chose you from many children. More important, the parents can’t return the adopted child. This is the same with God. When you were reborn, you became the sons of God. You are special to God. He chose you. You path to Heaven is firm no matter the circumstance. As a Christian we may fall, but we fall within Christ. We don’t fall out of Christ. And if we become the children of God then we become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. In a way, we suffer with Christ and we are glorified with Christ.

With this Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew warns us of the false prophets. Note, in the New Testament, false prophets warnings occur more than the beatitudes because many will follow the false prophets. Peter 2:2. So who are the false prophets? They pretend to be sheep, innocent, gentile, meek, and peaceful. But they are cunning, sophist, shrewd, and calculating for your body, money, and soul. They often look like tares that look like wheat, thistles that look like figs, thorns that look like grapes, and wolves that look like sheep.

Martin Luther said if you don’t know what sort of tree it is, just shake it. But few things are common with false prophets: they humanize God, minimize sin, deify man, teach self salvation, downplay repentance, and avoid preaching about hell. It sounds all too familiar. Bad fruit cannot bring good fruit. And bad fruits will be hewn down and cast into the fire of hell because not everyone that calls “Lord, Lord” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

In sum, what is the message today? Be led by the Spirit of God to become the sons of God. We are then adopted as his children to have eternal life. And the Spirit will lead us to bear good fruits as real sheep to preach about God, to deify Jesus as the Christ, to repent our fleshly sins, to preach about hell, and to share the Good News with the lost sinners. And hee that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven is led by the Spirit of God. And Jesus Christ the righteous is the bridge between God and the world; the Church is hospital for sinners; and the Earth is incubator for people to be sanctified.

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

--Fr. Anton+

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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PARISH OUTREACH

The clergy and parishioners of St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland invite you to participate in person or online with us each Sunday morning (7:45 AM, 9:00 AM or 11:15 AM) and Wednesday at noon.  The church is located at 402 E Monroe Avenue in the Del Ray section of Alexandria.  Parking is available in the church lot or on the streets bordering the church.

In addition, to this e-letter that you are receiving, the parish has a number of other outreach programs including Sunday School, nursery, an annual picnic, men's group, altar and flower group, a Blessing of the Animals, St. Andrew's Day Kirkin of the Tartan, special Lenten, Advent and Christmas programs, and much more.  You can follow the parish on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/) and on the web  (https://www.standrewandstmargaret.org/).

Also, the parish helps a local food bank and crisis pregnancy center each month to help those who are often forgotten and need help.

If you are in the area and haven't come to see us, please do.  If you are already a parishioner, please invite a family member, friend, or neighbor to come to church with you.
 
Upcoming Events

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 will resume in September

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

Next Vestry meeting September

Annual Parish Picnic, Sunday October 8 at Fort Hunt Park, following a 10 AM combined service (no 9:00 AM or 11:15 AM services that day) , more details closer to event.

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 recently updated.  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
Summer clothing: Newborn, 3-6 mo.,6-9 mo., 9-12 mo.,12-18 mo,, 18-24, 2T*
Baby shampoo
Baby blankets
Sleeping -- Pack-n-Play*
Formula: Simulac Advance Formula*
Formula: other but not recalled
Wash clothes
Hooded towels
Grocery gift cards*


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