The Queen of England's Christmas Message, 2011

One of the clearest statements of the Christian faith I have ever heard from a world leader.  Please take the time to listen to it.  Happy Christmas!

Childermas: Massacre of the Holy Innocents

Maybe the Best Quote of the Season

"Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice."

-- Dave Barry

Tim Keller--Year End Generosity

The Bible says that God has poured out his mercy and Holy Spirit generously through Jesus Christ so we can be justified by grace (Titus 3:6). Why is mercy and forgiveness described in terms of ‘generosity’? Because God is under no obligation to give us any good gift. In fact, our sin has forfeited any favor or blessing we might have had. Yet, instead of giving us the punishment we deserve, he took that himself and gave us the riches of mercy and grace. He forgave, he was generous with us sinners.

In the book of James there is another way that God is said to be generous. The author urges his readers to become spiritually mature and wise, and if they lack this, they should ask God, “Who gives generously to all without finding fault.” (James 1:5) Here God is generous not in forgiveness but in ministry. He builds people up and shares his wisdom with others, and he is not stingy with his service, only giving to ‘deserving’ people. No, he ministers to others “without finding fault.” 

Generosity, then, is basically a matter of the spirit....

See full article:  http://www.redeemer.com/news_and_events/newsletter/?aid=289

RADICAL: taking back your faith from the American Dream

New book study begins Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012 at 7:30PM in the parish hall (Nine sessions)

I want to urge you to join me in studying this very special book!  If you only attend one study this year, let it be this one.  I read this book on vacation last summer and it has had a profound effect on how I am thinking about my life in America and my life in Christ.   You may not agree with everything this book says (I don't) but you will walk away with a much clearer understanding of your faith and God’s purpose for your life. 

The Book is entitled Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream .  The study guide and book cost $15.00 for each participant.  If you have the book, the study guide costs $5.00

Please sign up for the study by calling the church office at 724-774-0679, or by emailing us at trinitydesk@verizon.net, or by signing up on the bulletin board outside the parish office.

I hope you will call a friend in the parish and ask them to join you and me in this important study.

Fr. Scott  

Prayer for the Feast of St John

Merciful Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that we, being illumined by the teaching of thine apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that we may at length attain to the fullness of life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

Feast of St John, Apostle and Evangelist

Word Origins: Holiday

The word holiday derived from the notion of "Holy Day", and gradually evolved to its current form.  The word holiday comes from the Old English word hāligdæg. The word originally referred only to special religious days.

The Feast of Saint Stephen

Christmas Day Eucharist: 11:00AM

Please join us for Christmas Day Eucharist at 11AM

Trinity Church
370 Beaver Street
Beaver, PA  15009

"Behold, I bring you good news of great joy..."

Visit to the Christmas Crib

“O Divine Redeemer Jesus Christ…I believe thou art the God of infinite majesty, even though I see thee here as a helpless babe.  Humbly I adore and thank thee for having so humbled thyself for my salvation as to will to be born in a stable.  I thank thee for all thou didst wish to suffer for me in Bethlehem, for thy poverty and humility, for thy nakedness, tears, cold and sufferings.

Would that I could show thee that tenderness which thy Virgin Mother had toward thee, and love thee as she loved thee.  Would that I could praise thee with the joy of the angels; that I could kneel before thee with the faith of St. Joseph; the simplicity of the shepherds.  Uniting myself with these first worshippers at the crib, I offer thee the homage of my heart, and I beg that thou wouldest be born spiritually in my soul.  Give me, I pray thee, the virtues of thy blessed Nativity…” 

(Excerpt from “Visit to the Christmas Crib,” St Augustine’s Prayer  Book)

WARNING: Christmas Prep Hazardous to Health

Warning: Christmas Prep May Be Hazardous to Your Spiritual Health:

We invest so much time and energy in purchasing just the right gifts for our loved ones.  We may make the mistake of concluding that the joy of Christmas is to be found underneath the Christmas tree.  We may find transient joy in the gifts we exchange but long after the electronics fail, the toys break, and the clothes shrink, true and lasting joy will be found only in God’s Christmas gift to you: your savior Christ the Lord.

How To Breeze Through Holiday Shopping

Brenda and I had to do some last minute grocery shopping yesterday.  We knew the store would be a mob scene so we decided to try a new strategy.  We decided to be demonstrably happy, joyous and free.  We were right.  The store was jammed with frustrated, lonely, anxiety ridden folks.  So we broke out our widest smiles, joked and played with one another and acted as if we had nothing else to do all day.  Lo and behold, the crowds lifted, the sea of humanity parted and we were able to walk through our shopping experience without muddying up our spirits.  God is good.  Merry Christmas.

The Real Problem in Whoville

We all seem to agree that it is a heinous crime for the Grinch to steal Christmas from the Who’s in Whoville.  After all, if there is no gift under the tree or no Christmas feast, little Cindy Lou Who might cry!  So, of course, the story must end with the Grinch’s conversion—not from God hater to God lover, not from secular humanist to Christian, but from stingy miser to extravagant gift-giver.  The Grinch must experience a transformation alright, but the transformation is from agent of material deprivation to agent of economic stimulus.  Bottom line:  when the Grinch is changed, when his heart grows ten sizes that day, Little Cindy Lou Who gets her stuff and everybody lives happily ever after, or do they?

   

The problem appears when we consider that little Cindy Lou Who is not permitted to hear about the Christ child.  There is no nativity in the center of the Christmas morning revelers, no explanation of the source of the celebration.  The elders in Whoville have agreed to keep the matter of the Christ, and most especially the Cross, secret and private.  Whoville is happy for some ambiguous reason.  The song they sing is not praising God for his work of redemption—just a happy little ditty.

              

And so, while little Cindy Lou Who is entitled to Christmas gifts and a Christmas dinner, and the momentary happiness they may provide, she is doomed to eternal unhappiness because she is denied a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The life of true purpose, meaning, and hope that relationship with Christ yields is denied her.  The very thing we had hoped to avoid is assured: little Cindy Lou Who cries.  I don’t know about you but it sounds like a bad deal to me.  Better Christmas morning should stink.  Better there should be nothing under the tree, no Christmas dinner, better for the Grinch's heart to grow and for him to become the preacher who returns the gift of the gospel to the children of Whoville!