The Boniface Blog

January/February 2011 Newsletter

2011-01-10T00:01:00.024-05:00

Welcome to 2011! We thank you so much for your support and attendance as we look to grow Saint Boniface Church. We value each of your talents, contributions and faithfulness! As a church family, we want to share the goals we have set for 2011 and we ask for your participation to meet them.

Saint Boniface Church 2011 Goals

Grow new members and strengthen existing members
Our prayer is to have 6 new families or singles as members by the end of the year
By the end of 2011, have our own space to worship

We invite you to prayerfully consider becoming members of the church, attending a bible study and lending your talents to the church. Below is a list of classes and opportunities designed to help us grow in our faith and meet our goals. Please review and pray about your involvement.

On Sunday, January 16, we will begin sign up for classes and opportunities.

Please spend time in prayerful consideration about your involvement in the following 3 areas:

Membership and Classes

New Member Classes- Designed to equip individuals with basic information about the Christian faith and to prepare them for confirmation at Saint Boniface Church. Confirmation will take place on March 6th, 2011. Class topics will include: 10 Commandments, Apostles Creed, Lord’s Prayer, the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion and other relevant topics

Class Options (childcare available for each):

New Member’s Retreat- 3rd Saturday in February from 10AM to 3PM (Lunch provided)
½ hour session after Church for 5 weeks beginning January 30th

Children’s Baptism Preparation Class- A single class which covers the process for baptism for children of members.

One hour after church toward the end of March, date to be announced.
Baptism to be celebrated at Easter.

Mom’s Bible Study- A small group study with practical instruction and faith-based discussions to encourage one another to grow as mothers and women of God.

1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:45 beginning February 3rd
Course cost will be approximately $15.00
1st meeting will be at the Lyons home; we will discuss rotation at the first meeting

Internal Service Opportunities

Set-up and tear-down- weekly rotation
Food and drink donations- weekly rotation
Readings at worship
Musical talent
Woodworking

External Service Opportunities

Monthly Outreach- Servant evangelism at local businesses in the community (ex. serve coffee at Kroger, pass out water in the park, etc.)

Second Saturday morning of each month beginning in February

Sermon Summary for January 9, 2011

2011-01-09T11:48:00.000-05:00

Due to continued issues with our audio recorder, there will not be an audio version of today's sermon available at our Podbean site. Instead, I wish to offer the following summary.

The First Sunday of Ordinary Time
Lectionary Cycle A

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 49: 1-7
Psalmody: Psalm 40
New Testament Reading: Acts 13: 38-49
Gospel Reading: John 1: 29-41

In our Gospel Reading today, John the Baptist begins the process of 'decreasing' that Christ may increase as he points his followers to the Lamb of God. John was not willing to allow the allure of success to draw people to him; that was not his mission. He was, by all appearances, a holy prophet - and God used those appearances to full effect, that his Son might be manifest. Instead, of developing a following for himself, John used his persuasion to direct people to Jesus.

The same story holds true for Paul and Barnabas... they are preaching in the Synagogue at Antioch and could easily have become the superstars and the focal point of the religious faith in that community, but they constantly pointed the way to Christ. Even Isaiah was unwilling to become the focus of popular piety - all his preaching and teaching among the Israelites points the way to repentance and renewal in Jesus Christ.

Today, nearly two-thousand years later, the Church, though wounded at times, and though her faith has been misused by others at times, remains as a beacon of hope for the world. No minister of the Church may EVER take upon himself the role of Savior and Messiah. John refused to do so, even when repeatedly quizzed about it. The accolades that come with such an acclamation are amazing to behold... but no mere human being, not even one with the faith, power, and incisiveness of John the Baptist can bring us salvation. No, it is only Jesus Christ who can do that... and to him alone are we to give that kind of honor and glory.

It is sad to see believers today being swept away with false gospels that are proclaimed by charismatic men and women... individuals who become the focal point of people's faith (sometimes on purpose, and sometimes without intent)... often to the point of forgetting that it is Christ and not the preacher who holds the key to a deeper life lived in faith, hope and love.

So, brothers and sisters, consider this as you see your pastor, the shepherds of the Church, carry out their ministry - but do not make the mistake of believing that this warning frees us from an obligation to respect and listen to those who lead the Church. Christ himself set apart the apostles (who in turn set apart successors) with the command to preach to Gospel and to announce the forgiveness of sins to the people. Humility must be the hallmark of all who preach the Word... and by such fruits shall you know those who have been set apart by God.

Christmas Eve Worship

2010-12-12T18:00:00.000-05:00

Please join us on Friday, December 24th at 7:00 PM for our Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols. Readings from Sacred Scripture will be intermingled with many familiar Christmas Carols for a meditative and inspiring beginning to your family's Christmas celebrations. Why not start a new tradition with your family this year by joining us?

The service will be celebrated at our Franklin location, located at 300 International Drive, Suite B, just south of Earlywood Drive on the east side of US 31. For more information, call the Church at 560-4665.

Advent Cookie Swap

2010-12-08T10:11:00.000-05:00

Ladies, don't forget our Advent Cookie Swap at the Parsonage (3115 Harvest Grove Lane, Bargersville, IN 46106) on Saturday, December 18 from 1 to 4 PM. Join us for a time of fellowship, fun, and cookies! Who doesn't love cookies around the holidays? Attendees are asked to bring two dozen cookies to share. The Lyons family will provide the refreshments. Please RSVP by contacting the Church at 560-4665.

Daily Devotion for Tuesday, November 30

2010-11-30T00:01:00.000-05:00

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today's Psalm: 19: 1-6
Today's Readings: Romans 10: 8b-18 and Matthew 4: 18-22

Today's Feast: Most references to Andrew in the New Testament simply include him on a list of the Twelve Apostles, or group him with his brother, Simon Peter. But he appears acting as an individual three times in the Gospel of John. When a number of Greeks wish to speak with Jesus, they approach Philip, who tells Andrew, and the two of them tell Jesus (Jn 12:20-22). Before Jesus feeds the Five Thousand, it is Andrew who says, "Here is a lad with five barley loaves and two fish." (Jn 6:8f) And the first two disciples whom John reports as attaching themselves to Jesus (Jn 1:35-42) are Andrew and another disciple. Having met Jesus, Andrew then finds his brother Simon and brings him to Jesus. Thus, on each occasion when he is mentioned as an individual, it is because he is instrumental in bringing others to meet the Savior. Little else about his life is known, though it is believed that he was responsible for preaching Christianity in parts of Asia Minor and Greece. Andrew was put to death by the Romans in Patras, Southern Greece, by being crucified on an X shaped cross.

Prayer for the Day: Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give unto us, who are called by your Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Daily Devotion for Monday, November 29

2010-11-29T00:01:00.002-05:00

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today's Psalm: 16
Today's Reading: Isaiah 1: 1-3, 10-20

From the Fathers: "Do not delay: but draw near to Christ, our loving God, and be enlightened, and your face shall not be ashamed. For as soon as you go down into the washing of Holy Baptism, all the defilement of the old man, and all the burden of your many sins, is buried in the water, and passes into nothingness, and you come up from the water a new man, pure from all pollution, with no spot or wrinkle of sin upon you." - John of Damascus, Barlaam and Joseph, section XXXII

Prayer for the Day: Father in heaven, as we prepare to celebrate the Incarnation of our Savior, help us to never forget the new birth which his passion, death, and resurrection has won for us. Give us the grace to rejoice in his saving work, and to trust that he will bring it to completion. Help us to hear your Son as he speaks to us, and to heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit, that we may live a life that is pleasing to you in this world, and enjoy your presence in the world to come. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Advent Sermon Series Announced

2010-11-10T19:31:00.001-05:00

Saint Boniface Church is pleased to announce our Advent 2010 sermon series, A Counter Cultural Christmas, which begins on Sunday, November 28. The series will run at the 10:00 AM service.

We hope that you will join us for this exciting four part series. We are sure it will add depth to your Christian walk, and dimension to our celebrations throughout this holiday season.

Daily Devotions Coming Soon

2010-11-09T05:00:00.010-05:00

True enough, we're busy as can be over the next few weeks with traveling, an ordination, and getting things ready for our move to our new location in Franklin... but this seem to be a great time to mention that, beginning in just a few weeks, we plan to begin bringing daily devotions to our website as a part of our desire to form and nourish our flock in the Word of God. Keep an eye out!

Services for November 14 and 21

2010-11-08T19:31:00.001-05:00

During the weekend of November 14, Father Rob will be in Iowa for a visit with his in-laws. On the weekend of November 21, he will be at our mother-church, Saint Andrew's, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, for the ordination of the newest presbyter for the Reformed Evangelical Synod of America, Peter Escalante. Services will resume on Sunday, November 28 as we mark both the First Sunday in Advent, as well as the first Sunday in our new facility, located at 300 International Drive in Franklin.

Please pray for safe travels for the Lyons family, and in a special way, please keep Mr. Escalante in your prayers during these final weeks before his ordination.

Sunday Services for November 7, 2010

2010-11-06T18:28:00.001-04:00

In just a few weeks we will be moving our Sunday morning services from our pastor's residence into a new facility located at 300 International Drive in Franklin! Please be praying for us as we prepare for this move.

In the meantime, this Sunday, November 7th, we will be offering Morning Worship at 10 AM and Communion at 6 PM.

Please feel welcome to contact us for directions for this Sunday's service.