The Mouse for
November 28, 2021
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken."

— Luke 21:25-26
Advent 1
Sermon: "Year Zero"

Why do only bad things seem to presage Christ's return?

Well, for starters, in order for the new world to begin, the old one must definitively come to an end. Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

Though the Advent readings can sound fatalistic, there is work the follower of Christ is called to do here and now. Spiritual victories can and must be won. Hope is found in these words of His that will not pass away.

Come hear (or live stream) this Sunday's sermon (which builds on last week's) to hear more about the work our Messiah-King calls us to do.

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Holy Communion, 8 a.m.
Morning Prayer, 9:30 a.m.
Coffee Hour, after church.

Youth Acolyte, Readers, Coffee Hour, and Ushers schedule here.
Catechism Corner

The Vicar continues his weekly exposition of the Catechism, found in the Book of Common Prayer, pp. 845-862.

God the Son (pp. 849-850)

Q.       What do we mean when we say that he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father?
A.       We mean that Jesus took our human nature into heaven where he now reigns with the Father and intercedes for us.
 
Let us break down the Catechism’s answer into two parts and take the easy part first.
 
Sitting, reigning, and interceding, what do these mean? To be seated indicates rest. Christ's earthly ministry is complete. No more needs to be said or done in that regard. Christ said Himself from the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30). To reign means Jesus shares the kingdom of God with His Father. To intercede means that He makes our case before the court of Heaven, pleading for us to be admitted.
 
The second part is harder and more controversial. "Jesus took our human nature into heaven" refers to the ascension (Acts 1:1-11), but does this mean that human beings become part of God, or even godlike? Theologians calls this prospect theosis.
 
Seemingly in support of theosis, St. John writes, "we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). C. S. Lewis also seems to affirm that redeemed humans become like God. "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship," he wrote in The Weight of Glory.
 
Proponents of theosis seem to be saying that believers share in the uncreated life of God, by participation in the divinity of Christ (see 2 Peter 1:4). But this would mean that salvation is the obliteration of human nature, not its redemption. Even in heaven, glorified human beings remain creatures, creations of the uncreated God.
 
For Jesus to take "our human nature into heaven" cannot mean that the savior of human nature ultimately winds up destroying it.

—JWD.
Sermon transcripts available on the website

Click here and you'll be able to watch recent sermons and read along, as well as download a copy of the transcript.
Flowers at St. Peter's

The floral guild is always grateful for donations. If you are interested in dedicating flowers in memoriam or for a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary, please send an email to stpeterschurch@optonline.net with the date and the name(s) to whom you would like to dedicate the arrangements.

You can either send a check to St. Peter’s (PO Box 1502, Millbrook, NY 12545) or put the check in the weekly offering with "flowers" on the memo line. You may also add a dedication in the bulletin or leave it anonymous.
Online Giving

St. Peter's is pleased to offer the convenience of online giving via our website. You may make a pledge payment or a one-time gift either by ACH or credit card. From the website menu, click on Serve > Make a gift online, or click here.
Collect for Advent 1

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the
quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Text or call the Vicar at (845) 745-8160, or email him at jdell@stpeterslithgow.org, for prayer or a pastoral visit.
To remember St. Peter's in your estate plans, please consider joining The Lithgow Society. To find out more, click here.
Questions about the parish? Please email:
stpeterschurch@optonline.net

The Mouse is compiled and edited each week by the Vicar. He asks that submissions to The Mouse be made by the Wednesday prior to Friday's edition. Please send submissions to jdell@stpeterslithgow.org. Thank you.