An Order for Compline 4/16/24 | www.bcponline.org p 127 How to be a Christian Reflections and Essays C.S. Lewis | By St Stephen's Episcopal Church | Hi, Nikki. Welcome I'm busy spilling water on myself. Excuse me. Alright. So, added to Dickie, we've got Laura. Welcome, Laura and Joyce. Welcome my friend. I appreciate you all for being with me. I got Pat Phillips on here now. Hi, Pat. Welcome. Alright. Give another minute. We'll see what we get. We get started on our reading from CS Lewis ' or not he didn't really write this. He wrote the Essays for a minute but how to be a Christian by CS Lewis. It says the Reflections and Essays. We were last talking about on being concerned about more than the salvation of souls. Hi there Anne and John and Carol and Clarence. Welcome, welcome. So glad. We've got good crowd tonight and thank you for joining me and praying with me tonight. I'll take it where I left off. It is for a very different reason that religion cannot occupy the whole of life in a sense of excluding all of our natural activities. For of course, in some sense, it must occupy the whole of life. There is no question of a compromise between the claims of god and the claims of culture or politics or anything else. God's claim is infinite and inexerable. You can refuse it or you can begin to try to grant it. There is no middle way That's my anglican saying that but you know, yet in spite of this, it's clear that Christianity does not exclude any of the ordinary human activities. Saint Paul tells people to get on with their jobs. He even assumes that Christians may go to dinner parties and what's more, dinner parties given by pagans. Our lord attends a wedding and provides miraculous wine. Under the ages of his church and in the most Christian ages, learning in the arts flourish. The solution to this paradox is of course well known to you. Whether you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of god. All are merely natural activities will be accepted. If they are offered to god. Even the humble all of them even the noblest will be sinful if they are not. Christianity does not simply replace our natural life and substitute a new one. It is rather a new organization which exploits to its own supernatural ends. These natural materials. No doubt in a given situation, it demands the surrender of some or all of our merely human pursuits. It is better to be saved with one eye than having two to be cast in Gahina. And it it does this in a sense of in its French error I think per accidental. Um because or that by accident and because in those special circumstances it has ceased to be possible to practice this or that activity to the glory of God. There is no essential quarrel between the spiritual life and the human activities as such. Thus, the omnipresence of obedience to god in a Christian's life is in a way an what kind of says and elegance. There we go. The omnipresence of god in space. God does not feel space as a body fills it. In the sense that parts of him are in different parts of space, excluding other objects from them. Yet, he is everywhere, totally present at every point of space. According to the good theologians anyway. We are now in a position to answer the view that human culture is an inexcusable frivolity on the part of creatures loaded with such awful responsibilities as we. I rejected at once an idea which lingers in the mind of some modern people that cultural activities are in their own right, spiritual, and meritorious. As the scholars and poets were intrinsically more pleasing to god than scavengers and bootblacks. I think it was Matthew Arnold who first used the English word spiritual in the sense of the German I guess Geislik and so inaugurated this most dangerous and most anti-Christian error. I think it's when you hear people say, I'm spiritual but not religious or we go fishing and say that's as good as being in church I think CS Lewis is going to tell us here, yeah, going fishing is a good thing but are you doing it to the glory of god? So, but let's see what he says. Let us be clear. Let let us clear it forever from our minds. The work of a Beethoven and the work of a Charwoman becomes spiritual and precise to the same condition. That of being offered to God. Of being done humbly as to the Lord. This does not of course mean that it is for anyone a mere toss up. Whether he would sweep rooms or compose symphonies. A mole must dig to the glory of God and a cock must crow. We are members of one body but differentiated members. Each with his own vocation. A man's upbringing his talents and circumstances are usually a tolerable index of his vocation. For our parents have sent us to Oxford, if our country allows us to remain there, this is prima fascia evidence that the life which we at any rate can best lead to glory of god at present is the learned life. By leading that life to the glory of god, I do not of course mean any attempt to make our intellectual inquiries work out to edify in conclusions. That would be as bacon says, offered to the author of truth, the unclean sacrifice of a lie. I mean, the pursuit of knowledge and beauty in a sense for their own sake but in a sense which does not exclude their being for god's sake. An appetite for these things exist in the human mind and god makes no appetite in vain. We can therefore pursue knowledge as such and beauty as such and assured confidence that by doing so, we are either advancing to the vision of god ourselves or indirectly helping others to do so. Humil no less than the appetite. Encourage us to concentrate simply on the knowledge or the beauty. Not too much concerning ourselves with our ultimate relevance to the vision of god. That relevance may not be intended for us but for our betters. For men who come after find the spiritual significance of what we dug out in blind and humble obedience to our vocation. This is a telelogical argument that the existence of the impulse and the faculty proved that they must have a proper function in god's scheme. He's getting deep in the weeds here guys. Hi, Magdalena. Any The argument by which Thomas Aquinas proves that sexuality would have existed even without the fall. The soundness of the argument as regards culture is proved by experience. The intellectual intellectual life is not only the road to god nor the safest. Say or nor the safest but we find it to be a road and it may be the appointed road for us. Of course, it will be so on, it will be only so long as we keep the impulse pure and disinterested. That is the great difficulty. As the author of The Germanica says, we may come to love knowledge, our knowing more than the thing, known, to delight not in the exercise of our talents, but in the fact that they are ours or even in the reputation they bring us. Every success in the scholar's life increases its danger. If it becomes irresistible, he or she must get up their scholarly work. A time for plucking out the right eye has arrived. So, I take from that is, if you're a teacher, if you're a preacher, if you are a nurse, or a salesperson Are you doing that for vainglory? Are you doing it? Because you have to put food on the table for your family. Or is it so you can raise money so you can give it to your church. So, you can live and pay your bills and while you're doing it, are you living into your vocation? Are you living into extending the glory of god or extending the the the the kingdom of god to others In law enforcement, I could be a Christian and show love for others including bad guys Nurses show love always even when they have to get on a patient who's being very difficult. A teacher gets on to a student but they do it most of the time out of love and for a reason that sometimes we don't know or doing for god but maybe we are. You know, I I would say we if we are doing it with this sense of the good. So, that said, I'll shut up and I've gotten to that chapter and we'll do something different on Thursday. Let's move to our prayer as I told you at the beginning of Easter time. I was going to continue to do the prayer for Easter day throughout the season and I hope you will join me in this prayer. Oh god, who for our redemption gave your only begotten son to the death of the cross and by his glorious resurrection, delivered us from the power of our enemy. Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may ever more live with him in the joy of his resurrection. Through Jesus your son, our lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever. Amen. Alright. We got to that long part of the chapter in 11 minutes. So, let's move on. Turn in your books of common prayer to page one hundred and twenty-seven. Let me go a quick sip of water. The lord almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end Our help is in the name of the lord the maker of heaven and earth. On page one twenty-eight Oh god, make speed to save us. Oh lord, make haste to help us. Glory to the father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen. Hallelujah. Alright, our Psalm for tonight, we'll, I was going to do a longer Psalm, but I'm going to wait until next Thursday night to do that one. Let's do Psalm 134 on page 131. Psalm 134 together. Behold now, bless the lord, all you servants of the lord. You that stand by night in the house of the lord. Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the lord. The lord who made heaven and earth, bless you out of Zion. Glory to the father and to the son and to the holy spirit as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen. Lord, you are in the midst of us and we are called by your name. Do not forsake us, oh lord, our god. Thanks be to god. On page one thirty-two, the verse one response Into your hands, oh lord, I commend my spirit. For you have redeemed me, oh lord, oh god of truth. Keep us, oh lord, as the apple of your eye. Hide us under the shadow of your wings. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Together, let us pray our lord's prayer. Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Lord, hear our prayer. And let our cry come to you. Let us rail. Look down, oh lord, from your heavenly throne, and illumine this night with your celestial brightness, that by night as by day, your people may glorify your holy name, through Jesus Christ, our lord. Amen. Keep watch dear lord with those who work or watch or weep this night And give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick Lord Christ. Give rest to the weary. Bless the dying. Soothe the suffering. Pity the afflicted. Shield the joyous. And all for your love's sake. Amen. This time, I would invite your prayers, your Thanksgivings, your intercessions. Just add it to our comment section and we'll read the name aloud and if it's not already on there, we will add it to the prayer list until you tell us otherwise. Gracious loving god, we acknowledge that your will for all people is health and salvation. We praise you and thank you, thank you as we come to name before you, those for whom we are privileged to pray. Lord god, we pray that you send healing of body, mind, and spirit to all those who've been injured and traumatized by acts of hatred, violence, accidents, war, and natural disasters We ask that your healing mercies be upon our presiding bishop, Michael Curry, Amy, April, Aurora, Avery, Barbara, Barbara Jean, Barry Good, Bernetta Isaac, the Reverend Bruce Limousine, Bill Rowe, Billy Smith, Brian Hageman, Carmen S, Carrie, Catherine Bailey, Cindy, Crystal, Curtis Oball, Dalton, Dan, Dan McCauley, Debbie Paulston, Donna Whiting, Doug Estes, Drew, Dwayne Little, Ed Clements, Ed Nicholson, Elizabeth, Emily Rowe, Eric, Gil, Gilbert, Graham Beauchamp, Helen McMaster, Jean Moser, Jennifer Hanson, Jesse, the Reverend Jim McDonald and I hope he is feeling better and bouncing back quickly. Jimmy Sanderch, John Birmingham, Joanne Kimsey, Josie, Joyce Slayton, Judy Jones, Karen, Karen B, almost messed that up. Sorry about that, Kara. Katie Wolford, the Reverend, Kay Staggs, Kim, Leah Gilbert, Lisa Denton, Lois Ann, Lucy, Mary Dykes, Maria, Marlene, Mary Engle, Mason, The Reverend, Nancy Cook, or in Hart, Pam Childress, Pat Magnus, Pat Patak, Patricia Allen, Paul Chenall, Paula, River Close, Robert Jones, Rodney Utley, Roger M, Miss Rose Hale, Riley, Sammy Collingwood, Scott, Scotty, Seth Rowe, Sherry Hageman, Steven Owen, Theresa, Tom Corham, and Zoe. Are there others? Thank you, Laura. I love good news. Excellent. Moving Carmen to Thanksgivings for healing. Excellent. The words in your loving presence to comfort the family of Jennifer Magee. The Hopper family, Alicia's family, John and Lena, Arlana, Bill, the Beauchamp family, River, Russell, and Haley, Clothes, John Magnus, Rob, Steve Porch, Sherri Hageman, David and Beth, the Thurman family, Ken Rowe, Dennis, Dwayne, Betty Little, Naomi S, Sharon S and family, Helen, Jean, Mark, and Meg. We pray also for former President Jimmy Carter, Gordon Yoder, Marie Porch, Shirley, and Tara Thurman. In all others, who are in hospice care. We ask that you have strength and comfort to the caregivers of those who are dealing with mental illness and those unable to for themselves. We pray for all those who are struggling to make ends meet and those without shelter and basic needs. Keep us always mindful of and responsive too. The needs of all others. Other other prayers. Seeing none. For wisdom and guidance, we pray that all those in authority in the United States around the world. Well, we pray for them to have wisdom. Anytime now. Anytime. For safety, we lift up Father Toby. We also lift up Anna Grace, Chris F, Christian, Christopher, Heidi, Mason, Sean, and all those who serve in our armed forces. Remembering especially those who are currently stationed in the Middle East and other hot spots. As well as those whose lives are at risk because of war. Yara, Maria in Ukraine, and all others. In war torn countries. We pray for all those affected by the tragedy of human trafficking. We ask that you safeguard those housed in or working in prisons. And we lift up all law enforcement personnel and first responders. We ask you to protect Bruce Bryant, Hope Dalton, Lindsey, Lindsay Duncan, Melissa, Natasha, Rowe, Renee, Steven Owen, and all teachers, educators, school personnel, and students and those who transport children to and from school. We also of all those who work in health care, all who travel, and those who are fleeing from war-torn areas, whether it be, well, from areas torn by war, natural disasters, or political turmoil. We ask that you guide, inspire inspire god and direct the clergy, the vestry, ministry team, worship committee, and congregation of Saint Stephen's and I would dare say the congregation and clergy and leadership of all churches. We ask you to bless and uphold those who train and who are training for ordination especially Ashley, Bruce, James, Jan, Laura, and Vaughan. We lift up our presiding bishop Michael Curry, bishops, Jay Scott Barker, Daniel Gutierre Gutierrez, Sean Rowe, and Rich Robert Wright. All four candidates for the next presiding bishop. We also lift up the Diocese of Arkansas and our bishop, John Harmon. We lift up Saint Francis House and its ministries as well as Camp Mitchell. Are there others? Moving on. Lord, we're grateful for the many blessings you bestowed upon us. We give you thanks for all who have gathered here tonight to give you thanks and praise. We thank you for those who've recovered from illness, who are who are making progress towards recovery. We ask you to bless the lives of all those who celebrate her birthday or at wedding anniversary this week. And we do give thanks for Carmen's good test results. We lift up our expected parents, Mills and Mary, Hannah, Bryant. We pray for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby. Lift up those who have died. Lord god, we ask that your grace and mercy be upon Jennifer McGee, Judy Hopper, Alicia, and all who have departed this earthly life. May they rest in your peace and rise in your glory. Send your comforting presence to be with all those who mourn Last chance for prayers, seen no additions. Uh moving on to the concluding call it. And I've got that marked somewhere here. The white tab is going to find that sucker. And failing miserably. Where is it at? The top here. Sorry, guys. I shall overcome this problem. Momentarily. There we go. Almighty god, by your holy spirit, you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth. Granted in our earthly pilgrimage, we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the spirit, and who lives and reigns forever and ever. Moving back to page one thirty-four, your books of common prayer. An An An additional candidate Oh, Duncan Probe, DD Duncan prom? Okay. I've looked that up but we pray for them too. Alright. Page one thirty-four, let us say the Antiphons and the Song of Simeon together. God is waking, oh lord, and guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Lord, you now have set your servant free, to go in peace as you have promised. For these eyes of mine have seen the savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see. A light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people, Israel. Glory to the father of the son and to the holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen. God as waking, oh lord, and guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Let us bless the lord. Thanks be to god. Can I say hallelujah? I miss the hallelujahs. I think. We're just going to go on. Sorry. The almighty and the merciful and merciful lord. Father, son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen. I guess I used to not sing the hallelujahs that when it's time to do em and I love to do em, I forget to do it. So, anyway, we do lift up Dee Dee Duncan, Probe, and hope he or she all know for I'm guessing she. Uh also is able to enjoy the ride with this whole selection process. Um thank you for joining me. Um I will be on the road Thursday morning heading to Arkansas Um and tonight I'm going to write a sermon hopefully and tomorrow night and have that ready to go. Um but I'll see you Sunday at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church. At 10: 30 AM. But in the meanwhile, in the meanwhile, don't forget tomorrow is Wednesday, Noonday Prayers of Pat at twelve. Thursday morning, Java with Joyce and if all goes well with my trip back to Arkansas, you'll see me with Twilight with Toby at 7 PM on Thursday evening from the library at my house. God willing. My friends, thank you again for joining me. May god bless each and everyone of you and I will see you Thursday. Buh bye.