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Kitchen Kabinet

The Kitchen Kabinet has had a busy summer and its not over yet!  We assure that the Sunday coffee hour happens every Sunday, and that we have $5 Breakfast the last Sunday of each month.

The Kitchen Kabinet is providing dishes, glasses, mugs, silverware, pots and pans, cooking spoons and knives, etc. to help furnish our new rectory.

Many, many thanks to the generous and capable volunteers who make all this possible.  If you’re interested in helping with the kitchen, please contact Barbara Stone.

~Barbara Stone

Card and Game Group

The Card & Game Group meets once a month, usually on the second Wednesday at 1 PM in the social hall. We are a small group open to any game or card game suggestions.

Presently, we are playing Mexican Train. We usually play until 3:00 PM, but sometimes longer if it is convenient for all players. Someone usually brings some candy or cookies for a snack. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, and everyone is welcome!

Please contact Nancy Armanno for more information.

Women’s Study Group

A few women meet together each week to think together about God in our lives. We share what is happening personally, and we share our love and caring with each other. If you are interested in being a part of this group, contact Caralee Cubbage at 520 780-2109.

What Is Reformation Day and Why Does It Matter?

The Church Reformed, Always Reforming

Reposted from Gospel Reformation Network, October 31, 2024

by Rob Pacienza 

Introduction

As October 31 approaches, it seems the whole world  is carving pumpkins, dressing up, and gearing up for large amounts of candy. But for the church, this date commemorates something quite different and eminently more profound: Reformation Day. Observed annually on October 31, Reformation Day commemorates the pivotal moment in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. This event ignited a movement that reshaped not only the church but Western civilization as a whole. So, what exactly is Reformation Day, and why does it matter today?

Understanding Reformation Day

Reformation Day is rooted in a single act of courageous conviction. In the early 16th century, the church was mired in practices that troubled believers. The sale of indulgences—payments said to reduce punishment for sins—exemplified the widespread abuses. Martin Luther, a young German monk and professor, could no longer remain silent about the church’s theological errors, particularly regarding the nature of salvation.

So, with a few hammer blows heard ‘round the world, he posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the gates of Wittenberg Cathedral. Courageously, Luther challenged the practices and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, especially the notion that salvation could be bought or earned. Luther’s fundamental contention was that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, accessed by faith alone, not through human merit or monetary transactions. This core principle, now known as sola fide (faith alone), would become a pillar of Protestant belief and spark theological debate, study, and reform across Europe.

Luther’s act was a catalyst for change, but he did not work alone. Other reformers like John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli took up the cause, advancing theological insights that became foundational to Protestantism. Together, these leaders shaped a movement that re-emphasized the authority of Scripture (sola scriptura), the centrality of faith in salvation, and the priesthood of all believers, democratizing access to God’s Word and worship.

Essential Doctrines of the Reformation

The Reformation is often summarized by five key doctrines known as the solas: sola scriptura (Scripture alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (to the glory of God alone). These principles were the theological bedrock upon which the Reformers built a new vision for the church.

  1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): The Reformers insisted that Scripture, not church tradition or human authority, is the ultimate standard of faith and practice. This emphasis on biblical authority encouraged believers to engage with Scripture directly rather than relying solely on clergy for interpretation.
  2. Sola Fide (Faith Alone): Luther’s primary grievance against the Roman Catholic Church centered on how one is made right with God. The doctrine of justification by faith alone taught that human beings are justified—made right with God—not by their own works but through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross.
  3. Sola Gratia (Grace Alone): Salvation, the Reformers argued, is an unmerited gift from God. Grace alone excludes any notion of earning God’s favor; it is entirely the work of a loving God who bestows salvation out of his mercy.
  4. Solus Christus (Christ Alone): The Reformers emphasized that Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity. Only through Christ’s atoning death and resurrection can anyone find true reconciliation with God.
  5. Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone): This principle reinforced that all of life, including salvation, is ultimately for God’s glory. The Reformers sought to redirect focus away from human accomplishments and achievements, underscoring that every aspect of our faith should magnify God’s greatness.

These doctrines were not only theological clarifications; they also led to social changes. They influenced education and individual rights and encouraged translations of the Bible into vernacular languages. Reformation teachings effectively broke down barriers, giving ordinary Christians direct access to the Word of God and empowering them in their faith.

Why Reformation Day Matters Today

Over five centuries later, the significance of Reformation Day endures. The Reformation did not merely shape doctrine; it redefined the Christian life and continues to impact believers and the broader society. Here are three ways Reformation Day remains relevant for today’s church:

  1. Biblical Literacy and Accessibility: One of the Reformation’s most lasting legacies is its emphasis on Scripture’s accessibility. Reformers translated the Bible into common languages so every believer could read and understand God’s Word. This impulse toward biblical literacy resonates today as we witness widespread biblical illiteracy. Reformation Day reminds us to return to Scripture, read it for ourselves, and ground our beliefs in its teachings.
  2. A Call to Faith and Trust in Christ Alone: At the heart of the Reformation was the reminder that faith is a personal response to God’s grace, centered on Christ’s redemptive work. In an age of self-help spirituality and moralism, Reformation Day calls us back to the gospel’s core: that salvation cannot be earned or merited but is a gift received by trusting in Christ alone. This message is countercultural but vital, encouraging believers to rest in God’s grace rather than striving to earn His approval.
  3. Encouragement to Stand Firm in Truth: Luther’s boldness in standing for truth against great opposition is an example to Christians today. In a world that often challenges biblical truth, Reformation Day calls for courage. Just as Luther defended the gospel in the face of societal and ecclesiastical pressure, believers are called to uphold Scripture’s teachings with humility and conviction. The Reformation was not only about doctrinal reformation but a revival of commitment to live according to God’s truth, no matter the cost.

Celebrating Reformation Day

When Christians celebrate Reformation Day, we aren’t merely remembering a historical event. We are recommitting ourselves to the biblical principles that guided the Reformers: adherence to Scripture, reliance on God’s grace, and the pursuit of His glory. Some churches mark Reformation Day with special services or educational events, while others use it as a time for reflecting on the gospel’s implications for all of life. For families, it can be a meaningful opportunity to discuss the significance of Scripture and faith in individual lives, passing down the Reformation’s legacy to the next generation.

Reformation Day calls us to remember that the church is always in need of renewal. The Reformers’ rallying cry, ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda—”the church reformed, always reforming”—reminds us that the journey of faith is ongoing. As we celebrate Reformation Day, may we embrace this call to reformation, asking God to renew our faith, deepen our commitment to Scripture, and embolden us to stand firm in the gospel!

Perfection in Our Flaws

By: Carolyn Ancell

Flaws, everybody’s got ’em. You can bet your last two dollars.

There ain’t no 10s. All them flaws, The ones you came with, and (the ones that got caused).

We all got flaws. — ‘Flaws,’ song by Alan Jackson, edited

Salvador Dali said, ‘Have no fear of perfection — you’ll never reach it.’ Despite the airbrushed 10s on magazine covers, the sports stars breaking records, the artists, scientists and academics carrying imagination and knowledge to new heights, we are human, every one of us flawed.

Jesus said, ‘So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Matthew 5:48). He wasn’t meaning that we should, or even could, make ourselves perfect, rather that we might forever strive to improve. And he certainly wasn’t talking about physical perfection.

When I was young, I stressed about my too-curly hair, my crooked teeth, my inability to stand on one foot. Now that I am old, I stress over loss of physical strength, memory glitches, and — still — my inability to stand on one foot. I am flawed.

Should never be ashamed, embarrassed or afraid ‘Cause everyone has something they don’t like.

Remember, we’re all made with water, dirt and grace.

We’re all perfect in the eyes that see. — Jackson Some of our physical, mental or emotional ‘flaws’ are inherited.

Some are caused by aging, injury or illness. Some we cause ourselves by not seeing ourselves as God sees us. We are anxious, we compare ourselves to others, we are self-deprecating, we are impatient with ourselves and others. We are unable or unwilling to see the God-given beauty we do possess, in abundance.

Only God is perfect. We are flawed. But therein — potentially — lies our perfection.

All those beautiful flaws Staring back at me Every scar … makes me a masterpiece. — ‘Flaws,’ song by Lily

Meola

Rather than obsessing over perfection, artists and architects of our medieval past, and some present cultural communities, do not find a work complete until it contains a flaw.


‘Medieval masons believed that only God could be perfect, or create perfection, and though cathedrals were built to glorify God, they were built by people, so they must contain flaws. They built their humanity into the building, in the form of human mistakes, to remind them of the power of God,’ said Jay Hulme, writer and poet.


That God is perfect and humans are not is also a principle in Islamic architecture. The beautifully decorated vaulted ceilings of many mosques in the Arab world appear symmetric but have minor intentional irregularities imperceptible to most visitors.

Since the 16th century, influenced by the Zen Buddhist principle of wabi-sabi, Japanese artists have created deliberate imperfections in their art. Wabi indicates the imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness of beauty itself. Sabi reflects the beauty of things as they age, like the patina on old metal. How might we apply wabi-sabi to ourselves?


In Japan, we also find kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery by mending the cracks and flaws with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum, making the bowl or pot more beautiful in its broken state than it was when it was whole.


Applying kintsugi to ourselves, we might ask: Do we fill our imperfections, our incompleteness, our cracks and flaws with the gold of God’s ever-creative Spirit? If we observe what we define as a flaw in another, do we fill it with judgment, disapproval and disdain, or with the gold of God’s unconditional love? If we sense cracks in the perfection in the world around us, do we fill those
cracks with criticism, and divisive thoughts and words that make the cracks larger; or do we fill the cracks with the shimmering gold of our active contributions, and encouraging thoughts and words? So, yes, we are flawed. Let our flaws be divine opportunities. Let us celebrate our flaws, and open them to the gold.

Oh that’s flawless, isn’t it? — Jackson


Carolyn Ancell

Carolyn Ancell, a writer, therapeutic harpist and interfaith minister, lives in Sun City Oro Valley with her
husband, Ron

Courtey of the Arizona Daily Star

Copyright © 2023 Arizona Daily Star

Thoughts on Prayer

There is this judge, Jesus says, who has neither decency nor conscience, a corrupt public official interested only in his own advantage. A widow appears in his courtroom. She is a poor and powerless woman, somebody not noticed by the movers and shakers in her town. She has no money to bribe this crooked judge; she cannot afford a lawyer to speak up for her. So she speaks up for herself: “Defend me from my adversary! Defend me from my adversary! “Defend me…” To spare himself of further annoyance, he grants her justice.

Jesus tells us this story to encourage us to continue in prayer and not to lose heart. But what is the point? Is the unscrupulous judge, who does justice to spare himself annoyance, a portrait of God? Though that is how some people look at the practice of prayer, that is not the message of this story.

Some people paint a picture of God as an unscrupulous judge or petty bureaucrat or an arbitrary boss…or an abusive parent. With such a picture before them, it is startling that they ever pray at all. God is not like that! Instead, the Lord is the author of all justice and compassion.

Many people have trouble with prayer or even give up the practice. The primary effect of prayers is not on God, but on us. God’s love is already unconditional; his justice perfect; his compassion without limit. He recognizes our needs even before we do. It is not God who needs to change, it is up to us to get in line with God’s program and prayer is a large part of how that comes about.

Prayer is our declaration that we do not want to be a closed universe, dependent only on ourselves and our own solutions. Prayer is our desire to be open to God.

In our prayer, the Holy Spirit speaks in the voice of the poor widow who demanded justice from the unscrupulous judge. The miracle of prayer is that the judge’s resistance breaks down and for once he does what is right and may even do so again in the future.

That widow would not have succeeded that she not been persistent, confident, and unconcerned with what others thought of her. She had what is known in Yiddish as chutzpah. Our prayers need to have chutzpah! Not because God is deaf, but because opening our hearts to God is no easy matter.

There are things in each of us that can keep God out. Self interest is not the only obstacle. Attitudes of mind may keep the door shut and bolted. We may doubt that God hears us. We may consider ourselves unworthy. We may think God has better and more worthy things to do… These attitudes can be driven out by persistent prayer. Just like the voice of the widow who refuses to take no for an answer.

There is a wonderful story about a girl who watched a holy man praying at the riverbank. Once that man had finished his prayer, the girl approached him and asked, “Will you teach me to pray?” The holy man studied the girl’s face and agreed to her request. He took her into the river. The holy man instructed her to lean over, so her face was close to the water. The girl did as she was told.

Then the holy man pushed her whole head under the water. Soon the girl struggled to free herself in order to breathe. Once she got her breath back she gasped, “Why did you do push and hold me under water?” The holy man said, “I gave you your first lesson.” “What do you mean?” asked the astonished girl. He answered, “When you long to pray as much as you long to breathe, then I will be able to teach you how to pray.”

May each of us long to pray, and learn to pray, and persist in our pray. Not so we can change God, but so that God can change us to enjoy the fullness of life that he intends for us.

AMEN

The Reverend Brian Couvillion, October 20, 2019