150118 AOC Sunday Report

Anglican Orthodox Church

Worldwide Communion

The Second Sunday

after the Epiphany

Sunday Report

Today was the Second Sunday after The Epiphany.

On Point

Someone asked, where do the quotes come from? The answer is from the people who uttered them. But, how did you find them? Oh, that. Some from Bishop Jerry, many from Rev Bryan Dabney, a few from other places, some from Rev Geordie Menzies-Grierson, but overall mostly from Bryan. He always has a few great ones to share. On to the On Point quotes –

What to do?

It is not your business to succeed (no one can be sure of that) but to do right: when you have done so, the rest lies with God. . . .

Jack Lewis

The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II

The Bible

Unless the religious claims of the Bible are again acknowledged, its literary claims will, I think, be given only “mouth honour” and that decreasingly. . . . It is, if you like to put it that way, not merely a sacred book but a book so remorselessly and continuously sacred that it does not invite, it excludes or repels, the merely aesthetic approach. You can read it as literature only by a tour de force. You are cutting the wood against the grain, using the tool for a purpose it was not intended to serve. It demands incessantly to be taken on its own terms: it will not continue to give literary delight very long except to those who go to it for something quite different.

Jack Lewis

Selected Literary Essays

Tyranny has perhaps oftener grown out of the assumptions of power, called for, on pressing exigencies, by a defective constitution, than out of the full exercise of the largest constitutional authorities.

James Madison & Alexander Hamilton

Federalist No. 20, 1787

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Proverbs 22:28

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:2

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Nahum 1:7

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

St. Mark 13:6

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

St. Luke 12:40

It is being said that the chief need of the Church today is to repent because of its lack of unity… we would suggest that before she repents of her disunity, she must repent of her apostasy. She must repent of her perversion of, and substitutes for, ‘the faith once delivered to the saints.’ She must repent of setting up her own thinking and methods over against the divine revelation in Holy Scripture. Here lies the reason for her lack of spiritual power and inability to deliver a living message in the power of the Holy Ghost to a world ready to perish.

Martin Lloyd Jones

20^th Welsh theologian and author

Inter-Varsity Fellowship 1954

We have among us…a group of men…a school that professes to draw its principles from primitive tradition, the writings of the Fathers…teaching… about the Church, the ministry, and the Sacraments… a teaching that attaches vast importance to the outward form and ceremony of religion…about which not a word is to be found in the Holy Scriptures as having any place in Christian worship. I refer, of course, to the school of Churchmen called Ritualists. When we examine the proceedings of that school, there can be but one conclusion concerning them. I believe whatever be the meaning and intention of its teachers, however devoted, zealous, and self-denying, many of them are those on whom has fallen the cloak of the Pharisees.

JC Ryle

19^th century Anglican bishop and author

… On January 19, 1807… [was born] Robert Edward Lee… the less-than- longed-for fifth child of a mother in uncertain health and reduced financial straits struggling essentially alone to maintain the facade of family in a home that was never hers. The infant’s father was a war hero in a war that had been over for a quarter century. He was desperately in debt, in flight from his creditors, and apparently oblivious to the realities of his fading fame… Some time during the summer of 1810, Ann, Harry, and their four children left Stratford and moved into a small house… in Alexandria… [The Lee] family legend has little three-year-old Robert returning one last time to his mother’s room where he was born and spent much time… to bid goodbye to the two angels represented in iron at the back of the fireplace.

Emory M. Thomas

20^th century American historian

Robert E. Lee: A Biography, pp. 29-31

Either some Caesar or Napoleon will seize the reins of government with a strong hand, or your [American] republic will be as fearfully plundered and laid waste by barbarians in the twentieth century as the Roman Empire was in the fifth, with this difference, that the Huns and Vandals who ravaged the Roman Empire came from without, and that your Huns and Vandals will have been engendered within your own country by your own institutions.

Thomas B. Macaulay

19^th century British politician and author

When the state has the capability to know everything except the difference between right and wrong, it won’t end well.

Mark Steyn

20^th and 21^st century Canadian author and commentator

Naive parents think education deals only with objective, measurable, indisputable facts. Nothing could be further from the truth. Learning does not take place in a sterile environment free from contamination or catalyst. Education is not unbiased; every fact is an interpreted fact. Every idea is spun upon a web of presuppositions and related assumptions. Teachers, curricula, and school ethos all contribute to a process of education that is nothing less than … the enculturation of a worldview … the cumulative effect of twelve years of public schooling is that many children reject the faith of their fathers and embrace openness, diversity, and tolerance in the most pejorative use of those terms. Such … [does] not stem from inevitable adolescent rebellion, but are the cultivated fruit of children who have learned the lessons taught in public schools.

Bradley Heath

20^th and 21^st century American

Aeronautical engineer and advocate for Christian education

Millstones & Stumbling Blocks, pp. 36-38

Do not blame Caesar, blame the people of Rome who have so enthusiastically acclaimed and adored him and rejoiced in their loss of freedom and danced in his path and given him triumphal processions. Blame the people who hail him when he speaks in the Forum of the “new wonderful good society” which shall now be Rome’s, interpreted to mean “more money, more ease, more security, and more living fatly at the expense of the industrious.”

Marcus Tullius Cicero

1^st century B.C. Roman statesman

Religion is the principal driving force behind politics…Every politician has a worldview. He believes something that causes him to go in the particular direction he goes in.

Gary Kah

20^th and 21^st century American Christian author

On how to rehearse for death and how to diminish fear – To Mary Willis Shelburne

17 June 1963

Pain is terrible, but surely you need not have fear as well? Can you not see death as the friend and deliverer? It means stripping off that body which is tormenting you: like taking off a hair- shirt or getting out of a dungeon. What is there to be afraid of? You have long attempted (and none of us does more) a Christian life. Your sins are confessed and absolved. Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave it with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.

Remember, though we struggle against things because we are afraid of them, it is often the other way round—we get afraid be- cause we struggle. Are you struggling, resisting? Don’t you think Our Lord says to you ‘Peace, child, peace. Relax. Let go. Underneath are the everlasting arms. Let go, I will catch you. Do you trust me so little?’

Of course, this may not be the end. Then make it a good rehearsal.

Yours (and like you a tired traveller near the journey’s end) – Jack

Jack Lewis

The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III

Screwtape offers ways to cleverly exploit the Patient’s dry spell:

But there is an even better way of exploiting the trough; I mean through the patient’s own thoughts about it. As always, the first step is to keep knowledge out of his mind. Do not let him suspect the law of undulation. Let him assume that the first ardours of his conversion might have been expected to last, and ought to have lasted, forever, and that his present dryness is an equally permanent condition. Having once got this misconception well fixed in his head, you may then proceed in various ways. It all depends on whether your man is of the desponding type who can be tempted to despair, or of the wishful-thinking type who can be assured that all is well. The former type is getting rare among the humans. If your patient should happen to belong to it, everything is easy. You have only got to keep him out of the way of experienced Christians (an easy task nowadays), to direct his attention to the appropriate passages in scripture, and then to set him to work on the desperate design of recovering his old feelings by sheer will-power, and the game is ours. If he is of the more hopeful type your job is to make him acquiesce in the present low temperature of his spirit and gradually become content with it, persuading himself that it is not so low after all. In a week or two you will be making him doubt whether the first days of his Christianity were not, perhaps, a little excessive. Talk to him about ‘moderation in all things’. If you can once get him to the point of thinking that ‘religion is all very well up to a point’, you can feel quite happy about his soul. A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing.

Jack Lewis

The Screwtape Letters

Propers

Each Sunday there are Propers: special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding.

The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the minister as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel, which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister or our Deacon Striker.

The propers are the same each year, except if a Red Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Most of the Red Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saints instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent.

The Propers are found on Page 111-112 with the Collect first:

The Second Sunday after The Epiphany.

The Collect.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle for today came from the Twelfth Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans beginning at the Sixth Verse. As Paul often does, he gives guidance on what God would have us do. He notes that each of us have differing talents, skills and resources. What God wants us to do is use all of what He gave us to further His will and His way, so that we might be truly happy here on earth. To be gracious and hospitable to those around us, to remember each of us are equal in God’s eye.

AVING then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.

Hap Arnold read the Holy Gospel for today which came from the beginning of the Gospel according to St. Mark, the First Chapter, beginning at the First Verse. This is the very first of the New Testament, a New Covenant or agreement with God. It tells the story of “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” It talks of John the Baptist, who God sends as His “messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” And the people came to John “and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.” But, as a harbinger the One to come, John told them of the One coming “ the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.” He told them of the Holy Ghost. When Jesus, in His submission as a man to God came to John for baptism, as he came out of the water, “the heavens opened, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

HE beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; as it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; and preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Bishop Ogles’ Sermon

We are oft fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s sermon notes. Today is one of those Sundays. Today’s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will give you a lot to consider in your heart.

Sermon Notes

Second Sunday after The Epiphany

18 January 2015, Anno Domini (in the Year of Our Lord)

The Second Sunday after The Epiphany.

The Collect.

The Gospel forthrightly tells us, at the outset, that this is the BEGINNING of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it was preached by the prophets past, the prophet of this text (John the Baptist), and the Apostles. But this is in no wise the beginning of Jesus Christ as He is without either beginning or end. The Gospel of the New Testament is simply the complete revelation of Jesus Christ to a fallen world as shadowed forth in the OT prophecies.

It is unlikely that anyone hearing this sermon can remember the day they were born. With what words could you have remembered, since you had no words in your mind at the moment of your birth? But we all remember the day that Christ was born in Bethlehem – and that was even before our own birth. How is that we know? Because God has provided His Word for us to know and to understand. But even having God’s Word, and knowing it intellectually, does not mean that we truly KNOW His Word and, furthermore, know Him! If you believe that you came into being the day of your birth, you would be wrong. You were conceived some months earlier; and if you believe that you came into being at the moment of conception, you would be wrong again because God knew you and conceived of you in the great eternities past. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. (Eph 1:4-5) So what does St. Mark the apostle mean in his opening remarks in Verse One of our text: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

First of all, Mark does not mean this account to be the Gospel of St Mark (though for simplicity, we call it that). He means the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ insofar as we can know it. It is the revelation of beautiful truths that have existed forever, but revealed to us in the time of God’s own choosing. We read of types and shadows of the Lord in the Old Testament prophets. It does not mean, for example, the beginning of Jesus Christ, for He has eternally existed with the Father, and the Holy Ghost. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God! (John 1:1) In fulfillment of the promise of God to Abraham and His spiritual Seed, Christ came in the fullness of time to fulfill all things spoken of Him by the prophets.

When raveling to a new land, every great sovereign is preceded by emissaries who prepare the way for his visit, make all arrangements for his reception by the host people, and send out news (such as the Gospel news) of his coming. The emissary sent should reflect, though imperfectly, the nature of the Sovereign who comes. If the Sovereign takes particular interest in the poor and downcast, so should the emissary in selecting his schedule of events, insure that the Way is made ready so that those, especially, will have opportunity to be introduced to Him. The old prophets spoke profusely of this coming Sovereign, but they also spoke uncommonly often of His emissary. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3) and, Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. (Mal 3:1) Truth is unquenchable and it resounds, not only across great distances, but also across the ages of time. So it is meet and right that Mark should echo and remind us of the great prophecies of one called John the Baptist: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

I have always been struck by this clear and precise description of John the Baptist. He is one who cries, not among the false lights of the city, but in the Wilderness. If men will come to hear a “voice crying in the wilderness” then they must have a serious reason to leave the comfort of Jerusalem and come. They either are drawn by the promptings of the Holy Spirit (for those hearts whose soils are rich to bear fruit), or by the spirit of anti-Christ who sends out his spies to learn of ways to stem the rising hopes of the people in a Redeemer. We have the same among us today in both kinds – and they are IN the Church more than OUTSIDE it. The dress of John the Baptist would have met with serious disdain from the First churches of today. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. (Matt 3:4) There certainly was nothing special about John’s appearance, but there certainly was something of an overriding importance in his message! He was a burden on none that he taught, unlike many modern seekers of filthy lucre. No one brought him steak and wine – he ate locusts and honey. He wore neither Armani, nor Gucci, suits but, rather, a robe of camel’s hair and a leather girdle about his loins. The Pharisees and Jewish rulers must have been in a pickle to understand John. He appeared so very low and common, but what of these wondrous words that he spoke which so completely enthralled the crowds who flocked to hear him in the Wilderness? They simply could not lower their dignity from the dunghill of religious sophistry to the pinnacle of simple righteousness and truth found in John’s preaching.

John did not simply speak in even tones when he preached – he roared the message of the coming Savior as one “crying in the Wilderness.” The message was to ALL who believed – not the ones who failed of faith and good will. The dark chambers of the heart were opened in the bosoms of many men and women to a new Voice – a new Truth (to them) of hope and wonder. Yet, it was not in the polished halls of the Temple at Jerusalem that they first learned of this hope – it was in the lonely Wilderness. Have you ever considered how much more clearly one can hear the Voice of God in a quiet place as opposed to the hustle and bustle of the city? The point of John’s preaching in the Wilderness that most touches my heart is the fact that all who ever preached the Gospel before, or after, were as a Voice crying in the Wilderness. Perchance, one is easily enticed to go to the city square to hear a speaker; but they will not travel into the Wilderness to hear the words of a man dressed in camel’s hair and a leather girdle unless there is something mighty special about his message. Did I say HIS message? I should have said “the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” THAT message is worth travelling into the Wilderness to hear. If you are a minister of God, or a devoted witness, you, too, will be as a Voice crying in the Wilderness, calling men and women to the HIGHWAY – not the BROAD and DESCENDING Way – of the Lord. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt 7:13-14)

If a man preaches the whole counsel of God, even with great love, the city crowds will not flock to his audience. Therefore, I hope that the ministers of God will cultivate the ground, and plant the seed, without expecting great success in the eyes of the world. The world has never known the meaning of truth and joy in Christ. If the numbers of Wilderness travelers remains few, be happy for the FEW! We sow the seeds of the Gospel – their germination and sprouting to the sun is the responsibility of the Holy Ghost. He works in the darkness of the soil, unseen by human eye, in creating the new life in the heart of the convert.

I love John the Baptist as my true brother! He surely is! What does one see in John that would discourage love? He speaks the truth, as any real friend would do, even when it hurts the water of our face. He is dedicated and earnest. Finally, he is HUMBLE! We are often lifted up with pride at our tiny successes, or even a presumed superior knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Why should we be if the Word we have learned is not ours, but God’s? 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. It was, in the time of John, the responsibility of the lowest servant in a household to unloose the shoe latchets of guests, and to wash their feet. But John, by contrast with Christ, was not even worthy to SERVE Him – and, friend, neither are you and I. If He calls us to the duty, He will MAKE us worthy through His own imputed righteousness.

It is the duty of every believer to be publicly baptized. That is the means by which, like circumcision, we come into the covenant relationship with Christ and His Church. Faith, too, must be the work of the Holy Ghost in the heart. When, by the grace of God, faith is confirmed in the “broken and contrite heart” the Holy Ghost has baptized that heart in the heavenlies.

8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. It is not the outward form of baptism that is efficacious to us before God, but the inward and spiritual grace attaining thereto – else it is only a work of man’s hands. It is much like the calling to the ministry and its recognition by the Church in the following ordination. If the head is ordained to preach, and the heart is not, there is no authority granted to preach. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph 4:4-6) Must we be baptized twice? Certainly not! There is one baptism for the remission of sins. The Holy Ghost atte4nd the believing heart in baptism just as we see that it presents Itself at the baptism of our Lord.

9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And it came to pass…..” I love the casual manner in which God speaks of momentous events! Sure it came to pass, but it didn’t simply come to pass as a matter of happenstance – it was foreordained from all time and eternity! When all of the stars of Heaven were drawn in perfect alignment; when all the words of the prophets had been met with fulfillment of time and purpose; when Christ had been incarnated and made a man after our physical likeness; when the approval of God the Father thundered down the halls of time – Christ was baptized by John in the unseemly little waters of Jordan. How seemingly inappropriate in the eyes of man, but altogether appropriate in the eyes of God! There was a time fixed for you coming to Christ. Do you feel that coming was accidental or ON PURPOSE!

I hope you will notice that the presence of the Divine Trinity at the baptism of Christ….Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. The Holy Spirit descended at the moment of baptism – not a long delay of months or years afterward; and the Voice of a joyful Father thundered out of Heaven! Did you feel the love and comfort of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost at your baptism or in your confirmation? Though you may not have felt it in the first, it was nonetheless, present; and certainly the Trinity was present at your confirming faith in your baptism. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)

Sermon – Rev Jack Arnold

Church of the Faithful Centurion – Descanso, California

Today’s sermon ties together the propers, that is to say the prayer and readings for this week. Consider these words from the Collect:

… hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace …

In the Collect, we are asking God to listen to us and give us His peace in our hearts. God is perfect. His hearing is perfect. It is not His hearing that is in need of help. He hears us clearly when we pray, God always hears us when we call Him. This Collect is really to remind us that when we pray to Him, we need to listen to Him. Too often we ask Him what to do, when He tells us what He wants us to do, it is not what we want, so we don’t hear. After all, there are none so deaf as those who will not hear. So, the question is not, Does God hear our supplication? Rather the question is, Do we hear His answer and abide by it? Do we listen when His answer is not what we want but what we need? We think that he doesn’t answer, but that is often because we are deaf to His answer through our own condition of being poor, sinful creatures that need His forgiveness desperately. What we really need to do is stop our wanting thoughts and to listen to what we need, His Guidance. We need His Guidance to stop the evilness that lies within ourselves and to control it, to mitigate it, so that we can do good things for Him. Without His Guidance, we cannot ever hope to be good and righteous. To do that, we must open our hearts and minds; and let Him in. He will not force His way in. It takes action on our part to let Him in. If we open our hearts and minds, then we will hear Him. Will we let him in to our hearts for this to happen? It has to start with us letting Him in, and then we will hear His answer loud and clear.

We all have some talent; each has something they do better than others. Paul reminds us for the church, on any organization for that matter, to succeed, we must do what needs to be done, working hard, honestly, cheerfully, looking for no public praise, being kind to all. Everybody needs to utilize their talents according to the needs of the church, not to somebody elses talents, but their talents. Everybody has a talent of some sort, be it musically, talking (being good with communication). Almost anything else that can be used for His Glory is a talent. Sometimes, we fail to remember that for the team to be successful, each person needs to do the job they do best to the best of their ability; not necessarily the one they like best the way they want to do it at the pace they enjoy. It is not good enough to just say you are doing your best when you are actually doing your half, quarter or not at all best, but full “best” ahead as it were! The reward of a job well done in and of itself should be sufficient. And knowing you did your best is what really counts, not just getting recognition from others, but the satisfaction in your heart of knowing that with God’s Help you accomplished a large task, is one of the best feelings in the world. It does not matter to God who gets the credit, what matters to Him is that we get the job done and to do it right! We should not be giving of ourselves to God, so that we can get praise and recognition. That is not giving; it is selling. And that would not be truly giving from the heart as is God’s desire. That would be using the talents He has loaned to us for our own wants and ends, which would not be becoming of the Christians we are called to be, the New Men we are called to be. If we get praise and recognition as a result of our actions, then it is fine, as long as we keep in mind why we performed our actions and who helped us.

At the same time, though we should not look for praise for our own work (though we may appreciate it, we should not dwell on it too long, lest we get swollen heads!), we should look for reasons to praise and encourage others. We need to recognize hard work, sacrifice, thoughtfulness and talent in others, remark on it and praise the use thereof! That which is rewarded most is that which grows best. Reward the good, so that we may reap the goodness of our works!

Even God Himself, looking on His Son’s baptism remarked for all to hear, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

How oft do we praise the actions of others? To often we are quick to criticize the failings of others and over analyze their failings. Sometimes when we think of people we know, all we can think of is their failings and forget that a lot of people have their good parts as well, from God. It is in our nature, part of our human nature, our free will condition that we must fight against with His help. We must understand that while it is valuable to know when we fall short, people strive the most for praise of those whose opinion they value.

When you hear those words, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” remember to use them yourself. Lead others to God, don’t point the way.

Be of God – Live of God – Act of God

Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor – St. Paul’s Anglican Church – Anglican Orthodox Church

Bishop Roy is pastor of the biggest AOC parish West of the Mississippi and is in charge of the Diocese of the Epiphany.

Second Sunday after the Epiphany

18 January 2015

His Mercy Endures Forever

Psalm 118 • Zech 8:1-8, 20-23 • 1 Cor 12:12-

The Second Sunday after The Epiphany.

The Collect.

What great promises can be found in the passage of scripture we read today in the Psalms. As we reflect on several of the verses, let us take those promises to heart. Let us remember the phrase ‘…his mercy endureth for ever.’ Wow, what a great promise. His mercy will always be with us. It endures forever. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

As we read the back and forth comparison of trusting in God, not man, being harried or pressed upon by worries, people or situations…and yet: ‘…the Lord is my strength and son, and is become my salvation..’; all the while understanding that it is in Him we trust not ourselves.

This is not a new theme. We can read this over and over in the scripture, the idea that we should not rely on our strength, wisdom, courage . . . it will only lead to trouble. We should rely on the Lord. Notice the references to the mighty hand of the Lord. It is exalted, it is valiant, he is my strength and song and is become my salvation. All of these refer to strength.

Now David makes reference to being allowed into the place of righteousness. “Open to me the gates of righteousness.” “This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter”. In both cases, David speaks of praising the Lord, both because God has heard him and because God is David’s salvation. He continues with an ascription that has become very familiar to us; ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Another theme now becomes apparent in this passage, being prophetic, because David was a prophet in his own right. Verse 22 makes reference to a building stone, a capstone that is rejected by the builders. Instead of being discarded the stone becomes the head or cap stone of the corner. In architecture of the time two of the strongest parts of a stone wall were the arch and the corner. This stone is in the corner, one of the strongest parts of a wall.

Who or what is that stone ? The stone is Jesus. Peter will make reference to Christ being rejected by the Jews when he is speaking to the crowd at Pentecost. (Acts 4:8, 10-11)

He explains that Jesus Christ is that stone that was rejected by the Jews, who not understanding that the Messiah had come, rejected the Words of Christ. It is under Christ that both Jews and Gentiles are united as one, on one firm foundation, believers in him who came to save sinners. Jesus the Messiah, upon whom the foundation of faith is built, he is the chief top stone in the corner, the author and finisher of our faith. Upon this Rock is our faith built.

David gives praise to the coming Messiah in verse 26, he who will bring the Light of the World to the believers. We are to call a blessing upon him, because he is out of the house of the Lord. Then David finishes the psalm the way he began it. He praises God, he exalts him, gives thanks unto him; because he is good and his mercy endures forever.

Shouldn’t we do the same? There are times when we feel down, we feel abandoned, we feel alone. All we need do is turn our eyes upon Jesus. Count our blessings in him, name them one by one, seek him where he is to be found: the Word of God. And most especially, we are to praise the Lord, we are to praise him for he is our God, we are to give thanks to him, for his mercy endures forever.

Let us pray:

most Merciful Father, we join our unfeigned thanks for all thy mercies; for our being, our reason, and all other endowments and faculties of soul and body; for our health, friends, food, and raiment, and all the other comforts and conveniences of life. Above all, we adore thy mercy in sending thy only Son into the world, to redeem us from sin and eternal death, and in giving us the knowledge and sense of our duty towards thee. We bless thee for thy patience with us, notwithstanding our many and great provocations; for all the directions, assistances, and comforts of thy Holy Spirit; for thy continual care watchful providence over us through the whole course of our lives, and particularly for the mercies and benefits of the past day: beseeching thee to continue these thy blessings to us; and to give us grace to show our thankfulness in a sincere obedience to his laws, through whose merits and intercession we received them all, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my Name, and a pure offering: for my Name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.(Mal. 1: 11)

FATHER of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need; Look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, behold, visit, and relieve these thy sick servants, for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon them with the eyes of thy mercy; comfort them with a sense of thy goodness; preserve them from the temptations of the enemy; give them patience under their affliction; and, in thy good time, restore them to health, and enable them to lead the residue of their life in thy fear, and to thy glory. Or else give them grace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, they may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HE peace of God, which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

✟

Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s Sunday Sermon

We are fortunate to have Bryan’s Sunday Sermon. If you want people to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth, expouse the truth and live the truth. This is really a good piece and I commend it to your careful reading.

Second Sunday after Epiphany

In today’s epistle, the apostle Paul called on Christians to be of the same mind one toward another (Romans 12:16). Later in that same epistle, the apostle called on his readers to be like- minded (Romans 15:5). In his epistle to the Philippians, he instructed his readers to fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind (2:2). The same message was communicated by St. Peter who directed Christians to be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil… knowing that ye are called, that ye should inherit a blessing (I St. Peter 3:8).

Some may question how the various branches of Christianity today could comply with the previous passages as they are on divergent paths with regard to their worship practices as well as their points of doctrine. While it is a understood that Christians do in fact worship God differently; there are those who, nevertheless, recognize the same essentials of the Christian faith. And so, all who are born again of the Holy Ghost regardless of their denominational badges will fit the description as found in our prayer book which states that they are “very members incorporate in the mystical body of [the Lord Jesus Christ]” (1928 BCP, p. 83). And while there does exist a rather loose union among the faithful in this world, that fellowship will one day become the one fold under our Lord and Saviour in his kingdom. In the meantime, we are to keep his word and commandments while on our earthly pilgrimage: seeking that unity which he called for with others of the faith. But such unity is not without difficulty because our adversary is ever ready to disrupt our fellowship.

One of the devil’s tactics has been to masquerade as a godly spirit that he might pervert the spiritual unity of Christians. His purpose has been from the very beginning to turn mankind from a true and abiding faith in the word of God. He has worked tirelessly to accomplish this via his hirelings within the various denominations. These false shepherds, instead of leading their flocks toward the biblical Christ, have in fact herded them into Satan’s stockyard by feeding them a diet of unsound doctrines coupled with an assortment of worship practices which violate God’s word written. Take any major faith issue today whether it is homosexual marriage, abortion, fornication, woman ministers, etc. and you will find the devil’s minions laboring to make the aforementioned behaviors less a sin in the minds of the unregenerate as well as in those of the novice or carnal Christian. Then look at their worship practices which range from the improper use of tongues in godly worship; or staged-managed healings where no one is really healed at all; or a cold and empty ritual which bears no salvific quality and which is recited and responded to by those whose hearts are empty of the Holy Ghost. And let us not omit the misuse of the Holy Bible as a mere stage prop in the hands of a flimflam artist masquerading as a minister of the gospel: who is more interested in selling the sheep a book he or she has written rather than encouraging them to read God’s book— which rests upon their coffee tables at home and is only picked up when the furniture needs to be dusted.

As regenerated souls in Christ, we are expected to be of one mind with others of the faith. But we are forbidden such unity with those who are not in compliance with God’s word and commandment. As St. Paul warned the Philippians (3:17-19), Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

The apostle had more to say on this same subject to the Corinthians (II Corinthians 6:14-18) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers… wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord… While the apostle used the term unbelievers, we know that all who reject the sound doctrine of God’s word written are rejecting God even if they protest such to the contrary. How can one be considered “of the faith” if one endorses the very things which God has condemned in his word? And why do we accept such persons simply on their word, that they are in fact Christians, particularly when they have substituted the doctrine of demons for sound biblical doctrines (I St. Timothy 4:1)?

Just questions to be sure, and difficult ones as well especially for many so- to-speak Christians today as they have adopted the old “I’m OK, you’re OK” philosophy of inclusion. They are content to live and let live because to do otherwise would call attention to the less-than-faithful among them. And that is something they are reluctant to do as it will also mean abandoning the safety of their spiritual ignorance regarding those evil presences which long ago gained access and operational control of their churches. It would also put them in the awkward position of having to judge themselves and then to confess their sins to God. While any hypocrite might be critical of an open and obvious fault in others, there will remain in the back of his or her mind the thought that maybe he or she might also be exposed. Much as the woman taken in the act of adultery was brought before our Lord to be condemned by him, her accusers were turned from such by their own hypocrisy when he questioned their motives saying, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (St. John 8:1-11).

In Genesis 13 ( vv. 10-11) we are told Lot looked upon Sodom and the other cities of the Jordan Plain as desirable places in which to live. Only later (Genesis 19:1-25) did he and his family leave their environs, running for their very lives per the command of those angels whom God had sent to deliver them from his coming wrath. St. Peter tells us in his second epistle (2:7-8) that [God] delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation [citizenship or behavior] of the wicked. (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds). Lot had sought to have unity with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of gain which eventually troubled his godly soul. And the same will happen to us if we join in compromising relationships with the ungodly, or with those who feign a belief in the Godhead all the while acting in a contrary fashion to God’s word written. Remember the admonition of St. Paul in Romans (1:32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things (adultery, fornication, uncleanness of every sort, idolatry and any false worship etc.) are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. And it is in those last few words which highlight the issue of unity with those who claim Christ but are not in Christ. If we are in league with such persons, regardless of what they call themselves, then we— by implication— are in a state of approval with regard to their behavior and their false worship as far as our Lord is concerned.

Therefore, seek fellowship with those who believe the Bible is God’s word written without error. That said, we should also beware the numerous modern translations of the Scriptures that have deleted and/or amended the word of God. Seek fellowship with those who believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God and that only through his shed blood is there eternal pardon and redemption. Seek fellowship with those who look for our Lord’s return. And finally, seek fellowship with those who are regenerated by the power of the Holy Ghost: being born-again as new creatures, and who demonstrate such by following the doctrines of God as found within the Holy Scriptures.

Our Christian witness is a very important aspect of our faith. As we have been regenerated by the power of the Holy Ghost, so we ought to encourage others to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be born again for the sake of their own souls. And we must have the courage to stand for God’s word in the face of those who would call us into a pretended unity under the banner of another gospel and another Christ. As St. Paul wrote in Galatians (1:6-8) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another… but though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Therefore, follow Jesus Christ and avoid the unequal yoke with those who do not use Holy Scripture as their guide and compass.

Let us pray,

ather, keep us, we pray, from all false doctrine, as well as from all heretical associations with those who are merely bearers of the name of Christ but are not born again of thy most holy Spirit; and these things we ask in the name of him who came to create one fold for all true believers, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed week, Bryan+

After Church Hospitality

We would like some pictures of your after service gatherings. Come on! Help out!

People in our Prayers – http://faithfulcenturionprayerteam.blogspot.com/

Why? Prayer is an extremely important activity.

It is not that God knows not our needs, for He surely does. Yet, Jesus commanded us to ask God for those same needs. In addition to the obvious of asking God for help, offering thanksgiving and the like, prayer helps us focus our thoughts on how we might do God’s work.

The Prayer Team of the Anglican Orthodox Church was established to help our members and fellow Christians pray for those in need and to give thanks as well for the blessings we have been granted.

Who can be on the list? Do I have to be a member of the Anglican Orthodox Church to be prayed for?

No! The only qualification to be on the list is that you want our prayer team to pray for you. We are Christians and are happy to pray for you, no matter who you are. If you want help from God, you are our kind of people.

What is the commitment from the prayer team?

Each member of the team will pray for the desired outcome at last once per day.

How do I get myself or someone else on the prayer list?

You can email one of the prayer team leaders: Jack – jack@faithfulcenturion.org or Dru – dru@ faithfulcenturion.org, or call the office at (619) 659-3608 or fill out a prayer card at church.

What should I ask for?

Depends on what you want. Some people merely want God to be asked to heal their ills and be mentioned by their first name, others want a specific outcome and / or have more of their personal information known to the team. Ask for what you want. It is your desire and need for prayer the team is attempting to meet. For typical examples, see the list below.

Updating the Team

If you are on our prayer list, or if you have submitted a person that you have asked us to pray for, please update one of the team members or Hap in person, by telephone or email. It helps to be able to pray specifically for these individuals including their specific needs; plus if they get better, it is nice to give thanks!

Please note that on the yellow (maybe green or orange if you get an old one) cards at church, you can ask that those to be prayed for have their names disseminated to the prayer team. Those names will be said in church and appear here. Or, you can ask that their names and purpose be kept confidential, then only Hap will know to pray for them.

Prayer List Notice – If you have someone on the prayer list and their needs have changed, please let us know. We’d like to update our prayers to reflect the need and most important to give thanks!

Travel

Tuck Arnold, Albert Esquivel and Gene Hillger are on business travel this week to London; pray for safe travels for them, as well as for them to do their very best on the trip.

Birth to Come

Maggie is a very young lady who is expecting a baby. There are many problems and she has been urged to have abortion as a means to simplify her “problem.” She has come to understand that killing her baby will not solve any problems, but result in far more. Her family is with her, but others press her. Please pray she will let the Lord deep into her heart.

Birthday

Hap Arnold celebrated his 65^th birthday 27 December 2014.

Wedding

Erma Jacob and Ashbil Gill were married the afternoon of Friday 28 November 2014, Peshawar, Pakistan. A reception followed and the next day the wedding couple and others continued to Lahore, Pakistan where the groom’s parents had a Walima dinner and reception. Erma is the daughter of Bishop and Mrs. Ernest Jacob. Please pray for Erma and Ashbil as they work to come together as a single unit and grow closer to our Lord.

Move

The Thomas Family is now in Okinawa for a second short tour. Please pray for this new assignment to go well for Kurt and for Mary and the kids to make new friends.

Departed

Harriet Elrod who passed away the week of 4 January 2015. Harriet was a godly teacher and a good friend of Rev Bryan Dabney. Please give thanks for her time here on earth and pray for comfort and strength for those she leaves behind.

Pat Cooney passed away early the morning of 8 January 2015 after an extended illnesss, a long time member of the California Air National Guard, he will be missed by friends and family alike. Please give thanks for his time here on earth and pray for comfort and strength for those he leaves behind, in particular his wife Donna.

Dorothy Sivyer(Hap Arnold’s aunt) passed away about 0500L 31 December 2014, the last of her generation, she leaves behind five daughters and their families. Please give thanks for her time here on earth and pray for comfort for her family members who remain behind, give them faith and comfort.

Miney Farrell passed away about 0700L 20 December 2014, after about 99 years on earth, she joins much of her family gone before.

Lew Valkenaar passed away about 0100L 18 December 2014, in Spokane, Washington after a stroke last month. It was a hard fight for Lew, he hung in as long as he could. Please give thanks for his time here on earth and pray for comfort for his family members who remain behind, in particular his wife Dotty, strengthen their strong faith and comfort them.

Pakistan – 16 December 2014- Today at 11.00 a.m. six gunmen entered Army Public School 15 minutes drive from my house and opened the fire on school children ages from 10 to 16 killing 126; so far mostly children and female teachers and injuring 100 students. Army Public school is located on Warsak road few furlong from a Missionary St. Mary’s School where my two brothers teach and two nephews studying. Thank God they all are safe. One Christian student who was studying in Army School is safe. One Christian teacher who works in Army school we do not know about her, I hope she is safe. The Army security is doing operation against these terrorists and have killed all of them.

Three days mourning nationwide declared.

Please do remember us in your prayers.

Bishop Ernest Jacob

AOC Bishop of Pakistan

David Raj, father of Bishop Joshua Raj of Canada, passed away 1 December 2014, at age of 88. Please give thanks for his time here on earth and all that he left behind; pray for his family who remain behind, in particular his loving wife Gracelet Rajaram and son Joshua. David had a long life here, but it seems so short now that he is gone. Pray for comfort and strength for the family until they meet again.

Doctor Man Jun Ryu died suddenly of a heart attack. Please give thanks for his time here on earth and pray for his family members who of necessity remain behind and are not only grieving, but adjusting to the loss of the family leader who left without warning. This is so very hard. While we can never really prepare for the loss of a loved one, it is very hard when there is absolutely no warning whatsoever. Please pray for the Ryu family, remembering it can happen to any of us and they need your prayer.

Nearing the end of their time here on earth

Maggie is nearing the end of her time here on earth. Please pray for Maggie and her husband Dub as she prepares to go home to be with her family who have gone before her. Pray for the faith of her family to build and the transition to be good.

Alan is a victim of metastasized colon cancer already destroying his liver. His youngest sister has put aside her hard-earned career to care for her brother in these days on earth. Please pray for him as he prepares to go home to be with his family who have gone before him. Please pray for comfort, understanding, strength and guidance for Alan and his family who will of necessity remain behind.

Saundra is in ICU with congestive heart failure after a heart operation. She is aged and frail. Saundra is near the end of her time here on earth. Please pray for comfort, understanding, strength and guidance for Saundra and her family who will of necessity remain behind. Pray for the love of God to stay foremost in their hearts.

Polly is in hospice care with dementia and spinal stenosis. Please pray for her as she prepares to go home to be with her family who have gone before her. Pray for the faith of her family to build and the transition to be good.

Homebound or Infirm

Sonnie, a 77 year old woman, lives alone and is affected by severe pneumonia and could use some help to care for her in her home. Please pray for a complete recovery and for God to send an angel of mercy to tend to her needs.

Mary is an elderly woman who had a hip replacement. Please pray her as she is home recovering.

Joan has had serious medical problems that have kept her confined. On 26 September 2013, she took a fall. Please pray her health will remain stable.

Norma, Sara’s mother is in a state of deteriorating health, both physically and mentally, with both dementia and Alzheimer’s. She is slowly drifting away, though she still recognizes Sara and prayer gives her a sense of peace. Please pray for both Sara and her mother to put their cares and worries on God’s shoulders so they can deal with the many problems involved.

In need of a miracle or understanding of God’s Plan

Sarah, wife of Rev Geordie (AOC – UK), has been treating for ovarian cancer. Alas the cancer is spreading causing fluid on the lungs, which is discomforting to say the least. There is a hope this side effect can be stopped by further chemotherapy; however, the last time this particular drug was tried it sent her into potentially life threatening anaphylactic shock. Please pray for guidance for the medical personnel treating Sarah, for a miraculous remission; and that Sarah might put all her sadness, fear, worry and terror on God’s back so that her remaining time here on earth might be good. Help Sarah, Geordie and their family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry. Give thanks for the great courage and trust in God made manifest in Sarah and Geordie.

June found she has a recurrence of colon cancer, which is now Stage Four, that is it has spread. Please pray for a miraculous remission; that June’s remaining time here on earth might be good. Help June and her family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their sadness, fear, worry and terror.

Cindy has been diagnosed with an aggressive malignant brain tumor. Please pray for a miraculous remission; that Cindy’s remaining time here on earth might be good. Help Cindy and her family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their sadness, fear, worry and terror.

Leon McKay suffered a stroke a few weeks back that has left him unable to speak and while undergoing evaluation the doctors also found he has a very aggressive cancer. Please pray for a miraculous remission; that Leon’s remaining time here on earth might be good. Help Leon and his family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.

Rev. Thomas Brooks is not improving and being kept alive by artificial machines. Please pray for a miraculous recovery and if that not be God’s Will, a rapid passing to home. Help Thomas’ family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry

Ronnie has kidney cancer that has spread and the surgeons are very concerned. Please pray the medical team to formulate a successful treatment plan and for a miraculous remission; that Ronnie’s remaining time here on earth might be good. Help Ronnie and family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.

Levi was cancer free for 4 years and just discovered he has kidney cancer. Levi has a great deal of faith and said whether he is healed or God takes him home he will be fine. Please pray for the medical team to pay attention and to their best and for a good outcome. Pray also that Levi and family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders. In particular, please pray for pain relief; Levi is 22 years old.

Ray Daley is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and served his country during the Korean War era. Ray is taking chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Meanwhile his son Trevor is in the hospital in a coma and seems to have lost the will to live.

Pat has been under treatment for colon cancer for sometime. He has had major complications the last few days and your prayers will be appreciated by family and friends.

Dorothy had pneumonia, on checking her lungs they found tumors which permeated the lung area. Further investigation found a primary site in the colon, with the lung being secondary. It would appear there is no viable treatment at this time. Please pray for a miraculous remission; that her remaining time here on earth might be good. Help Dorothy and her family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.

Becky has fourth stage metastasized lung cancer and is not doing well with chemotherapy treatments. Please pray for Becky and her husband as they are together during this difficult time in their lives.

Jane has fourth stage cancer and is not doing well. Please pray for Jane and her family as they are together during this difficult time in their lives.

Colleen has been battling pancreatic cancer over the last year and it has now spread to one of her lungs. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Christine has cancer of the colon, which spread to her liver; she is receiving chemotherapy and is having difficulty eating. Please pray for the medical team treating her to pay attention and do their very best; pray also for confidence in our Lord for Christine and her family.

Todd and Kenny have both been fighting osteocarcinoma for over five years and have been told their time here on earth is nearing its end, absent a miracle from God. Both are ready to go home and leave the pain, but would like to stay. Please pray for them and their families.

Surgery

Jeff has been undergoing surgery, chemo and radiation since October for pancreatitis and Pancreatic cancer. Please pray for the medical team to pay attention and to their best and for a good outcome. Pray also that Jeff, his wife and family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

Albert had a pacemaker installed recently. He will require surgery soon for a leaking heart valve and has just been told he has esophageal cancer. Pray he will turn to God and come to know Him on a more personal basis as the days go by.

Jane underwent heart valve repair surgery on 3 July 2014. Please pray for full recovery. Pray also Jane and her family to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

Mario has early-diagnosed prostate cancer and had surgery. Pray for complete remission and that Mario and his family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

Eddie has upcoming bladder surgery. Please pray for the surgical team to pay attention and to their best and for a good outcome. Pray also that Eddie and family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

Testing and Treatment

Eli has some mental issues and has lost his way. He was admitted to the hospital for a 72 hour Psychological evaluation to get a proper diagnosis and medications. He has been in isolation and even refused to see his brother Carl. Please give thanks for Eli cooperating with the evaluation, pray he will benefit from the treatment and return to the Lord and his family.

Karen was hospitalized with dehydration and double pneumonia, she is being transferred to a nursing home for rehabilitation. Your prayers are appreciated.

Nancy has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and has quit taking her medications causing instability and difficulty in her family. Please pray the Lord will help the doctors find the right medications and she will take them and return her to mental and emotional stability.

Roman has been ill with acute sinusitis for over a week. It has affected several areas and he is on strong antibiotics. The doctor feels he can heal without a surgical procedure. Please pray the Almighty will heal him without the need of hospitalization.

Paul has been hospitalized recently several time because of persistent high fevers. He is being tested and checked by physicians and seems to have a slight scoliosis, a node and Schuermann’s disease. Please pray it will be discovered how to treat these problems and healing will begin so he will be inspired to continue his education.

Carol Anne needs God’s comfort and healthy test results as she is anxiously undergoing tests related to previous hysterectomy and experiencing symptoms in the surrounding area.

Garth Neel is undergoing chemotherapy for lymphomacancer. Garth is feeling a bit better, but the treatment is tiring. Pray for medical team contemplating and evaluating the treatment that they might be guided to the correct choice and do their very best. Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for Garth and his family, as well as physical strength.

Dear Prayer Partners,

I wanted to let you know that I have had my seventh chemo-therapy treatment. There is to be one more at the end of the month. The tumour in my abdomen is now roughly 2/5’s of what it was when we began and is described as “stable”. But I have also learned this week from the oncologist that even though the tumour is still some 7.5 cms by 5.3 cms, the recent CAT scan we did does not tell them exactly what they are looking at. That is to say what is left of the tumour may, in fact, no longer be cancerous. After the eighth chemo treatment, they will do what is called a PET scan, which will tell them whether or not cancer is still present. At that point, a decision will be made whether or not to undergo a week of radiation therapy as well, to conclude the treatment and help prevent the cancer from returning. I have come through this last treatment with a minimum of side-effects, for which I am very grateful.

Once again, I want to express my thanks for everyone’s continuing, faithful prayers and to Almighty God for His grace, mercy, love, peace, and strength. Garth Neel

Garth is the AOC Bishop of Canada with oversight of South America and a really both good and nice fellow.

Jennifer has some lumps on the right side of her neck; they have grown and multiplied. In the last few months she has been having problems swallowing. Jennifer has an appointment with specialist in several weeks to try and discover what it is. She is having a great deal of anxiety as she waits for her Doctors appointment and will appreciate your prayer for anxiety and health.

Rick has heart problems. Please pray for guidance for the medical people treating him that they might pay attention, do their very best and make the right recommendations regarding treatment. Pray for help for Rick and his wife Wanda to keep their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.

Clay has melanoma. Please pray for guidance for the medical people treating him that they might pay attention, do their very best and make the right recommendations regarding treatment. Pray for help for Rick and his wife Pam to keep their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry.

Tom is battling cancer. Please pray for guidance for the medical people treating him that they might pay attention, do their very best and make the right recommendations regarding treatment. Pray for help for Tom to keep his trust in the Lord and let Him carry his worry.

Atina has been diagnosed with skin cancer, which turned out to be a melanoma. A routine CT scan found a 9mm (3/8 inch) lesion in her left lung. The melanoma appears to be spreading; they need to remove the offending tissue and test the sample. Pray for guidance for the medical people treating her that they might pay attention, do their very best and make the right recommendations regarding treatment. Atina’s faith is being tested, she has difficulty in praying and accepting the outcome, she wants what she wants and is perplexed about her faith in Jesus. Pray for help for Atina to keep her trust in the Lord and let Him carry her worry.

Evelyn has been diagnosed with bone cancer. Pray for guidance for the medical people treating her that they might pay attention, do their very best and make the right recommendations regarding treatment. Pray for help for Evelyn to keep her trust in the Lord and let Him carry her worry.

Stacy has Multiple Sclerosis and was hospitalized for what turned out to be food poisoning. Pray for trust in God for Stacy and Chris as they deal with Stacy’s illness.

Dick Gray had developed a Merkle Cell carcinoma just under his sternum carcinoma which is considered a stage four carcinoma since it has ‘metastasized’. He traveled to Seattle, Washington where he was examined and considered for a new type of treatment. That treatment will not begin for at least three months, so they referred him to the Rutgers University Cancer Institute, New Brunswick, New Jersey. They have accepted him into the evaluation process, which will begin on Monday 11 August 2014. Rutgers started with monkeys and had good results, so now they are working with humans, Dick is hopeful as he has oft been referred to as an “Old Monkey.” Please pray for peace of mind and safe travel for Dick and his lovely wife Jennifer as they travel to New Jersey this weekend. Pray for those contemplating the treatment that they might be guided to the correct choice and do their very best. Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for Dick and his wife Jennifer. Dick is the Treasurer and a Vestryman at Saint Paul’s AOC in Missouri.

Janet Jessup had a stroke on 3 July 2014. She has made some progress and is now out of the stroke unit and in the General Surgery and Care Unit. Please pray for those treating her to find the appropriate treatment and for trust in God and peace of mind for Name and her family, in particular her husband of 43 years, Rev Roger Jessup, retired minister of Saint Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Orthodox Church.

Liz Strauch had a pineal cyst, which in the end responded well to a surgical draining last year. Since November 2013, similar symptoms have returned. A CT Scan turned up what is thought to be either a new cyst or an enlarged pineal gland. More testing, including an EEG is in the works. She can no longer work. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Liz and her family, in particular her husband Ken and sons Caleb and Nathan; as well as for God’s guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment and allow Liz to heal completely.

Faye is in the hospital because she is weak has been receiving blood transfusions. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Faye and her family; as well as for God’s guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment and allow Faye to heal completely.

Tom has heart and kidney problems. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Tom and his family; as well as for God’s guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment and allow Tom to heal completely.

Harold has had a severe stroke. He is now home, but his family is looking for a rehabilitation facility to help him recuperate. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Harold and his family; as well as for God’s guidance for the medical people caring for him that they might find the best treatment facility to allow Harold to heal completely.

Joe has had a preliminary ALS diagnosis. Pray the final diagnosis will something that will allow him to continue taking care of his devoted young family. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Joe and his family; as well as for God’s guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Mark Wilson’s breathing seems to be under control at present, he is getting oxygen, which is a huge blessing for which he is grateful. He has continuous body wide pain similar to arthritis gone wrong for which he needs some kind of relief so he can rest. Pray for God’s guidance for the doctors and medical people treating him that they might figure out a way to treat him that will work and not adversely affect other parts of his body, particularly his oxygenation levels, kidney and liver function. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Mark, as well as for his family.

Preston is reacting poorly to recent neck surgery and now has problems with his liver count; Physicians feel that dialysis will help. There may be a blockage in the bowel and an operation might be necessary. Please pray for the medical team to pay attention and to their best to determine how to help Preston and for a good outcome. Pray also that Preston and family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders while Preston does his best to facilitate a return to good health.

Erica has a non-malignant Brain Tumor which cannot be surgically removed due to the size and location. They are going to attempt chemotherapy. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Erica, as well as for her family, and for God’s guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment.

Brenda is in the hospital because of bleeding on her brain. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Brenda, as well as for her family, and for God’s guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment.

Mackenzie is a young girl with leukemia. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Mackenzie, as well as for her family, and for God’s guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find the best course of treatment.

Mack has had diabetes most of his adult life. Circulation in his legs is very bad and doctors are considering amputation. Please pray his medication will help and he will not face amputation. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Mack and for God’s guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Michael has been diagnosed with lung cancer recently after making it through gastro intestinal cancer last year. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Michael and his wife Gayle; as well as for God’s guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Ken Strauch has been tired and is anemic, he had a colonoscopy which found a pair of polyps which were removed and are being tested. Just for good measure they found he has a hiatal hernia with ulcers, basically part of his stomach is pushed up into his esophagus and is bleeding from there. Sounds like there may be surgery involved. Please pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Ken and for God’s guidance for the medical people treating him that they might find the best course of treatment.

Adriano is in the hospital due to high sugar and high blood pressure. He is very weak and will appreciate your prayers.

Heather recently found out she has cancer. Please pray for peace of mind for her and for the medical team treating her will be guided to the right solution.

Jim has had an aneurism and blood clots. Pray that healing will come.

Georgia has liver and pancreatic cancer. The doctors are evaluating whether to do surgery and how to tackle the disease. Georgia is a faithful Christian and appreciates your prayers. Pray for God’s guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find out the source of the problem and best course of treatment. Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for Georgia and her family.

Lana’s doctor found something on her lymph nodes and ovaries. Pray for God’s guidance for the medical people treating her that they might find out the source of the problem and best course of treatment. Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for Lana and her family.

Healing

Bernie Coogan had a stroke near Christmas time. He is still in a stroke center and expects to be there about another week, before being discharged to a rehab facility. Bernie is doing pretty well, his speech is a bit slurred, but his mind is clear. He is still Bernie. Bernie, his wife JoAnn and their family would appreciate your prayers for a full and rapid recovery as they maintain full trust in the Lord.

Scott Winters underwent apparently successful ligament replacement surgery on his knee on 8 January 2015, however he contracted an infection somehow which is causing him great difficulty. Please give thanks for the successful surgery and pray the infection will be overcome.

Amy has melanoma in her lungs, liver and kidneys; they have found a treatment for her that has a high success rate however the side effects are debilitating. Please pray that she will be able to tolerate the side effects and the treatment is successful. Amy has full trust in the Lord, but would still appreciate your prayers.

Debbie is just beginning chemotherapy for cancer of the lymph nodes. Prayer she will be able to tolerate the therapy acceptably and remain strong as she remembers the Lord is with her at all times.

Liz had a massive stroke at age thirty-seven. The prognosis is good but she has a long road ahead. . Please pray for guidance for those treating her, for trust in our Lord for Liz and her family, for healing.

Ebick is suffering from a severe ulcer but the Doctors cannot give her the proper dosage of the medicine due to her six month pregnancy. Please pray doctors will find an alternative avenue for treatment or that God will provide.

Stan is going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer. He is elderly and the treatments are tiring him. Please pray for his wife Marvelene as they do this together.

Meg recently found out she had heart problems causing low blood oxygen levels, loss of focus resulting in an emergency room crisis. As a result of the symptoms she made errors on the job that caused her to lose her job. She is grateful for the excellent medical care she has received and optimistic, feeling with God’s intervention in her life her health may be reversed and a new job will become available.

Donald is in the hospital and had his leg amputated on 14 April 2014. Pray he will adjust and healing will begin.

Lucius Dabney (father of Rev Bryan Dabney) is now at home recovering from an infection. Please pray for a complete healing of the infection and return to health.

David has many concussions and unable to go to school, read books, watch TV and has headaches and migraines. He has trouble sleeping and his family will appreciate your prayers for this 10 year old young man.

Barbara Apple fell the week of 11 January 2014, in her home, breaking her right humerus (the large upper arm bone) in a spiral fracture, which cannot be set. Movement is very painful and due to a total lack of energy, she is more or less bedridden. Healing does not seem to be going well at this point. Pray for inspiration for those caring for her that they might find the appropriate treatment. Please pray for Barbara to put her trust in the Lord, look to Him for strength and for her to gain energy so she does not lose the mobility she has; pray for a full and rapid recovery. Please pray also for her husband Bob who is taking care of her that he might be comforted and strengthened in this time of stress.

Gladys has breast cancer and has had a lumpectomy. She needs to take a year off of her work to have chemo treatments.

Alwin Jack has had a stroke and recently has had a relapse. Please pray for those who treat Alwin that they might chose the best possible treatment and pray for peace of mind for Alwin during the recovery phase.

Carolyn has Multiple Sclerosis with complications. Pray Carolyn and her children will be close to our Lord Jesus Christ as they and family members help to ease the problems.

Jeong was in an auto accident and sustained a serious back injury. Please pray for a full and rapid recovery.

Dale was hospitalized Sunday 25 August 2013, after a heart attack. Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating him and for peace of mind for Dale and his family.

Gil Garcia is home and doing pretty well. Pray for strength for Gil and his wife Mary as they deal with the stresses of Gil’s paraplegia and the general aging process.

Mary Garcia had surgery, she is home, but not healing as well as she hoped. Please pray for her continued healing.

Bill had malignant growth removed from a lip last month and seems to be experiencing a re-growth of the cancer. He asks your prayer for the medical team treating him and for peace of mind for himself.

Hank has osteoporosis, which has caused him a great deal of pain and inconvenience in the past few years. Pray for his healing and that his medical bills will be met.

Evelyn is an elderly woman who has had problems with her eyes and is now blind. It appears some sight will return shortly, pray for that to happen!

Joanne has begun kidney dialysis as a result of kidney failure due to extensive chemotherapy. Additionally she cares for an adopted drug addicted baby who is now nine years old. Please pray for her to keep her faith, to let the Lord carry her worry and concern and to give her strength. Pray also for those treating her that they might pay attention and do their best.

Mr. N. Anand is in the hospital and is seriously ill. He is being encouraged to pray for repentance of his sins and to depend upon our dependable God for a cure and recovery of his health. Pray that he will be a strong witness for Christ.

Jacob has been going through some dental procedures and has some pain and aggravation with the numbness. Please pray for comfort and strength for him, as well as for guidance for the medical team treating him that they might pay attention and do their best.

Jean fell and broke her ankle in three places. She will be in the hospital for rehabilitation for the next 6 weeks. Please pray for comfort and strength for her, as well as for guidance for the medical team treating her that they might pay attention and do their best.

Bud and his wife for their continued welfare and enthusiasm. Bud has been advised of an aneurism in his heart of a size not mandating immediate surgery. This comes at a time when he has sole care of his wife who recently broke two vertebrae and thereafter sustained pneumonia.

Virginia has Sinus and Allergy problems giving her severe problems. Pray that the Doctor will discover why it continues and find a cure.

Steve Thornell had a brain aneurysm, which was found before it burst. He is home from the hospital and working hard on recovery. He lacks energy from seven days in the hospital. His doctor told him he has to make serious life changes. One of the two main arteries in the back of the head is now completely closed. He must take blood thinners, he has thick blood and recent chemotherapy made it worse. Steve has always operated at 110 percent, he needs help to slow down. Please pray for trust in the Lord and a full and rapid recovery. Pray for peace of mind for Steve and his family.

Arlen is receiving treatment for lung cancer and recently experienced a ruptured colon during treatment. She is alone in Oregon but does have a friend who has traveled a great distance to be at her side. Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating her and for strength and trust for Arlen.

Oscar discovered some time ago he had blood clots in his leg and lung. He has been treated for them and has not been cured. He now will be facing surgery. Please keep him in your prayers.

Angela had an ischemic stroke (clot).Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating her and for strength and trust for Angela. Please pray also that she and her family might put their worries on our Lord’s back so she can work hard towards recovery.

Nora had a stroke mid February 2013. Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating her and for strength and trust for Nora. Please pray also that she and her family might put their worries on our Lord’s back so she can work hard towards recovery.

Linda has been hospitalized for several days with a gastrointestinal problem. Please pray for guidance for the medical team treating her and for strength and trust for Linda.

Dester is suffering from unknown skin and diseases. Please guide the medical team treating him to find out what the problem is and cure it. Pray also for Dester to trust in the Lord.

Lee has Arterial Fibrillation; the medical people are not sure how to help her. Please pray for guidance for the team treating her and for Lee and her family to make the right decisions regarding treatment..

Nell recently adopted two children and has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Mary Lou has been suffering with seizures. She was in the hospital with a 24 hour monitor and is being sent home from the hospital with two medications and orders to return in 2 months for another MRI to review whatever is going on in her brain. Please pray for guidance for the medical people treating her, as well as peace of mind and trust in God for her and her family.

Kathleen has spent the last two weeks in the hospital. She has been diagnosed with colitis, shingles and possibly colon cancer. Pray she will be comfortable and begin to heal.

Rachel has Mitochondrial Myopathy. This is a hereditary disease of the muscles and they do not have a cure for it. Part of her pain is her family does not believe she is indeed ill, as she appears to be just fine. Please pray her family will learn the truth and be supportive of her; pray also the medical people treating her will find the right measures to minimize the disease. Most particularly pray for Rachel’s trust in God.

Nicolas is in the hospital with serious symptoms of a heart disorder. Please pray for peace of mind for him and guidance for the medical team looking for the cause and cure.

Juanita is a young girl who was in a coma because of a blood disease. She has not come out and is gaining strength. They are awaiting results from blood samples. Her family thanks you for your prayers and asks that you continue.

George had foot surgery. Please give thanks for the surgery and pray for a full and rapid recovery.

Nellie is in the emergency room of a hospital in a great deal of pain. Please pray for peace of mind for her and guidance for the medical team looking for the cause and cure.

Lauralee Meade underwent a lumpectomy on Friday after Thanksgiving. A further anomaly has been discovered and she had additional preventative radiation treatment. Please pray for a complete remission of the cancer. Pray also Lauralee will maintain her great attitude and trust in God.

Bill, Sara’s husband, had a third abdominal surgery on 22 November 2011, to remove a tumor. Bill is doing better keeping the doctor’s instructions, for which we are all grateful, including taking chemotherapy once a day for one more year. He has decreased the consumption of alcohol and eating at least mostly properly. Please pray for help for him to continue do all this. Please pray also that Bill might turn his heart outward to help those around him, as well as live a long and healthy life to the honor and glory of God. Pray also for peace of mind for Bill and his wife Sara.

Kay Denton (Mrs. Kay) has had a chest infection, perhaps viral, but seems to be getting better. Please pray for continued peace of mind for Mrs. Kay and her family. Give thanks for her trust in the Lord and her positive attitude.

Matt Alcantara, age 16, came back with ZERO SCANS again in August 2014! Matt has Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), a very rare and often lethal form of cancer with limited treatment options. This is a disease that is about 90 percent fatal in a couple of years. He has no hip joint on one side, but he walks and swims! Courage? Guts? You bet! Please also give thanks for the great faith of Matt and his entire family. Their faith and trust is a wonderful example for each and every one of us. But, now is not the time to stop praying. Actually, it never is the time to stop praying!

Judith Clingwall, is afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). She is currently in Laurel Place, an extended care facility in Surrey, British Columbia. Judith’s condition has worsened recently. Please pray for her to take an active part in her own life, for her strength, peace of mind, trust in God and remission of the disease so she might return home to her family. Pray also for strength for her husband Martin as he deals with all the problems and stress of Judith’s situation.

Vince (age 15), reoccurrence of Osteosarcoma, recent testing found a nickel sized tumor in his lungs. The doctors are consulting with a specialist in Houston. Please pray for guidance for the medical team and for peace of mind for Vince and his family.

Healing and Patience

Christopher has had problems with his leg for some time. Now he has to have it casted and it will stay that way for what to him seems an interminable time. Pray for patience and peace of mind for this young man who has much he wants to do.

Thanksgiving and Continued Healing

Marv Rogge had successful heart valve replacement surgery on or about 20 December 2014. Other than a desire to chew his food way too much, Marv is doing great, up and about. Please join Marv, his lovely wife Marian and the rest of the family in giving thanks to God for the great result. Pray for a full and complete recovery.

Ian had surgery to remove excess skin rendered a nuisance by controlled lost of 200 pounds. Please give thanks for the successful result and for those treating him to have paid attention and done their very best on the lengthy surgery, taking the best possible care of him. Please pray for his continued recovery and strength for his Mother who will be in charge of his after care.

Jenniffer had surgery for breast cancer on 15 October 2014, which seemingly went well; please give thanks for that. She has had other complications which preclude her from making a full recovery; please pray those will be overcome. Pray for help for Jenniffer to keep her trust in the Lord and let Him carry her worry and concern as she recovers. Please pray also for strength and courage for her family as they try their best to help her.

Jim had infection complications from diabetes in his foot. The infection appears to be under control and he has been released from the hospital. Please join in giving thanks for the quick and good result and pray for complete healing.

DiAnne Thornton had back surgery 23 September 2014, with apparently good result. Please give thanks for the good result and pray the L5 decompression will allow her walking abilities and balance to be restored.

Alice had a mastectomy on 17 September 2014, that apparently went very well with a good result. Please give thanks for the good outcome and pray for full healing and complete remission.

Mary had successful hip replacement on 10 September 2014. Please give thanks for the successful surgery and ask for God’s help in her recovery.

Kathy had what seems to be very successful surgery on Wednesday, 3 September 2014, for cancer that returned somewhat unexpectedly. Please give thanks for the good results of the surgery and pray that the cancer will be held at bay by this action. Pray also for Kathy and her family to let God carry their worry, concern and terror so that Kathy can recover fully and quickly, so as to gain the best result. Help their entire family to keep their full trust in God.

Peggy had very successful knee replacement surgery 26 August 2104. She is going home on 29 August 2014 with no pain! Please give thanks for a great result.

John Evetts had successful extensive heart surgery; he is still in the hospital and recovering. He is in good spirits. John and his family thank God for the answer to many prayers on his behalf. John is a minister in the Anglican Episcopal Church which as a relationship with the AOC. We look forward to his return to his ministerial duties at St. George’s Anglican Church in Ventura in the near future.

John Evetts entered the ministry after a lifetime of work in industry and business as well as service in the Armed Forces in Vietnam. Like the Apostles, he came to the ministry from the secular world of work. Rev. Evetts is married and has two daughters and two grandchildren.

We thank the Rev. Evetts for his service to our country and his continuing service to God and His people.

Mary Thornell had surgery on 30 October 2013, at the Riverside Community Hospital to remove a huge mass along with about ½ her colon and part of her lower bowel. Mary finished chemotherapy 17 June 2014. Tests the week of 2 June 2014 showed totally clear scans. For now, treatment is done after the last chemotherapy session. Please give thanks for the great result and also for the strength, guidance and peace of mind our Lord gave Mary and her husband Jim, as well as daughter Janice and son Jimmy, she underwent treatment. Please pray she will stay free of the cancer in the future.

Jim has been hospitalized and had several operations for cancer the last few years. The physicians discovered a number of spots; but his exam was better than expected-prayer changes things and he thanks you for your prayers. Please continue him in prayer for he will have another scan in April.

Al had an abscess found on his liver for which he was hospitalized, it turned out to be benign and will not require surgery, he has been released from the hospital. Please give thanks for this good result and pray for continued healing.

Elma is suffering from cancer. She was taken home from the hospital on the advice of her Doctor. We were asked to pray that Elma’s remaining time here on earth might be good and that Elma and family might put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their worry. Since then, Elma’s Bishop told us a great Miracle of the Lord is working over Elma. Doctors sent her home to die, but now she seems to be doing all right. On behalf of her, thank you for all of your prayers. Please continue praying for her complete healing.

Dennis has heart problems; now the medical people treating him discovered a large mass on his liver which turned out to be a cyst! Please give thanks for this great development and pray for peace of mind and trust in the Lord for Dennis and for God’s guidance for the medical people treating him that the contemplated surgery might go well.

Dwight had major oral surgery, for which he gives thanks. He is recovering slowly and asks your prayers to speed the process.

Mike is a veteran who has served his country when she called. Please pray he will open his heart to God so He can make Mike’s crooked road straight and pull him towards the summit rather than to the pit.

Dick’s left arm was amputated after treating for Merkel Cell carcinoma over a year ago. He has met with the oncologist’s and reviewed the CAT scan. Good News! The tumor has been reduced in size—it was down to one half the size that it was in September and there was no indication of a new tumor in the chest area. Dick wanted the Prayer Partners to know and join him in thankfulness to our Lord. Please join Dick and his family in giving thanks to Our Lord Jesus Christ for his recovery as well as for their trust in God.

Bob Smouse had shoulder surgery on 28 November 2012. While the surgery went well, he is still in pain and would also appreciate prayers for continued healing and the pain to subside. He promises to work very hard on recovery therapy.

Carol Stone, the sweet wife of Mike Stone, recovered far better than expected from a severe brain bleed, but fell recently and broke her hip. She still requires 24 hour care, which Mike provides with little help.

Business

Mark’s business is in difficulty. He works in a shrinking field, of which he is one of the country’s true masters, but there is little work available. He asks that you pray that he can find a way to survive in his industry, which he loves and needs his talents. Pray he can find new sources of business and new ways of doing things, perhaps someone to partner with to better use his talents. Pray also for those who work for and with him that they might do their best to help.

Financial Guidance and Employment

Doug recently became unemployed from his job of 18 years. He has been applying for jobs, but unable to get one at this time. His wife is working; this is not enough for the family. Please pray he will find employment with a firm that will be able to use his considerable skill and hard work to benefit both the firm and the family.

Catherine and Lewis are at a low ebb due to a struggle for employment. Your fervent prayers will be appreciated.

Lori is considering a potential change in her employment. Please pray for God’s guidance in considering all aspect of her potential work.

Sara is concerned about the future with her company. She would appreciate prayers for her continued employment and that her firm might find more and better ways to use her considerable skills.

Financial Guidance and Healing

Clark is in need of salvation; for God’s Will to be done in his life. Pray his family will be blessed with the financial miracles that come from doing His Will.

Timothy and Sharon had their home foreclosed the morning of 15 April 2014. They are experiencing spiritual, emotional and financial crisis at the current time. Please pray for God’s guidance as to how they might handle the financial difficulties in which they have found themselves and more importantly have them draw closer to God and each other.

Linda, Rick, Christian and Sawyer are a family experiencing spiritual, emotional and financial crisis at the current time. Please pray for God’s guidance as to how they might handle the financial difficulties in which they have found themselves and more importantly have them draw closer to God and each other.

David and Lorna are having financial problems. They are trying to find a smaller home which may be more affordable. Lorna has had an ongoing battle with brain cancer, her trips back and forth to the hospital have drained their finances to the point they sometimes struggle to have enough food in the house. Pleaser pray for Lorna’s healing and guidance on how they might handle the financial difficulties in which they have found themselves.

God’s Strength and Peace of Soul

Tommy Dunning is facing his first Christmas following the death of his only son to cancer. Please pray he can concentrate his heart on what he had and will have in his son through God.

Guidance 

Debbie has family problems that must be dealt with and she asks God’s guidance in making the correct decisions and how to stand.

Edward (45) had the opportunity to meet with a Christian during the conversation she discovered Edward had some background about God but thought He was not relevant to this day. Edward asked many questions about the Bible and was surprised at the answers and continued to ask questions. They both went their separate ways and the Christian told Edward that she would pray for him. Will you join in prayer for Edward, please?

Kathy is experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks. Please pray she can let the Lord calm and direct her in the best path to take to help alleviate these problems.

Michael and his Family ask your prayers for wisdom as they are under trial and affliction to follow the law of the land and yet honor God in so doing.

Flora is in remission with cancer, but has high blood pressure and fatigue. Flora’s Mother recently died and this has caused added stress. Please pray that she will be able to let God carry her worry and sorrow so she can do the things she needs to do.

Elizabeth and Gunner need your prayers for their general well being. Pray that they might see the Light of the Lord and let Him guide their lives. Pray they might open their hearts not only to the Lord, but to each other to become one in Him and happiness.

Eric and Betty need your prayers for their general well being. Pray that they might see the Light of the Lord and let Him guide their lives. Pray they might open their hearts not only to the Lord, but to each other to become one in Him and happiness.

Eli has lost his way both spiritually and mentally, please pray for him and his parents Ed and Barb, who are having great struggles seeing their son, go through these afflictions having brought up in a Christian home. Please pray his parents can find a way to help Eli.

Marie has suffered the loss of her husband, her job and her pet all in a short period of time. Please pray for peace of mind for Marie, as well as for trust in the Lord for her and those around her that she might adjust to the changes in her life and move forward to the honor and glory of our Lord with His Help. (140607)

Mitten has a Christian talking to him about Christ. Mitten does not believe and does not seem to care. Please pray Mitten will see the light.

Kristen, Rickey and their two children ask you to pray for grace, wisdom and understanding as they attempt to cope with infidelity, separation and possibly divorce as a result of backsliding from the Lord into the World.

Aaron has a problem seeing is where his life should be leading him. Please pray that he can listen to his father Paul and those around him who want him to work hard and obtain a real education now rather than just coast towards oblivion.

Helene and her family ask your prayers for them as they deal with the loss of Alan, husband and father.

Stephanie seems to be very deeply into post partum depression after her baby was born prematurely. Please pray for her Mother in Law who is going a great distance to help Stephanie and her new Grandson. Pray that Stephanie will be able to direct her attention outward, rather than inward.

William is an elderly man living with his Son and Daughter in-law. William is causing trouble in the family because of his demanding ways and continually using bad language. The family is at wit’s end to know how to handle him and will appreciate your guidance and prayers.

Caitlin is in the grip of the Prince of Darkness; she thinks there is escape from reality in drugs. The saddest part is that reality is not as she sees it. Her family is despairing as they can do nothing to help her and ask that you pray for the Holy Ghost to enter into heart and show her the need for change before it is too late.

Nathaniel is in spiritual turmoil. His family and friends will appreciate it if you will keep him in your prayers for him to find the root of his trouble and accept God’s help to heal his heart.

Sam and her two children that have been living in a shelter and are to lose their place there. Please pray a place will be found they can stay in and recover.

Please pray Darlene will surrender her life to Christ.

Norrie is facing daily exams in the weeks ahead. Pray for calmness and concentration and to do the best possible.

Jonathan is addicted to drugs. He is now in jail awaiting trial. His parents and friends will appreciate it if you will keep him in your prayers for him to find the root of his trouble and accept God’s help to heal addiction.

Beth is suffering from ungodly treatment in her marriage. Please pray God will guide her in her behavior, actions and thoughts that she might be able to lead her husband to God so her marriage might prosper to the benefit of them.

Brandon a young man from a Christian family who married a year ago and almost immediately became estranged from him family. As a result he has had a serious problem with keeping the civil law. Please pray for Brandon that he will return to the Lord and the many problems will be eventually settled. Pray the hurt he has caused so many will be helped with our Lord’s care and love.

Dennis has some decisions to make and will appreciate our Lord’s guidance.

Jeanette has had many members of her family die from diabetes and several are near death now. Jeanette does not know the Lord and is despondent and perplexed about her family and herself. Please pray she can open her heart to allow the Holy Ghost in to bring her knowledge and understanding.

Dr. Elizabeth Raj is teaching a biblical approach to the psychological problems facing many in our society today. She is battling against the growing influence of worldly psychology adopted by the churches themselves. Elizabeth constantly stresses answers are found between the covers of that precious Book, the Holy Bible. Please pray for encouragement, strength, fortitude and courage for her.

Abigail is a teenager who has behavior problems. She feels she is in an area of mental darkness. Please pray that she might look to God for help and not within herself.

Sara asks that you pray for guidance for her as she deals with the stresses of her family and life. Pray that she can separate those things which she can affect from those things which she cannot and give her grace to accept that she cannot do everything and can only change those things within her control. She asks for God’s help for her business so that she might remain gainfully employed while keeping up with the needs of her mother and husband and healing her own problems.

Jacquie to open her heart to God and accept His Love and Grace.

Hap asks you to pray he might be able to trust God will help him make the right decisions at the right time and not to worry uselessly, to change those things he can change, accept those things he cannot change, sleep well to be able to do the correct things with a clear head and that he will open his heart to the Holy Ghost.

School Challenges

Destiny, Blake and Janet

Anglican Orthodox Church

Indonesia

Please pray for the Lord’s will regarding the establishment of an AOC church in Indonesia.

lmighty God and Father of all who trust and believe in thy dear Son, Jesus Christ: We seek thy divine will in the establishment of an Anglican Orthodox Church of Indonesia. In this present day of waning faith and compromising ministers, we hope to discover your will in this important matter. Keep us always strong in faith, worship, and practice; purify continually your visible church on earth, and lead us into green pastures of evangelism and love of truth. The people of Indonesia are a precious people in your sight, and we would seek the honor of preaching your Gospel in those great islands. Grant us wisdom to know and do your will always, for we ask it in the Name of thy dear Son, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN

Philippines

Good news from Bishop Anthony of the Philippine Islands:

Dear Bishop+ Ogles:

Hello! I just arrived from Tabuk after consecrating the Chapel made out of cogon in Nambaran. Its exciting to see plenty of kids attending the service. On the opposite village, the whole community invited us to schedule a service in the place. Their sincerity was confirmed by the willingness of one couple, Mr. and Mrs. Nestor Binnuloc, to donate a portion of land for the purpose. I instructed The Rev. Sherwin to arrange a schedule of service in that place. Thank you again for your continuous prayer over our ministry here.

In Christ Jesus,

Anthony Pangsiw

Bishop of the Philippine Islands

Fiji

Savusavu Fiji Islands is establishing a new Anglican Orthodox Church congregation Rev. Jack Andrew and members from the AOC in Labasa were with them for the weekend for this special time for our Church in Fiji. Pray that our Lord will be with the members in Savusavu as they bring others to his house.

Pakistan

Tazeem Gill, AOC Pastor of the church in Narrowal, returned home to be with our Lord after a heart attack on 7 November 2014. The congregation has been placed in the care of Rev Irshad Masih. Pray for inspiration, guidance, strength, perseverance and courage for Rev Masih as he moves forward.

India

This Letter from a Pastor in India – Please Pray

This is to inform you that yesterday our dear believers (from Muslim background) at Nutangram village celebrated Milad –un – AL Masih (Christmas) for the first time in their own village. A good number of women & their sons & daughters from MUSLIM FAMILY attended at Christmas program openly and they were very happy to attend for such kind of fellowship. There were more than 100 people attended at Christmas (Milad-un- Masih) fellowship.

Today a group of Militant Muslims asked those Muslims who have attended at Christmas program yesterday and they are trying to create pressure on them and asking them why they have attended at Christmas fellowship? Even they are trying to boycott them socially and threatened them.

However, I humbly request you please pray for God’s protection for these new Muslim families who are interested to know about Jesus. Also pray for God’s wisdom, knowledge and His guidance in the lives of our dear believer family.

Regards,

Bashir

Central African Republic

Christians in the Central African Republic are experiencing the ravages of a war between the Muslim and Christians. We have both ministers and members of the Anglican Orthodox Church in Central African Republic. Please pray for God’s guidance and protection for all persecuted Christians and those around them.

Diocese of the Epiphany

Saint Paul’s, Moberly, Missouri would like your prayers that the Holy Ghost might enter more fully into their hearts so that they might be more effective in spreading the Word of God.

Diocese of Virginia

Saint Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Orthodox Church is under a lot of stress. We all are, but they need even more prayer. Rev Roger Jessup, their wonderful minister, had to retire as he was so pressed by the duties of a primary care giver, in addition to all the worries of this world. Pray for trust in God for each member of the parish and for them to find economic relief.

Armed Forces & Contractors 

Kristyna Thomas (Fort Bragg, SC – Boot Camp), Airman Donny Patton (Hulbert Field, Florida), Jordan Brown (USMC – Fleet Marine Force – Pacific), Trevor Jennings (USAF – KC-10 Boom Operator – New Jersey), Trevor Di Marco (USN – Whidbey Island, EF-18 Pilot), Kurt Thomas (USN – Camp Foster, Okinawa)

For Our Country

Our country has lost its way. Over half the people that vote, voted for a government that promises them things it cannot deliver in return for their souls which it can, will and does take. Our foreign policy backs the rise of Islam, we turn our backs on those who would follow God and arm those who murder them. Pray God will raise up a leader from among the people who can turn the country’s course 180° and attempt to come back to God. Pray the people will recognize that they are headed down a smooth wide road into the pit, a road that will get smoother and smoother, steeper and steeper until the only possible way is down. Down, into the depths of the pit. Pray people will recognize there is:

· One True and Triune God who is goodness in and of Himself
· All religions are not equal
· All ways of life are not equal;
· The Bible holds the Key to Life;
· All rights come from God, not the State;
· Good;
· Bad;
· Evil;
· Right;
· Wrong;
· Allah is the Devil;
· Abortion is no more than sacrifice of children to Baal.

Pray this recognition will not come too late. Pray we will, each of us, do our duty to God, Country and Family, putting His Honor above all.

Persecuted

Around the world, Christians are under attack, not only in the Muslim world, but from Hindus and others in India. Also, they are under continual attack in the name of “Separation of Church and State” in the western world, as it becomes actively atheist or pro-devil buddy. Please pray for God’s guidance and protection for all persecuted Christians and those around them.

Nathan had successful surgery on 4 August 2014, to remove a tumor near his heart; then underwent chemotherapy. During a visit on 2 December 2014, the PET Scan found no evidence of cancer. Nathan and his family thank God for the great result, the medical team for paying attention and doing their best and you for your prayers.

Various Special Requests

The Anglican Orthodox Church in Peshawar, Pakistan sustained damage to their building as the result of heavy rains. At present the roof is being rebuilt and they have not been able to hold services. Pray it will be fixed very soon and a new place might be found until the church is restored.

Nathalie is teaching English in a small western Ukrainian town where they are having so many problems. Pray for Nathalie and others around the world who are standing up for Christian principles in their countries.

This is a horrible time for the people of India, Christians in particular; they are having problems with Hunger, Bank Closings, Transportation and Schools not functioning. Pray for the Leaders and Members of our Church in Eluru Andhra Pradesh. Pray their basic needs will be met and God will be close to them in this time of need.

Please pray for all the people of Egypt; Bishop Mouneer Anis of Egypt is asking your prayer as the supporters of the deposed Mursi government, with the support of the United States government, have been attacking Christian churches–Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox. They destroyed the car of Anglican priest Rev. Ehab Ayoub. The people of Egypt, the people of the United States need our prayers, even more so the people of the Muslim Brotherhood that they might repent of their evil and know God so the rest of the people may live in peace.

We ask that you pray, please ask God that the Holy Ghost might give you insight into how you might make the lives of your friends and family better. Remember helping others is not just those who you don’t know!

Thanksgiving

Betsy Lane asks you to join her in giving thanks for a quick recovery from a very bad cold which precluded her from coming to church last week.

Please give thanks for Alex surviving the Islamic attack in Paris. He and a few others hit inside a commercial refrigerator, they were cold but alive. Alex’s family also asks that you pray for those affected by the Islamic attack and their families.

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

25 January 2015 – Conversion of Saint Paul superseding the Third Sunday after the Epiphany – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

1 February 2015 – Septuagesima – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

8 February 2015 – Sexagesima – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

15 February 2015 – Quinquagesima – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

18 February 2015 – Ashe Wednesday – Evening Prayer – Service start time 1800 (6:00 pm); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 1745 (5:45 pm); Time 1800 (6:00 pm); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

22 February 2015 – First Sunday in Lent – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

1 March 2015 – Second Sunday in Lent – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

8 March 2015 – Third Sunday in Lent – Morning Prayer – DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS IN THE USA – SPRING FORWARD OR BE LATE – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

15 March 2015 – Fourth Sunday in Lent – Holy Communion – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

22 March 2015 – Passion Sunday – Fourth Sunday in Lent – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

29 March 2015 – Palm Sunday -– Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

2 April 2015 – Maunday Thursday – Evening Prayer – Service start time 1800 (6:00 pm); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 1745 (5:45 pm); Time 1800 (6:00 pm); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

3 April 2015 – Good Friday – Evening Prayer – Service start time 1800 (6:00 pm); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 1745 (5:45 pm); Time 1800 (6:00 pm); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

5 April 2015 – Easter Sunday – Holy Communion – SONRISE SERVICE – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

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