150308 AOC Sunday Report

Anglican Orthodox Church

Worldwide Communion

Third Sunday in Lent

Daylight Savings Time Begins

Sunday Report

Today was the Third Sunday in Lent^{^[1]} and the beginning of Daylight Savings Time in the United States of America. Did you Spring Forward or just accept being late?

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 –

On Faith

It is a profound mistake to imagine that Christianity ever intended to dissipate the bewilderment and even the terror, the sense of our own nothingness, which come upon us when we think about the nature of things. It comes to intensify them. Without such sensations there is no religion. Many a man, brought up in the glib profession of some shallow form of Christianity, who comes through reading Astronomy to realise for the first time how majestically indifferent most reality is to man, and who perhaps abandons his religion on that account, may at that moment be having his first genuinely religious experience.

Jack Lewis

Miracles

There are myriads of professing Christians … [who] Sunday after Sunday … allow the devil to catch away the good seed that is sown on the face of their hearts. Week after week they live on without faith, fear, knowledge or grace, feeling nothing, caring nothing, taking no more interest in religion than if Christ had never died on the cross at all. And in this state they often die and are buried and are lost for ever in hell. This is a mournful picture but only too true.

JC Ryle

19^th century Anglican bishop and author

The problem with wealth is not in having it. It is when it has you. It is how we get it, how we guard it and how we give it. It can be used for good or for bad.

Greg Laurie

20^th and 21^st century American evangelist

I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within.

Douglas MacArthur

20^th century American general officer and war hero

The government turns every contingency into an excuse for enhancing itself.

John Adams

Founding Father and 2^nd President of the United States

Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?

St. Matthew 8:26

Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.

St. Luke 8:39

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

Let us remember that the time is short, and the coming of the Lord draws nigh. A few more battles and the last trumpet shall sound, and the Prince of Peace shall come to reign on a renewed earth. A few more struggles and conflicts, and then we shall bid an eternal good-bye to warfare, and to sin, to sorrow, and to death. Then let us fight on to the last, and never surrender.

JC Ryle

19^th century Anglican bishop and author

Holiness, p. 83

The rear guard is a place of danger. There are foes behind us as well as before us. Attacks may come from any quarter… Amalek fell upon Israel, and slew some of the hindmost of them. The experienced Christian will find much work for his weapons in aiding those poor doubting, desponding, wavering, souls, who are hindmost in faith, knowledge, and joy.

Charles H. Spurgeon

19^th century English pastor and author

My countrymen, the menacing tendency of the present day is not chargeable wholly to the unsettled and feverish conditions caused by the war. The manifest weakness in popular government lies in the temptation to appeal to group citizenship for political advantage. There is no greater peril. The Constitution contemplates no class and recognizes no group. It broadly includes all the people with specific recognition for none, and the highest consecration we can make today is a committal… to that saving constitutionalism which contemplates all America as one people and holds just government free from influence on the one hand, and unmoved by intimidation on the other. It would be the blindness of folly to ignore the activities in our own country which are aimed to destroy our economic system and to commit us to the colossal tragedy which has both destroyed all freedom and made Russia impotent. This movement is not to be halted in throttled liberties. We must not abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of press, or the freedom of assembly, because there is no promise in repression. These liberties are as sacred as the freedom of religious beliefs, as inviolable as the rights of life and the pursuit of happiness. We do hold to the right to crush sedition, to stifle a menacing contempt for law, to stamp out a peril to the safety of the Republic or its people when emergency calls, because security and the majesty of the law are the first essentials of liberty. He who threatens destruction of the government by force, or flaunts his contempt for lawful authority, ceases to be a loyal citizen and forfeits his right to the freedom of the Republic… Men have a right to question our system in fullest freedom. But they must always remember that the rights of freedom impose the obligations which maintain it.

Warren G. Harding

20^th century American president

“Liberty Under the Law”, 1920

The budget should be balanced. Public debt should be reduced. The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered, and assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

1^st century BC Roman statesman

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 for today are found on Page 128-130, with the Collect first:

The Third Sunday in Lent.

The Collect.

E beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:

The first day of Lent, commonly called
Ash Wednesday.

The Collect.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.

The Epistle for today comes fromPaul’s letter to the Ephesians, the Fifth Chapter, beginning at the First Verse. He echoes the advice of St. James in his general epistle to be Christians, not just claim to be followers of Christ, when James wrote, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

E ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of St. Luke, the Eleventh Chapter, beginning at the Fourteenth Verse.

ESUS was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Sermon – Rev Jack Arnold

Church of the Faithful Centurion – Descanso, California

Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above.

Consider these words from the Collect:

… look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies …

In the Collect, we ask God look in to our hearts, see our desire to be His children and defend us against evil. That also means we are looking for His Help in the form of the Holy Ghost for the changing of our hearts to actually have “hearty desires” to do His Will and to be “humble servants”, not our usual and customary self centered selves. Quite a combination of thoughts in a small bit of verbiage! It is amazing how much we can put in a short sentence if we use our words right! If we will be follow Him, He will defend us in all assaults of our enemies. ^{^[2]} If we will not accept His Help, He will not force it on us. Back to that old, “Thy will be done.” The question once again rises, from whose mouth does it proceed, ours or God’s? We must choose wisely, and we can only choose wisely with the help of the Holy Ghost! We must use a small bit of the wisdom we do have, to choose the help of God, through the Holy Ghost.

Today’s Epistle and Gospel share the same theme. You must walk the talk.

Thus, when Paul tell us to live our lives as we represent our desires to God, he tells us to make our actions match our stated desires. Actions! Not just Dictions, but Actions! There can be a distinct difference between the two. If you actually believe, you will act. If you just say you believe, you will not. Believing and saying you are believing can be diametrically opposed. Note how many people claim to be Christian, yet do not actually act on the principles of Christ and follow His Instructions. This theme is the central theme of the Christian faith, which was first shown with Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection. He came to act for us, not just to talk or meditate, but His great plan involved action, though it was painful, it was His action that released us from the wages of sin. He gave us an example to live by, that is to live out our faith through not just the right words, but the right actions as well.

Think about the Gospel.

It is very important to be unified in our worship and maintain mutual support; a team always beats individuals. That is not to take away from individuality, but rather to note that we need to remember whose side we are on and work together with our teammates. It does not matter how does get the credit, all that matters to our Lord is that we work together with other believers to get the job done and to get it done right.

There are two phrases particularly worth remembering, “a house divided against a house falleth” and “He that is not with me is against me.” Middle ground exists, but it is quicksand. Any feeling of safety there is illusory. We must take sides. And, we cannot keep with those who oppose the side we choose. It is the natural part of the history of the Bible. We have to choose to follow God, as there is no other reasonable option which will give us the result following God will result in. We must decide who we will follow. One man cannot serve two masters, also fits here I find. We cannot say we love and serve one side, but serve another truly. We have to choose which one we are going to love or serve, God or mammon (things of this earth/Satan). We cannot be wishy-washy here, we must take a stand and declare it unto the world, and let them know that we are not for their ways, but we are against their ways. We have to make it crystal clear in our actions, to tie it into the theme of acting. We have to let our faith shine in word and in deed to make it count. We do not have true faith if we do not act upon the words that we speak on our lips, of believing in Christ and His Father.

Christ himself came not to unite the world, but to divide it, father against son. He came to divide, that is that we would choose the opposite side of the world, which for them is mammon, and our side is that of God and righteousness. He came to light up the world that was for Him, and that which was against Him, to identify friend from foe. Through the Scriptures we can easily tell who is for Him and who is against Him. It is simple, who holds to the principles of Scripture is for Him. They who do not hold to them are not with Him.

You must keep constant vigilance against backsliding, for a fallen Christian is in worse shape than one who was never exposed to The Word. The Epistle and Gospel both talk about the curious dichotomy; you are saved by faith, your faith alone saves you, not what you do; yet if you have faith, you must act on that faith.

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and repent of the sins of your former life, you are forgiven of your sins. But, you must understand, this is not a signal to keep on sinning and keep on saying you repent. You must truly change a new leaf and start on the new course of life with Christ, and not slip back into the old man. You must receive the Word, hear it, and act upon it and spread it joyously to others, in order for your faith to have any meaning at all. Otherwise we will have been for the worse than if we never had heard the Good News. It is not a gift to selfishly lock up, but to share and give to others. That is the true joy of the Good News. It is most certainly more blessed to give than to receive in this case.

You must grasp that your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your savior and your repentance is the beginning of your life as a New Man in Jesus.

Will you slip? Without doubt. But, when you do, will you again repent and continue to do your best to follow the Word of God, the Light and the Truth? All that matters is that you get up and do your best not to do what you did to slip. Life is a continuous learning process. Indeed, if you are a Christian that is what you must do. We will always slip up in our lives, that is in our fallen nature. But we have to get up and get back on track, using the Holy Gospel to guide us like the instruments in an aircraft. We cannot trust our feeling, but only our instruments (God’s gift of Holy Scripture). You are called to believe and act on those beliefs to the best of your ability. If you do not, then prepared as you were for life, you will so be prepared for the pit. As you read Luke, remember the second half of the Book of Luke is The ACTS of the Apostles, not thoughts, wishes, prayers or meditations.

For, “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

ACT

It is by our actions we are known.

Be of God – Live of God – Act of God

Bishop Dennis Campbell’s Sermon

Bishop Dennis is a brilliant speaker. He is able to take biblical precepts and make them perfectly understandable, even to me. Oft he provides the text of his sermons and I take the utmost pleasure in passing them on:

Walk Like a Christian

Ephesians 5:1-14, Luke 11:14-28

Third Sunday in Lent

March 8, 2015

Two verses in Ephesians 5 set the tone for today’s Epistle reading, and for the sermon. First is verse 8, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” Second is verse 11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

In Leviticus 26 God says “And if you will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; then will I also walk contrary unto you.” There is a word picture here. It pictures you and God walking together. You are not just going the same way, you are going the same way together. You have the same goal, the same destination, the same ideas about where to go, how to get there, and how to conduct yourselves together on the way. But something happens. One of you (guess who) changes his mind about the direction, or the destination, or the conduct on the way. The peaceful journey becomes a confrontation, and the fellowship evaporates to the point where the two of you can no longer walk together. Instead God goes in one direction, you go in the opposite direction. Now you walk contrary to one another.

“Walk,” as it is used in Numbers and Ephesians, refers to a journey of the mind, not a journey of the feet. More precisely it is a journey of the soul. It involves everything you think and do, and, more importantly, it involves the theological foundation upon which you think and do them. The Bible is saying there are two directions this journey of the soul may take, and these directions are contrary, one to the other. They go in opposite directions. It is impossible, therefore, to go in both directions at once. You can go in one direction or the other, but not in both directions at the same time.

The book of Ephesians uses two other pairs of words to show the contrast between these ways of life. First is “light” and “darkness.” Second is “love” and “malice.” Malice is not actually found in today’s reading, but it is found two verses earlier, in Ephesians 4:31: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice.” Malice is evil intentions, a desire to harm or destroy for evil purposes. Malice is contrary to “love” which is a desire to actively seek the good of others for the purpose and sake of good.

According to Ephesians 5, there is a way of light and a way of darkness. There is a way of love and a way of malice. Ephesians compares the two ways of life to different kinds of trees, each one bringing forth fruit after its own kind. The tree of light and love bears the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth. The tree of darkness and malice bears the fruit of wrath and bitterness, fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness.

Next the two ways of life are compared to families and children. Verse 1 says, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” In verse 8 we are told to walk as children of light. The other family is found in verse 6, which talks about the children of disobedience. This means the same thing Christ meant when He told the Pharisees they are like their father, the devil. Many people in the United States can trace their ancestry to people and places in Europe and Asia. My ancestors came from Scotland, England, and Germany. The name Campbell is Scottish. It is a Gaelic word meaning “crooked mouth.” I hope it refers to a physical characteristic, not a moral one. We know families often share similar physical characteristics. Some families are known for being tall. Others are known for robust health. Families also share traditions and habits. We learn things from our parents and families, and these become part of who we are. Sometimes they are good and sometimes they are bad. Sometimes they make sense, and sometimes they don’t. I heard a story about a woman who always cut several inches of good meat off the bottom of the ham before putting it in the roaster. One day her mother saw her do it, and asked why. The daughter said, “That’s the way you did it. I learned it from you.” Her mother said, “I did it because my roaster was shorter. I had to cut the ham to make it fit. Your roaster is big enough to hold entire ham. You don’t have to cut the end off.”

The Bible is saying that since we are of the family of God and children of light, we should have the characteristics of our family, and we should do the things we learn from our Father. The children of darkness, whose father is the devil, have the characteristics of their family, and do the things they learn from their father.

The point, of course, is that the people who have been loved, and forgiven, and blessed by God, will act like it. Those who have been adopted into His family will begin to pick up some of the traditions, ideas, and values of the family of God. Those who do not, are proving to themselves that they are still children of darkness. Your ideas and values and practices are shaped by your father and your family. Therefore, if you habitually and intentionally harbour ideas and actions that are contrary to the teachings of this Holy Bible, you are probably still a child of darkness. This is a major point of Ephesians 5.

Verse 5 is a very important verse. It summarises this whole passage. “For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Is God saying that a person who has done these things cannot be saved? No! He is saying a person who intentionally continues in these things is not saved, even if he claims to be a Christian. The children of light want to live in the light every day. That’s why we spend time in the Bible and prayer each day. We are letting God shape our minds and hearts so that our thoughts begin to conform to His, and our lives become more conformed to His will. We want to walk with God, not contrary to God. This means more than reading a few Bible verses and saying a short prayer. It means living as God’s people. It means living like His children ought to live. It means living like we like God.

I want to ask you a very personal question; do you walk in the light? Do you apply yourself to learning about God, and putting what you learn into practice in every day life? I’m not asking if you sin. I’m not asking if you are perfect. I am asking you if your life orientation is toward God, or away from Him. Are you trying to walk with Him, or are you walking contrary to Him? If you say you are walking with Him, I ask you how intentional is you walk? Is it serious, or casual? The truth is, we often let other things crowd into our lives, don’t we? We go astray like lost sheep. We often let ourselves be led astray. We often want to be led astray. Sometimes, we just don’t feel like being Godly. It’s not that we want to fall into gross sin, or give up the faith. We just don’t feel like being a Christian sometimes. Maybe there is some Biblical teaching or action you don’t like, so you just put it out of your mind, and go on as if everything is fine between you and God, but in reality, you are walking contrary to God. And you know it. If this describes you, then I have good news for you; today is the perfect time to change. Today you can begin again. Today is a new opportunity to walk with the Lord. I hope you will dedicate yourself to walking with Him today.

—

+Dennis Campbell

Bishop, Anglican Orthodox Church Diocese of Virginia

Rector, Holy Trinity Anglican Orthodox Church

Powhatan, Virginia

www.HolyTrinityAnglicanOrthodoxChurch.org

www.lifeinthescriptures.blogspot.com

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.

Third Sunday in Lent

15 March 2015

Epistle Ephesians 5:1-14 • Gospel St Luke 11:14-28

The Third Sunday in Lent.

The Collect.

As we reflect on the two passages of Scripture we read today let us see the underlying theme that is playing out in each.

In the Epistle from the letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul reminds the church that God is merciful and will forgive and take back those who confess, we read this at the end of Chapter 4. But then as a reminder of who we are and how we should behave, Paul writes out all the actions and behavior that we should avoid. Interestingly enough, parts of that passage of scripture could be described as “hate speech” by certain segments of society today. We have been warned about this for years. We have been told to always let our yes be yes and our no be no. But now we see that which is wrong according to God’s word is being taught or even protected by law as being right and that which was right, such as standing up for good, is now being taught or made illegal.

All you have to do is see the law of the land in Canada. Certain behavior can no longer be preached against, it cannot be taught as being immoral, even when our Bible points it out as immoral, all that is considered as “hate speech”.

We look at the Gospel reading, we see some people, rather than saying good things about the casting out of demons from the man without speech, they twist the situation around. He [Jesus] must be doing this by the power of Satan, [Beelzebub]. But Jesus knew what was in their thoughts when he states the obvious; “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.”

Jesus teached three truths here. Since He is not working for Beelzebub, but with God, by this very sign and the many miracles that the people were witnessing, Jesus declares the kingdom come. But he is not referring to a physical walled kingdom, he is referring to himself. In several ways he is making connection with God the Father. “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.” “He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth”

You see the kingdom here, now, as represented by Jesus and once you acknowledge his authority you must act. The second truth is you must take sides. Either you are with Christ Jesus or you are against him, no middle ground, no neutrality, no standing on the sidelines until the game of life is over, before you choose who to serve.

The third truth Jesus taught that day, was commitment. If you seek to follow Jesus and you do try to change your life without the transforming power of God through his Son, you will fail. Jesus refers to the individual freed of an evil spirit. After wandering about and finding no where to dwell, he goes back and sees that the heart he was cast out of is clean but empty. This is the scariest scenario one could be in, clean but not committed. Having the right mind but not the right heart, this is so dangerous. We see people who make all types of attempts to reform their lives. They try different programs, gums, therapies, etc., but in the end they fail to change the heart.

We know the only way to change the heart is by asking Jesus to come to us and forgive us and take us into his kingdom. We must acknowledge our sins, confess our sins, and ask for Jesus to rule in our lives from here on out.

If you do not do that, the cleaned up “house”, the repainted room, the new carpet on the floor are all empty gestures. The demon comes back, but not by himself, he brings seven others more foul than himself, and they move in and repossess the heart to the worse condition of that man than the first time.

Now notice how Jesus ties up this lesson. When someone in the crowd praises Jesus mother he very quickly turns that about and calls the blessing down on the obedient.

He replied, “ Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

He is using both a literary form and a direct form of the language to get his point across. The word of God is the inspired word of God down through the ages, coming to us from the Old Testament. But the word of God is also Jesus, ….in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life and theat life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

So when Jesus made that statement blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it, he is reaching beyond what was happening on that day, he was reaching down through the ages to all who hear and obey, to us in the 21^st century.

Let us go and do likewise.

Let us pray,

E humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities; and for the glory of thy Name, turn from us all those evils that we most justly have deserved; and grant, that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honour and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

gracious Father, since it is of thy mercy, that another day is added to our lives; We here dedicate both our souls and our bodies to thee and thy service, in a sober, righteous, and godly life: in which resolution, do thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen us; that, as we grow in age, we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

HE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of theHoly Ghost, be with us all evermore, beloved go in peace; this day and in the week to come. 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.

Third Sunday in Lent

In his first epistle to the church at Corinth, St. Paul penned the following: I thank my God always… for the grace… which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him… so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord… (1:4-8). It should be understood that those who are indwelt by the Spirit of God have been given spiritual gifts which God in his infinite wisdom saw fit to endow them with for their work in his service. It should be further understood, that all who are filled with the Holy Ghost have been regenerated and become new creatures in Christ. And as new creatures in Christ, they will seek to do his will through the keeping of God’s commandments.

In our gospel lesson (St. Luke 11) we read where a woman called out to our Lord saying, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked (v.27), to which our Lord replied, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it (v.28). The clearest presentation of God’s expectation for us is found in Exodus 20:1-17, for there we find the Ten Commandments. These were written in stone by the very finger of God himself (Exodus 31:18). And even though the commandments are recited as part of our service of the Lord’s Supper; still, it is fitting that in this season of Lent that the church should hear an exposition of the Ten Commandments for the edification of all.

As Christians, we have been commanded to, love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deuteronomy 6:5). When we speak of loving God, we first have to recognize the reality of God.

The First Commandment sets forth His existence. He alone is God, and we are to have no other gods before him. That has more to it than meets the eye. Some will claim that God exists, but then they create other gods such as their jobs, lifestyles, philosophies of life, sports teams, etc. And therein lies the problem because anything which one puts ahead of God becomes their true god. In keeping this commandment, we must not only accept that God is, we must accept his word written. If one has other things that are more influential— which command greater respect and allegiance— then such a person is in violation of this commandment.

The Second Commandment prohibits the making and worshiping of graven images. While similar in tone to the previous commandment, it nevertheless condemns the formulation of any image of the divine for the purposes of worship. Remember what the children of Israel did with the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6). They credited that idol with their deliverance out of the hands of pharaoh. And very many Christians, past and present, have broken this commandment as well. Even a cursory reading of this commandment makes it clear that any statue, icon, image or impression which is held up and revered, is just as much an idol as those produced by pagan humanity for their worship. These are hard words for many because they cling to a man-made tradition that originated shortly after the creation of the Christian Church. Said tradition requires its adherents to worship, venerate and adore those artifices of human construction so named above as if they possessed some divine nature worthy of adoration. The devil loves to subvert the word of God with the word of man acting in the place of God and represented as being from God.

The Third Commandment condemns the use of God’s name in a vain or frivolous manner. God desires for us to call upon his name in our public worship of him and in our private devotions to him. But what he will not tolerate are the ways his name has been trashed in our public discourse. Have you noticed that there is hardly a movie or tv production today that does not violate this commandment? In fact, it is a rare event indeed to attend a public gathering and not hear someone uttering a curse which includes the name of God. If we love our heavenly Father, why then would we misuse his name and make it into a curse against others? How is our love for him who gave his only begotten Son to be crucified on our behalf revealed in that sort of behavior? Job’s wife wanted him to curse God and die for well they knew that such was worthy of death. But Job did not sin with his lips against God (Job 2:9-10). And if we have been regenerated by the Holy Ghost, we will heed this commandment and not take the name of our God in vain.

The Fourth Commandment calls on each of us to keep holy the sabbath day. God desires that we should pause and reflect on the good which he has done for us. It is not a day to fulfill our lusts and worldly pursuits. Unfortunately, that is not what a growing number of people do today. Ambrose Bierce once penned in his profane dictionary the way the unregenerate treated this commandment when he quipped: “Work not on sabbath days at all, but go to see the teams play ball.” How does such behavior honor God and increase our fellowship with him? If we are truly born-again, we will honor God by being present in his house on the Christian sabbath to worship him, and afterwards, to rest and consider all that he has done for us. Have you been clothed, fed, and sheltered, then give thanks to God because it all came from him. Keep his day holy.

The Fifth Commandment calls on each of us to honor our parents and includes the promise: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. God expects us to honor him as our heavenly Father, and as he has appointed our parents over us, we are to honor them as well. Godly obedience requires us to be respectful and honorable souls at all times remembering to whom we are accountable. Willing obedience is rewarded of God with long life and good health.

The literal rendering of the Sixth Commandment is: Thou shalt do no murder which prohibits the taking of human life without just cause. God made this clear to Noah when he said, Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man (Genesis 9:6). Murder may take many forms. Abortion is the systematic murder of the unborn in the womb. The womb is the place where new life is formed and sustained. Abortion makes this place of life’s beginning to be the foyer of a tomb rather than the entry way to a productive life. Likewise, suicide, or self-murder, is, in some cases, beyond the sanction of God. Murder in every case, therefore, is man playing God, for only God alone decides the time of our birth and our death. The regenerate person will respect the lives of others and will not take human life without a reasonable and proper justification. One may take the life of another in necessary self-defense, or in defense of others, or while participating in a just war against tyranny or aggression, or while acting in the capacity of authorized officer of the state in executing its lawful acts (Romans 13:1-10). We should bear in mind that even contemplating the death of an enemy is a violation of this commandment because murder first begins in the heart before it ever comes to pass in reality (St. Matthew 15:19).

The Seventh Commandment condemns all extramarital relationships and behaviors. God created the institution of marriage, and this commandment protects the marriage bed (Hebrews 13:4). Further, it was given to protect the family and especially the children who are supposed to be the products of a godly union before him. The wails and cries of those who, in our time, have been affected by the dissolution of marriages, as well as those who were born outside the bonds of marriage into fragmented households, must be deafening in heaven. And God, long ago, condemned adultery and fornication precisely because of the misery that they inflict on all involved. God did not create marriage and the family to have them destroyed by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. The family is supposed to be a place of refuge from the ills of this world; but it cannot be so when the specter of adultery looms large there.

The Eighth Commandment is simple enough: Thou shalt not steal. God gave us the concept of private property rights with this commandment. We are to work for the things we have and respect the right of others to have their things as well. St. Paul wrote on this subject saying, Let him who stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth (Ephesians 4:28). Theft impoverishes not only the victim but the soul of the victimizer. Success in thieving contributes to more thieving. Where does the thief get his mandate to steal? Is it not of himself and his darkened heart? Is it not on account of the whispered hiss of the serpent and father of lies telling the thief he will not be found out?

Most thieves are eventually ruined by their own vain understanding of things. Just as with any other malefactor, the thief will be ensnared by his own mischief and trapped by his own compulsion. And ultimately, whether caught in this life or not, all thieves will have to face the final judge who will cast them into perdition should they come to him, after death, in unrepentance.

The Ninth Commandment condemns bearing a false witness against your neighbor. Matthew Henry once said of this commandment that it “forbids speaking falsely in any matter, lying, equivocating…devising and designing to deceive our neighbor [and to unjustly prejudice his reputation].” Such persons as the busybody, the tale-bearer, the whisperer of ill deeds without warrant fall under the rubric of this commandment . The Scriptures say that all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire. God is deadly serious about the bearing of a false witness for it stirs up strife to no good purpose (Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:8). God desires for men to be at peace with one another. Bearing a false witness does not in any manner contribute to the attaining of that state of peace amongst men.

The Tenth Commandment: Thou shalt not covet means that we ought not desire the goods, or the spouse, or the reputation etc. of another so much so that we would break any of the other commandments to acquire what our eyes have seen, or our heart desired which belonged to another. Has not God given to all as he pleases? Did you ask and not receive of the LORD so then you decided to take from others, first in your heart and then in word and deed? Look at what you have and then ask, would you like it if others did the same to you? Reflect first before you lust after another’s goods or possessions or relationships. God would rather us come to him and seek that which is good than to suffer us to act as David did regarding Bath-sheba, or Ahab concerning Naboth’s vineyard, or Cain in his jealousy toward Abel his brother. In Leviticus 19:18, God commanded us to love our neighbor as ourselves which goes hand in hand with latter portion of the Ten Commandments.

Summary of the Law – When our Lord was asked which was the great commandment of the law, he responded saying, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (St. Matthew 22:37-40). Coveting puts greed in our hearts and that inordinate desire will never be sated as the Devil will come and tempt us with such again and again and again until we are destroyed. If we truly love God, we will avoid the deception of covetousness.

The Ten Commandments are benchmarks our Lord has set before us that we might know his pure and perfect will. We who have been regenerated by the Holy Ghost know that apart from his assistance, we could not hope to keep them. They are perfection and we are imperfection. They are absolute and we are ambivalent. They are ethereal and we are earthly. God has set his standard before us to teach us of our need for Christ (Galatians 3:24). And our Lord Jesus Christ expects us to abide by them, not of our own efforts; but through the power of the Holy Ghost the Comforter whom he has sent to guide us into all truth.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us keep to these commandments and when we falter in them to confess our sins to God in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. For we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (I St. John 2:1-2). Do this and live.

Let us pray,

ather, we beseech thee to assist us in the keeping of these thy Ten Commandments as well as all other aspects of thy moral law which we as Christians are expected to obey; for this we ask in the name of him who kept thy law and became sin for us, 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

Bishop Jerry and Debbie Ogles are on travel this weekend to Atlanta for services there. Please pray for safe travel and God’s Work to be done well there.

Birthday

Dru Arnold celebrated her 60^th Birthday on 2 February 2015. For the record, she did see her shadow, thus we are faced with six more weeks of winter. On the other hand, winter here can be tough at 72°F.

Anniversary

Dru and Hap Arnold celebrated their 28^th anniversary on 21 February 2015, a testimony to the work of God.

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.

Remembrance of those who have gone before us

Kenneth Wayne Ogles was killed in action on 16 February 1967, in the Ia Drang Valley, in the Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam, with the First Platoon of C Company, the First Battalion of the 8^th Cavalry, First Cavalry Division at the age of 19. Kenneth joined the National Guard at age 17 and immediately transferred to the active Army’s First Cavalry Division. He wanted to make a difference, to do his duty to God and Country and protect the innocent people of South Vietnam. He gave all that we might be free. Please join us in remembering his service and sacrifice, as well as the hurt that it cost the entire Ogles family, the sacrifice and pain is no less 48 years later. Remember Kenneth the next time someone wants you to give a little freedom for the promise of safety or comfort.

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

James is on oxygen all the time, this is bothersome to him and terrifying as well. Please pray for James to put his worry, his bother and his terror on the Lord. Pray for strength and guidance for James and his family. They suggest this verse, “I am thine, save me, for I have sought thy precepts.”

Joan has had serious medical problems that have kept her confined. Please pray her health will remain stable.

Barbara Apple is more or less bedridden. 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.

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

Daisy Lee has necrotizing fasciitis, which manifested on 30 January 2015, causing the loss of her right arm and her left hand, as well as parts of both feet. It appears she has turned the corner and is fighting towards recovery. She underwent a “minor” operation for debridement on Wednesday. She is now out of ICU and in a stepdown unit. She will need additional procedures, perhaps surgery. Please join her family in giving to all the ICU nurses & doctors who have played an integral role in her recovery, they are grateful for all of their dedication and compassion. They have taken great care of Daisy and everyone is thankful to see her improving. The family is thankful for all the support they have received during these past couple weeks and hopes all will continue to pray for Daisy’s speedy recovery. Pray for peace of mind and trust in God for Daisy’s family, her husband and children Tiffany and Chris.

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

Edware is having his fourth back surgery (in the last four years) Please pray for the medical team to pay attention and to their best and for a good outcome. Pray also that Edware and his family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

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

Hang So Ryu has cancer. Please 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 him and his family, as well as physical strength.

Traci has not been well for the last several months. She does not have a colon and all tests have been negative; she has abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea and is exhausted and very weak. She and her family thank you for your prayers. Traci seems to have good days and bad. Your continued prayers are appreciated.

Olivia, age7, has been diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma. The prognosis is good at this time, please 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 Olivia and her family, as well as physical strength.

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 finished chemotherapy and is undergoing radiation for lymphomacancer. It seems the treatment is working, please see this note from Garth:

I have some good news today. The radiologist has told me that the PET scan which they did last week in Saskatoon is showing good results. He judges that there is no longer any lymphoma active in what is left of the tumour. They are still going ahead with 15 treatments of radiation therapy, the first of which I received today, but will be able to use a fairly low dosage, given the results of the scan. This means that the chemotherapy did its work and that now the radiation can simply ensure that the cancer does not return to the tumour. Of course, it can return elsewhere in the body but the hope is that I shall remain free of same over this next year and then in the years to come. I shall let you know how the radiation treatment goes.    Many thanks to all for their persistence in prayer. I am thankful to the Lord for each of them.   Blessings, + Bishop Garth Neel 

Please give thanks for the great results! Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for Garth and his family, as well as physical strength.

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.

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.

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. 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

Betsy Lane had what is thought to be food poisoning, she appears to be recovering but was too weak to make it to church. If you know Betsy, that is a really bad sign. Please pray for a full and complete return to strength as soon as possible for her and comfort and strength from our Lord in her time of weakness.

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 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.

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.

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, sheis doing much better and she and her family thank you for your prayers. Her pain level is high and some medications have bad side effects. Please continue her in Prayer in the weeks ahead as she heals.

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

Kym (43) has various hip problems which seems to be related to osteoarthritis. And, her mother Ruth is in the early stages of dementia. Pray for guidance for those treating both of them, as well as patience and trust in the Lord for both of them.

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

Janet Jessup had a stroke on 3 July 2014 and heart problems that were causing huge issues for her. They seem to have gotten her stabilized and she is going home from the hospital. Please join the entire family in giving thanks for this wonderful development. Please pray for those treating her to find the appropriate treatment and for trust in God and peace of mind for Janet and her family, in particular her husband of 43 years, Rev Roger Jessup, retired minister of Saint Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Orthodox Church.

Jim has been hospitalized and had several operations for cancer the last few years. He has recent good news, for which he asks you join in giving thanks:

The LORD be with you! I wanted to let everyone to know I received a great report from Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Newnan, GA yesterday. I met with all three (3) of my doctors. Each reviewed my scans and were satisfied with the results. The cancer is still there but it has not changed in three (3) years. All of the doctors were happy with the report and I will continue with the monthly sandostine injection to retard future growth of the tumor. Thank you very very much for your prayers and encouragement!

Jim

Arch Crittenden has Multiple Myeloma (cancer cells in bone marrow); without this treatment life expectancy is one to two years. As long as he can tolerate the daily oral Revlimid treatments, it seems he can carry on. Arch is not worried about the weight loss side effects, he says he planned ahead for that; the hair loss does have him concerned as most of that has already left. There is very good news, X-Rays show no holes in his bones. And he can still travel about and visit his family! This is super, please join Arch and family in giving thanks. Arch and his lovely wife Kathy ask that you pray for their trust in God to remain strong and for a good outcome. From Arch this week:

I’m in my third series of oral chemo. On 3 weeks and off one. Then a dose of 10 steroids, all at one time at the end of each of the three chemo weeks and even the steroid dose on the fourth week before restart of the chemo for 3 more weeks and on and on. The alternative is very dormant or so I hear. Being on prosthesis (below the knee) for nearly 45 years does not allow me a lot of mobility even now. I may have this regimen for a year before any true diagnosis is definitive. We will carry on. And we will continue to persevere to the extent of our limited ability. GODSPEED ! arch / kathy crittenden, Virginia,VA

Aleyne Bergman had a pacemaker installed on 26 January 2015. Please give thanks for the medical team paying attention, doing their best and for the good outcome. Pray also that Aleyne and her husband Ron, as well as the rest of her family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders. Please pray also for a complete and rapid recovery for her.

Dick Gray has a Merkle Cell carcinoma just under his sternum carcinoma which is considered a stage four carcinoma since it has ‘metastasized’. After much treatment and hospitalization the main site is less than half the size and there are no new tumors. He continues the fight. Please give thanks for the good results so far! 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.

Jenny, wife of Adam, mother of two, (niece of Marianne Lane) had difficulty breathing the night of 22 January 2015. Adam brought her to the hospital. After considerable thought and testing, they found a growth thought to be scar tissue from intubation when she was an infant. On 28 January 2015, they preformed a mechanical expansion to allow her to breathe which was a success. Please give thanks for the great result and pray for a full recovery and that the opening will stay clear.

Sam had surgery on his entire large intestine that had become infected. At the time of the operation he was just hours away from a complete organ shutdown. He had had turmoil in his life over the years. Sam is now in the ICU and his Minister visited him and explained to him God had given him another chance for him to make things right with his Lord. Pray for his good health and his spiritual life with Jesus.

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 in particular the drugs are making her terribly sick; 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 colon cancer surgery and finished chemotherapy 17 June 2014. Tests the week of 2 June 2014 showed totally clear scans. Things were going well, but tests the week of 16 February 2015 showed what appears to be unknown spots on both lungs. She is going to City of Hope for a second opinion. Please pray for guidance for those treating here, as well as strength, guidance and peace of mind for Mary and her husband Jim, as well as daughter Janice and son Jimmy, as she undergoes treatment.

Jim Thornell (Jet) seems to have recovered from the five stomach ulcers and now is dealing with blocked coronary arteries and taking care of Mary. Please give thanks for the great result and also for the strength, guidance and peace of mind our Lord gave Jet and his wife Mary, as well as daughter Janice and son Jimmy, as he underwent treatment.

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.

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

Anne is unemployed and just interviewed for a position. Please pray she will be employed, if not at this position then that this interview will lead to better prospects. Pray for her ot be encouraged and strengthened by the Holy Ghost.

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 

Eli has some mental issues and has lost his way. He was admitted to the hospital for psychological evaluation to get a proper diagnosis and medications and has been discharged. He has yet to come to grips with the demons chasing him. Pray he will return to the Lord and his family. Eli’s brother Carl has gotten little to no support from the family, he being the one to get Eli into treatment. Daughter Katie seems to be the least helpful. Pray they will ask God to send the Holy Ghost in to straighten things out and they will listen when He speaks to them. The family has been open to the Prince of Darkness and needs help.

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

Serbia

Rev. Igor Djurcik leader of Anglican Orthodox Church in Serbia asks us to pray for his students. He has excellent young people in Belgrade who are having services and classes on the Bible.

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.

Philippines

Please pray a Minister will be found who would like to serve in Tabuk, in the Philippine Islands. The Anglican Orthodox Church has an established Church there and in the surrounding areas and need a Shepherd to lead the flock.

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.

Atlanta

Bishop Jerry is in Atlanta, preaching at a church who has in attendance many members of another church founded in 1887 that has closed. Many of those are older, in their late 70s and early 80s. Please pray they will see this is a parish where they can be one with other believers. Please pray the Holy Ghost might enter more fully into their hearts so that they might see their way to come together.

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 (Army – Fort Jackson), Airman Donny Patton (USAF – 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), Ethan (US Army Airborne – Southwest Asia)

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

Winter storms have devastated Philadelphia, Boston and the rest of New England. Falling trees and strong winds have resulted in blackouts; your prayers for Philadelphia on up through New England. Please pray for the people to do what is needed and take care of each other.

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

Sarah fell on the ice on 13 February 2015, she and her unborn baby are now home and all is well. Please join Sarah and her husband James in giving thanks.

Losana had Dengue Fever, she has now recovered. Please join her in giving thanks for the swift recovery.

Kristyna Thomas gives thanks for a successful and safe graduation from Boot Camp at Fort Bragg, as do all the Thomas family and her many friends. She is off to Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic School now!

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

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

^{^[1]}Lent – Forty days, beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing till Easter, observed by some Christian churches as commemorative of the fast of our Savior. [1913 Webster] a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday [syn: {Lententide}]

^{^[2]}A Collect for Peace – 1928 Book of Common Prayer Page 17

About the Author: admin

240421 AOC Sunday Report

240427 AOC Sunday Report

240331 AOC Sunday Report

240324 AOC Sunday Report

240317 AOC Sunday Report

150308 AOC Sunday Report

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the Author: admin

Related Posts

240421 AOC Sunday Report

240427 AOC Sunday Report

240331 AOC Sunday Report

240324 AOC Sunday Report

240317 AOC Sunday Report