160110 APC Sunday Report

Anglican Orthodox Church

Worldwide Communion

The Epiphany

First Sunday after Epiphany

Sunday Report

The Epiphany,

or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles

What a long title for a simple thought. The Epiphany is the title of the feast recalling the arrival of the Magi to pay homage to the Lord Jesus. Epiphany means revealing or becoming aware. Our Lord was revealed first to the Hebrews through the shepherds. The first gentiles (non-Hebrews) to whom He was first revealed were the Magi or Wise Men who came from afar to pay Him honor.

Epiphany is a fixed day, it is always the Sixth of January, twelve or thirteen days after Christmas Day, depending on how you count.

Propers

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, with the Collect for the actual Sunday read also. Some days are particularly special, such as the Epiphany, and the Collect is read for eight days (the legendary Octave) The Propers for the Epiphany are found on Page 107-109 with the Collect first:

The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ

to the Gentiles.

[January 6.]

The Collect.

GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave

The Epistle for the evening came from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians, the Third Chapter beginning at the First Verse:

OR this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

The Gospel for the evening came from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the Second Chapter beginning at the First Verse:

HEN Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Thought for the Day

At least in Descanso, the Epiphany service was not much different than that first Epiphany. Except this time there was one wise woman and two wise guys! Most important, Jesus was there! We had a great time worshipping. Join your local service some time, it is a lot of fun. It seems as if there is always plenty of room in the inn when there is church service going on. Cold outside, though!

Sermon – Reverend Hap Arnold – Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion – Descanso, California

Through the leading of the star, the wise men from Persia (modern day Iran) were led to seek the Christ Child. This was the “revealing” of Christ to the Gentiles, and the first such event. Though he mainly ministered to the Jews of Israel, it is important that he ministered to the Roman governor and the Faithful Centurion (from which our parish gets its name) whom were Gentiles.

Though the Apostles in the early church did not think ministering to the Gentiles was worthy, through the actions of St. Paul, The Word began spreading to the Gentiles. Paul says in his Epistle the time has come we should start spreading to the Gentiles, and bring our gifts (talents) to His Service (as our talents are on loan from God, as Rush Limbaugh says) and use them accordingly to further His purpose on this planet.

Paul also said that he was charged by God to bring The Word to all, not just the Jews. The time was now ripe to expand past the original target market (the Jews), and to spread it to all. He said that he wished to explain the mysteries (The Word) of God to all, including the Gentiles, that they might see and hear The Word.

In the Gospel, Herod tries to entice the wisemen to find the Christ child and report His whereabouts to him that, he claims “that I will come and will worship him.” But like most modern leaders of the world today, his words were duplicitous in nature. “I will come and worship him” translated to he would come and murder Christ, as he did the Holy Innocents, while Christ was in Egypt.

After they visited the Christ child. God warned the wisemen in a dream of Herod’s true intentions, and they went home a different way so they avoided a confrontation with Herod. They brought Jesus frankincense, incense and myrrh. In a way, they did what Paul talked about and brought Him “gifts” for His Service. Now we do not know if these gifts were ever used in Christ’s life. But, like present time gift giving, it is not the gifts themselves that are important. It is the thought and meaning behind the giving of gifts.

Now in this troubled time, we must be ready to bring our talents to Him, to use for His Glory and to spread His Word. In this time, we must spread The Word and without ceasing praise Him and His Majesty. In order to institute a turn around of the moral decay, we must first act. If we do not act, then how can we expect to stem the tide of the moral decay. We must act with steadfast purpose.

This may require some courage on our behalf, as we will be mocked and perhaps in this troubled time, may come a day, when we like the apostles are thrown in jail. However scary this time may be for spreading His Word, no matter how hostile it is, we must do it anyway. We are soldiers of Christ and like our military counterparts, we must do out duty, then count the cost. We must step forward into this hostile world, and charge forward against the fire of hostile media and people, whose hearts have been turned to stone. We must charge against them, using The Word as our defense and our offense against Satan. The greatest defense is the best offense. And we truly have both in The Word of God. We must remember God wants everybody to follow Him, not just certain ethnic groups (like the Jews), and we must concentrate on spreading His Word, through bringing our Gifts and Talents to His Service.

He comes!

Be of God – Live of God – Act of God

The First Sunday after the Epiphany

Today was the first Sunday after the Epiphany and Second Sunday of the New Year 2016.

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 –

Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.

James Thurber

American writer

Few skills are so well rewarded as the ability to convince parasites that they are victims.

Thomas Sowell

Creative Evolution

One reason why many people find Creative Evolution so attractive is that it gives one much of the emotional comfort of believing in God and none of the less pleasant consequences. When you are feeling fit and the sun is shining and you do not want to believe that the whole universe is a mere mechanical dance of atoms, it is nice to be able to think of this great mysterious Force rolling on through the centuries and carrying you on its crest. If, on the other hand, you want to do something rather shabby, the Life-Force, being only a blind force, with no morals and no mind, will never interfere with you like that troublesome God we learned about when we were children. The Life-Force is a sort of tame God. You can switch it on when you want, but it will not bother you. All the thrills of religion and none of the cost. Is the Life-Force the greatest achievement of wishful thinking the world has yet seen?

Jack Lewis

Mere Christianity

He’s wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.

Mr. Beaver

Chronicles of Narnia

Good and Evil

If you do not take the distinction between good and bad very seriously, then it is easy to say that anything you find in this world is a part of God. But, of course, if you think some things really bad, and God really good, then you cannot talk like that. You must believe that God is separate from the world and that some of the things we see in it are contrary to His will. Confronted with a cancer or a slum the Pantheist can say, ‘If you could only see it from the divine point of view, you would realise that this also is God.’ The Christian replies, ‘Don’t talk damned nonsense.’ For Christianity is a fighting religion. It thinks God made the world—that space and time, heat and cold, and all the colours and tastes, and all the animals and vegetables, are things that God ‘made up out of His head’ as a man makes up a story. But it also thinks that a great many things have gone wrong with the world that God made and that God insists, and insists very loudly, on our putting them right again.

Jack Lewis

Mere Christianity

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

President George Washington

Farewell Address, 1796

Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.

Author Unknown

I’ve seen men die because they were sure that what should not happen, would not.

Robert Jordan

What at first was plunder assumed the softer name of revenue.

Thomas Paine

Liberty … is a political situation denoting the lawful capability of the citizen to defend himself and his near and dear without interference from the state.

Colonel Jeff Cooper

20^th and 21^st century American patriot and firearms expert

. . . The slaughter perpetrated… by people who are legally armed by their state doesn’t really interest anybody. What shocks the enlightened world… is not the millions slaughtered by states, but rather, those exceptions to the rule in which individuals— not regimes— perpetrate the slaughter. The authors of the American constitution wrote a document about as close to perfection as is humanly possible. They understood well that the first stop on the path to slavery is to rescind the citizen’s right to defend himself, leaving him alone, helpless and vulnerable to the ‘kindness’ of the regime. Wherever a regime has become totalitarian, its first step is to disarm its citizens. We automatically assume that the state is a responsible power acting, first and foremost, for the benefit of its citizens. We feel good thinking that there is a big brother out there with whom we can deposit the responsibility for our fate. When a shocking shooting spree… takes place, nobody seriously checks what violent films children are watching. Nobody talks about training armed citizens to prevent more of these insane shootings. The easy solution – the solution that does not require taking responsibility – is to deposit arms and responsibility in the hands of the state… It is easy to slide down the slippery slope of totalitarianism. The loss of the ability to protect oneself is the loss of liberty.

Moshe Feiglin

20^th and 21^st century Israeli statesman and author

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8

The “living Constitution” argument usually proceeds from the observation that society’s morality is evolving and that the Constitution should be interpreted by the courts to reflect that fact. The argument is disingenuous. When a court invalidates a statute, it invalidates the best evidence available of what society’s morality entails. The evolving morality rationale, which the Supreme Court has used a number of times, is actually no more than a statement that the Court believes the morality it prefers should be enforced. The society is not evolving, only the Court is… These arguments are advanced only with respect to the Constitution, because a constitutional ruling cannot be overturned by the legislature. That fact reveals the antidemocratic animus, the socialist impulse, that lies behind [the arguments] for a Court that is not bound by the original understanding of the Constitution’s principles.

Robert H. Bork

20^th and 21^st century American jurist and author

Coercing Virtue, pp. 80-81

If Eastern mysticism is the answer (to our environmental problems), then why are the economies and environments of Southeast Asia, where Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Zen predominate, in such a state of disaster? Who has the better environmental record? America, using proven traditional conservation practices, or those cultures where mystic beliefs are put into practice? Nowhere does science back up [New Agers’] theories. Should America put its trust in unproven theories or in scientifically tested, proven safe, traditional conservation practices?… Mystic religious beliefs are rapidly becoming enshrined in law and regulation… Take a hard look at what is happening to [our constitutional rights, specifically, “nor shall any person be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law”]… [for] laws and regulations are being instituted on the basis of nothing more than unproven mystic pseudoscience founded in nature religion— not proven science. This effectively circumvents the intent of the First Amendment… “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…” [thus] the only thing missing that makes this religion unaccountable to the First Amendment is that there is no established “Church of Nature.”

Dr. Michael Coffman– 20th and 21st century American ecologist and author (Saviors of the Earth?, p. 154).

Dependency

It is illegal to feed dolphins in the United States. Federal law prohibits this… Why shouldn’t people be allowed to feed dolphins? Because, marine biologists say, giving dolphins free food addicts them to handouts. People are turning dolphins into welfare bums… Marine biologists, who are themselves being fed by the federal government, understand the threat to ecology posed by welfare economics. It is a bad idea, they say, to addict smart fish to handouts… What is gospel at the National Marine Fishing Service is anathema at the Department of Health and Human Services. What the government’s experts on fish see as a threat to fish, the government’s experts on human beings do not see as a threat to people. What is the threat? Creating permanent dependence.

Gary North

20^th and 21^st century American economist and author

When all government, domestic and foreign, in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided of one government on another, and will become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated.

Thomas Jefferson

American patriot and President

Labels

In reality, the fact that a person may call himself a liberal is irrelevant. He might just as well call himself a “socialist” or “communist,” because, in the final analysis, all three of these banners advertise a belief in compulsory compassion, which necessitates a belief in the morality of sacrificing the rights of some individuals to the so-called good of others… It is therefore important that you not be fooled by labels. A more appropriate name to describe all three… would be “theftists,” because all three share a deep-seated belief in the morality of theft. Underneath all their benevolent propaganda, they tenaciously adhere to the perversity of [theft]… A liberal is… a closet communist; a socialist is in the process of coming out of the closet; and a communist is already… outside, trying to shove you into the closet. But the important thing to remember is that all liberals are dangerous. Dispel the notion that [they] are well-meaning… for… what really lies at the heart of [their] activities [is] the use of force against those who refuse to go along with [their] ideas and demands… they shoot to kill! If you don’t believe this, just refuse to obey one of their laws of aggression (i.e., aggression against you), then follow through by trying to defend yourself when they attempt to force you to obey. You will very quickly find out just how benevolent [they] are.

Robert Ringer

20^th and 21^st century American Libertarian and author

How You Can Find Happiness During The Collapse Of Western Civilization

Propers

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

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

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

The Propers are found on Page 109-111 with the Collect first:

The First Sunday after The Epiphany.

The Collect.

LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ

to the Gentiles.

[January 6.]

The Collect.

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave

The Epistle for today came from the Twelfth Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans beginning at the First Verse. Paul asks not only those long gone Romans, but us, as well, to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” He tells us our home is in heaven. Life here is not the end, rather the stepping off point, either to heaven or hell. Thus were are “not conformed to this world: but to be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that we ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Some of us may be better than others, but all fall short of the minimum standard. Through Christ we attain eternal life. In the meantime, each of us should not “think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Each of us has a place in the church, a reason to be and job to do. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

The Gospel for today came from the Second Chapter of the Gospel of St. Lukebeginning at the Forty-First Verse. It tells the story of when Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem after the Passover Feast in his twelfth year. When they were done, the family group, for they likely traveled with their extended family for safety, left together. After the first day’s travel they stopped for the night and could not find Jesus. So, fearing the worst, they headed back at night for Jerusalem. Braving robbers and worse, they made their way back. After looking for three days, they went to the temple, where lo, they found him^{^[1]}. He was among the learned men “both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” His parents were amazed and confounded. He asked them why they worried and why they did not understand that he was about his Father’s business. It is noteworthy that Jesus at twelve was able to “hold his own” with the learned scholars of Judah. He was able to out reason those who lived to dissect the Law. “A little child shall lead them,” (Isaiah 11:1-10)

OW his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Bishop Ogles’ Sermon

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

Sermon Notes

First Sunday after The Epiphany

10 January 2016, Anno Domini (in the Year of Our Lord)

OW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. (Matthew 2:1-12)

The First Sunday after The Epiphany.

The Collect.

The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ

to the Gentiles.

[January 6.]

The Collect.

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave

We are now in the Epiphany season of our Church year and we are thinking of the time when the Wise Men came from the East to baby Jesus. Many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and with Isaac, and with Jacob. (Matthew 8:11) Perhaps the bigger picture is the fact that the lowly shepherds were told of the birth, and they came to Christ. These were Judean shepherds and belong to the blood of Israel. A bit later, God drew the Wise Men of the East to come to Christ. These men were gentiles; therefore, the symbolism is dramatic. God was making it very clear that all races of people were invited to come to Him.

The one quality that has defined the Coming of Christ into the world, both at Christmas and beyond, is the coming Light into a world of darkness – and the Lord Jesus Christ is that Light of the World and of Heaven itself. There were men of the East who sat in the darkness of superstition and ignorance for the generations of their lives, but they were men, also, whose minds were open to the evidence of Nature and Reason that there MUST be a God who spanned the Heavens and created all the beauty of the earth. So they studied, perhaps, many diverse religious notions and fell upon the one God described in the Hebrew prophets. They did not read these prophets with a casual demeanor, but with intense and diligent study. I have read a number of scholarly written theories concerning from when these Wise Men came, but the Bible does not say. While living in Esfahan, Iran, I became familiar with the Zoroastrian religion which was still practiced, alongside Islam, in that city. It was the religion of Cyrus (at one point), of Darius, of Xerxes (Ahasuerus of Esther’s fame), and Artaxerxes. These people believed in a duality in God – good (AhuraMazda) and evil (Ahriman). They also maintain a perpetual fire of AhuraMazda which they venerated as light. Their priests, even in the contemporary era, are called magi. It seems possible to me that these were the Wise Men who studied the lights of heaven, compared them with the prophetic writings of Scripture, and settled on the prophecy of the Coming Light of Christ. Perhaps these scholars took particular note of the prophecy: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel…….. (Num 24:17) They searched the heavens and constellations for a sign of His Coming, and they SAW it! I do not believe this Star was some sort of natural alignment of heavenly bodies to produce an explainable phenomenon, but a special Star (or Heavenly body) of God’s own special creation to answer the need for this great occasion. Why would it not be when God created all heavenly bodies at the beginning and is still able to create as He pleases?

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Please bear in mind that these men saw His Star in the East and followed it to Judea but, as they have drawn near to Jerusalem, they stopped following the Star and began to follow their own wisdom. The Star did not lead them to Jerusalem for that was not where the child, Jesus, was to be found. It might be supposed as they drew near to Jerusalem (Bethlehem is only six miles away), they probably began to reason that the Coming King would not be born in a rural village but in capital city of Jerusalem, and most likely in the palace of the King Herod. They were wrong, for man’s thoughts are not God’s thoughts. God places no stock by glitter and glamour, but in the simple things of beauty and truth. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him There seems to be no question at all in the hearts of the Wise Men regarding the identity of the Child to be born. They possessed strength of faith that exceeded that of the Scribes and Priests of Israel. Their faith had been confirmed by Light – the Light of the Star – and they had come to WORSHIP Him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. The leadership of a nation, whether good or bad, has a critical effect on the direction of the hearts of the people. If our leader is Godly, he will pursue measures to strengthen the faith of the people. If he is corrupt, the thoughts of the people will be easily inclined to corruption. Note in our present verse how the King (Herod) was troubled at the news of the birth of Christ. It should not have troubled him for he was aware that the coming King of the Jews was a prophecy reinforced by all of the prophets. The amazing fact is that ALL of Jerusalem was troubled with him. See how blindly men will follow the example of a devious leader? The Scribes and Priests knew well the [prophecies, yet they were troubled along with the King and all of his subjects. How sad!

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. That old snake, Herod, knew well of the prophecy and he demonstrates the same by summoning the scribes and chief priests together to inquire of the details of the Lord’s birth. He desired to know the EXACT place of His birth for the sake of taking action to destroy the Son of God. What a vile creature he was, and blight upon the face of the earth!

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Notice that these scribes and chief priests, who were alike troubled at the news of Christ’s birth, knew well the prophecies of His Coming birth and accurately related them to Herod. It is this attitude that seems to prevail among the religious leaders of Israel, not only at this time, but throughout the ministry of Christ, that convinces me that their evil hearts always knew who Christ was and rejected Him out of that knowledge and not out of ignorance as is proffered today by many preachers. These culprits quoted the prophecy well. They also believed the prophecy for they told Herod that the Child would be born in Bethlehem for thus it is written. The last phrase of the prophecy is that which troubled Herod beyond all measure: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Herod was concerned for his own power and rule by this last phrase.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. We can deduce the motive of Herod here in asking, privately, when the Star appeared. He obviously wished to know the age of the Child and considered Him to have been born at the appearing of the Star. Bear in mind that the Wise Men traveled many months, if not a year or two, in traversing the desolate deserts of Arabia in following the Star. Moreover the rivers of the Tigris and Euphrates had to be crossed. So Herod inquired ‘diligently’ for he believed he had a personal stake in the answer.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. I must confess that Herod is worse than a serpent for a snake will not chase us down to murder us, but Herod asks cunningly about the age of the Child and requested the Wise Men to report back His exact whereabouts when they have found Him. He adds that he would like this information that he might come and worship Christ as well. As you will recall, Herod sent soldiers to Bethlehem later and slew every male child two years of age and younger.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.. I am amazed at the concise manner in which much meaning is conveyed in Holy Scripture. Observe, not only that which is spoken, but that which is implied in this verse. When the Wise Men departed from the false, man-made lights of the city, they again saw the Star which they had stopped following when they entered Jerusalem. The Light will always lead us to Christ for all Light knows its source. Christ is the Light of the World and, like the Sun, generates Light and IS the Light. The Star led them to Bethlehem and stood over where the young Child was. The child was no longer a new-born baby but a young child.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. That is, when they saw that the Star stopped and stood over the place they knew would mark the place of the young Child. They have traversed desert, plain, mountain, and great waters for this very moment. Now their expectations will be fully satisfied! And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him. The Great Lighthouse casts its beams across the tempestuous Seas and billows to herald all ships at sea who will respond to its beckon that here is the harbor of calm and safety. Come hither for rest and security. The Wise Men have followed the warm and radiant beams of a Star Light to Christ. When a sinner comes near to Christ, he must not stop at the threshold, but enter in to the company of Christ. The Wise Men enter into the house without delay. Immediately upon seeing Christ with His mother Mary, they fell down and worshipped Him. These were no beggars, but men of renown and fortune who were honored in their homeland. But they fall down and worship a little Baby Jesus immediately upon seeing Him. The battered ship, having weathered the storm to come to safe harbor must let go anchor. We have found a place of constant abiding in Him.

……and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. These men were Wise because they employed their faculties in coming to Christ. They went to a great deal of trouble to find Him. How much effort have we expended to come to Him? They remembered to bring their treasures. Today, we bring our talents, our souls, and bodies. The gifts of the Wise men are particularly prophetic: the Gold signified His royalty, the Frankincense His Deity (as the smoke of the incense rises over the altar, it represents our prayers being raised to God), and the Myrrh represents His death. It was perhaps these precious gifts that provided support for Mary, Joseph and Jesus during their repose in Egypt.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. God has taken precaution against that Old Fox – Herod, and warned the Wise Men to return home on another route than that which they had traveled in coming. There is a coming terror to the mothers and male children of Bethlehem. That dire prophecy, uttered by Jeremiah the prophet, is about to transpire: Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah (Bethlehem), lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. (Jer 31:15) These precious children, ruthlessly murdered by a power-mad ruler, became the first martyrs in the cause of Christ. We acknowledged their Day of Holy Innocents three days following Christmas Day. Their precious little souls were also perhaps first to rest in the bosom of another Child, the Lord Jesus Himself!

Sermon – Rev Hap Arnold

Church of the Faithful Centurion – Descanso, California

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

…grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same…

As imperfect creatures with free will, we will never figure out what we should be doing, let alone do it, on our own. That is the part of the reason God sent the Holy Ghost; that we might listen to Him and understand. He will give us the ability to figure out and know what and how we are to do the things we need to do here on Earth for Him. Not just understand The Word spoken to us through Jesus and the Scriptures, but to understand what we should do; hence the prayer to figure out what we need to do, then give us the power or strength to do what we are supposed to do. We might have some difficulties, some nervousness, some stumbling, but in the end as long as we do our best to follow His will, and not worry, things shall be ok. Because then we will be on the path to eternal life and happiness, as he wants us to be happy. To actually be on that very real and difficult path and not just think or talk about being on it. We need to actively follow Our Lord and not be passive about it, but actually physically do it. We need to act, using the Scriptures as our Holy Handbook for our actions within our lives. He did not mean for us to simply read it only, but to digest it and use what we learned in the real world.

After all isn’t that what the school system was supposedly put in place for? University, the words comprise it are “Una Veritas”, meaning “One Truth”, as it was supposed to be a place of Godly learning, where one would learn the “One Truth”. The school system was intended that we might have Godly children growing up in the faith, therefore strengthening them as men/women of great moral character. If we put back the Scriptures in our schools and held the kids to the standards of those Scriptures, then we would find ourselves on a moral higher ground. The Scriptures are the only true truth, as they are based on the Word of God, who is truth in every sense of the word. It it something should use to help develop ourselves in life, to use a term from the Japanese, kai-zen, or continuous self improvement.

The first thing tsunami watchers would tell people, is at the first sign of a tsunami approaching, go to higher ground. That same principle applies to our lives. At the first sign of any sort of evil, temptation or sin, head to the higher ground God lives on and seek Him out, rather than wait for the wave of evil to envelop us. We also have to recognize the signs we are in trouble and immediately consult Him and His Word and figure out an action plan according to the principles in Scripture.

We are asking God to help us know what we should do and then help us to do it right. Seems pretty simple. That is the root of almost all our problems. It is harder to do what is right than what seems easy to us. First, even if we ask God what He wants us to do, “There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.” Then, if we hear what He wants us to do, and hear it correctly, we often find it “too hard.” Do you recall this quote from GK Chesterton:

“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”

So once we find out what God wants, we often rationalize our way around it. Think about the 613 Mosaic laws and the Pharisees who made a good living telling people how to comply with them to the letter and still do just what they wanted to do. So, then even if we find out what God wants and decide to actually do it instead of avoid it, we are faced with the often huge problem of where do we get the strength to accomplish this task. The answer is circular, from God. He never asks us to do anything we cannot do good enough for Him if we rely on Him. Never. End of that discussion.

Now, once you have managed to get this far, you gain the power needed to become one of Paul’s New Men, a person who has accepted God’s Grace, turning to God and relying on Him for guidance, strength, courage and perseverance. To do that, we need to turn outward. Not think of ourselves, but of God and our fellow Christians. Speaking of that, one of the tools God gives us to get things done is a Team, that Team is fellow Christians. So, we need to work together as a Team. Think not of your glory, but that of God. President Reagan had a sign on his desk, which read:

“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.”

Paul tells us not to concentrate on our status, position or grandeur, but to see what we can do to help. Just like our body would not function if all parts were brains, neither will Christ’s Team function if everyone is concerned about their position.

When we look at the Gospel today, aside from the historical function telling us that Jesus was in the temple bringing the light of the gospel to the rabbis, I am reminded there are other lessons. It is not that we want to micromanage your life, but keep your friends and family informed of what you are doing and where you are going. Jesus’ earthly parents risked life and limb going back up the road to Jerusalem at night. But, that was their duty as parents. A duty which must have been done, no matter the cost. The lesson here is to keep your family and friends well informed of what you are doing, rather than going off on your own, figuring you can handle it. Except most times, we cannot, as we are not like Jesus, we are not the Son of God, but rather mortals adopted into God’s Family. There are some things we cannot do on our own without His Help and without the help of our family and friends.

Duty means to do what you are supposed to do, then count the cost. There is no sense of duty if you are merely doing what is easiest for you at the time. While doing your duty will in the end be the right thing, thus the easiest thing, it may not be at the time. Doing one’s duty can result in one’s temporal death, the end of their time here on earth. Not an easy way. But, recall that easy downhill path leads to the pit, it does not lead to the summit. Our country is where it is today because of those who preceded us, those who did their duty. It will not keep going up if, as a country we stroll down that wide smooth downhill boulevard. We must struggle to stay on the narrow path, which leads to the summit.

Look back at those who stepped forward when the country called, Concord, Veracruz, Gettysburg, San Juan Hill, Chateau Thierry, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Peleliu, Bastogne, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Chosin Reservoir, Ia Drang Valley, Khe Sanh, Hanoi, Laos, Cambodia, Basra, Kabul, Bagdad and countless unfamiliar names in Southwest Asia. In them, you find a unifying theme of Duty, doing what you have to do, no matter what it takes, then count the cost. Those who fought for our country did it out of duty to their country and God and to protect their family. We must emulate their purpose and serve God dutifully. Christ is the ultimate example of this, the only begotten Son of God, yet doing His duty to die for us, which is what God wanted Him to do, to save us from eternal hellfire. So it was His Duty and He did it with honor.

Through duty, we too might have a noble death and welcoming in heaven.

Duty –

God • Honor • Country • Family

But, back to the Gospel and the parents’ arrival at the temple, where lo, they found him. He was among the learned men “both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” His parents were amazed and confounded. He asked them why they worried and why they did not understand that he was about his Father’s business^{^[2]}. It is noteworthy to see Jesus at twelve was able to “hold his own” with the learned scholars of Judah. He was able to out reason those who lived to dissect the Law. “A little child shall lead them,” Isaiah 11:1-10

He comes!

Be of God – Live of God – Act of God

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

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

First Sunday after Epiphany

The significance of the Epiphany

10 January 2016, Anno Domini

Psalm 72 • Isaiah 60:1-9 • Matthew 2:1-12

The First Sunday after The Epiphany.

The Collect.

This Sunday, the first Sunday after the Epiphany, we see a wonderful coordination between the Old and New Testament readings. The passage from Isaiah depicts the Light and Glory of the Lord being a beacon or a draw for the Gentiles. “…and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising…” Two of the three gifts offered to the Christ child are mentioned by name; gold and incense.

What is the symbolism of each of those gifts? Gold=kingship; incense=prayer ascending to heaven, in other words a High Priesthood. This High Priesthood would be fulfilled by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ upon earth in a brief 3½ years. Both gifts were offered to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem by the Magi, who came from the East. Notice the symbolism in Verse 3, ‘…the Gentiles shall come to the light and kings to the brightness of thy rising…’

This passage doesn’t necessarily make reference to the Magi as kings, but it does give us the foreshadowing of the revealing of LORD to the Gentiles. And as to the brightness rising, that is the description of the star that led the Magi to Bethlehem.

God the Creator, can create anything for His purpose. He can make the sun stand still, create a large sea creature capable of swallowing a man {Jonah}, part rivers or seas for safe passage of people, or create a star that acts like no other before or since.

What were the properties of the star that led the Magi? It rose or appeared in the WEST. It moved west to led them from the eastern lands, most likely ancient Persia, it led them south and east out of Jerusalem; where they had stopped to ask directions to the King of the Jews birth place, to the tiny town of Bethlehem. It STOPPED over the place where the LORD was dwelling at the time, in Bethlehem; and then it disappeared.

These behaviors had never been observed before this star and have never been observed since. The modern secular astronomer would say:

It never happened.
It was an exploding super nova in a distant part of the universe.
It was a comet.
It was the conjunction of several of our larger planets, Jupiter, Saturn and the bright Venus.

The only problem is this star did not behave like any of the above mentioned natural phenomena; in fact the star was extraordinary, special and unique to the time and place reported. In other words, God created a messenger in the heavens to led a group of astronomers from the east, to a simple cottage in a back-water village near Jerusalem, to see the KING of the Jews, recently born.

Ok, now to see the ‘star’ treatment as described in the New Testament. In St. Matthew’s gospel we read a more Hebraic or Jewish take on the birth of the Christ child.

I want you to think about something interesting. In a time of very little or ineffective artificial light, when if you looked out your door or from the roof of your house, you could see the vast expanse of the heavens on a clear night, why didn’t the people of Jerusalem see the star?

Several different explanations are given:

The star was not visible to those who were not seeking the coming King of kings.
The average person was so busy trying to stay alive, both in body and soul, that they did not afford themselves the pleasure of observing the night sky. {The only problem with this explanation, the observant Jew always celebrated New Moon feasts, which occur every 28 days.} That means they were looking at the sky to see the first sliver of a new moon each month.
They didn’t care or were unconcerned with what was happening around them.

It seems that the star was visible to the Magi only, or those who traveled with the Magi, this would be to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. Is this possibly a lesson to us today? We are to constantly seek the face of Jesus, in his Word and in prayer. We are to not only feed upon his Word but to also seek to share that with others as the Word was shared with the Gentile so many eons ago.

The chief priest and scribes knew where the that Bethlehem of Judaea was going to be the village where the Governor (ruler) would come from, who would rule Israel. And yet they did not understand the significance of this visit of Magi from the east. Why didn’t anyone ask the question? Why didn’t they question this arrival of Gentiles, risking the dangers of travel, to come visit what they said was the Christ, the Governor of the people of Israel? The scribes and priests had book knowledge, they just didn’t have heart knowledge, of the coming Messiah.

Let us pray we don’t do the same thing.

Now the last part of the Isaiah prophecy is now fulfilled. The presentation of the gifts:

Gold Kingship

Frankincense High priesthood, Only High priesthood offered by Jesus Christ

Myrrh A balm made from several plant saps was used in funerary preparation the myrrh would be a foreshadowing of the death that this little baby would eventually suffer for the salvation of man.

Now let us go back to the record of this event found in the gospels of St. Matthew.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

What would compel a group, we don’t know the actual number of Magi, tradition says three because of the three gifts, to bow down and worship a young child? Especially a young child of another race or ethnicity, what would compel them to do this? They apparently had access to the great libraries of antiquity where they were able to pour over ancient prophecies written down and from these writings were able to understand the significance of the ‘light’. The very light that had be prophesied by Isaiah and others, such as David’s Psalm 72; all pointed to the light.

So a group of Gentiles would travel all this way to worship the King, they would risk great personal harm to seek out the Lord of the Universe, the King of kings, the Savior of all who seek him, how much more should we seek to serve him; King of kings, Lord of lords?

We in the western civilizations, have far less to lose if we fall down and worship him. Him who came to save us from our sins, let us meditate and ponder the great mystery of the revealing of the Christ child to the Gentiles, oh so many years ago. We have that epiphany now, we can know the Savior, he who came as a child, who grew up in a land fraught with dangers, who would reveal to the world his Salvation. We have no excuse to know Christ as our Savior, we have no excuse to turn from him and flee, except our sinful nature. Beloved come to Jesus, he who was revealed to the world on that Day of Epiphany, he will save you, he will one day welcome you home to his mansion. That mansion, with many rooms, where he has prepared a place for his believers.

Let us pray:

LMIGHTY God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; At the beginning of this New Year we humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

LMIGHTY God, whose compassion fail not, and whose loving-kindness reacheth unto the world’s end; We give thee humble thanks for opening heathen lands to the light of thy truth; for making paths in the deep waters and highways in the desert; and for planting thy Church in all the earth. Grant, we beseech thee, unto us thy servants, that with lively faith we may labor abundantly to make known to all men thy blessed gift of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IRECT us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

✟

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:

Serious About God

Genesis 16 • Mathew 6:16-34

First Sunday after Epiphany

January 10, 2016

On Thursday our program of daily Bible readings brought us to one the highest pinnacles of the New Testament, known as the Sermon on the Mount. This morning’s reading from Matthew is part of that famous Sermon. Our Lord has been ministering in and around a small city on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and growing crowds of people have been following Him, but most of them don’t understand who He is, and most of them don’t understand the message He preaches. So He moves away from the seaside and ascends a small hill, so He can be seen and heard. There, as Matthew 5:2 records, “He opened His mouth, and taught them.”

Today most people know about the Sermon on the Mount. Many can quote parts of it, for many of its phrases like “the salt of the earth,” have become part of the culture. But many who know the Sermon well, do not know its primary point. If you ask them what its message is, you will probably get a wrong answer, or an admission that they don’t know. So, I want to talk about the message, the primary point our Lord is making in this sermon, and I begin by asking, rhetorically, what is the primary point of the Sermon on the Mount?

While you are pondering that question I will give you some hints by telling you what it is not. The primary point is not, “be kind.” Kindness is good. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22. In our King James Version it says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. “Gentleness” meaning to deal gently with others, could also easily be translated kindness. So we ought to work at being kind, but that is not the point of the Sermon on the Mount. The primary point of the Sermon on the Mount is not, “trust God to take care of you.” Of course we should trust God to take care of us, and, yes, that point is made in this Sermon. Our Lord tells us to “Behold the fowls of the air,” and “Consider the lilies.” He says God takes care of them, therefore we can trust Him to take care of us (Mt. 6:30). But this is not the primary point of the Sermon on the Mount.

Now let me say what the point of the Sermon is. It is a point that is made often in the Bible. In fact, it is one of the primary points in all of Scripture. It is stated in Matthew 4:19-22, where Christ calls several men to leave everything and, “Follow Me.” It is stated in Matthew 11:29 where Christ says, “take my yoke upon you and learn of Me.” Our Lord is telling us to learn His teachings and pattern our lives after His. In the Greek, “learn” is a form of the word we usually translate as “disciple.” A disciple is a person who devotes himself to a mentor. In the Old Testament, young men often became disciples of the prophets, as Elisha was to Elijah. The men we know as the Apostles were originally called the disciples, because they followed Christ to learn about Him and become like Him. It was only after they learned what they needed to learn as disciples that they were ready to become the Apostles. Before our Lord returned to Heaven, He commissioned the Apostles to make more disciples. The disciples were established in local churches, such as Antioch and Ephesus, which we read about in the New Testament. Some disciples attached themselves to the Apostles as the Apostles had attached themselves to Christ. They traveled with the Apostles, and studied their sermons and lives to learn more fully this wonderful faith Christ has given to the Church. Timothy was a disciple of the Apostle Paul. Mark was a disciple of the Apostle Peter. Antipas, the martyr (Rev. 2:13), was a disciple of the Apostle John.

But let’s let the Sermon itself state its main point. It does so in several places. It is stated near the beginning, in Matthew 5:20; “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” In Matthew 6:24, our Lord says we cannot serve two master; we can’t serve God and mammon. One of its clearest statements is found in Matthew 6:33, which is part of our reading for today; “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.” That is just another way of saying what Jesus Himself calls the great commandment; “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thine soul, and with all thy mind.” In other word, the main point of the Sermon on the Mount is to make God the main point of your life.

Jesus knew the people in His time weren’t serious about God. Oh, they believed in God, and they believed they were God’s chosen people, and they observed Passover and went to the synagogue every Sabbath, but they weren’t serious about God. They were happy to do the religious things they thought earned God’s blessings, but they didn’t really love God with their whole heart, strength and mind; they didn’t even want to love God that way. The best way I can express their attitude is to say they wanted God on their own terms, not God’s terms. They were willing to do anything God wanted, as long as it was what they wanted God to want from them.

I remember when people pledged to love one another in monogamous marriage “as long as ye both shall live.” They didn’t always keep that promise, but they made it. It was a promise to love, honour and cherish in good and bad times, sickness or health, when it is convenient or not, come what may, for life. Then I remember when people didn’t like those vows, and they started writing their own. Many removed the “till death do us part” language, and replaced it with words like, “as long as love shall last.” That was a significant change. It said, “I’ll stay with you as long as I feel like it, as long as you make me happy. But When that stops, I’ll leave.” In other words, the marriage vow ceased to promise unconditional love, and began to promise love “on my terms.” That is the way most of the Jews loved God when Christ walked the earth.

The names and dates have changed, but the story remains the same, doesn’t it? We live in a nation where the vast majority of people claim to be Christians. But they don’t let their “faith” interfere with their attitudes or morality. They believe in God, but want Him on their terms not God’s terms.

The main point of the Sermon on the Mount is that God doesn’t accept your terms. He doesn’t exist to serve you. He didn’t put you here to make you “happy.” He is not a commodity to enhance the quality of your life. He is God Almighty. The righteous, holy, and sovereign God. He doesn’t owe you anything, but you owe Him everything.

So, what is first in your life? Do you seek first, above all else, even above your own life, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? Or do you seek first the kingdom of you, and expect God to fit into your kingdom on your terms? We need to always remember that it is not God’s duty to change to conform to our expectations and desires: it is our duty to change and conform to His.

—

+Dennis Campbell

Bishop, Anglican Orthodox Church Diocese of Virginia

Rector, Holy Trinity Anglican Orthodox Church

Powhatan, Virginia

www.HolyTrinityAnglicanOrthodoxChurch.org

www.lifeinthescriptures.blogspot.com

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.

First Sunday after the Epiphany

ow when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

(St. Matthew 2: 1-12)

We were told of the wise men who came to worship at the feet of the Christ child. The Greek name for a wise man is magos from which we derive our words magic and magician. It is a name which has been used by biblical writers to describe the pagan practitioners of astrology, sorcery and soothsaying.

The wise men (magi) in our lesson, had discovered a special star. As a result of their research about this new celestial object, they found that it heralded the birth of the King of the Jews. But simple research was not enough to satisfy their souls for the Holy Spirit had inspired them to seek him out. So they left their homeland in the east and journeyed westward to Judea that they might find this child and worship him. Given what we know about these men, it is highly likely that they may have possessed some knowledge of the Pentateuch particularly the prophecy of Balaam who was given of God to speak of the Star out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17). For it was by this single event that God directed the path of the magi, first to King Herod in Jerusalem, and then on to Bethlehem where they worshiped our Lord and presented him the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Their testimony and their actions clearly mark them as believers for as the Rev. Matthew Henry once wrote: “All that have found Christ fall down before him and submit themselves to him.”

Some have questioned the decision of the wise men to approach King Herod about the birth and the location of the Christ child. All things being equal, it might appear to be a fair criticism of the wise men. Why go before the established ruler of Judea and state unequivocally that you are searching for another king? However unwise such an action might appear to be, what the critics fail to understand is that their announcement of the Messiah’s birth to King Herod was part of God’s plan and purpose. If God had not wanted them to go there, an angel would have redirected them just as they were warned to take another way home from Bethlehem. God wanted King Herod to know via these special messengers that the Messiah had come.

Herod called his advisors and questioned them about the birth place of the promised Messiah. The wise men did not know about Bethlehem until Herod’s priests and scribes told him and he passed the information on to the wise men. Then Herod sent them away with the deceitful command of, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also (St. Matthew 2:8).

King Herod had spent much of his life garnering power for himself at the expense of all around him. He had long before purposed in his heart that he alone was king of the Jews apart from any support or affirmation of Israel’s God. His folly was thus made manifest by God’s divine message that for all his efforts, he was but an interloper, a usurper, a fraud, a wicked man devoid of divine understanding whose life would soon end in agonizing torment. God had put him on notice that his reign was about to be terminated and that the true king of the Jews had now come.

Also, there is a grave warning in Scripture for all who would place themselves outside of God’s commandments as they will face his divine justice which will contain not one iota of mercy or staying of his hand. God has called all people to obedience, and Herod was hardly a humble ruler seeking God’s will for if he had been, he too would have gone to Bethlehem and groveled at the foot of that rude manger recognizing that the true king had come. The masses of satanically inspired humanity will not bow their knees before the King until the Judgment when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).

We know that the wise men were again directed by the star to the very place where the Christ child lay, and that once there they worshiped him and gave him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Their names were not given to us in Scripture, and only centuries later were they numbered and named. Suffice to say that God knows them and that ought to be good enough for us. Nevertheless, Christians in the centuries following the foundation of the Church created their own mythology concerning the wise men from the East. God intentionally left out certain details, and divine reticence ought to be respected in every case. We Christians are supposed to accept God’s word on faith— believing simply because it is his word and his word is truth (St. John 17:17).

Many times the profane histories of mankind have verified bible truths though not on account of the what the Bible said. And in any case where Scripture says one thing and man’s secular record says something different, we ought defer to the Scriptures.

In closing, I offer you five questions for your edification and enlightenment:

Are you truly searching for Christ much as those wise men of old had done?
Do you humbly worship our Lord and pray the prayers of our liturgy from the heart, rather than simply saying them?
Do you truly and earnestly love the Lord by keeping his word and commandments?
Are you willing to serve him by using the spiritual gifts which God has given you in his service?
Have you established a prayer time each day to reach out to God and lay before him your sins, your thanksgivings and your concerns?

As God called the magi to come and worship the Christ child, he also calls all humanity to come and do likewise, but with one difference. We worship not a child in a manger, but him who sits at the right hand of the Father and who is King of kings and Lord of lords. The magi worshiped him for what he was born to become, while we worship him as he is and what he will always be. For we have obtained everlasting salvation in his name and through his blood. So let us emulate King David when he said, I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD for there we will be received with joy by him who has given us the gift of eternal life (Psalm 122:1). Therefore in the words the hymn O Come all ye faithful we ought to, come let us adore him, Christ our Lord.

Let us pray,

ather, as we remember with joy the coming of the wise men who announced that the King of Glory had come into the world; strengthen also our witness in bearing the good news of Jesus Christ to others around us, that they too may hear and believe on him as their Saviour and Lord. And we ask this in his most precious name. 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 your church.

What should I ask for?

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

Updating the Team

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

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

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

Travel

Tuck Arnold, Ken Harris and Patrice Li are on travel to London for business.

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.

Birthdays

Hap Arnold celebrated his 66^th birthday on 27 December 2015.

Departed

Rev. Jack Bradberry passed away the morning of 28 December 2015, after an illness of over a month. Please pray for his church and family that they might adjust to the temporary separation.

Aditya Prem Prakash passed away unexpectedly; he was a very young man, a policeman who had been married only three months. Please pray for his wife and family that they might adjust to the temporary separation.

Nearing the end of their time here on earth

Mrs. Tiffany (90) has chosen to refuse extraordinary care as it will not gain much earthly time. The Tiffanys have been together for a long, long, long time. Pray for Mrs. Tiffany and her husband as together they begin this Journey to be with their Lord.

Charles has tonsil cancer; his treatment was stopped in June 2015. The tumor was too large and prevented surgery. Charles is unable to ingest nutrition and he is in a great deal of pain 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 Phil and his family who will of necessity remain behind.

Phil was taken off life support on 2 April 2015. 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 Phil and his family who will of necessity remain behind.

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.

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

Gemma Dillinger has been treating for breast cancer for over a year now, after surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy, she is reaching the limit of her tolerance with no end in sight. Please pray for her to gain strength and ground on the cancer. Help her to continue with her faith in our Lord, she is not afraid to go home, but wants to make sure it is time. Pray she will be encouraged to not give up until it is her time to go and that her time here on earth with her family will be good.

Nathan has battled cancer for several years and was thought to be in remission. Now, the cancer has returned to his spine. With chemotherapy and radiation ahead and perhaps surgery, Nathan asks your prayers for guidance for those treating him and help for him to continue his trust in the Lord. Pray also the cancer will be driven from him.

Janet has had a blood borne cancer for several years. Her faith in the Lord is great and he is ready to be with Him. Pray she will be encouraged to not give up until it is her time to go.

Holly has had Colon Cancer, Breast Cancer and now it is in her spine. Please pray for guidance for the medical personnel treating Holly, for a miraculous remission; that Holly’s remaining time here on earth might be good. Help Holly and her family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their sadness, fear, worry and terror. Pray for strength and courage for Holly.

Tim was on a kidney transplant list and started dialysis and was taken off the transplant list for a heart problem that required stents, while putting in stents a leaking valve was found. A port was put in and something happened and it has to be redone. In several days he will have a valve replaced, after heart surgery and recover he will go back on the transplant list. Please remember him in prayer in the days and weeks ahead. Pray he will put his worry on God’s shoulders so he might be at peace and rest. Pray for those treating him that they might pay attention and do their best.

Marilyn has been diagnosed with non-operable pancreatic cancer. Please pray for a miraculous remission; that Marilyn’s remaining time here on earth might be good. Help Marilyn and her family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their sadness, fear, worry and terror.

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.

Homebound or Infirm

John has Alzheimer’s; pray he will call on God to help him as he deals with this time in his life.

Steve, brother in law of Paul Martin, appears to have early onset dementia. Steve had teenage children and is very concerned for them. Please pray for the disease to stall or abate and for peace of mind for Steve and his family.

Emma Lee is in a Nursing Home and while moving her she was dropped and her femur was broken. She was operated on and her femur was repaired and she is in rehab. She is not responding well and your prayers will be appreciated.

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.

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.

Surgery

Joey a young man with colon cancer is having surgery the week of 28 December 2015. Pray the surgical team will be open to guidance, pay close attention and do their very best. Pray for peace of mind and trust in God for Joey and his family.

Jenny is having surgery on 15 December 2015, to have two kidney stones removed and will be operated on Tuesday Morning. Pray the surgical team will be open to guidance, pay close attention and do their very best. Pray for peace of mind and trust in God for Jenny and her family.

Steve had a Pace Maker put in mid-December 2015,other problems came up. Steve has lost 5 pints of blood and your prayers will be appreciated.

Ashiei had surgery on Tuesday 1 December 2015, to remove a tumor from her chest; complications ensued. Please continue Ashiei in your prayers and pray for the medical team to be open to God’s guidance on further treatment, to their best and for a good outcome. Pray also Ashiei and her family will be able to put their worry on God’s shoulders.

Marcia has had a biospy of a mass in her breast which indicated a tumor that must be removed. Pray the surgical team will be open to guidance, pay close attention and do their very best. Pray for peace of mind and trust in God for Marcia and her family.

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

Mary Lee has bleeding into her stomach and they cannot find the sources. Mary Lee is in CCU and her husband Maurice is not eating until she returns home for is so upset. Please pray for the physicians treating her to be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for a full and speedy recovery to good health and for trust in the Lord for her, Maurice, as well as the rest of the family in this worrisome time.

Glenn Porter, MAJ USMC Retired, has Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis, which causes him to be unable to get enough oxygen into his system without supplemental oxygen all the time. The only real treatment is a lung transplant, without a transplant he has between two to five years here on earth. Please pray for him to continue in his faith and for a set of lungs to become available.

Kathy Cardin appears to have macular telangiectasia, a degenerative eye condition which ultimately results in blindness for which there is no apparent cure. Please pray for the physicians treating her to be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for no loss of vision and trust in the Lord for her, her husband Ron, as well as the rest of the family in this worrisome time.

Eileen Jacob wife of Bishop Ernest Jacob in Pakistan, has idiopathic facial paralysis due to hypertension. She has, by God’s Grace, avoided a major stroke. Please pray for the physicians treating her to be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for a full and speedy recovery to good health and for trust in the Lord for her, Jacob and their daughter Erma, as well as the rest of the family in this worrisome time.

Pat has an aneurism of the brain, Pray she will make the right decision on how to treat this problem and it will be healed.

Gwen Savarese (Sandy Patton’s mom) had what was thought to be a min-stroke this week, when they looked at her carefully, they found a large mass, thought to be a tumor. At this point, it appears it can stay. Please pray for continued guidance for the medical team treating Gwen and patience and trust in God for Gwen, her husband and family. Pray also for a full recovery for Gwen.

Dan is very sick with cancer and is starting an experimental treatment. This treatment will take Dan away from their family business and put even more stress on him and his family. Please pray for Dan’s wife who is meeting with Steve who plans to keep the family business going while Dan is ill. Pray for Steve as he has many new responsibilities.

Timothy has brain cancer. He had surgery and is waiting for the pathology report to find out what kind of chemo he will need. Please pray for continued guidance for the medical team treating Timothy and patience and trust in God for Timothy and his family. Pray also for a full recovery for Timothy.

Mike Wysocki has a fluid buildup due to unknown reasons. He is being given diuretics which seem to reduce the fluid buildup. Please pray for continued guidance for the medical team treating Mike and patience and trust in God for Mike and his wife Wendy. Pray also for a full recovery for Mike.

Melanie Zimmers was hospitalized for a serious stomach area bleed on 15 September 2015; this is on top of heart problems. She had an angiogram on 10 August 2015, which turned out clear, but there are problems. Her heart’s has only a 20% ejection fraction, with no symptoms. They hope medications can get the fraction to above 45 percent or mechanical changes will have to be made. Please pray for continued guidance for the medical team and patience and trust in God for Melanie and her family, particularly her husband Mike. Pray also for a full recovery for her.

Helen was admitted from her doctor’s office 15 July 2015, as the result of a blood test, to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital with an extremely high white blood count. She and her husband are very active in the ministry of their church and are asking for believers to pray for them and their family, as they are facing very serious problems in the days to come. Please pray for guidance for the medical team and patience and trust in God for Helen and her family. Pray also for a full recovery for her.

Vickie has been falling and passing out and hurt herself. Pray the medical team treating her will find out the problem and bring it to an end.

Steve Thornell is undergoing cancer treatment at University of California Irvine, please pray for continued guidance for the medical team and patience and trust in God for Steve and his family. Pray also for a full recovery for him.

Red Thornell has mass in his neck, which appears likely to be cancerous. He has had a biopsy on 22 May 2015 and expects the results after a PET scan on Tuesday 26 May 2015. While there is an infection, his temperature is now normal; he is not for he sleeps 19-20 hours a day. Please pray for trust in our Lord for Red and his wonderful wife Vickie as they try to get through this nightmare.

Elma has been suffering with headaches for a long time. Doctors have not been able to discover the reason for them. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Elma and her family; as well as for God’s guidance for the medical people caring for her that they might find the best treatment method to banish the headaches completely.

Corissa has been diagnosed with a blockage. As soon as the Physicians determine the exact problems they expect Major Surgery will proceed.

Barbara Apple was more or less bedridden after a fall. She was hospitalized in great pain and had been transferred to a skilled nursing facility where they hope to be able to control the pain level. 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.

Bob Apple was at the hospital picking up his wife Barbara to bring her to the skilled nursing facility when he experienced chest pain. Barbara’s release from the hospital was delayed until Bob underwent an angiogram and had his medication adjusted. Please pray for comfort and strength for Bob and his continued healing.

Deborah has had a stroke, she is doing much better and out of the hospital. She has a problem with anemia and is taking supplements for that. Pray our Lord will be close to her and her family. Pray for strength, courage and understanding for Deborah and her family; as well as for God’s guidance for the medical people caring for her that they might find the best treatment method to allow her to heal completely.

Rev. Steve Boardman has been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Pray that Jesus will be close and comfort his family and members of his congregation.

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.

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 times 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.

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 method 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 has been under tremendous strain both physically and with work; he passed out just before New Years Day and awoke in the hospital. 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.

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

Felipe had to have his right leg amputated just below the knee due to diabetes complications. Please pray for a full and rapid recovery, adjustment to a prosthetic leg and return to work for him, as well as regulation of his diabetes so he does not have further problems.

Rev Bill had a stroke. Pray he will stay comfortable and Jesus will be close by, please pray for a full and rapid recovery.

Dennis will begin chemotherapy for an active cancer spot on his spine on 17 September 2015. Please pray for a good result and tolerance of the treatment for him.

Vickie has been bothered with Migraines and all that go with the headaches. Please pray for relief from the pain for Vickie.

Amelia Perez had a small stroke on 11 July 2015 and drove herself to the emergency room, she was admitted for three days, had her carotid artery opened up and is recovering. Amelia’s faith and spirit are strong. Please give thanks for the progress so far, for her continued and full recovery and her faith to continue to support her. Pray also for her family who are still quite worried for her.

Jon has Stage 4 mantle cell lymphoma There is good news in that he is in remission; however the chemotherapyis producing neuropathy in his legs so that it is a challenge for him to get around. Please pray that he will be as comfortable as possible; he has been a Marathoner runner so this is especially difficult.

Margaret, from California, fell and broke her on 7 July 2015, while visiting her daughter in Arizona. She will stay in Arizona for the rehabilitation and return to her home when able. Furthermore, Margaret is in good spirits; however she will be away from her church family which is important to her for an extended period of time.

Cindyis very ill, she is young and has children, she and her family need your prayers that they might stay close to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as she heals.

Diana, age 15, broke her leg while in school and now has a cast on. Pray she will adjust and be healed soon

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.

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.

Gil Garcia has been in the Long Beach VA Hospital for eight months now and hopes to get out before Thanksgiving. It is quite a trip for Mary, so please pray he will recover fully and quickly. 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.

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 another chest infection, perhaps viral, this one is pretty bad. Please pray for her full and rapid recovery and for her ability to breathe to return quickly. 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

Diane spent a month in the hospital because of an inability to breath., due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) apparently from chronic bronchitis. She is home, still very weak and learning to live with this progressive disease. Pray she will let the Lord help her be calm in her new circumstances and that healing will come.

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.

James for the Lord’s healing of health issues and give a remedy for many personal challenges at the moment

Thanksgiving and Continued Healing

Jose Francisco Vidas was in a terrible automobile accident on Friday 11 December 2015 as he was on his way to work when an unlicensed driver in a jacked up pickup truck ran a red light and destroyed his car. Francisco has massive internal injuries, swelling of his brain and unknown orthopedic injuries. His family and co-workers are with him around the clock. He is making gradual progress towards recovery; please give thanks and continue to pray for physical and spiritual strength for Francisco, his wife, daughter and co-workers, particularly Scott, Roger and Mark; pray for the medical team treating him that they might be open to God’s guidance and do their very best. Pray for trust in our Lord for all concerned.

Linda had successful dental surgery on 15 December 2015, she is also on a course of chemotherapy and this type of surgery was not recommended for people while they are taking chemotherapy. But, it was an emergency and had to be done. Please give thanks all went well and pray for continued healing and for peace of mind and trust in God for Linda and her family.

Shamu had surgery on 20 October 2015, for a disruptive colon. Please give thanks for the successful surgery and pray for her full and rapid recovery. She is having some problems with post surgical infection, please pray for that to be overcome and pray also for her to continue her trust in our Lord as she goes through this difficult time.

Ruby broke her hip on 10 December 2015, surgery was successful. Please give thanks for the successful surgery and pray for her full and rapid recovery.

Terry was undergoing radiation treatment for cancer, which he had to stop to amputate his leg below the knee due to diabetes. The surgery was successful, he has been fitted with a prosthetic leg and foot. He is in good spirits and positive about the remainder of his treatment. Please join Terry and his family in giving thanks for the successful surgery and continue to pray for his return to radiation treatment and then to chemotherapy, ask God to give Terry, his wife and seven year old son trust in him for peace of mind and heart, as well.

Cynthia (Cindy) Olufson (Melanie Zimmer’s sister) had surgery to remove Harrington rods put in her back 25 years ago because of an infection. The surgery went well, please give thanks for the great result and pray for a full and rapid recovery for Cindy.

Daisy Lee is recovering from 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. This is very very hard, but Daisy has kept her faith. As she becomes more well, less in people’s thoughts and prayers it will be a lot tougher for her. Please pray for strength for her and her family and friends as time moves on. Her 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.

Michael Lenahan known to all as Bullet was hospitalized on 18 March 2015, and had a stent placed in a cardio artery. All went well and he is recovering nicely. Please give thanks for the great result and pray for a complete and rapid recovery for Bullet.

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.

Arch Crittenden has Multiple Myeloma (cancer cells in bone marrow); without this treatment life expectancy is one to two years. The treatment has apparently been effective. Arch and his lovely wife Kathy ask that you pray for their trust in God to remain strong and for a good outcome.

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.

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 reconstructive surgery seems to have gravely affected her back muscles and nerves, resulting in both very limited mobility and extreme pain, 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.

Mary Thornell has been battling colon cancer for three years now, she is currently treating at the City of Hope. Things seem to be going well, the numbers seem headed in the right direction. Please pray for guidance for those treating her, 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.

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.

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

Charlie McCormack is really feeling down as the holiday season approaches. He cannot say why; on the one hand knowing rationally things are pretty darn good and on the other hand feeling what he knows to be irrationally that doom is impending. He asks your prayer that the Holy Ghost might fill his heart with light and drive the darkness far away.

Guidance 

Thomas recently learned as the result of a parole violation he will not be allowed to return to society for the remainder of his life. He is despairing and fearful of his inability to cope with this new news and God’s plan for his life. Please pray he will be able to work with God to live with the choices he has made and go forward.

Shyla, age 8, has been suffering for five years with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). She is extremely disturbed and thinks she would be better dead; pray the Holy Ghost will bring an understanding of what our Lord Jesus Christ expects from her so she can have peace of mind and give her family guidance that they can find someone who can help Shyla with her problem and that all the family will remember God’s love for them.

Anne has been helping a woman; the woman has turned against her and become very mean. Pray she will better realize God is with her and that He will help with the problems.

Holly and her two sons Brandon and Bailey need your prayer. Holly is in need of employment and her two sons have turned their back on God and are walking into the world and making their way down that broad smooth boulevard which leads to The Pit. They now wish to be not only in the world, but of the world. Please pray Holly will remain strong and preserve in her faith and that she can find help in the Holy Ghost to help her return her sons to the Word in which they were raised and back to that narrow path that leads to the summit; help them to distinguish fun from happiness and to see the signs of Donkey Island before it is too late for them to turn back.

Maria Legumana will graduate with a Bachelor of Education Friday from the University of the South Pacific Fiji. The ceremony will be in Honiara Solomon Islands so her family will be able to be with her. Pray that she will continue to seek God’s guidance as plans for the future come into her life.

Cam has gotten into some of the issues being with the wrong crowds, too much dinking and making the wrong decisions. Pray he will ask God to send the Holy Ghost in to straighten things out and he will listen when He speaks to him.

Paul recently had his large toe amputated due to diabetes and is having a difficult recovery filled with fear about dying. He recently accepted Jesus as his savior and his family Rosie and Brenda are very grateful. Pray for strength for both Rosie and Brenda who are staying by his side through it all encouraging him on.

Steve is addicted to alcohol, pain pills and gambling. Pray for wisdom, courage and strength to stick with treatment and follow God’s plan for his life.

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?

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 they might see the Light of the Lord and let Him guide their lives. Pray they will 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

School Challenges

Destiny, Blake and Janet

Anglican Orthodox Church

Kenya

The Anglican Orthodox Church is making plans for establishment of a presence in Kissi, Kenya. There are six parishes, a total of 161 members, 68 adults, 93 children with two ministers. Please pray for the church there and guidance for the people involved.

Indonesia

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

Pakistan

The forces of evil are strong in Pakistan. The force of God stronger. Pray for our Christian family there.

Ernest Jacob

Presiding Bishop Pakistan

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.

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.

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 was 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 

Dustin (USAF – Middle East), Kristyna Thomas (Army – Fort Lewis, Washington), 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)

Dustin – USAF and has been in Kuwait for the last six months and during this time he was promoted to SSgt. Dustin is now on his way home to the USA for a visit and he and his family thank you for your prayer and ask you to continue as he serves his country and Lord.

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

The Islamist group (ISIS) took over Quaragosh, the biggest Christian city in Iraq; 164 men, women and children were beheaded. People ask where is God? The real question is where are the people to enforce God’s will. Pray the people of the world will see Allah for who he is, the Devil. Pray for those who remain behind that they might find a way to safety.

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.

Education

Aaron is trying out a new job area as an intern and asks that you pray he might decide if this is a career field and way of life he might enjoy. Please pray he might open his heart to God’s guidance and see what he needs to do to fulfill his potential and live his life in a manner which will bring true happiness to him.

Thomas Dabney is attending Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, to finish his Bachelor’s Degree. Please pray for Thomas to focus on education and do his very best at school.

Various Special Requests

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.

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!

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

6 January 2016 – The Epiphany – 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

17 January 2016 – Second Sunday after Epiphany – 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

24 January 2016 – Sexagesima – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

31 January 2016 – Septuagesima – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

7 February 2016 – Quinquagesima – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

10 February 2016 – Ash Wednesday – Evening Prayer – Service start time 1800 (6:00 pm); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1800 (6:00 pm); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

14 February 2016 – First 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

21 February 2016 – Second Sunday in Lent – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

28 February 2016 – Third Sunday in Lent – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

^{^[1]}Note also the tremendous advantage that God has over the Devil. No only did God make both man and the Devil, but He has actually been a man, the Devil only read about men and thought about men and contemplated men. In Jesus, God has been a man. Note – in this instance, He learned about the compassion, worry and duty of parents towards their Son! The Devil, not so much.

^{^[2]}Note also the tremendous advantage that God has over the Devil. No only did God make both man and the Devil, but He has actually been a man, the Devil only read about men and thought about men and contemplated men. In Jesus, God has been a man. Note – in this instance, He learned about the compassion, worry and duty of parents towards their Son! The Devil, not so much.

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