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Anglican Orthodox Church

Worldwide Communion

Quinquagesima

Sunday Report

Today was Quinquagesima, (explanation of the origin of the word later in the report), which is the Sunday next before Lent. This Sunday we talk about charity or love, read this first:

http://www.learnthebible.org/charity-or-love.html

Charity or Love

The Greek word ‘agape’ is translated both as ‘charity’ and ‘love’ in many places in the KJV New Testament. What is the difference?

Almost all common Greek or Hebrew words will be translated into more than one English word at different places in the Bible. There is no such thing as word for word translation from one language to another. That is, the words of one language do not perfectly correspond to the words of another language. As these words are used in different contexts and with different shades of meaning, a decision has to be made on which English word is the best to use in each case.

Charity is an interesting case in the King James Bible because the 1 Corinthians 13 passage (which uses charity 9 times) had been translated using the word love in Tyndale’s New Testament of 1526 – 85 years before the King James translation. Certainly, it was not the case that the King James translators did not know that love might have fit. Rather, they purposely chose charity as the word to use there. Evidently, they saw an importance in distinguishing some of the uses of agape in a specific way. We will look at scripture to see if we can discover what specific nuances of the word are being brought out when charity is used. The use of love is the more general use and will not be discussed here in detail.

Some form of the word charity is found in the Bible 29 times. All of these references are in the New Testament. In fact, the word does not occur in any form in the Bible until the book of Romans. It is definitely a New Testament word. Charity is found 9 times in 1 Corinthians 13, which makes it the Charity Chapter in the Bible. Many people have called it the Love Chapter (in correction of the King James Bible) ; but this distinction clearly goes to 1 John 4 where love in mentioned 27 times (unless you included the 3 times “beloved” is used). Also, the fact that 1 Corinthians 13 uses charity 9 times connects it with the nine-fold fruit of the spirit. Nine often denotes a spiritual fruitfulness.

In order to define charity scripturally, we will go to the scripture. That is, we will observe how the word is used in scripture and let that be our final authority for the meaning of the word. Notice the following points about charity as it is used in scripture:

Charity is the epitome of perfection in the Christian life. It is the “greatest” of the three abiding virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13). It is the “bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:14) and the “end of the commandment” (1 Timothy 1:5). Of the seven things Peter exhorts the saints to add to their faith, it is the seventh (2 Peter 1:5-7). Obviously, the Christian life reaches its pinnacle in the practice of charity. We certainly should know what it is. But to know what charity is, we must know what it is not. Today, people often think of charity as nothing more than a giving of money for some good cause.

The Bible strongly contrasts the charity it proposes to the misunderstood charity of giving funds. 1 Corinthians 13:3 states, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” According to this verse, it is possible to give all your goods to feed the poor and yet not have charity. Therefore, the giving of funds is not biblical charity. Biblical charity can also be distinguished from other forms of love. Though most dictionaries say that charity includes the idea of the love of God for man, there is no indication that it is used in that way in the King James Bible. In fact, it is not specifically used of the love of man for God either. Although there are some passages where the word could be used in application of some of these forms of love, those passages where the word is specifically defined never refer to God’s love toward man or man’s love toward God. Charity specifically refers to the love that we have toward other men. Paul stresses that we are to walk “charitably” toward our weaker brothers (Romans 14:13-15). He praised the Thessalonians because “the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth” (2 Thessalonians 1:3). In 1 Peter 4:8-9, Peter told the believers, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” John encouraged the saints, “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church…” (3 John 1:5-6). In all of these passages, charity describes the love of the saints for others. Most of the time, it refers to other believers: toward each other, among yourselves, to the brethren. In one case (3 John 1:5-6), it includes strangers. But in them all, God is referring to the special love that believers should have for others.

There are plenty of passages that speak of the importance of love in general, but the Bible speaks of charity to point us to a specific kind of love. Charity is the love toward others that suffers long with them and is kind (1 Corinthians 13:4), that does not behave unseemly, seek to get its own way, or is easily provoked (1 Corinthians 13:5); that rejoices not in the iniquity of others (1 Corinthians 13:6); that bears, believes, hopes, and endures (1 Corinthians 13:7). It is the grace that proves the believer to be mature in his faith and practice. May the Lord give us all more charity.

David Reagan

Lent

Lent is coming up, it starts this coming Wednesday, called Ash Wednesday. So, what does the word Lent mean? It has an obscure origin, and is probably a corruption of Lencten, or a similar term in ancient Anglo, Saxon, and Germanic languages, all of which referred to spring, new life, and hope. Although it is generally considered to be a time of mourning and repentance, it is more than that, it is like death, a time of new life and hope because by means of the death of Christ, we receive new life.

Many avoid Lent and Holy Week because they think it isn’t a happy and uplifting time—but to be honest, neither is most of life. Sometimes we come to church all scrubbed up, dressed nicely, with smiles on our faces, and when people ask how we are, we reply that everything is fine and we even boast how wonderful things are—but is it?

Life is not always uplifting, or wonderful, or pleasant, or joyous. To claim it is, is to miss the whole point of the incarnation! God became flesh in Jesus Christ. Jesus faced temptation, He suffered hunger and thirst, He suffered the agony of crucifixion. Jesus our God did not face these things so that we would be exempt from them, He faced these things so that we would have dignity in them, He faced these things that in Him we might have triumph.

The forty days commemorate the significant “forty” periods in Scripture (although forty is not always significant), including the forty years the Jews wandered in the desert after they had been rescued by God from Egypt, and which did not end until they repented. Jonah preached to Nineveh that God’s judgment would come on them in forty days. During that time the people repented and thus were spared God’s judgment. Jesus was tested by the Devil in the desert for forty days before He began His public ministry, announcing salvation to the repentant and judgment to those who continued to rebel against God. Jesus prophesied that God’s judgment would come against Israel for rejecting Him as Messiah within the time of His own generation (Matt. 24; Luke 21; Mark 13). Within forty years of His death, burial, and resurrection, Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple was so ravaged that “not one stone [was] left here upon another” (Matt. 24:2). The Jewish Christians, however, escaped this judgment of God by fleeing to Pella before the final Roman siege, just as Jesus had warned them to do (Matt. 24:16-21).

Lent is a time for Christians to contemplate their sinfulness, repent, ask God’s forgiveness, and realize the infinite sacrifice God made on their behalf. It is to be a time of quiet contemplation, but not a time of despair, since it culminates in the commemoration of the resurrection. Traditionally, those who are joining the church spend this period in special instruction regarding Christian doctrine, practice, and responsibility. Historically, prospective members (“catechumens”) did not participate in the Lord’s Supper portion of the Sunday services until they were received into full membership on the Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord. For them, this first experience of Ash Wednesday and Lent has special significance as God’s eternal plan of salvation is applied to them personally.

When Jesus taught us how to pray, He didn’t say, “If you elect to pray, do it this way…” and when He taught about fasting, He didn’t say, “If you elect to fast, do it this way…”

He said, when you pray, don’t do it for show like the hypocrites do. It’s a conversation between you and God. And He gave us the Lord’s Prayer as an example of what we should pray about:

Address God

“Our Father, who art…”

Submit to God’s will

“Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done…”

Ask for your physical needs

“Give us this day our daily bread…”

Ask for forgiveness

“Forgive us our trespasses…”

To the degree that you yourself are willing to forgive…

“As we forgive our trespassers…”

Ask for help with temptations

“Lead us not into temptation…”

And preservation from evil

“Deliver us from evil…”

Recognizing whose world this really is

“For thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever and ever.”

Similarly, Jesus told us that when we fast (not if) we are not to make a show of it, like hypocrites do. A fast is different from a hunger strike: a fast is a personal act of devotion to God, while a hunger strike is a public act most often used to shine a spotlight on injustice. A fast is also different from anorexia nervosa: it is disciplined diet, not total abstention from food. During a religious fast, you still eat, you just abstain from certain foodstuffs. Traditionally, people have fasted by eliminating luxury items from their diets, such as meats. A fast can consist of eating whatever you want, but drinking only water.

More positively, you can fast in other areas beyond food, you can commit to a something that can benefit the church, such cutting back in an entertainment area, using that time for Bible study and donating the savings to the church.

On Palm Sunday, there were crowds who cheered Jesus as the King, but where were all those fair-weather friends when Jesus prayed in agony on Gethsemane, and where were they when He hung upon the cross? Let us be bold to join Him, fasting in the wilderness for forty days during Lent; let us be bold to pray with Him in the garden on Maundy Thursday, let us fearlessly stand at the foot of His cross on Good Friday, so that we may witness His Resurrection and His Ascension, and join in His triumphant reign.

Mite Boxes

If you read this report at all, you know the Anglican Orthodox Church (AOC), and this parish in particular, is not about money. Not that money is not useful, but our parish has plenty for what we need and we know the difference between need and want. Any extra we get, we send it to the AOC to use for their mission work. The AOC works on a very slim budget, they aren’t about money either. The AOC is about the Great Commission; to go forth and spread The Word of the Lord:

18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘…19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mt. 28:19-20)

You may not realize it, but the AOC has national church affiliates in 243 countries around the world, that does take a little money. Not great quantities of money, but some and as a church, we would be dirt poor, if we had dirt.

So, that is where the Mite Boxes come in. Ash Wednesday is 5 March 2014; Easter Sunday is 20 April 2014. That period is Lent. Often thought of as a time for fasting, it is more importantly a time to channel your attention towards God. A time to let your heart open to the Holy Ghost that you might come closer to God and perhaps do His Work more effectively.

So, to exercise this concept, we are asking you to cut back. We know the economy is not really great and you are probably cutting back already. So, cut back a bit more. Take part of your savings every day and put it in the Mite Box. If you did not cut back on a given day, dig into your wallet or purse and cut out a bit of cash for the Mite Box anyway. Every day, except Sundays. Sundays are the Lord’s Day and a day of celebration. They are not part of Lent. By Easter Sunday, you will have a full Mite Box. Bring it to church, this church, another church, which church is not really important, but on Easter Sunday, you should worship the Lord. If you cannot find a church to actually go to on Easter, you probably aren’t looking hard enough; but pull the money out and send us a check, payable to the Anglican Orthodox Church and we will send it on.

One box for each member of the family, one box for the family, whatever works for you. This is not about the money, it is about growing in faith. A little bit, just a mite, every day. Every day, miss none. Every day, every body in the family can do just a little bit. When you drop your daily contribution in, think, “Did I do what I could today for the Lord? Did I fall short or meet the standard? Can I do better tomorrow? Will I?” It should be a time of reflection. It will be if you do it.

By the way, what is a Mite Box? Named after the smallest of Roman coins, a normal wage of the time being 10 mites per hour, of which two were donated by the widow, in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4, it is normally a small cardboard box, say 3 inches each dimension, a cube piggy bank so to speak. If you don’t have one, call, email or write. We have a pile of them.

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the Lord’s Work and make your life better at the same time.

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 –

Laws that forbid the carrying of arms … disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes… Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.

Cesare Beccaria

Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid.

Proverbs 13:21

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.

St. Matthew 12:34

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

St. Luke 11:9

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Romans 13:7

Holy zeal and bitter envying are as different as the flames of seraphim and the fire of hell.

Matthew Henry

17^th and 18^th century English pastor and author

The mere belief of the facts and doctrines of Christianity will never save our souls. Such belief is no better than the belief of devils. They all believe and know that Jesus is the Christ. They believe that he will one day judge the world and cast them down into endless torment. It is a solemn and sorrowful thought that on these points some professing Christians have even less faith than the devil. There are some who doubt the reality of hell and the eternity of punishment. Such doubts as these find no place except in the hearts of self-willed men and women. There is no infidelity among devils.

JC Ryle

19^th century Anglican bishop and author

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

Thomas Jefferson

Founding Father and Third president of the United States

The turn will come when we entrust the conduct of our affairs to the men who understand that their first duty as public officials is to divest themselves of the power that they have been given. It will come when Americans, in hundreds of communities throughout the nation, decide to put the man in office who is pledged to enforce the Constitution and restore the Republic. Who will proclaim in a campaign speech: ‘I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel the old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is needed before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents’ interests, I shall reply that I was informed their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.’

Barry Goldwater

20^th century Arizona senator and presidential candidate in election of 1964

The Conscience of a Conservative, 1960

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.

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

The Propers for today are found on Page 122-124, with the Collect first:

The Sunday called Quinquagesima, or the

Sunday next before before Lent.

The Collect.

LORD who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

The Epistle for today came from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, the Thirteenth Chapter, beginning at the First Verse. Paul talks of charity^{^[1]}, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” Paul goes on to say that no matter what you do, if in your heart you have not that love for others, it is all to naught. Our understanding here on earth is limited, we will never here see the fullness of God’s plan, yet the part most clear is the love we must have one for another, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, for no reason other than we know that is right so to do. Paul uses the phraseology “through a glass, darkly”, which is very interesting inasmuch as CS Lewis uses a variation to describe earth as compared to heaven. He calls the earth The Shadowlands and says in heaven all is clear and bright, not dark and muddled as here on earth.

HOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The Holy Gospel for today came from the Gospel of Saint Luke, the Eighteenth Chapter beginning at the Thirty-First Verse. The Gospel starts out telling of Jesus’ trying to prepare his disciples for what was to come, and they could not grasp it: “Then Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” The Gospel goes on to tell of Jesus’ healing of a blind man near Jericho, “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”

If you take nothing else from today’s Gospel, take this – Faith will save you. After you are saved, you need to act on your faith. The order is clear.

HEN Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

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

Quinquagesima

Saint Andrews Anglican Church

7 February 2016, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

The Sunday called Quinquagesima, or the

Sunday next before before Lent.

The Collect.

hen he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. 35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

(Luke 18:31-43)

We have all been blind to some extent in our lives. We were totally blind to the Invisible God while we were yet outside His covenant of Grace. Even once coming to a knowlege of Christ as Lord and Savior, we remain spiritually myopic until we have been weaned from the milk and placed on a diet of meat. Still, even the well read Bible scholar only sees, at this present time, through a glass darkly. But the time will surely come when those who seek to know God and His Word better will not view Him through the smoke and mists of imperfect understanding, but face to face.

Perhaps, as a Christian, you have believed you might escape the troubles and trials of righteous JOB and rest at ease in your faith of Christ. Has this ever been true? No, it has not been true for, if you courageously stand upon that Rock of your Salvation in both desert and garden, the world will hate and trouble you. There is no escape unless you are blessed to live in a nation whose God is, in fact, the Lord and not rhetorically so. Even then, there is always a gravitational pull downward on the soul of man enticing him to sink to the gutter of sensual living rather than to rise to the pinnacle of moral living. If you are the “life of the party” wherever your feet take you, and always well received by the world, you are not living a Christian life of victory. The Christian shall see days of greater and greater rejection as the whole world continues in its spiral into the abyss of darkness. It is not that the world does not understand, but that the world does not DESIRE to understand. Evil is multiplying at phenomenal levels in our day. Is it any wonder that Christ asked the question: “……when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

Christ KNEW of His coming suffering. He was going up to Jerusalem for His last earthly visit. Yet He never tarried or demurred from going. Christ was intent on a perfect obedience to His father, and He knew there could be no forgiveness without sacrifice. He tells us that we, too, have a cross to bear. It is not a silver, gold, or ivory cross, but rather a cross made of crude and splintered timber. That cross has two axes – one vertical pointing from Heaven (God) to earth (us); and the other horizontal pointing across the plane of all humanity. In geometry we are told that an axis is a fixed reference in conjunction with other points which define its direction. The cross has two fixed references: from a point (God) in Heaven to another point (man) on earth. It illustrates God, on the vertical beam, has offered a means whereby fallen man can be redeemed from the just wrath that his sin entails by the coming down of God the Son to sacrifice Himself in Love. The horizontal beam illustrates that sacrificial love, as clearly described in the Epistle today from 1 Corinthians 13 that we who are redeemed must bear for one another in obedience to God. We have a rude cross to bear and, if it does not weigh upon our shoulders, perhaps it is because we have not taken it up. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

God sometimes brings things into our lives which we do not presently understand. Our understanding may be deferred until such time that we can most profitably grasp the meaning. 31 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. You will have to admit this is reasonably clear language, yet His disciples did not understand. They had witnessed the great power of God at the hands of the only Begotten Son of God. They had seen the dead restored to life simply at the sound of His Voice. They had seen sight restored to the blind, the crippled made to walk, the adulteress forgiven, an issue of blood arrested at the touch of His garment, the stormy sea made calm at His command, and the wretched lepers touched by His wholesome hand and cured! How could the Jewish rulers and Romans commit such a hateful crime on one so full of power? The answer, of course, is that they COULD NOT! It was God who allowed His only Begotten Son to be crucified as a willing sacrifice for our redemption. Perhaps God has also told us things through His Word that we have understood amiss, yet, in time, we come to a full and precise understanding of the meaning after God has allowed His Holy Ghost to testify thereof to our hearts.

It is often God’s intention that a temporary curtain be dropped over our eyes as a gossamer veil so that we only see vaguely until such time as the full picture is exposed. It is doubtful that Mary, the mother of Jesus, well understood all that her Son represented and taught. She seemed to be absent from most of His teachings. She failed, perhaps through remorse, to come to the Garden Tomb with the other Mary’s. Perhaps she would have come had she believed she would see her Risen Lord! But now, you and I know something that the disciples did not know when Christ spoke the above words. How will we respond? Your cross is waiting for you. If you take it up, you, too, will feel the lash of the Roman (government) sanction against you. You, too, will be spat upon and rejected in the public square. Do you still desire to bear the cross? Or do you prefer to carry a pretty rosary (much lighter to bear and far more appealing) to illustrate your piety?

Do you remember a time when you were a beggar? Has your memory faded in remembering that you one day grew into a realization that your baptism and covenant made for you by your parents must be confirmed in a living faith? Did you proudly receive that faith as something you deserved, or did you plead with your Lord for forgiveness and reception? Were you not blind from the past days of your life until you sat, as a beggar, beside the road awaiting the approach of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did you hail to Him without shame – even in a public place? Did you disregard the nay-sayers who flocked about Him and shout your appeal for mercy – not vision? Well, my friend, it is very likely that you, too, were a blind beggar by the dusty roadside of Christ. You had heard of Him perhaps on your mother’s knee. You believed it as far as you were able, but it did not make complete sense to your youthful mind that you were made whole through the death of a Messiah. Now you KNOW! Now you have begun to feel a nagging emptiness in the very chambers of your heart. How to fill the void? There is only one supply that can fill that emptiness – the Lord Jesus Christ! And you heard of His approach. You waited silently until His countenance could be clearly seen, then, you shouted from the top of your voice, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” Those of the modern church who were closest to Christ attempted to silence you and prevent your coming. After all, you were only a beggar and unworthy of the company of saints, right? And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace. But your NEED was far greater than their DOUBT and DISCOURAGEMENT! The world would always prefer that you not come to Christ! But you could not hold your peace! but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. Notice that the MERCY of God is all that we need to lift the scales from our eyes. His Mercy always precedes His grace.

Expectantly, you stand waiting, your eyes closed to the Light of the World! Suddenly, there was a change in the air. The discordant voices were silent as the Voice of Heaven spoke – what was spoken, you may not have known, but you felt in your heart that a tremendous experience was about to be had. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him Did you not know, my dear people, that your appeal for mercy will bring Christ to a full stop before you. When a man stands still, it usually means he has quit his journey, but when Christ stands still – whether on a dusty road leading into Jericho or beneath a sycamore tree into which Zacchaeus climbed – something miraculous is about to happen. Even the air is made calm and full of electrifying expectation. If you have appealed to Christ for mercy, He has stopped to hear your petition! Suddenly, you feel his servants (perhaps His true ministers) pulling at your arms and bringing you into a wide place. Though your vision is dark, there is nothing amiss with your ears for you hear the most majestic and loving voice you have ever imagined speak to YOU! What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? When we first appealed to Christ for mercy and begged for healing, were we not somewhat taken aback by the power of His Voice? Perhaps the beggar had hailed many passers-by for succor, and only a few had ever responded. None had asked that the beggar be brought to them as did this Man. When He spoke, perhaps His Voice overpowered you in love and power. You didn’t REALLY believe such an important personage would stop and listen to your grievance, did you? Notice that Jesus did not say, “What wilt thou that I do FOR you,” but, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? If Jesus merely heals our sight, He has done something FOR us only; but if He makes us into new creatures through His redeeming power, we have had a change made TO us.

You eagerly search for a response to this most appealing voice. Finally, you know that you have His full attention. He has granted mercy already, so you press forward with a desire that has plagued you all the years that you have sat by the roadside in the darkness of a bright day: Lord, that I may receive my sight. Now, you anxiously wait. Have you imposed too much on the great King to have your request granted? Do you not know that a great King is complimented by a great request? The great request is recognition of His great power to grant. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. Notice Jesus granted the beggars lesser request first – his sight. But the greater favor came as the best wine came last at Cana of Galilee – SALVATION! Our greatest miracle from the Lord will always be His forgiveness and reception of us into His Kingdom!

Now, good friends, what did you do when Christ healed YOU? Did your heart immediately break out in praises and joy? Did you immediately follow Him wheresoever He led? Did your exuberance at your salvation spill over into the crowd (world) around you? If not, perhaps you still pine away in blindness, for look at the response of the poor blind beggar: And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Go thou and do likewise!

Sermon – Rev Jack Arnold

Church of the Faithful Centurion – Descanso, California

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

Consider these words from the Collect:

… that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity …

In the Collect, we acknowledge to God that if we have not charity, nothing we do is worth anything; we then ask Him to send the Holy Ghost into our hearts with the precious gift of charity. Webster tells us that Charity is love; universal benevolence; good will; the word which properly denotes love. What it really means is Love in Action! Like many areas of our Christian development, we will never fully get there. But we shall make progress so long as we do not give up! As Winston Churchhill once said “Never, never, never, never EVER GIVE UP”. So should we never give up in our Christian development. We may stumble and fall at times, but if we get up and keep going and return to our Lord, then all will be well in time.^{^[2]} Properly understood charity is the Love of God, that perfect love, to which man should aspire. Charity is not giving oodles of money away to an organization, hoping to make yourself look better, like many modern “philanthropists.” Charity is the purest form of love there is, with no self-seeking motivations, but just the goodness of God in it, and this is the love that God gives to us to give to others. It is to help people with the love in your heart that Christ and God has given us, to enable us to act on His behalf here on this Earth. Love is not selfish or wasteful, but kind and abundant. We are to be agents of good change, not that of bad, and with Charity, we will act with love towards one another. If we do not have love in our hearts towards one another, how can we expect to be able to have any positive change on the world around us?

Paul tells us no matter our gifts, talents and so called accomplishments, without the Love of God, we are nothing and have done nothing. He is the reason that we are here in this life and He is the one we must act for. It must be clear to us that our understanding here on earth is limited, we will never here see the fullness of God’s plan, yet the part most clear is the love we are to have one for another, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, for no reason other than we know that is right so to do. It does not matter to us we will never see the fullness of His plans, each of us are a small piece of a much bigger plan. And all of us small pieces work together to fulfill the bigger plan. We only need to find our part in the plan and act upon that, again with Charity in our hearts. Charity is vital to our Christian life. We need to have it within us to perform good works for Our Lord. For if we do not have true love or Charity within our hearts, we cannot act for God. When Paul talks about God’s great plans, he uses the phraseology “through a glass, darkly”, which is very interesting inasmuch as CS Lewis uses a variation to describe earth as compared to heaven. He calls the earth The Shadowlands and says in heaven all is clear and bright, not dark and muddled as here on earth. So, here our understanding is limited, it will not always be so. That will be fulfilled when we pass the Pearly Gates into heaven, and in order to do that, we have to have faith, and have good works acted upon with charity. If one of these ingredients are missing, we are not acting according to what He wants for us. So, we have to believe with all our heart in God and Christ, and act upon that belief with great Charity.

As they were coming in to Jericho, Jesus told the disciples of what was to come, yet they could not grasp their leader would submit to such treatment on their behalf. He was the Conqueror; in a sense they were right, He came to conquer death for us, not the Roman Empire. As they went along, they encountered the blind man who was, like many of us are, blind. His blindness was of the eye, not the heart, he knew the power of God, and of love. The blind man who wanted his sight and knew Jesus had The Power. He cried unto the Lord and was rebuffed by His People. Did he give up? No, he cried the more. As we should not let others discourage us from following the Lord, indeed we should increase our prayers and serving fervently. When Jesus heard him, he turned and asked what the man wanted. MY SIGHT! No generalizations, no beating about. The blind man asked of Him what he truly wanted. Ask and it shall be given unto you. He lacked sight, not vision. Nor, it might be added did he lack faith. We should ask God to have to sight and hearing that we might see, hear and act upon the Word. To some, the faith he had might seem a blind faith, but it was one that he acted on and gained what he lacked. Will we have the faith to act?

True love is Faith, Hope, Charity^{^[3]}.

Be of God – Live of God – Act of God

Bishop Dennis Campbell’s Sermon

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

What Love Is Not

1 Corinthians 14:4-6

Quinquagesima Sunday

February 7, 2016

One day a conceited, young Doctor of theology came to Christ. Convinced of his own righteousness and wisdom, he had come to embarrass Christ in the presence of His followers. He asked a single question; “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” It was a trick question. No matter which commandment Christ named, the preacher was ready to offer arguments against it, and in favor of other commandments, which he would claim as being of more importance.

Of course, we all remember our Lord’s answer. We just read it a few moments ago in our service. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all the soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two Commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Mt.22:40). If you take the time to look at the Ten Commandments, you will see that they are all about how people who love God with all their hearts, souls, and minds, act towards God; and how people who love their neighbours as themselves act towards their neighbours.

Simply put our Lord is saying we are to have the same compassion and concern for the well-being of others that we have for our own selves. And, we are to be more concerned about doing the will of God than we are about doing our own will or seeking our own pleasures and comforts.

Our scripture readings this morning are about the kind of love Christ was talking to the young doctor about. It is no accident that, in our cycle of worship and prayer, the reading of the great chapter on love in 1 Corinthians 13, is followed by the reading of Christ foretelling the greatest act of love in history, which is the crucifixion of Christ in Luke 18. Christ’s death on the cross is the great example of what real love is. On the cross, He took our sin upon Himself and paid for it with His life. Thus, we are relieved of the obligation to pay for our sins ourselves. We are forgiven, and we are given Heaven, only because of the cross of Christ. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation (peace maker) for our sins” (1 Jn. 4:10).

Thus, our readings bring to our minds one of the most important teachings in all of Scripture, namely that love is not primarily a feeling or emotion; it is a way of life. It is not what we feel. It is what we think and what we do.

The Bible does a lot of what I call definition by negative. In other words, it often defines what something is, by, first, defining what it is not. For example, rather than defining every person’s right to life, the Bible simply says, “Thou shalt not kill.” Yes, the Bible does have a lot to say about a person’s right to life, but in giving the Law to the Hebrew people after their captivity in Egypt, God does not say all life is sacred and belongs to Him, and that we are to respect, and actively work to secure the lives of all people. God simply says, “Thou shalt not kill.” He is giving a definition by negative. Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 14, He does a lot of defining love by telling us what love is not. So, I intend to spend a few moments explaining what the passage is saying about what love is not.

If you are reading along in your Bible, you will see this in verses 4-6. If you are following in your Prayer Book, you will find it near the bottom of page 122 beginning with words, “charity envieth not.” Charity is love. Envy, here is not just wanting what others have, that’s covetousness. Envy is disliking a person for having and enjoying the fruits of legitimate labours, or for just being good-looking and talented. Obviously, the words, vaunteth not itself,” and, “is not puffed up,” refer to arrogant boasting, which is a way of putting yourself above others. But I want to call your attention to the second from the last line on page 122, or the first words in verse 5; “Doth not behave itself unseemly.” The Bible is saying a person who acts on love, as a way of life, does not act in ways that are needlessly offensive to other people. Yes, I know there are times when it is necessary to be offensive. There are times when parents have to tell children they are not doing right. There are times when Christians have to take a stand against things the world calls good and natural, but the Bible calls sinful and wrong. People will take offense at us for that, no matter how gently and kindly we say it. But, in general, the person who seeks to live his life according to the rule and example of Christ will seek to cultivate gentle and inoffensive ways of acting and speaking. For example, a loving husband will not have a roving eye. He will not cause offense to his wife by lustfully looking upon other women. Likewise, a loving wife will not put her “wares” on display for the viewing pleasure of people to whom she is not married. Both give offense to spouses, and both should be avoided. This is difficult in our culture, where most people put their sexuality on display through their actions and manner of dress, especially in the entertainment industry, but, such behaviour is unseemly, and love does not behave itself in that way.

Love, “seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity.” Each of these phrases is worthy of prolonged, individual study, but I am considering them together because I believe there is a link between them that often leads us from one to the other in such a way that we find ourselves living in them all at the same time.

Seeking your own is being overly concerned with having your own way, so that you become uncooperative, or even a blocker of the fellowship and unity of the body. In Corinthians, that body is the Church, but the principle can apply to anything from a social club to the family to the governing bodies of a nation. The Corinthian Church had more than its share of blockers. They sought their own constantly. They wanted preeminence in worship, in communion, in eating and drinking. Everything had to be their way, putting them in the center of attention. I can almost hear them saying, “I have the greatest gift of tongues in this church, and I want to speak at the very beginning of the service so people can notice my ability. The same thing happens today. People may think they have a good singing voice and they want to showcase it with a solo… every Sunday. I can almost hear people saying, “I brought that expensive ham to the church dinner, and I want to have it mentioned in the bulletin next Sunday.” That is self-glorification, not love.

But if some people don’t get that recognition, they get angry. They are provoked at the church for not thanking them or recognising them. Then they begin to think evil thoughts about the others. They call them, “ingrates.” They begin to belittle their abilities and contributions. They begin to devalue them. Then they begin to rejoice in iniquity. They begin to take pleasure in disliking others, and they begin to act accordingly. This could be something as “small” as taking pleasure in giving little “slights” to other people. Or it could express itself in terrible crimes against them. A loving person does not entertain such thoughts.

Again, I stress that these habits can be formed and acted upon in almost any place and situation from the home to the school or job to the halls of government. And, frankly, they are the things our natural tendencies lead us to do. We are not naturally loving, caring, giving persons. We are naturally selfish, greedy, and taking people. Only the grace of God working in us through the Spirit and the means of grace, can change us into the kind of people who love the way the Bible teaches and commands us to love God and one another. But remember, without Biblical love, nothing else matters.

—

+Dennis Campbell

Bishop, Anglican Orthodox Church Diocese of Virginia

Rector, Holy Trinity Anglican Orthodox Church

Powhatan, Virginia

www.HolyTrinityAnglicanOrthodoxChurch.org

www.lifeinthescriptures.blogspot.com

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

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

Quinquagesima Sunday

A Message for All Ages

7 February 2016

Psalm 19 • Deut. 10:12-15, 17-11:1 • 1 John 2:1-17

The Collect.

The Epistle

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

The Gospel

Luke 18:31-43

Now let us look at the Gospel passage set aside for this Sunday before the beginning of Lent.

Jesus is trying to prepare his most trusted friends that very soon the plan of Salvation shall be set into motion. He explains to the men that he will be arrested, given to the Gentile authority, mentally and physically abused; and finally he will be put to death. Jesus doesn’t end the plan there, he explains that on the third day he will return from the dead. His disciples didn’t get it.

They did not understand what Jesus was saying. These sayings and the very plan of Salvation were hid from them, they did not know what Jesus was talking about. In other words the disciples were BLIND!

Now, just in case we didn’t understand what was happening with Christ’s followers, we read what Luke had heard happened next. The blind man outside of Jericho, hearing a large crowd passing by asked what was happening. Someone in the crowd told him it was Jesus of Nazareth going by. Now mind you, this fellow is blind and yet during the last three and a half years he must have heard wonderful stories about Jesus healing the sick, lame, blind, deaf and those with various diseases. He immediately begins to call out. How does he address Jesus? “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” Some people in the crowd tried to shut him up. It only made him more determined, he shouted much louder. Again, he calls out that the Son of David have mercy on him.

Jesus stopped and asked that the blind man be brought to him. When the blind man is getting closer to Jesus, the Lord asks him what does he want him to do? The blind man cuts to the chase, he asks that Jesus give him his sight.

Two lessons come out of this encounter between the blind man and Jesus.

First

Ask for sight and understanding. Yes, he did receive his physical sight, but Jesus told him that he had also received salvation. So what was the lesson to his disciples and anyone reading this account? That if you ask for insight, a removal of blindness (spiritual blindness), the Lord will open your eyes. Once you have spiritual sight you will be able to see that you need Jesus in order to be saved. We are all born with the curse of the first Adam. We are all born into sin. As we are quickened by the Holy Spirit, when we are called to our Savior, we must ask that our spiritual blindness be taken away. Now we will be able to see clearly that Jesus Christ came to save that which was lost: US.

Second

After we have been saved then we need to sing God’s praise. Notice that the blind man follows Jesus, glorifying God and by doing that others, who knew this man was once blind, praise God for what was done for him.

Beloved, ask for that sight that the blind man sought. Ask that Jesus would remove the scales from your eyes that you would see your Salvation. Ask that you be healed from the spiritual death that you were born into, ask that Jesus would redeem you. Ask him to redeem you from your blindness so that you may praise God the Father for all that he did for you.

As we begin this Season of Lent let us ask God to give us that due sense that we have offended him in all our being; and yet he shows great mercy upon us, being penitent, according to the promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let us pray:

LORD, we beseech thee, mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess their sins unto thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved; through Christ our Lord. TURN thou us, O good Lord, and so shall we be turned. Be favorable, O Lord, Be favorable to thy people, Who turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying. For thou art a merciful God, Full of compassion, Long-suffering, and of great pity. Thou sparest when we deserve punishment, And in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy. Spare thy people, good Lord, spare them, And let not thine heritage be brought to confusion. Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great, And after the multitude of thy mercies look upon us; Through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GOD, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive; Receive our humble petitions; and though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose us; for the honour of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

HE Lord bless us, and keep us. The Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us, and give us peace, both now and evermore. Amen.

✟

Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s Sunday Sermon

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

Quinquagesima

In today’s epistle we find the word charity being set before us several times by the apostle. As a good teacher, St. Paul was attempting to ingrain its meaning in our minds for a godly purpose. The English word charity is derived from the Latin word for “dear” which is “carus “ and refers to “a dear person”, or a “spiritual benevolence toward another”, or “brotherly love”. It is used 27 times in the Authorized Version where it was translated from the Greek word “agape”. Benevolent, caring, good intentioned love is what we understand charity to mean from our reading of Scripture. For it is this type of love, which God through Christ has extended to us, that we also are to extend toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.

St. Paul warned without charity, all our works are as nothing in the eyes of God. We must love the brethren. We are commanded to do so by our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. In St. John 15:12 our Lord said, This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. And St. John wrote in his first epistle (2:10) that He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. And in another place in that epistle he wrote (3:16) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Finally in this same epistle, he wrote (4:7-8) beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. To quote Matthew Henry in part, “Christian love must possess our souls when we go to God in prayer. To this end we must remember that God expects each of us 1) to forgive those who have offended us, and 2) to seek reconciliation with those whom we have offended. As good will toward men was proclaimed in heaven, so good will towards men— particularly to the brethren— must be carried in the hearts of those who go God.”

Some Christians fail to realize their true potential because they have not “agape” or charity in their hearts. Their fruitlessness is problematic for them because as the apostle warned without charity their works are as nothing. Consider the account of our Lord’s healing of a blind man as found in St. Luke’s gospel (18:31-43). Here we find this man calling out to our Lord for his mercy. Isn’t interesting that even in his state of physical blindness that the man recognized our Lord Jesus as the son of David, that is to say, the Messiah. And what was our Lord’s response? He called the blind man to him and asked him what he could do for him. The man then replied, Lord, that I may receive my sight, to which our Lord responded, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. What a gracious act of loving kindness. This same benevolent love is requisite of each and every person who bears the name of Christ. We are to love the brethren and our neighbor; but more especially the brethren. We should be willing to do for them as we can because we can. Seeking to do good should not be a chore for us anymore than we would expect God to consider helping us a chore.

In today’s gospel, our Lord communicated his desire for all who will come to enjoy his gifts and blessings just as he gave freely to the blind man as noted above. God does not say to his elect, “Oh, you are too much trouble”, or, “I don’t have time for you”, or “Your requests are too burdensome”, or, “Ever thought about helping yourself for a change?” You will not find such remarks coming from him. He loves us and seeks our good. And, as we have experienced his love, so are we expected to show the same to those around us. In fact, we are required to do so, though we ought to do so willingly. We all have different gifts and talents which God himself has given to us as members of the body of Christ. To some have been given the ministration of the word; to others the ministration of healing; still others are given the ministration of various works, and so on.

The table of our Lord is set. The meal has been prepared. All one need do is go to him and receive of him. He loves you. He died for you. Will you not come when bidden to such a great supper? Only those who have a heart for God— those who in their blindness are seeking to have their eyes opened upon hearing the words of our Lord— will come to his supper and will rejoice over being invited in the first place. Unworthy sinners know their condition and are humbled by our Lord’s calling. His blood makes the unworthy sinner worthy. His blood covers a multitude of sins. His grace is all sufficient. No other name has been given to us for salvation. Believe and accept him and then turn and be healed of the malady of sin. You possess no sin too big, too ugly, or too burdensome that Jesus Christ cannot lift from you and count it voided in its power over you. But the first thing you must do is see the need to come and then to indeed come.

God has plans for you and he has work for you to do as well. There are a multitude of ministries and offices to be exercised for which the Lord has appointed those who are called of him to carry out. So, then, how does one know their particular calling? Because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17), we receive our gifts after having come to God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For once we are sealed by him as regenerate believers, he then will give to us the gifts of the Spirit. For it is only by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost that we are given to know our particular talents and gifts which we are to then use in his name.

Nevertheless, we must be obedient to his word written and not take upon ourselves to do those things which he has not called us to do and which are specifically prohibited to us by his word and commandment. Being considerate of his word is a fundamental part of our service to him. I have witnessed too many souls who decided in and of themselves to become ministers of the word. This they should not have done. Just as Jeroboam took it upon himself to appoint men priests who had no business being in the service of God, so these modern-day Jeroboams have determined to replace God’s standards with their own. There are even churches that have substituted their commentary on the Scriptures in place of the Scriptures. This is what the Bible calls the way of Cain, and it is nothing more than “will worship”, or the offering to God something that he does not desire in place of that which he seeks (St. Jude 11) — all of which is unacceptable. If God did not call you, do you really expect the Lord to bless your life and ministry?

Above all, we should love the LORD our God, who gave himself for us that we might have eternal life in his coming kingdom. Loving God, means being obedient to his will and walking in his ways. If he loved us, who knew him not as LORD, should we not also tell of his love to others that they too might come unto him as we were called? Indeed, we should.

Our success as witnesses is not measured solely in mere numbers, but in obedience. If we are following the truth of God’s word written, we will not do or act without seeking His Guidance, and we will conform to the standards set forth in His Word written. Obedience is the first step in having fellowship with the Godhead. Therefore be humbly accepting of His Word, and lean not on your own understanding.

Let us pray,

ather, help us to daily keep thy commandments; that those who hear our witness and see our works will give glory unto thee and love thee as their Lord and God; for this we ask in the name of him who now sits at thy right hand ever making intercession for thine elect, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed week, Bryan+

After Church Hospitality

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

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

Why? Prayer is an extremely important activity.

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

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

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

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

What is the commitment from the prayer team?

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

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

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

No known travel this week.

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

Dru Arnold celebrated her 61^st birthday on 2 February 2016. She saw her shadow, so there will be ix more weeks of winter, but given this is California, that is not all bad.

Marriage

Kristyna Thomas and Luis Aviles were married on 16 January 2016 at Fort Lewis, Washington, please pray they might come together as one in our Lord.

Departed

Kym Leasure, 44, passed away the morning of 12 January 2016, from complications of respiratory and cardiac issues. She is a member of Saint Paul’s AOC in Moberly, Missouri. Please pray for her family who remain behind, in particular her parents, 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

Pat has metastaticosteosarcoma; there is little that can be done Please pray for a miraculous remission; that Pat’s remaining time here on earth might be good. Help Pat and family put their trust in the Lord and let Him carry their sadness, fear, worry and terror.

Amy has been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma and has cancer all over her body, and in one of her kidneys. Amy and her family have asked for prayer to stop the growth and to aid the family financially with the medical bills. At present she has to have surgery every two months to place stents. Pray Jesus will be close to all.

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 two aggressive malignant brain tumors. We have been praying for a miraculous remission; one has shrunk and the other has disappeared. Please give thanks to God for this wonderful thing and pray the other will disappear, her memory will return and she and her family will continue to 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

Gretchen has been diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. Her doctor wants to treat her with injectable drugs which have fearsome side effects. Please pray with Gretchen and her family the physicians treating her will be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for a full and speedy recovery to good health and for trust in the Lord for Gretchen and her family in this worrisome time.

Pete has not been well and is back in the hospital with another stroke. Please pray for the physicians treating him 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 Pete and his family in this worrisome time.

Kamil has heart problems and they are trying to stabilize his medication, now he been admitted to the hospital because of breathing problems. Please pray for the physicians treating him 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 Kamil and his family in this worrisome time.

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.

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, he got out then back in apparently with double pneumonia and now out. Due to very bad lungs already, this is a life threatening issue. 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

Dylan Klein, 9, grand-nephew of Chet O’Brien, lost his 41 year old father last April, there was no insurance; his grandmother died in December with brain cancer. Dylan is the middle boy of Chet’s niece, Erin. On 18 January 2016, Dylan was found to have a brain tumor; an operation on 25 January 2016, appears to have been successful in removing all of the tumor. The biopsy showed it was cancerous. He is going to begin a regimen of radiation and chemo treatments in about 2 weeks. Please pray for healing and for trust in the Lord and peace of mind for Dylan, Erin and the rest of the family.

Shamu has had seven surgeries now to attempt to solve a disruptive colon. She needs at least two more. She is weak. Please pray for strength, physical, mental and spiritual for her. Pray for guidance for the medical team treating her. Pray also for her to continue her trust in our Lord as she goes through this difficult time.

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.

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.

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 mortal peril. He works in a shrinking field, of which he is one of the country’s true masters, but there is little work available. He lost two of his most critical workmen to accident and illness. He asks that you pray he can find a way to survive wit honor 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.

South Pacific

Ashbin Singh family, mother, two daughters,grandparents, have come to know Jesus. Our minister in the Anglican Orthodox Church is going to see them for several days. There have also been health issues with Ashbin. Please pray for good health and that all will begin a study of God’s Word and thank our Lord for revealing Himself to them.

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

The Anglican Orthodox Church Pakistan thanks you for your Prayers; we have two new Priests

Dear Bishop Jerry Ogles & AOC family,

Greetings from Pakistan. It is my pleasure to announce that we are ordaining Deacon Ahsan Iqbal and Amer William as priests in Anglican Orthodox Church of Pakistan. Mr. Ahsan will serve in Peshawar was held on Wednesday, 3 February 2016 in Peshawar.

Please do remember this event and both gentlemen in your prayers.

God bless you all.

In Christ’s sevice.

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!

Thanksgiving

Gil Garcia finally got out of the Long Beach VA Hospital after nine months in time for Christmas, for which he and his wife Mary are thankful. Join them in a prayer of thanksgiving and pray for strength for Gil and his wife Mary as they deal with the stresses of Gil’s paraplegia and the general aging process.

What is Quinquagesima?

Quinquagesima, or, in full, Quinquagesima Sunday, is the name for the Sunday next before Ash Wednesday in the Catholic (Universal or Whole) Church Calendar.

The name Quinquagesima originates from Latin quinquagesimus (fiftieth), referring to the fifty days before Easter Sunday using inclusive counting, which counts both Sundays (normal counting would count only one of these).

Since the forty days of the Lenten fast included only weekdays, the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, succeeds Quinquagesima Sunday by only three days. The earliest Quinquagesima Sunday can occur is February 1 and the latest is March 7. The Roman Church no longer observes much of the Christian Year, including Quinquagesima and the two immediately before it — Sexagesima and Septuagesima Sundays.

The contemporary service books of many claiming to be Anglican provinces do not use the term but it remains in the Book of Common Prayer.

The 17-day period beginning on Septuagesima Sunday spanning Sexuagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays was intended to be observed as a preparation for the season of Lent, which is itself a period of spiritual preparation for Easter. In many countries, however, Septuagesima Sunday marks the start of the carnival season, culminating on Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday.

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

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

6 March 2016 – Fourth Sunday in Lent – Holy Communion – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

13 March 2016 – Passion Sunday – Fourth Sunday in Lent – Morning Prayer – DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS IN THE USA – SPRING FORWARD OR BE LATE – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

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

24 March 2016 – Maunday Thursday – Evening Prayer – Service start time 1800 (6:00 pm); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 1745 (5:45 pm); Time 1800 (6:00 pm); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

25 March 2016 – Good Friday – Evening Prayer – Service start time 1800 (6:00 pm); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 1745 (5:45 pm); Time 1800 (6:00 pm); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

27 March 2016 – Easter Sunday – Holy Communion – SONRISE SERVICE – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

^{^[1]}Charity – Love; universal benevolence; good will; the word which properly denotes love. Properly understood the Love of God, that perfect love, to which man should aspire. [1913 Webster]

^{^[2]}To quote Winston Churchill, “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.” (29 October 1941)

^{^[3]}The three Gloster Gladiator fighters Faith, Hope and Charity defended Malta against the Italian Air Force during the early part of the siege of Malta in World War II. Legend has it that all three persisted and of the three, Charity never failed.

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