240512 AOC Sunday Report

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide Communion

Mothers Day, Ascension Day, and The Sunday after Ascension Day Sunday Report

Ascension Day

On Ascension Day, we had three members present for the service. Ascension Day commemorates the return to heaven, the ascending of our Lord. This is a day filled with joy, one where we get to recall fulfillment of promises.

The Ascension Day service always brings a lot of happiness and fun, being one of those days.[1]

If you did not make it, resolve to come next year. The parish will buy your dinner afterwards if it is your first time to the service[2].

The Ascension Day Propers[3]

The Collect

RANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave.

For the Epistle. Acts i. 1.

HE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The Gospel. St. Luke xxiv. 49.

ESUS said, Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.

The Sunday after Ascension Day

Today was the Sunday after Ascension Day. It is also Mothers Day, when we recognize our mothers both here and those who have gone before and on whose shoulders we have risen. This, by rights, should be every day.

On Mothers

On this Mother’s Day, it is very easy for us to look back at our mother’s life and think of all the things we like about our mother. We like, it is all about our mother and what she did for us. The pivotal thought seems to be us. It is not about us, our / us is merely an adjective to describe a particular mother. For motherhood is about self-sacrifice. Putting the child’s welfare above that of the mother. A mother’s primary job is to ensure her children are prepared for heaven and also to make their way in this world and continue that legacy. So many mothers do their very best and we seldom recognize their contribution to our world and the world to come.

The love of the mother for her children comes with a price; yet the price paid is not without return. The last words of almost all soldiers who die in battle are either “Mom” or “Jesus.” There is a lesson all in of itself.

What did your mom choose? An extra child or an extra home or trailer? Your schooling, or her vacation without you? Dental work for you or a new car for her? Shoes for you or a fancy dress for her?

Jesus commanded us to follow Him, He who put our lives before His. Who on this earth does this more consistently than mothers?

Saint James tells us in his Epistle, “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.” Who on this earth does this more consistently than mothers?

As Christians we need to uphold and recognize the example of sacrifice in motherhood so we might understand the sacrifice made by God on our behalf in Jesus’ death for our sin.

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, but overall mostly from Bryan. He always has some great ones to share. On to the On Point quotes –

Live for ever?

“No thanks,” said Digory, “I don’t know that I care much about living on and on after everyone I know is dead. I’d rather live an ordinary time and die and go to Heaven.”

Jack Lewis

The Magician’s Nephew

As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Proverbs 11:19

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah 6:8

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Matthew 24:35

They that are whole need not a physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:31-32

Of truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Acts 10:34-35

There are two phrases particularly worth remembering, ‘a house divided against a house falleth’ and ‘He that is not with me is against me.’ Middle ground exists, but it is quicksand. Eventually one has to choose a side… The only rational side to take is that of God, that side that will lead us to eternal life not that of eternal death… there is no other reasonable option… Christ himself came not to unite the world, but to divide it… In Matthew 10:32-34 he says ‘Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.’ He is saying here that he has not come to unite the World— for the World is not on our side— but to clearly divide the world to show who is with God and who is against God. For as earlier explained, one man cannot serve two masters. And also the saying of where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. In this life by reading through Scripture we can easily tell who is for Him and who is against Him. It is simple, [those] who [hold] to the principles of Scripture [are] for Him. [Those] who do not hold to them are not…

Jack Arnold

21^st century Anglican Orthodox Bishop

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:32

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:36

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.

I Corinthians 13:11

Let the comfortable thought of our Lord’s return sustain us in public troubles and cheer us in private trials. When the governments of the world are reeling and tottering; when the air is filled with rumours of wars and revolutions; when the nations of the earth are heaving up and down and ill at ease; when faith is faint and love is waxing cold, and the best of churches seem running to seed and decay; when men’s hearts are failing for fear and looking after the things coming on the earth— in times like theses let us fix our eyes steadily on the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ.

JC Ryle

19^th century Anglican bishop and author

Knots Untied, pp. 268-269

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one.

I John 5:7-8

If men believe that God is ‘dead’ and they do not owe their Creator supreme love and loyalty, there is no deterrent to keep them from dabbling in the occult, which is the natural expression of a lawless spirit. Setting aside love for God, such men so abandon any concern for their fellow man. Failure to keep the first table of commandments inevitably leads to failure to keep the second one. Spiritual lawlessness, in which occultism and false religionism flourish, goes hand in hand with moral lawlessness. Crime skyrockets and social evils abound in such a troubled era. Occult revival starts and prospers in a morally and spiritually sick society.

Merrill F. Unger

20^th Century American theologian and scholar

Demons in the World Today, p. 179

From the early moment of my consecration, I have been confronted with the tempting voices of fellow Christians to simply compromise just a little here or there in the doctrines and worship of the church. These suggestions are usually made from hearts that desire to see the church grow and are not malicious. But as a bishop, it falls to my lot to defend the faith— not just the major points of the faith, but every single principle of it as related in Holy Scripture. Surely, our church could grow to enormous proportions if we would only compromise… until we are no different from the many other fallen churches who have preceded us in that apostacy. To compromise a single principle of truth is to betray our Lord who died for us.

Jerry L. Ogles

20^th and 21^st century Anglican Orthodox Presiding Bishop

Reason for Hope, p. 98

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 179-180, with the Collect first:

The Sunday after Ascension Day.

The Collect.

GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us un-to the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Collect for Ascension Day, found on Page 177, is also read due to the rubric:

The Collect for The Ascension Day.

The Collect.

RANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave.

This morning’s Epistle is written in the Fourth Chapter of the First Epistle of Saint Peter beginning at the Seventh Verse. Peter reminds us of the shortness of our lives, the eternity of the next world and implores us to live as if we were eternal now, not wait until we die. For then, eternity will be a bit late.

HE end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Holy Gospel came from the Fifteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint John beginning at the Twenty-Sixth Verse. The Gospel talks about the origin of the Holy Ghost and the reason for which He is being sent. It also foretells the enmity that Christians will find from those of this world who do not share their understanding of God and His Will:

HEN the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.

Jerry Ogles

Presiding Bishop

Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

We are oft fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s sermon notes. Today is one of those Sundays.

As members of the Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide Communion, Scripture is our primary reference. But, what positions do we take based on that Scripture? We have adopted The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. They were not intended as a complete statement of the Christian faith, but of the position of the Anglican Church in relation to the Roman Catholic Church and other Protestant churches.

It is critical you understand the Articles. Bishop Jerry has embarked on a series to cover them. They are about ten minutes or so, you should take the time to listen to them

Introduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc6cR06ildA

Article One – The Triune God

https://youtu.be/x0Wp8ytia50

Bishop Jerry does videos on various subjects, they last just under ten minutes and this weeks are listed below:

Zacchaeus – a Man who Ran to find Christ – https://youtu.be/khkIOScz7O8

Today’s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will give you a lot to consider in your heart.

The Sunday after Ascension Day.

The Collect.

The Collect

Our Collect for Sunday after Ascension follows logically the observance of the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is perfectly timely and natural that we, having observed our Lord ascend, should now desire the promised comforter – I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:18) This word ‘leave means, in the Greek, to divorce or to sever all legal connection. Christ will not disown His people even if He has departed to a High Station. Many of our friends may forget who we are if they advance to high political or social office, but not our Lord Jesus Christ. His very Ascension was for our benefit. We have been left with a close and intimate intercessor who will ALWAYS testify of Christ to us and point always to His benefits.

The Collect refers to God the Father as the King of Glory and is based, for the most part, on the 24^th Psalm. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:7-8) It is interesting to note that the preceding Psalm (23^rd) describes Christ as the Lord our Shepherd, and here the Father is called the King of Glory. The plea is rhetorical for Christ has promised with a surety that He will NOT leave us Comfortless. The Holy Ghost (or Comforter) will exalt us to a standing place in Christ. The Holy Ghost has not come to exalt Himself, but to exalt and point only to Christ. We see that many churches corrupt the purpose of the Holy Ghost in granting wealth, power, and benefits outside those promised in Christ.

The Text

UT when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: ²⁷ And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27)

HESE things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. ² They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. ³ And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. ⁴ But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. (John 16:1-4)

The Sermon

Christ walked among us and taught us all things concerning Himself. He went about all of Judea and Galilee preaching, teaching, and healing. But Christ was confined to a body with limitations of time and space. He came to a few whom He called to Himself as Apostles so that a living testimony would remain after His Testament (death Will). This was a necessary component of God’s plan to expand the witness of the Gospel unto all nations by means of witnesses. Today, we are those witnesses who teach and preach the Gospel of Christ once delivered to the saints. This teaching has taken place from heart to heart.

But it was necessary that Christ die on the cross else we would remain unredeemed and unsaved. This was His most critical intent. Secondly, it was necessary that Christ ascend to the father, not only to make intercession for us, but that the Comforter might come. The Comforter, or Holy Ghost, is a Spirit not subject to limitations of time or space. The Holy Ghost is capable of witnessing in a diversity of places and times because He is a Spirit. He can warm my heart in Alabama and point me to the truth of the Gospel while He is able, at the same time, to do the same for a Christian in Indonesia. He not only reveals truth to us as written in Holy Scripture, but He also administers comfort, succor, and encouragement to us when the world offends. He does not leave us alone for He ABIDES in our hearts if we belong to Christ. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. Do not be deceived by the modern apostates that the Holy Spirit will whisper secrets in your ear not revealed in God’s Word, or cause you to speak in a babble that no one else can understand (including yourself). The Holy Ghost is reasonable, Biblically true, and loving.

²⁷ And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. Jesus is speaking to His apostles here, but He also speaks to us. “From the beginning, for us, is the moment that we first believed. That is OUR beginning, for before we were born anew in Christ, we were dead in trespasses and sin. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Eph 2:1-6)

We all find our ‘beginning’ in Christ Alone. Because we have known Him from the beginning, we must also bear witness of Him. If we have ever been WITH Him at all in faith and trust, we must still be so, for He loses none that the Father has placed in His able hands.

¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. There is an old saying, “To be forewarned is to be fore-armed.” When we have been warned of coming trouble, we are able to make provision for it and to prepare our hearts and minds. The Greek word for ‘offend’ is Skandalizo. It means to entice to sin, or to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey (to cause to fall away). If you have been told by the Field Commander to expect to encounter enemy elements ahead, you will be alert and at the ready for the encounter. If, on the other hand, you walk complacently and oblivious to the enemy, you will not be prepared for the engagement and may perish by the wayside or in ambush.

² They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. Do you realize that more martyrs have died in the last century than any previous one? Do you know that men and women are being hung by their necks, and beheaded, today in the name of a presumptive god called Allah? Those who bear the sword believe that they serve God by brutally killing all who do not accept their false god. Christ has told you already that they shall put you out of the synagogues (churches). If you have not yet been cast out, do not be surprised if you are so cast out when you insist on biblical truth and righteousness. You may be labeled a ‘contentious one” for opposing a luke-warm Gospel or outright heresy. You may be beheaded as an ‘infidel’ for adhering to the faith of Christ. “This is America – such things cannot happen here!” you may say. Really? Have you observed the great changes that have transpired in just your own lifetime in America? Have you noticed how those things that are godd have been relabeled bad, and the bad relabeled good? Have you noticed the departure from solid truth in modern churches and the embrace of abject error?

³ And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. How can those who profess Christ, or even allah, cast you out as a heretic? Because they are false professors of Christ. They have not known the Father because they do not recognize His Son. The churches are full of such people every Sunday who call, unbelievingly, upon the name of Christ. They call upon that unblemished name to gain wealth and political objectives. They stoke their own fires in Hell by so doing.

⁴ But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. The predestinate will of God does not include sin. God never ordains sin, but He warns us that it shall come. God may use the sin of others to advance His will for us and to chastise us, or to try us, but He is never the Author of sin. Many are being told today that God will never allow them to undergo the great Tribulation. Suppose these know-alls are wrong. What happens when the tribulation fires are stirred for believers in China, India, Vietnam, North Korea, or Alabama?[4] Will we cease to believe because we have not been warned and feel deserted by the of our nativity? Erroneous doctrine can do much harm. It is for this reason that Christ warns us, and why a right understanding of His Word is so critical for our time.

What is it to you or me if Christ comes for us today, or in one hundred years? Regardless of when He comes for us, He is always ‘on the way’ and we must be ready for the sounding of the trumpet. He may come for you in the next ten minutes by means of an heart attack, or He may come for me on the highway this morning as I drive to church. His coming for us is at His own discretion and good time. Give no thought for when the Master of the House shall return – simply be prepared for Him always and there will be no worry or grave doubts. Are you ready?

The day will come, my friend, when God’s Word ceases to go out through the medium of preaching and teaching. There is a famine coming upon the land – evidence of which may already be observed in the brazen sky and denuded land – Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12) Those who pick up man’s Bible instead of God’s is already evident in its prominence. The NIV, the ESV, and others posing as God’s Word are simply copyrighted words of men who have corrupted the Bible and adopted false manuscript evidence to satisfy their insatiable appetite to embrace sin while appearing as Christians.

God’s Church is a Holy Army. It sends out missionaries and evangelists ahead of its main body just as an earthly army sends out skirmishers, pickets, and vedettes ahead of its own main line of deployment. When the enemy draws near for the decisive battle, these skirmishers, pickets, and vedettes are recalled to the main battle line. So shall it be in the days of the consummation of that Last Battle.

It is interesting to note that the term ‘sorcerer’ can mean a marketer of mind-altering drugs in some parts of Scripture: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. (Rev 9:21) The word, sorceries above in the Greek is the same from which we get the word ‘pharmacist’ – Pharmakeia. Look also in the following verse taken from the last book of the Bible – Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Rev 22:14-15) If you have in your hands a modern wonder of error such as the NIV, you may miss some of the point of this counsel in verse 14: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. “ Rev 22:14 (NIV) This change is not consistent with every other truth of the Bible – it is the white and sinless Robe of Christ that covers our sins – not the effort we make in washing them ourselves. We are told in Philippians 3:2 to beware of those of the ‘concision.’ These are those who ‘mutilate’ the Word of God.

In verse 15 above, those dogs and sorcerers are a very clear definition of the society in which we live today. To the best of my recollection, no recognized government has ever before sanctioned homosexual marriage as legitimate. Though it was one underlying cause of the fall of Rome (Gibbon), it was not enacted into the law of the Republic. The Bible refers to sodomites as dogs – Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God. (Deut 23:18) The word used for dog is blk Keleb – whose gender is masculine and which means a male prostitute. The preceding verse is clear as well: There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. (Deut 23:17) We see that this has already happened even at the Episcopal level of ECUSA and other apostate churches.

The Day of Battle draws ever nearer in our day. The Church of God will remain only as a remnant, but all of the forces of Satan shall be destroyed who assail it. All of the armies of Satan shall be gathered and will encircled that little enclave of God’s people. Then shall the power and might of God be demonstrated in destroying them. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev 20:9-10)

There are those in our ranks who will resent my speaking so openly and forcefully of sin. The world would prefer a more gentle and polished dissertation of sinners, but God never minces words, and neither should we in addressing the sins of the day. Are you in the right Army[5], or that which shall be destroyed by the Arm of God. Remember: And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S. (1 Sam 17:47)

Jack Arnold

Bishop of the Diocese of the West – AOC USA

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

Director of Education and Training

Bp Jack brings the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. Bp Jack’s sermon can be viewed on video HERE -> https://youtu.be/aXPWZoFF6DI

Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we see Jesus ascending back to Heaven and begin to learn to live with Him in Heaven and us here on earth. How little different we are than the Apostles left behind.

Once again the propers for this week come together very well, their focus is narrow, thus powerful.

Let’s start by reading the Collect for today:

The Sunday after Ascension Day.

The Collect.

Consider these words from the Collect:

… leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before …

In some ways, today is no different than the very First Sunday after the Ascension. Jesus is in heaven, we are alone and physically separated from God who gives us the strength we need to do His Will. Like Peter and the other apostles, the further we are from God, the weaker we are. Thus, we are looking towards Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Ghost who will strengthen our connection to God.

We ask for God’s help we might have the true belief, courage, knowledge and strength to follow Jesus to heaven for all eternity. That help is on the way in the form of the Holy Ghost. It is quite clear that we cannot succeed in this endeavor without His Help. On the other hand, it is different today than two thousand years ago. We actually have the real presence of the Holy Ghost, here and now. He does not ebb and flow with the liturgical year; where would we be if He did? He is a constant presence within our lives. We just have to acknowledge Him and follow the advice that He gives and all will be well with our souls. The key word is that we have to follow the advice He gives and not just acknowledge it and go off and do our own thing. What good would that do us? In order for the Holy Ghost to be able to effect positive change in our lives, we need to listen and then act upon His Guidance.

The end of the earth and this world may come at any time, indeed for 313,000 people each day, their time here is up. Thus, in a very real sense as Saint Peter put it, The end of all things is at hand… He is not just talking about the final end of this planet, but each and every one of us is here only temporarily, passing through as it were. Eventually we will end our travels here and if we have done our best to follow Him here, we will journey to our eternal home in heaven. He counsels us to live each day as if it were going to be our last. Thus, we should act as if it was our last day on earth and do our jobs with smiles on our faces knowing our eternal destination is secure as long as we do our best to follow Him. This puts things into perspective for us and should make us more mindful of what we need to do to follow Him.

Jesus left us so the Holy Ghost could come down and dwell amongst us and in us to provide us with the guidance we need to follow God. Without Jesus leaving, the Holy Ghost could not come down and dwell amongst us. On Jesus’s departure, the Holy Ghost was free to descend and enter into our hearts, souls and minds upon invitation.

In order to get the guidance from the Holy Ghost, we have to wait and hear what He has to say before we act. Then once that Holy Spirit has given the answer, we must act upon the answer. This is a continuous cycle and we must always prioritize our lives to put God, our Country, Family, friends and co-workers first and in that order and things will fall in line. Along these lines, we must strive to work hard, take care of those who cannot and be good stewards of the considerable grace God has given us. This does not just refer to spending MONEY, but rather to giving of our time and effort to bring the Gifts of God to others. We are called not to hoard love, but to spread it throughout our travels. For as love is of God, then it follows there is an infinite supply of love. In fact, love multiplies with use, so there is more than an infinite amount of love out there.

For as Saint Peter says in his Epistle this morning, charity (love) truly does cover a multitude of sins. So, when we do things for others, the driving force behind our actions should be that of charity, or love, for our fellow human beings and not any self-seeking motivation. Charity will cover for our multitude of sins, but we need to be thinking how we can help others. It is the greatest of gifts God and the Holy Ghost gives to us; a gift we find ourselves needing to use more often. The Holy Ghost is key in giving us the desirable thoughts and attributes that we need to carry out His Plan on Earth. He also helps us deal with our less desirable thoughts and attributes and helps us deal with very difficult people and situations. Turning to the Holy Spirit in those very stressful times will reduce the burden on your heart and shift it from you to God, giving you the clarity you need to act for Him, to be able to act in an effective and Christ like manner.

The Gospel’s take away is without the Holy Ghost’s presence in our hearts, the needed action on our part is impossible. This explains why those who do not follow Christ cannot comprehend the strength and value of the Good News and Jesus’s death and resurrection. They do not have the wisdom to understand because they refuse to let the Holy Ghost into our hearts. As Jesus said that there are some that will be even so deluded as to think by killing us they are serving God when they are not serving God but the devil. The Holy Ghost is that portion of God who can enter our hearts bringing the needed spiritual resources to help us win the spiritual battle here on Earth. Those who will not have Him in their hearts can never understand God and His Will. That is why they cannot understand or fathom the plan He has for us. They cannot understand why we follow God and Christ. They do not believe; therefore, they cannot have Him in their hearts, and therefore they will not understand. For, there are none so blind as those who will not see, nor as deaf as those who will not hear.

The end of time is nearer each day than the day before, of that we can be certain. But there is a certainty we have in this uncertainly world, the unfailing love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus and the presence of the Holy Ghost in our lives, if we let Him in, and the inerrant Holy Scriptures to guide us throughout the rest of our lives. With this knowledge of an unchanging standard, we can stand fast by this standard and be content knowing we are following the One True Triune God, and though we may physically suffer a while, it is nothing to enjoying eternity with God. This is an advantage we believers have over non-believers is that unwavering certainty of our final destination once we have ran our race for Him here and departed this life.

The current world climate, even in this country, is less hospitable than in many centuries to Christians. There is a reason for this which only God understands and not us. God has a plan for all of this. We do not need to understand God’s plan, we just need to follow His Directions to the best our ability. And in the end God’s plans always work out, even if we do not understand it at the time. In time, we will realize what the plan is. But for now, we are unaware of His plan in the greater scheme of things. But what it is doing is solidifying the faith of true believers around the globe, forming the Army of Light together, ready to battle against the malicious forces of Satan. We cannot make this journey alone. We must have the close and continuous presence of God. That presence is the Holy Ghost. That is why He is here.

Pray for His continual presence in your heart.

Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail. The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.

The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?

It is by our actions we are known.

Be of God – Live of God – Act of God

Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor

Saint Paul’s Anglican Church

Diocese of the Midwest Anglican Orthodox Church

Suffragan Bishop of the AOC

Bishop Roy is pastor of the biggest AOC parish West of the Mississippi. He wears many hats; he is the Bishop of the Master Diocese of the Midwest, the Diocese of the Epiphany as well as the Administrative Coordinator of Central and South America. He is also the Suffragan Bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church of the United States of America.

Sunday after the Ascension

And so begins a great adventure…

12 May 2024, Anno Domini

1 Peter 4:7-11 • John 15:26-16:4a

The Sunday after Ascension Day.

The Collect.

The Collect for The Ascension Day.

The Collect.

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave.

In today’s Gospel Jesus’ disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem for the Comforter, (the Holy Spirit). Jesus said this several times during his earthly ministry. What we need to think about is God’s timing, not ours. So many times we want to schedule the work of the Lord by our “busy” timetable. If you want to be frustrated, try to push forward something on your time schedule and seek what happens.

If you look at the time and place of the first Advent of Christ we can see God’s timing is perfect. We’d want to push things along, try to get things done before everything was prepared.

When Christ came to earth as a little baby there were several historic concepts and events in place for the first time since the beginning of what is now the Western World.

A mostly unified empire (Rome)
A common language, koine Greek
A road system and fairly safe maritime trading system in place
Trading systems including weights and measures, common coinage

All this contributed to the fairly rapid distribution of the Christian faith.

In a hundred years after Christ’s ascension, Christianity is known and being practiced in all corners of the Roman Empire. That is pretty significant.

Now back to Jerusalem, in the days before the Comforter comes to testify of Jesus, the disciples are waiting. They are communing together, probably discussing their next move. The older men likely counseling patience, the younger disciples probably wanting to do something. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

They were told to wait. Great and terrifying things are about to happen, life changing to say the least.

As we continue to contemplate these two passages of scripture today try to think of a group of people preparing for a great journey. Now the disciples didn’t have a complete idea of what this journey would be, they didn’t realize the sacrifices, the hardships, the depredations they would suffer on this life-changing journey; but they went back to Jerusalem to wait and prepare. Christ revealed what was going to happen in the future, for this group of believers:

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

With an understanding of this forewarning, we look to St. Peter’s first general epistle for advice.

In his letter St. Peter reminds the believers to be charitable. Be prayerful, be watchful, be hospitable to each other. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

Then Peter writes of gifts. As everyone has been given gifts, we are to use them to minister to each other. Why? Because we are to be good stewards of grace that God has given us. We tend to focus on self, we don’t generally want to do good by others. It is a human condition. But because we are God’s own, he expects us to use these gifts to glorify him.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

This period of time between Christ’s Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit is the “calm before the storm.” We the disciples are staying in Jerusalem, others who followed Jesus possibly taking stock as what to do next. And yet all were most likely waiting with anticipation, not knowing exactly what was to come.

Some Bible commentators and theologians liken this time as the pre-church age. That with the coming of the Holy Spirit in a few days, the church, that group of believers, would be certified as the ongoing instrument of mission that Jesus instituted during his earthly ministry.

Suffice it to say, there would be a great change in the nature, attitude and mission thrust of the disciples and those who they trained in the coming years. The events that Jesus foretold in our Gospel passage would come to be.

Not only would the disciple be thrown out of the synagogue, they would be persecuted, many would face death at the hands of Jewish and Roman legal systems. There were great changes that would be manifest in the life of the early church. The persecution of Christ’s church will begin in earnest. Many will be put to death, many will be driven from their homes, many will lose everything, family, possessions, societal connections, forever, at least here on earth.

Would you be up to the task? It is hard to say, in our relative comfort of the mostly calm United States. It isn’t so with our brethren overseas.

Our AOC parishes in Pakistan, India, parts of Africa, the South Sea Isles and the Philippines all face daily challenges and even death. It is getting more intense for believers especially on the Sub-Continent, as more and more militant groups gain power, not only the Islamist elements, but even militant Hindu and Buddhist groups too. All seemingly hell-bent on attacking their common enemy: Christians and the Cross which is “foolishness to them that perish”.

Let us pray for our fellow believers and those of the worldwide communion of the Anglican Orthodox Church.

Let us pray:

GOD, merciful and compassionate, who art ever ready to hear the prayers of those who put their trust in thee; Graciously hearken to us who call upon thee, and grant us thy help in this our need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GOD, merciful Father, who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as are sorrowful; Mercifully assist our prayers which we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities, whensoever they oppress us; and graciously hear us, that those evils which the craft and subtlety of the devil or man worketh against us, may, by thy good providence, be brought to nought; that we thy servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

✟

Yves M. Méra

Presiding Bishop – AOC France

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

We are fortunate to have a sermon from the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church of France and the Administrative Coordinator of Europe and Africa. As you will read, he is an excellent writer. The sermon is easy to read and provides much insight.

The Sunday after the Ascension.

What Are We To Do?

1 Peter 4:7-11; John 15:26-16:4a

Today is the Sunday between Ascension and Pentecost. The Church invites us to think about the coming of the Holy Spirit and what we are to do. Our Lord Jesus Christ is very clear about this And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:27) But what are we to bear witness to? Of me Jesus says at the end of the previous verse. Let us reformulate the question, which is not of WHAT, but of WHOM we must bear witness: of God the Father, creator of the universe, of His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ who took human flesh in the womb of the virgin Mary, and of the Holy Spirit communicated to His Church and transmitted by her since the day of Pentecost.

As far as the Holy Spirit is concerned, it is difficult. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is called in Greek the holy breath of God – agios pneumatos. He is like the wind, which Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3:8 is uncontrollable by man: The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. The Eleven were the first to be surprised at the manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:1-2) The wind again, but a wind full of truth and knowledge of God’s Word, since the Holy Spirit testifies to it. And these are the last words of Jesus, spoken just before ascending to heaven But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Witnessing is not difficult, provided you have received the Holy Ghost. His role is not to make us supermen; quite the contrary, since He considers us as mere tools, or megaphones. The same apostle John records these words of Jesus: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26) The role of the Holy Breath of God is therefore that of the prompter, as in a theatre. But too many preachers think they are inspired by the Holy Spirit when they preach their personal opinions, or their equally personal interpretation of Scriptures. The mistake they make is to believe, or rather to make others believe, in so-called particular revelations that would add something relevant to God’s Word. They know better than the prophets who wrote the Bible. They rise themselves to the point of going to sit on the throne of God! Can one be more pretentious? Is a witness a fabulist or a novelist? No way! A witness is only asked to tell what he or she has seen, heard, or read. The truth does not come from him or her, but from above.

If we simply repeat what the Bible says, without adding or omitting anything, then we are paradoxically elevated to the point of being like Christ our Lord when He teaches His disciples and says, the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. (John 14:24). Christ is the Father’s witness. The Holy Spirit is the Father’s Witness. We are the Father’s witnesses, through the Son, and with the Holy Spirit. All the great heretics took themselves for geniuses, or beneficiaries of a superior intelligence, or owners of divine grace. In reality, they did nothing but blaspheme, and the Church was very right in condemning their hazardous inventions. And that was not an easy task!

Let us not seek to rise to the highest spheres. This would be to imitate Satan who wanted to take God’s place and sit on His throne (Isaiah 14:13-15): For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Since when is a witness superior to the One whose deeds and sayings he relates? Since when is the student superior to his teacher? Since when is the servant superior to his master, the workman to his employer?

And Satan, who is a creature of the Father, wants to prove God that He is wrong and that he, Satan, knows more about man than God who created both man and angels (Job 1:9-11): Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. The sad thing is that Satan is right: man is weak when he is without God. But Job resisted and did not blaspheme, for he prayed, and God was with him, which made him a a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil. (Job 1:8b). And Job’s first virtue is his humility. Let’s read Job 42:1-6: Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Unlike Job’s friends who perorate without knowing what they are talking about, Job repents of in dust and ashes for having uttered that I understood not, even though he has said nothing wrong, not a single thing that was not true. His repentance is sincere: Job is aware that simply speaking to God uninvited is a rude way of ascending to Him without waiting for God to call him to Himself and give him the floor.

Fortunately, since Christ came to open the Gate of Heaven to us, we have a direct access to the Eternal Father, whom we dare to call Our Father who art in Heaven, For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:18). And here comes the Holy Spirit again, which is our 24G connection to Our Father in Heaven. It is invisible, but it faithfully conveys messages back and forth, waiting for us to be connected to fiber optics when we reach Heaven.

Just as Jesus says (John 16:4b): … And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. Christ did not confer the Holy Spirit of God on His apostles when He was with them, for they had All in Christ Jesus present in their midst: the Son, but also the Father and the Holy Ghost; the Triune God. That is why they had to wait until Pentecost – only ten days of retreat after the Ascension – before Christ sent them the Holy Spirit. By this, Christ showed that the power of testimony is not human, but divine; it comes from above and from nowhere else. This being said and established, let us beware of imitations, for demons know well how to pretend to be what they are not, and deceive even the most religious among us, as soon as they rise, moved by pride which is the source of all lies.

By asking us to testify of Christ, Our Lord Jesus puts us on the same level as the Holy Spirit, for it is He who works in us (John 15:26-27) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

However, the Holy Spirit will not add a word to the Word of Christ (John 14:25-26): These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Like the Christians of Berea in Acts 17:11, let us check the Bible for what preachers teach us, and prick up our ears when they claim to speak by the Spirit or in the spirit to tell unheard-of novelties: this is very suspicious. Let us be content with what is written. Sola Scriptura!

Peter is of this opinion when he writes in his First Epistle, Chapter 4, Verse 11: If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Peter does not ask us to speak in unknown tongues, but to preach God’s Word in a language understood by the people who listen to us. If the Reformers gave up liturgy and biblical readings in Latin, it was precisely because this language was no longer understood by the various peoples whom the Church had evangelized, after the Lord’s missionary command.

And what have we to do but pray and walk in charity for our brethren? The same Peter tells us in the same Epistle, chapter 4, verse 7: But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. Prayer keeps Satan away; we saw it with Job. As soon as we stop praying, Satan comes back again! But we are weak, and preoccupied with a host of other more urgent things… Fatal mistake! Nothing is ever more urgent than praying. That’s why we pray every day that God makes, morning and evening. The Book of Common Prayer offers us such morning prayers – Matins – and evening prayers – Vespers – which are much more complete and more exhaustive than anything we could imagine, left on our own, and so much the better if they are partly repetitive, because God does not change and Christ advises us to pray unceasingly and insistently. Blessed be the name of our Lord!

And in order not to be tempted by evil, Peter invites us to remain active and attentive to others (1 Peter 4:8-9): And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. In French drama writer Corneille’s Le Cid play (17^th century), a father asks his son, Rodrigue, do you have a heart? … Our Heavenly Father asks us the same question: Do we have a heart that is truly open to God and to others? Do we love God enough to love praying Him and obeying Him? Do we feel the joy that God gives through His Holy Spirit when we pray? This is the secret of the contemplatives who dedicate their entire lives to doing just that: praying to God: Father, Son, Spirit. This is one thing that strikes visitors to monasteries or hermits: these have the joy of God in their hearts, because they pray and love God. Jesus foretold it in Matthew 11:29-30: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

And contemplation necessarily leads to action. The great initiators of Christian social movements were and are men and women of prayer. Look at William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, or Lord Baden Powell, the inventor of Scout boys, not to mention the multitude of other lesser-known Anglicans who have offered their lives to save the lives of others, devoting themselves either to medicine, the military, or the ministry of the Word. Don’t believe those who tell you that pagans do the same: Pagan antiquity had no hospitals. Not a single one! It was the Christians who invented them. Do not listen to those who claim that atheists do more and better than Christians, for it is the pride of surpassing us that drives them to imitate us, drawing heavily from the pockets of others so that it doesn’t cost them a penny; So, inevitably, they have more resources than we do. But one thing will always be lacking them: charity – love of God and of others, with that grace that translates into gratuitousness. They have their reward: money and the glory that comes from men. But it will end with them.

As for us, we have more than that: we have a promise, and not just any mere promise, since it is about the resurrection and eternal life, manifested in Jesus Christ who died on a cross and rose again to open the Gate of Heaven to us: Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:7-10) Let us pray to the Lord that by His Holy Spirit in us He will make each of us worthy of this promise. Amen.

Yves Méra

Presiding Bishop – AOC France

Regional Coordinator for Europe and Africa

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

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, espouse the truth and live the truth. This is really a good piece and I commend it to your careful reading.

Sunday after the Ascension

ND I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:1-14)

FTER these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. ²³And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. ²⁴For John was not yet cast into prison. ²⁵Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. ²⁶And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. ²⁷John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. ²⁸Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. ²⁹He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. ³⁰He must increase, but I must decrease. ³¹He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. ³²And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. ³³He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. ³⁴For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. ³⁵The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. ³⁶He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:22-36)

After reading the Scripture above, how would you answer the question, “What shall be your portion of eternity?” It is a pretty straight-forward question but you’d be surprised at the answers you might get from your circle of friends and family. Some time ago, I developed a brief message that encompasses my question for today. It was entitled “Do You Know The Lord Jesus Christ.” So let us now review its particulars.

“Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ? There is no question in this life of greater importance. For many, it would seem an affront to even ask such a question because you may have been raised within a Christian church or even now attend one. But this is not a question which is meant to denigrate the receiver, but to call one to reflection. Do you know who Jesus Christ was, or who he is? Do you believe his testimony and accept his atoning sacrifice on Calvary’s cross? Have you been born-again of the Holy Ghost? Do you believe that God’s word written is his true and inspired word? God cares that you know about him and that is why you received this message. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and Lord, then pass this message on to those who have not. It is our duty under the Great Commission to call upon others to embrace Jesus Christ and be saved effectually and eternally. The Bible tells us that ALL who call upon the name of the LORD from a broken and contrite heart, truly seeking after him, will not be turned away.

If you have lived any length of time, you have likely experienced the pain of rejection by friends and family members. You may have experienced job loss after so many years with an employer that you enjoyed working for. You may have experienced the loss of a spouse, close relative, or a friend via death. You may also have experienced the emptiness and tragedy of divorce. These events tend to take away from us any trust and faith in things of this life. Nevertheless, your heavenly Father loves you and is ready to embrace you with his everlasting arms. If you will but confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son: who came into this world to die so that all who would believe on him might be saved; and if you will ask him to cleanse you of all your sins, God will give you the gift of his free grace. Afterwards, you will need to join a Bible-believing church so that your spirit may be fed and your soul comforted by a body of faithful church members who, like you, turned unto Christ for redemption. Our prayer is that you will find the church body that God has in mind for you.”

There it is— the Christian message— straight and true with no fillers and no GMO (Godless Modernist Orthodoxy). It is simple and uncomplicated. You are asked to come to him who is author and finisher of our faith. You are called to his grace which you could never earn for yourselves or pay for at any price. And he offers it to you FREE with only one real cost— your sins and trespasses as payment. In our gospel lesson in John 3 (22-36) we heard the testimony of John the Baptist who said, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (v. 36). There is the unvarnished truth regarding my initial question. John is telling us that in order to be received of God into his kingdom, we must choose. As the old adage goes, “All actions have consequences” and that goes for our choices in matters of faith. We are thus faced with deciding at a junction of two roads whether to go to the right hand or the left. One way to Christ, the other to perdition.

What then informs our decision? Human beings don’t have instincts so we are governed by our way of life, our understanding of reality and what we accept as truth as communicated by our culture, education and environment. At every level, we are subject to fellow mortals with whom we are in contact or who are members of our associations of family and friends. For good or ill, we will make life choices that will have varying effects upon us. So it matters then who we are listening to. It matters who we accept as our authorities. The Devil tricked Eve in the Garden into following his way of thinking (Genesis 3). Deception and lies are his principal weapons for turning people from God (John 8:44). Our Lord said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (St. John 14:6). On the other hand, Satan encourages us to use our own efforts to supply our needs apart from God. He also tempts us into taking those actions we would choose without regard for God’s help. And he also calls on us to bow down and worship him in exchange for his offer of worldly wealth and fame, temporary as it might be. (Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13)

Keep in mind, the Devil comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He has never been interested in giving mortals any real and lasting gifts of value. He gives gifts only to enslave and shackle people in their sinful behaviors which will lead to their ultimate destruction. In our prayerbook we have the “Offices of Instruction” (BCP pp. 283-291) which all who are seeking to be confirmed in the faith are thus examined. In this service, those seeking to be confirmed are asked about what their sponsors in baptism promised God on their behalf to wit: “First, that I should renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh; secondly, that I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith; and thirdly, that I should keep God’s holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life.” It sounds good to be sure; but many churches today barely have a working Sunday school. For them, a simple profession of faith will do with little or no examination of said person’s understanding of tenets of the faith. Ergo, if one has never been required as a church member to renounce evil and instructed in what constitutes the same, then they may easily be drawn into Satan’s camp, or in point of fact, they may never have left it. As St. Paul warned in II St. Timothy (4:1-4) far too many souls, will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (vv.3-4)

I have heard it said that some like their Christianity to be less judgmental if at all. They want more love and less wrath. And, to tell the truth, I do too. Does that shock you? It shouldn’t, for God desires such as well. That is why he sent his only begotten Son into the world. Our heavenly Father would have all men embrace his Christ and accept his free gift of salvation. He would like them to be rid of their sins and trespasses so that there won’t be any judgment or wrath to fall upon them. Paul tells us in I Corinthians 11:31, For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

Consider the words of St. Peter in his second epistle, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (3:9). There it is for all to see. God does not desire any to perish. But perish they will if they refuse his most generous offer of salvation through Jesus Christ and repent. So remember your duties under the Great Commission and help others to make the right choice in favor Christ so that they will be saved.

Let us pray,

GRACIOUS and loving God, keep us by the power of the Holy Ghost from all that world, the flesh and the devil has to offer; and in so doing aid our witness to others that they might seek after thee and be made whole through the blood of our Saviour who is thine only begotten Son, even Jesus Christ; for it is in his name that we offer up this our imperfect prayer. Amen.

Have a blessed week,

Bryan+

Rev Stephen Cooper

Church of the Redeemer

Fairbanks, Alaska

From time to time we are fortunate to receive a sermon from Rev Cooper in Fairbanks Alaska. The head of our northernmost church, Stephen is a brilliant and inspiring speaker. I wish we had video of him rather than just audio; but I am confident you will enjoy this. This sermon is for last week. Please take the time to listen to it.

https://youtu.be/2Lu-vJHvCgw

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 our happy duty 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!

Corona Virus

Alan Ridenour’s father was hospitalized on a ventilator with Covid. After almost two months in the hospital, he has recovered to the point he has been released to home. Please join the family in a prayer of thanksgiving and for a full recovery.

Travel

No known travel this week.

Birthdays

No known birthdays this week.

Anniversary

No known anniversaries this week.

Departed

No known departures this week.

Immediate Prayer Please

Tom was in the hospital for two weeks with Diverticulitis and IBS and recently transferred to a Rehab facility. Please pray he may regain weight and get back on his feet and be able to go home.

Dotty Valkenaar was hit in a parking lot after a memorial service in Reno on 30 March 2024, and has had surgery for a fractured tibia and crushed fibula. She says it seems they pounded steel rod down from knee to ankle of her right leg. She is home and physical therapy is coming in, but progress is not up to her expectations! Dotty asks you pray for patience for her and her daughter Kathy who taking care of her full time.

Sue, a longtime friend of Dotty is going for cancer surgery for her stomach and pancreas. Dotty asks you pray for the doctors, nurses and technicians treating her and Dotty might pay attention, be open to God’s guidance and do their very best to help her.

Roberto Aranda has been diagnosed with leukemia and is having much difficulty. Please pray the doctors, nurses and technicians treating him might pay attention, be open to God’s guidance and do their very best to help him. Please pray also Roberto and his daughter Bianca will be able to let God carry their worry and concern,

Lourie Deboer’s mother has pulmonary fibrosis and is the hospital because she cannot keep her oxygen levels at a sufficient level at home. This is her second time this year. This is deadly serious. Please pray the doctors, nurses and technicians treating her might pay attention, be open to God’s guidance and do their very best to help her. Please pray also Lourie, her son Jakob and her mom might be able to put all their worry and sadness on God’s shoulders so they can do their very best to facilitate what we consider a good outcome. Pray Lourie will compartmentalize this stress and keep it out of the cockpit and other places where she needs to pay attention. Jakob, too for that matter. May they all keep your trust in our Lord and things go well.

Jennifer Hendrickson and her father, Bobby Enfinger, were both diagnosed with cancer. Please pray for peace of mind and soul for them both, and for the medical team treating them that they might pay attention, do their very best and be open to God’s guidance. Pray also for what we desire as a good result.

Jim Kniffen’s bacterial sinus infections have cleared up however, he is experiencing difficult side effects form the serious antibiotics he took. Furthermore, He is now experiencing extreme fatigue, which is doctor suspects is long-Covid problems from two years ago. Fatigue has been ongoing but increased recently. He continues to rely upon the Lord for his Strength.

Rachael Richards and her daughter, Lydia, were in a very bad car accident on 28 March 2024. They are the wife and daughter of Rev Joshua Richards. Rachael was in intensive care in one hospital and Lydia was treated and released at another hospital. Please pray for peace of mind and soul for the Richards, and for the medical team treating them that they might pay attention, do their very best and be open to God’s guidance. Pray also for what we desire as a good result.

Rachael is home now, she has come a long way with the journey ahead still a very hard road to travel. Updates here:

https://faithfulcenturionprayerteam.blogspot.com/2024/05/rachael-richards-entire-story.html

Candelaria (Candy) has problems with her legs. Her daughter Silvia and her granddaughter Luhana would appreciate you joining them in prayer for the problems to be resolved.

Tricia Marie underwent abdominal surgery on 28 June 2023; she gives thanks it was apparently successful and asks you to pray with here for a full and rapid recovery, for peace of mind for her and her family. She gives thanks for an apparently successful coil surgery to seal off an aneurysm at the base of her skull on 12 January 2023. She has seemingly recovered from the stroke of December 2021. She still headaches which had been bothering her for months since she got the Moderna vaccine. She has had almost no real sleep or rest for months. She has gotten some relief from the headache from a Botox injection series, may that continue. Please give thanks for the successful surgery and pray for relief from the headache, nausea and pain and rest for her, for guidance for the doctors, nurses and technicians treating her and a full and rapid recovery, for peace of mind for her and her family.

Bryan Dabney, AOC Minister, had quadruple bypass surgery on 6 July 2023. He is home and seems to be doing well. He is continuing to strengthen, he completed Phase 2 cardiac rehab last and begins Phase 3 now. Phase 3 will be more a maintenance program he will do for the next few months. Please give thanks for the successful surgery and pray for a full and complete recovery. Continue to comfort Brian, his wife Lisa, and son Thomas as they deal with his recovery.

Josh Morley, son of Bishop Charles Morley, has had another grand mal seizure and is back in the hospital. Joshua and Bishop Morley are distraught, as they cannot determine the cause for his seizure. They are hoping to change doctors and find a cause and cure for Joshua. Bishop Morley says Joshua is healthy in every way but for having these seizures.

Shamu is totally exhausted, but in relatively good spirits. Shamu has a terrible headache, is in a lot of pain; feels like she has been stabbed, totally exhausted and weak, but her faith is incredibly strong. They have found a mass in her upper abdomen which must be investigated. She asks you pray for guidance for the medical people helping her. Her 39^th surgery is coming up on 18 April 2024. After 38 surgeries, she is quite very weak, but strong in her trust in our Lord as she goes through this difficult time. She needs your prayer. Please.

Tommy Cook is beset by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Congestive Heart failure. It seems there is little that can be done except fight a delaying action against the aggressive pair. At present it seems like the only avenue open is a heart lung transplant and little chance of that. He asks you pray for guidance for the doctors, nurses and technicians treating him and the miracle of a full and rapid recovery, for peace of mind for him and his family. He is a very strong Christian and has no concern for himself, but for his wife, children and mother.

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

Lee, late 60’s, has attended church all of his life, but has fallen afar from Jesus. He is in a nursing home with late stages ALS. Bishop Dennis is meeting with him weekly to help him back. Lee has run out of the ability to bear pain and would like to leave. Please pray Dennis will be able to help him home, not somewhere else.

Homebound or Infirm

Steve, 38, has not been able to work for the last year due to problems related to multiple orthopedic surgeries resulting in severe nerve problems and Thoracic outlet syndrome. On top of this he switched health insurance and the wrong health insurance was billed resulting in $100,000.00 of billing mistakes that he is attempting to help fix with the medical companies. His caretakers are wearing thin, due to his consistent problem with pain and inability to cope with it or find a way to make it go away. So please pray for relief for Steve for pain and a solution to end the pain; Also pray strength and perseverance and peace for his caretakers (his mother and girlfriend).

Testing and Treatment

Melissa Morgan, a young woman in her thirties just found out she has ovarian cancer. Pray with Melissa, her family and friends the physicians treating her will be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for a full and speedy recovery to good health and for continued trust in the Lord for Melissa, her family and friends in this worrisome time.

Healing

Sandra Zimmerman was diagnosed with triple positive Stage 2 breast cancer. She had a mammogram done last year at 40 years old and it was clear. This July they found two suspicious lumps, there was follow up with another mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, bloodwork, MRI, more bloodwork, and PET scan. Sandra’s most pressing concern is how she will take care of her baby Sophie as she goes through chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation along with a cocktail of pills. It’s going to be a year long journey, she asks your prayer to stay strong and fight this battle!

Madisun Hanks (22) has Tourette’s Syndrome and suffers from horrible migraine headaches. There are various very high risk treatments which provide some relief. None of them are close and none are easy. Madisun is truly one of the most inspiring young ladies we have ever come across, her attitude and actions are almost unbelievable. No one should have to go through what she does, but she makes it through and performs incredibly when others just get by. Please pray for Madisun, her mom Hilda who guides her through all this and those treating her.

Hilda Hanks has developed diabetes, which resulted in the need for eye surgery and has difficulty with the added stress in her life. Pray for the doctors, nurses and technicians treating her to pay attention, to be open to God’s guidance and do their very best. Pray for trust in our Lord and peace of mind for Hilda and Madisun.

Healing and Patience

Angie Colgrove has various problems and challenges, physical, mental, and spiritual. She asks you pray for guidance for her and those treating her, as well as for her family.

Thanksgiving and Continued Healing

Dave Carroll, husband of Cinder, the AOC Office Manager, had what seems to be a very successful second knee replacement the morning of Tuesday, 21 November 2023. Please give thanks for the good result and pray for a full and rapid recovery.

Don Fultz fell in response to a house on fire across the street and broke his hip. He is had surgery and spent time in the Cardiac Care Unit in response to a heart arrythmia apparently due to the anesthesia. That was resolved and Don returned home to complete his recovery and is doing well. He and his family thank you for your prayers. Please continue praying for a complete recovery.

Barbara (Paulette Ratcliff’s) sister, has battled stomach cancer through removal of tumor and chemotherapy but the tumor returned at 7 centimeters. She had apparently successful surgery on Friday 24 June 2022. Please give thanks for the successful surgery and for a full and rapid recovery and for full remission of the cancer. Pray also for peace of mind for Barbara, her children, her sisters and brothers.

Financial Guidance and Employment

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

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.

Guidance

Luke is having difficulties at age 19 finding his way forward in alignment with the Christian values of his family and of civilization in general. He cannot see the utility of a life in conformance with those values and is looking to find a non-existent short cut to an ‘easy life’ that does not exist. Please pray he will find his way back to God and see his family wants to help him.

Jess is having difficulties in her personal life and is looking for permanent solutions; she is having problems seeing precisely what she direction she should take and how. Please pray she will open her heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost.

Zachary is seems to be on his way away from the darkside; please pray he will continue towards our Lord and good citizenship.

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

School Challenges

Destiny, Blake and Janet

Anglican Orthodox Church

Solomon Islands

Please pray for Bishop Zephaniah, the AOC and all the peoples of the Solomon Islands who are experiencing civil unrest as a result of the government switching their alliance from Taiwan to Communist China.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/solomon-islands-leader-blames-foreign-powers-unrest-australian-forces-arrive-n1284619

Diocese of Central and South America

Rev Miguel Madera was received into the Anglican Orthodox Church on 13 August 2018, with the AOC mission of San Augustin de Canterbury, La Plata, Argentina.

Indonesia

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

Congo

Jimmy is a missionary in the Congo. There has been violent unrest in this country and also a water shortage. Please pray people will find water to drink and Jimmy will be a means of helping others to find the Lord.

Philippines

We are generally doing good, except that all boundary checkpoint out were tightened again due to the DELTA VARIANT entered the city. On the other side, our members in Tulodan are now experiencing famine due to the effect of the recent continues heavy rains during the month of July to early August which completely destroyed their vegetable plantation.

Bishop Anthony Pangsiw

Diocese of the Epiphany

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

Diocese of Virginia

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

Columbiq

I am writing to request your prayers for Colombia, my country. At this moment frightful things are happening, a great diabolical shadow is cast over this nation.

The Constitutional Court in a tyrannical way has decriminalized the crime of abortion in Colombia, even up to six months. This is an illegitimate process, the court is legislating, something that is not within the competence of the judges, on the other hand the issue of abortion was a cause judged in 2006, which is why it should not be judged again in 2022. But socialist groups, international elites, social engineers and feminist groups have not given up on the issue. They want to traffic in death.

The candidate of the extreme left Gustavo Petro is close to become the president of Colombia, this is a man who in his youth was a guerrilla criminal, a vile and despicable man who has always served the interests of drug trafficking, he was an advisor to Chavez who implanted Communism in Venezuela, his second home is Communist Cuba.

The same court approved the movement of Gustavo Petro called: la Colombia Humana, it gave him the status of a political party, with this, he has the possibility of getting to introduce at least 15 congressmen, basically he is close to kidnapping all the powers, he already has the judicial power in his pocket, he only lacks the executive and the legislative. We are close to the precipice, we trust in a miracle of God.

We hope you support us with your prayers, I will ask the brothers to pray unceasingly so that in his mercy we will be saved from these perverse men. God bless you and keep you in all things.

Your servant in Christ, Bishop José Antonio Rios

Armed Forces & Contractors

Dustin (USAF – Stateside), SGT Donny Patton (USAF – Hulbert Field, Florida), Jordan Brown (USMC – Recruiter – Iowa City, Iowa), Trevor Di Marco (USN – Whidbey Island, EF-18 Pilot), Kurt Thomas (USN – Headquarters, Virginia), Ethan (US Army Airborne – Southwest Asia), Lourie DeBoer (NTPS Patuxent River, Maryland) Nyah Thomas (USAF-Keesler AFB, Louisiana)

For Our Country

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

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

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

Persecuted

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

Thanksgiving

David Lane had an operation in January 2023 on his kidney. They went in thinking it was cancer and found it was not! Well he just came from one of his follow up appointments. He had a CT scan done and went immediately to his doctor. The doctor said everything looked great! He said he really should turn him loose, but wanted to see him one more time in a year. Just to be sure. David asks you to join him and his family in a prayer of thanksgiving!

Coming Up – The near future, as well as Next Sunday

19 May 2024 – Whitsunday (Pentecost) – 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

26 May 2024 – Trinity Sunday – Morning Prayer – Service start time 1000 (10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603 Burrell Way, Descanso, CA

2 June 2024 – First Sunday after Trinity 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

[1] One can imagine the apostles on the line, “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 IGNITION, Houston, we have liftoff here at Cape Bethany.”

[2] Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. On the other hand, what do you have to lose? You have to eat and the parish might buy. It certainly will if you remind Hap!

[3] The propers are the Collect (prayer) for the day and the Bible readings appointed for the day. They are selections based on the Christian Year and make a particular point. Their selection is important. The propers have been more or less the same since the beginning of the Church of England and a large portion precede the founding of the Church of England.

[4] Evil anywhere is evil everywhere. CS Jack Lewis

[5] Remember two things: Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: (Luke 12:51) and He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (Matthew 12:30)

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