210328 AOC Sunday Report

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide Communion

The Sunday next before Easter commonly called Palm Sunday

Sunday Report

The Sunday next before Easter commonly called Palm Sunday, the start of “Holy Week” and a time that most people just associate with the triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  There is a lot more, read the report.

Holy Week

The Sunday next before Easter is commonly referred to as Palm Sunday.  The period between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is often referred to as Holy Week.  Most churchgoing people go to church on Palm Sunday, then to church on Easter Sunday. It’s a fairly uplifting time with not a lot of thinking. On Palm Sunday Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On Easter Sunday there’s the joyous resurrection. What’s not to like about that?

 

The thing is, there is a tremendous amount that goes on between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, not all of it joyous, in fact most of it is pretty scary or sad.   The beginning of the week was wonderful; in the end the week was even more wonderful.  In between was a series of ups and downs the ups a little high and the downs very very deep. It is important to remember as you go through Holy Week that Jesus was in control of all the events of the week.  The week starts with the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and ends with the death of the Savior on the Cross and the burial of his body in the tomb.  It is a week of ups and downs without parallel, the ups a little high and the downs very very deep, deep as Hell you might say, and precedes the most joyous day of the year, the Day of the Resurrection or Easter Sunday.

 

Jesus has a triumphant entry into the city on the First Day of the Week (Sunday); on Thursday night he celebrates the Passover with his disciples in the Upper Room, he prays and agonizes over what he knows is coming in the garden of Gethsemane; Judas betrays him early Friday morning, his most trusted disciple denies him, not once but three times before the cock crew; the Jews condemn him to Pilate who in turn orders him to be beaten and humiliated; that does not satisfy the Jews and at their request, Pilate condemns a man he knows to be innocent to a horrible death to pacify the crowd of Jews assembled by the priests; Jesus is crucified, asks John to take care of his mother and gives up the ghost; his body is taken down and buried; the disciples are dispersed and discouraged; they have listened to their Lord, but not understood.

 

Think of this week from the disciples’ perspective, on the first day they enter with their leader into Jerusalem in triumph; mid-week they celebrate the joyous feast of the Passover, then their leader is betrayed, defends himself not and is killed.  At the time they surely could not think of this as a Holy Week and certainly not a Good Friday.  Yet on the first day of the week that follows, our Lord is Risen, Risen indeed and delivers the promise of salvation in person.

 

It is important to remember as you go through Holy Week that Jesus was in control of all the events of the week.

 

What a week!

 

Palm Sunday

The name Palm Sunday comes from the palm leaves, along with clothing and other honors strewn along Jesus’ path as He came in to Jerusalem the first day of the week before His crucifixion.  Of interest, only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion, every one else, including Jews, Romans and the Christians, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city to take control of things and kick the Roman occupation force out. The moon was almost full, this was the year of the Messiah according to Daniel.  Jesus chose the route into the city, through the King’s Gate.  The people saw Him coming and met him at the Mount of Olives.  They expected Him to come in and proclaim His rule.  And that He did, but not in the way the people were looking for.     Those who thought of Him as Lord looked for a Kingdom of this World to be established. Sunday was a day of triumph and fulfilled the anticipation of the Jews of a day for which they had waited four centuries.  The Messiah had finally come, at the time predicted by scripture.  They were certain that He would free them from the burdensome and cruel yoke of Roman rule.  The Jews would finally be on top of the power pyramid.  They would rule the world under Him!  Yet, that was not to be.  The day in the temple!  Holy Cow!  Here their savior was throwing people out of the temple, not throwing the Romans out of Jerusalem.  They were sad to learn He came not to rule this world, for that time was not yet come; He came to give them the key to eternal salvation.  He came to take them from this veil of tears to a state of perfect freedom.  They wanted someone to throw the Romans out and all God sent them was the key to eternal life.  What a disappointment!

 

Monday

On Monday, Jesus preached in the Temple and further distanced Himself from the people’s vision and demonstrated God’s vision.  He went in to the temple and through out the vendors selling “sacrificial” birds and animals at exorbitant cost, as well as the moneychangers, changing Roman money for Temple money dishonestly.  Far from announcing Himself head of the temple, He announced they had made His Father’s house a den of thieves.  Rather than working within the Jewish establishment, He over turned it!

 

Tuesday

Jesus and the Pharisees dispute in the Temple. He left for the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. There he delivers the “Mount of Olives Discourse”. Judas agrees to betray him to the Jewish priests for 30 pieces of silver.

 

Wednesday

The Sanhedrin was gathered together and decided to kill Jesus, even before Pesach if possible. In the meantime, Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper. Here he was anointed on his head by Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, with very expensive ointment of spikenard. Some of the disciples, particularly Judas Iscariot, keeper of the purse, were indignant about this; the oil could have been sold to support the poor.  “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”  In this case, Judas recalls to mind many politicians.  Jesus reminded them of the importance of first things first and the futility of giving, rather than helping, when He said in Matthew 26.11 “For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.”  Judas went to the Sanhedrin and offered them his support in exchange for silver. From this moment on Judas was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. Judas spied on Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane where he came on his plan.

 

Maundy Thursday

At the Passover Feast, Jesus and his disciples share the “Last Supper” and He washes their feet. Jesus blesses his bread and wine as his flesh and blood and shares it with his disciples, the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. As Paul tells us in his First Letter to the Corinthians, “…the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”

 

At this same dinner, the disciples manage to quarrel over who should be the boss of who.  Jesus tells them he came in the role of a servant, as He is their master, their role is likewise that of servants.  In a move designed to reveal both His knowledge aforehand and our frailty, He tells Peter that Peter will deny Him thrice fore the cock croweth, or dawn breaks.  Peter, a loyal follower, denies what will be shown as clear fact.  Remember the further you let yourself get from the Lord, the weaker you are.  Weakness grows with the cube of the distance.  Stay close.

 

As the dinner goes on, Jesus tells them one of them will betray Him.  Not able to grasp that any of them would literally betray Him, each asks, “Is it I?”  Judas knows.

 

Jesus tells the disciples things are heating up, counsels them to arm themselves and goes out to pray in the garden of Gethsemane.  Disciples come with Him, despite their best efforts, they fall asleep.  Night has long fallen, the end of the day is near by our reckoning.  The end is near for Jesus here on earth.  Even nearer for Judas.

 

 

Good Friday

Good Friday was the day in which Jesus was tried by the Jews, tried by Pilate, condemned, crucified, died and was buried[1].  Except in hindsight, this was not a Good Friday at all.

 

In the early hours before sunup, Jesus is betrayed by the “Judas Kiss” and arrested. At sunrise, he is disowned by Peter thrice before the cock croweth. When brought before Caiaphas, the Jewish High Priest, and his Council, he is condemned. He says that he will rise from death after three days.

 

They hand him over to the Roman authority, Pontius Pilate, who sends him to Herod (Antipas, the son of Herod the Great). Then Pilate asks the crowd who he is to pardon: a murderer, or Jesus? The crowd chooses Barabas and Jesus is sentenced to death. Pilate’s actions made famous the line, “I wash my hands of this.”  While he might have attempted to wash the guilt for the murder of the world’s one truly innocent man on to the Jews, he remains the one who condemned him to death.  Pilate was nothing if not a politician and bureaucrat.  The condemnation was to him the simplest solution to the problem of a Jewish hierarchy’s manufactured crowd’s anger.  What was the death of one Jew to him?  Yet he was worried enough to attempt to wash his hands of the guilt.

 

Jesus is brought to Calvary, where on the “third hour” (9 am) he is crucified. He is mocked as he hangs between the Bad Thief and the Good Thief, whom he blesses. On the “sixth hour” (noon), darkness covers the land. Jesus cries out “My God, My God, hast Thou forsaken Me?”

 

After drinking wine, he commits his spirit to his Father and dies. Matthew reports an earthquake that destroys the Temple. Many understand now that Jesus was the Son of God. His body is taken down and anointed. He is buried in a new tomb donated by Joseph of Arimethea. This is the first day of death.

 

Holy Saturday

The Jewish Council remembers his vow to return and has the tomb guarded and sealed with a heavy stone. His followers stay in the “Easter Vigil”. Second day of death.

 

Easter Sunday

On the third day of death, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary find the tomb empty, but for an angel who tells them Jesus is already resurrected and is on His way to Galilee. On their way to tell the others, Jesus appears to them.  Death is conquered, the Promise delivered.  Our lives from this day forward are eternal!

 

Think about the Week that was!

The reason Jesus came to Jerusalem at the Passover was to take the place of the yearly sacrifice by one perfect sacrifice, one time, for all time and for all mankind. His was the blood marking our door that the destroyer might pass over.  The week started on a triumphant note and ended up trying to do between there were windows into the future, glimpses of the past, moments of despair, moments of terror, moments of confusion; but in the end joy and the ultimate triumph.

 

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 –

 

On Hell

[The fictional George MacDonald is speaking.] “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell choose it. Without that self-choice, there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek, find. To those who knock, it is opened.”. . .

 

“Hell is a state of mind—ye never said a truer word. And every state of mind, left to itself, every shutting up of the creature within the dungeon of its own mind is, in the end, Hell. But Heaven is not a state of mind. Heaven is reality itself. All that is fully real is Heavenly.”. . .

 

“Hell is smaller than one pebble of your earthly world: but it is smaller than one atom of this world, the Real World. Look at yon butterfly. If it swallowed all Hell, Hell would not be big enough to do it any harm or to have any taste. . . .

 

“A damned soul is nearly nothing: it is shrunk, shut up in itself. Good beats upon the damned incessantly as sound waves beat on the ears of the deaf, but they cannot receive it. Their fists are clenched, their teeth are clenched, their eyes fast shut. First they will not, in the end they cannot, open their hands for gifts, or their mouths for food, or their eyes to see.”

 

“Then no one can ever reach them?”

 

“Only the Greatest of all can make Himself small enough to enter Hell. For the higher a thing is, the lower it can descend—a man can sympathise with a horse but a horse cannot sympathise with a rat. Only One has descended into Hell.”

Jack Lewis

The Great Divorce

 

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Isaiah 45:22

 

For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets. Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.

Jeremiah 9:21-22

 

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 24:42

 

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon,, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring: men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for t he powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Luke 21:25-27

 

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work; as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

John 9:4-5

 

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

I Corinthians 3:13

 

When I go down the valley of the shadow of death, and my feet touch the cold waters, I want something better than vague, high-sounding words, or the painted playthings and gilded trifles of man-made ceremonials. Give me no stone altars and would-be confessors. Give me no surpliced priests or pretended sacrifice in my bedroom. Put no man or form between me and Christ. Give me a real staff for my hand such as David had, and real meat and drink for my soul such as aged Paul felt within him, and feeling, cried, ‘I am not ashamed’ (2 Tim. 1:12). I must know distinctly whom I believe, what I believe, and why I believe, and in what manner I believe. Nothing, nothing will answer these questions satisfactorily, but thorough, downright evangelical religion. Let us make sure that this religion is our own.

JC Ryle

19th century Anglican bishop and author

Knots Untied, p. 20

 

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 134-137, with the Collect first:

 

The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called

Palm Sunday.

The Collect.

 

A

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our LordAmen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday.

 

The Epistle came from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, starting at the Fifth Verse of the Second Chapter.

 

Paul reminds us if Christ, the Son of God, was obedient to God, we should so be.  Also, as a result of that obedience, God hath given Jesus the name to which all of earth should bow.

 

L

et this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, starting at the First Verse of the Twenty-Seventh Chapter and tells the story of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion and death.  The Gospel was read by in parts.  We all read the Crowd part together.

 

The normally powerful Gospel seems even more powerful when read as a play, so to speak.  The crowd’s part is very hard to read as it reminds us of our dark side.  If you did not make it to church today, please find someone to read this with in parts.  It is an uncomfortable experience that you nonetheless should not miss.

 

Please read this out loud!

 

Gospel of Saint Matthew

starting at the First Verse of the Twenty-Seventh Chapter

 

Reader: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew: When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying,

Judas: I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.

Reader: And they said,

Crowd: What is that to us? see thou to that.

Reader: And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said,

Crowd: It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

Reader: And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying,

Pilate: Art thou the King of the Jews?

Reader: And Jesus said unto him,

Jesus: Thou sayest.

Reader: And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him,

Pilate: Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

Reader: And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them,

Pilate: Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

Reader: For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying,

Pilate’s Wife: Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Reader:  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them,

Pilate: Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?

Reader: They said,

Crowd: Barabbas.

Reader: Pilate saith unto them,

Pilate: What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?

Reader: They all say unto him,

Crowd: Let him be crucified.

Reader: And the governor said,

Pilate: Why, what evil hath he done?

Reader: But they cried out the more, saying,

Crowd: Let him be crucified.

Reader: When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying,

Pilate: I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Reader: Then answered all the people, and said,

Crowd: His blood be on us, and on our children.

Reader: Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying,

Crowd: Hail, King of the Jews!

Reader: And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying,

Crowd: Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Reader: Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

Crowd: He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Reader: The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,

Jesus: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?

Reader: that is to say,

Jesus: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Reader: Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said,

Crowd: This man calleth for Elias.

Reader: And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said,

Crowd: Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Reader: Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Moment of Silence

Reader: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying,

Crowd: Truly this was the Son of God.

 

Having read this, do you see yourself in the crowd?  The crowd were not a random group of bad Jews, the crowd is us.  There is a little or more of the crowd in each of us.  Uncomfortable?  Yes.  But, sadly very real.  Yet, if we realize this, we can act to make ourselves less of the crowd and more of the Christ.  For in us each is the crowd and the crown.  We chose, each of us, which it will be, crowd or crown.  One simple letter of difference, yet the gap between the two is bridged only by Christ.

 

Bishop Ogles’ Sermon

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

 

Palm Sunday

28 March 2021, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

 

The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called

Palm Sunday.

The Collect.

 

A

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our LordAmen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday.

 

            The lectionary text for Palm Sunday is too lengthy to cover in one presentation and covers four days of readings. Therefore, I will summarize the Gospel texts that give us enough to evoke a thirst for deeper study of this profoundly important week in the life (and death) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

That which we approach today in observing the impending crucifixion of Christ is the great mountain of grace and mercy at Calvary – a mountain of unmerited mercy and grace for the chosen of God. It was foreshadowed by the interdicted sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham in the same mountain range as that of Calvary. These smaller mountains of God’s grace are like small foothills of promise that rise in growing measure toward the heights of Everest which is the true Calvary. Such Mountains are as Great Lone Hills standing erect in a wilderness of want.

 

The sacrifice of Christ was the consummation of all of God’s prophecies of redemption, salvation, and atonement. It was the final act that opened the floodgates of mercy and the fountain of eternal life for all who are those of faith. There was nothing reasonable about the sacrifice of Christ. He came to shed His life’s blood for those who were at enmity with Him and His Father. As our fathers climbed each successive mountain of grace and prophecy, their perspective prevented their clear view of the ultimate mountain of greatest towering stature that loomed beyond the crest of the last lesser mountain that foreshadowed Calvary. Mount Moriah upon whose brow, Abraham would have sacrificed Isaac, precluded the full view of that sacrificial fulfillment in Christ. As well was the fullness of the Promise occluded from the view of Moses upon Mount Nebal. It was the faith of Abraham, Moses, and others in the satisfaction of the benefits of salvation that made the coming reality of the redemption an accomplished and known fact centuries before its actual fulfillment.

 

As we begin our observance of Holy Week, it will be revealing to our souls if we view the significant events of the week in order of their occurrence:

 

The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on the Lord’s DayOn the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, (John 12:12) This was the day that the Passover Lamb was to be set aside and kept for its sacrifice on the eve of Passover. Truly, Christ coming into Jerusalem to be kept until the 14th Nisan was the full picture of our Passover in Christ. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:7-8) The unleavened bread with which we observe the Passover represents the truth and sincerity of Christ our Passover.

 

It is noteworthy of the fickle and wicked nature of man that the same people who were shouting Hosanna at the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem were the same who would be shouting for His crucifixion less four days later. And they were encouraged to do so by their wicked priests and ministers. On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt (John 12:12-15)

 

Christ rode into Jerusalem on a colt of a donkey (Probably a mule since this would be consistent with the mule of David upon which his sone rode to coronation). (see 1 Kings 1:33) Jesus is spiritually called the Son of David.

 

He had traveled to Bethlehem on a donkey at the beginning of His life. At the close of His life, He again rides into Jerusalem on a colt of a donkey. The people cast palm branches before Him shouting “Hosanna” a word of Hebrew origin Ho – see us, Yasha- na (save). This is why we refer to the day as Palm Sunday. It is the day that we, like Christ, begin our observance of Holy Week in preparation for our Passover in Christ. (Explain Passover: Exodus 12)

 

The Jewish rulers were enraged at the honor the people showed to Christ. They could have been part of the celebration but chose to be part of the gloom and hate. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. They conceived in their hearts to destroy the source of their anguish. The devil, like governments, can tolerate no opposition.

 

Jesus would observe the Passover meal the night of His taking by the Jews in the Garden at Gethsemane. He would serve the meal to Judas, and the disciples, knowing beforehand that the disciples would flee from Him once the tables were turned against Him, and Judas would betray Him with a `kiss.’ As Mary had anticipated His coming Passion (unwittingly), and bathed the feet of Christ with ointment, Christ will now signal that act of humility by bathing the feet of His disciples at the Passover meal.

 

On the eve before His crucifixion, the Lord went into the Garden at Gethsemane to pray. He took His three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, who could not keep awake even in the last moments of the life of Christ. We, too, cannot keep our attention on the Word even during the sermon most frequently. How vain and fickle are we!

 

When the Jewish soldiers came to take Jesus captive in the Garden, His identity was pointed out by Judas who went to Christ and kissed His cheek, thus betraying the Lord of glory with a kiss. And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? (Luke 22:47-48)

 

That was a betrayal of eternal repercussions for Judas, and for us. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. (John 18:3)

 

The courageous Peter drew a sword and severed the ear of one of the guards. He had much courage in the presence of Christ, yet, when separated from Christ in the Garden, that same Peter denied Christ shamefully three times in the night. Why did Peter have that sword? In obedience to the counsel of the Lord: 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (Luke 22:36)

 

The Lord was aware of the danger the disciples faced in His company, therefore His approbation of lethal weapons for self-defense.

 

Christ (the true High Priest) was taken to the Jewish High Priest where He was mocked, beaten and ridiculed. He was blasphemed and the Sanhedrin presumed to interrogate the Son of God. Having falsely accused Him, they led Him to Pilate the Roman Proconsul. Herod would be considered a pretty good Democrat or Republican today – he was quite politically correct. He found no fault in Christ, but wished to pass the buck by sending Jesus to Herod who also mocked Christ and tried to humiliate Him. He then returned Jesus to Pilate. King Herod and the Proconsul had previously been bitter enemies, but in their mutual estrangement to Christ, they became friends at this time.

 

The devil’s children have united in their opposition to God always. To be honest, even the Gentile, Pontius Pilate did attempt to set Jesus free, but the moment he attempted to do this, the Jews raged against him and threatened him with a charge against his allegiance to Caesar.

 

Pilate, after an established tradition of setting one prisoner free at Passover, decided to offer up Christ as the man to be set free. The Jewish rulers would hear none of this. They demanded, instead that Barabbas, a depraved murderer, be set free instead. Let me tell you here and now, that Barabbas represented each one of us. Because of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, we all, who were offenders against God and man, have been set free.

 

Please note this political decision of poor and cowardly PilateAnd Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. (Luke 23:13-25)

 

Pilate should run for President of the United States since his politics so corruptly match those of our present administration.

 

So, Christ was beaten with many stripes, tortured and delivered up for crucifixion – a crown of thorns on His head to ridicule His claim to be the Son of God. He was cast without the gate of Jerusalem as the Son of the Owner of the Vineyard. Along the Via Dolorosa, He carried His heavy cross – the cross intended for you and me. He was driven all the way to Golgotha on Calvary’s brow and crucified between two criminals. The events of that day will await further revelation in next week’s sermon for Easter.

 

Are you ready to partake of the Communion of the Lord’s Table?    BE READY!

 

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold – Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Descanso, California

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

 

Consider these words from the Collect:

 

… thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection…

 

In the Collect, we acknowledge God sent His Son to be our Savior.  Think about that, the Creator, Lord and Master of the Universe sent His only Son to live amongst us and not just provide us with instruction and leadership, but to give His earthly life as a one time sacrifice for our sin that we might be accounted as perfect in our final accounting, the resurrection.  How much did God value His Son?  Consider what Paul tells us – Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Reading this, let us consider how much God valued His Son and how much He values us that He sent His Son here to teach us to guide us, to love us, and finally to give His Life for us that we might be free from the bonds of sin and death. Jesus humbled himself to a commoner’s death, and not just that of any commoner, but that of a thief. That says how much He loves His Creation, that He would die a most painful death that we might have everlasting life. He effectively took our place physically on the cross, physically in the sense we are sinners, and as Paul points out in Romans, the wages for sin is death. Jesus replaced us and took the wages for sin on our behalf so we might have everlasting life.

 

The Collect calls us to follow the example Jesus set in His actions of His Death and Resurrection, and also calls us to embody His great humility and His great patience, that we might follow the upward narrow path towards heaven and be partakers of His Resurrection. The Collect calls us to action and follow in the example of Jesus’s great humility, humbling himself, the being who created this planet, to die for us on the cross, laying down His Life for ours, is an example we must strive to emulate in our own lives, to the best of our abilities.

 

If we follow His Example and do our best to emulate His humility and patience, we too can be a part of His Resurrection. We will be a part of our own resurrection of sorts. To accomplish this, we have to have our selfish selves die and be replaced with the unselfish self, which we can achieve through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we need to stop our sinful behavior and replace that behavior with more Godly behavior.

 

Jesus set the ultimate standard for us to following God’s will.  His entire ministry can be described as  actions. He physically lived His Message. His Message can clearly be seen through His Actions. We need to do as He did and show by our actions that we serve Him.

 

Jesus knew ahead of time where, how and when He would die. He even told His Followers this, but they did not understand as they did not have the Holy Ghost within them to help them comprehend what He said. He knew with a 100 percent certainty it was going to be a physically and spiritually painful death, Yet, He also knew this was God’s Will that we might live.  If He did this for you, how can you not follow Him wherever His Will takes you? And remember His Example, of acting even if it means the death of your temporal body. His Example that He has left to us to follow is that of Action.

 

Recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on this day so many years ago.  Only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion; everyone else, including Jews, Romans and His followers, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city to take control of things and kick the Roman occupation force out. It was almost a full moon, this was the year of the Messiah according to Daniel.  The natural events were lining up as Scripture had predicted which preceded the arrival of the Messiah.  Jesus chose the route into the city, through the King’s Gate.  The people saw Him coming and met him at the Mount of Olives.  When He came in through the King’s Gate, the people were expecting to see their future earthly king. They did not have the Holy Ghost within them to see His true nature.  However, they were incorrect, who they were seeing was and is their heavenly king. Jesus had no intentions of establishing a Kingdom of this World. He was looking for followers for the Kingdom of the Next World, of Heaven.

 

 

This World is only temporary, but the Next World is of Eternity. What ever trinkets we might acquire on Earth will never measure up to the gift that Jesus bought for us by His Death and Resurrection upon the cross. It is a gift of great joy, the fact is we should be by all rights dead and headed for the pit, instead headed to a kingdom of joyfulness and laughter and all pleasant things, and a world that will be far better than our pitiful shadowland here. This is indeed the most valuable of all gifts we will ever receive in our lifetime.

 

As  an aside the Chief Priests, who had so much invested in their 613 laws, likely searched far and wide for the crowd to convict Jesus of the crimes they imagined against their system. We need to remember that not all of the Jews wanted Jesus executed, just those  in power and those that followed them.  The system that they followed was of this world, not God’s.  Remember, there are none so blind as those who will not see.  They were in the darkness, thus they could and would not see what was being shown to them because it would interfere with their comfortable way of living.  A new way that asked of them, no demanded of them, accountability unto God for their actions.  Know the crowd was not a self-forming group naturally set on condemning Jesus, but a handpicked gang.  At the same time, many of those in the crowd who condemned Him the morning of Good Friday were in the crowd that welcomed Him to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  What a difference five days can make.

 

Make no mistake, we are that crowd.  And, like Pilate, no matter what we say, we cannot wash our hands of the responsibility.  Thus, we must separate ourselves from the crowd.  Separate, that is to make ourselves holy, set aside.

 

When the time comes, 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 – St. Paul’s Anglican Church – Anglican Orthodox Church

Bishop Roy is Rector of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, the biggest AOC parish West of the Mississippi;  Bishop of The Diocese of The Epiphany: The Anglican Orthodox Church; International; Bishop for Latin American Missions and Administrative Oversight.

 

Palm Sunday

28 March 2021

Psalm 24 • Zechariah 9:9-12 • Mark 11:1-11

 

The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called

Palm Sunday.

The Collect.

 

A

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our LordAmen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday.

 

Palm Sunday was relegated to the position of “Sunday next to Easter” due to the misplacement of what is/was essential in the focus on the Great Resurrection.

 

During the medieval ages, so much emphasis was placed on the procession of palm branches. These were later collected those for burning in a year’s time, to be used for “ashing” the faithful in the parish.  During the English Reformation the move to correct this obsession was taken. There would be no more palm processions and no more ritual burning of those dried palms a year later for Ash Wednesday.

 

It is interesting to see how many churches are now imposing the mark of ashes on Ash Wednesday as compared to just 30 years ago. The phenomenon is growing in non liturgical churches.  There are so many errors to the idea of marking with ash on Ash Wednesday, most harkening back to the days of the corrupt medieval church.  Somehow this “ashing” marked your piety and maybe even help keep the effects of the evil eye from you, but otherwise it was/is an act of total superstition.

 

Now on to the lesson.

 

Sunday next before Easter falls within the period of the church calendar known as Passiontide.

 

This period, not widely observed by many churches today, focuses on the intense period of the last days of Christ’s earthly ministry.

 

This would include his last days of life before his brutal death, one that he willingly went to Jerusalem to face.  Also during this period we will read where several more prophecies will be fulfilled.  The Old Testament reading from the prophet Zechariah is an excellent example. ‘…behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon the colt the foal of an ass.’

 

He is a king, the king of the people of Zion, of Jerusalem, and yet he comes to his own in the most lowly and humble way possible; riding on a donkey.  And yet even though he comes in such humility look at what he will do.  He destroys the capacity for ever to do war and most importantly he proclaims peace.  Not just peace to they who live in Jerusalem, but from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth.

 

Christianity, in its truest form, teaches peace.  Yes, there is the struggle with evil and with those who oppose Christ and his Church, and yet the individual believer can have peace.   Remember the words ‘ peace that passes understanding’?

 

What may have helped convert the unbeliever in the early church years was this peace, that those who were being killed for following the WAY or Christianity, projected as they were being led away to their deaths.    Many understood that there had to be something more than just a profession of the faith, there was this inner peace that could be seen on the faces of the condemned.    How many of us could do that today?

 

In our New Testament reading from St. Mark we can find a number of Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled. Along with the aforementioned passage from Zechariah, there are also references to this event in Isaiah 62:11, Ps 118:26, Malachi 3:1.  These are just a few of the dozens of passages found in the Old Testament that either foreshadow or outright predict the coming of the Messiah.

 

If we think back to the presentation of the Christ child at the temple, there were several senior citizens who knew, by the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, who this child was, Simeon and Anna.   Remember the prayer of John the baptizer’s father, Zacharias, “…blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people”, the prayer continues from Luke 2: 68-79.

 

Now let us see what the prophet David wrote about this coming King and Savior.

In our psalm today, the opening is describing the kingdom of the Lord.

 

What does this description entail?  The earth, the sea, the entirety of the earth, created by God, is His.   ‘It is his and he made it’.   ‘His hands prepared the dry lands…the sea is his and he made it…’     Do you see a common thread here?   This is God’s creation, this all belongs to Him. {For reference read the first chapter of the Gospel of John.}

 

The next several verses of this psalm describe both Christ and his followers; those who can approach God. Those who can ascend the hill of the Lord.  Christ the Lord can because it is his, we can because Christ died for our sins and gives us access to that holy hill.  What is on that holy hill?  Blessings from the Lord and most importantly, the salvation of God for his people.

 

The last four verses can describe what was happening on that day so many years ago, when Christ entered the city of Jerusalem, on the back of a donkey, to the cries of Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

 

Who is this King of glory?    THE LORD, STRONG AND MIGHTY.

 

Who is this King of glory?    THE LORD OF HOSTS, HE IS THE KING OF GLORY!!!

 

Without a doubt David is pointing down through the ages to that time when the King of glory would enter the city in triumph and yet this triumph was not the kind we as humans originally understood.

 

The real triumph was the next step in the overthrowing of Satan and his dominion.  Christ in His death, burial, and glorious resurrection was going to overthrow Satan, Death, and all that since Adam had separated us from the Father.

 

This is the Good News.  Christ came to claim his own.  Let us make sure we tell others that his sacrifice was for them.  This most sacred season of the church should not entail bunnies, chocolate, or colored eggs.  The true message of this time of the year is Christ came to save sinners.   Let us go and proclaim the truth of Easter.

 

Let us pray:

 

O

 GOD, who hast prepared for those who love Thee such good things as pass man’s understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward Thee, that we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

A

LMIGHTY and everliving God, whose will it is to restore all things in thy well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that all they peoples of the earth, though now divided and in bondage to sin, may be made free and brought together under his most gracious rule, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever.    Amen.

 

O

 GOD, who hast made all those that are born again in Christ to be a royal and priestly race; Grant us both the will and the power to do what Thou commandest; that all Thy people may have the same faith in their hearts, and the same piety in their actions; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

A

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, the Comfort of the sad, the Strength of sufferers, let the prayers of those that cry out of any tribulation come unto Thee; that all may rejoice to find that Thy mercy is present with them in their afflictions; through Christ our Lord. Amen

 

T

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

 

T

HE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore.  Amen.

 

Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s Sunday Sermon

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

 

Sunday next before Easter, commonly called Palm Sunday

 

Today we heard Judas Iscariot’s reaction to betraying our Lord to the chief priests and elders in the temple. He went to his benefactors and proclaimed himself guilty of his crime. They gave him no words of encouragement to soothe his soul saying only, What is that to us? see thou to that. Afterwards, Judas cast the reward for his betrayal— the thirty pieces of silver— at his paymasters and went away and hanged himself.

 

Ever notice how quick the evil one will act to point the finger of blame at us when we err by following his suggestions and insinuations? He well knows that what we did was wrong. He knows that we will face divine retribution if we do not confess the same to God in Christ. He knows that we will come to regret either in this life or the next said actions on his behalf. But instead of comforting us and speaking a kind word to ease our consciences in his cause, he will simply turn on us. And in the aftermath, we are thus left with a sense of condemnation, especially with the master of evil harping on us for the very things he tempted us to carry out in his service.

 

Rev EM Bounds once noted, “The Devil goes out into the wilderness and finds us in a fainting, discouraged condition, with our faith weak, the sky cloudy, and our vision obscured. Then he shows us the world from the loftiest peak of observation, clothed in its most enchanting wonders. He never gets tired of trying to ruin us until the coffin lid is sealed and our happy spirits are bathing in the land where the wicked cease from troubling; and … the weary be at rest (Job 3:17). Satan has the wisdom of an archangel and the experience of half an eternity as captain of all the hosts of hell. He is an expert in the acts and arts of deception and trickery. He has almost inexhaustible resources at his command to serve his purposes. Other than God himself, a wiser and more powerful spirit than Satan does not live. A more malicious power than he could not exist. There is no greater worker than he. His endless energy and tireless perseverance are the only things in him worthy of imitation. These are the things that make him so powerful and so dreadful.”

 

What a foe! We, of our own selves, have no power against the Devil apart from the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. Yet we will not have God’s Spirit as our guide until we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. Then and only then will we be enabled to call upon the name of the Lord and be heard. Only then are we enabled to call out for God’s help and it be made manifest. And let’s be clear, without Christ we have no protection. No matter how much “remorse” we may have for our sinfulness, the stain of our sins will remain. We cannot wash them away with our tears of misgivings. We cannot shake them off with pagan practices and activities old or new. We cannot remove them with our offerings and apologies. And if we are foolish enough to think we can just walk away and no one will know, well indeed someone knows and has set the record of our sins down to be recited back to us should we die without Christ.

 

So I ask you, Are you truly ready to have your thirty pieces of silver purchase you a one-way ticket to perdition? It most certainly will. Think of all those who bought into Satan’s action plans and died without embracing Christ— guaranteeing them an eternity of misery, madness and horror. Indeed even now the wicked dead are wailing and gnashing their teeth for their rejection of our blessed Saviour.

 

Just as Judas judged himself as having betrayed innocent blood, so too will all who die without Christ. Now, there will be those who will argue that they did no such thing. But what they fail to understand is that their rejection of Christ as their Saviour is just as much a betrayal of him because Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was made for all humanity for all time. The blood of Christ shed so long ago remains potent with the power to cleanse and make whole every sinner who would accept his offering. But for the unregenerate who fail to come to Christ, their fate is sealed. For immediately upon their deaths, they will fall into the pit of perdition from which there is no chance of escape. And they will remain there in spirit until the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of time when the will receive a resurrection body which can never die; but oh how they will wish that it could. For they will then face the very God they rejected and spurned who will judge them and sentence them to the lake of fire which burns forever. They will be consumed but not destroyed. They will burn forever with no relief and no pity. While they may have experienced the pleasures of a few years or even a lifetime in those paths of sin and degradation; nevertheless in the end, when the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7). Now do not misunderstand what that last phrase means. It does not mean that you can live life as you will and afterwards God takes you into his kingdom. No, God will give the souls of the wicked to a place which he has prepared for their everlasting punishment. Only the righteous will be granted admission into his celestial city to enjoy his presence forever. They will see the friendly face of God and not face his wrath. They will be comforted in ways beyond human understanding.

 

We are all from time to time faced with the offer of thirty pieces of silver by our adversary. Like accepting Tolkien’s “Ring of Power”, if you persist in keeping it, you will meet your doom for it was designed to give power to only one being who bore no love for others and sought only to use them to further his own ends. The god of this world seeks the destruction of mankind and will use his lures to turn as many as he can from accepting Christ and his salvation. He knows what the future will bring and yet he will resist unto the end. The LORD God of heaven and earth knows that as well. Question is, will you?

 

The Bible encourages all to come and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ and accept his free gift of salvation. We as regenerated souls in Christ are expected to reject the paganism and ecumenism of this world. All religions are not the same and the gods and spirits of this world are devils masquerading as supposed supreme beings which they are not. Yes, they are more powerful than we “tiny mortals” but in Christ we have the only wise God. We have a Godhead that cannot be supplanted. I once heard one wag say that she believed “that God is like a ocean who washes up on different shores to different people at different times.” She was very inclusive in her belief system and she worked hard to convince the young people in her charge to accept her false gospel of the divine. Her thirty pieces of silver bought her a brief period of success at the school where we both taught. But in the end, her works bore no fruit and her mission collapsed along with the school where she was permitted to teach.

 

I pray each of you will affirm the faith which is within you and reject Satan’s offers of thirty pieces of silver in exchange for some misdeed or what have you. Keep to the Lord Jesus and trust in God for your sustenance and protection. God will be with you and will help you if you are accepting of his offer of salvation in Christ Jesus. He wants all to come. So, drop your thirty pieces of silver which the Devil has given you to do his dirty work and embrace the forgiving and restorative power of Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Let us pray,

 

O

 LORD of all creation, grant to us thy servants that peace which only you can give and make us mindful of our calling to resist evil and stand secure in thee, through the merits and satisfaction of thy Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Have a blessed week, Bryan+

 

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

With most of the world on some form of restriction, we ask you pray for the governments be guided into appropriate reaction and scientists find cures and vaccines and that the virus pass each of us by.

 

Travel

Tricia, Whitney and Brooklyn are on travel this week.

 

Birth

Abigail born to Viviana Otero, the wife of the late Bishop Miguel Otero on 14 November 2020 as their third child.  Please give thanks for the safe birth for both and pray for the Oteros to grow and prosper in this world.

 

Birthdays

Tracy Reisor celebrated her 41st birthday on 20 February 2021.

 

Anniversaries

Hap and Dru Arnold celebrated their 34th anniversary on 21 February 2021.

 

Departed

Dave Buckner passed away 20 March 2021, from metastasized Pancreatic cancer.  Please give thanks for a safe passing home and for comfort for his family and friends, pray they might let the Lord carry their sorrow at this temporary separation

 

Albina Wanjala, mother in law of Pearson Olweny, AOC Bishop of East Africa, passed away as a result of Covid.  Her burial is scheduled to be on Tuesday 23 March 2021.  Pearson asks your prayer to give thanks for her time here on earth and for comfort and strength for her family who of necessity remain behind.

 

Randolph Hudson, a Vietnam Veteran, passed away on 8 March 2021 after a hard fight. Please pray for comfort for his family and friends, particularly his wife Pat; pray they might let the Lord carry their sorrow at this temporary separation.

 

Bob Reisor passed away at 1451 21 February 2021 after a sudden downturn and steep decline in his fight with cancer and diabetes apparently as the result of a urinary tract infection.  Bob was a quiet, yet firm Christian.  Please pray for comfort for his family and friends, particularly his daughter Tracy, her husband Chad and their children Briley and Dillon who lived with Bob; pray they might let the Lord carry their sorrow at this temporary separation.

 

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

Janine Alvarado’s daughter has what appears to be terminal cancer, she is in much pain, in and out of the hospital.  She asks that you pray for a miraculous recovery for her daughter and if that not be God’s will, a safe passing home.  She asks you pray also for peace of mind and strength for both of them.

 

Neal has heart problems and is very weak, he also has COPD, kidney problems, his potassium is too high, he came back from the point of death.  He is now home and permanently on oxygen.  He is doing well, for that he and his family are grateful and ask your thanksgiving prayers.  More importantly, please pray Neal will accept salvation through our Lord and Savior.

 

Paul is in hospice and ready to meet His Lord.  Please pray for Paul as he prepares to go home to be with his family who have gone before him.  Pray for the faith of his family to build and the transition to be good.

 

Dot is an elderly woman with liver cancer.  Please pray for Dot as she prepares to go home to be with her family who have gone before her.  Pray for the faith of her family to build and the transition to be good.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Ron had a Heart Attack, at the hospital he found out he also has Kidney Cancer.  He is a man of faith and is in need of prayer for his health and that the Lord will provide strength for his family.

 

Krysti is off life support and able to talk, please give thanks for the good news.  She is still unable to feel her legs. When that comes back she will go to a rehabilitation facility.  Krysti has used drugs, has high blood pressure, is diabetic and has organ failure. Her families are with her and will appreciate your prayers.

 

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

 

Amy has been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma and has cancer all over her body, and in one of her kidneys which are no longer functioning.  Amy and her family have asked for prayer to stop the growth and to aid the family financially with the medical bills. At present she has to have surgery every two months to place stents. Pray Jesus will be close to all.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Immediate Prayer Please

Tommy Cook on recovering from Covid was found to have COPD, he is treating reasonably well with medication, but is concerned it will get worse.  Please pray for a recovery for Tommy and for peace of mind for him and his family.

 

George Johnson, MD, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma this week. His family is asking for continued prayers as he was admitted to Emory today to start chemo and treatment for his kidneys. We know God is in full control and we are trusting in Him to give George a complete healing!

 

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Healthy plasma cells help you fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells

 

While there is no cure for multiple myeloma, the cancer can be managed successfully in many patients for years; the average life expectancy is 4 years. However, some people beat the odds and live 10 to 20 years or more.

 

The most common cause of death related to multiple myeloma is infection, with pneumonia being the most common fatal infection. Other common causes of death are bleeding (from low platelet counts), complications of bone fractures, kidney failure, and blood clots in the lungs.

 

Hank Mook recently had surgery on a five inch rare pleomorphic non-small cell lung carcinoma which was removed along with a lung lobe, it had not spread. He will need chemotherapy which will begin 5 April 2021. The family is asking for prayers for complete healing. Praising God for successful surgery. Please pray for trust in God, comfort and strength for Hank, his wife Patti and family as they go through the time ahead.

 

Rev Jack Andrews, his family and all those living in Fiji Islands just went through a Category Five Cyclone with another one coming their way. They were a month without electric, however, they did have solar power so they were able to make it through the month without incident and are preparing for the next event.  Please pray for them to make it through the next storm safely.

 

Shamu just got out of Johns Hopkins Hospital for a bacterial infection in her blood and her port which resulted in a port change, then return to the hospital for removal of all ports and penetrations that they might get the infection under control.  She can only take nourishment orally at present and has lost five precious pounds.  Shamu is in a lot of pain and running out of places to install the port. She feels like she has been stabbed, totally exhausted and weak, but her faith and spirit are incredibly strong.  She asks you pray for guidance for the medical people helping her. After 30 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.

 

Howard Tatum, a good friend of Bishop Jerry, has been hospitalized with heart problems.  Please pray the people treating him will be open to God’s guidance, pay attention and do their very best to help him.  Pray he and his family will keep their trust in our Lord and not worry.

 

Greg was in an explosive work accident leading to burns over 65% of his body. He is in the hospital and will be for months. Also pray for his mother, who recently lost her husband and now is overseeing her son’s care; she is disabled and in a wheel chair.

 

Lauralee Meade has tested positive for Covid 19; she is only moderately concerned as she has no symptoms.  She asks you pray she stay that way and test negative so she can visit her mother.  Please pray also for a complete remission of her cancer.  Pray also Lauralee will maintain her great attitude and trust in God.

 

Inga, the wife of Tore, requests prayer for her husband in Norway. He is awaiting surgery for a heart valve and kidney transplants. He is nearing surgery.  Please pray for trust in the Lord for her, her husband and family and friends who are so very worried about him.  Pray also for the doctors, nurses and technicians treating him that they might be open to God’s guidance for treatment, pay attention and do their very best to help him.  Pray for a good outcome.

 

Kathy Harasimowicz, Amy Jamieson’s aunt, had emergency back surgery on 12 October 2020.   The discectomy surgery seems to have gone well, she has some nerve damage to her foot and leg which are numb for now, but the only pain is the incisions; she is pleased.   She is the sole breadwinner for her family with many obligations, financial as well as mental.  Please give thanks for the good outcome and pray she will continue her recovery.

 

Angela Walker has Covid and has been hospitalized and currently is in the ICU doing poorly.  Please pray for trust in the Lord for her, her husband, two young children and family and friends who are so very worried about her.  Pray also for the doctors, nurses and technicians treating her that they might be open to God’s guidance for treatment, pay attention and do their very best to help her.  Pray for a good outcome.

 

Rhonda, a close friend of Angie Colgrove, has Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer[2]. Please pray for the doctors, nurses and technicians treating her that they might be open to God’s guidance, pay attention and do their very bestPlease pray for peace of mind and trust in God for Rhonda and her family.

 

Elizabeth Pressey, wife of AOC Bishop Dave Pressey, is seriously ill.  Please pray for the doctors, nurses and technicians treating her that they might be open to God’s guidance, pay attention and do their very bestPlease pray for peace of mind and trust in God for Elisabeth, Dave, their son Eddie and family.

 

Zephaniah Leguman – the Iron Bishop of the Pacific – has been diagnosed with a serious eye affliction that could lead to blindness.  It presently stop deteriorating and seems to be improving.  Please give thanks for this positive movement and pray the condition will continue to abate.

 

Gary Anderson of Enterprise has been hospitalized with unknown illness. He requests prayer for diagnosis and healing.

 

Jim Flanagan was operated on for his pressure sore; the surgery appears to have gone well.  On 13 January 2021, the day after his birthday, he was transferred to a Rehabilitation Facility to re-learn walking.  He needs God’s help to recover and get out.   Please pray the medical people treating him will pay attention, do their very best and be open to God’s guidance.  Pray also the ‘insurance’ people will pay what they are supposed to and not turn their hearts against Jim.  Please pray for James and his lovely wife Mary Lou to put their worry on God’s back and do what must be done.

 

Laurie, Jim and Mary Lou Flanagan’s daughter, came through Covid, but is left with permanent lung damage.  Please pray for healing for her and for guidance for the medical personnel treating her to pay attention and do their very best, as well as to be open to God’s guidance.

 

Corrie Marsh, daughter of Ida Benson, is facing serious medical procedures in coming days.  Please pray for trust in God for Corrie and her family and for the doctors, nurses and technicians to pay attention and do their very best, as well as to be open to God’s guidance.

 

Tricia has a nodule on her thyroid that may have to come off. In addition, she currently has a very bad headache and feels achy all over.  Please pray for peace of mind and soul for Tricia, as well as for the doctors, nurses and technicians to pay attention and do their very best, as well as to be open to God’s guidance.  Please pray also she will be open to seeking appropriate medical treatment.

 

Hope DeLong has what appears to be viral myocardial myopathy which advanced to cause temporary congestive heart failure.  She has been hospitalized and released; hopefully she is in the recovery stage. Please pray for a full and rapid recovery for Hope and that she is able to continue with the cessation of smoking and for peace of mind for her and her husband Ralph.

 

Cyrus has blood cancer and is very very ill.  Please pray the doctors treating him will pay attention and do their very best.  Pray also for comfort and peace for Cyrus and his family; pray that if it not be that he will recover that he past restfully to home.

 

Kurt Thomas has apparent had a minor heart attack to his rebuilt heart.  Please pray for peace of mind for him and his family as they wait and continued prayer that his body not reject his transplanted heart parts.  Pray also for Kurt to accept what he cannot do at present and concentrate on what he can do.  This is a very foreign situation for this Christian warrior.  He needs God’s help to adapt and prosper.

 

LTC Jay Houston a very confident Christian, particular friend and one of Hap’s favorite WSOs has major lung issues that have been going on for some time.  Pray also for peace of mind for Jay and his family, as well as a favorable result.

 

Evelyn, an 88 year young woman is losing her eyesight to glaucoma.  Evelyn has been transferred to a rehabilitation facility and is not doing well due to the virus restrictions, she cannot receive visitors even her family. Evelyn, even with hearing aids does not hear well and cannot see well, so she is discouraged without her family around her. She feels all alone and her family is very concerned.  Please pray for God to guide those treating her and for her to let God carry her worry.

 

Chelsea Brown has need of God’s strength and guidance for her, her daughter Lauren and those around her.  Her life has been in turmoil for the past two years.  Chelsea was in an accident which left her without the use of her right arm for almost two years, though after two surgeries it is back, her daughter has had three sets of lung blood clots, dropped out of college and lost her job and car due to another accident.  Things are very bad for them.  Please pray that God will give them the direction and strength they need and the government officials in Raleigh will see clear to provide housing.

 

Jill was on life support; her family members traveled a great distance to see her and returned home safely.  Jill’s condition improved to critical, but needs your prayers to continue her recovery.

 

Samson Hendrik has prostate cancer and his kidneys are not working. Pray our Lord Jesus Christ will be close to him and his family of friends during this illness.

 

Homebound or Infirm

John has Alzheimer’s pray he will call on God to help him as he deals with this.

 

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

 

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

 

Surgery

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Testing and Treatment

April and her husband ask you prayers for the Lord to guide them and lead them both to the correct medical care; and that the family may receive comfort in the process.

 

Josh has two little children and just discovered he has a rare form of Cancer. Please keep him and his family in your prayers in the days ahead.

 

Ross an elderly gentleman has been diagnosed with Leukemia. Ross has had good health until now, your prayers at this time will be appreciated by his family and friends.

 

Carman was just diagnosed with breast cancer. Pray for her family as they continue to help her get the proper care.  Pray with Carman, her family and friends that 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 Carman, her family and friends in this worrisome time.

 

Tina just found out she has cancer on her left kidney. Please pray for guidance for the people treating her and for trust in our Lord for Tina and her family.

 

Martha is now home after testing and she does not have cancer, but she does have bad kidneys and is adjusting and getting ideas to work with that. Please pray for guidance for the people treating her and for trust in our Lord for her.

 

Spencer has been diagnosed with Autism.  Please pray for guidance for the people treating him and for trust in our Lord for him and his mother Lorna.

 

Michael has cancer of the blood and is starting chemotherapy.  Please pray for the physicians treating him to be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for a full and speedy recovery to good health and for trust in the Lord for Michael.

 

Clay has a large gallstone; he is in poor health and not currently a surgical candidate.  Please pray for the physicians treating him to be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for a full and speedy recovery to good health and for trust in the Lord for Clay.

 

Jim Sevier has been in the hospital for heart related troubles.  Please pray with Jim and his family the physicians treating him will be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for a full and speedy recovery to good health and for trust in the Lord for Jim and his family in this worrisome time.

 

Claude has been falling and he does not know why. Pray doctors will discover what the problem is and he can continue without any more difficulties.

 

Gretchen has been diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and is now being treated with exercise, nutrition and vitamins.  Please pray with Gretchen and her family the physicians treating her will be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for a full and speedy recovery to good health and for trust in the Lord for Gretchen and her family in this worrisome time.

 

Pete has not been well and is back in the hospital with another stroke.  Please pray for the physicians treating him to be guided in their assessment and treatment plan, for a full and speedy recovery to good health and for trust in the Lord for Pete and his family in this worrisome time.

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Hang So Ryu has cancer. Please pray for medical team contemplating and evaluating the treatment that they might be guided to the correct choice and do their very be Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for him and his family, as well as physical strength.

 

Olivia, age 7, has been diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma. The prognosis is good at this time, please pray for medical team contemplating and evaluating the treatment that they might be guided to the correct choice and do their very be Pray also for peace of mind and trust in God for Olivia and her family, as well as physical strength.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Harold is having surgery on 30 September 2016 to repair a hole in his aorta bleeding into the abdomen which caused stroke like symptoms.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Healing

Madisun Hanks (17) 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.

 

Linda recently had a basal cell carcinoma removed and she is doing well, 15 years with Multiple Myeloma is doing great. She is continuing bimonthly chemo and this keeps her going strong, she is grateful for all prayers.

 

Chris Hill (close friend of Jon Weston) suffered a brain aneurysm and needs your prayers. He came out of a coma he had been in since the week before Christmas 2016.  He is now in a stepdown facility. Every day is a new day to him; his memory seems to have been damaged to a point where it is not recovering so far.   Pray for the doctors, nurses and technicians treating him 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 Chris and his family.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

Kay Denton (Mrs. Kay) is having many physical difficulties in connection with her dialysis and related problems.  She has been on dialysis 17 years and has cascading problems.  She is feeling very down and depressed.  Please pray she can regain the cheerful outlook on life that has characterized her being.  Please pray for continued peace of mind for Mrs. Kay and her family.  Give thanks for her trust in the Lord and her positive attitude.

 

Healing and Patience

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

 

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

 

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

 

Thanksgiving and Continued Healing

Rev Colonel Blue Bodenhamer broke his left leg in an elevator mishap at his house resulting in three fractures to his Tibia and Fibula.  He had his second orthopedic surgery on 15 January 2021, which appears to have been successful.  Please give thanks for the successful surgery and for continued healing.  Please pray the people treating him will be open to God’s guidance, pay attention and do their very best to help him.  Pray he and his family, particularly his wife Sue Ellen will let the Lord carry their concern.

 

Bill had surgery November 2016 for a kidney tumor; he is one kidney short, but recovering very well for the present.  It appears the cancer has spread to another spot.  Please pray for Bill as he undergoes chemotherapy and perhaps other treatment.  Pray Bill and his family will stay strong in their faith and draw the strength they need from our Lord.

 

 

Cindy (81) had an operation to remove a cancerous growth in her stomach which was successful.  She is now home, but in a bit of pain.  Please give thanks for the good result, pray for full and complete healing and remission of the cancer, as well as cessation of the pain; pray also for continued faith for Cindy and her husband Les (91).

 

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

 

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

 

Janet Jessup had a stroke and heart problems were causing huge issues for her.  They seem to have gotten her stabilized and she is home. Please pray for those treating her to find the appropriate treatment and for trust in God and peace of mind for Janet and her family, in particular her husband of 45 years, Rev Roger Jessup, retired minister of Saint Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Orthodox Church.

 

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

 

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

 

Jenniffer had surgery for breast cancer on 15 October 2014.  She continues to have other complications which preclude her from making a full recovery in particular, the reconstructive surgery seems to have gravely affected her back muscles and nerves, resulting in both very limited mobility and extreme pain, the drugs are making her terribly sick; please pray those will be overcome.  Pray for help for Jenniffer to keep her trust in the Lord and let Him carry her worry and concern as she recovers.  Please pray also for strength and courage for her family as they try their best to help her.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Financial Guidance and Employment

Kona is applying for a job in the hospital. Pray our Lord will find the right position for her and she will glorify Him in the work.

 

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.

 

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

 

 

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

Jackie and her son Tommy, Jackie 10 years free of substance use returned to substance use while pregnant with Tommy who was born free of substances. Tommy has been removed from her and place with Grandparents. Pray for the Grandparents strength and courage to raise Tommy in a Godly way and for Jackie to return to the Lord and give up substance use and become a responsible Mother.

 

Zachary is still having huge problems growing up.  He has backed away from much of the evil, but seemingly has adopted the sloth as his ‘spirit animal’ and does not want to move forward in life. Pray his parents Lee and Shamu will come to see what course of action they can take to help Zachary and safeguard his brother and sister.  Please pray for God’s guidance for all of them and in particular for Zachary to open his heart to God and his parents help.

 

Linda is slowly converting her children through her great loving attitude and Love of the Lord.

 

Judy seemingly does not want to allow the Holy Ghost into her heart so she might come to know our Lord and Savior, despite the efforts of her family.  Please pray for her to open her heat and for her family to be at peace with their efforts.

 

Barbara has been recovering from cancer for the last three years. Pray for her husband Bill who has come down with a mental illness that may have been caused by much stress the last few years. Barbara and Bill will appreciate your prayers.

 

Larry is very weak and has periods of confusion and depression. Larry has been in the hospital and recently moved to a rehab. Please keep him in prayer as he begins to gain strength in the days ahead.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Eli has some mental issues and has lost his way.  He has yet to come to grips with the demons chasing him.  He has returned to his family living in a cottage on his parents’ property in Hawaii so that they can keep him on his meds.  He is doing much better, but he still needs prayer to follow his medication schedule.  His parents are so thankful for all of the prayers as they have felt the Holy Spirit’s power in handling Eli during his dark periods.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

School Challenges

Destiny, Blake and Janet

 

Anglican Orthodox Church

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.

 

Pakistan

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

Ernest Jacob

Presiding Bishop Pakistan

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

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

 

Diocese of the Epiphany

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

 

Diocese of Virginia

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

 

Armed Forces & Contractors

Dustin (USAF – Stateside), Kristyna and Luis Aviles (Army – Schofield Barracks, HI), Airman Donny Patton (USAF – Hulbert Field, Florida), Jordan Brown (USMC – Recruiter – Iowa City, Iowa), Trevor Jennings (USAF – KC-10 Boom Operator – McGuire AFB, NJ), Trevor Di Marco (USN – Whidbey Island, EF-18 Pilot), Kurt Thomas (USN – Headquarters, Virginia), Mitchell Thomas (USMC – Camp Pendleton, California) Ethan (US Army Airborne – Southwest Asia) Sarah Schumacher (US Army Kuwait)

 

Employment

Much of our country is out of work, please pray the governments will be guided to intelligent action, not reaction.  Pray in particular for Matt Jamieson to find a suitable position after just having found one only to be shut out due to recent events.

 

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

Debbie Ogles is home after her heart evaluation in Birmingham on Tuesday 2 March 2021, which found as a result of the stent, her heart function has improved dramatically to the point where the minor mitral valve leakage does not require surgical intervention at this point.  Jerry and Debbie give thanks for all your prayer and implore you to join them both in a prayer of thanksgiving.

 

Melanie Zimmers had a pacemaker successfully installed on Friday 12 March 2021, please give thanks for a good result.

 

The near future, as well as Next Sunday

 

4 April 2021 – Easter 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] The tomb was a new one which had been hewn for Joseph of Arimathea.  Joseph, a native of Arimathea, was apparently a man of wealth, and probably a member of the Sanhedrin an “honourable counsellor, who waited (or “was searching”) for the kingdom of God”, according to John, he was secretly a disciple of Jesus. As soon as he heard the news of Jesus’ death, he “went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.” Pilate, reassured by a centurion that the death had really taken place, allowed Joseph’s request. Joseph immediately purchased fine linen and went to Golgotha to take the body down from the cross. There, assisted by Nicodemus, he took the body and wrapped it in the fine linen, sprinkling it with the myrrh and aloes that Nicodemus had brought. The body was then conveyed to the new tomb in rock in his garden nearby. There they laid it, in the presence of Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and other women, and rolled a great stone to the entrance, and departed. This was done speedily, “for the Sabbath was drawing on”. Joseph of Arimathea appears in some early New Testament apocrypha.

 

Although there are no written records until the fifth century, tradition holds Joseph of Arimethea, who provided the tomb for the burial of Jesus Christ, brought Christianity and the Holy Grail to England in 37 AD and built a church in Glastonbury in Somerset.

[2] The average 5-year survival rate for women with non-metastatic invasive breast cancer is 91%. The average 10-year survival rate for women with invasive breast cancer is 84%. If the invasive cancer is located only in the breast, the 5-year survival rate of women with breast cancer is 99%

 

By |2021-03-29T13:23:28+00:00March 29th, 2021|AOC Sunday Report|Comments Off on 210328 AOC Sunday Report

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