New Time for Late Service
April 19, 2008
The second Holy Communion service will start at 11:15 AM instead of 11:00 AM beginning this Sunday, April 20th.
The first service remains at 9:00 AM.
New Bible Study Begins April 29
April 19, 2008
Beth Moore Bible Study (download flyer)
Title: Jesus the One and Only
When: Tuesday nights for 11 weeks beginning April 29
Time: 7-9pm
Facilitator: Anita Forbes
Workbook: $15
Jesus the One and Only by Beth Moore
An in-depth study of the life of Jesus based on the Book of Luke
Come along with Beth Moore on a life-changing journey which will lead you through the hills of Galilee with the Teacher, across the lake with the Master, and finally, on the road toward the cross with the Savior. Get to know Jesus intimately…as though you had walked with Him during His days of earthly ministry.
This 11-week, in-depth study includes personal assignments and weekly group sessions during which you will view Beth’s video sessions taped on location in Jerusalem and throughout Israel.
Liturgy Lesson for the Fourth Sunday after Easter: Incense in Divine Worship
April 18, 2008
Incense used in Divine Worship has been, from very early times, throughout the whole Church. Enjoined by God Himself, offering incense was part of the daily morning and evening services in the Jewish Temple, and was also part of the ceremonial on the Day of Atonement – the Jewish day of national repentance – and was among the most closely-held privileges of the Levitical Priesthood. Other Levitical ceremonies passed away, but this, honoring the Sacrifice, has been retained and become one of the spiritual tools of the Universal Christian Church. It can claim our Lord’s sanction, not only from His connection with the Temple worship, but from the facts (1) that the moment Zachariah offered incense marked the time God began to establish the New Covenant; (2) that it was among the gifts offered to Jesus by the Magi. At All Saints, we regularly burn it in worship at our highest holy days, before our regular worship, and during Evensong. Because of its roots in ancient worship of our God, it retains the element of the sacrificial nature of our lives in Him, holding special significance for us as a symbol of our repentance and the sweet savor of our prayers rising to God. Furthermore, according to ancient custom, it is also part of spiritual warfare, when used in conjunction with the liturgy or in prayers beforehand. Because of the manner we bless it for the Church’s use, its fragrant smoke, while rendered to God’s worship, is also component to repelling the Enemy of Our Souls, much as our repentance robs him of his freedom in our lives. May our prayers rise, then as the incense – and the lifting up of our hands be as the Evening Sacrifice!
Salt and Light
April 14, 2008
The Salt and Light Course taught by Fr. Chip Harper covers how we as Anglican Christians are salt and light to the world.
The course can be described as Anglicanism 101 – a confirmation class for prospective members and a refresher course or new learning opportunity for anyone who would like to know more about what Anglicans believe and why we do what we do.
The Salt and Light Course will be held Saturdays at 10:30 AM beginning on May 10th. Contact the church office at 210-344-1920 to register.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” ~Matthew 5:13-14
Christ’s Construction Co. or The Devil’s Demolition, Inc.?
April 12, 2008
“God is in the construction business. He creates, and He builds up. Satan, on the other hand, is in the demolition business. He tears down, and he destroys. Which business will you be a part of – The Devil’s Demolition, Inc. or Christ’s Construction Co.? The choice is yours.” ~ Renae Brumbaugh on the blog Morning Coffee
Zambia Mission
April 12, 2008
All Saints supports a mission in Zambia. In a recent e-mail to Fr. Chip Harper, Fr. Andrew Mukuyamba wrote:
Here we are fine except for pressure of work and lack of electricity for long hours each day.
Our work is growing but we are handicapped with transport to reach places.
Please keep on praying for us as we strive to fulfill our Lord’s Commission in the world.
The photos below show the slab for the newest church under construction and one of the congregations on Palm Sunday.
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Church Organ Recital
April 11, 2008
Josh Benninger, CAGO organist, will give an organ recital on Tuesday April 22, 2008 at 7:30pm with a reception to follow at:
Christ Episcopal Church
510 Belknap Place
San Antonio, Texas 78212
Liturgy Lesson for the Third Sunday after Easter: Catechism
April 11, 2008
The Church Fathers, keeping with ancient Jewish tradition, included the Offices of Instruction in our prayerbook to provide a basic framework for teaching children and other candidates for Baptism and Confirmation Christian essentials. But that’s not their only purpose. The entire congregation needs to revisit them regularly. Called catechism,this instruction by word of mouth – especially questioning and answering – is a Scriptural concept, found in St. Luke: “That thou mayest know the verity of those things in which thou hast been instructed.” In Acts, 28:25, Apollo is “instructed [katechemenos] in the way of the Lord“. St. Paul uses the word twice: First, in 1 Corinthians 14:19, “I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct [katecheso] others also,” and then, in Galatians 6:6, “Let him that is instructed [ho katechoumenos] in the word, communicate to him that instructeth [to katechounti] him, in all good things” Clearly, we must be trained – not passively, but actively involved – in this case, responding to queries. But this doesn’t meet our need for Christian training but only the barest rudiments. St. Paul wrote to St. Timothy for him to “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” This means, if we are to be effective, we must develop our spiritual skills – in real, structured Christian training, beyond simple catechism, with God’s people and Him, learning His Word and what it means to our lives. If we are not in Sunday School or Bible study, time to start!
Testimony: William Hilliard
April 10, 2008
The Lord God, King of the Universe, will by His Holy Spirit give His angels charge over you to protect you and help you in your time of need. Have you confessed with your mouth, believing in your heart that this is true? Do you really believe that thousands may fall all around you, but you will be upheld if you love the Lord? Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.
So many times I have experienced His gracious protection. One of the first times I recall was when I was driving from San Antonio to San Marcos I was driving in the fast lane when a very strong urge came over me to move over to the right lane. Just as I did so, a car came over a hill going the wrong way in the lane I had just left. This has happened several times and I have felt a strong urge to stay to the right or not pass someone, and a car would pop up going the wrong way in the left lane.
Another incident that still gives me chills happened when I was on vacation in New Mexico. I was touring by motorcycle and camping without a tent. I stopped at a campground near Ruidoso. There was only one other camper, a man and wife in a small trailer. I parked my motorcycle about five feet from the foot of my sleeping bag, and bedded down for the night. I had a vivid dream.
I dreamed I was in Alaska and somehow got between a cow moose and her calf—a very dangerous place to be. I started to feel fear when a voice said, “You are protected; you are protected.” I relaxed, but shortly thereafter heard a noise and woke up. My camping gear was scattered, and the motorcycle was on its side. I was cleaning up the mess when the other camper came over and said there was a bear around. I knew the he was right, as some of my gear had teeth marks on it. Well, I crawled back in my sleeping bag and slept soundly. I had been told I was protected. The next morning the other guy came over and told me that the bear had returned, stood on his hind legs and rocked his trailer. His wife was not amused. It, however, did not return to bother me. Luck? No way! I’m certain God’s holy angel stood over me and protected me.
There are times, however, when the Holy Spirit will not prevent something from happening, but He will carry us through. Sometimes we have a lesson to learn or we are being directed in a certain way. Once, according to the report, I hit some black ice (ice that can’t be seen on the pavement) in Texas, and my loaded truck turned over in the median. I was knocked unconscious and air-lifted to the hospital with what turned out to be a mild concussion. The angels prevented a much more serious result. So we are not always kept from trouble, but we are always protected by His might power. Praise His Name.
Confess His mighty power and His great Love. Give Him praise and glory and accept His working in your life. Give your testimony for His great glory.
Keep looking up!
Good News from the Church of Nigeria
April 10, 2008
A message from CANA (the Convocation of Anglicans in North America):
April 7 marks the 3rd anniversary of Archbishop Peter Akinola’s
announcement of the Convocation. We praise God for the wisdom and foresight that has been bestowed on our Primate, and on the Church of Nigeria’s Registrar, Standing Committee, Synod, and House of Bishops; and we praise God moreover that this province has been a courageous steward of God’s gifts. … Bishop Martyn Minns represented CANA at the Church of Nigeria’s Standing Committee which met March 26-29 in southeast Nigeria. Here is his report.
Good News Is No News in Nnewi!
by the Rt. Rev’d Martyn Minns
A funny thing happened in Nnewi, Nigeria, last week. (Nnewi is a bustling
city in southeast Nigeria.) Archbishop Peter Akinola presided over a
remarkable meeting of the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria
(Anglican Communion), but nobody from the world media noticed. It wasn’t that it was a closed or secret meeting - it’s hard to keep a gathering of a thousand church leaders quiet, and preparations had been public for months.
So why didn’t any of them care? For one thing, he didn’t talk about anything that would make a good headline; instead he focused on a call to personal and corporate holiness. He told all those present that they were too attached to the ways of the world and they needed to change. He reminded them that they have been called to “live in the world but not of the world.” Nobody blinked when he challenged his listeners to look inward and deal with their own sin instead of looking at everyone else. But it didn’t make news.
He talked about the Global Anglican Future Conference (affectionately known as GAFCON) that he is leading in Jerusalem later this year. He carefully explained the long history behind the decision to gather with other provinces of the Anglican Communion that refuse to spend any more time agonizing about sex but instead want to get on with the work of the Gospel and celebrate transformed lives. He announced that everyone going from Nigeria has already been paid for and here’s another funny thing - paid for by generous Godly people in Nigeria! They have raised all the money from inside their own country!
During the meeting they also took time to dedicate a brand new marble-lined church that seats more than a thousand people, debt free thanks to a local benefactor who wanted to do something beautiful for God. Everyone was pleased but no one seemed surprised.
Perhaps the most astonishing thing that happened in Nnewi was that during the three days they met together, they created eighteen new missionary dioceses and one fully fledged diocese and then, before lunch on the final day, elected twenty (20) new bishops to serve these new jurisdictions. All of the resources to start these new dioceses a Cathedral for the people -and a car, house and the first year’s stipend for the Bishop and his family are already in the bank. Members of the Church of Nigeria and their friends have given all of it because they have a passion to share the Gospel. For the record, the seventeen missionary dioceses they created last year have already planted more than three hundred congregations and no one seems surprised.
One last thing that they announced was that the Church of Nigeria now has sufficient funds in its endowment fund that they no longer need any of the dioceses to pay any assessments. The Primate announced that the Province has enough income from the endowment to cover all of its operations. Each diocese is now encouraged to use the funds that they formerly passed along to the Province to plant more churches and create more new dioceses. No surprise there!
None of this made the ten o’clock news, but last week the Primate of All
Nigeria and his Standing Committee made lots of Good News. Their church is alive and growing, they are planting individual churches and complete dioceses, people are giving, lives are being transformed and nobody seems surprised.
