Liturgy Lesson for the Transfiguration of Our Lord: Purity and Royalty
August 7, 2009
In today’s festival, we celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord, denoted by the liturgical colors of white and gold, heralding His purity and royalty. The Lord planned this special demonstration to edify His disciples’ faith in order to prepare their spirits and souls for the ordeal of His Crucifixion and death by providing them convincing proof He was Messiah and God. Although these men had been with Him in His earthly ministry—directly absorbing about three years of miracles and life-changing teaching, His divinity had been somewhat concealed beneath the drapery of His human nature. In the Transfiguration, He allowed His perfect Heavenly nature to shine through His flesh—the status He would assume once ascended to Heaven. From this, we can learn something about how we will be changed after the Resurrection on the last day. Our bodies will have passed death and will be changed, as St. Paul says, “…in the twinkling of an eye and shall become like Christ’s glorified body, and shall shine as stars with different degrees of splendor.” (Ref 1 Cor 15:52; Phil 3:21 & Dan 12:3) And here’s some more good news—the fact that Moses and Elijah were present and talking with Jesus demonstrates the saints who have passed from this life through death still live with God. The Father’s voice from Heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, hear Him,” tasks us to render to Jesus our unreserved attention and obedience. These powerful lessons prepare us all for our own Gethsemane—that time when we all come to the place of sacrifice of self-surrendering our lives so we may save them! Be Lord of all in our lives, Lord—maranatha!
CANA Council Photo Gallery
August 4, 2009
CANA Council
August 4, 2009
The Annual Council of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) was held in Herndon, Virginia, July 30 – August 1, 2009.
The delegation from All Saints included:
- Fr Chip (Clergy Delegate) and Christie Harper
- Fr Ed Morgan (Clergy Delegate)
- Stephen Pargeter (Delegate)
- Anne Pargeter (Delegate)
- Dwight Dunlap (Delegate)
- Diana Dunlap (Alternate Delegate)
At the council meeting, two new lay delegates and one new clergy member were elected to the executive council. A new district that covers the northeastern US was approved.
Delegates from more than 80 churches were in attendance to hear speakers on topics ranging from legal challenges to our First Amendment rights to the Islamification of America. Smaller breakout sessions covered hospice, youth ministry, prayer ministry and other topics.
In the next post, you can view a photo gallery of the CANA Council. Some of the pictures show the festival Eucharist at which two priests and one deacon were ordained.
Sunday Night, August 9th, LaDonna Taylor Concert
August 3, 2009
All Saints will host a concert by Dove Award nominee Dr. LaDonna Taylor, who has an amazing ministry with her Vincenza violin and her new violad’amore, where the Lord heals and delivers by her anointed music.
Please join us for a very special Koinonia (fellowship) Sunday night, August 9th at 6 PM.
The Infections of the Devil
August 2, 2009
LORD we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to avoid the infections of the devil, and with pure heart and mind to follow thee, the only God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ 1637 Scottish Book of Common Prayer via The Prayer Watch
Liturgy Lesson for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity: More of Him…Less of Me
August 1, 2009
We approach the Holy Table—after hearing the Word proclaimed, asking for mercy in the Kyrie, declaring our Faith in the Creed and even confessing/being absolved—with the Prayer of Humble Access, our admission of unworthiness of the privilege God affords us by His Sacrament—where we partake of His life-giving nature in the Real Presence. Since it prepares us to receive that infusion of life He promised us in it, our prayerbook very appropriately makes this the last thing we do before actually receiving the Lord’s Presence in the consecrated elements. It calls us to examen—asking God the Holy Ghost to show us the places in our lives where we need His help to change, in order to avoid eating or drinking unworthily at the Lord’s Table. This is an important concept, because Scripture teaches if we have unresolved sin (or its attendant attitudes, such as bitterness or unforgiveness) in our hearts, we are more liable to incur God’s judgment from Communion than His blessings—not a pleasant prospect. After this last spiritual “attitude check” then, we rightly approach by reverently and humbly kneeling (making ourselves small before God), taking the bread in palms open and lifted high to His ministry and grace, and not manipulated with closed fingers. Likewise, we take the cup firmly, with both hands, embracing Christ’s nature to replace our own, praying silently the devotion St. John Baptist gave us, “More of Him…Less of me.” No wonder we usually follow with the ancient Gloria in Excelsis (High Gloria)—we’ve received our magnificent Lord entirely by His Grace and not by our own merits—joining in the ancient angelic praise—”Glory be to God on high”—recharged by the Holy Ghost via the Sacrament!
