We Appreciate Our Clergy
October 11, 2009
October is Clergy Appreciation Month, and today is Clergy Appreciation Day.
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. ~ Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)
We are blessed at All Saints to have as our clergy Father Chip Harper, Rector, and Father Ed Morgan, Associate Rector. These Godly men constantly challenge, inspire, and encourage us. We thank God for them, and we thank them for their service.
ALMIGHTY God, giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in thy Church; Mercifully behold thy servants Father Chip and Father Ed and so replenish them with the truth of thy Doctrine, and adorn them with innocency of life, that, both by word and good example, they may faithfully serve thee in their Office, to the glory of thy Name, and the edification of thy Church; through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
Liturgy Lesson for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity: The Narthex
October 9, 2009
Our entrance to the parish is called the “narthex,” derived from a Greek word for “fennel”—a hollow-stalked herb, a word also meaning “small case,” but literally referring to its function as the “north exit.” Through its culinary roots, this symbolizes the movement of the Gospel’s flavor—via God’s people who Jesus called “the Salt of the Earth”—to the heathen north in ancient times. This aromatic and medicinal herb name derivation speaks to our own mission of entering and leaving God’s house in the “aroma of Christ,” as St. Paul wrote (by the Holy Ghost) in 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NKJV) “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” Like the first century Gospel migration, we pass through Christ’s fragrance to worship Him, then again as we leave, energized to carry His Gospel out the north exit—to the World! All Saints’ narthex is the entry hall or lobby connecting the nave (seating area), and the cloister (breezeway) and entered by passing through two red doors, which signify our passing through the Blood of Christ to enter the Kingdom. What a wonderful devotion as enter, to thank our wonderful Lord for His cleansing Blood, then ask Him to fill and surround with His own fragrance as we enter His courts, afterwards taking that same Heavenly aroma forth to love and serve Him!
The Big C in Church by Father Ed Morgan
October 7, 2009
Skin cancer is an interesting condition. It starts out as a little spot on the skin, sometimes noticed and many times seen but disregarded. All skin cancers are blemishes on what God created as good. Some types of skin cancer advance quickly, with ugly bumps and bleeding. Other types appear as dry patches of skin. Some go unnoticed as bumps with maybe a dry-scale surface, and some are just white spots against the background of healthy skin. Whatever form skin cancer takes, it must be treated to keep from growing into something that is life threatening. Doctors use many treatment methods, from freezing with nitrogen to cutting out the cancer until healthy skin shows around the spot where the disease appeared.
What has that got to do with the church?
The church gets cancers in its congregations, and the cancers need to be treated for the health of the whole organism, the body. What do these cancers look like? I’m so glad you asked. There is the cancer of I can worship God from St. Mattress or the golf course or I’m tired and don’t feel like going or I don’t know anybody there or The priests keep talking about God and what He wants—they even talk about sin!
This is the cancer of apathy and needs to be treated with activity—not just any activity, but godly activity. Go to the service you normally don’t go to; attend Sunday School; read the Bible; go to Koinania; become an intercessory prayer warrior. This cancer kills through isolation and division. The enemy knows he can gain ground if he can convince you to isolate yourself from the Body of Christ. The enemy is afraid that if the surface of apathy gets scraped away, healthy skin is waiting to regrow—renewed as never before.
We have another cancer that tends to run wild in churches, and that is the cancer of gossip. There are two treatments for gossip cancer. The first is used when the cancer is new and can be excised with confrontation and correction. This is the preferred treatment and the one that yields the most beneficial recovery. When those infected with gossip are brought to the light of the Gospel, they are quick to repent and seek forgiveness. This is a dangerous cancer, but if caught at the early stages, treatment often results in stronger and healthier Christians.
When the gossip cancer reaches the second stage, the treatment is more drastic. At this stage the gossip is excised from the congregation until full repentance occurs. This is a painful treatment, not only for the gossip, but also for those around him or her. I would like to say the recovery rate is very high, but the truth is the recovery rate is very low as the gossip cancer develops a condition called pride, which prevents recovery.
Some church cancers can be stopped with prayers and deliverance. We see these cancers when illness has occurred, upsets happen due to a job situation, relationship problem develop, attitudes change, or outside events are forced upon the individual over which they have no control. In these situations, soaking prayers, fasting prayers, intercession by other godly people in prayer on the person’s behalf are the strongest and most effective treatments. Sometimes the treatments can take a long period of time to work, but persistence is essential.
When the cancer begins to weaken but won’t give in to treatment, sometimes deliverance is needed. Deliverance calls upon the cancer to make itself known and to subject itself to Christ. This is where we call upon the heavenly hosts to intervene and cast out the cancer that is trying to rule our life. It is only by the blood of Christ that the enemy yields and the Holy Spirit fills the whole with health and the Glory of God.
If the cancer of wrong doctrine and wrong teaching shows up, the treatment is to quickly remove it with the sharp knife of the Word of God, excising immediately the wrong teaching. This cancer is not always seen with the casual eye as it looks almost healthy when presenting itself. This can be prevented by reading the Word of God daily and by instruction through attendance at worship, study, prayer, and praise. This cancer can be cured if caught early and not ignored!!
I have illustrated disease attacking the Body of Christ in the modern church. If you ever find yourself wondering why Fr. Chip and/or Fr. Ed stand so strong about something that doesn’t seem like a big deal, understand we are dealing with the various cancers that are found in the Body of Believers. We want nothing but the health of Christ for everyone at All Saints.We are called by the Word of God to attack these things that would destroy. We fervently want each and every one to bask in the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and to live happy and joyously free, which can only be done if we work diligently at being in the Word. We are not nit-pickers. We are committed and will call cancer by its name and work hard to erase it in the Body of Christ. Thanks be to God!
Alpha Course Begins January 2010
October 4, 2009
The kick-off dinner for Alpha will be December 8, 2009. The course begins the first week of January 2010. For more information, visit the Alpha page or contact Lloyd Johnson, mailto:alpha@allsaintsanglican.net.
Liturgy Lesson for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity: Holy Communion
October 3, 2009
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.’” Jesus’ words amplify how important it is Christians take Holy Communion as often as possible—and why this is central to Christian worship. It conveys life. Yet, it’s not the ceremony that imparts God’s Grace and mystery—it’s the Spirit empowering it, and the attitude of our hearts. Ultimately, this is the case for all worship—liturgical and ancient, or contemporary and unstructured. Our attitude determines our altitude. In short, how do we approach the Lord? Are we doing the “church thing” or are we, as we pray in the Kyrie, Confession, and Prayer of Humble Access approaching the Lord with an understanding of our brokenness—dependent on His Grace? This goes to the heart of the Gifts of the Spirit—the governance of our souls—that is, our minds and emotions. As disciplined adults, we can usually control our outward expression of inner dysfunctions, but, God looks on the heart—and, without the intervening influence of God the Holy Ghost and His Gifts, we won’t be able to effect that change of heart required to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth. In short, the liturgy will remain only well-founded Scriptural words said in a proscribed, traditional manner, without Divine help to the contrary. On the other hand, if we call the Holy Ghost into our lives, receiving Him in the manner the Church Fathers intended in the sacraments, we will have life in us—abundantly! Inhabit us, then, Holy Ghost—govern our hearts and bring power to our worship!
Bring Your Rummage Sale Items for the Fall Festival
October 2, 2009
The All Saints Fall Festival will be here soon, Friday, October 31, 11 AM - 5 PM.
Now is the time to be getting your white elephants together for the rummage sale. Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! Donations will be accepted at the church office during normal business hours (Wednesday – Saturday, 10AM– 5PM).
Make sure you’ve marked your calendar to attend the Fall Festival and enjoy the food, fun, and fellowship.
For more information, contact Carter Dreesman, events@allsaintsanglican.net
Salt & Light Begins Tomorrow!
October 1, 2009
The Salt & Light Course, also known as Anglicanism 101, starts tomorrow Friday, October 2.
Classes will begin with dinner (provided) at 6:30 PM each Friday evening, followed by class 7:00 – 8:00 PM. Child care will be provided.
Who Says Prayer Doesn’t Work? by Fr. Ed Morgan
October 1, 2009
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) doesn’t believe prayer to be a viable means of dealing with problems. Otherwise, why would they be so set against prayer? They don’t believe prayer works in the public area. They don’t believe prayer can protect our troops. They don’t believe prayer can increase the quality of life, and they don’t believe prayer could possibly have any significant effect on the outcome of any situation. Therefore, the ACLU doesn’t want you to use prayer as you could look foolish in front of the world. I think this is the real reason they don’t want prayer anywhere in the public. It has nothing to do with the government establishing a state religion.
Now, that we know the truth, let me tell you: Prayer works!
A good friend of mine who lives in Lubbuck drove to San Antonio a couple of weeks ago for a heart cath and a possible stent. We met for dinner and had a good time. However, he was concerned about the surgery scheduled for 7 AM the following morning. I understood as I had gone through the same proceedure and had to have a stent. After dinner we gathered in the parking lot by the resturant and began to pray. We prayed that the clot shown on the MRI would be gone. I anointed him as the Scriptures call us to do and prayed some more. We then went our ways as he had to get up at 5 AM for the hospital checkin.
I came in the next morning to be with him and discovered the proceedure had already been done. My friend was in the medical intensive care unit for recovery. The doctor walked in and said there was no clot. No procedures needed to be done, and there was no change in his medications. When his recovery time for the procedure was met, he could go home. He would need to take it easy for a few days and stop at the doctor’s office to make sure the vein plug was stable before he resumed driving. Then he could return to normal activities.
Who says the prayers of the faithful don’t work? The ACLU might take note of this and quit being so entrenched with the tunnel vision of fear.
May God reign!
