Quiet Day for the Ladies, December 12
November 19, 2009
The Daughters of the King invite all the ladies of the parish to a Quiet Day of Prayer and Meditation, Saturday, December 12, 2009, 9:00 AM – Noon, followed by a light lunch.
Koinonia and the River of God by Alice Goodwin
November 18, 2009
The Lord tells us that the water He gives us will become in us “a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:14). As Father Chip says, this River of God (the Spirit) flows through All Saints Anglican Church. At the Sunday morning services the current is channeled through the classic structure of the Scripture-based Communion rite. On Sunday evening at Koinoia the Spirit moves freely through praise songs, healing prayer, fellowship, Bible study, and deliverance sessions.
The Lord inhabits the praises of his people and the praise band leads the way with a collection of contemporary songs, traditional hymns (sometimes delightfully reinvented), and classic worship music (“Adoramus te Christe” sung with guitar accompaniment). In this relaxed and reverent atmosphere, each participant is free to respond to the Spirit’s leading. Some sit, some stand, some raise their hands, some sing, some listen. As the set progresses the music becomes more reflective and flows into prayer led by Father Chip.
The prayer of the faithful opens the time when those who wish to be prayed for can receive this ministry through intercessors, while others share fellowship over food. Koinonia is a safe place to ask questions. As someone new in the Lord, I have really been blessed by Sunday night opportunities to talk with those who are further along in their walk with the Lord. The Bible study (Lectio Divina) also provides an opportunity to relate personally to the selected Scripture passage and learn from the sharing of others. I still recall my surprise and delight when I first heard the laughter that accompanies Father Ed’s Bible study.
Sunday evening is also the time for deliverance sessions for those who want intensive intercession. Father Chip leads these sessions with support of the intercessors whom the Spirit provides.
At Koinonia, “going with the flow” takes on a whole new meaning. Jump in—the water’s fine in the River of God!
Christians and Politics
November 16, 2009
Bible Reading: Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.– 1 Peter 2:17
Bonus Readings :When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan. — Proverbs 29:2; Proverbs 24:21; Romans 14
Another election season, and politics presses against our Faith. At best, this is a difficult environment for Christians to model Jesus in. He did not involve Himself in politics, except where it affected people’s walk with the Father. However, God is unmistakably concerned with leaders throughout the Bible…since the word “king” is mentioned over 2500 times!
So…what should we do?
We should pray for our President and other leaders by name, at least daily. If we do both morning and evening prayer offices (as we teach in Salt and Light), we will pray for them twice daily. Here is the prayer from the Morning Prayer office:
O LORD our Governor, whose glory is in all the world; We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to (Insert name here, if desired) THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and to all in authority (Insert other names here, if desired), wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness; and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
And we must honor them. Scripture, in fact, commands it, as we have taught in discipleship and homilies:
1 Peter 2:17
17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king (read “leadership”).
Proverbs 24:21
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king… (Ditto here)
So, we honor and pray for our leadership, whoever they are. This does not imply we agree with all policies or personal choices. Our task, as Christians, is to invoke them to God’s keeping.
Of course, there are issues where we as the Church are duty-bound to disagree with our elected leaders…instances where their policies are clearly not congruent with God’s Word. This is a matter of individual issues, taken aside from personalities and politics, seen through the lens of the Scripture. We take these one at a time, and once we have taken a Scriptural position will not retreat from it.
For those matters not specifically addressed by Scripture, however, we are commended to Romans 14—matters of personal conscience:
Romans 14
1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “ As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
So–what do we do, when we find ourselves in Scriptural disagreement with our governmental policy? As Christians, we should pray first, last and always, since God can take actions we cannot—changing the hearts of those in leadership. Consider this:
Proverbs 21
1 The king’s (leadership’s) heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
As Americans, we have the right to speak our opinions openly, without fear of reprisal. As Christians, however, we have a duty to speak with the flavor of Christ:
Colossians 4:6
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
This means we need to consider “What would Jesus do?” in every communication, and not allow politics to trump the message of the Gospel we have to carry to the World. Speak as Scripture enjoins us—confront evil and sin, but love the people.
Although this is tough—we Americans are still a revolutionary people and have the passions attendant to that mindset—we can’t allow our national rhetoric to overcome our love for each other or to dilute the message of Jesus’ redemption and Abundant Life.
So, if we speak, I recommend we ameliorate our passion by keeping it in the context of God’s intention for us to be the taste and image of Christ—Salt and Light. In doing that, recommend we find the Scripture that is most appropriate to the situation and soak the matter in prayer, asking for the mind of Christ in expressing it. Use the “Personal Devotional Time” handout as a guideline. Let the Holy Ghost speak to our hearts through the Word and the circumstances of life, especially inside God’s Holy Church. Issues aside, however, we still pray for our leadership. They need it, and we need it—and if there were ever a time when our country needs it, now is that time.
BOTTOM LINE
Our commitment to you, here at All Saints, as part of the Church Militant:
- We will always do everything we can to listen to any perspective from any parishioner, bathing it in the Word and prayer to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.
- We will always speak the Truth in love and will confront error and sin.
- We will always address the issues of our time—directly, as the Word and Holy Spirit lead us.
- But we will always do our level best to love each other and be “doers of the Word,” as St James enjoins us.
I think if we commit to this together, we will find God’s balance and best for us there. We will make mistakes. But we can learn from them, especially when we bear with each other, as the Word teaches us.
Here’s pastoral guidance:
- Love all our leadership, through the Holy Ghost.
- Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance for them, now and always. Our prayer book prayers are excellent, as are the prayers in Joy Lamb’s Sword of the Spirit.
- Pray all our leadership meet, know, and are led by Jesus as their Lord, personally and powerfully, by His Holy Spirit and Word.
- Pray for revival in our leadership and country. When God sends it here, it spreads to the whole world.
May God arise in sovereignty among us all—and may He also bless and revive America!
All love in the Beloved, Chip+
Contemplative Prayer: “Holy Spirit, lead me to be Salt and Light in every aspect of my life—from the city gates to my prayer closet.”
Pray about it: “Every leader, by name, that they receive wisdom and personal knowledge of our Lord by His Word and Holy Spirit.”
Liturgy Lesson for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity: The Light of the World
November 14, 2009
We are sometimes asked about the Altar Lamp, also called an Aumbry or Presence Lamp, a red beeswax candle lamp that burns perpetually on the Gospel side of our front parish wall near the Holy Table and facing the nave (where the people sit for worship). This light burns in honor of the Real Presence of our Lord, manifested by His Spirit in the reserve sacrament stored inside the tabernacle—the small, ornate box in the center of the Table. This red light remembers His Blood shed, that He is the Light of the World, and recalls the tongues of fire the Holy Ghost brought on the Church’s birthday at Pentecost. The only time we don’t have this lamp burning there is during Lent, when the reserve sacrament is removed during the Holy Week, after the altar is stripped in observance of our Lord’s Passion during Maundy Thursday evening worship. At that time, the reserve sacrament and altar lamp are moved together in a special and deeply-moving procession to an altar of repose where His faithful stand vigil around the clock until it is returned to the tabernacle, just prior to Easter Sunday’s Resurrection celebration. If you notice the lamp has gone out, tell the Altar Guild or clergy immediately, in order to re-light it. Our use of this, and candles of all kinds, links us with the ancient Church and its holy worship—reminding us of a time when the Church had to meet in secret, usually at night, to avoid persecution. We use beeswax—a sweet-smelling and expensive fuel, according to the ancient custom of only burning it for the most significant occasions and/or to honor very important visitors—in this case, the King of Kings! As with all our practice, this is derived from Scripture—notably, Ex 25:30; 35:13-15; Lev 24:1-3; St. John 1:5; 6:58 and 2 Cor 4:6. We honor Your Presence, Lord!
Recognition Sunday
November 13, 2009
Sunday, November 15th is Recognition Sunday
Sunday, November 15th is Recognition Sunday, when we follow the Scriptural admonition to “to know them which labour among you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12 KJV)
Recognition will take place at the 11:15 AM service, and Father Chip encourages everyone to attend that service.
Respond with Love – Not Anger
November 13, 2009
“Remember Jesus died even for those who disagree with you.”
~ Carolyn Scheidies, I Deal in Hope Blog, November 10, 2009
Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist
November 12, 2009
Worship with us on Thanksgiving Eve. The Eucharist will be celebrated at 6:30 PM, on Wednesday, November 25, 2009.
The Wednesday Night Supper Club will not meet on Thanksgiving Eve but will resume the following Wednesday.
O MOST merciful Father, who hast blessed the labours of the husbandman in the returns of the fruits of the earth; We give thee humble and hearty thanks for this thy bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness to us, that our land may still yield her increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Terrorist Cell Groups in Church
November 9, 2009
Latest news reports are that eight terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches, nationwide. They have been identified as:
· Bin Sleepin
· Bin Arguin
· Bin Fightin
· Bin Complainin
· Bin Criticizin
· Bin Gossipin
· Bin Rebellin
· Bin Missin
Their leader, Satan Bin Lucifer, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the parish disguised as Christians and to work within it to discourage, disrupt, divide, and destroy.
Very encouraging, however, are the growing reports of a ninth
Unlike terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along. Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ and stand against the eight terrorist groups and their leader.
We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group also has different companion groups than the others. They are associated with:
· Bin Watchin
· Bin Waitin
· Bin Fastin
· Bin in the Spirit
· Bin Under the Blood
· Bin Worshipin
· Bin Fellowshippin
· Bin Lovin
· Bin Encouragin
· Bin Workin
· Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return.
Which cell group do you belong to? You can tell if you “bin lookin”.
If you want to be part of the Bin Prayin cell, contact Dawn Andrade at intercessor@allsaintsanglican.net.
Prayer warriors, grab your Sword and stand to post!
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
November 8, 2009
Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Let us join together in prayer for Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith.
LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Alpha Coming Soon
November 6, 2009
Alpha gives participants a chance to explore the meaning of life in a comfortable, friendly environment. If you or someone you know is asking “Is there more to life than this,” you or they can find an answer at Alpha. All Saints will offer the Alpha Course beginning January 5, 2009. Come to the Kick-Off Dinner on December 8th to find out about the course. Register or learn more, contact Lloyd Johnson, alpha@allsaintsanglican.net
