Why Do We Keep Calling Jesus Lord?
March 29, 2011
Why do we keep calling Jesus Lord when we don’t want to do what He tells us to do?
In the prayer Jesus taught the disciples to pray, there is the phrase “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Remember?
- “So what?” you ask. “Father Ed, that is a duh question. We know we need to forgive others.”
Granted, it sometimes is difficult to forgive that potential brain donor driving fast, pulling out in front of us, then forgetting where the gas pedal is located and taking half a mile to get up to speed. Plus weaving in and out of traffic and passing on the shoulder, in spite of my giving driving instructions to all of them. Yeah, I know I am supposed to forgive them knowing they picked me out of all the drivers on the road, and I do get around to forgiving them.
-
But, what about me?
What do you mean, “What about me?” Do you forgive yourself? Well, do you? If you insist on not forgiving yourself up to God, are you obeying? People say, “Well, I can forgive everyone else but not myself, because I was just plain stupid and insensitive and………well you know.”
- Yes, I know, you are saying you are more powerful and important than God.
- “Father Ed! That is not what I meant.”
“Stop and look. Aren’t you saying that God can’t deal with you forgiving yourself and repenting of that big thing that you won’t let go of? Well…….?
This is just part of the whole. Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commands.” In other words, if Jesus is really Lord, you willingly obey Him. So.…..?
Are you in the body of Christ as often as it gathers or just when it is convenient? Scripture tells us not to forgo the gathering of the body. Scripture does not say….come when you wish, or boy, I had a rough night last night and got only two hours of sleep. Do you think that the priests of the church never have that problem, because they have Jesus syrup, given only to priests, so they can manage to lead worship and meet with you and others and do the work of the ministry of Christ? Boy, do I wish we had that super syrup.
Now, do not misunderstand and think I am haranguing you about not being in church, because I am not. I am simply asking the question: Why do we keep calling Jesus Lord when we continue to ignore what He commands us to do? If He is truly Lord and truly the Son of the Living God—Who created everything and sustains it; Who grants to us adoption into His family; Who offers everlasting life with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit—then if we call upon the name of the Lord, are we being obedient in our living out of His commands?
If we don’t want to obey, then we need to quit calling Jesus Lord, as it is an insult to Him and to those who are working to obey. It is an insult to the Body. It is an insult to the acts of the Holy Eucharist, Baptism, Ordination, Marriage, Confirmation, Penance, and Extreme Unction.
- “Okay, Father Ed, you have beaten me about the head and shoulders. What should I do?”
Good News! We are in the time that we, as Christians, know as Lent. Traditionally we have practiced giving up something during this time period. What I would rather see is a taking on of something of Christ during this time period. This is the time to prepare for our meeting with the Risen Lord on Resurrection Day (Easter). Now is the time to make a commitment to obey the Lord. Pick one command and work to obey it.
Jesus did not forgo the gathering in the synagogue or temple. He did not forgo fervent prayer. He did not look the other way when others were in need (and there are still plenty of needy among us).
Being a good and devout Jew, Jesus attended worship at every turn in life. He made His tithe, gifts, and offerings. He followed worship as it was set out for the Jewish people, not as He thought it should be done. I don’t believe Jesus had a wristwatch, but I can’t prove it. He gave Himself fully to the worship of the Father, not only on Sabbath but continually in His daily life.
Lent lets us do what we would not normally do. We can commit to reading the offices every day. We can commit to being in intercession for the church. We can commit to filling the Body of Christ by being there whenever the Body (the church) gathers. We can commit to prayer in a structured form daily. We can commit to forgiving those unforgivable idiot drivers.
We can live as though we have Christ within us so that we can be a light not hidden under the basket of life as the world defines life. We are rich. We are the children of the King. We can act as royalty must act so the world can see the joy and freedom we experience as children of God.
We can and do call Jesus Lord because we do obey and keep His commands. Jesus, you are Lord!
By Fr. Ed Morgan
Cleanup Day, Saturday, April 2nd
March 28, 2011
Cleanup Day at All Saints
Saturday, April 2, 2011, beginning at 9:30 AM
Come help us get the sanctuary, buildings, and grounds shaped up for Easter!
Please bring cleaning supplies/tools/whatever you need to clean and polish inside and clean/trim outside.
Questions? Contact:
Rick McClintock, People’s Warden, jrwarden@allsaintsanglican.net
or
Deborah Cavanaugh, who is in charge of inside cleanup, flowers@allsaintsanglican.net
or
Chris Brodeur, who is in charge of outside cleanup, webassistant2@allsaintsanglican.net
Liturgy Lesson for the Third Sunday in Lent: Real Repentance
March 27, 2011
We speak a great deal about the central act of worship in our tradition—the Holy Communion. One of our most important spiritual duties in it—the confession and absolution—rightly precedes reception of the Lord’s own spiritual nature in the consecrated elements of bread and wine. When we confess, it’s VERY important to ask God the Holy Ghost to assist us in searching our own hearts for any unresolved sin, large or small—whether it’s a recurrent sin we purposely commit or a more passive sin, such as unforgiveness or bitterness toward our brother or sister in Christ. Whatever the issue, we must spend time in devotion before the service, inviting the Holy Ghost to show us our hearts and help us make an authentic confession, with the intention of real repentance—setting our wills to the effect of turning away from whatever the shortfall in our lives in Christ might be, so that we can fully receive the Lord’s absolution and then partake at the Lord’s Table in a worthy manner—redeemed by His Blood, which we accept by exercising our wills to live Godly lives before Him. When we do this, we open the windows of Heaven up for God to bless us fully. Thanks be to God!
Rector’s Devotional: Fast is a Four-Letter Word.
March 23, 2011
People of God have always humbled themselves before Him to ask His mercy, guidance, and protection. St. Peter and St. James both wrote—by the Holy Ghost—that God gives GRACE to the humble. And, like the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday, fasting is humbling ourselves. St. Paul wrote that he “buffeted his flesh” to make it his slave. Fasting certainly buffets us. When we fast—and feel weak or hungry, we can take huge encouragement from that weakness, remembering how Jesus humbled Himself to come to Earth from Heaven, and knowing what Scripture promises us—that when we are weak, God is strong.
Fasting brings sharp focus to the dramatic difference between our physical and spiritual natures, as well, since eating is one the most fundamental (and a personal favorite) things we do. By exercising our wills and depriving ourselves of food for spiritual purposes, we prefer our spiritual nature over our physical one…amplifying how this world is not our home…and understanding what Jesus meant when He said—as documented in St Matt 4:4—during His 40-day fast at His earthly ministry’s beginning: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” And we need His life. Big-time.
Why we fast:
† To focus on, and honor Him for Spiritual purposes—to seek His intervention, protection, guidance
† To humble ourselves, submit to His authority or Word—and to seek revival among God’s people to do the same
† For repentance, either for ourselves or others
† To deprive our natural desires to focus on spiritual excellence
† If we’re willing to spend ample time for sincere seeking, quiet listening, and devoted prayer/Scripture searching with the Holy Ghost
Why we don’t fast:
† Selfish desires or motivations
† Attempt to manipulate God (really bad idea)
† Promote false piety or legalism
† Without serious intention
† If we are still in personal sin or pursuing selfish desires
† If we are harboring unforgiveness against others
OK, so here’s the obvious question–how?
† First, if God hasn’t called you to fast…don’t. Most folks who aren’t called are not totally open to God’s leadership, lack the Biblical foundation or have unresolved sin. But, if He has laid this on your heart, determine how long to fast, and for what specific reasons—for example: (1) spiritual revival/awakening of God’s Church, our parish, and/or our personal lives. This is something between you and God.
† Make confession. It may be helpful to make a personal confession to one of our priests—the Sacrament of Penance. Unconfessed sin or disobedience will hinder the effectiveness of fasting; you’ll be hungry for nothing!
† Be sensitive to the Holy Ghost. Keep your Bible and a notebook handy for journaling. Validate what you perceive He says in the Canon of Scripture, and again in the circumstances of life, especially inside the Church.
† Pray fervently and as often/long as you can.
† Read Scripture A LOT. Absorb as much as possible; meditate on it thoroughly.
† Reserve time to be still and quiet before the Lord. Our chapel and prayer gardens are an excellent place for this.
† If in Lent, be sure to have time at the Altar of Repose—sitting with the Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
† Sing worship songs and hymns to the Lord; always give God the glory for everything.
† Be sure you are medically able to fast.
† When you are physically uncomfortable, thank Jesus for His discomfort and ask Him to be strong in your weakness and for making your body your slave in the buffeting.
† Never miss Holy Communion or other worship, except to intercede for others.
Fast is, indeed a four letter word. One that Satan won’t like. I say let’s use it.
Pray about it: “What do you want to tell me Lord…and what shall I do?
Bishop Minns at Koinonia March 27 at 6:00 PM
March 23, 2011
Join us in worship with Bishop Minns at Koinonia Sunday evening at 6:00 PM.
The evening will include a Bishop’s Reception with a potluck dinner. Parishioners from other local Anglican churches are invited to participate in the praise, music, prayer, fellowship, and teaching by Bishop Minns.
Bishop Martyn Minns, Missionary Bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America.
Visitors can find directions to the church on this map.
Youth Schedule Update
March 22, 2011
13 March- Koinonia (Spring Break)
20 March- Only One Race: The Scientific and Biblical Case Against Racism
27 March- Bishop’s Visit and Reception at Koinonia
03 April- Why Won’t They Listen? The Power of Creation Evangelism
10 April- Genesis: The Key to Reclaiming the Culture
17 April- If God exists, why is there so much wrong with this world?
24 April- No Youth Group (Easter)
31 April- How can Christianity be true when Christians have caused so much injustice?
08 May- Why be a Christian when there are so many hypocrites in churches?
15 May- If God loves everyone, how can he send some people to hell?
22 May- When life hurts, does God care?
29 May- Koinonia
Liturgy Lesson for the Second Sunday in Lent: Fasting and Feasting on Sunday
March 20, 2011
Frequently, when Christians think about Lent, they consider what they are fasting—giving up—for the season, without realizing every Sunday is a “little Easter”—a “feast day” when Lenten discipline may relent, if done so in honor of the Resurrection. Also interesting—every Sunday is also a “little Lent,” since many among us practice the ancient custom of fasting the communion—that is, not eating until after we take the Body and Blood and approaching our worship in an attitude of examen—Holy Spirit-powered self-examination before confession. In this way, every Sunday spent in the Lord’s courts are Lent and Easter combined—and model the season to us. We approach the Lord’s Presence by first confessing our shortcomings and hearing His forgiveness proclaimed, then break our fast in celebration of Christ’s mighty Resurrection that grants us access to the King, our Heavenly Father. We might also, instead of giving something up, add worship to our weekly routine—disciplining ourselves by “fasting” some free time to the Lord in services we usually don’t attend, such as Compline on Wednesday nights. Scrub us, Lord—and teach us where we need most to tune our relationship with You!
Pledge Sunday and Potluck March 20th
March 18, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Bring your pledge card to worship with you.
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. ~ Malachi 3:10, ESV
Join us after the service for a potluck dinner.
Bring your favorite dish to share as we fellowship.
All Saints – CAM Volunteer Day Photos
March 14, 2011
Liturgy Lesson for the First Sunday in Lent: Silencio
March 13, 2011
In this season of penitence and examen, we frequently search for devotional focus. Such is the ancient practice of Silencio—liturgical silence—designed to evoke in worshippers a sense of awe and reverence of God’s Presence and attention, while recalling St. Paul’s description of times the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us—when words fail us. When practiced in the company of worshippers who have prepared themselves in quiet, Spirit-led devotion, this sense of the Presence is amplified, not only underscoring Immanuel—“God with us,” but also giving us humility and abjection, befitting the creation in the Presence of the Creator. As in the ancient Church, this is most powerfully experienced in the Holy Eucharist, when, just before invoking the Real Presence into the bread and wine, we pause to remember those who are on our lips or in our hearts in the Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church. In these intermissions, we can use Silencio’s sense of awe before our God to provide opportunity for the Spirit to speak to our hearts, as He prompts names for us to speak aloud before the Great Throne in Common Prayer. The Lord is in His Holy Temple—let all the Earth keep silence before Him. His temple is inside us!
