tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62863767090632975942024-03-05T16:50:51.688-05:00Pastor Scott's BlogWelcome. Below you will find an ecclectic mix of news, views, art, photos, and opinions that relate to Trinity Church, Beaver and our common life in Christ.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-14641100862027971802023-06-12T20:34:00.002-04:002023-06-12T20:34:38.611-04:00I'm Back After A Long Absence<p> It has been a long time! My last post was in January of 2016...over seven years ago. Things have dramatically changed...for Trinity Church, Beaver and for the United States. In fact, the changes have been staggering in magnitude.</p><p>We are no longer known as Trinity Church. We are now New Life Anglican Fellowship. We no longer own and reside in the Church at 370 Beaver Street. We meet in the Community Room of Beaver Valley Church of God who graciously allows us to meet there without charge. There is a huge story to be told here and perhaps one day I will tell it.</p><p>The United States has experienced profound change as well. The Covid pandemic has forever changed the political landscape with the government assuming way more control over our daily lives than ever before. The gay rights debate has become the trans rights debate. Race relations have taken a grave turn and the country seems more divided along the liberal/conservative split than ever before. </p><p>I have been alarmed by the shift in the religious/spiritual landscape. I am also alarmed by the shift in values and morals that determine our direction individually and as a nation. The landscape is changing so rapidly that it is hard to keep up. As I witness what appears to be a sort of corporate insanity emerge I have grave concerns about the long term viability of the nation and I worry for my children and grandchildren and the legacy they are likely to inherit. And so, I have decided to take my place in the public debate, to make whatever small contribution I can, in the hopes of contributing to the voices of reason and the champions of sanity. I pray that as the nation awakens to the truth it will turn from the path of destruction it is on and return to following the way of truth, of life and of salvaation. </p><p>So, I'm back after a long absence. And the blog, once focused on the internal interests of a small parish church in a small town, will be focuses on the essential conversations of the day. I hope to bring some Christian insight to those conversations and, if possible, to make Christ's voice heard in a land that has become increasingly deaf to his call.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-65887240587941698692016-01-26T12:28:00.003-05:002016-01-26T12:28:33.757-05:00Prayer: Communicating with God<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Prayer is nothing else than being on
terms of friendship with God.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">” –St Theresa of Avila.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A community
of God’s friends! Now that is a simple,
efficient way of defining the church: a group of people who are listening to
what He says, modeling their lives after His attributes, speaking to Him from
the depth of their hearts. A community
comprised of the intimate friends of the King! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Walter
Winchell once penned that, “</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A real friend
is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> For God’s part, that
is precisely what he has done for us. He
has walked into our lives when the rest of the world was walking out. When all else failed us, on our most
desperate day, Jesus took on flesh to be with us in every respect. To be with
us He became frail and vulnerable, to experience our pain and fear he lived a life
of deprivation and need, to rescue us from the power of sin and death he suffered
and died, to redeem us as God’s beloved children He rose again. When it seems as though nothing and no one
can save us, Jesus walks into our lives even as everyone else is walking
out. Truly, God is our friend but
friendship are two way streets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For our part, being a friend must mean
nothing less than greeting and welcoming this divine Visitor. When He knocks we open the door and invite
Him in. As He walks into our lives we
are given the opportunity to greet Him with our finest gifts, to speak to Him
in the most glowing terms, and to open our homes to Him completely. A community of friends communicating with our God
is very much what we are called to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I long for us to be a more prayerful
community. “Prayer,” said John Wesley,” is
where the action is,” and I long for us to be where the action is. Daughters of the King have been faithful in
leading us into a more prayerful life for several years but it was no longer
possible to rely on a few faithful women to pray for the rest of us. Last October I asked our Senior Warden to
form a committee to suggest ways of broadening our commitment to prayer so that
it engaged the whole community: men, women and children. As a
symbol of this new commitment a dormant room in the basement was converted into
a place devoted to prayer. You are all
invited to make use of that space whenever you want to pray. In November many of you participated in a
teaching designed to improve your ability to pray for others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2016 I hope that we will become
accustomed to opening and closing every meeting in prayer, that we will have
several occasions when we come together solely for the purpose of communicating
with our Lord, that our desire for a response from God would be keen and we
would be looking and listening for his Word as a normal part of our daily
lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-13628347472210943712016-01-14T21:47:00.000-05:002016-01-14T21:47:07.458-05:00An Update from Archbishop Beach<div id="main-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.2222px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Primates Meeting 2016 Update from Archbishop Beach</h1>
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<img alt="image" src="http://www.anglicanchurch.net/img/canterbury.jpg" style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="290" /></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
To the members of the Anglican Church in North America,</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
I am writing to you from Canterbury, England late on the night of January 14th, 2016. Thank you for your prayers and support this week. Although I’m tired at the end of a long day, I wanted to send you an update.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
I participated fully in the meeting, where the first and primary agenda item was addressing the Episcopal Church’s changes to the doctrine of marriage. We spent most of the week discussing this issue and seeking to come to a common conclusion.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
We unanimously agreed that these changes “represent a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our Provinces on the doctrine of marriage,” and we wrestled with what the consequences should be.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The GAFCON and Global South Primates were tremendous in their leadership in the meeting, and made a strong impact in the final decision. I confess that I have mixed feelings about the sanctions.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The sanctions are strong, but they are not strong enough, and to my deep disappointment, they didn’t include the Anglican Church of Canada as they should.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
With that said, it took many steps for the Anglican Communion to come to this current crisis. This is a good step back in the right direction, but it will take many more if the Communion is to be restored.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Thank you again for your incredible prayer support, and let us stay on our mission – to reach North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ!</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Your brother in Christ,</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<img src="http://anglicanchurch.net/img/FoleyBeachHigherRes.jpg" style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="250" /></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.2222px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.2222px;"></span><br />
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Archbishop and Primate <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Anglican Church in North America</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-49665228897542762282016-01-14T21:12:00.000-05:002016-01-14T21:12:29.629-05:00Primates Communique from Canterbury<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 23.1111px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
1. We gathered as Anglican Primates to pray and consider how we may preserve our unity in Christ given the ongoing deep differences that exist among us concerning our understanding of marriage.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 23.1111px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
2. Recent developments in The Episcopal Church with respect to a change in their Canon on marriage represent a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our Provinces on the doctrine of marriage. Possible developments in other Provinces could further exacerbate this situation.</div>
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3. All of us acknowledge that these developments have caused further deep pain throughout our Communion.</div>
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4. The traditional doctrine of the church in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds marriage as between a man and a woman in faithful, lifelong union. The majority of those gathered reaffirm this teaching.</div>
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5. In keeping with the consistent position of previous Primates’ meetings such unilateral actions on a matter of doctrine without Catholic unity is considered by many of us as a departure from the mutual accountability and interdependence implied through being in relationship with each other in the Anglican Communion.</div>
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6. Such actions further impair our communion and create a deeper mistrust between us. This results in significant distance between us and places huge strains on the functioning of the Instruments of Communion and the ways in which we express our historic and ongoing relationships.</div>
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7. It is our unanimous desire to walk together. However given the seriousness of these matters we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years The Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.</div>
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8. We have asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a Task Group to maintain conversation among ourselves with the intention of restoration of relationship, the rebuilding of mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, recognising the extent of our commonality and exploring our deep differences, ensuring they are held between us in the love and grace of Christ.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-22875427319317945612015-12-31T11:02:00.000-05:002015-12-31T11:02:48.233-05:00Thank You Lord for All Your Blessings in 2016The Lord has showered blessings of abundance, peace, joy, hope, meaning and purpose, confidence, assurance, and love on us once again this year. "All good gifts and all perfect gifts come from above," we are told and that means that the blessings are too great to number but below are ten blessings I am particularly thankful for this year:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>10 Thanksgivings for blessings of 2016<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
10. Thankful for all the friends the
Lord has placed in my life. Through them
I know the meaning of love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
9.
Thankful for Gabriel and Luther my dogs who love me no matter what, and
who teach me about unconditional love.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
8. Thankful for our group home
friends who have helped transform us into more caring and compassionate people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
7. Thankful for the kindness and
generosity of so many here at Trinity Church:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
Thankful for wardens, Kirk and
David and their devotion to the Lord and to this church</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
Thankful for vestry and their hard
work throughout the year</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
Thankful for the staff: Patrick, Mickey and Manny who make this place
run</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
Thankful for fellow clergy Glenn
and Carl and their service to God and to us all</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
Thankful for all engaged in
ministry who quietly go about the work of the church</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
6. Thankful the Lord granted me
the privilege of serving as a priest in his Church</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
5. Thankful for the life of my dad
who taught me so much and gave so freely to me</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
4. Thankful for Gwen and Scott my
kids, and Laney, Ava, Tessa, and baby boy yet to be born my grandchildren. They continue to bless Brenda and me with joy
and encouragement.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
3. Thankful for loving wife Brenda. She is my rock, my best friend, the love of
my life. Without her I would be
completely lost.</div>
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<br /></div>
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2. Thankful that the Lord spared
my life. I cried out to him in my hour
of trouble and he answered me.</div>
<br />
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1. Thankful for my relationship
with our Lord that assures me of his goodness and mercy. Thankful that while I was still a sinner,
Jesus came and gave his life for me.
Thankful that no matter what obstacles we face our God is able to see us
safely and successfully through.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Thank you Lord Christ.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-57447703871989788892015-10-07T14:28:00.000-04:002015-10-07T14:28:10.674-04:00Let's Go Bucs!Holy and Gracious Father, you bestow favor upon all creatures, we ask that you bestow victory on your Pittsburgh Pirates and give comfort and consolation to your Chicago Cubs, in Christ's name we pray, Amen.<br />
<br />
Let's go Bucs!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-22516026000214265602015-09-21T13:57:00.001-04:002015-09-21T13:57:44.645-04:00"You First" becoming a Great Commandment, Great Commission Church<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the Name
of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">What are Jesus’ disciples supposed to be doing? For us today, the equivalent question is what
is Jesus’ church supposed to be doing?
It may seem like an obvious question and answer and yet many, perhaps
most churches are failing at it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What were you discussing on the way?” It seems like an innocent enough question,
doesn’t it? What are you talking
about? It’s a question we pose all the time. And yet, the question is met with embarrassed
silence, the kind of silence that often occurs when someone has been caught
doing something they shouldn’t be doing.
St. Mark lets us in on the secret.
They had argued with one another about who was the greatest.” Or in other words, “who would end up serving
whom?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As he oftentimes does, Jesus does not answer the question. Instead he tells them why the question they
are asking is the wrong question. In his
response to his disciples Jesus says that those who focus on their own welfare
and personal advancement (those who want to be greatest) are going to end up at
the bottom of the food chain. Looking at
it from the flip side of the coin, Jesus is saying that those who sacrifice
their personal wants and ambitions in order to care for the weak, frail,
innocent and helpless ones (like children), they will find themselves living in
the blessed company of Jesus himself, and in the center of God’s kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Here again, Jesus tells us that his Father and He have turned
the world right side up. Contrary to
common opinion, the surest way for Christ’s disciples to fail in God’s kingdom
is for them to turn inward and design programs to meet their own preferences,
wants and needs. We think that is how
one gets ahead but Jesus disagrees. If
we continue to design for self-service we will find the Master taking away from
us the little we have left and giving it to the one who is actually invested in
reaching out to the needy world around him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There are thousands of dying churches in America and they all
share one thing in common. They are all
focused in taking no risks, not allowing any resources to be directed towards
outwardly focused initiatives, choosing instead to use their few remaining
resources to meet the demands of their few remaining members. It is a recipe for certain death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now of course, churches are made up of individuals and what
is true for the church is true for each of us as well. If our attitude is “me first,” if the
dominant question is “How do I get served” then we can expect to find ourselves
on the losing end of eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But of course, in America the question, “How do I get served”
is encouraged. We are taught from little
on to look out for Number 1. And that
means that many of us are behind the spiritual eight ball, and not only that
but the churches we attend are also in trouble because if the dominant attitude
among church members is “Me First” then that church is dying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And this is really hard to admit but if “Me First” is the
prevailing attitude in a church, then it really needs to die because it has
lost the Lord’s Vision! It no longer
serves the Master. When “Me first” is
the attitude of the church that church has ceased to be the Body of Christ and
has become anti-Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You can tell churches where “me first” attitudes prevail:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">They
are always sick and ailing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">They
focus on the past instead of the future<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">They
focus on serving insiders instead of meeting the needs of outsiders<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">They
greedily guard their increasingly limited resources rather than using them to
do the Lord’s bidding<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To the extent that this “Me First” attitude prevails in our
decision making we are being led, like lambs to the slaughter. As Jesus looked down on Jerusalem, and
lamented their unwillingness to receive him as Lord, Jesus wept. In Luke 19.43-44 he tells us why he
wept. ‘Jerusalem is facing certain
destruction because “[they] did not know the time of [their] visitation.”’ That is to say that the religious leaders and
the decision makers were completely focused inward and would not accept King
Jesus nor would they acknowledge his command to look outward and to share the
Kingdom with the whole world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The destruction that Jesus laments in Luke 19 is what we call
God’s wrath. It is the consequence of
being found wanting in God’s eyes. It is
the worst possible case because we find our eternal hope compromised. It is to be avoided at all cost. How, by making a decision to live your life
as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting his leadership in all the
decisions of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This is good news.
Jesus has not come to condemn his disciples this morning. Rather he has come to bring them to the
abundant life. God’s blessing—being
found in God’s good favor—living for eternity in our blessed heavenly home is
to be desired above all things. We can
hope, we can even have some assurance, that we will hear the most blessed words
anyone can possibly hear: “Well, done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will
set you over much. Enter into the joy of
your Master.” Matthew 25.23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We can live the rest of our lives in blessed assurance. We really can know that Jesus is ours! It begins with a very simple attitude
adjustment from “Me First” to “You First.”
In our Anglican spirituality we speak this every time we say the Creed—with
conviction. We say the world is God’s
not mine. We say we live and thrive
because of Jesus Christ. We say that we
believe in the right and the ability of God to direct our lives, the Church and
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finding yourself in God’s good favor does not require a
seminary degree. These guys with collars
on are no better able than you but what many priests have that many lay people
do not is a commitment to follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You don’t have to pray for hours with flowery language but
you do need to be able to talk to God honestly and sincerely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You don’t have to become a nun or a monk: you don’t have to take vows of poverty,
chastity or silence but you do need to take a vow of servitude and determine
that Jesus will be the director of your life.
And that means Jesus has the right to manage your finances, guide your
moral decisions, and teach you how to live the “You First” life. For us in the church, the blessed life hinges
on our commitment to being Great Commandment and Great Commission motivated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
means we seek God’s will in all things through prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
means that when we think we have landed on God’s will we act on it, no matter
how scary it might seem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">It
means that our talents, time resources and money resources do not exist in
order to protect ourselves or provide for ourselves—rather they are tools to
complete Christ’s mission in the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">How many of you remember when you first heard Jesus’ call to
follow and you did follow? For many of
us that decision came decades ago. And
we have been walking in “the way” followers of Jesus for a long time. We have become comfortable in the path we
walk. We don’t like the prospect of a
new or different path. For those
original 12, sometimes they fell into traps set by the enemy, and they were
embarrassed to admit that they had fallen into a “Me First” mentality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus’ question to us this morning is: ‘As we walk in the way, what is it that we
are discussing? Are we discussing
strategies for taking the Gospel out into the towns and villages? Are we discussing our testimony and how best
to present it? Are we taking Jesus’ teaching
on prayer and learning to speak to God authentically and often? Are we discussing how we can multiply? How we can bless? How we can receive the weak, the innocent and
the frail and serve them? Is that what
we are talking about? Or have we fallen into
the trap set by the enemy? Have we
succumbed to “Me First”…take care of me…please me…serve me…only let people in
here that look and act like me... spend what you have left taking care of me? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The statistics are clear.
Thousands of churches in America are sick and many, in fact, most will
die in the next few years. Will Trinity
be one of them? It the dominant voices
in the parish are demanding “Me First,” if we are unwilling or incapable of
assuming a “You first” mindset we may very well become a statistic. But our story does not have to end as a
tragedy. God’s desire, most of your
leadership’s desire and my desire is that we will renew the Lord’s Vision; that
we will become a Great Commandment and Great Commission Church and we will find
new life and new hope as the church heals, grows and fulfills its calling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There was a time when Trinity was deeply mired in “Me First”
attitude but in recent years we have begun to see “You First” initiative take
root and succeed. They were hard won
victories. Some of us had to really
fight for them. There was real
resistence...guess from whom? But they
succeeded:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Mustard
Seed Café is not only feeding people. It
is blessing them with a word from the Lord and enriching their lives with real
Christian friendships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thousands
of Africans, men, women and children, are benefiting from clean water. Their crop yields are better and their herds
are protected against drought because of the Kajire Well Project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Intercessors
are praying for others at every Sunday Service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Financial
Peace University is teaching people to live debt free and to become responsible
stewards of God’s riches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We
have launched three successful home groups that are leading everyone who
participates closer to Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But
what’s next? Where is Christ
calling? Where is the Spirit
leading? That must always be the
question for God’s church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus teaches his disciples to give their lives for the
benefit of others. Eventually they would
understand but it would not be until after Jesus died and rose again for
them. Even then they would not really
get it until the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit would come in power and
transform them. Jesus told his disciples to stay together and pray. I think we need to pray. Pray that the Holy Spirit will move in this
Church, in each of our hearts and that we will be transformed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Will you pray with me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That
the “Me First” voice in each of us would hear God’s word and be convicted and
fall on your mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Holy
Spirit will bring healing, restoration and transformation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Trinity
Church becomes a wholly committed Great Commandment and Commission church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Time,
talent and treasure wholly committed to healing the broken and saving the lost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That
God would have mercy on us in our weakness, build us up in strength and infuse
us with his Holy Spirit power and glory so that we might become light and salt
to the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That
God would break down the barriers that prevent us and would use us to reach
thousands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">…Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-54937270872013733322015-06-23T14:07:00.002-04:002015-06-23T14:08:25.373-04:00Virtue: The Missing Link to Freedom<b style="font-size: large;">"No people can be great who have ceased to be virtuous."<br>Samuel Johnson</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-88298735382681879382015-06-23T13:58:00.000-04:002015-07-03T22:29:55.114-04:00A Prayer for Independence Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB31vCjIh-EX_ayHWlI2HeEqljDJqOdJdBDCG3sCdmslKbHXjpLaEDp_K8GMZNw5pr1Py0XJ20phR6KdbmETUGdva-YtWvNneTsLFumXS3ZyIbKKgXgrNyv6GZu45tuxtXmpegFtAioQ/s1600/Washington+Quote+Graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB31vCjIh-EX_ayHWlI2HeEqljDJqOdJdBDCG3sCdmslKbHXjpLaEDp_K8GMZNw5pr1Py0XJ20phR6KdbmETUGdva-YtWvNneTsLFumXS3ZyIbKKgXgrNyv6GZu45tuxtXmpegFtAioQ/s400/Washington+Quote+Graphic.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations yet unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.<br>
<i>from the Book of Lesser Feasts and Fasts</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-84684094634420399042015-06-23T13:40:00.000-04:002015-06-30T09:23:37.002-04:00No King but Jesus (the motto of the American Revolution)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJiuO-zygQ_O2Lck3AKlTRA5wUAYEnhTAhPqz4aA-kBxzBSH0NUD1kYTBc-VU9TtRtgyZXZvYawNXadGaZuHxXm3z5-WwKSScM3-xNWnVOufcZC1tD81WU0iiiY7q9TEl461_1H7iOOk/s1600/king_of_kings_by_kpmoorse-d4l7fpr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJiuO-zygQ_O2Lck3AKlTRA5wUAYEnhTAhPqz4aA-kBxzBSH0NUD1kYTBc-VU9TtRtgyZXZvYawNXadGaZuHxXm3z5-WwKSScM3-xNWnVOufcZC1tD81WU0iiiY7q9TEl461_1H7iOOk/s320/king_of_kings_by_kpmoorse-d4l7fpr.jpg" width="320"></a><span style="font-size: large;"> There is an often quoted rallying cry from the American Revolution: "No King but Jesus!" </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Independence Day and ma</span><span style="font-size: large;">y you exhaust your liberty serving the King</span>!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-33411903865062439232015-06-22T15:05:00.001-04:002015-06-22T15:05:24.598-04:00Redefining Marriage -- Some BackgroundI am posting the below information so that our Congregation has some background information on the Supreme Court ruling on redefining marriage when it comes. The implications for us remain to be seen. Over time we will need to navigate the consequences as our leadership and membership deem appropriate. --Scott+<i> </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Background on the Supreme Court Marriage Cases</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Why is the Supreme Court presently considering marriage cases?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After the Court's 2013 decision in U.S. v. Windsor striking down the federal definition of marriage in the Defense of Marriage Act, many state marriage laws were challenged in federal courts. Mostly as a consequence of judicial action - federal and state - marriage has effectively been redefined in 37 states and the District of Columbia. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth District Circuit, however, upheld the marriage laws in the four states in that court's jurisdiction - Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. In January, the Supreme Court granted petitions to review the Sixth Circuit decision.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>What are the questions before the Supreme Court?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>What are the consequences in each scenario?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If the Court answers in the negative on both questions, states will be allowed to define and recognize marriages as the union between one man and one woman.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If the Court answers the first question in the affirmative, then marriage will be constitutionally redefined throughout the country, requiring same-sex "marriage" everywhere.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Even if the court were to answer no on the first question but yes on the second, the net effect would be the same - persons could simply travel to states that license same-sex "marriages" and their home state would be required to recognize them as "married" there.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Those who continue to advocate the true definition of marriage (a union between one man and one woman) will be viewed as proponents of discrimination and will be increasingly marginalized in law and society at large.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>When is a decision expected?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Court heard oral arguments on April 28. A ruling is expected by the end of June.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>What is our Church's position on the Marriage Cases?</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The ACNA College of Bishops will meet in the next couple of weeks. This will certainly be on their agenda. It is safe to say that the ACNA will continue to support the right of states to maintain and recognize the meaning of marriage in law as the union of one man and one woman. Leadership of the parish will respond accordingly.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>(adapted from the US College of Catholic Bishops)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-66514014427760406862013-12-09T16:29:00.002-05:002013-12-09T16:29:18.025-05:00The Prophet Still Speaks...Is Anyone Listening?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px;"><b>by Fr Scott Homer</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The prophet defined: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the Bible, the prophet is a
spokesperson for God. He is named
“prophet” because he speaks prophecy—that is the Word of God. The prophet does not speak his own
message. He speaks the message God gave
him to speak. So oftentimes the prophet
begins to speak by saying, “Thus says the Lord.” And attributing the message to God carries
down to our own day. Today preachers
still begin homilies with “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.” Done well, and in accordance
with God’s design the preacher serves as prophet. He speaks the Word of God, and not his own because
only the Word of God has the power to transform lives and save souls. Of course, the message must be heard and the hearer
must act on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When God’s word—let’s call it the
prophetic word—when the prophetic word is heard and acted upon God’s people
find themselves enjoying God’s blessings but the blessing is always related to a
positive response to the call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The prophetic message has three components:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A warning is issued<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">John warns the crowd: “You vipers, who warned you of the wrath to
come.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Action is called for<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">John calls them to action: “Produce fruit worthy of repentance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessing is promised<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">John promises a future blessing: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But let’s look at how this works “on
the ground” as they say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Illustration: Mount Pinatubo,
the Philippines, June 15. 1991<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">30,000
people lived on the side of an active volcano, although most did not know it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: .5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
volcano had not erupted for 500 years and no living soul thought it would erupt
during their lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Scientists
started to see disturbing signs that the volcano would soon erupt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Warnings
were issued: In April of 1991 they began
to warn the people living in the danger zone that the volcano was deadly
dangerous <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
people were called to action: The people
were told that they would have to evacuate their homes and set up new homes in
a strange place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Promise of Blessing was made: They were promised
that if they evacuated that they would escape the terrible disaster the volcanic
eruption would cause and they would be able to continue with happy and
productive lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On
June 15<sup>th</sup>, 1991 Mount Pinatubo erupted—exploded really—spewing rock
and ash across a huge expanse of countryside.
The eruption occurred during a tropical storm and the ash combined with
the rain and the skies rained down black mud that crushed homes and destroyed
livestock, and killed anyone who had not heeded the warning nor taken the
action to flee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But
for tens of thousands, the warning had been heard and despite all the upheaval
it meant for their lives, they packed up what they could and they evacuated to
a new home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God’s prophets serve the same
function as those scientists and government workers performed in the lives of
the people living on the side of Mt. Pinatubo.
The prophet warns us that a disaster is on our horizon. The prophet calls each of us to take action
by abandoning our old lives and by getting right with God. He calls us to repent—that’s just another word
for “turn around,” or “change direction.”
The prophet says, ‘the ground you walk on may seem safe enough but
underneath it is molten lava. It will
not support you any longer. A disaster
is coming. So, take action, stop
following your own ways and trusting in your own strength. Turn away from your old way of life and turn
towards the Lord. Live life his way.‘ Personal power won’t help. You need God power. The Lord is able to fill you with God power
(the Holy Spirit). Pulling yourself up by
the bootstraps won’t work. The Lord will
refine you with holy fire so that you will be pure and holy in his eyes. Through the Lord’s grace and power you will be
empowered to survive the disaster. You
will know the Lord’s blessing even in the midst of life’s greatest trials. You will know the Lord’s blessing forever. No disaster will be able to pry you out of His
hands—none –not even death itself. That
is the promise of Jesus’ empty tomb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t mean to frighten you but it
is good to live in the real world, free from delusions and denial. So, I need to tell you (with 100% certainty)
a disaster is going to occur in each of your lives. But kids, moms and dads, everybody here
listen…don’t be afraid! God sends his
prophets to warn us in order to save us, not to cause us fear and worry but to
provide us with the way to safety.
Tornados happen to some. There
are tragic car accidents every day. Some
of us will be diagnosed with dread diseases.
All of us will face the grave. The
warning is given so that we can decide to take action, so that we can join the
Lord’s evacuation plan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God loves you. He does not want you to fall victim, to be
overwhelmed and destroyed. He loves you
and he wants to save you. He wants to
move you out of the danger zone, to relocate your life to the safe place. The Lord’s evacuation plan is simple. In the Philippines people needed to get on
board the helicopter and let themselves be carried to safety. We need to get on board with Jesus and allow
him to carry us to safety. We need to
give him our obedience. We need to
acknowledge his ways. We need to confess
him as our Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is really simple to do. It requires only an act of the will, the same
sort of willpower that the Philippine person used to get on the
helicopter. Determine that the threat is
real. (The prophet is telling you the truth!) Acknowledge that the Lord is the only true
source of safety. (God is good and he cares
about you!) Then turn your life and your
will over to Jesus. And when you do that
your life is transported to safety…once and for all times. If you are confused about how to do this, if
you have questions, please ask a pastor about it. He will help you to take the required action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is impossible to calculate the
exact number of lives that were saved from Mt. Pinatubo but the number is in
the tens of thousands. They were saved
because scientists had the courage and determination to warn people, and
because they provided an effective exit strategy. But those lives would not have been saved if
the people had scoffed, and labeled the workers as “prophets of doom.” Those tens of thousands were saved because
they heeded the warning and took action to save themselves. O how I long for the day when all of God’s
children will listen to God’s prophets and take action to save themselves from
the coming disaster. Amen.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-72505571818640041472013-01-14T08:33:00.003-05:002013-01-14T08:33:51.161-05:00Mission Trip Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuuh-dbkdDeKHmdpjLYZUhoOmecPIk6GON-sseKNG3Enh1IvQk5KkRFoO8QHLBJgFilmCPvCSoBw6eS4M0KWYKptCMbGL7AaGaeUTrN8EJVnpoQXOT8opOzLpbtKT3AVtZFj5gtzPQnk/s1600/Airliner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuuh-dbkdDeKHmdpjLYZUhoOmecPIk6GON-sseKNG3Enh1IvQk5KkRFoO8QHLBJgFilmCPvCSoBw6eS4M0KWYKptCMbGL7AaGaeUTrN8EJVnpoQXOT8opOzLpbtKT3AVtZFj5gtzPQnk/s1600/Airliner.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Follow our trip at kajiremission.blogspot.com</div>
<br />
Today a small mission team travels to the Kajire village in Southeastern Kenya. The journey will take us across nine time zones and span three days. <br />
<br />
We will be visiting individual homes witnessing to Jesus Christ, conducting Bible studies, dedicating the water well we have been drilling, and preaching and teaching.<br />
<br />
Please keep us, and the villagers in your prayers.<br />
<br />
Scott+<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-61123252405685510112012-11-08T12:45:00.002-05:002012-11-08T12:45:26.540-05:00Alabama Judge Booted over 10 Commandments Returning to Bench<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Published November 08, 2012</span></h1>
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<span class="value-title" title="2012-11-08T11:26:55.000-0500"></span></div>
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<span class="org fn">FoxNews.com</span></div>
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The Alabama judge removed from office a decade ago for refusing an order to remove a monument of the 10 Commandments from a state building is returning to the bench. </div>
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Roy Moore on Tuesday was elected as the state's next Supreme Court chief justice. </div>
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"What can I say," Moore said Tuesday night, according to <a href="http://www.myfoxal.com/story/20025004/roy-moore-elected-new-alabama-chief-justice" rel="external ext-linked" style="color: #183a52; cursor: pointer; outline: none 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>MyFoxAL.com</b></a><img src="http://global.fncstatic.com/static/v/all/img/external-link.png" style="border: 0px none; max-width: 480px;" />. "God is great, God is good. It's been a wonderful victory." </div>
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Democratic opponent Bob Vance entered the race late after another candidate had to leave the contest over an ethical issue. </div>
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Moore previously served as chief justice, but was removed in 2003 after refusing the federal order on the 10 Commandments monument. </div>
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He won Tuesday with 52 percent of the vote.</div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Read more: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/08/alabama-judge-booted-over-10-commandments-monument-returning-to-bench/?cmpid=cmty_other_Alabama_judge_booted_over_10_Commandments_monument_returning_to_bench#ixzz2BecbigMh" style="color: #003399; cursor: pointer; outline: none 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/08/alabama-judge-booted-over-10-commandments-monument-returning-to-bench/?cmpid=cmty_other_Alabama_judge_booted_over_10_Commandments_monument_returning_to_bench#ixzz2BecbigMh</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-17241955688648444142012-10-31T13:58:00.003-04:002012-10-31T13:58:37.729-04:00Virginia Supreme Court Accepts Falls Church Appeal<br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.33em;">Court to review 'neutral principles' standard for church property disputes</span></h4>
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ARTICLE | <time content="2012-10-29T15:18:02-04:00" datatype="xsd:dateTime" datetime="2012-10-29" property="dc:issued">OCTOBER 29, 2012 - 3:18PM</time> | BY <a content="George Conger" href="http://anglicanink.com/author/george-conger" property="dc:creator" rel="foaf:publications" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" typeof="foaf:person">GEORGE CONGER</a></div>
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<img alt="The Falls Church" class="imagecache imagecache-400xY" height="300" src="http://anglicanink.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/400xY/ENS_011111_FallsChurch.jpg" style="border: none; outline: none;" title="The Falls Church" width="400" /><div class="main-image-desc image-desc" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.917em; margin: 2px 0px; width: 400px;">
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A three-member writ panel of the Virginia Supreme Court has voted to review the case of the <a href="http://webdev.courts.state.va.us/acms-public/caseInquiry/showCasePublicInquiry?caseId=34024&searchName=Falls+Church&searchType=Case&partyType=APL&status=active&caseTypeCheck=&lowerTribunalCheck=&caseType=&tribunal=&lowerTribunalNumber=&lowerTribunalNumberCheck=" style="color: black;"><em style="padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px;">Episcopal Church v. The Falls Church</em></a>. </div>
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On 26 October 2012 the court’s website stated it had “granted” The Falls Church’s petition for appeal of the March 2012 order issued by Virginia Circuit Court Judge Randy I. Bellows granting trusteeship of the property and control of the congregation’s assets to the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia.</div>
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On 16 Oct, attorneys for the Northern Virginia congregation were permitted 10 minutes of oral argument before the writ panel, to state why they believed the court should review their case. Under Virginia law, civil cases have no automatic right of appeal. The state’s Supreme Court may accept civil cases for review at its discretion.</div>
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The office of the Diocese of Virginia was closed on 29 Oct due to the approach of Hurricane Sandy and unavailable for comment. However, The Falls Church released a statement saying it welcomed the court’s decision.</div>
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The church stated that their petition asked the court to “review the entire lower court decision for failing to follow U.S. and Virginia Supreme Court decisions applying ‘neutral principles’ of secular property and contract law to resolve disputes about church property. Our Petition also sought review on several other grounds, including some specific to the Historic Church building, where our deed pre-dates the existence of both the Episcopal Diocese and the entire Episcopal denomination, and to the "non-consecrated" property.”</div>
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The Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia filed a brief with the Supreme Court in support of one of the issues raised by the congregation. The Falls Church asked that the Supreme Court review the “lower court's decision to override the expressed desires of a substantial majority of our donors that their contributions should not go to the Episcopal denomination or Diocese.”</div>
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“Let's all be thanking and praising the Lord for this answer to our prayers. We look forward to presenting our case to the Virginia Supreme Court, but this is just one step in what has obviously been a long process, so please continue to pray for the next steps,” the church statement said.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-68352163249553487272012-07-27T14:02:00.000-04:002012-07-27T14:02:52.370-04:00A Mid Year Stewardship Report from Fr. Scott:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">“</span><i style="background-color: white;">Have I not commanded you? Be strong
and of good courage; be not
frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you
go." (</i><span style="background-color: white;">Joshua 1.9)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Dear Friends,</div>
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I write at near mid-year
to update you on our financials for the first half of the year:</div>
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<br /></div>
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A word of encouragement:
I have recently received the financial reports for Trinity through June.
I write you with good news AND with a
word of caution. Through the first six
months of 2012 income is up nearly fifteen thousand dollars ($14,597). Expenses are down nearly ten thousand dollars
($9613). If those trends continue through the remainder of the year we will have
a dramatically improved financial picture.
Please thank your vestry and staff for their ongoing efforts to find
ways of reducing expenses. Thanks to all
of you who have been faithful in giving to the Lord and his purposes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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A word of caution: We
are not out of the woods yet. We have a
long way to go before our annual income meets or exceeds our annual
expenses. Our financial future is still
uncertain. You hold the key. We will become financially sound only through
continued, conscientious efforts to reduce and control spending AND through your
continued and conscientious efforts to give freely and generously to the
Church. </div>
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<br /></div>
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A word of exhortation:
I sense that a spirit of doubt and fear has crept into our midst and is
having a very dangerous and deadly effect on some. It is like poison and we need to purge ourselves
of it. Doubt and fear are work of the
enemy. We live and thrive through hope, courage,
and love. St John tells us that “<i>Perfect love casts out fear</i>.” (I John 4.18)
</div>
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<br /></div>
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In 1851, in Rochester, PA a group of faithful men and women,
our spiritual forefathers and mothers, defied their own doubts and fears, took
courage, gathered their strength and invested themselves and their financial
resources into a new, risky, church plant called Trinity Church. They had few resources, a tiny congregation,
no building and little reason to believe they would succeed. For many years they could not afford their
own building. They met in the local Fire Hall.
And things did not improve rapidly.
For many years the congregation remained small. They struggled, growing at times, shrinking
at times, and many must have wondered if their numbers would ever grow into a strong
and financially secure church. Your
forefathers and mothers kept their faith and courage, despite the discouragements,
despite looming possibilities for failure that have always afflicted churches causing
some to suffer doubts and fears. They took
courage and they invested themselves into this new assembly. They continued to believe that their efforts
were pleasing to God. And once they had
begun they refused to retreat. That spirit
of faith and courage has led the people of Trinity to continuously worship God
as a church for 161 years! </div>
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<br /></div>
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For 161 years Trinity Church has been the Anglican presence
in Rochester, Bridgeport, Van Port and Beaver.
We have prayed together and stayed together all through the Great Civil
War, the War with Mexico, WWI, WWII, the conflicts in Korea and Viet Nam, the
first and second Gulf Wars and the war in Afghanistan. We have prayed together and stayed together
through times of great national crisis: the assassination of presidents Abraham
Lincoln and John Kennedy, the bleak financial times caused by Black Friday in
1929 and the Mortgage Crisis of 2008, and the terrorist attacks on Pearl Harbor
and on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.
We have prayed together and stayed together through weak leadership and
strong leadership, and through good and bad times alike. We have prayed and stayed together since the
days when we rode our horses and buggies to a church lit by candlelight and kerosene
lantern. And while many things have
changed around us, the faith we have inherited and the Lord that we serve has
remained rock solid, unchanging and ever faithful, providing us and our world
with true hope, carrying us through all life’s troubles by his grace, teaching
us to hope in that grace that overcomes all the uncertainty and all the doubts
that plague us. </div>
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Trinity Church has survived all the hard times and has met
every challenge because we have a culture, passed down to us by our spiritual
forefathers and mothers, a culture that refuses to listen to the doubters. We refuse to surrender to our fears. When times get tough we take courage and
gather our strength, a strength born out of our relationship with Lord Jesus
Christ. We remind ourselves that God is ever
faithful. We call out to Him in prayer. He has promised to lead us and guide us, and
He always has. He has always provided
for us when we honestly sought after Him.
We take courage in God’s promises and we give ourselves to his work. As a consequence, the ministry here at
Trinity Church has continued on, undaunted and against all odds, for 161 years. God has never failed us, not even in the
darkest days. Rick Warren says, “Never
doubt in the darkness what God has done in the light.” </div>
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We may be in one of those valleys of darkness right now but
we have a bright and wonderful future because our God is faithful and our
future is assured in Him. The only thing
that can possibly cause us to stumble and fall would be to allow our doubts and
fears to dominate our decision and cause us to turn away. But we have a cultural heritage. We do not listen to the doubter. We do not allow our fears to rule us. We take courage in our relationship with Jesus
Christ, gather our strength, and devote ourselves to God’s mission here at
Trinity Church. </div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>“Rejoice always, pray constantly give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not
quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast
what is good, abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself
sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful,
and he will do it.”</i> (I Thessalonians 5.16—24)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Blessings to you all!
Thanks for your continuing faithfulness, strength and courage!</div>
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In Christ, Scott+ </div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><br />
(Please remember that the expenses of the parish
continue to be paid throughout the summer.
Would you make sure to remember
us in your giving during the summer months?)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-5108326367709437062012-06-10T09:42:00.002-04:002012-06-10T09:42:25.561-04:00On Being Jesus' Brother, Mark 3.20-35<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the Name of God
Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus appears in Israel
in the role of the new leader, God’s appointed leader, and through his teaching
and his miracles and the power of his presence, he is drawing a large following
but he is not drawing them to the Temple to worship or to the steps of the
Sanhedrin to be instructed by the old establishment. Jesus is leading this large
group of people into a completely new way.
It is a new way because it cares for the poor and the less
fortunate. It is a new way because it
attempts to be God honoring not just with lip service, not just with Temple
worship, but in the day to day fabric of life.
It is a new way that acknowledges God as the Everything to which we owe
our everything. It is a new way, with a
new leader and it challenges the guardians of the old way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now the old guard
responds to Jesus in a predictable way.
They start a campaign of lies and insinuation and rumor designed to
discredit Jesus. It is not all that
different than a presidential campaign these days. (It is sad but true that it is easier to win
votes away from your opponent by by slandering him than to win votes because of
your own worthiness.) Anyway, the old
guard begins a campaign of character assassination. They make false accusations, they start
malicious gossip and resort to out and out slander. “He is out of his mind,” they whisper. They pull people aside and say, “He is
possessed by Beelzebul.” They explain
away the miracles, the healings and the casting out of demons by saying, “His
power comes from the prince of demons.”
It’s all designed to destroy God’s appointed leader, to thwart God’s
intended purposes and to reestablish the old guard’s power and authority over
the people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The truth was that
Jerusalem, which had once been a shining city on a hill, the place from which
God’s people reigned as a mighty kingdom, had fallen into disrepair and
ill-repute. The once proud nation of
Israel had become a vassal state, under the thumb of Rome. The old guard had failed to maintain the
legacy they had received from generations past.
They had been unfaithful to God and they failed God’s purposes but they
were still grasping onto power with every tool at their disposal. (We ought to mention that holding onto their
power was the worst possible scenario for Israel. They were failing and they were trapped in
the old way. While they may have wanted
to be faithful, they had lost the ability to listen for God’s Word or to see
God’s Presence in their midst and they had resorted to huge body of laws and
harsh rules thinking they could force their people to be good children of God.) They believed they were right and that God’s
beloved Son, this Jesus, was an imposter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now this is a very,
very important point. If the old guard
leadership of Jerusalem succeeds in assassinating Jesus character, if they are
successful in discrediting him, if they manage to win the battle for control
over Jerusalem, they destroy themselves and they destroy Jerusalem. Jesus is God sent. Jesus has been sent to provide God’s
salvation to God’s people and the people are faced with a decision. They may receive God’s gift of forgiveness
and grace or they may reject that gift but there is no third option. Choose Jesus or Barabbas, that’s it. Do you remember a couple of weeks ago I said,
“There is no gray twilight between good and evil?” It is either one or the other. The same is true of God’s plan of
salvation: there is faith and obedience
to Jesus or there is a rejection of Jesus and disobedience. Jesus leads to life, the other leads to death
and the people of Jerusalem must decide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And by the way, they do
and they choose poorly. When their
attempts to discredit Jesus failed, they resorted to more violent means and
they killed the Son of glory. That was
somewhere around 35-40AD and in 70AD the Romans destroyed the Temple, burnt
Jerusalem to the ground and bathed it in blood.
The people who chose Barabbas were killed en mass. Those who escaped the sword were scattered
around the world and their ancestors would not find their way back to Jerusalem
for nearly two thousand years. The
Temple which represented God’s presence among his people has never been
rebuilt. Of course we know that God does
not dwell in buildings. God’s presence
among his people is not to be found in any building but in his Son. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now it is time to do
some application here. These stories
that we read are not just history lessons or biographical sketches of
Jesus. They are teachings. They open up the circumstances of our lives
in our day and they inform us about the errors of the past and the hope of the
future. And this particular story is
particularly applicable to our common lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We are called to put our faith not in a
what but in a WHO. The hope of God’s
people is not to be found in buildings, properties or bank accounts. We always act as if it is but this country is
full of churches that are empty shells.
They have magnificent buildings constructed during the glory days of
Christianity. They cost a king’s ransom
to build but they are now nearly empty and in disrepair, not for lack of
money—many of them have huge endowments.
They are failing for lack of caring, lack of purpose, lack of genuine
commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ.
They got it backwards. They put
their trust in trusts, and endowments, and brick and mortar but all of that has
proven to be worthless. Genuine hope is
found in Jesus not in the Temple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We are always tempted to believe that we are facing
an uncertain future because our buildings are at risk. It’s not true. O, it is true that our future is at risk, but
our future is only risky to the extent that we refuse to place our faith in
Jesus and refuse to serve our King. If
we choose to allow Jesus to speak to us especially when those words are
uncomfortable and challenging, if we allow Jesus us to call us into activities
that seem too ambitious or too risky, if we place Jesus’ priorities ahead of
all other priorities in our lives, then we will know genuine security because
we will be living smack dab in the middle of God’s will and God’s purpose for
our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When we make a decision to be faithful
to Jesus, not to the world, not to our stuff, the next problem we face is one
of evaluation. How do we know that we
are being faithful? We can’t judge based
on how easy life is. Lots of faithful
people endure hard lives. We can’t know
based on material gain. Jesus never
suggests that faithfulness will lead to an abundance of things. So how can we know that we have placed our
hope in Jesus and are serving him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There is a way. We can know positionally. Here is what I mean. If you look at the gospel this morning there
are several groups of people representing several different spiritual
positions. I see three possible
positions: Opposition, Ambiguity, and
Acceptance:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There are those who are opposed to Jesus. They are accusing Jesus of being a
fraud. Some go so far as to say he is
evil. They are actively fighting against
Jesus, arguing against his teachings, and disputing his miracles. They refuse to value the things that Jesus
values or to do the things that Jesus does.
And Jesus says, ‘When you set your heart against the Spirit of God you
have placed yourself in a unpardonable position. Unless you change your mind and allow the
Spirit room to work, you are damned.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There is a group who
are living in ambiguity. They are
listening to the opposition. They are
considering the possibility that Jesus is a fraud. They are seriously entertaining the
possibility that their best interest is to be found somewhere other than with
Jesus. It’s no accident that the people
representing this position in the gospel are Jesus’ family, the people who
should be closest to him, who should have no doubts and who should be “all
in.” Notice that they are not in the
room with Jesus. They stand
outside. They are not heeding his call
to come. They are calling Jesus to come
to them. They are ‘concerned’ for their
son and brother, but their concern is based on bad information and an
unwillingness to recognize that their own doubts are at the bottom of their
refusal to accept Jesus. Jesus’ family
refusing to accept Jesus as Lord is a metaphor for Israel, God’s family,
refusing to accept God’s plan of salvation. May I suggest, as gently as I can,
that Jesus’ family refusing to accept Jesus wholeheartedly is a metaphor for a
so called “church” not accepting Jesus as Lord too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The third position is
Acceptance and it is represented by a third group. These are those who are being healed by
Jesus, who are answering his call, who are sitting at his feet, listening to
his Words, going out to spread the word, and serving Him and one another
unselfishly. These are the ones Jesus is
referring to when he says, those who do the will of God are my mother, brother
and sister. Jesus says that our
relationship to him is not so much a blood relationship as a positional
relationship. We become family, we enjoy
intimate relationship with him, and we become co-heirs in the Father’s kingdom
not as an accident of birth, not because we are genetically linked to the
chosen people but by believing in God’s plan of salvation whole-heartedly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now I want to put a
ribbon around this and tie it up in a bow.
There is only one person who can choose what you believe, where you go
and what you do. That person is
you. WE love to blame others for the
messes in our lives but they are not to blame.
Most of the time, I am the source of the problems in my life. Most of the time, you are the source of the
problems in your life. Each of us
chooses and we then harvest the fruit of our choices. This is most especially true in regards to
our spiritual lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Your position to Jesus
is a decision that you choose to make. Many
choose to reject Jesus and his teachings.
They choose to live by a different set of values and they serve
different “Lords,” the Lords of this world.
There are certain short term benefits to opposing Jesus but ultimately
this decision ends in eternal isolation from God and God’s grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Many, many choose to
live in an ambiguous relationship to Jesus.
In fact, even many church people choose to listen to the doubters,
entertain their own doubts and fears, and live outside the room, calling Jesus
to come outside, calling to Jesus to honor their doubts. Our gospel this morning is clear. Jesus will not come outside to entertain our
doubts no matter what sort of claims we want to make about being his family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">True closeness to Jesus
comes through a genuine, and repeated, choice to accept Jesus as our Lord and
Savior. It is a choice that I have to
remake every time an opponent of Christ challenges his authority or maligns his
goodness. It is a choice I have to make
every time the culture demands that I put something ahead of my Lord. It is a choice I have to make every time my
selfish interests are prohibiting me from acting in the way that Jesus would
have me act. It is necessarily a radical
choice. Half a commitment is no
commitment at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In our gospel reading
this morning Jesus faces opposition from those who seek to be in control and in
charge, and seek to destroy his influence.
Many, including Jesus’ own family are entertaining the criticism and
they are seeking to get Jesus to be more moderate, less committed, a little
more compromising. They stand apart from
him too. But there are those who accept
Jesus as the Lord and Savior, who submit to his teaching and who devote themselves
to the work of God’s Kingdom and it is these last ones who are intimate family
members of the Son of God. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-54190529336338489892012-06-07T11:09:00.001-04:002012-06-07T11:09:34.752-04:00What are you doing on your summer vacation?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How about making a commitment to change Your Life?</span></b></span></h2>
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<br /></div>
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Join Trinity
Church members for <u>The Purpose Driven Life</u>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You are about to embark on a journey of discovery. Throughout this six-session video-based study
taught by Rick Warren you are going to discover the answer to life’s most fundamental
question: “What on earth am I here for?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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And here’s a clue to the answer: “It’s not about you…you were created by God
and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our
origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance and our
destiny. Every other path leads to a
dead end.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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…This six-session video-based study will change your life.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Father Scott comments: “I have seen the impact that <u>Purpose
Driven Life</u> has had on individuals and churches in a number of places
around the country. It is really pretty
spectacular! This teaching has the power
to transform your life and to bring you blessings you could not have imagined. (Of course you have to commit to it. It only works if you work it.) It also is a powerful tool for pulling
communities together. Fully half of the
growing, dynamic churches in America have used Purpose Driven Church as the
means to spiritual growth and renewal. I
hope you will participate fully in this.
Your time and effort will be rewarded.”
</div>
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<br /></div>
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A Home Group is now being formed:</div>
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This summer we are forming a small group to participate in <u>Forty
Days of Purpose</u>, a forty day period set aside to reflect on the full answer
to the question: “What on earth am I here for?”
We will limit group size so that the group can comfortably meet in
participant’s homes. We will meet for The
meetings will be relaxed gatherings spent in fellowship and worship together, watching
and discussing a short video presentation. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Notices: </div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1)<i><span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Participants are asked to make a firm commitment
to attend all sessions. If you are
interested but know that you must miss a session we will ask you to make
arrangements to make up the missed session (there is a way of doing that).</i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i>2)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->There will be a small fee for books and
materials…somewhere around $10 per person. (Couples may share the cost if they
are able to share the books and materials.) </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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A sign up will be posted on the bulletin board outside the
church office along with further details soon..
Sign up deadline is June 24<sup>th</sup> so sign up now. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Call the church office for more information: (724) 774-0679 </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-84370104794164323332012-05-27T13:35:00.000-04:002012-05-27T13:35:06.602-04:00<br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sermon,
Pentecost Sunday 2012 Fr.
Scott Homer<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the Name of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Isa 44: “Fear not…my servant…my chosen, for I will
pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground…I will pour my
spirit upon your offspring and my blessing on your descendants…they will spring
up among the grass <b>like willows by
flowing streams</b>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As you drive West out
of San Antonio you move into an increasingly desert area, and you cannot help
but notice that the trees by the side of the road keep getting shorter and
shorter. By the time you get to the town
of Uvalde there are no trees, just scrubby bushes and low-lying plant life barely
eking out an existence. The problem
is…no water. No water, therefore, no
trees. Occasionally though you will be
surprised by a sudden outcropping of trees rising up from the otherwise barren
landscape. And when you see those trees
you know immediately that there is a source of water nearby; a spring, or a
stream or something supplying those trees with the water they need to exist. Water allows trees to grow strong so that
they can reach out and up into the environment around them. Those trees provide shade and coolness that
allows all sorts of other plant and animal life to flourish and grow, Trees
provide places of rest and refreshment to other desert dwellers struggling in
the desert. We call a cooler, wetter
place in the desert where the trees grow green and tall and where you will surely
find water an “oasis.” In the desert
they are few and far between but they provide a vital support for desert life. The oasis provide opportunities for life, for
growth and for refreshment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If we take a historical
look at the spiritual climate in America over the last 50 years or so we have
to conclude that it has become increasingly arid. It started in 1960s, and as we move forward
in time from there we see fewer and fewer healthy churches, more and more
unchurched people. In our tradition, Episcopal
church attendance dropped to less than half of what it was in the sixties and
it continues to plummet. All over the
Western world mainstream denominations are experiencing sharp declines t in average
Sunday attendance, in per capita giving, and in outreach initiatives. The US Government which used to be
sympathetic to Christian causes has become increasingly hostile to
Christianity. It is safe to say that the
spiritual climate in America today is a “desert” climate and that churches are
suffering. Churches are either hunkering
down, or closing their doors. The
problem is…no presence of the Holy Spirit.
There does not seem to be any life in theses churches. Trees need water. Churches need Holy Spirit power. Without the active presence of the Holy
Spirit churches turn inwards, they focus more and more of their resources on
their own needs—less and less on the mission to the least, the last and
lost. And parishes that turn inward on
themselves become mean spirited, kind of like the mean girls club in high
school, they end up driving newcomers away and those churches eventually just
shrivel up and die. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">No water, no trees, no
oasis. No Holy Spirit, no churches, no
spiritual oasis: nowhere for the lost to find new hope; nowhere for the lonely
to find companionship; nowhere for the sinful to find forgiveness; nowhere for
the weak to be strengthened; nowhere for the damned to find salvation; no room
for growth, or life, or hope. And with
no oasis, the desert becomes a hostile and deadly place for all of us. America is becoming a dead zone. We need the Holy Spirit and only the Church
can bring him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
is no substitute. Did you notice what
God said in the Isaiah passage this morning?
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I am the first, and I am the last; besides me there
is no god:” No Plan B, no way forward apart from him, no secret formula, no
dynamic personality to inspire and transform.
There is one God. He was before
the beginning, he is in the middle, and he will be after it all comes to an
end. No Holy Spirit, no churches, but
even more profoundly, no creation, no world, no people, nothing. I ran across an interesting quote from G K
Chesterton the other day. He said, “If
there is no God there are no atheists.”
We need the Holy Spirit active and working in our lives and it is the
job of church members, did you hear that?
It is the JOB of church members to receive the Holy Spirit power and to redistribute
it to the world around them. Like tree’s
branches, churches are to reach out and up, to provide rest for the weary,
comfort for the afflicted, nourishment for the hungry, to be an oasis to all
the weary travelers who must dwell day by day in this spiritual wasteland. And
we are only doing our JOB when we are taking the message of Jesus Christ out to
people who are not like us, to people who speak a different language than we
speak, to people foreign to us. The Holy Spirit gives us power to do our JOBS
but we must tap into that power and we must trust in that power and we must be
about the work that God has given us to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Like trees in the
desert, the church must reach upwards to receive the gifts of the Holy
Spirit. That reaching upwards is called
Prayer and Supplication. Prayer being the asking for God’s wisdom and
God’s gifts. Jesus said, “If you ask me
anything in my name, I will do it.” We
need to ask him for the power of the Spirit and the power to spread the gospel.
(I am asking everyone of you to pray this morning for the Holy spirit to come
on this community.) Supplication being
our willingness to receive those gifts and to exercise the ministry God is
calling us to exercise. Supplication also
means being submitted to the Holy Spirit’s authority. (I am asking each of you
this morning to submit to the power of the Spirit and to engage in the work the
Lord has prepared for you.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Like trees in the
desert, the Church must reach outwards.
That reaching outwards is called Evangelism and Outreach. Evangelism means telling others about this
loving God who has sacrificed everything to save us from the certain death that
awaits us in the desert. And outreach
means showing them that this God means what he says. He is not just <i>saying</i>, “He saves them.” God
is not just blowing smoke. God is
actually introducing himself and his power into the lives of broken people and
healing them. Through Evangelism—speaking the message of
God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, and then through Outreach—intervening in
people’s lives to restore the good life and renew hope for the future. In this way, God is actually shows himself to be the One
who saves. And God does this vital work
through his people, people like you and me, who pray for his power and submit
to his plan. Those people are God’s Church—the
spiritual oasis in this fallen world.
God will return and he will restore his creation to its former
glory. In the meantime he provides his Holy
Spirit power to us, both for our strengthening and comfort, and also so that we
may provide strength and comfort to the rest of the desert dwellers: all those who
have been unable or unwilling to tap into that Holy Spirit power on their own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So, here’s the thing
about this spiritual oasis—this thing called the effective church. That spiritual oasis does not just point the
way to Christ. It becomes Christ. It behaves like Christ. It speaks the truth like Christ. It heals and casts out demons and serves the
needy just like Christ. The church
becomes a living and breathing example of Christ on the Cross: God providing hope and a future to an otherwise
hopeless, dead-end world. Jesus died,
not just so that I could live but so that you can live also; not just so that
you can live but so that all of them out there can live too…and on this day of
Pentecost He gives us the one ingredient necessary for his whole scheme to work:
the gift of the Holy Spirit. Empowered
by the Holy Spirit we can go forth into the world and we can witness to God’s
grace and glory to everyone we meet—not in grand speeches, not in major events
but in the small, intimate details of our lives, by helping, serving, caring,
hoping and sharing with the people who have not received the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“As we pass through the desert valleys we make
them springs of refreshment.” When we
walk through the desert valleys we do not walk alone, we walk with the Holy
Spirit who resides within us. And that
means we become streams in the desert—places of access--sources of the Holy
Spirit power. We provide moments of
truth where people can experience God’s grace and know genuine hope. We provide moments of refreshment and people
can once again dream. Brenda showed me
this little piece about a hard working monk who lived on the desert road
between Jerusalem and Jericho back in the third century. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“There was a monk," (see In the Steps of Jesus, Walker)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So even in the desert,
even when there is just one humble servant there, the Cross is never far away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The author of this book has another observation
about the desert. Just after Jesus’
baptism he was driven outwards into a desert place (interesting), a place where
he was tempted by the devil. Of course,
we know that those temptations failed and Jesus was victorious over evil, right
there in the desert the evil one gave up and left. And, in this sense the desert becomes the
unexpected place where the great victory is accomplished. This “desert campaign” proves decisive in the
war. The desert thereby becomes,
paradoxically, not a place of death and fatality, but rather the place of life
and seedbed of hope. Jesus goes down
deep enough to transform the dry and dusty desert into a place of utmost
beauty. And this is something that his
followers can treasure when they face their own, smaller but still frightening
deserts. For, following Jesus’ lead, [we]
may be able to fulfill the picture in Psalm 84.5-6: “Blessed are those whose strength is in the
Lord…As they pass through the desert valley, they make it a place of springs.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Pray with me: “Come Holy Spirit. Fill us with your life-giving power. Grant us wisdom and strength and lead us into
the wilderness round about us. Show us
how our Lord Jesus would respond to the needs that we see before us. Teach us how to show love and compassion to
each and every person we meet. Inspire
us to offer a word of encouragement.
Strengthen us to give ourselves for the benefit of others, and we pray
that with your aide we may become streams of living water in a barren and dusty
desert. We want to reach upwards towards
you. We want to reach outwards with
you. Come Holy Spirit, amen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-19736764746507987272012-03-29T11:16:00.001-04:002012-03-29T11:16:28.646-04:00Assistant Bishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh<br />
<h3>
<em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bishop Frank Lyons, bishop of
Bolivia for the last eleven years, will be supporting Archbishop Robert Duncan
in overseeing clergy and congregations.</span></em><o:p></o:p></h3>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="right" height="277" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/cbb49e6164618d4c72a617a0c/images/_Frank_Shawnee_Lyons.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0in; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0in; border-right-width: 0in; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0in; display: inline; height: 277px; line-height: 34px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; width: 200px;" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="200" /><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Bishop Frank Lyons has been called by Archbishop Robert Duncan, and with
unanimous support from the Standing Committee, to serve as Assistant Bishop in
the Diocese of Pittsburgh. As Assistant Bishop, Lyons will assist with pastoral
care and oversight to clergy and congregations in the Diocese of Pittsburgh
during Archbishop Duncan’s tenure as archbishop. Bishop Lyons will also
exercise a special superintendence of diocesan congregations located beyond the
Pittsburgh area.<br />
<br />
“We are delighted to welcome Bishop Frank and his wife, Shawnee, to the
Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Bishop Frank is a highly capable leader who
brings with him a wealth of experience. I am confident that he will provide the
support our clergy and congregations need during this amazing period in our
life together as a diocese,” said Archbishop Duncan.<br />
<br />
During his eleven year tenure as bishop of Bolivia, Lyons has seen that very
small diocese triple in their number of churches and ordained clergy. Bolivia
is the poorest country in South America. During the crisis in the Episcopal
Church, Lyons also assumed responsibility for 40 congregations across the U.S.
and their clergy. “Bishop Frank’s spiritual sensitivity, cross-cultural
experience, and passion for the Gospel will be a wonderful asset to our
Leadership Team,” said Canon Mary Hays.<br />
<br />
Bishop Frank and Shawnee will be relocating to Pittsburgh this summer. He will
begin functioning as Assistant Bishop on August 1. The new position is being
funded chiefly by investors from outside the Diocese of Pittsburgh who want to
support Archbishop Duncan in his dual capacity as Diocesan Bishop and Archbishop
of the Anglican Church in North America.<br />
<br />
Bishop Frank is a graduate of Wheaton College and holds four graduate degrees
from Wheaton Graduate School, Nashotah Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological
Seminary, and Carey Theological College. He and his wife have served as
overseas missionaries with Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders (SAMS)
for 25 years. Bishop Frank and Shawnee have five biological children and two
adopted Bolivian children.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-2344981413302279542012-03-27T21:13:00.001-04:002012-03-27T21:13:50.940-04:00St David's Leaves Property in Peter's Twp<br />
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March 27, 2012</div>
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<span style="color: #474747; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">By Ann Rodgers / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</span>
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The congregation of St. David's Anglican Church in Peters will hand over its property, its name and its debt of nearly $1 million to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and start over in a former Catholic church in Canonsburg.</div>
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The move is the latest in a property dispute between the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and the rival Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. The diocese split in 2008, with a majority leaving the Episcopal Church for the theologically conservative Anglican Church in North America.</div>
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St. David's is among a number of Anglican congregations whose deed was held by the Episcopal diocese, which had guaranteed bank loans for a $3 million construction project in 2002. Although the Episcopal diocese had announced a plan to negotiate over the property of such parishes last year, talks have been on hold while the diocese completes a strategic planning process.</div>
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The 250-member congregation was paying $10,000 a month on a remaining $990,000 mortgage, which will now become the responsibility of the Episcopal diocese.</div>
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"The congregation was very interested in trying to reach a negotiated settlement but was unable to do so. It wasn't that they were happy to be dumping this [debt] on the diocese. They tried to negotiate and were unable to do that successfully," said David Trautman, spokesman for the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh.</div>
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"We couldn't wait any longer," said the Rev. David Wilson, rector of St. David's since 2008.</div>
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The vestry, or lay governing board, voted unanimously March 19 to take the step, and the congregation upheld the decision Sunday, he said. They expect to hold their first service as Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church on May 27 at 10 a.m. in the former St. Genevieve Church in Canonsburg.</div>
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The congregational vote ended with the hymn "It is Well With My Soul," Rev. Wilson said. "The meeting was solemn, there was a mixture of resolve and sadness," he said.</div>
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"People wanted to do the right thing and were excited about doing the mission of the church instead of dealing with all the conflict and litigation. There was a great relief and release from that," he said.</div>
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The move is considered temporary, as most of the congregation intends to return to Peters when it can find a suitable property, he said. However, a daughter Anglican congregation will remain in Canonsburg, where there is also an Episcopal parish.</div>
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Rich Creehan, a spokesman for the Episcopal diocese, said it was prepared to take over the mortgage but had asked the congregation to remain where it was until the strategic planning process was completed.</div>
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He said the Episcopal diocese wished the congregation well in its new location.</div>
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"The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh will cooperate with those affected by this transition and looks forward to an amicable process that has marked the return of other properties to the diocese," he said.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-58620023360026061262012-03-27T08:38:00.000-04:002012-03-27T08:38:42.259-04:00"Year of the Bible" Illegal?<br />
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Atheists sue Pennsylvania for declaring 2012 'Year of the Bible'</h2>
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<span class="fn"></span></div>
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Published March 27, 2012<span class="value-title" title="2010-05-1T11:02Z"></span></div>
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<span class="org fn">| FoxNews.com</span></div>
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<span class="dateline" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14px;">HARRISBURG, Pa. – </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14px;">A national atheist and agnostic group is suing Pennsyl</span><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #04558b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">21</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14px;">vania lawmakers for passing a resolution that declares 2012 as "The Year of the Bible."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14px;">MyFOXphilly reports the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) filed a federal lawsuit on Monday arguing that the Pennsylvania House's declaration is unconstitutional. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">The resolution, which was authored by State Rep. Rick Saccone, passed unanimously in January.</span></div>
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The lawsuit names Saccone as one of three plaintiffs, and claims the resolution is tantamount to the state endorsing "state-sponsored religion."</div>
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They also claim to take issue with content in the Bible, including "violent, sexist and racist models of behavior that FFRF members find personally repugnant." <span style="background-color: transparent;">"(This content) potentially could encourage persons who rely on them to act in a manner harmful to them and others," the lawsuit claims.</span></div>
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Saccone has said the resolution is meant to recognize the impact the Bible has had on the U.S. and on the state, and does not inhibit anyone from believing or not believing in any faith. <span style="background-color: transparent;">"Most citizens don’t remember that a joint session of Congress passed a similar resolution signed by Presi</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">dent</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><a class="r_lapi" href="http://www.foxnews.com/topics/us/ronald-reagan.htm#r_src=ramp" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Ronald Reagan</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">on February 3, 1983, declaring that year as the Year of the Bible in America," Saccone said.</span></div>
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In February, Democratic Rep. Mark Cohen said he wanted to reconsider the resolution, and that he regretted that he didn't realize the resolution's content at the time of the vote.</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-46661378876024948842012-03-06T11:39:00.000-05:002012-03-06T11:39:09.836-05:00Islamist in Nigeria Declare War on Christians<br />
<div style="color: #004990; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold;">
Boko Haram
declares “war” on Christians in Nigeria and threatens to eradicate them from
parts of the country</div>
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<td style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="Church-of-Christ-in-Nigeria_Attacks2_email.jpg" src="http://www.barnabasaid.org/_images_files/content/article_files/Nigeria/201203/Church-of-Christ-in-Nigeria_Attacks2_email.jpg" title="The wreckage after a suicide bomber struck a church in Jos" width="210" /></td></tr>
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<td style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: center;" width="200">The wreckage after a suicide bomber<br />struck a church in Jos<br /><span style="color: #999999;">Image source: <a href="https://netcommunity.barnabasfund.org/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.stefanosfoundation.org%2f&srcid=3452&srctid=1&erid=4474846&trid=92df3c6e-01ed-4e44-863b-fe290c10249c" target="_blank">Stefanos foundation</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Militant Islamist group Boko Haram has declared “war” on Christians in
Nigeria, saying that they are planning coordinated attacks to “eradicate
Christians from certain parts of the country”. The threat was made by a Boko
Haram spokesman on Sunday (March 4, 2012), and the group’s unrelenting campaign
of anti-Christian violence since Christmas indicates that it is no idle one. In
the wake of numerous church bombings and attacks on individuals, Christians have
been fleeing the North in great need and the Church there could be wiped off the
map.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-87888283113024945692012-03-02T15:13:00.000-05:002012-03-02T15:13:06.851-05:00Christians Reject 'after-birth abortion'<br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">You knew it was only a matter of time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; text-transform: uppercase;">From Christian today:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.3;">Christians have rejected the claim by two medical ethicists that killing newborn babies is no different to abortion.</span></div>
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Christians reject 'after-birth abortion'</h2>
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Posted: Thursday, March 1, 2012, 18:48 (GMT)</div>
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In an article published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, Alberto Giubilini and Francesca Minerva argue that newborn babies do not have a “moral right to life” because they are not “actual persons” but rather “potential persons”.</div>
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“The moral status of an infant is equivalent to that of a fetus in the sense that both lack those properties that justify the attribution of a right to life to an individual.”</div>
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They continued: “Both a fetus and a newborn certainly are human beings and potential persons, but neither is a ‘person’ in the sense of ‘subject of a moral right to life’.</div>
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“We take ‘person’ to mean an individual who is capable of attributing to her own existence some (at least) basic value such that being deprived of this existence represents a loss to her.”</div>
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The article, entitled “After-birth abortion: Why should the baby live?”, argues on these grounds that ‘after-birth abortion’ should be “permissible in all the cases where abortion is, including cases where the newborn is not disabled”.</div>
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Nick Pollard, co-founder of The Damaris Trust, criticised the claim.</div>
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“Some of us have seen this coming for a long while," he said.</div>
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"It stems from the way that many secular humanists draw a fundamental distinction between a ‘human being’ and a ‘human person’ – they argue that some human beings are not proper people and therefore it is not morally wrong to kill them.”</div>
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Dr Trevor Stammers, director of medical ethics at St Mary’s University College, said: “The term ‘after-birth abortion’ is just verbal manipulation. That is not philosophy. I might refer to abortion henceforth as antenatal infanticide.”</div>
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Dr Peter May, a Christian ethicist and retired GP, said that childbirth did not mark a change in the intrinsic worth of a child.</div>
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“The same child now exists in a new environment,” he said.</div>
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“Secular humanists may want to embrace infanticide. Jesus however taught that the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286376709063297594.post-16153672453515117712012-03-02T10:42:00.001-05:002012-03-02T10:42:24.076-05:00Why Israel Must Be Prepared to Strike Iran<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">The US Press seems more and more sympathetic to Islamic nations and less and less patient with Israel. Some wonder why Israel is threatening to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. I ran across this quote from the current prime minister of Israel that clarifies the issue from the standpoint of the Jewish people. As late as 1939 or 1940 the world's leaders did not want to believe that Hitler intended to take over the world or destroy the Jewish people. they thought he could be managed. Here is what Mr. Netanyahu said:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">“Seventy-five years ago, the leading powers in the world put their heads in the sand,” Mr. Netanyahu said then. “Untold millions died in the war that followed. Ultimately, two of history’s greatest leaders helped turn the tide. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill helped save the world. But they were too late to save six million of my own people. The future of the Jewish state can never depend on the good will of even the greatest of men.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0