Lunch With Bishop Ray Sutton

This past week, I had the pleasure to share the company of +Ray Sutton. With his usual warm hospitality and wry wit, we were entertained to a brief tour of the beautiful facility that is the Church of the Holy Communion, Dallas, followed by a wonderful meal with relaxed conversation that went on for quite some time.

As we swapped stories and shared, my joy was full and I departed energized.

Thank you, Bishop Sutton, for a wonderful day. Thank you Father Bob Tomlinson, pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Hurst, Texas, for arranging this day.


+Frederick Fick

Where Are These Children Going?

To the future, of course. The generation that will be leaders in the very near future are the children of today. These too are our mission field. In most of our parishes, children are not only present, they predominate!

Our mission as Christian parents, as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School leaders is of utmost importance. Wherever we minister, the faces we see are youthful and filled with faith that God is already in our tomorrow.

1549 Book of Common Prayer

The First English Prayer Book is back in print. The very first Prayer Book, now 450 years old, has been re-printed. On a whim, we ordered a copy from Amazon. What a gorgeous little book. Reproduced in a clear, easy to read font, the type face makes this jewel a treasure inside a sturdy and tasteful cover. Yes, the rubrics are really in red. However, the beauty is much more than skin deep. To enjoy the offices of Matins or Compline is to experience the timeless majesty of daily prayer in the Anglican way.

A particular blessing is to read through the Communion liturgy and to discover how one finds the rite as familiar to one's soul, heart and mind as any Prayer Book of more modern use. The rhythm of the text flows off the pages with complete ease.

This first English Prayer Book was the foundation for later versions that would be produced by Anglicans throughout history. To many, none ever surpassed the original.