MSJ General Synod Pictures

A few pictures from the recent (Oct.16-19) Missionary Society Synod in Liberty, KY.

Newly Vowed Missioners

From left to right above: Ron Berglund, Ann Dunklau, Mary Dougherty, Annie Berglund, The Rt. Rev. Frederick Fick – Father General of the MSJ, Rev. Kenneth Bieber and Diane Bieber.

At the recent General Synod of the Missionary Society of Saint John (Oct 16-19), six individuals committed their lives and made vows to proclaim the Good News that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not counting man’s sins against them” (2 Cor. 5:19) and to live that Gospel in their daily lives.

They were joyfully welcomed as brother and sister missioners of the MSJ.

"I, ________________, in the presence of God and the Holy and Undivided Trinity, the Ever-Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist, all the saints, and this company here present, do vow my life and my service to Christ within the calling and charism of the Missionary Society of St. John the Evangelist. Amen."

Missionary Society of Saint John 2013 Assembly

                                                       Bishop Frederick Fick, MSJ Father General 

                                                                                   addresses the Assembly

The Missionary Society of St. John the Evangelist met in Assembly October 16-19, 2013. Hosted by Christ the King Anglican Church in Liberty, KY, Missioners spent time in worship, study, work of the Society and wonderful fellowship.

Over fifty missioners from MI, OH, KY, IL and TX enjoyed the wonderful Fall colors of South Central KY and the warm hospitality of Fr. Robert Lemmon, MSJ, his wife Mary and the people of Christ the King.

Six individuals committed their lives and made vows to proclaim the Good News that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not counting man’s sins against them” (2 Cor. 5:19) and to live that Gospel in their daily lives. They were joyfully welcomed as brother and sister missioners of the MSJ.

Humility

As shared by The Rt. Rev. Frederick Fick, Father General, Missionary Society of St. John during the MSJ gathering - Oct. 17-19, 2013:

“Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.” 
― Andrew Murray

Andrew Murray - Writer

Andrew Murray was a South African writer, teacher, and Christian pastor. Murray considered missions to be "the chief end of the church." Born: May 9, 1828, Graaff-Reinet, South Africa 

Died: January 18, 1917, Wellington, South Africa  

Education: University of Aberdeen,Utrecht University

Who is an Anglo-Catholic:

 

From September 27, 2008 –

The Diocese of the Holy Cross has always intended to be a part of the golden thread that keeps traditional Anglicans together and at the table. We pledge that we will never compromise on the ‘three legged’ stool of our Anglican inheritance: Orthodox Liturgy, Catholic Order and New Covenant morality. We are ever mindful of the prophecy that we shall ‘build the old waste places…raise up the foundations of many generations, and be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.’ We revere the memory and invoke the blessing of our ancestors who grace the history of our Movement: the saints of the British Isles, the Non-Jurors, the Caroline Divines and the men and women of the Oxford Movement, all of whom inspire us to fight the good fight. We work and pray for an honorable and godly way forward that will reveal the essential unity of the Church, such that Anglicans will have a distinct and vital place. We desire that the Bride of Christ, breathing harmoniously with the lungs of both East and West, speaking in a powerful and Spirit-filled voice, led by apostolically-minded men of conviction and sustained by the sacramental life, is once again triumphantly evangelical about the Gospel and radically charitable about non-essentials. No Surrender, No Desertion.”

The Very Rev. Craig E. Young, SSC, of blessed memory (+2009).

Emmanuel Mission Homeless Shelter

Emmanuel Mission Emergency Homeless Shelter celebrated its annual Staff Appreciation Picnic this Sunday  on the shores of beautiful Lake Huron.

The Emmanuel Mission shelter is operated by and is a ministry of Hope Anglican Church, Oscoda, MI. The shelter is staffed by numerous missionary volunteers from Hope Anglican and many other churches throughout NE Michigan.

Baptism at Hope Anglican Church

Sunday, August 25, was a day of great joy for the people of Hope Anglican Church in Oscoda, MI.

Buster Merrill, frequent visitor, wonderful friend and husband of long-time parisoner Margaret Merrill, was Baptized into Christ's One Holy Christian Church.

This was a day of rejoicing for all of the Hope Anglican family as we celebrated Buster's adoption in the sacrament of initiation into the life of the children of God.

Hope Anglican Church Redecorating

Hope Anglican Church (Oscoda, MI) has completed an entire redo of the interior of their sanctuary and nave;  painting walls, ceiling and all trim.

The new look is significantly brighter and lighter than it was previously. Fr. Tom and Fr. Jeff want to thank the parishoners of Hope for their patience during this process. It was a difficuly chore having to break down all scaffolds and ladders every Saturday to prepare for Sunday's Holy Eucharist. Now we are back to pews instead of chairs.

Stations of the Cross and all other paraments will be re-hung this week.

Hope Anglican Church/Emmanuel Mission Homeless Shelter

Hope Anglican Church, MSJ and Emmanuel Mission Shelter in Oscoda, Michigan is in the final stages of major capital improvement projects.

While interior redecorating an remodeling of the church continues, work has begun on repaving the property's parking lot and re-engineering of the storm sewer system.

Pictures of the interior will follow soon, but here is a look at the first stage of the re-paving effort.

God provides!!

A Look Back At Hope Anglican Oscoda

2008

The work began during the hot and humid days of summer, with a promise, a desire to conduct the first worship service in the Old Church on Christmas Eve at Christ's Mass.   With only 10 days to go, the promise is being kept.  Invitations have been sent out.  Descendants of members from long ago have been invited to share in a community celebration of Jesus birth.  The altar, absent from its place for almost a decade, has been returned, as well as the octagonal pulpit and communion rail.  O Come All Ye Faithful, Joyful And Triumphant.  Hope Anglican Church, the oldest church building in the county, is open again.

Built by immigrants during the lumbering days of the 1880, The Swedish Lutheran Church survived the great fire, the only church and one of only a handful of structures in town to do so.  Closed as an active Lutheran parish over 6 years ago, the old church was re-born as the home of the Emmanuel Mission Church, which took the name Hope Anglican Church to honor the building's history and to honor the faithful people of God of long ago.

MSJ Fall 2013 Gathering

The Missionary Society of Saint John will gather for its 2013 meeting October 17-19, 2013 in Liberty, KY. The hosts for our gathering will be Fr. Bob Lemmon and the fine folks of Christ the King Anglican Church.

As so aptly stated by MSJ Father General, Bishop Fred Fick: 

"Our hearts turn toward these days of worship, prayer, eucharist and celebrating the goodness of brotherhood for lo, these many years. We long for the special fellowship, the giving of thanks for faithful brothers who have given a life time of service and the honesty of discussion that comes from trusted friends and fellow pilgrims. 

We look forward to warm days and crisp nights in the autumn hills of South Central Kentucky. The time approaches. I cannot wait to be together again."

Forward in Africa - Report 2

Having now been in Tanzania for three weeks, and after staying a week at the Cotteys’, we finally moved into our house on Tuesday morning. It’s a good size house – 4 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, pantry, bathroom, and office. We’re living quite simply.  There is running cold water and electricity. After many hours spent in the big market we have pretty much everything we need now. We had thought that we’d be getting a gas stove, with an oven, …but that didn’t work out and so now we’re cooking like all the rest of the Africans – on a charcoal fire. It actually works much better than we thought, and now that I think about it, we really don’t need the gas stove.

In the compound we’ve been treated very well by all of our neighbors. There’s Mama and Baba Kiplili, Pastor Damson & family, and the school headmasters’ family. Our first day here the Kipilis’ (kind of like our African grandparents) fixed all our meals, the second day the headmaster’s family did the same. They’ve helped us get whatever we need, and have made their homes welcome to us all the time. It’s wonderful having great neighbors. They’re also helping us learn Swahili and Tanzanian ways to doing things, which differ much from America.

Forward in Africa Report #1

Brother Nathan Dunlap(MSJ) and family arrived in Tanzania on May 15 for a six-month mission in Nyakato, on the outskirts of Mwanza. Here is their first report:

Jamba (Hello):

We are now on our third full day and staying briefly in Dodoma, the capital city. There have been so many experiences in these few days it feel as though we have been here weeks:

Our projected six hour drive from Dar to Dodoma turned into ten hours but was incredibly interesting. We were able to see just about every Tanzanian landscape and lifestyle - from city to far out country to mountains and valleys to deserts. It is difficult to describe this wonderful place. Everyone is working. Hands are busy. People are living. There are no TV’s, no video games. A boy is welding gates, and another building beds. There are others selling food and drinks on the highways. There are the little girls and boys returning from school. There are the young people learning trades from elders. There are the ladies cooking, men working hard, and little boys herding cattle. Everyone is busy. Everyone is unique and different, but all still similar. There's vegetation everywhere; Big trees, pretty flowers, food, bushes, etc.... This land is beautiful!

We have been busy: our first day here we attended the consecration of a Bishop. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the president of Tanzania were present. The service was five hours long, almost completely in Swahili, and half way through I decided I'd never complain about an hour and a half church service in English again!

Sunday we worshipped in a small village Anglican church in the town of Kongwa. Since we had Bishop Kwangu with us, the worship was over four hours. (they usually get a visit from the Bishop maybe every couple years).  Later,  we visited St. Phillip's Theological School where Bp. Kwangu was a student and staff for many years.

We love Tanzania and ask your prayers as our work begins………..

Episcopal Visit - St. John the Apostle (Clinton Twp, MI)

On Sunday May 19^th the people of St John the Apostle Anglican Church of Clinton Township, Michigan were doubly blessed to have Bp William Ilgenfritz (MDAS) and Bp Fredrick Fick (MSJ) join us for our celebration of Pentecost and the Confirmation of nine of our members.  Beginning with fellowship at an informal reception and dinner with the vestry Saturday evening and continuing on to Sunday’s worship with the color red in prominent display, we sang, we prayed, and we worshiped our God and King. 

Six of the nine confirmed had attended weekly confirmation classes since last September.  The other three, as adults, had a less structured approach to their coursework and exam. All were supported by family, friends and sponsors, making the day a reunion of faith expressed and renewal of old friendships. Bp Ilgenfritz preached on the birth of the church at Pentecost being the undoing of the work and curse of Babel. He also took time to personally charge the confirmands to take up as their own the promises made for them or made by them in Baptism.  The luncheon and fellowship that followed provided not only ample food for the journey, but also generous amounts of encouragement and opportunities to get to know our Bishops.

Episcopal Visit - St. Andrew Anglican Church

Bishop Fick, Father General of the Missionary Society of St. John, and wife Jan, made an Episcopal Visit to Spring Grove, IL on the Sunday, May 5.

Enjoying great fellowship with Fr. Scott and Lisa Keenan and the people of Saint Andrew Anglican Church, the weekend was highlighted by the Spring's first barbecue picnic and the blessing and dedication of St. Andrew's new altar.