Meet Bishop Richard Boyce

One of the joys of the recent synod was getting to know one of our special guests, Bishop Richard Boyce, ordinary of the Diocese of the West, Anglican Province of America. We were blessed to have had +Richard stay after the synod and join the Missionaries of St John as they gathered in clericus. We discovered a very real, gentle and relaxed man of deep convictions and we count it a special joy to have made a new friend . Thank you Bishop Boyce for coming to share with us.

St John Children Gather Supplies For Shelter

The Sunday School children of the younger classes took on a project for Lent at St John the Apostle Anglican Church, Clinton Township, Michigan. They gathered toys, books, crayons, Disney videos, stuffed animals and other goods for the needs of the children to make their stay at the Oscoda Emergency Homeless Shelter a more blessed experience.

The women of St John also knitted 30 pairs of slippers for the children of the shelter because of a rule that all shoes must stay at the door.


These gifts were presented to Father Thomas Anderson at the Missionary Society clericus gathering. To save gas, Fr. Tom had driven his wife Jackie's Beetle and faced the dubious of challenge of seeing just how many gifts could be stuffed into a VW Beetle. Praise God for the opportunity to be as Christ to the least of these our brothers and sisters.

MSJ Clericus

On Tuesday morning, after our synodical guests had returned home, the missionaries of St John gathered for a quiet clericus. We reflected on the synod, spoke of ministry, set our eyes on the future and how to fulfill our mission. We heard reports from the Office of Foreign Missions, our work in Tanzania, our home missions and our evangelical call to share Jesus and teach the faith, giving particular attention to our catechism teaching material. Some of us have shared ministry together for decades and we count these hours spent together are precious.

Synod Isn't All Serious

So, what is Synod for?

A time to reconnect and a time to share.

A time to goof around a little.

A time to relax and a time to laugh together.

.

MSJ - Diocese of St Augustine Synod

The Missionary Society of St John hosted the Diocese of St Augustine in a joint Synod this past week. Much more than a time of church business, the days were filled with worship, fraternity, and the refreshing of the Holy Spirit's presence. A renewed fervor for sharing the Gospel and fulfilling the great commission was evident. Everyone it seemed, was returning to their portion of the vineyard refreshed and invigorated. We praise God!

Bishop Amos A. Fagbamiye of CANA brings greetings and strong words of encouragement.

+Walter Grundorf, APA presiding bishop, addresses the synod.


Thirty-six clergy representing 24 parishes, missions and ministries gather for the obligatory "group shot".

The bishops bless the oil of chrism and the oil of anointing the sick.

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Yaroslav Pelikan On The Need For Creed

Over on Per Christum, this interesting post was noticed.

Public Radio's interview with the late theologian. Here’s a transcript of an excerpt I found particularly quotable:

Tippet: So, what is it about Christianity that has needed creeds?

Pelikan: Well, what it is about religious faith that needs creed is that religious faith in general, prayer addressed to “to whom it may concern”, sentiment about some transcendent dimension otherwise undefined does not have any staying power. It’s OK to have that at ten o’clock on a Sunday morning when you’re out with your friends somewhere, but in the darkest hours of life you gotta believe something specific. And that specification is the task of the creed. Because, much as some people may not like it, to believe one thing is also to disbelieve another.

Tippet: *curtly* Huh.

Pelikan: To say yes is also to say no.

Worship Our Goal - Mission Our Work

Dean Robert Munday, Nashotah House president, recently wrote:



Minneapolis pastor and author John Piper, in his book, Let the Nations Be Glad! has written:

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Mission exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.

But until the worship due to God resounds among people of every nation, tribe and tongue, missions must be the pre-eminent work of the Church. The love that we are to give to God and to our neighbor is incomplete until every one who draws breath has been given the chance to own and express that love.

True Meaning Of Easter

In our contemporary culture, Easter has largely been relegated to being a festival of Spring, eggs, chicks, rabbits and the generic rejoicing of new life. While in themselves nice things, yet, as Christians have we also allowed these themes to express our own understanding of the resurrection of Christ? We confess in the Creed our belief that Jesus was "crucified, died and buried." True enough.

We also confess that Jesus also "rose again on the third day." Also, spectacularly true! Alleluia!

However, there is this phrase in the Creed that lies between the two phrases quoted above. These words; "he descended to the dead" (or into hell). What are we to make of the apostolic church having included this phrase as an essential, core belief of Christianity? Essential enough to include the truth that Jesus "descended to the dead"? To understand this is to grasp a much greater truth of Easter and why this feast is to be seen as the greatest Feast of all. Jesus certainly did not descend into hell to suffer, nor did he descend to merely proclaim his victory over the devil. There are even greater things here.

Notice in the icon depiction that Jesus extends his hands to Adam and Eve, pulling them from death. Contemplate that in the resurrection, Jesus has destroyed death, broken down the gates of Hell, and defeated the Devil. The victory of the empty tomb is the victory of Christ over sin, death and the devil. The victory was total, complete and death was plundered. Hallelujah.

Good Friday

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst stretch out thine arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of thy saving embrace. So clothe us in thy Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know thee, to the knowledge and love of thee; for the honor of thy name. Amen.

Go To Dark Gethsemane

As a young boy, I would have the rare opportunity to enter my grandmother's "parlor", that strange, dark, front room that was never used except on the rarest of occasions.

On the wall was this picture, or one much like it, framed in a wonderful old world frame. This picture served as my personal icon or mental picture of Jesus praying in the garden.

A few years back, I had the privilege of walking and praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, overlooking the Kidron valley, on the Mount of Olives. Part of me returns to that place on Maundy Thursday each year. Pictures are important to prayer, Scripture reading and faith.

Holy Week Begins

This week, we Christians call Holy Week, we set time aside to contemplate the works of Christ on our behalf for our redemption. St. John, the evangelist, dedicated half of his Gospel to telling the story of Holy Week. This Sunday, in our churches, we will bless real palm branches to use in our worship. Later, these palms will often be woven into crosses to place in our homes for a year. (directions found here)

"Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord."

This familiar song from Palm Sunday is called the Song of the Children and is joined with the Song of Angels and Cherubim in heaven;

"Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory".

Together, these songs make up the Sanctus, the song we sing each week at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer. At the altar of the Eucharist, heaven and earth are joined in unending praise and thankfulness.

Hands On Housing

Smaller mission parishes have something in common, and that something is often a feeling of not being big enough, not having enough resources to make a difference in ministry to a community. St Brendan’s Anglican Church in Austin, Texas has found a way to overcome that sense (or excuse) of being too small to make a difference.

In most major towns there are cooperative ministries, often made up of many small faith communities such as our own. Getting involved in these groups via acquaintances with other clergy has led us to a significant involvement in our local community: ministering to the less fortunate through a program called Hands On Housing. Hands on Housing is dedicated to providing essential volunteer-based home repair services to the marginalized in our society - the elderly, the poor, the disadvantaged, the disabled. This ministry, overseen by Austin Area Inter-religious Ministries, is the largest volunteer home repair effort in Austin. We repair and revitalize homes for homeowners that cannot afford to do needed repairs and thus enable them to remain in their own homes.

There are two main repair events per year repairing 25-35 homes, engaging upward of 1,000 volunteers. Other smaller projects are ongoing throughout the year. The upcoming work project begins April 26.

The typical client served is over 70 years old living on less than $10,000 per year in a home he/she owns and loves but cannot maintain. The clients are often approached to sell their homes but they do not want to leave the home they love and have lived in for often well over 20 years. Our repair efforts enable them to remain in their homes in safety and dignity.

While making such repairs, we help build relationships across social and geographic boundaries. Working with others, we help our neighbors in need.

It is wonderfully satisfying to be united with other faith communities to foster respect, partnership and transformation in service of the common good. We, the small, are called to be, and can be instruments of His transforming love.


John 15:12 - My command is this:
Love each other as I have loved you.

The Rev. Jeff Johnston
Saint Brendan Anglican Church (Austin, TX)

Random Thoughts on Campus Ministry

It was Robert Mullholland who said, “Spiritual Formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” As the Assistant Director of Campus Ministries at a Huntington University, I find myself on the front lines of this process on a daily basis. College students are no simple group of people - actually, they are quite complex, struggling, doubting, questioning and sometimes outright rebellious individuals. Yet, that is what I love about them. I love to hear the stories of their lives, their families, their tragedies, their hopes and dreams, and how that is going to translate into having an impact on the world we live in.

Lately, one of the books that has “hit a nerve” with the upperclassman is “To Be Told” by Dan Allender. By using the simple metaphor of “story” to represent our life, Allender draws the students into the depth of who they are, and who they are becoming. With the “baggage” emotionally, spiritually and mentally the average college student carries (and also brought to college with them), they need a safe place to begin unpacking their story – they need a community.

Even within the community of a Christian campus, it is normal to find students who have not been raised in Christian homes. Most have not had positive church experiences growing up. Actually, many find it hard to trust organized religion at all. And probably the most apparent and the saddest thing is that most college students do not know the Bible. Not only are they having a hard time articulating their own story - they do not know God’s story.

Allender mentions, “God is not merely the Creator of our life. He is also the Author of our life, and He writes each person’s life to reveal His divine story.” This is the beginning of the journey for many of my students. To admit that God is writing something with their life – the good and the bad - is when the light bulb goes on. They do have a purpose – God’s purpose. This is frequently realized two or three years into college. More and more, I have juniors and seniors come in my office saying, “I’m not sure of my calling.” Quickly, it is discerned that they don’t have a clue how to define “calling.” Some see it as a vocation or career, others a deep longing or even possibly guilt. They also flippantly use the word “passion” without knowing the root of the word – suffering.

Life for the college student seems like “a series of random scenes that pile up like shoes in a closet.” They do not see how their tragedies, friendships, families, church backgrounds or lack of any of them are intertwined and have shaped them into who they are or who they are becoming. Sadly, most have never reflected on their own lives. More often they have been told (by well meaning church folk) to forget or suppress their past and follow their calling – but almost never have they been asked to learn their past and begin to explore their calling.

“When I study my life story, I can then join God as a coauthor. I don’t have to settle for merely being a reader of my life; God calls me to be a writer of my future.” Allender put it so well in that quote. God calls us to coauthor our life with Him. Those students who take up this challenge to study their life story, find that God has been authoring a pretty interesting book – their life. And yes, their decisions have been very important as well.

My “passion” (hopefully using the word correctly) is to see students learn how to begin this process of conforming to the image of God. If I can get them to take this step, they will see the necessity and blessing in telling their stories for the sake of others. I’m not talking about creating more preachers or Bible-thumpers, but authentic, genuine believers, who through their lifestyle imitate Christ to the World and bring about “real” change.

Rev. Fr. Bob Henry , Assistant Director of Campus Ministry at Huntington University in Huntington, Indiana. He also is an adjunct faculty member teaching classes in Leadership, Calling, University Life and Capstone. Bob is happily married to Sue and has three wonderful boys (Alex, Sam and Lewis). Check out Bob’s blog at www.spiritualinform.blogspot.com

Northern Ohio Cluster Meeting

The quaint village of Willoughby, Ohio was the setting for the Missionaries of northern Ohio meeting this past weekend for a three day gathering of renewal, prayer, teaching on Anglican spirituality, joyous fellowship and worship. Pictured below are, left to right; Nathanael Mauer, Frederick Fick, Isaac John Geyer, Terry Moore and Ray Zeitz. At the concluding Eucharist, Bishop Fick confirmed two persons in the faith.

"God Sat On My Chest"

Fr. Nathanael Maurer MSJ is no stranger to ministry to those in substance abuse programs, having spent every Friday morning and afternoon for the past 15 months in ministry with the men in the drug/alcohol treatment program at the Keating Center and the past 4 years as part of a ministry team that supported them.

Jack Malhall is the 85 year old executive director of The Ed Keating Center, established almost 40 years ago. There are now 3 treatment centers where the men come and spend 3-6 months in an intensive “God-centered” AA – 12 step treatment program. They then move on to one of the dozen or so “sober houses” where the men work and live for another 6 months to 2 years, maintaining their sobriety and actively participating in community AA meetings with their sponsors. The Keating Center has a vast network of support from the AA community of Northeast Ohio and the community at-large. Thousands of men over the years have attributed their sobriety to Jack Malhall and the Keating Center’s help.

This past weekend, Fr. Nathanael led a team ministering with a retreat at the Brookpark facility that included a program of prayer, sharing, reflection, teaching, worship and reconciliation. Says Fr. Nathanael, “I was the first to share and presented my own story of how I found the love and mercy of God and how it changed me. A drug addict for 12 years, in and out of jails and prisons, I came to a place where by God’s mercy, He ‘sat on my chest’. I was no longer able to run. He loved me back to Himself. That was 25 years ago. He gave me a promise from Jeremiah 29:10-14a, “a future and a hope”. God is faithful. He has kept His promise."

Why Global South Bishops Will Not Be Going To Lambeth

Five leading Anglican primates of the Global South have released a full statement as to why they will not be attending this decade's Lambeth conference hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Signing the letter are:

Archbishop Peter Akinola (Nigeria)

Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini (Rwanda)

Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi (Kenya)

Archbishop Henry Orombi (Uganda)

Archbishop Gregory Venables (Southern Cone)

These primates represent more than half of the communion's 70 million Anglicans making their position vital to understand. This is an important letter that speaks to the issues in a clear and concise manner. Read the letter here:

http://www.anglican-nig.org/main.php?k_j=12&d=156&p_t=index.php?

Hope Anglican Church

In the far northern town of Oscoda, Michigan, where winter can be bitterly cold and awfully long, Fr. Tom Anderson leads a faithful parish known as Hope Anglican Church. Though blessed with beautiful lakes and streams, Oscoda has suffered from a 15 year economic depression, never recovering from the closing of the area's only major employer, the defunct SAC Air Force Base. Recently, Hope church found a new home, taking up residence at the old Swedish Lutheran church building. Renovations have begun and the parish presently worships in the lovely parish hall as it awaits spring when the work will begin in the old sanctuary. A new roof will go on, thanks to the benevolence of former parishioner of the Lutheran church who was just so thrilled to see the Old Church back in use again, he has already paid a local roofing contractor, in full, for a new roof. Oak pews have already been donated and the parish looks forward to rehabbing the beautiful sanctuary. A move in date on Pentecost Sunday is hoped for. Today, on the coldest Sunday of this winter, Bishop Fick celebrated the eucharist at Hope and reviewed the building plans and construction projects with the parish. The name Hope Church is certainly rich in meaning for Oscoda.

But wait! .. There's more to this ... read more below.

Emergency Homeless Shelter

But if all that wasn't enough of a challenge, Fr. Tom still oversees the ministry at the former site. Known as Emmanuel Mission, it has operated as the Oscoda Emergency Homeless shelter, the area's only shelter.
Plans include bringing the Emergency Homeless Shelter to the new Hope Anglican campus, once all needed and state required renovations are complete. Laundry facility, showers, kitchen improvements, sleeping quarters must all be built and/or renovated. When asked how all this can be done financially, Fr. Tom and Jackie Anderson will only respond with smiles that betray an incredible faith that God will somehow move upon his people to be generous, for the work that they do and the vision that they have far exceeds anything that one can see in the natural. It will HAVE to get done, because it simply MUST be done. The shelter needs your help in ministering to the homeless. If the Lord is speaking to your heart, please contact Fr. Tom 989-820-7222.

Diocese of St. Augustine - New Parish In Idaho

Two weeks ago, Bishop Larry Shaver confirmed two dozen people and blessed the founding of an exciting new parish, Grace Anglican Church in Boise, Idaho.

At the Diocese's fall clericus at Nashotah House, Father Don Hughes (wearing the chasuble) was ordained a priest and Deacon Jose Landaverde (wearing the dalmatic) also took vows in holy orders, while family and friends shared in the wonderful day.
Thanks to PK Ray+ for the photos

Ocean City Maryland Gathering

Presiding Bishop Walter Grundorf, along with Bishops Larry Shaver and Frederick Fick and Father Erich Zwingert were invited to present the Anglican Way, in faith, mission and ministry, to a group of outstanding Christian leaders representing over twenty inquiring churches in Ocean City, Maryland this week. It was a blessed three days of precious fellowship, praying the daily office and seeking ways to find common ministry and growth of the Kingdom of God.

Confirmations - Receptions In Texas

Last Sunday, almost two dozen people were confirmed or received as members of Christ's one, holy, catholic and apostolic church by Bishop Frederick Fick during the morning liturgy at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Hurst, Texas. The Holy Spirit was present to bless and renew in a very real way.

Songs From The Treasury- Old and New

Our faith is ancient, our succession apostolic, and our tradition of Prayer Book worship is centuries old, and yet, we must hear and proclaim the Good News in our own generation. In every generation, God gives musicians inspiration for new songs to expresses the faith once given. The songs from the hearts of contemporary Christians blend with the great hymns of Wesley, Watts, and with the song of all the company of heaven in their unending praise of God.

We are Christians standing firmly on the unwavering foundations of the past, empowered by the Holy Spirit today and embracing the future with hope and joy.

Kenya - A Nation In Upheaval - by Francis Wardega

For many years, the worldwide impression of Kenya was one of animals on the Serengeti Plain and tall, slender Masaai tribesmen dressed in red robes. That has changed as reports, pictures and video of ongoing riots and destruction have emerged in the last ten days. What happened?

The national boundaries of Kenya were established by England in the first half of the twentieth century. Little concern was given to who actually lived there. Kenya included a wide variety of tribes (peoples) who had a checkered history of relationships with each other.

Kenya became independent in 1963. The people of the Kikuyu tribe, the largest individual tribe in Kenya, led the movement to independence. Most other tribes were a part of the movement towards independence. The first president of Kenya was Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, a Kikuyu.

Estimates of tribal populations vary as does estimates of total population in Kenya. The Kikuyu in the center of the country form the largest group. The next two largest groups are the Luhya and the Luo who dwell principally in the west of the country. Together, these three groups comprise around forty percent of the population.

Since independence, there have been ongoing complaints of Kikuyu domination and political marginalization of other tribes. Government positions, key roles in business, the judiciary, and military leadership, all seemed to be dominated by Kikuyu.

The history of Kenya since independence gives some indication that whenever a national leader emerges from the Luo, things happen. Jomo Kenyatta’s prime assistant was Tom Mboya, a Luo. Tom Mboya was assassinated in 1969.

Oginga Odinga, another Luo leader, became vice-president under Jomo Kenyatta and later formed an opposition political party. He was twice imprisoned for opposing the Kikuyu led government. Oginga Odinga died in 1994.

Robert Ouko was another Luo leader who became Kenya’s foreign minister. He was widely respected in Kenya and in the world. Expected to challenge for the presidency, he was assassinated in 1990. Raila Odinga is the son of Oginga Odinga. Even Raila was imprisoned for a time as he led opposition to the Kikuyu dominated government.

Raila Odinga is the presidential candidate of the Orange Democratic Movement. The ODM is a political party initially formed to oppose acceptance of the Kikuyu authored new constitution of 2005. This new constitution would have institutionalized Kikuyu dominance of Kenya. In the election of 2005, fifty-eight per cent of the voting Kenyans declined to accept the new constitution. Those who supported the new constitution, led by President Mwai Kibaki, were called the “bananas”; their color was yellow. Their opponents who prevailed in the election, were called the “’oranges”; their color was orange. This was the first national election defeat for the Kikuyu.

Now, Kenya is in upheaval. The 2007 presidential election between the incumbent Kikuyu, Mwai Kibaki, and the Luo candidate, Raila Odinga, has been hotly contested. It is uncertain of who actually won. Charges of illegal acts come from both sides. The people riot. Looters take advantage of the situation. The country has teetered on the brink of rebellion.

This is not surprising. History has brought the land to this point. I have been to Kenya five times, generally spending at least a month in country each time. I worked with the Luo. Every man, woman and child who is Luo is aware of what has happened every time a Luo challenges for national leadership. The Luo expected problems in this presidential election.

Kenya is bleeding. People are dying. This can become a breeding ground for more blood and more death. Places I have been to, are now destroyed. People I love, hide in fear for their lives.

I ask for your prayers.

Pray first for a cessation of violence. In recent days, some peace has come to Kenya and we are relieved. God is hearing our prayers and an uneasy calm is being restored.

Pray also for the discovery of a national process in Kenya to achieve peace, truth and justice.

Fr. Francis Wardega MSJ

New Year - New Opportunities

A New Year. One has to carefully date documents and checks with the new date: 2008. It may take just a little while to embrace writing a new date.

2008 promises to be an interesting year, but then, aren't they all? But for Anglicans seeking a unifying witness, this should be a particularly important year. The Global South primates have already announced that plans are forming for a gathering in Jerusalem. In many places around the world, new primates of provinces will be elected to serve the church and these global events all fuel the anticipation of what might be, while here in North America the Common Cause Partners have promised a constituting convention for a new ecclesiastic structure.

Yet, the Missionary Society of St John will be fulfilling its calling and sharing in the work of the Kingdom. We have had many new contacts from people seeking a closer relationship, new calls from clergy seeking affiliation, new people in countries in Africa seeking our assistance, and these new challenges can only be met through prayerful preparation. We have the Gospel to share and work to do, lives to live as disciples of Christ Jesus.

We must keep our eyes upon the work to which God has called us and we must keep our hands on the plow. We must pray while we work and work as we pray.

May the blessings of the Lord who is already in our future, be with us all.

New Bishop Consecrated For Southeast Diocese

On Saturday, November 17, 2007 at 2:00 PM, the Most Reverend Leonard Riches consecrated the Very Reverend Alphonza Gadsden, Sr. a Bishop in the Church of God and Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Southeast at Redeemer Reformed Episcopal Church, Pineville, SC.

Father Michael Orr,MSJ, who represented us at this consecration in South Carolina says, "The service was well attended, 300 or more - communion took a long time to complete."


"I spoke briefly with the Presiding Bishop, Leonard Riches. He was very charitable and warm."

"The consecration was very dignified and well ordered. The love and respect for clergy was very tangible and, from what I observed, the clergy love and respect the people of God as well."

"It was a blessed experience to see my brothers and sisters worshiping God in the beauty of Holiness, and seeing an African-American consecrated bishop in the church of God."

New Favorite Hymn

Ok, so it isn't new, but it is new to me. Last week, while at Nashotah House, the evening high mass was packed out and the Nashotah Hymn was sung with rafter rattling gusto. I was moved and maybe it was because I was seated directly next to the organist, who also happens to be the contributing composer of this hymn, but this hymn will live on in my heart for a very long time. +Frederick G. Fick

Here is a link for an mp3
http://www.nashotah.edu/audio/Nashotah_Hymn24bit.mp3

Here is the text to sing along.


1. Firmly I believe and truly
God is three, and God is One;
And I next acknowledge duly
Manhood taken by the Son.

Refrain:
Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus,
de profundis oro te,
Miserere, judex meus,
parce mihi Domine.

2. And I trust and hope most fully
In that Manhood crucified;
And each thought and deed unruly
Do to death, as He has died.

3. Simply to His grace and wholly
Light and life and strength belong,
And I love, supremely, solely,
Him the holy, Him the strong.

4. And I hold in veneration,
For the love of Him alone,
Holy Church, as His creation,
And her teachings as His own.

5. Adoration ay be given,
With and through the angelic host,
To the God of earth and heaven,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Paraphrase of the Refrain:
Holy mighty, Holy God,
from the depths I beseech thee,
have mercy, O my judge,
spare me, O Lord.

Text from The Dream of Gerontius
John Henry Newman, 1801-1890

Father Francis In Tanzania

Embarking on his sixth trip to Africa, Fr. Francis Wardega MSJ has begun his 6-week teaching mission in Tanzania. We remember this mission in our prayers. For more information on Fr. Francis' mission work, view his website:

Office of Foreign Missions

Clergy Vote To Join Anglican Rite Diocese

At it's fall gathering, the clergy of the Missionary Society have unanimously voted to seek clergy credentialing from the Anglican Rite Diocese of St. Augustine, Anglican Province of America.

Bishop Larry Shaver, ordinary of the Anglican Rite Diocese, expressed his joy in the clergy's decision and offered a prayer for a hope filled future of shared ministry and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

All pastors and ministry leaders were urged by Bishop Fick to provide gentle and sensitive pastoral care during this process as each parish has unique needs and will consider its involvement at a pace it deems best, insuring the full involvement of the laity.

While seen as an important first step in a careful process of integrating into the Anglican Rite Diocese, each parish and ministry must consider its commitment through the processes articulated within its own by-laws.

The clergy expressed their joy and confidence in sensing the leading of the Lord and are looking forward to continue to be about the fulfilling their calling to preach the Gospel and administer the sacraments, making known the love of Christ to all people.

Annual Clergy Gathering

The Missionaries of St. John will gather for a clergy conference in Clinton Township, Michigan, October 28-30 for an annual meeting.

We look forward to three days of worship, prayer, fellowship and the work that is before us. A convocation Eucharist will be celebrated on Monday, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of St. John the Apostle Church, 18401 Canal Road, Clinton Township, Michigan.


Please call 586-263-9249 for further information.

FACA Meeting

The Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas met this week in Summerville. The day long meeting brought together leaders of various Anglican jurisdictions in the United States. The day was very useful in hearing the reports of Common Cause Partners meeting in Pittsburgh. The various bishops introduced themselves to each other and the meeting produced a day of prayer, fellowship and relationship building. We were honored to be involved.

We left the meeting very encouraged by the discussion. Our special thanks to the Southeast Diocese and Canon Ron Moock of the REC for all their hard work in hosting this gathering.

This FACA gathering was said to have been the largest, by far, to date with many new faces and new jurisdictions coming together.

We were encouraged to continue to pray for unity and especially to pray for those bishops, clergy and people in T.E.C. whose intention of standing for righteousness and fidelity in the historic faith is causing them to suffer much stress. Our prayers ascend.

FACA Meeting

Bishop Ray Sutton reports that the next meeting of the bishops of the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas is scheduled to be held in Summerville, South Carolina, October 8th. Representation would be expected from the Anglican Province of America, the Episcopal Missionary Church, the Anglican Church in America, the Diocese of the Holy Cross, the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Mission In America.

We have been invited to share in this meeting and Bishop Frederick Fick is looking forward to attending. We invite everyone's remembrance of this important gathering in their prayers. May the Lord continue to bring unity to a faithful Anglican witness in this country, even as we pray for unity in all of Christ's church.

More On Being Anglican

“Anglicanism,” Archbishop Geoffrey Fisher once wrote, “has no peculiar thought, practice, creed or confession of its own. It has only the Catholic Faith of the ancient Catholic Church, as preserved in the Catholic Creeds and maintained in the Catholic and Apostolic constitution of Christ’s Church from the beginning.” It may licitly teach as necessary for salvation nothing but what is read in the Holy Scriptures as God’s Word written or may be proved thereby. It therefore embraces and affirms such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the Scriptures, and thus to be counted apostolic. The Church has no authority to innovate: it is obliged continually, and particularly in times of renewal or reformation, to return to “the faith once delivered to the saints.”

To be an Anglican, then, is not to embrace a distinct version of Christianity, but a distinct way of being a “Mere Christian,” at the same time evangelical, apostolic, catholic, reformed, and Spirit-filled.

Bread And Sawdust

Fr. Bob Lemmon MSJ works and ministers in south central Kentucky. Recently, Fr. Bob began blogging and calls his site "Bread and Sawdust". To find out why, check out his site. We have been blessed by reading his posts and thought you might be as well.

http://www.breadandsawdust.blogspot.com